A Sallust Reader: Selections from Bellum Catilinae and Bellum Iugurthinum, and Historiae (Latin Readers) Review

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(More customer reviews)From her opening line in the preface to the end of the book, Pagan confidently and competently outfits her readers and guides them through the dazzling world of that brilliant artist-historian, Sallust. Pagan's words come from the heart and ring out. "...I am amazed at the clarity..." "...the brilliance of his language..." "...one is struck by the frightfully honest content..." - well, I had no choice - compelled by Pagan's overpowering enthusiasm and respect for Sallust I had to see for myself just what all the excitement is about.

I find I love Sallust and I love this book! Sallust's style, subject matter, and his sense of virtus and morality combine to create a compelling, dramatic narrative. He lived through the events he wrote about. He was a tribune and had a seat in the senate. Sallust was an "outside-insider" - that is, he had a seat in the senate but was not from a noble family. He deeply loved the Republic and knew he was watching it die. As I read about the debates in the senate I was struck by how familiar the arguments were - we are still hearing some of them today. Anyone interested in today's politics should read Sallust.
"A Sallust Reader" features selections from "Bellum Catilinae," "Bellum Iugurthinum," and "Historiae." It begins with a concise, useful introduction. I must confess I often skip through the introduction to a book, but this one flows so well and steps along so lively, it is a great read! Pagan has picked up Sallust's "Brevitas" and made good use of it. It is also very accessible. Pagan's comments are to-the-point, succinct, easily understood, and engaging. She not only easily guides readers through complex grammatical sentence structure, she makes it an adventure. The selections Pagan has taken from Sallust and woven together with her commentary make for a fast-paced, gripping narrative. Her comments are refreshingly balanced in this day of political agendas, informative, interesting, and bespeak a professional steeped in her discipline and in love with Sallust. This book is a "must have" for anyone beginning to explore the writings of Sallust.


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This reader aims to introduce advanced Latin students to the works of Sallust, unique among Roman historians for several reasons. Because he uses standard vocabulary and uncomplicated syntax, Sallust is an accessible author at this level. Unlike other Roman historians whose subject matter was a distant past, Sallust writes about events that occurred in his lifetime. His roller-coaster career afforded him a unique opportunity to critique the inner mechanisms of contemporary Roman politics from the vantage of an outsider.
Complete with introduction, text, commentary, vocabulary, and bibliography, this volume contains selections (556 lines) from the Bellum Catilinae, the Bellum Iugurthinum, and the Historiae. Selections include character sketches, conspiracy and its betrayal, ethnography, a political speech, and a description of a lavish banquet. Students are prepared for an eventual reading of the monographs in their entirety and become acquainted with the fragmentary Historiae. This reader teaches the rudiments of Latin prose by reinforcing transferable skills that can be applied to other prose authors. While attention is given to Sallusts distinctive style, emphasis is placed on general structures so that students achieve comprehension and appreciation of Latin prose as a distinct-and majestic-art form in its own right.
Special Features
* Introduction to Sallusts life, work, and style * Latin text selections (556 lines) from Sallusts Bellum Catilinae (232 lines: 3.3-4.2; 4.3-5.8, 15; 22-25; 27.2-29; 40-41; 53-54), the Bellum Iugurthinum (304 lines: 6-7; 17-19; 84-86), and Historiae (20 lines: 2.70) * Grammatical and historical commentary printed at the back of the book
For over 30 years Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers has produced the highest quality Latin and ancient Greek books. From Dr. Seuss books in Latin to Plato's Apology, Bolchazy-Carducci's titles help readers learn about ancient Rome and Greece; the Latin and ancient Greek languages are alive and well with titles like Cicero's De Amicitia and Kaegi's Greek Grammar. We also feature a line of contemporary eastern European and WWII books.
Some of the areas we publish in include:
Selections From The Aeneid Latin Grammar & Pronunciation Greek Grammar & Pronunciation Texts Supporting Wheelock's Latin Classical author workbooks: Vergil, Ovid, Horace, Catullus, Cicero Vocabulary Cards For AP Selections: Vergil, Ovid, Catullus, Horace Greek Mythology Greek Lexicon Slovak Culture And History

