Amazon.com
Paper or plastic? Neither, say William McDonough and Michael Braungart. Why settle for the least harmful alternative when we could have something that is better--say, edible grocery bags! In Cradle to Cradle, the authors present a manifesto calling for a new industrial revolution, one that would render both traditional manufacturing and traditional environmentalism obsolete. Recycling, for instance, is actually "downcycling," creating hybrids of biological and technical "nutrients" which are then unrecoverable and unusable. The authors, an architect and a chemist, want to eliminate the concept of waste altogether, while preserving commerce and allowing for human nature. They offer several compelling examples of corporations that are not just doing less harm--they're actually doing some good for the environment and their neighborhoods, and making more money in the process. Cradle to Cradle is a refreshing change from the intractable environmental conflicts that dominate headlines. It's a handbook for 21st-century innovation and should be required reading for business hotshots and environmental activists. --Therese Littleton
Book Description
A manifesto for a radically different philosophy and practice of manufacture and environmentalism
"Reduce, reuse, recycle" urge environmentalists; in other words, do more with less in order to minimize damage. As William McDonough and Michael Braungart argue in their provocative, visionary book, however, this approach perpetuates a one-way, "cradle to grave" manufacturing model that dates to the Industrial Revolution and casts off as much as 90 percent of the materials it uses as waste, much of it toxic. Why not challenge the notion that human industry must inevitably damage the natural world, they ask.
In fact, why not take nature itself as our model? A tree produces thousands of blossoms in order to create another tree, yet we do not consider its abundance wasteful but safe, beautiful, and highly effective; hence, "waste equals food" is the first principle the book sets forth. Products might be designed so that, after their useful life, they provide nourishment for something new-either as "biological nutrients" that safely re-enter the environment or as "technical nutrients" that circulate within closed-loop industrial cycles, without being "downcycled" into low-grade uses (as most "recyclables" now are).
Elaborating their principles from experience (re)designing everything from carpeting to corporate campuses, the authors make an exciting and viable case for change.
Customer Reviews:
A pleasant read.......2007-09-24
Definitely would recommend this to anyone who would like to learn about how societies will/should change to conform to the processes of nature. Significant change need to occur to shape a planet where humans can survive for a longer duration (than the current forecast). This means alleviating environmental threats that were initially caused by our own doing.
A must for anyone developing products.......2007-09-19
This book put a new light on the manufacturing process. I am currently studying to be an engineer, and upon reading this book, I feel I have gained important insight into how to ethically create products. The focus of the book is to show that being "less bad", as the current way of thinking promotes, is not the right mentality to have. Instead the book proposes that products need to be looked at in a renewable sense, that is, how can it be completely reused to make something new when its useful life has been spent (hence Cradle to Cradle and not Cradle to Grave). I found the book to be very inspirational and look forward to applying its ideas in my career.
2107: "You People Lived in Filth!" - A sort of book review of Bill McDonough and Michael Braungart's Cradle to Cradle.......2007-08-18
One hundred years isn't a long time. Yet, in the last one hundred years we can account for radical changes in the expectations that we - in the West at least - have concerning the standards of the food we eat and the conditions that we live in. We readily expect that our waste will neatly leave our homes, our malls, our schools, workplaces, and public spots en route to some place where it disappears from sight and smell forever. In fact, we rarely think about whether our waste ends up burnt, buried, or recycled, nor whether the food we dine on is thoroughly inspected and safe. We can think back to 1907 as a period in which there was nothing in the way of food safety standards (though a movement in that direction was initiated as a result of Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle, which was published that same year). Nor was there any notion of labor rights, environmental protection, and many of the sanitation procedures that we often take for granted nowadays.
Looking back through history ever further, to the crowded city streets of Paris, London, or Rome in the 17th and 18th century, reveals a more distasteful reality of how people lived. The blood of slaughtered animals, along with human excrement and other waste flowed through the sewers of these magnificent cities. "How did people live like this?" we might wonder. We shutter to think about living in such conditions, which allowed for the rapid spread of pestilence and sickness, not to mention unthinkable stench. While this may still be the experience of too many in the developing world, a signal of the progress and greatness of the modernized West has been our ability to escape the condition of living in our own waste.
Yet I've wondered recently how those living in 2107 will look upon the collective condition of the world as it stands today? Will they think that we live in filth? Despite the fact that we can split atoms, fly space crafts around the solar system, cure many illnesses, make electricity from the sun's rays, and communicate with each other in a myriad of digital ways, I wonder if they will ask why we still chose to live in our waste? I think that they will find it extremely perplexing that a society as developed as ours, who has the self awareness and knowledge about the harm that we inflict on ourselves and for posterity - not to mention the multitude of living systems that we are embedded in - refused to develop a different course for humanity.
