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Book reviews for "Peace,_Richard" sorted by average review score:

Bosnia: Hope in the Ashes
Published in Paperback by Paraclete Press (1997)
Authors: David Manuel and Richard Schneider
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The title says it all...
It is hard to imagine what good exists in the Yugoslavian crisis. This book highlights an important part of the Bosnian story, all too overlooked. The book is both interesting and compelling, drawing us in by its simplicity and the surprise that there really is hope. World citizens have a responsibility to understand the issues in what makes our world fall apart, and how it gets put back together. This book helps us to do both.


Contemplative Bible Reading: Experiencing God Through Scripture
Published in Paperback by Navpress (1999)
Author: Richard Peace
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A guide to meditation and personal devotion of Scripture
Dr. Peace is the Robert Boyd Munger Chair as Professor of Evangelism and Church Renewal at Fuller Theological Seminary.

This is a relative thin book (96 pages), and is meant for a small group to read through, as well as individuals to study through. It is divided into 14 sessions, where individuals are supposed to go through and do the odd numbered sessions, and small groups are supposed to do the even numbered sessions.

This book is primarily meant to be a study guide for small groups, with leader notes, art of leadership guide, bibliography for further study. The exercises are meant for individuals to work towards the small group study.

Contemplating Bible reading is a 1500+ year old tradition based on lectio divina, divine reading. The process, as described by peace is to Reading/Listening to Scripture (listening for phrases or words that jump out at the reader), Meditating (considering what these words/phrases are and the connection to one's life), Praying (...through these phrases), and Contemplation (resting and listening to God in these topics in silence).

The book goes through a number of texts, and allows both groups and individuals to reflect upon them. It gives some background to the Scriptures, and allows for discussion questions. There are some thoughtful questions in each of the sessions, to allow the reader to think about the passages and the meaning (and application) more. There are also essays on Lectio divina and upon each step.

It pretty good book for some small groups and individuals, if your small group is fairly biblically sound and mature as Christians. The danger of being overly subjective is present, and reading one's own story or one's own prejudices into the text (eisegesis) is a possibility. Nonetheless, this can be a thoughtful way to read Scripture differently than the traditional Bible study guides.


Fatal Choice: Nuclear Weapons: Survival or Sentence
Published in Paperback by Westview Press (15 April, 2003)
Author: Richard Butler
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Important Ideas Concerning Treaties and Nukes
Richard Butler, a proponent of the abolition of all nuclear weapons, has written an important book concerning the current state of nuclear weapons in the world. His main thesis states that the problem with nuclear weapons are the weapons themselves and anything short of getting rid of them a futile effort. Specifically he refers to the Bush administrations future deployment of National Missile Defence as the "fatal choice."

According to Butler, the advocates of missile defense and other measures designed to keep and expand nuclear arsenals in the U.S. use the argument that current treaties, especially the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, are not being adhered to and are thus useless. Butler, however, indicts the U.S. as being the main noncopliant culprit in that the U.S. has not bilaterally reduced its arsenal along with Russia to lower levels as is required in the treaty. Instead of scrapping the treaties, Butler advocates that these treaties ought to be bolstered and the proper institution be established to ensure compliance by all signators.

Butler's book outlines effectively a few specific arguments against NMD.


A Peace Reader: Essential Readings on War, Justice, Non-Violence, and World Order
Published in Paperback by Paulist Press (1992)
Authors: Joseph J. Fahey and Richard Armstrong
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A Good Primer on Nonviolence and Objectivity to War
This nice collection of articles, essays and pamphlets is a must for any High School or College course regarding Peace, Conflict Resolution, Political Structure, and War.

There is a nice introduction to every piece to give the reader a decent context, and each article has a few follow-up questions for future insight.


To End a War
Published in Paperback by Modern Library (1999)
Author: Richard Holbrooke
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Self-serving, excellent insight into the end of a tragedy
A first-hand account of the endgame in Bosnia, To End A War left me thinking at times that Mr. Holbrooke had succumbed to the same nationalist passions and irrational behavior he went around accusing everyone else of. The book sticks to the facts, but they are not the most interesting part. What is more appealing are the inconsistencies in Holbrooke's personal beliefs, his almost racist approach and arrogance, and the revealing passages about the side in the conflict everyone had thought angelic so far. A disturbing book for a reader from the Balkans, this is nevertheless an excellent resource for examining the creation of the New Diplomacy, with all of its resplendent consequences today. One cannot understand the modern world without it. Read with extreme caution and with scrutiny. And, unlike Holbrooke, try to put your prejudices on hold before opening the covers.