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Pragmatism Review

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(More customer reviews)One is surprised to read in the first two reviews that James's pragmatism is a justification for relativism, nihilism, and even despotic tyranny. This evaluation comes from interpreting James in terms of utilitarianism, rather than understanding what he means by practical consequences. One will hear James claim in _Pragmatism_ that, "I am accustomed to put questions to my classes in this way: In what respects would the world be different if this alternative or that were true? If I can find nothing that would become different, then the alternative has no sense." The pragmatic maxim does not invite us to accept the most expedient point of view for the purpose of utility, but instead invites us to return to the world and experience in evaluating the nature of concepts. Thus, to adopt an example from Peirce, an application of the pragmatic maxim to a concept such as "salt" would lead us to look at the practical consequences of this concept for real world experience such as its hardness, seasoning capabilities, chemical nature, ability to combine with other elements, etc.. In other words, pragmatism, as James agrees, is also an empiricism. Given this, an application of the pragmatic maxim to the political concepts of democracy and fascism would indeed lead us to discern vast differences between the two doctrines and to ultimately reject the former by virtue of its practical consequences. In final analysis, _Pragmatism_ is a curative of philosophical abstractions which would ask us to turn away from empty first principles to see what difference those principles actually make in our actions and lives. Such an approach to philosophy would surely have the effect of clearing away much useless debate and of broadening our appreciation of difference and inquiry. As James says later in the book, "There can be no difference anywhere that doesn't make a difference elsewhere-- no difference in abstract truth that doesn't express itself in a difference in concrete fact and conduct consequent upon that fact, imposed on somebody, somehow, somewhere and somewhen. The whole function of philosophy ought to be to find out what definite difference it will make to you and me, at definite instants of our life, if this world-formula or that world-formula be the true one." Such a philosophy is truly timely in our increasingly multicultural age. The operative principle of pragmatism is not utilitarianism which can often be cold, cruel and heartless, but rather verification that demands of us that we return to experience to determine the difference that a conceptual difference makes. This book is an absolute must read for anyone interested in overcoming the abstractness of empty transcendental philosophies and who wish to see philosophy in its throbbing relavance for the life of action, ethics, and politics. In this respect, James stands shoulder to shoulder with the uncompromising and liberating philosophies of figures like Spinoza, Nietzsche, Bergson, Dewey, and Peirce.

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This anthology is a thorough introduction to classic literature for those who have not yet experienced these literary masterworks. For those who have known and loved these works in the past, this is an invitation to reunite with old friends in a fresh new format.From Shakespeare's finesse to Oscar Wilde's wit, this unique collection brings together works as diverse and influential as The Pilgrim's Progress and Othello. As an anthology that invites readers to immerse themselves in the masterpieces of the literary giants, it is must-have addition to any library

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Geek Wisdom Review

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(More customer reviews)Every self-respecting techie can recite some quotes off the top of her head and expect every one of her friends to know its origin and context: "With great power comes great responsibility," or "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic," or "Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration." You nodded at these, right? This is the book for you.
When I saw this short book among my Amazon Vine selections I thought that would be all it would be: A selection of large-print geek quotes, the nerdy equivalent of "Quotes for Writers" (I have several such titles because, y'know, I can't help myself). And that would be fine, because I could then attack-harumph about the selection (What?! Just one quote from Firefly?).
But Geek Wisdom is a little more than that, in a very nice way. Rather than try to assemble all the geek memes in one place, Stephen Segal uses these to illustrate how we use them "to guide us toward maturity by helping us ask and answer the big, cosmic questions about existence." And in so doing he illuminates why we care so much about these "sacred teachings." One page at a time, so we don't have to pretend this is incredibly deep, just enjoyable. It's like telling us that our favorite chocolate is also healthy for us.
The sayings and quotes and such are organized into sections examining wisdom about the self (My name is Inigo Montoya), wisdom about the universe (Billions and Billions), wisdom about the future (In the year 2929), etc. So under two quotes from Labyrinth (including "You have no power over me"), Segal discusses "girlhood in geekdom" with some sensitivity as well as humor: "...Which may be why David Bowie's androgynous, seductive, and artful Goblin King won the hearts and fantasies of so many geek girls. He was a bad boy... and yet, a pretty good babysitter. ... Bucking the trend of the typical Hollywood epic, Labyrinth showed a young woman learning to take responsibility for her actions, persevere in an unfair world, and own her sexual identity. She wasn't just a babe -- she was the babe with the power."
End result: This is a fun, quick-to-read book that is both good for geek quote-offs and thoughtful bathroom reading. If you're a geek, grab a copy. If you know one (and we are notoriously difficult to shop for, for some reason), it's a perfect *perfect* gift.