When I say that we live in filth I mean that we continue to choke on unsafe air from the cars we drive and the outdated and dangerous ways that we engage in mass industrialization. I mean that we continue to produce millions and millions of consumable products made from an array of unsafe chemicals that we know little about and which we simply burn or bury after we use them one or two times. I find it so perplexing that industry continues to spends so much time and energy developing products that will only be used for a small fraction of time by consumers, yet will spend hundreds of years in landfills (I'm thinking especially of the enormous amount of plastic packaging that most products come in, only to be discarded immediately).
We dump many of the items that we have no more use for into ever expanding landfills that are getting closer and closer to the places we live and the sources of water we eventually come to drink. We are, in effect, living in our own waste. We put zero amount of effort into thinking of ways to design the same products that we rely on daily so that they are not harmful for humans or the environments in which we live. Scratch that, we have the technology and the know how for making safer and better products, however we lack leaders (both political & business) with the will, courage, and vision to bring humanity into the next industrial revolution. The first industrial revolution centered on extracting resources from the Earth (with little thought of replacing them) and putting these resources through production processes that have amounted to harming both human and non-human life for many years to come. The next industrial revolution will be about reengineering the production of consumer goods so that the stuff we make is in accordance with our natural environment. It will be about plastics that are biodegradable and the eradication of materials that are not. It will be about more intelligent approaches to designing buildings, which will utilize natural light, wind patterns, and the surrounding ecosphere to produce happier places to work and live, and which no longer rely on burning fossil fuels for cooling, heating, and sanitation. It will be about re-conceptualizing how we design, plan, and imagine the cities that most of humanity has come to chose to live in.
I'm currently drinking a soda out of a plastic bottle made from polymers derived from petroleum. This bottle, which not only is derived from the most contested resource of our time (though clean water is quickly taking its place) will be intact for those living in 2107 to view and touch as an artifact of an era which may be known in the future as one of reckless disregard, ignorance, and waste. Even the popular notion of recycling many of the products that we use only serves to slow down the rate in which we are harming ourselves. Recycling for many products is really a process of downcycling - a term coined by Bill McDonough and Michael Braungart in their book Cradle to Cradle. The process of recycling a product essentially causes it to loose its quality each time it is put through the recycling process (assuming that individuals keep recycling each new plastic reincarnate). Even though I will recycle this bottle, and it will become another plastic product again, it will eventually have to be disregarded after going through a few recycles. Alas, we are really just slowing down the rate by which synthetics eventually reach our waste graveyards or incinerators. In addition, while it is thought to be a socially responsible activity, the process of recycling releases into the atmosphere dangerous toxins emitted by the burning of plastics during the recycling process.
What is radically different about the world from 1907, or 17th century European cities, is that we fully understand the consequences of continuing down the path we are on. Furthermore, we have the knowledge and creative ideas of how to alter that path. What we lack, sadly, is the will to cause massive social change in how we consume and live. McDonough and Braungart's text urges product designers, city planners, and architects to approach their designs with the future of humanity in mind. Interestingly, they are not saying that we need to save the planet, for the planet will still be here long after homo sapiens has expired. Their message is that we need to save ourselves from the harm we are inflicting on ourselves. Their cradle-to-cradle philosophy urges designers to make products that can easily be disassembled after their use and put back into the production cycle as something else. In this sense, products should have an immense shelf life, being able to become that same product again or easily transformed into some other consumer product. The idea is to rid ourselves of the current approach to production which is based on a cradle-to-grave approach: extract resources from the Earth to make consumer products which are then discarded (thrown away) into landfills or burnt up in incinerators, expelling unknown synthetic chemicals into the ecosphere which we rely on for life.
It's time for us to recognize that the approach to mass production and living brought on by the industrial revolution is antiquated. If anything, it's insulting that humanity has yet to update itself from what seems to be such an archaic paradigm of not only how we make things, but what are relationship ought to be with the multitude of living systems that we are embedded in. All other living species exist in an interdependent cyclical system in which their "wastes equals food" for some other set of beings. It's high time that we apply this age old and ubiquitous principle to how we manufacture and produce all the things that we need to live as well.
This book is amazing - 6 stars.......2007-08-12
If you care about ecology and if you ever wondered how humanity can live in a harmony with the nature - you must read this book.
Imagine plastic container that you are encouraged to throw away - it contains no toxins, biodegrades and serves as nutrition for soil... Imagine the car you give back to the manufacturer who gives you instead a newer model, then manufacturer takes apart the old car piece by piece and infinitely reuses the parts... And so on... This book is made out of plastic that can be printed on over and over again...
A very insightful book.......2007-08-04
With all the talk these days about Global warming this is a great book to read.
