Arnhart holds that the good is desirable, and since we are a natural species, the good can be discerned from our individual environments and our universal constitution as a species. Arnhart's contribution is Aristotelian, in that this philosopher started from the natural position of humanity (e.g., we are a zoon politican--a social animal) rather than from Plato's Ideal World. Arnhart is a Darwinian, in that our constitution as a specied derives from our evolutionary history.

This book can be read with profit by professional philosophers as well as beginners interested in understanding evolutionary ethics. It is clear and systematic, avoids jargon, and amply discusses alternative views.

I take issue with one part of Arnhart's analysis. I learned that "the good is the desirable" in my graduate student days in economics. I have always thought this quite incorrect (I wrote my Ph.D. dissertation on the topic!). For instance, I may desire potato chips (or heroin) but not consider it good, and may indeed wish that I did not desire these things. In place of Arnhart's principle, I would suggest "The good is what allows us to flourish and to use our natural capacities to the fullest." The idea of flourishing as a criterion is associated with Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen and others, and the idea of developing one's capacities to the fullest is associated with the young Karl Marx, in his Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844.

At any rate, virtually all of Arnhart's arguments go through with this minor change.

People like me, behavioral scientists, tend to ignore ethical philosophy and have contempt for its practitioners because it tries to find ethical truths independent from the natural position of human beings in the world. Arnhart is a wonderful antidote to this tendency, maintaining a high level of both philosophical and scientific reasoning.

This book looks at morality or ethics and tries to tie together an Aristotelian with what we now know is a moral system that was part of our primate past. Part evolutionary psychology and part philosophy, it is well written, cogent and easy to read. Its message is simply that humans are social and political animals that have innate desires, but need not act on them. Humans can choose to act contrary to their evolutionary past in ethical terms. But also, political systems must not IGNORE our human nature either, or they will fail.

From page 259 of the book: To justify his laws, Moses repeatedly insisted that if the Jews obeyed, his laws, they and their children would survive and prosper in their new land. He made no claims about immortality of the soul or about rewards and punishments in an afterlife. Instead, like Darwin, he argued that the purpose of morality was to secure the earthly survival and prosperity of oneself and one's progeny. The first commandment of God in the Bible is "Be fruitful and multiply" (Gen. 1:28). For Moses, promoting the survival and reproduction of the Jews required social norms that led individuals to cooperate within their group to compete with other groups (Deut. 4:40, 6:1-3, 11:8-9, 20, 23:9-14,25:11-16, 30:15-20). Moses taught that "whoever obeys the law will find life in it" (Lev. 18:5). Saint Paul cited this as the fundamental aim of the Mosaic Law (Rom. 10:5). It should not be surprising, therefore, that Darwinian theorists can explain the Mosaic law as promoting the reproductive interests of the Jews (Hartung 1995; MacDonald 1994, 35-55). As a product of natural human experience, not only Judaism but all religious beliefs and practices serve the natural desires of human beings in diverse social and physical environments, and consequently we would explain religion as an adaptation of human ecology (Burkert 1996; Reynolds and Tanner 1995).

So even one of the first moral successful systems, the Mosaic Law, recognized the purpose of morality in an evolutionary form, survival of the group. This book tries to go beyond group interests and argues (not always persuasively in my opinion) that a Darwinian morality can subsume the current value system that we all want to see.

The book covers the essence of an evolutionary morality. That is, humans evolved with social ranking, justice as reciprocity, political rule, war when group interests collide, religion to explain the fear of the unknown and eventual death, etc. Morality then became part of the pleasure of serving the tribe or belonging. Kin selection, inclusive fitness, reciprocal altruism, indirect reciprocity; these evolutionary processes required that humans have fear and guilt if they act against the tribe's rules. Morality included honor, fearlessness, willingness to die for the group -- that is what the communal sense was all about. Adherence to the tribes moral codes meant the group could fight of predators and other human groups when necessary. Those tribes that could not unify against a common enemy -- what we now call patriotism -- more than likely died out in favor of the more fearless tribes.