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THE GEEKS HAVE INHERITED THE EARTH.Computer nerds are our titans of industry;comic-book superheroes are our Hollywood idols; the Internet is our night on the town. Clearly, geeks know something about life in the 21st century that other folks don't—something we all can learn from. Geek Wisdom takes as gospel some 200 of the most powerful and oft-cited quotes from movies ("Where we're going, we don't need roads"), television ("Now we know—and knowing is half the battle"),literature ("All that is gold does not glitter"), games, science, the Internet, and more. Now these beloved pearls of modern-day culture have been painstakingly interpreted by a diverse team of hardcore nerds with their imaginations turned up to 11. Yes, this collection of mini-essays is by, for, and about geeks—but it's just so surprisingly profound, the rest of us would have to be dorks not to read it. So say we all.

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Sugar and Spice: An L.A. Candy Novel Review

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(More customer reviews)After a surprisingly mediocre second novel in her "L.A. Candy" trilogy, Lauren Conrad has returned to form with "Sugar and Spice." She effectively pays off all the umbrella arcs set in motion in the first two novels while still bringing in fresh, fun drama that (dare I say) firmly establishes her as a fresh, interesting voice in the teenage book market.
Before I dive in, let me warn you that I will be making note of the parallels between this novel and Conrad's now defunct television show "The Hills." If you have not seen the show, then please check Wikipedia if you get confused.
"Sugar and Spice" begins with the premier party for the second season of "L.A. Candy." Jane and Scarlett (different halves of Conrad's personality) have patched up their friendship and enter the second season with mixed emotions, both wanting to be there but also wanting to embrace other ambitions. Jane's feud with Madison (Heidi) has only deepened over the hiatus thanks to Madison continuing to lie to the press about leaking explosive personal information to the press about Jane, and Jane must struggle with the fact that her side of the argument cannot be portrayed on her reality show. Oh, and Gabby has hired a publicist ready to rocket her from the D-list to the double D-list.
Conrad introduces a juicy, soapy new character in Madison's half-sister Sophie, who basically blackmails Madison onto getting a role in "L.A. Candy" after a little nipping and cutting. Conrad has wisely realized that it would have hurt Jane's character to have her sink to Madison's level in order to take her down, and her introduction of a mini-Madison brings the book a lot of life and fun.
After "Sweet Little Lies" spread 50 pages of material to novel length, it's refreshing to see "Sugar and Spice" filled cover-to-cover with enough plot developments, twists and pay-offs to merit re-reading. My favorite development happens when Jane discovers her producer's notebook...a book that reveals a few too many secrets about how little control Jane really has over her life. But there is more, like having Madison becoming Jane's new co-worker only to realize that she really, really hates working or the curious case of how real Hannah's office romance really is.
Conrad still allows time for some darker, more real developments within the reality world, as when Jane visits her horrible (horrible!) ex-boyfriend in the hospital after he rolls his car over on the freeway during a bender. We see (humorously at first, but later seriously), just how much of a toll the Hollywood machine has taken on the once-sweet Gabby. Conrad is also very, very careful in her handling of Jane's on-again, off-again love interest Braden. The way she pays off the building romantic tension in the book's final pages is quite smart, hugely satisfying and reinforces just how much Jane has grown as a character over the course of the book series. Bravo.
Problems? Yes, a few. Jane's romance with former-flame Caleb was predictable and we never see Madison and Scarlett go head-to-head for more than a few lines, which is a missed opportunity. Though I enjoyed the quiet scene between Madison and Jane that happens late in the book, I wish that Jane had some involvement in the climax to Madison's arc. Oh, and since the series is called "L.A. Candy," I found it odd that every story culminated in either Las Vegas or New York.
Quibbles. "Sugar and Spice" is a surprisingly sweet, spicy (oh look, a pun) novel that will offer fans of the series really enjoyable pay-offs. It's a testament to Conrad's talents that, by the middle of the book, you forget the connection Speidi, MTV and "The Hills" and begin reading it simply as a good story. Here's hoping this isn't the last time we hear from Conrad the author.