For many, in my opinion including myself, educated in similar thought processes dating back to beginnings of the industrial revolution has created many of the problems, as a world, we now face. The two authors try to break down these barriers and describe ways in which we can all treat the planet with a little more respect and develop new ways of thinking. The idea as they write,"throwing that away." Where are you throwing it away to? It basically ends up in someone else's back yard polluting their environment while delaying the inevitable pollution of your local environment. I hope this book motivates at least a few individuals enough where they do become active or lead them down a path where they develop ways to decrease individuals carbon foot print.
Ideas written about in this book reflects the Sundance Channels: The Green, Bid Ideas for a Small Planet, shows about individuals trying to make an a more sustainable environment. Some of the documentaries related to this series shows areas that have been so heavily polluted and groups trying to remedy them. It was quite alarming to see areas such as this.
Again, a great book with many new ideas and ways to look at things
Average customer rating:
- Amazing
- Can't put it down
- Looking at Machines Differently
- GREAT BOOK
- One of the densest collections of basic knowledge about our mechanistic world
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The New Way Things Work
David Macaulay
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Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction (Sandpiper)
ASIN: 0395938473 |
Amazon.com
"Is it a fact--or have I dreamt it--that, by means of electricity, the world of matter has become a great nerve, vibrating thousands of miles in a breathless point of time?" If you, like Nathaniel Hawthorne, are kept up at night wondering about how things work--from electricity to can openers--then you and your favorite kids shouldn't be a moment longer without David Macaulay's The New Way Things Work. The award-winning author-illustrator--a former architect and junior high school teacher--is perfectly poised to be the Great Explainer of the whirrings and whizzings of the world of machines, a talent that landed the 1988 version of The Way Things Work on the New York Times bestsellers list for 50 weeks. Grouping machines together by the principles that govern their actions rather than by their uses, Macaulay helps us understand in a heavily visual, humorous, unerringly precise way what gadgets such as a toilet, a carburetor, and a fire extinguisher have in common.
The New Way Things Work boasts a richly illustrated 80-page section that wrenches us all (including the curious, bumbling wooly mammoth who ambles along with the reader) into the digital age of modems, digital cameras, compact disks, bits, and bytes. Readers can glory in gears in "The Mechanics of Movement," investigate flying in "Harnessing the Elements," demystify the sound of music in "Working with Waves," marvel at magnetism in "Electricity & Automation," and examine e-mail in "The Digital Domain." An illustrated survey of significant inventions closes the book, along with a glossary of technical terms, and an index. What possible link could there be between zippers and plows, dentist drills and windmills? Parking meters and meat grinders, jumbo jets and jackhammers, remote control and rockets, electric guitars and egg beaters? Macaulay demystifies them all. (Click to see a sample spread of this book, illustrations and text copyright 1998 David Macaulay, Neil Ardley, published by Houghton Mifflin Co.) (All ages) --Karin Snelson
Book Description
The information age is upon us, baffling us with thousands of complicated state-of-the-art technologies. To help make sense of the computer age, David Macaulay brings us The New Way Things Work. This completely updated and expanded edition describes twelve new machines and includes more than seventy new pages detailing the latest innovations. With an entirely new section that guides us through the complicated world of digital machinery, where masses of electronic information can be squeezed onto a single tiny microchip, this revised edition embraces all of the newest developments, from cars to watches. Each scientific principle is brilliantly explained--with the help of a charming, if rather slow-witted, woolly mammoth.
Customer Reviews:
Amazing.......2007-05-14
Informative and entertaining. I wonder how many engineers out there first got their interest in the way things work from this book.... In Fall 2008 Macaulay will have a new book out entitled "The Way We Work", which will explain the workings of the human body in similar fashion to this book. Can't wait!
Can't put it down.......2007-05-07
My son (10) had borrowed the older edition from the library several times. So I got him this one for his birthday. He sneaks this book into his bed at night. If that's not an excellent testemony I don't know what is.
Looking at Machines Differently.......2007-02-01
Each page of this book opens up a world of how something works. It could be how to make a hologram (of a wolly mammoth of course) or how the valves in a trumpet change the sound. The subject for a few pages might be electricity or it could be how an automatic transmission works. In any case, the pages are a mixture of drawings (usually with mammoth) showing the nature of the subject, combined with text that further describes what the drawings are showing.
Over a period of many years Mr. Macaulay has developed his drawing style and his understanding of mechanical things which when combined in a book like this offer a painless way for the kid in all of us to learn.
This new edition has been expanded in several areas. This includes coverage on personal computers, space probes and other more recent developments. It's one of those books that's hard to put down once you start reading.
GREAT BOOK.......2007-01-12
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER SEEN. IT IS EXCELLANT FOR ALL AGES.
One of the densest collections of basic knowledge about our mechanistic world.......2006-12-14
Imagine there were a nuclear war and all of society's accomplishments were annihilated and mankind became a savage race again. If you could have just one book saved through the ages to help you reestablish science and technology, pick this one.
