The reviewer who said that this was the best book of its kind on the subject is right. I use this book to teach a college course in Religion in America to freshmen, and they find it fascinating. While most books of articles have a few winners and a lot of articles that are not very engaging, each offering in this book is so interesting that I occasionally reread them for pleasure. Hackett and the authors of the articles have keyed in on issues central to the religious experience of Americans from many traditions.

David Hackett is an unaturally gifted writer, scholar, and dude. The Reader became an instant favorite of mine upon having the desire to rekindle my days of studying the sociology of religion with Dr. Hackett at the University of Florida. Each chapter provides insight into Americans as religious folk living in a secular world. For all those interested in American religion, culture, and society; Religion and American Culture : A Reader is much more than a competent professor's ladder climbing to tenure. It is a masterwork.

I had the privilege of studying Religion and American Culture with Dr. Hackett. This text was effective in its presentation of American Religious History, and made a special effort to include scholarship that focused on forgotten/ignored aspects of American Religious History, including African-Americans, Women, and Native Americans.

While it is of the most benefit to those engaged in formal academic study, it should prove insightful to most any reader with an interest in the subject matter.

HOT! HOT! THIS REALLY WAS SO SENSUAL AND SO REAL FOR ME. I DATED
THIS MAN. HE WAS READY AND ALL IT TOOK WAS THAT LITTLE TAPE OF HERS TO GET ALL THE STORY ON ITS WAY. FUN TO READ AND HAS A MYSTERY TO BOOT.

It's amazing the trouble Detective Duke Rawlins can into with silk, lace and videotape. And it all started so simply. The New York Police force detective stakes out suspected drug smuggler Victor Gallaghar. By association, the police also have his high society girlfriend Amanda Matthews in their files. As Duke makes his move, Amanda arrives with incredibly ... legs and feet swathed in pink, peaking enticingly from beneath her trench coat. Her picture had enough allure for Duke, and the thing kicks his libido into overdrive.

Duke accompanies her in the elevator to the tenth floor, where he pretends coincidence as they both knock at the same door. Plans go awry, however, when a lipstick smeared bimbo in a man's bathrobe answers the door. Duke holds Amanda to question last, leaving squirming. After Amanda leaves, Duke finds her videotape. It's not until he views it the following day at the station, thinking it might prove to be evidence in his case against Victor, that Duke realizes the beautiful vision before him yesterday was naked beneath her coat.

Instead of her planned seduction, however, Amanda sits through some bimbo's questioning, her now ex-boyfriend's arrest, and her own questioning -- embarrassingly aware that she's clad in nothing but a trench coat. Terrified she's going to be caught and arrested for inadvertent flasher charges, Amanda struggles to keep her coat carefully arranged and promises she'll give up her desire to live a little if she can only go back to her anonymous, but respectable, existence.

Joanne Rock creates a dynamic, scintillating tale of romance and chemistry in SILK, LACE & VIDEOTAPE. She's a princess, and he's nothing but a frog from the wrong side of the pond. She's a suspect, and he's a cop. She's fabulously sexy, and he can't resist. The thrills and teasing quickly consummate in a fantastically heated encounter that leaves them both stunned. After all, it's supposed to be just about sex. But when one's entire world is rocked, it's no longer just about sex. Duke proves himself a typical male in that he's not got a clue how to cope. With emotional challenges added to the difficulties presented by their disparate backgrounds, these character's motivations are convincing and realistic. Very highly recommended.

SILK, LACE, & VIDEOTAPE is hot! From the start with Amanda Matthews meeting sexy Detective Duke Rawlins! Amanda was going to meet her boyfriend and give him a little surprise when she was the one who got the surprise. Then Duke took her in for questioning, he got a surprise tape with some secrets Amanda had been keeping hidden.

From there, Amanda went back to her business of designing and Duke back to his detective work but the images of the tape stuck in his mind. When he visited her to give back the tape, he propositioned her for a night of pleasure out on the town. One night turned into heat, sweat, and love in bed with each other. Trying to take down the bad guys, Duke juggled his duty with his emotions and growing love for Amanda. Amanda, on the other hand, juggled her loyalty with her love for Duke.

Throughout this book I was thinking how hot it was and how much steam it created. I love the emotions Ms. Rock created with the characters. I especially enjoyed the tug of emotions that played between Amanda and Duke. I wanted my very own Duke! Ms. Rock made a book of sex, love, and attraction all in one - good going!