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The Varieties Of Religious Experience: A Study In Human Nature Review

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(More customer reviews)I am always surprised when I am cruising around Amazon and take a look at a classic and find just 1 or 2 customer comments on a book such as James's masterful "Varieties". So, I just had to say something. This is one of the greatest and most readable books ever written on the subject of religion. Don't be surprised at what you find. WJ is not making a "case" for belief here, or any case for any particular religious "system". He is studying religious experience, trying to get to the bottom of what brings it about and what it means for human beings. Thus, he pays little attention to what we call "organized religion." He spends his time, rather, with the various ways that people have experienced God or the supernatural or the spiritual. James's style is very subtle, ornate, and powerful. Just let yourself soak in it for awhile and then try to learn. His metaphors are so stunning as to be memorable for the rest of your life. His discussion of the healthy-minded, the sick soul, and the mystic will entrall you and thrill you with his erudition, and they will become touchstones in your own religious experience and your own study of religion for the rest of your life. Religion is a living reality for WJ. He gives a powerful analysis of what it can, should, and does mean to men and women in the modern world. If you wish to understand modern thought on religion, by the way, you must read James, for much of it springs from his thought. Lastly, James is the kindest thinker who ever put pen to paper. For those of in the William james Society, this is why we love him so. He never chides or derides or condemns. He gently disagrees, looks for the best from every idea and every experience and every person, and lavishes praise on what he finds excellent and meaningful. His thought and writing and philosophical depth and style are an inspiration. Spend some time with one of the greatest thinkers ever. You won't regret it.

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The Nuremberg Nazi Trial: Excerpts From the Testimony of Herman Goering, Albert Speer, Auschwitz Commandant Rudolf Hoess, and Others Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a collection of excerpts from the trial transcripts that will stir emotions while also making you think. Was this an exercise by the victors to get revenge from a ruthless enemy that started an unnecessary global disaster or an effort to send a message to future amoral leaders that their crimes would not go unpunished. While reading the book it becomes clear that the trial meant different things to different people. From Jackson's clear and logical opening statement to Goering's attempt to save his neck by avoiding direct questions and adding commentary to redirect the court's attention, this book was hard to put down. This is raw history with no spices added. Enjoy it, learn from it and draw your own conclusions.

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From the official record of the Nazi war crimes trial. The Indictment document, the prosecution's opening statement, selected testimony from survivors and Nazi officials, and the prosecution's summary closing statement.

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The American Dream From an Indian Heart Review

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(More customer reviews)An easy, wonderful read. Doesn't take much time to read the book ... but if used as a workbook or life motivator if could take a long time to apply the very good, yet simple, princples Dhanam shares. He uses real life experiences he has seen and lived to share the blessings of living in this wonderful country called the United States. And at the same time uses those same examples to point out how much the average American takes for granted!

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Darkest Fear (A Myron Bolitar Novel) Review

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(More customer reviews)At the end of this novel, Harlan Coben says: "This book is a work of fiction. That means I make stuff up." For the first time, I disagree with him. I have read every one of his seven novels, and he doesn't just make things up - he uses his magic pen to pull rabbits out of hats, Aces from his sleeve, bouquets and doves out of and back to nowhere, and a few ropes tricks for good measure. He is a Master Magician---never ceasing to surprise and amaze--a grand mixture of tears and laughter, suspense and release, yet provocative and insightful.
This review does not concern what the book is about, but is rather ABOUT THE BOOK. It is a roller coaster ride - Harlan takes you up the slow grade to the top of the rise and sends you hurtling down full speed; around curves, over the top, through the loops and then starts the long slow climb again. Hang on!! His characters are perfection: Myron Bolitar: hard as nails yet soft as a marshmallow - intuitive, intelligent, analytical, sweet and loving, cute and cuddly, human and feeling - you name it: that's Myron-- but don't underestimate him, that mind of his never stops working. Esperanza: Myron's sidekick, friend, advisor - beautiful, intelligent and ever faithful! Windsor Lock-Horne the Third: A devoted friend, almost unfeeling, cold and calculating in every way except where Myron and Esperanza are concerned. Aptly named - you really wouldn't want to lock horns with him!!! The quick wit and spontaneous interaction of these three will keep you reeling as Harlan spins his web of intrigue and mystery. But read his books and see for yourself.
According to his answer to my e-mail, this talented author will be giving Myron and Company a rest for a "coupla years" (but he assures me they will return!) In the meantime he is at work on a 'stand-alone" novel called TELL NO ONE, with a new cast of characters. My advice is to start with his first novel and watch the characters grow right before your eyes(so to speak. And wait till you meet BigCyndi! But that's another story!Enjoy as you have never enjoyed before...I did.
My hope is that Harlan Coben keeps "making stuff up" because it sure is the right stuff.