Product Description
The Uncover series combines the best elements of a book with model elements to help readers truly "uncover" the mysteries of what makes things work. A fascinating three-dimensional presentation allows in-depth, hands-on exploration of the subject at hand. This unique "model" is easily build, deconstructed and re-built layer by layer, system by system just by turning a page, until an understanding of the topic is achieved. The complexities of the human body can be daunting, particularly for children. This book-model combination takes some of the mystery out of how the body works. It covers all the major systems and processes. Children get to look at each system on a different page, then by closing the book, combine them into a whole. 16 pages. Ages 8+
Customer Reviews:
Perfect for curious little ones.......2007-09-17
I gave this book to my nephew for his 5th birthday. My nephew is obsessed with learning and his topic of choice at that time was the human body. He literally stared at this book for an entire week. After a month or so, he could name every single bone in the body, point to all the major organs, and tell you how your digestive system works. This book is full of learning and is so interesting for kids because of the 3D body parts. Yes, you may lose a part or two, or need to glue the skull back in, but all in all, it's fascination and wonder for curious little kids!
Loved it!.......2007-07-30
I bought this for my 5 year old for her birthday. She wanted a stand up skelleton with organs that she could take out and look at. As she is only 5 and she has a 2 year old brother I opted for this book instead. She loves it! Not only can she look at the organs but she can also see the nerves, blood vessels and the brain. The book also contains projects you can do with your child that are pretty neat. Believe it or not this has become a bed time book.
Very cool. And no small pieces to lose.
Fun, eye-catching, AND educational.......2007-03-29
I did alot of research to find just the right book for my 7 year old, and am very happy with this book. We both love the way the parts of the body are 3-D in the middle of the book. He can identify most of the parts after just a few sit downs with me. Some of the text is too old for him, but it's easy to simplify the material to age appropriate levels. We will be able to use this book for many more years adding on information as he gets older!
What a "cool" book!.......2007-02-23
My 8 year old daughter has always been fascinated by the human body. I bought this for her as gift and she can't get enough of it. She takes it everywhere we go and is constantly reading it. We went to the doctor's office recently and of course she had her book with her. The doctor was very impressed and kept commenting on what a "cool" book it was. I have to agree, and so does my daughter.
So Cool!.......2007-01-21
We got this for our 4 year old because he was at the stage where he was asking so many questions about how the body works. It is fantastic! I love the little skeleton inside. Every page reveals a different layer that is explained on that page. He loves the book and will actually sit and look at it without my help now. Definitely would recommend this book!
Average customer rating:
- Way too simple, but OK for kids
- Definitely not worth the money.
- Perhaps he should name it....Catapults for Kids.
- More fun!
- Amusing catapults, interesting history, but no metric units
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The Art of the Catapult: Build Greek Ballistae, Roman Onagers, English Trebuchets, and More Ancient Artillery
William Gurstelle
Manufacturer: Chicago Review Press
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ASIN: 1556525265 |
Book Description
Whether playing at defending their own castle or simply chucking pumpkins over a fence, wannabe marauders and tinkerers will become fast acquainted with Ludgar, the War Wolf, Ill Neighbor, Cabulus, and the Wild Donkey—ancient artillery devices known commonly as catapults. Building these simple yet sophisticated machines introduces fundamentals of math and physics using levers, force, torsion, tension, and traction. Instructions and diagrams illustrate how to build seven authentic working model catapults, including an early Greek ballista, a Roman onager, and the apex of catapult technology, the English trebuchet. Additional projects include learning how to lash and make rope and how to construct and use a hand sling and a staff sling. The colorful history of siege warfare is explored through the stories of Alexander the Great and his battle of Tyre; Saladin, Richard the Lionheart, and the Third Crusade; pirate-turned-soldier John Crabbe and his ship-mounted catapults; and Edward I of England and his battle against the Scots at Stirling Castle.
Customer Reviews:
Way too simple, but OK for kids.......2007-06-29
I find this book to be very superficial when it comes to the real deal. If you're looking for a book on catapults, you're going to get disappointed. This book focuses om making simple small scale models of catapults. I suppose it's great for a weekend project with your wannabe engineer kids, but if you're really interested in pre gunpowder siege warfare, you should rather take a look at Konstantin Nossov's book on siege warfare, which is a really thourough work. Also note that there aren't any metric units for the models, which complicates construction for the common european.
Definitely not worth the money........2007-04-17
I was really dissappointed with this book. Several of the projects are ridiculous, and he didn't do enough research. A few quick searches of the internet reveal that he gets a lot of historical facts wrong.