And how does this morality come about? Well contrary to what folk psychology tells us, from Dr. Laura to President Clinton, both conservatives and liberals, infants are born with a moral nature and seek the rules naturally. That is, even when playing with other children, a child will develop proper behavior by observing others and learning what works and what doesn't, similar to chimpanzees. So the moral do not have to be taught so much as just observed by children. We are naturally moral animals, but the morals change over time and are different for different cultures. However this book argues that we can now change those moral rules that should be abandoned: slavery, clitoridectomy, circumcision, cannibalism, genocide, etc. Perhaps.

Arnhart argues that certain desires are universal in human societies because they are based in human biology. He sees this as grounding an Aristotelian view in which virtues are to be pursued because they promote eudaimonia--human flourishing. Humans can only flourish when biologically-based needs are satisfied. These needs include not only the appetitive ones like food and sex, but "higher" needs of meaningful social interaction and the pursuit of understanding. These universal needs provide the needed telos for judging the rightness or wrongness of actions: How well does the proposed action promote these biologically-based teloi? This view also provides a neutral standard whereby the ethical practices of diverse cultures may be judged, so complete ethichal relativism can be avoided. However, Arnhart recognizes that there may be multifarious, culturally-relative means of achieving the universal ends.

This a delightful book. David Muench's ability to use light and contrast to capture the varied landscapes of Arizona is unsurpassed. He truly has a gift.

This is a wonderful coffee table book packed with a wide variety of spectacular photos of Arizona. It is a stunning display of the tremendous variety found in Arizona's natural habitat. Muench focuses on different aspects of the landscape including light, form, life and ecology. Captions tell where the photograph was taken with some brief commentary. A short essay by the photographer leads off each section with some of his personal thoughts and insights.

You will find an awesome view looking up through the trees to the sky, and the beautiful azure color of the Colorado River contrasting against white and rust colored rocks. Views of waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, autumn leaves and desert sands will take your breath away. Natural rock formations and cactus plants are seen in a new light as they become elegant sculptures. Endless, brilliant blue skies are captured against fields, mountains and red rock formations. Close-up of photos vibrant pink cactus flowers and sunny yellow poppies will brighten your day. You also get an occasional glimpse of lush green trees and plants.

As with all of Muench's books this one is printed on quality glossy paper with the highest of production values doing justice to the photography. As a Muench fan this is a treasured addition to my library.

David Muench's photographs show the incredible beauty and variety of Arizona's scenery. The book is a wonderful gift for anyone who loves Arizona or color photography. We received it as a gift and have purchased two more copies since then to give to others.

An Amazing book by an unknown author- Larry Brogan, whom I'm betting will soon be a household name.
This book is filled to the brim with action, suspense, romance and takes you on a trip out of the ordinary. If you liked "The X-Files", the "Twilight Zone" and the movie "The Matrix" you might want to get out the reading glasses. Brogan has painted images of a world as seen only by a few, and Bart inparticular sees it more differently than anyone else. Barts brush with the CIA and the KGB takes him into a world of the paranormal that will leave you spellbound and wondering "what if?"
Brogan's The Delta Zone is well thought out and researched, almost to the point that I'm wondering if he hasn't been there himself...
This book is an amazingly quick read and will leave you wanting more. I'm hoping a sequel is in the works and a film is in the future.

I loved it! A genuine thriller! A real page-turner with wonderful imagination combined with international political intrigue. Anyone who enjoys Ludlum, Crichton or Clancy will enjoy this marvelous novel.

The "Delta Zone" is an easy and quick read. Mr. Brogan set the stage beautifully, using real and some very well known activities, landmarks, and other identifiable references to captivate the reader. The main theme deals with astral projection/remote viewing which is a unique area of study, is believeable, and to varying degrees experienced by people. I believe Mr. Brogan has set the stage for a sequel and, if so, I look forward to reading it. Great job.

I live in Austin, TX and wanted to find out where I could take my dogs and let them really run. Well, not only did this guidebook tell me what areas allow leash-free dogs (and it turns out the Austin area has a lot more than I ever knew!), but it gave great anecdotal descriptions of the various trails, facilities, etc. I've taken the pups on four walks so far (I've had the book a month) based on recommendations in this book and the descriptions were dead on accurate.