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Behind the Wheel: A mother's journal of a year on the road: This is a true story about my family's life as we moved from our spacious house in London ... across North America. What was I thinking? Review

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(More customer reviews)Wendy Swart Grossman bravely accomplished what most of us armchair travelers only dream about: a trip across the country in an RV. And fortunately for us, she chronicled that trip in the series of witty, thought-provoking journal entries offered here.
Reading Wendy's words is like sitting down for a juicy chat with a very good friend. Take the chair beside her and surrender to a Walmart haircut, or hike through the early winter snow and stop to listen to the silence. Dash into the surf in pajamas. Wendy's observations will inspire you to slow down and notice your own life, wherever in the world that may be.
The book is filled with "snapshots" from a variety of stops across the U.S. (and into the far reaches of Canada). These provide a lot of interest and pack a great punch. But better yet, Wendy often pauses to speak from the heart. Even if you've never left your hometown, you will easily relate to her thoughts about saying goodbye to good friends, watching parents age, moving into the figurative if not literal unknown. This is a book you will treasure and then buy copies to share with friends.

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Hunting bin Laden: How al-Qaeda Is Winning the War on Terror Review

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(More customer reviews)After coming across Schultheis's new book, I've ordered copies for all my friends and family. This is one of the most important books of the year. It provides both a vital history to, and brillant analysis of, the origins of the war on terrror, and why we are losing it. After spending a great deal of time in Afghanistan, as well as Iraq, Schultheis is uniquely positioned to evaluate the misguided strategy that the US continues to pursue. If you want to understand the real nature of the conflcit between the US and radical Islam, without the fluff and spin of either the Bush administration or the mainstream news media, read this book.

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An in-depth look at why America is losing the War on Terror and what we should do if we really want to defeat Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda."I first met al-Qaeda before there was an al-Qaeda, way back in the winter of 1984. It was an encounter that came within a split second of costing me my life."So begins Rob Schultheis's gripping account of his journey into the heart of one of the world's most dangerous places, on the trail of the world's most wanted man. A veteran war correspondent (he was one of a handful of Western journalists who covered the Russian war in Afghanistan from inside the country), Schultheis offers a first-hand look at how the seeds of al-Qaeda were planted by foreign jihadists in the 1980s, before most Americans knew what the word "jihad" meant. He then offers a radical assessment of why bin Laden remains at large, detailing the complicit role Pakistan has played in both offering him sanctuary and in helping al-Qaeda establish an almost impregnable stronghold in the Middle East. Finally, fresh from a recent visit to Afghanistan and armed with analysis of current satellite imagery, Schultheis makes his case for where exactly Osama bin Laden is hiding-and why the U.S. government is not acting on this information.

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Words of Wisdom: a Thinker's Palette Review

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(More customer reviews)I received this book through Goodreads First Reads. Fantastic! Food for the soul every day of the year. My favorites are those that remind us to look around, see things around us fresh and with the eyes of a child. This book will stay on my "currently reading" list for many years to come.

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Mastering the World of Marketing: The Ultimate Training Resource from the Biggest Names in Marketing Review

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(More customer reviews)The winning streak continues.
Since everyone sells, the first book - Mastering the World of Selling: The Ultimate Training Resource from the Biggest Names in Sales - in the ongoing (I expect) Mastering The World Of ... series was across-the-board valuable.

Hot on its heels, Mastering the World of Marketing: The Ultimate Training Resource from the Biggest Names in Marketing broadens the business knowledge base for everyone who markets. And that's everyone as well, right?
It puts the best 21st Century thinking of over 50 of the sharpest marketing minds out there today at your fingertips.

You get scores and scores of read-`em-and-reap secrets & strategies, easy-to-implement tips & tactics such as:

... 7 specific gratitude-as-a-marketing-strategy ideas to adopt (page 69)
... The A-B-Ts of great marketing (page 201)
... Master marketer Jack Trout channeling the legendary Rosser Reeves to reveal how you can differentiate ANYTHING (page 210)
... Dreadful marketing ideas to avoid (page 142)
... What makes things go viral (page 107)
... The 5 most important words on your website (page 213)
... The fascinating Guy Kawasaki's four methods to be fascinating (page 65)
... Twitter for business: A Newbie's field guide (page 46)
... 21 creative ways to increase your Facebook fan base (page 164).
And, as the brilliant infomercial marketers have taught us all, there's more.
Much more.
Look, it's a classic marketing observation. But when it's true, it's true:
Just one idea from one single item will pay for Mastering the World of Marketing: The Ultimate Training Resource from the Biggest Names in Marketing many times over.
No doubt Mastering the World of Marketing: The Ultimate Training Resource from the Biggest Names in Marketing and the companion volume Mastering the World of Selling: The Ultimate Training Resource from the Biggest Names in Sales belong in every business and personal library.
Bonus memorable-marketing strategy: Order copies of each book to share with everyone you work and do business with (except your competition, of course) and they'll thank you, too.
Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Marketing
8 Depot Square
Englewood, NJ 07631
[...]

