Book Description
Dr. Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project, is one of the world's leading scientists. He works at the cutting edge of the study of DNA, the code of life. Yet he is also a man of unshakable faith in God and scripture. He believes that God cares about us and can intervene in human affairs -- on rare occasions, even miraculously. Collins has personally discovered some of the scientific evidence for the common descent of all living creatures, even though he repudiates the materialist, atheistic worldview argued by many prominent Darwinists.
In short, Dr. Collins provides a satisfying solution for the dilemma that haunts everyone who believes in God and respects science. Faith in God and faith in science can be harmonious -- combined into one worldview. The God that he believes in is a God who can listen to prayers and cares about our souls. The biological science he has advanced is compatible with such a God. For Collins, science does not conflict with the Bible, science enhances it.
For many years Dr. Collins kept his views largely to himself, as he helped oversee the Human Genome Project's stunning sequencing of the code of life. Now, in what may be the most important melding of reason and revelation since C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, Dr. Collins explains himself in detail. The Language of God makes the case for God and for science. Dr. Collins considers and rejects several positions along the spectrum from atheism to young-earth creationism -- including agnosticism and Intelligent Design. Instead, he proposes a new synthesis, a new way to think about an active, caring God who created humankind through evolutionary processes.
He has heard every argument against faith from scientists, and he can refute them. He has also heard the needless rejection of scientific truths by some people of faith, and he can counter that, too. He explains his own journey from atheism to faith, and then takes readers on a stunning tour of modern science to show that physics, chemistry, and biology can all fit together with belief in God and the Bible. The Language of God is essential reading for anyone who wonders about the deepest questions of all: Why are we here? How did we get here? And what does life mean?
Customer Reviews:
appeals to logical fallacies at key points.......2007-09-30
This book attempts to create a bridge between evolution and the Bible by arguing for theistic evolution, but falls flat through its use of logical fallacies in defense of evolution. Here is a sampling:
p. 99 "No serious biologist today doubts the theory of evolution..." p. 174 "for anyone familiar with the scientific evidence..." This is the "poisoning the well" fallacy, where people who disagree with him are mocked as amateurs or ignorant.
p.199 "Theistic evolution is the dominant position of serious biologists who are also serious believers." Poisoning the well, and Ad Populum. There was a time when 'the earth is flat" was the dominant position of serious people. Did that make it true?
p. 99 "... it is difficult to imagine how one would study life without it (evolution)." Arguing from lack of evidence. I can't imagine it, therefore it cannot exist.
p. 146 "evolution is so overwhelmingly supported by scientific evidence". Tautology, due to the ground rules of science. Science allows only natural causes for observed effects, which rules out supernatural causes, therefore in science the only possible cause of life is evolution.
p. 96 "while there are many imperfections in the fossil record, and many puzzles remain to be solved, virtually all the findings are consistent with the concept of a tree of life of related organisms" (evolution). Aside from the data that disagrees with my view, all the data agrees with my view. The ancient astronomers observed that planets occasionally seemed to reverse direction, which they viewed as an imperfection in their orbits. Scientists later discovered that the imperfections were not in the orbits of the planets, or their data - it was in their wrong framework (geocentric) for interpreting the data. Could evolution be the wrong framework for interpreting the fossil record?
I would not note the logical fallacies, except they are essential to Collins' arguments, and therefore essential to his conclusions.
Thought provoking.......2007-09-28
For years I have struggled with the divisions caused by Creationist, Evolutionists, and Intelligent Design advocates among Christians. This book unabashedly developes a clear defense of Evolutionary theory while at the same time articulating a strong apologetic of Christianity. It is refreshing to see a brilliant scientist invite others into belief based not on a literal view of the Creation narrative but a glimpse into the grandeur of God as seen in Evolutionary theory.
Evolution from a Religious Scientist's Perspective.......2007-09-28
Francis Collins argues in this book that the conflict between evolution and religion is largely artificial and that it causes unnecessary damage to both science and faith. Collins speaks from the perspective of a highly-respected scientist and a self-described evangelical who is concerned with both the integrity of science and the integrity of religion. He refutes Creationism and Intelligent Design on both scientific and theological grounds. I found this book to be similar to Michael Shermer's Why Darwin Matters: The Case Against Intelligent Design with the important distinction that Collins is a man of faith whereas Shermer is not (though both books are polite and seem geared towards a similar audience). Given Collins' religious credentials, this book might have greater potential than Shermer's book for positively influencing its intended audience.
