I couldn't get enough of this book. Powell is a wonderful writer, and he introduces us to the perspectives of Historical Jesus scholars of the last two centuries with absolute clarity and just the right details. I just had a lot of fun reading on the different scholarly views on who that ancient man of sorrows was. Powell seemingly has no axe to grind, seems completely competent to plough the terrain, and makes the whole trip worth it with the last two pages of the book....After this huge deluge of information about what Jesus did or did not say; after all of the guessing concerning Jesus message; after probing why Jesus has remained so controversial after 2000 years, Powell offers a tantalizing scenario concerning the very first Christian words ever penned on the last two pages (his only personal reflections in the book). I had to wipe the tears from my eyes after that.

This book is a 5 all the way. You won't be disappointed regardless of your view of who Jesus was (or is).

Dr. Powell is head of the Historical Jesus section of the SBL. He not only is a New Testament scholar in his own right, he is also a respected colleague and friend of the Jesus Scholars he discusses. He not only has read their works, but he understands their positions from the inside.

In my experience, the study of the Historical Jesus is sometimes characterized by rhetoric, special pleading, and an unfruitful "us" vs. "them" attitude. While Powell is forthright about his own views when this is appropriate, he comes across as
surprisingly objective as he discusses the pros and cons of each position. This is aided by the fact that the Jesus scholars often disagree with each other - so he can just say "Wright would take issue with that", or "Crossan responds to this view
in this way."

Powell's writing style is refreshingly informal at times, and he obviously strives for clarity over the "scholar-speak" so often encountered. At the same time, he is obviously familiar with the technical concepts and not only throws the jargon around
but often explains it.

The book shows unusual restraint - Powell gives the reader room to formulate his/her own conclusions, while providing insight into both the issues and the scholars themselves.

I understand that this book is used in college courses as an introduction to the subject, and I can see why.

_Jesus As a Figure in History_ is a rare contribution: a clear explanation of a difficult and complex subject. I give it a 5.

Mark Allan Powell's Chasing the Eastern Star is an excellent book! Powell's purpose is to explain the purpose and method of reader-response criticism as it relates to biblical studies.

The last part of the book, uses the method of reader-response criticism to examine the story of the magi in the Gospel of Matthew. He reaches some surprising conclusions regarding the magi.

Powell's book is worth reading for the scholar, preacher, or educated lay person. He explains the potentially boring and difficult concept of reader-response criticsm in a very witty and lively manner. The only wittier bible scholar around may be Stephen Moore (read God's Gym to see what I mean).

Now that I have finished the adventure of reading Chasing the Eastern Star, I am ready for more biblical adventures regarding the bible and reader response criticsm.

I couldn't put this one down. It's taken from a journal kept by a German sergeant before and throughout his years as a prisoner of war in various camps in the United States. He speaks of his hunger, the work they had to do, his impressions of America and Americans, and his horror at the end of the war when he learned of the concentration camps in Germany. It is so well written that you can feel his longing for home and family, and his loyalty to his comrades, and his anger at not having enough to eat a lot of the time. I've read it, but I'm keeping it to re-read some time in the future.

The Utah History Encyclopedea, edited by Allan Kent Powell, and published by University of Utah Press (1994), has proved to be my number one source for research on the history and Native American studies in Utah.

I am an archaeologist and have been working in Utah quite a bit over the last three years. While I had some knowledge of the prehistory and Native American Tribes of southern Utah, I did not have any specific knowledge of the history of Utah, its founders, historic events, towns, or cities. Each of the reports I write (typically for government agencies)needs to have an Archaeoogical/Historical/Cultural Context section. I have used this book hundreds of times in the last three years. While not all of the information I need is contained in the book, each section and article has a suggested bibliography which I can use to find additional information.

Although this is a reference book, I find that I frequently enjoy reading articles which are not related to my research. While it has proved to be an enourmous resource for my research, its articles are written in lay terms, which anyone might enjoy who is interested in the history, prehistory, or Native American of Utah and the West.

I highly recommend it to the general public and my colleagues.

