Showing posts with label drm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drm. Show all posts

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

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

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

Hunting bin Laden: How al-Qaeda Is Winning the War on Terror
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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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The Stupidest Things Ever Said by Politicians Review

The Stupidest Things Ever Said by Politicians
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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

Speak: The Best Quips, Quotes, and Anecdotes for Dog Lovers
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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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Sage Tales: Wisdom and Wonder from the Rabbis of the Talmud Review

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