Collins addresses some common anti-evolution fallacies in this book such as the perceived violation of the second law of thermodynamics and the habitual misunderstanding of the term "scientific theory." I thought that the points Collins raised regarding the psychological bias generated by the terms "creationism" and "intelligent design" were spot on. If one believes that God set evolution in motion to create life then evolution logically becomes the theory of an intelligently-designed creation, regardless of the clever naming practices of various anti-evolution hypotheses.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am not a believer, yet I was raised both as a Christian and as a Creationist; the damage that many religious are doing to their children and to the future of their faith by forcing people to make an artificial choice between God and science can hardly be overstated. As Collins points out, "Faced with incomplete understanding about the natural world, believers should be cautious about invoking the divine in areas of current mystery, lest they build an unnecessary theological argument that is doomed to later destruction." In fairness, some secularists also share in the blame for the equating of evolution with atheism when the two are evidently not mutually inclusive simply based on a cursory glance at religious polls taken of the scientific community.
The theology presented in this book is very similar to that found in C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity (in fact, Collins quotes Lewis heavily); therefore, I imagine that any fan of C.S. Lewis' theological writings should also be right at home with Collins' theological viewpoint. I think that The Language of God is mainly geared towards the religious but I would also recommend it to secularists as an example of how religion and modern science can coexist in relative harmony (ignoring the potential conflict between sociobiology and the notion of a divine Moral Law). I found the bioethical discussion concerning stem cell research, cloning, etc., in the appendix to be rather interesting as well.
I liked this book because I thought it provided a fair discussion on evolution in what I am cautiously optimistic is an accessible manner for many people of faith. Dawkins is one of my favorite popular science authors but I am under no illusion regarding the reception his books would receive, for example, from my religious family (i.e., a highly negative and divisive one). The actual science in The Language of God is rather light such that people who are interested in learning about evolution should likely look to authors such as Stephen Jay Gould or Ernst Mayr for more detail. Dawkins is another excellent writer for those who are not religious or who will not mind the occasional religious sucker-punch. I think that The Language of God is a good attempt at harmonizing modern science and religion and I would recommend it to all who are interested in this occasionally divisive discussion.
great book.......2007-09-23
Dr. Collins explains why believing Christians need not be afraid evolution debunks the Christian worldview
Science and religion -- with some flexibility you can see compatibility.......2007-09-22
The Moral Law (knowledge of right and wrong within) and the search for God that characterizes all human culture throughout history is the main evidence for the existence of God for Dr. Collins. Also ..."The Big bang cries out for a divine explanation" What was there before the Big Bang? But what about the earth being created so recently according to the Bible? This scientists answer is that this should not be interpreted as literal history but as "poetic and even allegorical description". The Big Bang could be poetically and allegorically interpreted into the Bible.
For his theology the author relies heavily on C.S. Lewis and Saint Augustine but he himself the scientist provides well written explanations of DNA and evolution. And with a little flexibility of interpretation this can all be considered to be part of God's plan.
But when it comes to Jesus the author's strong faith becomes visible. There is nothing poetic or allegorical about Him! He is a historical Fact. When it comes to the central tenet of his faith the scientist's hat comes off and the preacher's hat is put on. He does not ask for before and after DNA evidence that this "good man" rose from the dead (hard core atheists would demand a complete video record I'm sure).
Dr. Collins does write (from a scientific viewpoint) that such a claim (coming back from the dead) is "scandalous" and "outrageous" and then once again relies on C. S. Lewis to explain why he, Dr. Collins, is a true believer.
Depending upon your level interest you may or may not want to follow up by reading C. S. Lewis's works, because he is quoted so extensively in this book.
Book Description
The history of America's political, military, and intellectual involvement in the Middle East from George Washington to George W. Bush.