READ THIS if you're an American who doesn't know why we went
Holbrooke summarizes the events in the former Yugoslavia in a few hundred pages and gives some insight into an important American question: Why did we send troops over there, anyhow? The transformation of a foreign war into a "vital national interest" as defined in the--for example, I know the timelines conflict--1997 US National Military Strategy is one most Americans (myself included) never understood.

There are altruistic reasons to get involved, but that alone may not be enough to commit military forces that are in limited supply, when injustice is seemingly unlimited. There are regional security issues, but the former Yugoslavia was not of regional concern to the US. Rather the reason for our involvement (as described by Holbrooke) was principally that only America had the political and military clout to negotiate a peace settlement. While critics claim this as American ego, Holbrooke says the EU, while an excellent unifier of economic concerns, did not yet command concensus with regards to security issues and could not handle the problem without US involvement. In this book, Holbrooke relived day-by-day the story as it unfolded around him.

Anyhow, long story short...good book. Its value lies in describing a version of the US political mindset for involvement in Yugoslavia. And it explains why we sent troops there. Detractors of the book are that it gets a bit wordy, and that Holbrooke sometimes has trouble reigning in his State-Department-sized ego, a condition common around the beltway. Pretty good book; solid work.

"Reads like a thriller" wrote one student...
"Reads like a thriller" wrote one student on his course evaluation. This account by Clinton's principal negotiator to end the conflict in the Balkans takes the reader from the landmined mountain roads of Bosnia to the late-night arm-twisting of Milosevic and others at Wright-Patterson AFB. I have used the book in different courses to provide an understanding of the substance of the Balkan conflicts, the role of leadership, and an on-the-ground exposition of diplomacy. Students tend to have two kinds of reactions. First, it reveals (through an admittedly single, American perspective) the issues at stake in the Balkans. But it also offers a more general model for the unseen stakes and battles in diplomacy itself: the variety of interests, the relative (in)flexibility of position on different issues, examples of "spin" to the press, and displays of persistence, skill and the occasional human error (uh, we forgot to consult Croatia!).

Although the roads are better in New York, the book helps one begin to imagine some of the behind-the-scenes battles in the 2002-2003 UN negotiations on military action in Iraq.


100 Ways to Obtain Peace: Overcoming Anxiety
Published in Paperback by Fleming H Revell Co (1993)
Authors: Richard L. Flournoy, Frank Minirth, and Paul Meier
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Religious book
This is a religious book. It offers no useful suggestions on how to overcome anxiety. It is basically a "trust in the lord, and you will overcome this." Not helpful, if you're not particularly religious.

Words of Wisdom
I was given this book by a wonderful friend when my son was diagnosed with cancer. Each night as I lay down to attempt to sleep, I would open this book and read until I found something that made me feel better.

I was never disappointed. Each night I was greeted with words of comfort.

What a wonderful gift for anyone who is facing difficulties in their life! What a wonderful gift for anyone who wishes to seek peace through God!

100 Ways to Obtain Peace: Overcoming Anxiety
I read this book when it was first published a few years ago. I return to it often to find comfort and peace for my anxiety. I think that this book is a great one to carry around with you. It can be read at anytime and can help you distract yourself during a anxiety attack. I like how the verses and the comentaries on each verse is intergraded with biblical principles. I think that everyone should own this book.


ACTS OF WAR : A Novel of Police Terror
Published in Paperback by Free Press (1989)
Author: Richard Holmes
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Misleading and ethnocentric
There is no doubt that much of what Holmes writes is true or solidly based in fact. However, there are glaring ommissions from this book that are quite damming.

Holmes quotes Col. S.L.A. Marshall at length throughout the book. And yet, despite this pattern, not once (that I could find anyway) did Holmes mention the massive WW II Marshall study which concluded that the *majority* of US combat troops did not fire in the heat of combat. The result of that study was the overhaul of basic training and boot camp so that soldiers not only experienced the sights and sounds of combat, but that they also simulate killing as much as possible. The Marshall study negates much of Holme's central thesis that warfare is "natural" for men and that most men seek it out willingly.

Holmes also gives lip service to women and combat and uses convenient examples to discredit. For example, many people use Israel as an example of a sexually intregated force. This is despite the fact, as Holmes points out, that women really don't handle weapons much in the Israeli military. However, there is at least one force that Holmes failed to mention -- the Viet Cong which consisted of over 75 percent women! Because he doesn't mention that example, he can easily sweep the issue of sex under the rug. The truth of the matter is, in war environments where one side views itself as attempting to liberate itself women usually play an integral role, including combat.