His first two projects, have nothing to do with anything related to actual catapults. The first is two sticks tied together, and the second is the equivalent of a waterbaloon slingshot. He calls it the "Viking Catapult". Of the ten projects in this book, three of them are modeled on actual historical types of catapults. Two are sub projects, that just show you how to build parts of the catapults, and the other five are things a child could design on thier own. As the one of the other reviewers pointed out, the last project is a plastic spoon catapult game. Small children do this on their own.
Do your self a favor, and download some free plans off the internet.
Perhaps he should name it....Catapults for Kids........2007-01-10
I was disappointed in this book. I was expecting some historically accurate designs and what I received was overly simplified plans presumably designed mostly for children. Yes, most of the text is related to the history of these weapons, but the plans left something to be desired. The ballista plan suggests use of a peanut as ammunition (not a bolt?) and the catch mechanism is nonexistent. The last project is a plastic-spoon-based basketball game. Enough said?
More fun!.......2006-11-10
This is a great book - got a copy for my brother for Christmas, and after taking a look had to get my own copy. I've been wanting to build a trebuchet ever since I saw one as a teenager - here are the plans!
Amusing catapults, interesting history, but no metric units.......2005-07-20
This book contains easy-to-follow instructions on how to build different catapults. Unfortunately there is no data regarding approx. distance and height for the suggested projectiles, why you must try for yourself. All units are english/american, which means you must translate this to metric units if you are more used to that.
A lot of historic background around catapults in general and around each model is given, which makes the book very interesting to read, even if you do not plan to build any of the models.
I can recommend this book to both historically interrested people and those who are more fond of making amusing toys!
Average customer rating:
- Fantastic
- Excellent Read for Young Curious Minds...
- The earlier books are much better
- Great fun!
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The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living Things Grow (Magic School Bus)
Joanna Cole
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
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The Magic School Bus Makes A Rainbow: A Book About Color (Magic School Bus) (TV Tie-In)
ASIN: 0590222961 |
Book Description
Ms. Frizzle's class is growing a beautiful garden. But, Phoebe's plot is empty. Her flowers are back at her old school! So, the class climbs aboard the Magic School Bus. And, of course, the kids don't only go back to Phoebe's school, but they go inside one of Phoebe's flowers! Follow the kids' adventure and learn how living things grow.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic.......2007-06-12
My son was so excited because we planted seeds a nd watched what happened in "real' life as explained by the book.
Excellent Read for Young Curious Minds..........2006-05-30
As a 3rd Grade School Teacher, I found this book instrumental to my lessons on plant life. Ms. Drizzle and her class answer many of the questions my students come up with before we've read the book so I know that we're reading the right materials for our lessons. Great series for the imagination and for provoking interest in the sciences early in the child's development.
The earlier books are much better.......2004-09-12
We were given a copy of "Magic Schoolbus and the Ocean Floor" as a gift. I then bought "Dinosaurs" and "Senses." There is a difference between the books written only by Joanna Cole and the later books that are basically a comic-book version of the TV show. It takes us a solid 45 minutes to read "Senses", and I even learned some facts. "Plants Seeds" is about a 15 minute read-aloud. I say stick with the earlier books.
Great fun!.......2000-04-04
I enjoyed this book very much because it is such a fun way to learn about science. This is the first of many Magic School Bus books I purchased, and I've been hooked ever since.
Book Description
Ten years after Roger Tory Peterson's death, his unique perspective on birding comes to life in these highly personal narratives. Here he relates his adventures during a lifetime of birding and traveling the world to observe and record nature. Whether it is in writing about the time when his boat capsized in freezing water off the coast of Maine while he, then in his eighties, was filming a documentary, or about his experiences searching for the ivory-billed woodpecker, Peterson's sense of adventure and curiosity cannot be extinguished. The accomplished illustrator and writer was nearly as passionate about photography as he was about painting, and each essay is illustrated with Peterson's own photographs. The essays included here were carefully selected by Bill Thompson III, the editor of Bird Watcher's Digest, in which the columns originally appeared.
Customer Reviews:
A set of vivid vignettes perfect for that avid birder........2007-03-05
All Things Reconsidered: My Birding Adventures is an excellent pick for any who have long known of and used Roger Tory Peterson's birding guides, which have become leading industry references in the fine art of bird identification. A decade after his death comes a personal collection which blends color photos and line drawings with a passionate survey of the bird world, selected by the editor of Bird Watcher's Digest which ran his column 'All Things Reconsidered' during the last twelve years of his life. His adventures traveling the world are captured in a set of vivid vignettes perfect for that avid birder.
A Very Good Book.......2007-01-26
This was purchased as a gift, but before I wrapped it I read four of the essays. Enjoyed them very much and learnd some things. It has some excellent illustrations, too. I'm going to buy a copy for myself. Sorry I haven't read more for this review.
