This book is one of the essential studies of St. Thomas's life and thought. It is especially valuable because it preserves some of the profound insights of two other Thomists whose books have either never been translated into English (Grabmann) or are, alas, out-of-print (Chenu). Pieper's treatment of St. Thomas's (and Aristotle's) use of language is absolutely essential reading for beginning students of Aquinas who have not read the more thorough treatments (by Chenu and Blanche - now largely forgotten) upon which it is based. Pieper also captures better than most biographers the importance of Thomas's decision to embrace both of the apparently opposed movements of his day, the back-to-the-Bible movement of the mendicant orders and, the modern, scientific movement of Aristotelianism.

There are a few points on which I think Pieper is wrong, most importantly on the question of Thomas's "Aristotelianism." In his justifiable attempt to show that Thomas is not an unqualified Aristotelian, Pieper goes too far the other direction and leaves the reader with the impression that Thomas was a defender of Plato. Especially troubling is Pieper's citation of passages from Thomas's Commentaries on Aristotle's De Anima and Metaphysics, which he, Pieper, claims defend Plato against Aristotle's criticisms: I cannot figure out how Pieper could construe the cited passages in such a way. Also, Pieper's criticism of the Inquistion, the Dominican order's role in it, and Thomas's defense of it seems surprisingly naive coming from an author steeped in the history of the Church. But these are relatively minor flaws in an otherwise worthy study of St. Thomas.

My rating of other books on St. Thomas: (1) Josef Pieper, The Silence of St. Thomas. ***** One of the very best books on St. Thomas Aquinas; see my ... review. (2) G.K. Chesterton, St. Thomas Aquinas: the Dumb Ox. ***** A justly acclaimed popular account of the life and work of St. Thomas; a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience for student and general reader alike. (3) Marie-Dominique Chenu O.P., Toward Understanding St. Thomas. ***** THE indispensible work for every serious student; sadly, out-of-print. (4) Ralph McInerny, St. Thomas Aquinas. **** A scholarly introduction to Thomas's philosophical thought, which emphasizes Aquinas's indebteness to Aristotle and Boethius. (5) Jean-Pierre Torrell O.P., St. Thomas Aquinas: the Person and his Work. **** Currently the standard scholarly biography.

This is a very difficult book that will help you to understand St Thomas philosophy. It turns very slow, sometimes.

I have read this book twice and gained valuable information both times. After Chesterton's "Saint Thomas Aquinas," this is by far the best introduction to Thomas Aquinas. I highly recommend it.

Yet, whatever I could say about this book, Pieper himself already has said it in the preface, where he outlined the purpose and goal of his book. So, I'll let you read Pieper instead of me:

"This book is closer to the spoken than to the written language. It is based on a series of university lectures given before collective student bodies. Its purpose and scope are precisely what the title suggests: to serve as a guide and introduction. It is intended neither as a detailed biography of Thomas nor as a systematic and comprehensive interpretation of his doctrines. Not is it meant to be an original contribution to the historical study of medieval philosophy. Everyone acquainted with the field will see at once to what degree my account is based, far beyond the specific quotation, on the works of Marie-Dominique Chenu, Etienne Gilson, Fernand van Steenberghen, and others.

"The purpose of these lectures is to sketch, against the background of his times and his life, a portrait of Thomas Aquinas as he truly concerns philosophical-minded persons today, not merely as a historical personage but as a thinker who has something to say to our own era. I earnestly hope that the speculative attitude which was Thomas' most salient trait as Christianity's "universal teacher" will emerge clearly and sharply from my exposition. It is to this end alone, I repeat, that I present the following chapters, and it is this aspect for which I accept full responsibility."

Wow! It's amazing how much relevant information Mr. Josefs crammed into this little book. Extremely well organized and laid out! If you're looking for a book on songwriting, there is nothing out there that touches this. It's nice to finally see a music author relate things to the Pop and Rock music of today; instead of taking the same stale approach of basing the book on Jazz and Classical Music concepts. To me, the value of a book is the direct relationship it has to what practical information you can take from it and then apply. This book has changed the way I approach writing songs, especially when I'm harmonizing a melody line. The sections on Minor Key Harmonization, and Borrowing From Minor In a Major Key are worth the price of the book alone. I hope Mr. Josefs next book will be on "Modern Arranging Techniques". Hands down my favorite written book on any subject!