Dogs, Larry D. Hodge has concluded, are like American Express Cards. "Some people won't leave home without them," says the Mason free-lance writer. That's the idea behind Hodge's new book, "The Texas Dog Lover's Companion" (Foghorn Press, $20.95). Hodge has "the inside scoop on where to take your dog" in the Lone Star State. It's the seventh "Dog Lover's Companion" volume from the California publisher. Hodge, who writes about travel and the outdoors for a number of Texas publications, including the San Antonio Express-News, says a guide for dog lovers didn't initially set his tail to wagging. He writes in the book's introduction: "Traveling dogs are a common sight in Texas ... What's the big deal? In Texas we just tell the dog to get in the back of the truck with the kids." Editors at Foghorn Press pressed him. They wanted listings of Rover-friendly restaurants, festivals, hotels and motels. They wanted to know where pet owners can walk a dog without a leash. Hodge approaches the subject matter with humor and humility. To conduct research, Hodge traveled mostly with Sport, a Rhodesian Ridgeback/handsome stranger mix, and sometimes with Samantha, an Australian blue heeler mix. The author, who confesses to sneaking both dogs into a Corpus Christi motel that doesn't allow pets ("We spent the entire time keeping them quiet"), was "surprised at how many motels openly welcome dogs." At more than 600 pages, "The Texas Dog Lover's Companion" is well-researched. You can bet Hodge did his homework, ranking park areas by a system of paws - four paws being the, er, cat's meow. The lowest rating is a fire hydrant, or as Hodge writes, "That means the park is just worth a squat." Two parks in San Antonio got 31/2 paws - Martin Luther King Park and Southside Lions Park. The latter "is as good as it gets for a dog in Texas," Hodge says. Another South Texas favorite is Dwight D. Eisenhower Park. "It has great walking trails and great views of the San Antonio skyline," Hodge says. The biggest surprise in researching the book was "how many closet dog people are out there who keep a dog at their place of business all day ... everything from book stores to dress shops to restaurants to motels. "The minute I said something about doing a guide book for dogs they would turn and get real friendly," Hodge says. In all, the book lists more than 400 places to chow down, hundreds of places to stay the night and nearly 500 parks, beaches, forests and wildlife areas, as well as doggy do's and don'ts, safety tips, rules of dining etiquette and hints on avoiding pooper- scooper faux "paws." Plus, "The Texas Dog Lover's Companion" is illustrated with delightful cartoons by Phil Frank.

The carpet in the back of my sport utility vehicle is still full of coarse, reddish hair, and I'm in no hurry to clean it out. That's where Rosie, our six-year-old Golden Retriever, used to ride. We took her to parks and beaches when we could, which in retrospect was not anywhere near often enough. Rosie was part of our family. She was our first "child" and later, Deputy Mom and Big Sister to our daughter Hallie. Like all good dogs, for her the term "unconditional love" was redundant. Last summer, as Hallie played in our front yard, someone driving a blue pickup truck ran over Rosie when she ran out in the street. The person who did it--Hallie says it was a man (only in the sense of his gender)--kept driving. Rosie was left writhing on the pavement with a broken back. Using a blanket, Linda and I got her into my truck and rushed her to an emergency veterinary clinic. After looking at an X-ray, the vet said there was nothing we could do for her but put her down. So, with the wisdom that only sad hindsight brings, if you have a beloved family pet, do things with it as frequently as you can, while you can. And buy a copy of a book funny enough to dry the tears from my eyes when I think about Rosie and the kind of person who would hit a 75-pound dog and not stop, while a little girl watched: "The Texas Dog Lover's Companion" by Larry D. Hodge (Foghorn Press, 656 pages, $20.95). The book is the first-ever Texas travel guide for people with dogs. It lists places where dogs are welcome, rating them on a scale of a fireplug (suitable only for "dewatering" your dog) to one to four paws, depending on the dog-friendliness factor. A good book offers more than its title suggests, and "The Texas Dog Lover's Companion" is a good book. What makes it good is that Hodge has personalized it, crafting it as something of a Texas-only version of "Travels with Charlie." Unlike John Steinbeck, whose faithful canine companion was Charlie, Hodge traveled with two dogs, Sport and Samantha.