Seamless, effortless, a glimpse of the most personal moments in a young woman's life - her family, the intense awakening to its possibilities and the lack of them. But what really gets me, is how I can read the poems, again and again, in order, out of order and each time I read them, I see and feel something new about my own experience. McFarland's poetry reminds me of James Wright. It cuts right to the emotional quick.

JoAnne McFarland gives us touchingly beautiful, sometimes disturbing, glimpses of a gifted African American woman coming of age in the Bronx of the 60s and early 70s. But it would be a disservice to call "Stills" either ethno- or geocentric. Readers of any origin will relish her sharp take on the characters around Rosedale Ave., and her sense of place in a world often beyond her control. The poems, accompanied by family pictures, work synergistically, creating a more complete, revealing and personal memoir than could a more traditional narrative.

Some of the pieces left me with a powerful sense of the inadequacies of mere talent to overcome life's vicissitudes. Her father, a composer who wrote songs for Elvis Presley, ultimately succumbed to alcoholism, and she offers searing flashes of this dashingly brilliant but destructive leading man. Other poems convey the extraordinary resources (and resourcefulness) of her mother, her sister and McFarland herself, whose gifts not only have navigated her through girlhood but have rendered her story into this lovely literary artwork.

Joanne McFarland's slim, spare volume is like a multi-dimensional tapestry offering the reader level upon level of pleasure. The carefully crafted poems are sensual without being self-indulgent, the lyricism of her language evokes lush imagery within each perfect phrase. She has organized the poems so that they follow a somewhat autobiographical path - as you delight in each poem, you are also travelling her sometimes harrowing, terribly beautiful youth. The poems are punctuated with photos - "stills" from her past, that provide visual fodder as well as a pause from the words to allow contemplation. The poems emerge from her particular African American background, but speak to everyone who has had a complex adolescence, without self-pity or maudlin descriptions. Joanne is certainly a force to be followed - I look forward to her future writings.

When my husband passed away I thought I would never be able to go on. I wish this book existed 3 years ago. It would have been so helpful. I found myself captivated with the words in this book and through my own tears, I found purpose.

This book gave me a sense that it was OK that I miss my husband so much and it also gave me the courage to go on with my own life. Thank you for writing this book. The only fault I found in it was that it didn't exist 3 years ago. I think this would have helped me to see that my life did not end with my husband's

On August 9, 2000, my husband was tragically killed in a mid air collision over northern Burlington County in New Jersey. He was on a routine business trip with 6 others plus the 2 pilots. The small plane he was in collided mid air with another small plane carrying a student pilot and his instructor. For ten and a half months I searched the book stores looking for something to validate my feelings and help me to understand that I was not going crazy. Then a friend sent me this book and as I read it I felt that I was reading my own story. I identified with all of the feelings of the author--the shock, the sweet numbness that didn't last long enough, the fear, the anger, the despair, the confusion, the lonlieness. Reading this book not only validated my feelings but gave me hope. One of the lines states that when they said there were no survivors they were wrong. We are the survivors. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has lost a love one suddenly or tragically. In fact it would be helpful to anyone who has experienced any loss of a loved one--anyone who is desperately trying to pick up the pieces and continue to live. The book gives us hope and reminds us that LIFE IS GOOD. It tells us that the most respect we can give the memory of our loved one is to know that because of their love, their strength will carry us through. As a Hospice nurse for many years I thought I knew all there was about death dying and grieving. How wrong I was. If you are struggling with the loss of someone you loved more than life, you MUST read this book. In fact I would say it is IMPERATIVE that you read this book. My thanks to this author who has helped me more than words can say.

Joanne has written a book that every widow needs to read. I have searched for this type of book ever since I became tragically widowed on May 8, 2000.

This book will help any widow with all of their feelings. Knowing we are not alone in the pain and thoughts we endure is a critical part of healing. This book will take you from the moment Joanne found out her husband had been tragically killed in a plane crash to the day she realized she can go on and be happy again. This process is different, yet the same for every widow, especially those who have lost their spouse without warning.

Reading about her feelings and pain from the first night and how she could not cry when she initially found out were so familiar to me. (The tears came quickly as we all know) She then goes on through each emotion she endured for her and her two teenage children.