The author is clearly a seasoned songwriter with an abundance of knowledge and skill. Yet, he is able to explain the technicalities of songwriting in such a way that the not-so-professional hobbyist songwriter like myself can follow. Having not had formal music theory training myself I could easily catch up with the essentials without feeling it was a hopeless situation. The author managed to keep my attention and deal with the music theory in such a fashion that I could not wait to see his next topic. I found the approach very practical. In fact, I could immediately apply what I learned and the results were immediate. Still, an enormous amount of information is contained in this book and I am sure I shall refer back to the detail many times in the future. It has also helped me better understand songs that already became hits and the book is full of real examples.

This book was exactly what I was looking for. I knew how to play the saxophone, but I didn't know how to write music. This book quickly moves through chords (I used "How to Play Popular Piano in 10 Easy Lessons" by Norman Monath to learn the chords on piano) so it's not for a beginner musician. But if you have experience playing an instrument (any instrument), and have access to a piano/keyboard, this book is for you. I'm almost finished with my first reading and I plan to go back and read it again, this time doing the exercises. I wish I had done them to begin with but I was so intrigued by this book I just couldn't stop long enough to do them! If you want to write your own music (and it's not as you may think), BUY THIS BOOK!

I picked this book up on the recommendation of a friend in Seattle. As I read it, I kept thinking "Berlin Alexanderplatz" and also "Homeboy", although I can't put my finger on exactly why. Perhaps because I so entered the main character's somewhat dark and brooding world, which is a tribute to the author. Perhaps the way the author bowls over the reader with a raw talent that is evident in the aforementioned works. Then again the novel is held back by seemingly endless talking heads type dumping of dialogue, which seems to be a common thread in the current flood of print on demand books like this one. But this book merits at least 3 stars for its reference to the actress Julie Newmar as "Catwoman" in connection with the main character's earliest sexual experiences- "purrrfect!"

Like a wonderful dream, the story sharpens and spins in wonderful directions and unexpected climaxes. A book the stirs every emotion. No passive reading here! Don't read this novel in a hurry, rather find a time and place to enjoy it.

This man Butler maintains a power over the imagination, seduces with sweet words, spins amusing fictions. I found myself bedfellow to the surreal and fantastic. An imperfect book, but, surely, if one can overlook the imperfections of Dr. J or John F Kennedy or Louis Armstrong one can grant this book its due, for it contains the same compelling genius that provokes us in these men.

We don't need to see the Little Mermaid's nipples.
(I can never understand why the people who cry out that the nudity is "JUST art!" don't notice that it is never underdressed males, but little girls that we have to look at.)

Amazon.com rates this book for ages 4 - 8, but the text is difficult and violent, and the admittedly lovely art is appropriate for graphic novels in the _Sandman_ vein, not for kids.

Yes, it is a lovely story, yes, it was dark to begin with, and no it is not a children's book.

Good translation, pretty (aside from the gratuitousness) illustrations earn 2 stars.

Sulamith Wulfing's art is gorgeous! Unfortunately, most of the reviews I see here are NOT for her book! They are reviews of the version Rachel Isadora illustrated (see the "nipples" and violence comments); or even for Disney's Little Golden Book adapted from the cartoon. I don't understand why reviews for other versions are displayed here; it's very misleading! If you like Sulamith Wulfing's art, you'll probably like this book.

The Little Mermaid. Illustrated by Sulamith Wulfing; text by Hans Christian Andersen. Translated from the German by Petra Michel.

Sulamith Wulfing is a fantastic artist whose work has been sold as books of plates, calendars, and even decks of cards. This book is special because it is one of the few times that her works illustrate a story. Each page has black and white line drawings and there are ten full page color plates. The color plates are the type of work for which the artist is most known and the ten in this book have been reprinted in her calendars and other collected works. The color is vibrant and the themes of each are sublime. The cover illustration is also the last illustration in the text and shows the mermaid transformed into The Immortal Soul.

An epilog called "The Sacrifice" written by the artist's son, Otto Schulze, states that a new translation of Andersen's story was used and that "parts of the story have been summarized." While staying true to Andersen's original plot, incidents and characters have been left out and parts of the story have been changed. These changes raise the story above being a children's fairy tale and highlight its allegorical theme about the role of love in the quest for immortality. The modified text and the mystical art go together excellently to make this the best rendering of this story I have ever seen. Originally published in German in 1953, this work is as vibrant today as when it was first conceived 50 years ago.

At the end of the book is a brief one page biography of the author with an early photograph of her and a self portrait painted in 1953.

I did not like it. It is a bad story. Wolfs are not bad like in the story. Peter doesnt listen to his grandpa, so it is a bad example.

If you are familiar with the Prokofiev symphony, this book makes a good companion to the music. It puts into visual images the story of Peter and the Wolf. What I like most about the book is that, in the end, the duck lives. The ending varies somewhat depending on the version of the recording or book. In this book, it's a happy ending, which is better for younger readers.