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Know Your Bible: All 66 Books Explained (VALUE BOOKS) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great little book to have on hand for Bible readings or Bible studies. The size of the book is just right to put in your Bible cover or carry in your purse.
Each page has the Book of the Bible then the Author of that book, the date of that particular book of the Bible.
This is the best part --- the author gives you a synopsis of the book in ten words or less.
Then there's one quote from that book of the Bible that the author though summed up the whole book.
There's an unique and unusual sentence or two about the book of the Bible being studied.
And lastly there's a neat "So What?" So what is important about this book or so what if ...
I found this small book to be very informative and useful. It's also inexpensive so would make a great book to give a new Christian or to put in a Christmas stocking.
Just a word of caution---this is not a concordance nor could it take the place of a concordance. It's just a book with short information about each book of the Bible.
A found this to be a fantastic 5 star asset for anyone who loves the Bible and wants or needs a quick reference to a particular book of the Bible!

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The Stupidest Things Ever Said by Politicians Review

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(More customer reviews)This has to be the funniest book I've read in years! I literally couldn't stop laughing -- it's a stunning indictment of all politicians -- at least now I'm laughing at them! I thought the authors picked an excellent range of stupid quotes -- by mixing them all up every page had at least one or two gems on it -- and the collection as a whole was A++. I also loved the special sections where the authors skewer certain types of political behavior -- It makes me watch politcians on Sunday morning news shows with just a little more cynicism! All in all, I just loved this book!

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Rise up, America -- and laugh out loud at the greatest gaffes that no spin doctor could possibly fix! The bestselling authors of The 776 Stupidest Things Ever Said have concocted the perfect antidote to today's political mayhem and bad behavior. The Stupidest Things Ever Said By Politicians is a nonpartisan hall of shame featuring the idiotic utterances,ridiculous slogans, mixed metaphors, and lame excuses that have fallen from the mouths of our fearless leaders around the world, and from the present and past (because stupidity knows no age). Read their lips -- your eyes won't believe your ears!

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Speak: The Best Quips, Quotes, and Anecdotes for Dog Lovers Review

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(More customer reviews)What a delightful book! This remarkable collection of wit and wisdom brings together literally hundreds of quotes - funny, warm, insightful - that attest to the place dogs occupy in our lives and in our hearts.I recommend this little book to everyone: dog owners, dog lovers, and even, perhaps especially, to those who have missed the companionship of these faithful, loving animals.

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A one-of-a-kind compendium of wit and wisdom from doglovers throughout history.This humorous and heartwarming collectionof bon mots, memorable quips, and touching stories looks at man's bestfriend through the words of celebrities, historical figures, andpoliticians who all share one thing in common: They're head-over-heelsin love with their dogs. From Franz Kafka to Dave Barry, AbrahamLincoln to Picasso, Sir Isaac Newton to David Letterman, Speak! bringstogether authors, performers, philosophers, and presidents to sing thepraises of their beloved canine companions."I can train any dog infive minutes. It's training the owner that takes longer."--BarbaraWoodhouse"Some of my best leading men have been dogs andhorses."--Elizabeth Taylor"What dogs? These are my children, littlepeople with fur who make my heart open a little wider."--OprahWinfreyOrganized in a way that will be meaningful to any dog owner,Speak! covers all aspects of the life we share with ourcanines, and the special place they have in our hearts.

