In "Bakunin : The Philosophy of Freedom" author Brian Morris adeptly illuminates the endearing political philosophy of Mikhail Bakunin. Morris eloquently illustrates how Bakunin's ideas grew out of the Enlightenment; their roots being in Rousseau's Discourse on Inequality, Humboldt's Limits of State Action, Kant's insistence, in his defense of the French Revolution, that freedom is the precondition for acquiring the maturity for freedom, not a gift to be granted when such maturity is achieved.

With the development of industrial capitalism, a new and unanticipated system of injustice, it is the libertarian socialism that Bakunin advocates that has preserved and extended the radical humanist message of the Enlightenment and the classical liberal ideals that were perverted into an ideology to sustain the emerging social order.

Morris' "Bakunin: The Philosophy of Freedom" illustrates the fundamental, leading idea within the anarchist tradition, one that was most eloquently expressed by Bakunin: "I am a fanatic lover of liberty, considering it as the unique condition under which intelligence, dignity and human happiness can develop and grow; not the purely formal liberty conceded, measured out and regulated by the State, an eternal lie which in reality represents nothing more than the privilege of some founded on the slavery of the rest; not the individualistic, egoistic, shabby, and fictitious liberty extolled by the School of J.-J. Rousseau and other schools of bourgeois liberalism, which considers the would-be rights of all men, represented by the State which limits the rights of each -- an idea that leads inevitably to the reduction of the rights of each to zero. No, I mean the only kind of liberty that is worthy of the name, liberty that consists in the full development of all the material, intellectual and moral powers that are latent in each person; liberty that recognizes no restrictions other than those determined by the laws of our own individual nature, which cannot properly be regarded as restrictions since these laws are not imposed by any outside legislator beside or above us, but are immanent and inherent, forming the very basis of our material, intellectual and moral being -- they do not limit us but are the real and immediate conditions of our freedom."

"Bakunin: The Philosophy of Freedom" is an exceptional historical biography of a man whose political philosophy epitomizes the anarchist tradition.

Stunning black and white photographs of Mikhail Baryshnikov on Broadway--the book includes stunning shots of Baryshnikov airborne, as well as sweet candid shots behind the scenes, rehearsing, and working and clowning around with co-stars. The camera loves Baryshnikov, and the results show it.

This is one of my most treasured books from my childhood! I still love it at 25! Despite the pages pulling out of the seams, I still open it to read, despite having memorized favorite scenes! (The scene about the journey to the Nutcracker Prince's kingdom is purely divine!) I have noticed in some of the pictures Gelsey Kirkland (Clara) has curlers in her hair! I assume they had a photo shoot prior to a show. It's simply precious! If you're a fan of Gelsey, Barishnikov, or the Nutcracker, find this! Buy it! Love it!

This is the ballet that inspired my life, let the words and pictures inspire yours!

A lavishly illustrated book, depicting the beauty the city of St. Petersburg before its bombardment by the Germans in WWII. Depicting everyday life as well as the monumental architecture of this historic city, with a brief history of this city of Peter the Great. The reader is also told which buildings survived destruction and which didn't. A must for any lovers of Russian history under the last Tsar.

The book offers a lot of information varying from cultures, families, teachers, learners, researchers, and thinkers surrounding Bilingual Education. The Bakhtinian circle, as Moraes calls, is the ideas and thoughts derived not only from him but also for him. That is to say Moraes' collage of ideas and arguments are based on people thinking like Bakhtin: Language as a socially negotiated, what is more, socially constructed medium. That view is expressed through what Chomsky described in the opposite sense. As Chomsky argues: Acquisition of language is something that happens to you; it's not something that you do. Learning language is something like undergoing puberty. You don't learn to do it; you don't do it because you see other people doing it; you are just designed to do it at a certain time...There are social factors that determine rate and timing and so forth, but overwhelmingly what is happening is that biological process is proceeding in the way and in which it is determined to proceed. (79)

On the contrary, there is the view of Bakhtin puts: When a member of a speaking collective comes upon a word, it is not a neutral word of language, not as a word free from the aspirations and evaluations of others, uninhabited by others' voices...The word enters his context from another context, permeated with the interpretations of others.

I believe any one with common sense, without the need for an adequate academic degree can see the difference between the two and can evaluate these thoughts individually in a correct manner. That is to say, language is definitely a social phenomenon that is almost free from biological factors. Language learning-teaching, therefore, should be taken in that socio-cultural context, in the context that one sees and feels all around her learning context. This book, an academic yet a very simple one for those who enjoy reading about language and culture connection will gain a lot of insight from the way she puts the connection in its place. It can also be read by parents who would like to learn more about how a child learns a language- from the vantage point of some recent academic discussions. That makes the book complete.

Heller has written definitive book on what the Soviet regime was all about - an attempt to create a new human being. It goes into great detail of how the Soviet government attempted to reshape the human mind and society, with obvious disasterous results. It is a must read for students of Cold War history, and for anybody wanting to understand what the Soviet Union was all about. Reading this book confirms the fact the the Soviet Union was The Evil Empire.

"Cries in the New Wilderness" is a subtly laugh-out-loud experience. Epstein has the most incredible imagination I have ever encountered. I have no idea how he dreamed up all the various religious sects described in the book while managing to balance them so perfectly between plausability and utter absurdity.

This study of one of the twentieth century's most respected and influential thinkers offers both a comprehensive overview of his work, and a valuable starting point for further inquiry into the burgeoning arena of Bakhtin Studies.

As a homeschooling mother of six I am always looking for ways to learn as a family. This gorgeous book, based on the old Douay Bible (most reliable translation), has 52 very manageable stories that walk the family through the whole Bible. The translation is extremely accurate and easy to understand for all. What a special way to keep "holy the Sabbath!" Once a week on Sunday evenings Dad reads Bible stories to the family from God's Book. In one year (52 weeks) we will have the joy of knowing we have given our children a precious gift... treasure in heaven. We hope to repeat this every year till they leave and pass this tradition onto their own children. Honestly, the illustrations are exquisite. This will become a cherished family heirloom. I am forever grateful to the author and illustrator. May God bless them for their efforts.

Those familiar with The Wise Men of Helm and More Wise Men of Helm will be delighted with this collection of Chelm stories. According to Jewish folk lore, when the angels flew over earth depositing people, the bag of fools tore open and they all dropped out in Chelm. You can imagine the rest, but don't. Get this book. Alyssa A. Lappen