We use the book by itself sometimes. Other times, my child will read along while we listen to the symphony.

Our children, 3 year old twins, love the music of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf. In searching for an age appropriate book to show them the musical instruments that play each of the characters, we found this one illustrated by Ian Beck. Not only are the illustrations lovely, the colors and clothing of Peter, the hunters and the grandfather are interesting to a child. Also, each page shows the instrument played for that part of the story (find it in the box around the text), and in the back a page illustrates each instrument. We cannot recommend this lovely book enough to parents of young children discovering the beauty of music!

this play was ok...it was a little on the freaky side..but it is ok. I had to read it for school and its a lot better than other plays we have read so far...i liked it i guess

This science fiction play by the Czechoslovakian writer Karel Capek (1890-1938) introduced the word "robot" (from the Czech word "robota" for work). Any serious student of science fiction should read this play. A factory on an island produces robots (actually, in today's terminology, the products being made by this factory are androids, not robots) to do man's labor and to grow his food. But, as the years go by, governments misuse the robots, having them replace soldiers. Robots begin to be used in wars everywhere. They rebel and man is exterminated. However, the robots don't know how to build new robots and discover that they are doomed to extinction as well. But, the sole two robots of a later model discover beauty, compassion, and love. They become a new Adam and Eve. Interestingly, one of the characters in the play builds robots so that man won't have to work. Yet, he doesn't build any to do his work since it is something he enjoys doing.

Looking for the first appearance of the word 'robot'? Look no further! Czech author Karel Kapek coined the term in this classic play. It is not only the first appearance of the word 'robot', (though, not the first appearance of a mechanical man), it is also a great sciene fiction story (although 'science fiction' was not a widely used term at the time).
Essentially, the story surrounds a manufacturing company that makes robots, and continues to make them in mass quantities even with the looming suspicion they are out of control. The robots revolt, and humanity is all but destroyed and replaced.
Very humorous and biting satire, R.U.R. should satisfy virtually any taste for a well written piece of fiction. Essential for sci-fi fans, and this edition, printed beautifully by Dover, at a very small price, is well worth obtaining ownership and then some!

A well researched book however the author seems to be confused with Zoraoastrainism and suffice to say that he refers in many places to Zoroastrian 'gods' while the religion is montheistic believing in Ahuramazda or the Wise Lord.

Wiesehofer has written a good overview of Persian history from the founding of the Achaemenid empire until the Arab conquest. Despite the great timespan of his work he is able to provide many interesting details and insights. He accomplishes this by avoiding a strict chronological approach. Sections are devoted to the various empires such as the Parthians, and, within these sections, chapters deal with subjects such as religion or classes in society. I especially appreciated the chapters on sources which explicitly describe our sources for the various eras. Because of Wiesehofer's approach this book is not at all a popular history. I would not recommend it to someone who does not already have a familiarity with the history of Persia. At times the book can be quite technical and assumes a fair knowledge on the part of the reader. However, if you have a familiarity with ancient Persia and wish to learn more about it, I heartily recommend this book.

This book by J.Wiesehoefer, who is an expert especially on achaemenid and parthian history, tries to look at Persia in a different way than many earlier scholars did. He does this by questioning the information the Greek and Roman historians give about Ancient Iran - how realistic is the picture these sources draw? Where the Persians really nothing more but enemies? Were they really as decadent and despotic as most ancient authors indicate? This book is full of usefull information - go get it.

Pieper's interpretation of Plato's late Dialogue Phaedrus, and how Plato's views of where and how divine inspiration comes about, or what he calls "being-beside-oneself". Of all of Pieper's books I have read, thus far, none conjured up similarities of thought to Von Eschenbach's "Parzival", or Joseph campbell, or Allan Watts as this book does. His discription of the complications of staying in the state of "being-besides-oneself" may be the sort of advice Parzival might have used on his first experience of being in the Grail Castle; or, for that matter, for a surfer riding a wave. Pieper says the trouble is, "He can on condition (of being-besides-oneself) that when recieving the impetus born of emotion, he accepts and sustains it in lasting purity. In this context the possibilities of corruption, adulteration, dissimulation, pretension, and psuedo-actualization lie dangeriously close." It reminds me of Joseph Campbell saying "the privilidge of a life-time is being who you are"; or Allan Watts discussing the benifits of living in spontaneity, trusting in one's first thoughts, without the duelistic inner voice of self-doubt that makes one a splintered person; or, for that matter, "The Force"; or, further, the Kaballa's admiration of chaos; or Albert Camus' facination with the absurd. Pieper, in a nutshell, states that this divinely inspired "being-besides-oneself" may come from an unforseen act of chaos or "ecstatic frenzy"; or submission to god, creation; or Poetic mania; or beauty (of a very specific nature). Peiper, seemed to be saying, that like the Holy Grail, this "being-besides-oneslef" is a difficult thing to find if one is, on the whole, consciously looking for it. Pieper seemed to struggle to find a voice for this book, and it didn't seem entirely complete, thus the 4 stars.

