"Oct. 22nd, 1837. 'What are you doing now?' he asked, 'Do you keep a journal?'-- So I make my first entry today." Thus begins Thoreau's Journal, made up of more then two million words and covering about twenty-five years of his life. No other work of Thoreau's better exhibits his discipline as a writer and his devotion to the natural world. In the Journal can be found the fragmented foundations of masterpieces such as Walden, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, The Maine Woods, and Cape Cod. But what is perhaps more interesting to a reader of Thoreau's Journal are his thoughts and insights on topics such as friendship, love, religion, nature, bravery, heroism, war, slavery, the art of writing, and, most important to Thoreau, the art of living. Anyone with any interest in Thoreau will find his Journal to be an invaluable aid in understanding and following the life of one of America's most profound prose writers

As the illustrator of the Jefferson building's overview for the book (pp.276-277), I had the rare privilege of walking through many of the areas of the Jefferson building not open to the public. Entering the Great Hall for the first time, I was caught off guard by its extraordinary beauty. Being a native Washingtonian, I was surprised that such a lavishly decorated structure existed here in Washington, D.C. The overall impression of the interior is more that of the Paris Opera House, than a government building. This beautiful book, with its many photographic details of the interior, allows the reader to recreate that sense of awe that I experienced walking through the entrance. With Anne Day's vivid photos, and the Libary's wonderful history, this book should be a welcome addition to anyone's personal library. Once you see the book, I suspect you may modify your itinerary for your next trip to Washington. This gem of a building is definitely worth a visit.

-Doug Stern

T.H. Huxley's Collected Essays speaks to the what, where, when and how of one of the nineteenth centuries brightest minds. Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley speaks to the why. In so doing, this collected work introduces the reader to the motivations, the successes and failures in Huxley's personal and professional life. From the philosophical insights gleaned from the death of his son, to his motivation for coining agnosticism and his journey as Darwin's Bulldog and most imminent defender, this work is a must have for the scientist, philosopher or historian interested in learning and appreciating the trials and tribulations of one of the nineteenth centuries most intellectually honest and gifted intellects.

Blackstone Audio has given me an assortment of Audio Books to review and each time I have thoroughly enjoyed what I heard. This audio book is certainly no exception to that rule. Living Biographies is a great look into 20 of the most famous rulers in history.

From the rise and fall of Solomon to Julius and Augustine Caesar and their reigns of power and conquest, you'll feel as if you are right there with them. Listen as Kubla Kahn takes the vicious Kahn tradition and becomes a more gentle ruler.

Hear how Henry VIII rids himself of his wives as he tires of them; hear how Queen Elizabeth rose to power and Catherine the Great takes control of the Russian empire. Listen as Montezuma and the Aztecs are invaded by Cortez.

Stories of Ivan the Terrible's reign of bloody terror to Stalin revolution to Mussolini's total dominance of Italy to Hitler's rule of mass genocide, you'll simply be amazed. The 6 1½ hour cassettes are easy to play while driving, making your trips go a little faster. Well done!

A very rare book that brings Heart and Soul as well as Intellect to the reviewing table. In consequence Neitzsche and Schopenhauer are completely debunked, whilst Plato, Socrates, Hume, Kant et al are rightly given their due positions on the high table. Easy to read, easy to digest, fascinating and luminous. This book could save you hundreds of hours you might otherwise have spent unnecessarily wading through dense philosophical tomes. There is nothing else quite like it, when it comes to understanding the western philosophers in an objective context. It is both truly astonishing and a sad reflection of the times that no one else has reviewed this book before.

Apart from the gospels and new testament,this is,THE,most rewarding book i have ever read.It stresses with clarity the fundamental importance of becoming aware of our true identity in christ,and equally important of becoming aware of our false self,the self rooted in the ego.The book is a wake up call for all those who would see the spiritual life as a process of self agrandizement.With it's raw honesty and gentleness one gradually becomes ever more aware of just how important the issue of identity is in the spiritual life,and the huge importance merton ascribed to it.This book is a threat to the ego and it's hollow and false little world,that it creates in it's rivalry with god.I advise all christians to read and reread this beautiful book,even if at times,it becomes a little tough.

I would suggest this book to anyone interested in Mexicans, Mexican-Americans or immigration. Although it is geared for a younger group, it's useful and actually fun for everyone to read. I highly reccomend it!

This book is a real gem. An excellent enquiry into the nature of heresy and the role heresy played in the development of Newman's philosophical and theological identity. The author has an impressive knowledge of the works of Newman, intellectual and cultural developments in 18th Century and 19th Century European history. The book gives real insight into the intellectual development of Newman and provides a useful key to gaining a correct understanding of Newman. The book is well written in a concise and readable style. The footnotes are most helpful to people who want to explore the world's of Post-modernism and its expression in the theological and philosophical fields. Such a book only increases one's admiration for Newman and for the excellent scholarship of Dr. Thomas.

This is the story of Artaban, a seeker of Truth. He is the other wiseman who sought the 'great king'foretold in ancient script and heralded by the 'star'. On his way to meet the three wisemen, he is delayed. This sets him on a quest ins search of the King. It will lead him to many places and experiences. This book with its beautiful word pictures reminds us once again the importance of seeking Truth wherever we find it. It adds new meaning to the story of Christmas.

For anyone interested in knowing how was it like to live under the rule of the great New Kingdom Pharaohs of Egypt, this is the book. With grace and elegant style, Dr. James gifted us with a wonderful overview of everyday life taking as evidence the registers from tomb and temple wallpaintings and inscriptions, from which he has taken nice and amusing "bites of reality". There are texts from private and official letters and bussiness-documents; everything was masterly handed by the great British Egyptologist, so as to let us recover a lively glimpse of ancient Egyptians and their way-of-life in those golden ages.