Hodge could have written a simple, to-the-point guidebook, but his Steinbeck-like opus is full of observation and insight into Texas as well as the human and canine condition. Writing about a park in Houston, for instance, he mentions that he went to a nearby branch library to re-read a passage from the classic novel, "Old Yeller," by the late Mason writer Fred Gipson. Hodge and his two dogs put 25,000 miles on his sport utility vehicle (Hodge says his Sport appreciates the fact that Detroit bestowed her name on a whole vehicular genre) in researching "The Texas Dog Lover's Companion." Following a 20-page, philosophy-filled introductory overview on traveling with dogs (and in which Sport and Samantha are brought on stage), Hodge covers the state region by region. He and his co-researchers sniffed their way across the state, checking parks, places to eat and sleep and even places where you can take your pet shopping. Hodge found most of Texas pretty accommodating when it comes to dogs, but it's clear that he didn't mind leaving Lubbock in his rearview mirror. "Unfortunately, for dogs there are few positives," Hodge writes of Lubbock. "Dogs must be leashed everywhere, and we could find few places that actually welcomed them. For dogs, anyway, Lubbock seems destined to remain a stop on the way to someplace better." One "someplace better," he wrote, is Amarillo. Hodge likes its climate and friendliness -- to people and their pooches. Hodge's guidebook is a sometimes funny and always entertaining and useful travel reference even if you aren't traveling with Rover. If a hotel, eating place or park won't accept dogs, who would want to go there anyway? As Hodge writes, "Texas is going to the dogs. And it's about time." Hodge's book is a delightful salute to Texas and to dogs, from Old Yeller to Sport, Samantha and -- in sentiment, to Rosie. "It's the land that brings out what's inside us," Hodge quotes one savvy Big Bend resident as saying about her corner of Texas. "There's a beauty and clarity I believe you find only in open spaces." And, Hodge adds, "in the eyes of a dog."

Finally, somebody lays it on those disgusting admakers and manufacturers who create those obnoxious ads and sell us junk that doesn't work--while promising us the world. This book was not only exceptionally informative, it was fun to read--I couldn't put it down!!! I especially liked the explanation of just why we get "duped," and the devastating analysis the author makes of what--for all the world--seem like totally legitimate ads and why devices and equipment don't work. It's obvious that when you combine a health and fitness expert with a law degree (as Dr. Forness possesses), you get someone who can do the painstaking research it obviously took to write this book. Don't think for a minute you can outsmart the admakers and manufacturers without this book. You won't believe how sneaky they are--and the good doctor proves it over and over again. This book is a real sleeper! It should be on the Book-of-the-Month Club Selection. Everyone needs to get this book.

If you're into fitness, this book is a must. It provides a wonderful assessment of diet supplements, herbal supplements, weight loss systems, exercise machines, and other health and fitness industry boondoggles. Dr. Forness takes on the advertising and other claims including those in fine print of each of these aspects of the health and fitness industry. He has a wonderful sense of humor that he uses to great effect to devastate the claims of all of those newspaper ads, late night infomercials, and other attempts to make you part with your money in the pursuit of the perfect body. If you are thinking about buying any exercise machine or device from ab-crunchers to exercise machines READ THIS BOOK FIRST. This is probably the first book to take on the billion dollar fitness industry that seems to have gotten a free ride from consumers and consumer watch dogs in the past few years. It's not only a helpful book but it's funny and entertaining at the same time.

I am a health and fitness advocate. finally, someone has written an excellent book about all the fraudulent and misleading ads in the health and fitness industry. the book overflows with the tactics and strategies that advertisers use to separate you from your money, and how the sell you something that never gives the promised results. Dr. Forness is clearly an expert in health and
fitness, and he writes with a great sence of humor, which makes the book easy to read. He provides wonderful, concise explanations of how and why we get played for suckers, how to truly prove if any claims is legitimate, and even illustrates his expertise by showing the actual ads, which he then tears apart. He covers everything from vitamins to minerals to herbal concoctions to ergogenic aids to equipment to apparel and much more. There are excellent checklists to itemize how to keep from getting duped by any ad. Before you even think of buying any health/fitness product GET THIS BOOK! The courious reader will become informed. The reader who does what the aughor says will save money--perhaps a lot of money, and will forever be saved from being frustrated and embarrassed by buying products that don't work as advertised (especially all those 'nutritional supplements' and 'abdominal exercisers' and the like).