This little book lacks Josef Pieper's usually flare, but it is still very good.

The subtitle is very important -- "Plato's Case Against Secular Humanism" -- for it tells us what Peiper is up to. He is arguing against secular humanism which he defines in the following way:

"We do not need any supernatural answers; we ourselves takes care of any psychological problems that call for relief; any "art" that neither satisfies a specific need, even if this need is only entertainment, nor serves the political and technological control of the world is not welcome; and above all, sexuality must not be hindered in its expressions or idealized romantically."

Pieper responds to this anthropology through a careful analysis of Plato's "Phaedrus." His answer can be divided in the following four points:

1. It is only when the human person looses his or her rational sovereignty that he or she can gain a wealth of intuition, light, truth, and insight into the MYSTERY of reality.

2. It is only when we realize that we have inherited the guilt of the human race -- i.e., that in some way, we are all responsible for the moral evils in the world -- can we open ourselves up to Divine Healing.

3. True poetry transcends rationality insofar that is originates in divine inspiration. (Note: this is one of the sub-themes of the Dead Poet's Society.)

4. Natural beauty must be seen as a metaphor for divine beauty. Natural beauty gives us an eschatological awareness by awakening in us a yearning to behold divine beauty.

This book is not very easy to read, but very profound, especially if you are interested in a philosophical starting point for dialogue with modern and post-modern men and women.

This is a short essay on the real location of happiness. Pieper writes this book in a sofisticated way (perhaps is the translation) but his ideas are clear and deep.

A comprehensive account of the education, career, life as a fugitive, and strange death of one of the most notorious of the Nazi war criminals.

Posner and Ware use thoroughly researched historical sources, including Mengele's own autobiography to tell this story. To his education and strange doctoral thesis in anthropology on "Racial Morphological Research on the Lower Jaw Section of Four Racial Groups," to his bizarre medical career involving his well know human experimentation and his less well known job of interviewing and examining subjects to determine their racial purity, the authors do a fine job of recounting Mengele's early education and career.

Of greater interest, however, is the story of his escape from Europe and life on the run in various South American countries. The story of how he was able to evade for 33 years the most comprehensive manhunt (probably in history), makes for interesting reading. The book recounts how he was able to make and maintain strategic friends and alliances, in South America, and hold onto contacts, friends, and family still living in Germany. Included is the story of a fascinating account of the visit of his son Rolf, about 1 year before his father's death, in a secret rendezvous in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in which Rolf confronted his father and made him justify his involvement in some of histories worst atrocities.

This book shows how the world's most hunted man was able to evade capture, cultivate friends and alliances, and even receive medical care under an assumed identity.

In light or recent events, raises questions in the reader's mind if such a notorious figure (such as Osama bin Ladin) could do as well, escaping capture over a manhunt lasting decades.

A truly interesting story, well worth the moderate time investment to read. ...

Though genocide is something that continues to fill evening news and panel discussions on clashes and conflicts in countries that seem like an eternity away, this book explores the dark side to the Holocaust, darker than normal because, in this unbelievable biography, genocide and Nazi evil is given a human face in the form of the smiling and smartly-dressed SS doctor, Josef Mengele.

Known greatly by survivors and Holocaust historians/scholars, there is little literature out there that paints a complete portrait of this man, from his spoon-fed existence in Bavaria to his existence and later death in several South American havens, which, by sheltering this infamous Nazi, unwittingly spat in the face of international justice and law. The full story of his escape and hiding from the international community is described. Everything one could ask for on Mengele is contained within the pages of this book, sometimes shocking, sometimes sinister, sometimes bewildering, and often very thrilling.

