One of the most interesting aspects of this good general introduction to the brilliant work of Rene Girard is the interview with editor James G. Williams, which touches on Girard's biography and his conversion to Catholicism. The other texts included here span the entirety of his long career as literary critic, groundbreaking anthropologist, and Biblical exegete. The texts address all facets of mimetic theory, from triangular desire to scapegoating, sacrifice, Satan, and the paradoxical place of Nietzsche in the history of mimetic anthropology.

In the academic landscape of victimization theories, deconstruction and post-modernism, here arises a singular voice that cuts to an all encompassing generative theory of civilization. It is a theory that explains why we buy Nike, why we go to war, and how we achieve peace. It would be better known in academia except this poor soul has the unfortunate timing of discovering a theory that objectively validates the truth of Catholicism, when Christianity (and even worse Catholicism) is out of vogue.

His theories have been described as "among the most profound intellectual discoveries of our time" and "a comprehensive vision of the psychological, sociological, political, and religious processes of sin and redemption"

If you are a thinker interested in social critique and a theory that has the power to restore Western Civilization - buy this book.

This is a remarkably complete introduction to Rene Girard's ideas. His key theory has the clarity and simplicity of a mathematical proof--desire is not an innate drive but a behavior we learn through imitation (mimesis). When we mimic our model's desire for the same object, violence breaks out. Through ritual scapegoating, human communities manage to divert this violence by directing it at a random victim (thus hiding its real source in mimetic rivalry). According to Girard, this mechanism is at work across all times and cultures, and shapes the plot of nearly every major novel. For those with a suspicion of grand unifying theories, his idea raises many questions. Even more controversial is his belief that Christianity brings an end to myth by exposing the scapegoat's innocence. Christ doesn't die as a sacrifice to God for human sin; instead, the crucifixion reveals the fiction at the root of all sacrifice--the victim's culpability. This helps to humanize one of Christianity's more troubling doctrines, but it also asks us to believe that the authors of the New Testament understood the workings of mimetic desire 2000 years before Girard articulated the theory. Read the book and come to your own conclusions. Whatever you decide, after reading Girard you'll look at myth and religion with new eyes.

I just read this new edition from cover-to-cover in preparation for the dermatology boards and I am very impressed! The new edition is updated not only in therapeutics but also in the latest in genetic defects underlying the genodermatoses that the boards love so much. It concisely covers clinical dermatology in a very readable format. One thing it lacks is an organized chapter on therapeutics.

This edition was long overdue. The previous edition was excellent, and this one adds alot to it. Many updated therapies...several new chapters...a slightly different format...excellent new edition. The only criticism I would have is that there are still no color pictures in it. I would recommend this for all dermatology libraries and would consider it a must for all dermatology residents.

this book is essential for all dermatology residents...the new edition is out now which i highly recommend, being that it now has more chapters and many updated therapies...this is a book you read from cover to cover...

NeuroTheology is an excellent, comprehensive, scholarly text which begins at the beginning (the Creation) and ends at the end (Armageddon). Some of the best, most daring minds in the science of religious experience, have chapters included in this book, including Newberg, Persinger, Alper, Albright, d'Aquili, Bruce MacLennan, and Fraser Watts of the University of Cambridge. ... this is otherwise an excellent, comprehensive text which deserves a place on the bookshelf of any serious scientist.

This is a provocative and ground breaking book. NeuroTheology contains 34 chapters written by 20 different experts, including Michael Persinger (who many consider the father of the field), Rhawn Joseph (who Newberg refers to as one of the founders of the field), Dr. Paloutzian (the editor of the International Journal of the Psychology of Religion), Dr. Albright (the former Executive Editor of Zygon the Journal of Science & Religion), and a host of others including those who do not believe in NeuroTheology. The value of this book is that it offers so many different perspectives. It is 644 pages in length, contains over 100 pictures, and addresses and answers many provocative questions regarding the nature, origin, and scientific basis of spirituality and religious belief.