Until I read Joanne's book, I was not sure I would be okay. Now I know I will and I can be happy again. I also know that I am not crazy for the different emotions I have felt. Like the times I have just wanted to end my life thinking the pain was to great. Joanne shares her every thought without holding back. This is what all widows needed to hear from another widow. I was able to connect with everything she wrote. This book captivated me. I read it in one setting and am getting ready to read it again.

My only regret is that this book was not published earlier. If you have become a "Widow without Warning" or know someone who has, PLEASE take the time to read this book. I would have paid thousands of dollars for this.

This is my four-year old daughter's favorite book. One day, while I was reading it too her, after reading the passage that says "God the Father is God. God the Son is God. God the Holy Spirit is God." I asked her, "So how many God's are there." I watched as she counted to three on her fingers, started to say "three" but then stopped herself and said "One!"

This book explains the trinity in terms that my 3-year old has come to understand. What an excellent tool in explaining how God protects, what faith is, and the role of the Holy Spirit. I will be packing this book for his overnite trips to grandma and grandpa's house to use as a witnessing tool.

Never before have I seen a book so clearly explain God to a child. Perfect for every Godchild you may have!

If you love the stories of Robin Hood then you'll love this book.It's some of the many stories of Robin Hood with Wishbone as your guide.It's good for young kids because Wishbone is right there explaining things like what is chain mail armor.I don't think I could give this book any thing but 5 stars.

I read a book called: WISHBONE THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD. It was really good.A funny part was when little John tricked the sheriff that he was bad.I liked it a lot. The author is Joan Mattern.The book had a lot of bow and arrow shooting and a lot of fighting so if you like books with kings and knights and outlaws you'll like this one!

This author is truly wonderful,because he/she uses action, horror, fantsy and suprise.

If you have an interest in missions or just wanting to see what mission work is like you will love this book.

Don't read this book if you don't want to be convicted of God's awesome power, of the need to 'go ye into all the world', and of the relatively powerless life most American Christians lead. The testimony of Joanne Shetler was an inspiration to me. My God is much greater than I give him credit for being. I intended to merely skim this book as research for a novel I'm working on, but the story compelled me to read every word and then read it--prayerfully--again.

Deborah Raney, author of A Vow to Cherish and Beneath a Southern Sky

This book has really touched my heart and has shown me that God is so BIG and awesome!!! All the numerous ways that God used Joanne's ministry to bring the Balangaos to Him was incredible. All of the miracles mentioned in the book are amazing, and could have only happened through God.

Of all the books currently published on Sondheim's musicals, Gordon gives the best academic treatment to his works. Mainly a formal analysis of the shows, she peppers in enough historical and biographical facts to provide any reader with a better understanding of the plays. The chapter on _Sunday_ is particularly good. It does help to be familiar with the shows before reading, as Gordon wastes little time on plot synopsis. A must for any Sondheim scholar.

This book takes us musical-by-musical through some of the most famous and artistically valuable of Sondheim's musicals (the latest entry being Assassins). Each chapter looks at the musical with a critical eye (or listens with a critical ear, as the case may be) and responds to criticism about the musical in question. This is not a book simply about selling Sondheim - when the author is unimpressed, she lets us know. But Gordan finds much to admire in Sondheim's musicals, and helps us to appreciate that. Each chapter outlines in detail the plot, characters, and songs - especially useful for in-depth study. You can't get much more specific without actually taking out the libretto or following along in the score! All her arguments are well-founded and supported with examples from the text. The use of lyrics is especially appropriate. This book is especially valuable from a literary and theatrical standpoint. The observations on the music itself are correct, but not plentiful, as Gordan's expertise is in theatre, not music. Accessible to the casual audience member and the Sondheim groupie.

Whether you are well versed in all of Sondheim or have just seen a show once this books covers everthing from plot, to technique, to reviews. I used this for my thesis on Sondheim and found it very informative.

You will have to read the book to find out, but it sure is a doozey! I loved this book as I have all of the previous ones in the series, but this one is the funniest so far. I actually found myself laughing out loud a number of times. Pence keeps getting better; the story grabs you, the mystery keeps you guessing and the romance is great - what more can a person ask for!

As a great reader of mystery books, I can honestly say Joanna Pence is one of the best writers I've read recently and I've read a lot! Fast paced and interesting! Hopefully she and her homicide detective will continue through many more books in this series.

This one has it all - suspense, romance and humor. If you haven't read any of these books, start at the beginning of the series and keep reading. Even though this isn't the last one, it's my favorite. I hope Joanne Pence keeps turning out the Angie Amalfi books.