Holmes' sociological ignorance is never more obvious then when he discusses the sexuality of soldiers versus those who oppose war. Soldiers biologically want sex with women more! Holmes issues this proclamation without the slightest effort to back it up or to explore other options. In Holmes' world all soldiers are heterosexual and want lots of sex. This would certainly be surprising to the many great homosexual military leaders in warfare history. And I think quite a few "peaceniks" from the 60's might have some contrary evidence to offer Holmes as well.

Holmes is a historian with a military background. He is not a sociologist and he lacks the experience, training and understanding to explore deeper issues and to look at contradictions to his beliefs.

I give this book two stars just because this is important field to look at. Hopefully someone with better understanding of the use of propaganda (from all sides), gender roles, sexism, cultural history (that isn't Anglo Saxon!) will come along and do this topic justice.

Very revealing
This book is a very revealing look at why the military does things the way it does. For example, many civilians do not understand the mindless brutality of basic training or the ultra-masculine culture of the military. This book puts everything into a real psychological perspective and explains why things are the way they are in the military. May be hard for civilians to relate to, but veterans will find this book very revealing.

Very good...
"Acts of War" examines the behavior of men under fire by using a combined historical/anthropological approach to the institution of soldiering. It's unfortunate that more titles are not available on this subject. "Acts of War" is a complementary prelude to similar works such as "The Savage Mind", "On Aggression", and "On Killing". Holmes, thankfully, does not propogate the "Marshall Myth" claiming that most troops refuse to fire their weapons when actively engaged with the enemy. Archived combat footage of Soldiers and Marines filmed during the Second World War, Korea, and Vietnam disproves that theory at a glance. It's unfortunate that S.L.A.M. has had such a pervasive influence on the U.S. Army's basic marksmanship training program for the last fifty years (if you disagree I urge you to consult after-action reports on Marine marksmanship in France extolling the virtues of the KD [known distance] course). Holmes goes on to provide ample evidence supporting his argument that Man is naturally predisposed to warfare. Holmes has been accused of defaming and minimizing the role of women in combat. It's an unjustified accusation. Female combatants are the exception to the rule, not the norm, and their historical contribution has been sensationalized. "Acts of War" is highly reminiscent of Keegan's "The Face of Battle" yet much more detailed when discussing the development and maturation of a soldier's psyche.


Choose Hope: Your Role in Waging Peace in the Nuclear Age
Published in Hardcover by Middleway Press (2002)
Authors: Daisaku Ikeda, David Krieger, and Richard L Gage
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Not all SGI Members follow these teachings...
Being a born again Christian..I LOVE everyone of ALL Faiths..I enjoyed reading the Book Choose Hope..

I have a friend whom is an SGI member...and I used to attend their meetings until a member decided I could not bring my Bible to the Meetings...So I am still welcome but not with my Bible???

God Bless You All!!

In "Jesus" Most Precious Name...

With Love...In Christ...

Eileen

Not all Christians follow Jesus's teachings
Being a born again Buddhist..I LOVE everyone of ALL Faiths..I enjoyed reading the Book Choose Hope..

I have a friend whom is an Church member...and I used to attend their meetings until a member decided I could not bring my Buddhist manuscript to their Bible study Meetings...So I am still welcome but not with my Buddhist Manuscript???

May you be imparted with the widsom, courage and love of the Buddha!!

In Buddha's Most Precious Name...

With Love...and enlighned spirit...

Ieleen

Help eliminate the threat of nuclear war
Choose Hope: Your Role In Waging Peace In The Nuclear Age by David Krieger (President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation) and Daisaku Ikeda (President of the Soka Gakkai International and recipient of the 1983 United Nations Peace Award), is an uplifting, inspiring, and practical inquiry into what ordinary people can do to help eliminate the threat of nuclear war. Individual chapters address the critical importance of nongovernmental organizations, the future of the United Nations, the lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and much, much more. Choose Hope is a highly recommended reading for anyone concerned with the proliferation of nuclear weapons technology and the resultant, globally engaging threat of nuclear warfare in these troubled times.


War Cycles - Peace Cycles
Published in Paperback by Virginia Pub Co (1994)
Author: Richard Kelly Hoskins
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Excellent Book on Money & Banking
This book is written in a straight-forward style that makes it easy to read and understand. It is fun to read this book. I couldn't put it down and stayed up nearly all night to finish it. I've taken a number of rather unexciting economics courses at AACSB accredited colleges at universities. They were good courses, and I was a top student. It is my opinion that I learned more from reading this book than from those college courses. Read this book, and you'll gain an understanding of money, fractional reserve banking and the pertinent history. Read this book and you'll learn much about how the world works. War Cycles - Peace Cycles is definitely a must read.