This is a great and wonderful, sometimes disturbing book. It is clearly ahead of its time. The chapters range from discussions of the big bang and the origin of life to the coming of the "anti-Christ" --an astronomical event which, according to the author, has to do with "precession" and the slow progression of the equinox from "house to house" i.e. the Age of Pieces (the Fish) and the Virgo (Virgin) being replaced by the Age of Acqurious and Leo (the Beast). I also enjoyed the chapters by Newberg and Persinger which provide an overview of the neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of religious experience. The chapters by Alper were also very interesting. I guess what I liked best about this book is that it is very scientific yet offers a variety of opinions from a number of different scientists. There are over 30 chapters. The only major flaw in this book, were the rather superficial and boring chapters by "pop" writer Susan Blackmore. Why anyone takes her serious is beyond me. I highly recommend this book. It has something for everybody.

I first picked this book up to consider a career as a wetland scientist (among other things) and instantly dove into the heaps of information provided. It is well written and easy to read with nicely labelled sections. I found that it had all sorts of information on the subject. It is highly useful.

To date, this is THE book to get in the field. If you get any book on the subject, this is it. I was only mildly surprised after reading through much of it to find that it's the only textbook in my graduate class on wetland ecology and management and there appears to be no competition as a textbook.

In short, it's very readable and immensely useful: A combination you can't go wrong with.

This resource would be considered the "Bible" of wetland sciences. It is highly valuable for understanding the ecological systems involved in a wetland. A must for wetland regulators, scientists, and just interested people!

Mitsch and Gosselink have written an excellent text/reference book on wetland ecology and management. The book is perfect as a text for a wetlands ecology course in upper level or graduate courses. I use it as a reference that I pull from the shelf again and again.

This book is a useful mix of theory and specific strategies, of reports on current research and examples of best practices. After reading it I think I understand better the dynamics of conflict in the classroom, and I also have some new things to try in crisis situations. It is a huge and ovewhelming book which most teachers would avoid, so I cut it apart into five sections. I handed the sections to teachers, who read them enthusiastically when they would never have tackled the whole book. It can be read like that, in sections, and not necessarily in order. The content is highly recommended but the format must be made teacher friendly!

Long and Morse have written and collected a panorama of articles which collectively define the state of the art in aproaches to troubled and troubling students. This book goes beyond the traditonal to the truly insightful interventions which focus holistically on the child or youth and his struggles within systems. Strategies for regular education and special education teachers are clearly described, and a list of resources in areas from sexual abuse to grief are inculuded. The book begins with a collection of short stories from contemporary literature in an intoduction to the reader into the minds and lives of children who are emotionally disturbed. Conflict in the Classroom has been a classic in the field for 30 years, and this 1996 edition is as worthy of the same honor as its fine earlier editions

This is one of the finest reference books I have had the pleasure to read. It is easy to understand, no far out explanations. I believe this book should be on the shelf of any and all investigators, new or old. The table of contents was very informative. You are taken from the history of this disipline, all the way to case study. Nothing is missed and you can carry the book by yourself!! Credit was properly given to those that were first, there was no attempt to make one believe the editors were the "first" to discover this disipline. Photos often assisted text. I believe this is necessary for those investigators who do not see this as much as others. There was even a glossary !! EXCELLENT WORK ! I look forward to treating my eyes to the next book by James & Eckert

Anyone involved in law enforcement or Crimial Law will cherish this informative, well written text. It takes a very complicated, mind numbing subject and pilots the reader in an organized, comprehensible manner to a well rounded understanding of the subject. This one should be required reading for all law students and Criminal Law practitioners. A Masterpiece!!!

necesito comprar solo el volumen número 5, si es posible manden el precio del mismo a mi e-mail. perrin@elsitio.com

One who dedicate his/her life to the plastic surgery should own this book as a "BIBLE".

A great book that realy got me reading.

We bought this book after our rugby team had two concussions during a match. This book breaks down possible injuries and gives a list of warning signs and how to stabilize injuries until you can reach a hospital. I was very impressed with the clear writing style which makes it possible for anyone to understand and apply the techniques described. I recommend this book for sports teams to keep with their medicine chest.

I highly recommend this brilliant book on Dostoevsky, which examines his work from a religious perspective. The writing is superb, the insights fascinating and momentous, and the interplay between biography and literature judicious. The life may not illuminate the works, but the works certainly illuminate the life: Girard reads Dostoevsky's career as a struggle to conquer pride, a struggle that ended in the serene victory that is The Brothers Karamazov. Easily the best essay on Dostoevsky I have ever read.