This is an absolutely amazing novel. The second book in the Empires trilogy, it completely avoids the "middle book syndrome". Most 2nd novels in a trilogy are about nothing and contain a whollllllle lot of travel, but this book is a very personal tale.

Batu is a general in the Shou army who is charged with stopping the Tuigan invaders. His wife is left behind to deal with the court. Out of these 2 simple plot devices a fascinating tale unfolds.

Without revealing anything I will say this, the novel is a very personal journey by Batu as he tries to deal with the invaders. The pleasant thing about this tale is the unexpected twists it takes. What you expect at the beginning of this story is not what you get at the end. Being that it is the 2nd book in a trilogy there are some things that you know MUST happen, such as the Tuigans continuing on to battle Cormtyr in the 3rd novel. This does not mean that a very powerful battle does not occur. It is the results of the battle and its fallout that are surprising.

All of the characters are interesting, and seem like real people. In fact, it is the honest portrayals that make this such a good book. After everything that Batu goes through his responses seem real, not as if they were manipulated to fit an outline.

It was further enhanced by the appearance of characters from the 1st novel, who come across as true to their portrayals in Horselords.

If you want a really good story with action and personality read Dragonwall.

This books holds the second dimension of the 3 dimensional gem called "The empires triology". Leading you to view the desicions and lives of 3 leaders all engulfed in a sweeping war makes you think a bit about right and wrong, winner and loser. Almost as good as "Horselords" this book opens a gate to the land of Shou Lung, it's court and it's field. As a young general attemps to hold the kingdom's borders from the sweeping horde of Tuigan barbarians, while his wife attempts to save his reputation and command from the hands of spy sent to undermine him.

A book that engulfs you in battles and conspirasies. A Must BUT can be fully enjoyed only after reading "Horselords".

Upon finding out this book is no longer in print, I felt upset-- upset that so many lovers of fantasy literature will never be able to read it. Fans of AD&D novels who are forgiving of the weaknesses of the genre will be shocked to find those weaknesses missing here. DRAGONWALL is a study of a man who struggles; he struggles between duty to empire and duty to his ancestry, love of family and love of emporer, and the hateful but necessary arena of politics versus the glorious but hardship-ridden theatre of war. Stunningly, this book satisfies on a variety of levels; the intrigue of court politics is intricate and suspenseful, the scenes of battle are breathtaking and involving, and the personal struggles wracking the protagonist make you understand him deeply. You will admire him and suffer with him. If any "fantasy" novel can bridge the gap between entertainment reading and literature, this is the one. Try to find it--it's incredible.

The Father of Software Sales has provided a remarkable look into the art of selling. Long before most of the current software users and salespeople were even born, Larry Welke was helping to launch the industry through his directories and magazines.

Now, Welke gives us insight into what drives a user to license a software product or suite, and provides a roadmap for the sellers and buyers to meet for their common good.

If you are in sales or marketing, and enjoyed Spencer Johnson's Who Moved My Cheese, you must get this book. It brings home all of the sales issues you have been striving to corral. It's a quick read, yet you'll thank Larry for years ... as have the titans of the software industry.

Larry A. Welke's "The End of Selling...As We Know It" continues his 40-plus years of challenging conventional wisdom about the selling and marketing of mostly high-end products. And that is the fun of his new book. If your decision-making in marketing and sales has been on auto-pilot, this book puts the stick back in your hands.

Welke, a 1954 graduate of Marquette University (Economics), went to work for IBM after a short stint with General Electric. IBM, perhaps the greatest marketing machine of the last half of the 20th century, gave Welke lessons both in what to do and, as it faltered in the personal computer business, not to do. Over seven years he became a top salesman by, among other things, courting clients in chauffeur-driven Jaguars, a practice that won business but drove the image-conscious IBM hierarchy nuts.