Posner's book reads like a fast-paced thriller, in which the reader is transported back into time and placed before the spectacle of Mengele, the "Angel of Death." This is the first book by Posner read by the reviewer, and he admits that he was (and continues to be) very impressed. Meticulously researched and even given access to Mengele's unpublished and largely unused diaries and autobiography (still not released by the Mengele family), this biography stands out over all other 'attempts,' for they all fail miserably to even try to surpass or compete against Posner's masterpiece. He is to be commended on a fine job in painting a vivid portrait of Mengele. Hopefully, readers will begin to see the truth behind the many distortions surrounding the Holocaust and its perpetration - and that the perpetrators of this nightmarish bloodbath were human beings like everyone else, not a label of dissent that brings about a rift between Holocaust (or any other genocidal) perpetrators, and thus ensuring that genocide continues forever. Most certainly, Mengele's deeds were monstrous, but their monstrosity does not change the fact that he was still human, just like us. If we forget this fact, then genocidal forces existing within the souls of us all will continue forever.

Find out all this for yourselves, fellow readers, and read this book.

Posner delves deep into the life of one of the sickest, most disgusting human beings to ever walk the planet earth. The Angel of Death, as Mengele has been refered to was the chief "medical" officer at the Aushwitz death camp, during its hayday in the latter part of WWII. Posner examines his life from boyhood, through the end of his life, hiding in Peru. The chapters that involve Auswitz are the most horrific I have ever read. This book is an absolute must for anyone who is interested in the war or the Holocust. Mengele is arguably as sick as Adolf Hitler himself, and his life must be examined to ensure it never happens again. I am a huge fan of Posner. I believe this is his most important work.

After reading "The Man Who Stayed Behind," I thought the title should be changed to "Memoirs of a Masochist - How to Spit on Me in Ten Different Ways, Comrade."

Rittenberg's decision to stay in China had more to do with his pathological need for acceptance than some strong revolutionary desire. As a foreigner, his ability to speak Chinese was what provided him admission into the Chinese Communist Party at a time when international support for their cause was lacking. He was just a freak at the right place and the right time.

As I read this book, I thought how weak and cowardly he was. When Rittenberg wasn't running from bombs like a little girl (he states how he was always the only one to run for safety), he was constantly crying and begging the jailers to accept him as a true Communist Party member.

Actually, I was surprised by his lack of embarrassment or shame for the opportunist life he lived in China. He criticized Zhou Enlai for his "unbecoming obsequiousness" to Chairman Mao yet the same mirror can be applied to Rittenberg as he continuously groveled like a lapdog to be accepted as the "only foreigner in the Chinese Communist Party."

The first time he was sent to a Chinese jail was due to his naivete. The second time it was due to his stupidity. His hubris and egotism was the real cause for the senseless waste of his life in a Chinese prison.

In this whole story, his second wife, Yulin, and later his children, were the only ones with intelligence and character. Rittenberg comes off as having the integrity of a worm.

I gave this book three stars because of its readability - the font size was very comfortable to read.

This book should be read in order to provide insight into the psychological weaknesses of individuals who join cults, extremist political parties, terrorist groups, etc. I am sure the American's who joined the Taliban and Muslim terrorists groups have a similar psychological profile as Mr. Rittenberg.

B. Polk
Beijing, China

The real heroine of this book is the authors second Chinese wife. Even after 16 years in a Chinese prison the author thought that Communism was the total answer to the problems of the Chinese people. He admits that he was wrong in almost all the decisions he made in supporting Communism in China and that he was eventually double crossed by every high ranking Chinese leader that he decided to support. Only after he returned to the United States were he, his wife and four children completely hsppy!

The Kirkus Reviews above claim that this book is a "dramatic odyssey of an American who cast his lot with mainland China's Communists following WW II--and who lived to regret it.", I wonder if the reviewer really read the book or not, since the author expressed explicitly in serveral places as well as the feeling run throught the book that he never regreted any of his experiences in China, instead found himself enriched, strengthened, and grateful for it;

Another reviewer's comment that "How this man earn a living in the US as an expert on a country he never seemed to understand is beyond me.", is actually beyond myself. I doubt if a man can't at least learn one or two things about a country if one lived there for 35 years, especially with about half of the time shut in a prison, devoting to a course he believed in. What the course is and whether it is really there or an illusion, is another matter.

In my own experience the book could be read on serveral levels: a personal autobiography from youth to the old age; the story of an American youth's adventure in the middle kingdom across 1949; Chinese revolution, from Yanan period to its end in late 70s, in the eyes of a foreigner of left wing political persuation, especially as an active (foreign) participant's memory/story of Culture Revolution. The experience is rich as well as unique, writing clear and smooth, reading the book is highly enjoyable and educational.

But here also weakness of the book lies, that different themes and levels of discourses can be in conflicts to each other: chinese revolution and Culture Revolution could be too big, social and impersonal to constraint and present in a biographical framework; events and various persona, from Chairman Mao to individuals living around the author, could only be presented from one perspective, without other independent references.

Still, the experiences are unique, stories moving, themes grand, the book is highly recommended.