This book, although only 215 pages, gives a glimpse into the lives of "Christian greats" like Charles Spurgeon, Amy Carmichael, C.S. Lewis, F.B. Meyer, Hudson Taylor, Geraldine Taylor, Isobel Kuhn and Ruth Bell Graham, who became spiritual giants **in the midst of their pain**. It seems to be true that misery loves company... reading about other's woes seem to make you reevaluate your own pain and realize that things just aren't so bad after all. Actually, the author does a fine job of confronting the idea in modern Christianity that true Christians are never depressed, grieving or stressed.

....This new one is not really an encyclopedia. Instead ofcompletely alphabetical it is alphabetical by subject, i.e.,chemistry, botony, etc., and made topics very hard to find. The 2000version also left out definitions/explanations.... I don'trecommend the 2000 version at all. Sorry. As usual the second remakeof something never seems to be as good as the first. END

Our family really enjoys the format of this book. The 10 thematic chapters seem more coherent than the old books alphabetic style. Concepts are tied together rather than merely a list of factoids. There are plenty of ways to look up information alphabetically. I have to say we much prefer this verion. Great illustrations throughout. I wish the 10 volume set was available here.

This is nowhere near the usual standard of excellence I've come to expect from Charles D. Taylor. "The Sunset Patriots" just dragged and the characters were merely names on papaer, not flesh and blood people you come to care about. In most of the scenes, Taylor just told you what was happening, instead of letting the characters describe it to you. What dialogue Taylor did have was very uninspiring. I'm just glad he improved since "The Sunset Patriots" to write some very good books like "Boomer" and "Shadow War."

This sorry excuse for a book reads more like a bedraggled draft that has been rejected by every respectable publisher you can think of. For a technothriller it features the most inept descriptions of military hardware and worst-ever plot I have ever had the misfortune to read. The story meanders and blunders incoherently towards a spectacularly stupid final battle, in which two opposing naval fleets charge right at each other cavalry-style firing missiles all over the place.

I understand there are people who enjoy watching bad movies for the sheer hell of it. I wonder if a similar type of reader exists. Unless you are connoiseur of bad novels, I'd advise you not to waste your time with this turkey.