Fitting Tribute.......2006-12-27
The author, who died ten years ago, is the well-known originator of the Peterson's Field Guides. This book makes available to a wider audience a selection of columns he wrote for a bird magazine. In them, he takes us all over the world and familiarizes us with a wide variety of birds, other wildlife, and people. His prose style is a beauty in itself. The editor has updated the articles in small but important ways.
The book uses quality paper to enhance the photographs, and quality type. It must be one of the finest books produced so far this century, and at the Amazon price it is truly a steal. All in all, a fitting tribute to the author, who obviously was loved by many. A joy to own, to read, and to recommend.
Customer Reviews:
Another good book from the Exporatorium.......2007-02-12
Most of the Exploratorium books that I have purchased have been activity-based, so they're great for grown-ups (teachers, parents, etc.) who want to lead kids in discovery as well as for the kids who want to try things out for themselves. As a science instructor for elementary-aged students (pre-K through 5th grade), there are several of the activities in this book that I am going to use for my kids, but it seems well suited for the kids themselves because it also gives a lot of basic background information on everything from static to DNA. This particular book from Exploratorium is a bit different from the others because of its extra background information and would be a great book for an elementary-aged child who loves science and wants more information, as well as hands-on activities to explore.
I've been voted "Coolest Grandad"!.......2007-01-10
I am well over 13 years of age! -- I am approaching my 75th birthday. I bought Exploratopia for one of my grandsons and all grandchildren (who have reached the 'use of reason' thought Grandad's present to Aaron the best of all.
Not only is it a book of discovery -- every discovery gives you an experiment that you can to to illustrate what you have just read.
Thank ytou very much!
Bill M
Average customer rating:
- Good reading
- Like animals?
- Fantastic
- very prompt
- wholesome, human, beautifully written
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All Things Wise and Wonderful
James Herriot
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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All Things Bright and Beautiful
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All Creatures Great and Small
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The Lord God Made Them All (All Creatures Great & Small)
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Every Living Thing
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James Herriot's Dog Stories: Warm And Wonderful Stories About The Animals Herriot Loves Best
ASIN: 0312966555 |
Book Description
Readers adored his tales as a Yorkshire animal doctor in All Creatures Great and Small and All Things Bright and Beautiful-- now James Herriot treats us to another delightful volume of memoirs rich with his own brand of humor and wisdom.
In the midst of World War Two, James is training for the Royal Air Force, while going home to Yorkshire whenever possible to see his very pregnant wife, Helen. Musing on past adventures through the dales, visiting with old friends, and introducing scores of new and amusing characters-- animal and human alike-- Herriot enthralls us once again with his uncanny ability to spin a most engaging and heartfelt yarn.
Customer Reviews:
Good reading.......2007-05-07
I read his books as a teen and loved them. Bought the whole set for my grandsons, [teens]. They laughed until they cried. [so did I].
Like animals?.......2007-03-07
If you like animals you will enjoy all James Herriot's books. This is one of a series of delightful books. Reading one will make you want to read the next one. I can read them over and over.
Fantastic.......2007-01-19
I have the complete series of All Creatures Great and Small books now. This was the last one and I loved it as much as I loved the others. He was a fantastic writer and having been born and raised on a farm I can appreciate a lot of what he talks about. I also have his cat and dog stories books and loved them just as much.
very prompt.......2007-01-16
The books arrived so quickly that I got to take my time
wrapping the books.
wholesome, human, beautifully written.......2007-01-04
I read the Herriot books years and years ago. I learned that my husband had not. So when he needed more "going to sleep" books that could be read in short sections and would let him fall pleasantly to sleep after a few chapters, I ordered all the "Bright and Beautiful, Wise and Wonderful" series for him. After the first bedtime with the first one, he kept it next to him all day, to read just one more chapter when he had a few minutes free. He regales me with some of the tales that I have since forgotten, so I plan to re-read these wonderful snapshots of life, location, people, and animals for myself. They are actually even more refreshing now than when they first delighted me 30 years ago.
Average customer rating:
- Good reading
- Every Living Thing
- Every Living Thing
- Funny, sad, entertaining, another Herriot Masterpiece
- Gently humorous
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Every Living Thing
James Herriot
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Similar Items:
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All Things Wise and Wonderful
-
The Lord God Made Them All (All Creatures Great & Small)
-
All Things Bright and Beautiful
-
All Creatures Great and Small
-
James Herriot's Dog Stories: Warm And Wonderful Stories About The Animals Herriot Loves Best
ASIN: 0312950586 |
Book Description
Celebrate the return of the most beloved storyteller of our time!
The waiting is finally over. For the first time in over a decade, the world's favorite veterinarian, James Herriot, returns us in a twinkle to the rural green enclave of England called Yorkshire for more irresistible tales of animals and people.
At long last, another treat from Herriot!