A terrific, pocket-sized Irish cookbook that you can take with you anywhere. Dozens of tasty recipes you can use for St. Patrick's Day! If you're looking for that special dish you mother used to make, you'll find it here. Asala has done a number of books on Celtic themes, including a large format cookbook "Celtic Folklore Cooking" and another, "Irish Saints and Sinners," which is unfortunately out of print. Her books never fail to please!

Recipes from Ireland by Joanne Asala, author of 'Celtic Folklore Cooking' and 'Whistling Jigs to the Moon: Tales of Irish and Scottish Pipers and Legends of Irish Saints and Sinners.' All of her books are entertaining to read. Asala was born in Chicago has a love of Celtic lore that has taken her to United Kingdom and Ireland, where many of these recipes were gathered from people who still cook the same as their ancestors did. All of the recipes in this spiral bound book are very simple to make. If you're just beginning, this would be a good start in Irish cooking. The book is great fun to learn as it has some interesting history thrown in the pages.

The most interesting history is how poteen (poitín), what we come to know as 'Mountain Dew' or 'Moonshine' had it's origins in Ireland and brought to the Appalachian Mountains! The recipes are categorized by Beverages, Breads and Porridges, Milk, Eggs and Cheese, Soups and Stews, Potatoes and Other Vegetables, Fish and Shellfish, Meat and Wild Game and Desserts. The original Irish coffee came from Co. Clare by Joe Sheridan as a pick-me-up for transatlantic travelers. He used hot black coffee, 1 1/2 oz. Irish Mist Liqueur and 2 Tbsp. whipped cream. The best breads are the Brown, Barm Brack and the Treacle (Molasses) Bread. Boxty is the original potato cakes or pancakes. They're great with butter and sugar. Lots of popular favorites are included like Traditional Irish Stew and Colcannon. The authentic stew does NOT have carrots in it. Only Lamb neck chops, potatoes, onions, seasoned with parsley and thyme, salt and pepper. The potato was the only staple in the Irish diet before the Great Famine of 1845-1849. The consequences of the crop blight was catastrophic. 1 million Irish perished from starvation while 1 1/2 million emigrated to the U.S. My favorite section was the Fish and Shellfish. The Baked Cod and Bacon were wonderful. Other favorites, Grilled Mackerel, Mushroom and Scallop Pie, Baked Salmon, Baked Trout and Pickled Herring. For those who love lobster there's Dublin Lawyer. My recent trip to Ireland is that the fish market has grown with a large variety of seafood like, monkfish, John Dowry, blue hake, oysters and mussels. While on your visit go to the Old English Market, Cork City, Co. Cork for a great adventure in traditional Irish food!

The front cover photograph view of Clifden, Connemara is by Patrick Costello. It brought back memories of seeing the town from the Sky Road. A breath-taking view! This spiral bound book is small, easy to carry around anywhere. In addition to things Irish, it contains the legend of the shamrock, the Irish flag and Irish Sites in America. This would be something to give to a family member who loves to cook and like ethnic cooking. They make good stuffers into a stocking for a nice Christmas gift.

For this collection, Joanne Asala gathered recipes from dishes served at hotels, bed and breakfasts and restaurants in Ireland. Other recipes are for dishes she sampled in homes of Irish Americans.

The dishes are simple and tasty, Asala says, and reflect "the quality of their ingredients-fresh meat and seafood, rich milk and cream, fruit, vegetables and wonderful wholesome bread." Irish whiskey is a favorite ingredient. It is used in drinks such as the traditional Irish coffee and milk punch, and in other recipes, including one for Christmas cookies. Oatmeal is another favorite, appearing in recipes for beverages, leek and oatmeal soup and almond pudding.

Naturally, a collection of Irish recipes must include recipes for potatoes, the diet of about 8 million peasants during the Great Famine of 1845-1849. You'll find recipes for potato pancakes, potato casseroles and even a chocolate-potato layer cake.

Also included are recipes for such Irish fare as brown soda bread, molasses bread, marmalade loaf, shrimp and cheese chowder, kidney soup, pigs' feet, rabbit pie and, of course, corned beef and cabbage and Irish stew.

Editor William Cotter Murray has added comments about his homeland. Murray, who came to the Iowa Writers' Workshop in the 1950s and taught at the University of Iowa until his retirement, has explored his Irish roots in fiction, poetry and plays.