Many people have forgotten the wisdom of our parents, or else they hold the past in contempt. This primer for the use of church history to diagnose modern issues is needed and beneficial. It is an introduction to the likes of C. S. Lewis, St. Augustine, Robert Dabney, G. K. Chesterton, Groen Van Prinsterer, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others.

Recently, syndicated columnist Clarence Page was critical of the selection of the "100 Best English language novels" that had just been issued by ten panelists convened by Random House. In particular, he was concerned over the fact that only six books written in the past 25 years were included. Also, he was concerned that only six books were written by non-whites.

When one realizes that books have been written for thousands of years, the fact that six of "the best 100" novels of all time were written since 1973 is quite astonishing. Further, although non-whites clearly dominate the world scene, few of them have written "English language novels."

Page further noted that the ten panelists who selected the list were all white men, except for one white woman. Included on the panel were such recognized authorities as Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., Gore Vidal, William Styron, Daniel Boorstin, and Christopher Cerf. Page observed that these men have! an average age of 69.

Apparently, this panel suffered from an extreme case of being too old. Obviously, they are biased toward archaic literature created before the advent of Postmodernism and its attendant rule that the value of a piece of literature is to be based on the race, gender and class of its author. These are the only things that count. If you are a white, upper class male, you obviously have nothing to say to this generation. Especially, if you have only one year left in your "three score and ten." Obviously, Socrates, Plato, and other writers from ages past suffered from a severe lack of the appropriate genes, to mention nothing about the racism, sexism and class-ism of their societies.

Into the breach comes a very well documented volume by David W. Hall, with the title, "The Arrogance of the Modern: Historical Theology Held in Contempt." Early on in the book, Hall decries the tendency for researchers and theoreticians to cite only recent! writings as backup of their work. He cites the concept tha! t civilization is a democracy extending far back into time; the "votes" of citizens of old, represented by their writings, are just as important as those written just yesterday.

To cap off his argument, Hall quotes a comment from Lord Acton, in which he said, "Just as the loss of memory in an individual is a psychiatric defect calling for a medical treatment, so too any community which has no social memory is suffering from an illness." Those who do not learn from history, as you will recall, are doomed to repeat it. And, I might add, history has far more of what the Clarence Pages of this generation despise than the present. But, the Balkanization brought on by Postmodern criticism may well be our "unlearned lesson" that finally does us all in.

This volume is a closely-argued, well organized thesis. It is not easy reading but, with the complexity of the subject, I think it is as well written a volume as I have seen. You will not go wrong by ! reading it!

I wanna read this book. This book is good. I have no money and time. If possible, I send money later. please...

This books provide a clear and simple introduction to the extremely complex topic of critical theory. The book is very rich in substance and detail but at the same time is clear and intelligible to almost anyone who is a familiar with Marxian theory of political economy and the superstructure. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Critical Theory.

The new properties can be received at the expense of simulation of frame of a materials.

Excellent introduction into political theory, giving good background on the current political debates. However, the solution proposed, a "cosmopolitian democracy", does not seem very concrete.

This book contains papers presented at the V. Gordon Childe Centennial Conference held at the Institute of Archaeology in 1992. While the book does deal with Childe's theoritical archaeology, it also addresses his early life before embarking in archaeology.

Contributors to this volume are Bruce Trigger, Michael Rowlands, John Mulvaney, Leo Klejn, Kent Flannery, and Colin Renfrew. Trigger's and Renfrew's essays are forceful pieces on why archaeologists should stilll read Childe today. They also strip away the myth of him just being a 'Marxist' archaeologist; their essays demonstrate his theoritical contributions are much richer than that. Flannery takes a much more aggressive tone and is critical of Childe for his lack of interest in the New World and critical of his theories and models. Attacks like these should best be launched while the author is alive in my opinion. The essay by Mulvaney looks at Childe's life before archaeology, and Klejn's essay deals with a letter from Childe to Institute of Archaeology in St. Petersburg.

The target audience of this book is not clear though. While centered on Childe, these essays present a variety of facets concerning his life and works. Overall, its enjoyable and intellectually stimulating reading.

If your goal is to learn the effect globalization has on the state, society, and politics in general this book provides alot of information but it presented in a way that will put you to sleep.

Instead of reading the chapters I would recommend going straight to the tables and grids provided because the author does not do a good job of getting to the point. I also found that the grids and tables were a good source of what each chapter actually summed up.

I would, however, have to credit the authors for doing a thorough job of covering the various aspects of globalization- from patterns of global finance to global trade and markets to military globalization. Best chapter is the one that deals with migration-otherwise don't bother with this book- you would probably be better of with another book that covers globalization.

this book is a load of crap. hope that helped.

One of the most fact-packed, intelligent studies of globalization, but this is noone's beach reading. I recommend reading the intro and thereafter using it as a reference.

For a more literary, bizarre, and stimulating take on the contemporary global condition, check out Hardt and Negri's Empire.