In stories of wonders great and small, James reintroduces many old friends like Mrs. Pumphrey, his partner Siegfried Farnon, and of course, his wife Helen. But there are wonderful new faces too, especially his children Rosie and Jimmy, and his latest assistant, Calum Buchanan.
Herriot works his magic again!
Offering readers an even more intimate view of the life and dreams of a country vet than any of his previous volumes, James Herriot's Every Living Thing is a book that will warm your heart, make you laugh out loud, and feel so good you'll never want it to end.
Herriot really does love Every Living Thing...and so will you!
Customer Reviews:
Good reading.......2007-05-07
I read his books as a teen and loved them. Bought the whole set for my grandsons, [teens]. They laughed until they cried. [so did I].
Every Living Thing.......2006-03-14
I read this book many years ago, I enjoy animal stories, I loved books by James Herriot, I read all of his books, the one perchased recently was a gift for my grandaughter who likes animal stories.
Every Living Thing.......2006-02-24
As usual, I enjoyed the stories written by James Herriot; maybe not quite as much as previous books but it still made very enjoyable reading!
Funny, sad, entertaining, another Herriot Masterpiece.......2005-08-26
When I think about it, it scares me that James Herriot almost never got published. It was through a small bit of luck/fate/intuition, whatever you want to call it, that his writing was made into a book.
He has since become the most well know vet in the world (although he is now dead), and his writing has entertained people all over the world. This book, published quite a bit later than his other ones, caps off the series. Another fun 350-or-so pages of writing that will make you both sad and happy at the same time.
I highly recommend this book as well as the others in the series.
Gently humorous.......2004-10-11
This book is the last book written by James Herriot - actually James Alfred Wight (1916-95). James, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, qualified as a veterinarian at 23 years of age, and quickly fell with his new location of Yorkshire. Beginning in 1970, James began to write books, reaching into his years of experience as a vet, and spinning out enthralling and entertaining stories of things that did happen and things that might have happened on the Yorkshire Dales.
As I said, this book was James's last, being published in 1992. In it, we read adventures of a country vet, doing battle against disease, hypochondriac pet-owners, uncooperative animals, the weather, other vets, and...just about everything. This is another great James Herriot - All Creatures book, one that I loved as much as the earlier books. If you like good storytelling, or are interested in veterinarians, then you will love this book. It is a gently humorous story that is sure to entertain all. I highly recommend it!
Amazon.com
Rarely does a book come along that tackles a perennially difficult human issue with such clarity and intelligence. Harold Kushner, a Jewish rabbi facing his own child's fatal illness, deftly guides us through the inadequacies of the traditional answers to the problem of evil, then provides a uniquely practical and compassionate answer that has appealed to millions of readers across all religious creeds. Remarkable for its intensely relevant real-life examples and its fluid prose, this book cannot go unread by anyone who has ever been troubled by the question, "Why me?"
Book Description
As a young theology student, Harold Kushner puzzled over the Book of Job. As a small-town rabbi he counseled other people through pain and grief. But not until he learned that his three-year-old son, Aaron, would die in his early teens of a rare disease did he confront one of life's most difficult questions: Where do we find the resources to cope when tragedy strikes?
"I knew that one day I would write this book," says Rabbi Kushner. "I would write it out of my own need to put into words some of the most important things I have come to believe and know. And I would write it to help other people who might one day find themselves in a similar predicament. I am fundamentally a religious man who has been hurt by life, and I wanted to write a book that could be given to the person who has been hurt by life, and who knows in his heart that if there is justice in the world, he deserved better. . . . If you are such a person, if you want to believe in God's goodness and fairness but find it hard because of the things that have happened to you and to people you care about, and if this book helps you do that, then I will have succeeded in distilling some blessing out of Aaron's pain and tears."
Since its original publication in 1981, When Bad Things Happen to Good People has brought solace and hope to millions. In his new preface to this anniversary edition, Rabbi Kushner relates the heartwarming responses he has received over the last two decades from people who have found inspiration and comfort within these pages.
Customer Reviews:
Emotionally satisfying, but..........2007-10-01
This book claims not to be about theology, but actually that is what it is about from the first word to the last. And Kushner tackles an ancient and difficult theological issue: if God is good and His creation wholly good, why is there evil in the world? Kushner never really answers this question (probably because there is no satisfactory answer to the question as it is stated). And he has the courage to say that he does not really know. In fact, the book is loaded with courageously unanswered questions. This makes the work extremely satisfying on an emotional level. But on an intellectual level, it can leave the reader deeply unsatisfied. Kushner accepts that the world is chaotic; that good people will inevitably have bad things happen to them. He exonerates God by saying God did not create this chaos. In doing so, Kushner wishes to exonerate the God of Judaism from such sins as, among others, the death of innocent children. But by letting God off, he distances the deity from the world. He creates dual realms: one for God and one for us. Kushner's God is not the God of mysticism or pantheism (and some have said, not Judaism). For all its considerable emotional strengths, it seems that Kusnher in this work wants the best of both worlds: he wants to wed the chaotic universe of the atheist, and the good God of the Bible. In the end, it's a troubled marriage.