Deborah Dosh Director Kinlani Archaeology, Ltd. P.O. Box 67 Flagstaff, Arizona 86002 (520) 526-9797

This is a very good book for summarizing dozens of scholarly fields into a coherent 'Introduction' of the canonized gospels. Great starting poing if you don't know much about Q or the M and L material. Sufficient discussion about the characteristics and histories of the four gospels. My only knock against this book is that the author too often makes the statement 'most scholars' in order to back a particular hypothesis - refuting a quote from the book that evidence should be 'weighed, not counted.' Still, I learned a lot from the book and would recommend it to anyone interested in the history of the New Testament texts.

Most biblical studies are quite frankly designed for scholars and seminary students. As a general reader, I can unhesitatingly recommend this small volume that helps you understand the basics of the Gospels.

There are three sections for each of the four Gospels, discussing Characteristics (what makes it different from the other three Gospels), Historical background (where, when and why they were probably written and whether Matthew, Mark, Luke and John actually wrote them) and Major Themes (the messages that each writer wanted to get across). Things that the general reader might not be aware of, like the phantom "Q" Gospel that probably provided Matthew and Luke with material and the controversy over whether John or Lazarus was the "Beloved Disciple", are introduced in easy to understand fashion without overwhelming non-scholars. There is also an appendix summarizing the "Gnostic Gospels" which, although I wouldn't count on finding them in new copies of the New Testament anytime soon, are gaining credibility with scholars (especially the Gospel of Thomas).

I found it interesting and informative.

I have used Powell's book as a text for my undergraduate "Life and Teachings of Jesus" course during this past year. It is extremely well written and organized. Powell has a gift for presenting complex information in accessible form. The charts and tables in the book are particularly helpful and to the point. My students consistently compliment the book for its content and clarity. The only disappointment is that the chapters on each of the four canonical gospels are not structured in a way that mirrors their narrative shape. The struggle to lead students through the worlds created by the gospels and to present relevant critical issues at the same time is most difficult. Powell balances these concerns as well as anyone and much better than most. If only there was space in such a textbook to lead students to a discovery of the themes of the gospels instead of listing and describing them. That is a task still left to the instructor, but Powell's book provides excellent support.

As I normally tend to stick with authors I know, I was not expecting to be bowled over by a relatively new author, but I was very impressed! Vernon Powell has written a complex plot, spanning nearly a century, yet the story is not so complex as to be confusing. I could not wait to get to the end to see how he tied it all together. His characters are sharp and interesting. I especially liked his colorful descriptions. Can't wait to read more of his works.

Julie Lindsey-Thomas and her husband Greg Thomas are making the biggest move of their lives-- into the twenty-eight-room mansion, that Julie has inherited from her eccentric great-aunt Elizabeth Samuels. They can't wait to turn it into a beautiful Bed and Breakfast. Unbeknownst to Julie, she wasn't the only potential heir: Great-Aunt Elizabeth had an illegitimate son, Jake, who was born mentally handicapped, and his true identity as Elizabeth's son was kept a secret. After Elizabeth's death Jake found refuge at the Keeler Institute, where those with marginal abilities were able to thrive...until now. The organization has no more resources for people like Jake, and Jake has no resources at all.

Julie's and Jake's lives are about to intersect- an intersection made more interesting because Julie and Jake are protected by the same guardian angel. The troubles that finally bring these two together, and the resolution of those troubles, make a fascinating tale.

After seeing good reviews for Angel Shared on several different sites I decided to check it out for myself and I am very glad that I did. I love a book that the characters stick with me. If they seem real enough that days later I think...wonder what Greg and Julie are doing or I hope Jake is making it ok....then I know the book is worth recommending to others. This is one of those books. Where are you V. Powell, we want to hear more. Great Book, keep up the good work.

I would describe this book as an overview of Christopher Gist's life. It outlined all the major events, but didn't provide alot of detail. This may not be surprising considering the relatively small number of books devoted to the subject. Overall, I think it is a solid effort, and a good place to start learning about this little-known historical figure.

This interesting book has nice photos of sites and reenactors. It has historic markers and details of mistakes on the markers. There are also copies of historic documents and maps. The book is an easy read for those with a knowledge of the F&I War. It would be a good addition to the library of everyone living in Western Maryland. The book is NOT a complete history of Maryland in the French and Indian War, rather it is a helpful selective history.