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From Fear to Faith (Revised) Review

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(More customer reviews)"From Fear to Faith" (revised)
by Merlin R. Carothers
Better than I attempt to review what should be hands-down A BUY,
being that the author has
- a rich lifetime experience
- isn't at ALL stuffy (no way, even for a layman versus preacher)
- has the gift of the Holy Spirit to genuinely inspire/lead him
- wrote other books in similar positive, honest, and USEFUL way;
allow me to quote an excerpt from his Chapter One:The Specter of Fear
Fear lurks in the silent darkness, unwanted - hated. It's power is so great that even when ignored or denied it can still control our destiny.
My first parachute jump was a lesson in sheer terror. The Airborne instructors had vigorously indoctrinated me to believe that I was a tough paratrooper, impervious to fear. Yet I was still afraid.
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain." This adage is often true, but I was afraid during my second jump too. I didn't know it then, but my hard lessons in living and coping with the more insidious aspects of fear had just begun. I still had much to learn about fear's enormous capacity to influence our behavior.
We arrived at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1943, two hundred robust, cocky young men from all over the United States. The rigors of infantry basic training were behind us; now we were ready to confront a new challenge - Airborne training.
The grueling physical training we had endured prior to coming to Jump School had, we thought, separated the men from the boys. We were the elite of the Army, we boasted. We could do anything! We eagerly awaited our chance to show the Army what real men were.
Were we afraid? No way! We were embarking on a new and exciting adventure.
The sergeants who greeted us at the bus terminal were seasoned Airborne veterans. They had once been green horns like us; they knew our attitudes. The process of ego pulverization was fierce and immediate as they rushed upon us like voracious sharks attacking minnows:
"Pick up those bags, you chicken-livered mama's boys, and let's go!"
Mama's boys? Sergeant, you don't know who you're talking to. We aren't afraid of you or anyone else!
How wrong we were.
The sergeants had one primary objective - to separate the men from the boys. In their less-than-humble opinion, the men were those who would never give up despite injury, suffering - even torture.
In infantry basic training we had learned to run, or so we thought. But at Airborne School we never just went for a run. All we ever did was run, run, and run some more. Anytime we moved it was on the run. We ran to the latrine. We ran to chow. We ran to training sites - five, ten, or more miles. Finally we reached such a high level of fitness that we could run for hours on end without tiring. Failing meant, heaven forbid, washing out of the glorious Airborne.
But running was fun compared with the rigors at the training sites. At one site we were suspended from harnesses like those that would connect us to a parachute from which we would descend from plane to ground. The harness straps, holding our dead weight and digging into our groins, felt like thin wires straining under two hundred pounds of agonized flesh.
We hung in those harnesses while the sergeants explained, at length, the fine art of being a "famous paratrooper."
"Do you hurt, mama's boys? Want to quit?"
"Quit? No Way!"
The worst thing that could happen to a sergeant was for one of his mama's boys to freeze in the airplane door - refuse to leap into space. His plan was to weed out any trainee who had the potential to quit, and the earlier the better. We trainees were convinced that the sergeants got a bonus for every one of us they could make a washout. None of us wanted to quit, but the sergeants, it seemed, had stronger wills. After the first grueling week our group of 200 had decreased to 150.
Before each disgraced washout departed we were lined up by the truck that would transport him to some unknown, abominable site for a truly awful assignment. The sergeants themselves led us in jeering the miserable failure. This harsh tactic was used to make those of us who remained that much more determined not to be quitters, and never to be afraid.
At the end of the second week 125 of us remained. We ended preliminary training acutely aware that the lowest level to which we could ever sink was to be a washout. So far, so good. We were fearless; we were the aristocracy of the elite. At least that's what we wanted to believe. On the morning of our first parachute jump, our barracks echoed with jubilant shouts of "Geronimo!"
The worst was yet to come.
We returned to our barracks in triumph that evening, brimming with gusto. We had made it! We had successfully completed our first jump. Only four more jumps and we would earn the coveted silver wings of the full-fledged paratrooper. Nothing could stop us now!
But we noticed that our number had shrunk from 125 to 120. What had happened to the others? We learned that they had been injured. One had broken his leg, but he would recover. Another had broken his back. No one had mentioned that possibility during our training.
The next morning we were a bit less enthusiastic about our upcoming jump We tried to muster a show of bravado, but none of us could forget the man who had broken his back. A sergeant lined us up for another lecture: "Yesterday one of this group of stupid little boys failed to do what he was taught. He will not jump again. While preparing to land he was so scared that he looked down at the ground rather than straight ahead as you were all taught. He broke his back. If anyone else wants a broken back, do the same thing."
That evening several more of our comrades failed to return to the barracks. Fear set in. It had become clear to us that our chosen occupation wasn't all fun and games. Two men went AWOL. They couldn't face the humiliation of the "quitter's parade".
On our fourth jump, three men froze with fear at the open door of the plane, refusing to make the plunge into space. They were treated with the most disdain of all. That evening they were paraded before us and derided as the most contemptible examples of cowards that three mothers ever brought into the world. The rest of us vowed that we would never permit ourselves to be so vilified.
On the morning of our fifth jump there was an oppressive silence in our barracks. If anyone had asked, "Are you afraid?" we would have shot back, "Afraid? No!" And we would have been sincere. Each of us reasoned, "I haven't quit. Therefore, I'm not afraid." It was the quitters who had been afraid. However, if an animal with a keen sense of smell had been nearby, it would easily have detected the fear that we so stubbornly denied.
I made it through the five qualifying jumps without a scratch. Had I been afraid? Yes indeed! But I had learned to deny my fear, and finally I stood triumphantly with my comrades as our commanding general pinned the silver wings on my chest. I was now a member of the Army's most elite society of warriors. There was no reason to be afraid now. That is, not until my next leap into space.Got you interested? Get more than one: the extra to lend or give.
And no, dear pessimists, I have no financial gain to be had based
on this 'review' or recommendation. You don't absolutely NEED the
book to survive or want to keep on living; nevertheless, what are
you doing with your precious money that you cannot pull yourself
away from trivial daily tabloids, optional hobbies, or (females)
romance novellas. Merlin has something to say, and you had better
listen up to this former ...
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired; 82nd Airborne 1943, WWII, Demolition Expert; Guard for Dwight D. Eisenhower; Graduate Marion College, Marion, IN; Graduate Asbury Seminary, Wilmore, KY; Chaplain U.S. Army 1953-1971; Master Parachutist (90 jumps); Civil Air Patrol Pilot; Methodist Pastor.
?Now do you know why I declined to ATTEMPT to 'review' that book?