Welke left IBM and, in 1967, formed his own company, International Computer Programs, Inc., the first software information company anywhere. During his three decades at the helm of ICP, he taught sales training to hundreds of aspiring software salespersons around the world. Early on the challenge was one every new software merchant stumbled over but which Welke relished: How do you persuade businesses that were used to getting their software free -- just thrown in with the hardware they bought -- to start paying serious money for it?

That Welke's seminars and publications had the answer gave him the appellation "Father of the Software Industry" (the independent software industry went from $300 million in sales when he joined it to around a hundred billion today). It also gave him a reputation as a rogue marketer with some compelling ideas, which is why his sales training seminars continue to sell out to this day.

The essential point of "The End of Selling..." is that changes in exposure media -- principally the Internet -- have fundamentally altered the way a sale is done, contact to contract. It altered the way clients first hear about a product, learn more about it, explore its viability in their context, make sales contacts, and even pay for and deliver it. Beyond that it affects the way customers are supported, complaints are handled, products are critiqued, new versions are developed, and hands are held.

The failures of the dot coms, he believes, stems from the inability of the mostly youthful entrepreneurs to merge their new-century automated sites with a little last-century humanity. (Imagine a prospective customer, money in hand, lost in an HTML maze that cannot answer the one question he has that would close the sale for him.)

Welke believes that the Internet and other interactive media will fulfil their promise once entrepreneurs (and established merchants just getting into the new media) forget selling as they once knew it (20th century) and as they think they know it now (21st century), and merge the two into a symbiosis he calls "customer creation."

The best way to think of customer creation is to imagine that the up-close selling of knocking on sequential doors to introduce yourself has been replaced with technology that can introduce you to literally scores of millions more prospects. But having made that introduction, those prospects need to be addressed not in a single rigid manner adopted by the company (a formula Web site), but in the manner in which THEY wish to be individually addressed (and, ultimately, sold). That would include a flexible system of technology-based marketing mixed with an informed support staff of living people who are easily contacted.

There is much more to customer creation that we can outline here, but suffice it to say that Welke has a lot of experience with the concept and a lot of fun sharing it. His decades in sales, marketing and chief executive offices give him a long view too many other authors lack. "The End of Selling..." will take you off auto-pilot and make you think.

This book makes sense out of the complexities (even chaos) of today's information-rich marketplace. It provides solid recommendations on how to capitalize on the changing roles of buyers and sellers. "The End of Selling..." is a must-read for anyone even associated with selling or customer service.

As a sequel to "Terms of Endearment", "The Evening Star" follows up on the life of Aurora Greenway and her three grandchildren. I found myself laughing out loud as I read this book and I fell in love with Aurora's wit, humor and sarcasm. The book was written with such creativity about the lives of its characters that it draws in your imagination and emotions. I read this book twice in a row and it only got better the second time around. This book deserves 10 Stars!

McMurtry's characters become so real to me that I can barely stand to let them go at the end of his books. I am so glad that I got to see what happened to the people from Terms of Endearment.

Larry McMurty gives us another masterpiece of humor and tears in the continued saga of Aurora Greenway

This book is amazing! The oversized photos are mezmorizing. I am a collector of the small egg charms used in the Czarina's Maria Feodorovna's necklace. I was thrilled to see photos of many of the egg charms I own. I love this book!

I couldn't ask for a better Faberge book. Exepting those by my freind Geza Von Habsburg.

An exquisite book, large format. Beautiful color plates. If you get one book on Faberge for the quality of its plates, this is it.

It is a humorous book which confronts the prob lem with recruiting athletes at any cost and moral dilemma. -Iann W.

This is a remarkable book written by a man who is consumed with winning and moral dilemma. -Iann W.

Whether it's one of his novels or one of hi truly fascinating cooperative nonfiction effortsLarry Strauss, has a flair for comedy, artistry, word selection, information, and entertainment.Among his best work is his cooperative effort with Dr. Gershon Lesser. WHEN YOU HAVE CHEST PAINS, published by Lowell House, in 1989 is a masterpiece that will live in the libraries of all forever. FAKE OUT, another great book that deserves its place in the hall of fame. It is with GREAT pride that I can say that I own a book written by Larry Strauss!