Required reading for all businessmen and patriots.
Mr. Hoskins is a genius. His descriptions of usury, banking, taxes, money, economics, inflation and war are classic. You won't find this book at your library. It's not PC. University professors and the clergy are unable to refute Mr. Hoskins conclusions without lying. Liberals shouldn't read this book. It will only raise their blood pressure. If you want to preserve your own wealth, this book is for you.

Jesus said he who is not with me is against me
This book is for the sheep. It is an eye-opener, and they love it. The wolves hate it. That's why these 18 reviews (to this point) are sharply divided: 11 five-star reviews, 6 mostly one-star reviews.

Just the concept of an economics book sounds dull. This book is the opposite of dull. When I received my copy, I responded like the other sheep: I stayed up all night reading it; I gave copies to friends and relatives; I re-read it myself; and then I read all of Hoskins' other books -- all excellent (to the sheep).

This book is a light in the darkness. It will reveal truths that will change forever your understanding of the world system.

My advice to you is simple: If you are a wolf, do not buy this book. You will hate it. If you are a sheep, it will be one of the most important books you will ever buy. Plan to start reading it early in the day unless you want to be up all night.


Choose Peace: A Dialogue Between Johan Galtung and Daisaku Ikeda
Published in Paperback by Pluto Press (01 September, 1995)
Authors: Johan Galtung, Richard L. Gage, and Daisaku Ikeda
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Choose Peace
In this book, "Choose Peace: A Dialogue Between Johan Galtung and Daisaku Ikeda," world-renowned professor of peace studies at the University of Hawaii and founder of the International Peace Research Institute, Dr. Johan Galtung, and Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhist scholar and current president of Soka Gakkai International, the world's largest Buddhist organization, explore the interface between Buddhist philosophy and nonviolent solutions to war and political conflict. The two scholars share various painful memories of growing up during World War II. Mr. Ikeda suffered illness as well as the loss of his dear older brother who died in combat, adding to the anguish his family sufferred. In Dr. Galtung's case, during the Nazi occupation of his homeland, Norway, Dr. Galtung's father was imprisoned in a concentration camp in retaliation for his resistance activities.

Their shared quest inspires concrete proposals that are directly relevant to conflict resoulution today, including such hot topics as the death penalty, nationalism and regional unification, religious fundamentalism, the proliferation of nuclear arms, and the role of the United Nations in peacekeeping around the world.

"Choose Peace" is presented as a dialogue between these two scholars, and identifies the various sources of violence and unrest, while demonstrating the role of Buddhist philosophy in formulating solutions that will lead to lasting peace.

The Father of Peace Studies - Johan Galtung
In Choose Peace, Johan Galtung, the founder of the International Peace Research Institute and currently a professor of peace studies at the University of Hawaii, and Daisaku Ikeda, a Buddhist leader, explore the interface between Buddhism and nonviolent solutions to global conflict. The two men share bitter personal memories of World War II. During the German occupation of Norway, Dr. Galtung's father was imprisoned in a concentration camp for his resistance activities. In Mr. Ikeda's case, his older brother died in combat, adding to the terrible anguish he felt during the war.

Far from abstract, their quest inspires concrete proposals that are directly relevant to the political agendas of today, such as the death penalty, nationalism and regional unification, fundamentalism, arms reduction, and the proliferation and supervision of nuclear technology, and the role of the United Nations in peacekeeping initiatives.

Presented as a dialogue between the two men, Choose Peace identifies sources of global violence and unrest and demonstrates the role of Buddhism in formulating peaceful solutions.

The Role of Buddhism in Formulating Peace Solutions
In Choose Peace, Johan Galtung, the founder of the International Peace Research Institute and currently a professor of peace studies at the University of Hawaii, and Daisaku Ikeda, a Buddhist leader, explore the interface between Buddhism and nonviolent solutions to global conflict.

The two men share bitter personal memories of World War II. During the German occupation of Norway, Dr. Galtung's father was imprisoned in a concentration camp for his resistance activities. In Mr. Ikeda's case, his older brother died in combat, adding to the terrible anguish he felt during the war.

Far from abstract, their quest inspires concrete proposals that are directly relevant to the political agendas of today, such as the death penalty, nationalism and regional unification, fundamentalism, arms reduction, and the proliferation and supervision of nuclear technology, and the role of the United Nations in peacekeeping initiatives.

Presented as a dialogue between the two men, Choose Peace identifies sources of global violence and unrest and demonstrates the role of Buddhism in formulating peaceful solutions.


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