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Sage Tales: Wisdom and Wonder from the Rabbis of the Talmud Review

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(More customer reviews)Rabbi Visotsky, the author of this volume, is a professor at The Jewish Theological Seminary and has been involved in studying and teaching the subject of Jewish Midrash, the ancient tales, parables, and teachings of Judaism, for over forty years. There are twenty-two chapters filled with interesting information told in an easy to read, frequently humorous manner. The title Sage Tales could mean stories filled with wisdom, tales told by wise men, or a history of ancient intellectuals. Visotsky uses the title in all three ways, because he gifts us well-told wise tales and informs us about the history of the times and the men who told the tales.
His opening chapter, for instance, explains what prompted the many unforgettable stories about the appearance of the biblical prophet Elijah long after his death, always appearing as a miraculous helper to people in distress. He tells his own story of how he was lost in Uzbekistan and was unable to communicate with people on the street since he couldn't speak or understand their language. But then a man suddenly appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and took him to the house he was seeking, even though he never told the man the address of the house. When he turned around within seconds to thank him, he couldn't find him. He disappeared. Was he Elijah the Prophet? He tells three stories from the Talmud where the rabbis relate similar instances and say that the stranger was Elijah, and he explains why they said so. One is how Elijah caught a man who jumped off a roof to commit suicide and dissuaded him from repeating his mistake. One tells how Elijah replenished a man's sack of jewels that a thief stole and arranged suitable punishment for the thief. Still another has the ubiquitous theme of Elijah disguised as a beggar who knocks on a door begging for alms. He explains how these folktales and others like them are constructed and what they are designed to accomplish. He admits that the "legends were told about people who really lived, but the events may not have happened as described in the narrative."
In his second chapter, to offer another example, he introduces five sages, tells us what they thought on a host of subject, what their teacher said about each of them, what posterity thought of them long after their death, and the tale of how and why the best them, smarter and more loved than the rest, went astray. While his colleagues are mentioned frequently in the Talmud, little is known of him other than his early wise statements and his teacher's accolades.
In the next chapter, to cite a third illustration, he tells how the idea of rewriting and expanding on previously-told ancient stories is an age-old well-accepted practice not only of Jews but of ancient Greeks. The Greeks did it with the Odyssey and the Iliad. The Jews did it frequently as when the tales in the book Pirkei Avot, called Ethics of the Fathers in English, were expanded with new stories in Avot deRabbi Nathan. He gives other interesting demonstrations. In the fourth chapter, our final example, he shows how the Bible itself uses this technique. I am reminded of the title Nathaniel Hawthorn used, Twice Told Tales, although it would be more precise to say "tales told and retold many times."
Visotsky includes two appendices. One, of twenty pages, recapitulates the tales alone without comments so that readers can find them easily and review them. The second, a four page Who's Who, identifies the people mentioned in his discussions. There is also a glossary that defines terms and a section Suggestions for Further Reading.



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