A great book........2007-10-01
Main reason for purchasing this book was Christopher Barrios death on March 8. He was a six year old Little Angel that became an angel on that date.
His death affected me to no end. It affected my eating and sleeping habits. This book helped me to see things in perspective.
I would recommend this book to anyone trying to cope with the loss of a dear one.
The Only Explanation That Made Sense.............2007-08-20
My mother died of cancer 3 weeks ago (she was only 59) and it made me MAD as hell at God for not saving her. For a while I denied the existence of any diety. A friend recommended this book. I learned I had to change my views about the nature of God.
The traditional "pray to God, he is all powerful, and he will fix everything" belief I was taught as a child no longer applied once my mother got sick and died. Why didn't God answer my prayers? Did he want my mother to suffer, become riddled with tumors, and then die at a young age? Why didn't he help us? Harold Kushner had a similar experience (his son died at age 13) and came to the conclusion that (in a nutshell)God does not heal the sick, stop tornadoes, cure AIDS and Cancer etc. because he can't. He is not all powerful.
I never EVER would have come to this conclusion by myself because it goes against EVERYTHING I was taught as a Christian. If my mother had not died there is NO WAY I would believe God was NOT all powerful. But, in doing some soul searching, that is the only explanation that makes any sense to me. For God to make my mom sick to teach my family a lesson, for a greater good, because she was a bad person, because we did not pray enough, because it was in his divine plan etc. makes no sense to me. All of these explanations offered by my church, my friends, Priests, and fellow believers led me to one conclusion: God did not help me in my time of need and therefore, God was either evil and enjoyed watching us suffer OR there was no God. Now I believe that neither of these conclusions are true. God is simply not omnipotent.
There is no doubt that accepting that God is NOT omnipotent opens up an entirely new can of worms. I had to rethink everything I knew about God and religion. I no longer look to the Bible or to any religious text for answers. I always had my doubts about the Bible. It was written by Men, Gospels were omitted and hidden away etc. It was not written by God himself/herself. Furthermore, each religion has a "Bible" or book of laws, worship, beliefs etc. How is there any way to know which is the correct set of beliefs? In a sense, due to my skepticism about Christianity/Judaism and the Bible's authenticity, it was easier for me to accept that my view of God as an omnipotent diety was flawed. REading this book made alarm bells go off in my head - AHA! Someone else feels exactly how I feel! Someone else, a religious leader, looked around and said "What the hell is going on here?!"
I may not agree with ALL of Kushner's statements (Kushner still believes in the Bible as a holy text, and the word of God, whereas I do not) but I do believe he is onto something. I now believe is that there is a higher power, and that higher power is good. I now look to God for strength - to help me through the tough times. I do not look to him to intervene in my life because I know that, as much as he would like to, he cannot.
Thought Provoking Read. .......2007-07-26
Rabbi Kushner's writing style and brilliant ability to show contrast with real life situations creates an eagerness to read on and an insatiable need to learn more.
From the tone of this book it leads you to assume that Rabbi Kushner is just a lovable human being, rich in modesty and humility.
This is a very short book which will be of value for both religious and non religious people. Whether religious or not, Rabbi Kushner's book has the ability to put a new prayer or creed in your heart, and will also enlighten you to not lose sight of the meaning of life in your life.
People need not wait for some tragedy to come along to pick up this book. Personally, I am not currently dealing with a loss; however, after completing this book I feel more prepared to take on the burden of coping with any unfortunate occurrences, which the future may hold. I bought this book to enable me to pass on comforting words to people close to me which were going through some tough times in their life.
The majority of the readers of this book has mis-interpreted this book primarily from the misquoting of the title of the book. If you get the title wrong then this book will not serve its proper purpose to you.
If you seek a bridge to the New Testament read Melvin Tinker's "Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People". In Tinker's "Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People" you will find a more expanded interpretation of the Book of Job and other important passages in the New Testament that delivers what Kushner could not due to his commitment and belief in the Jewish faith. In my judgment, the two merged will give you a wider scope of learning.
Great discussion book.......2007-05-22
Kushner's book makes a great discussion starter because every person has experienced bad things happening to good people. Using his book helps one look at reactions such as anger, guilt, the forever "why" questions. I'm currently using the book as a study with a group of Christian women. It is interesting to hear them broaden Kushner's theology with their own Christian beliefs. I am using Philip Yancey's Where is God When it Hurts? to supplement When Bad Things Happen to Good People.
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