From the first cannonballs fired by American warships at North African pirates to the conquest of Falluja by the Marines—from the early American explorers who probed the sources of the Nile to the diplomats who strove for Arab-Israeli peace—the United States has been dramatically involved in the Middle East. For well over two centuries, American statesmen, merchants, and missionaries, both men and women, have had a profound impact on the shaping of this crucial region. Yet their story has never been told until now. Drawing on thousands of government documents and personal letters, featuring original maps and over sixty photographs, this book reconstructs the diverse and remarkable ways in which Americans have interacted with this alluring yet often hostile land stretching from Morocco to Iran, from the Persian Gulf to the Bosporus. Covering over 230 years of history, Power, Faith, and Fantasy is an indispensable work for anyone interested in understanding the roots of America's Middle East involvement today. 68 illustrations; 4 maps.
Customer Reviews:
A Bumpy Magic Carpet Ride.......2007-09-29
Michael B. Oren makes history come to life in this saga that begins and ends with Dartmouth.
John Ledyard fled Dartmouth to escape a life in the ministry and circuitously sailed and debarked ships until Eurpoean connections landed him in Egypt, where he explored the Nile. Nathaniel Fick graduated from Dartmouth and became a Marine Corps Captain, where he also landed in Egypt as a stopover before being stationed in Kuwait and fighting in Iraq.
Covering the two centuries between, Oren leads us through a parade of U.S. Presidents, beginning with those faced with Barbary State piracy, imprisonment and ransom demands made on a spanking new nation with no navy. The transformation to a vital young power with its own "sea legs" is neither slick nor linear, with a few tragi-comic hiccoughs along the way.
Oren takes us through the stages of fascination with the exotic Middle East, brought to us with an admixture of horror from the likes of Herman Melville and Mark Twain; and Oren holds the mirror up to our eyes to behold tourists in parasols vandalising ruins for souvenirs, a parade of mutual shock and awe working both was between the visitors and the host natives.
We sit in on the plans of Christian restorationists, zealously dedicated to hastening the re-settlement of Jews in a Palestinian homeland of their own; and we are invited to explore the reactions of Palestines existing populations. Missionaries abound in a geographical setting were proselytizing might cost one his head. We also meet the likes of Samuel Marinus Zwemer and Hannibal Hamlin, who prefer reaching out to young Middle Eastern minds rather than capturing their souls, with marvelous, lasting effects and long-term economic benefits to the United States.
Oren weaves a tapestry of the real and the imgined, and the enhanced: Lawrence of Arabia, "A Thousand and One Arabian Nights," Little Egypt, "Innocents Abroad," and Sol Bloom's Cairo recreation at the Chicago Columbian Exposition of 1893.
Oren gives us a slide show, a side show and living history, ever taking care to counterbalance each perceptable bias with a counterweight, exploring both [all] sides of this sometime blinding prism.
The book is a must for one who wants a sound, vibrant social history of human relations in the Middle East, replete with promising and failed strategies. For those deeply academic history purists who like their history "straight," that's fine - this gives you some mahogany, a place to rest your glass.
I loved this book.......2007-09-25
I loved this book. There was so much to learn.
One thing is clear.... the Muslims can never be trusted, should never be trusted.
The disaster that is our Arabist State Department is testiment to what happens when money is put before what is right.
Understanding the depth and length of American Mideast involvement.......2007-09-09
The first remarkable thing about this very remarkable book is that it traces an over two- hundred year involvement of the U.S. with the Middle East which most people, including myself, did not really know very much about. It shows that in the early days of the U.S. it was involved in dealing with a threat of blackmail and terror from the Barbary Pirates, not unlike those faced today. President Jefferson quite heroically at that time refused to give in to the blackmail, and pay protection money to the pirates as he saw there would be no end to it. Instead he took the action to create a U.S. Naval Force which would operate far from home, and which eventually did lift this threat to America's trade and commerce.
Oren looks at the power relations between the U.S. and the Middle East, but also looks at the part 'faith' has played. Here he reveals just how long the American involvement in working toward a Jewish restoration in the Holy Land was. It preceded that of the modern Zionist movement. He also shows how Faith led to American involvement in other areas of the Middle East, for instance in building the American Universities in Beirut and Egypt. One irony of this story is that the generation of founding Zionist Christians often had descendants who would become opponents of the cause of Jewish restoration.
Oren also looks at the role of Myth, the often romanticized and unrealistic way in which Americans have seen the Middle East.
He is a wonderful storyteller, and a very judicious and careful scholar. While he certainly reveals sympathy to the role of the Americans in helping establish a Jewish state, he by no means paints the relations as uniform and simple. He indicates numerous instances where American leaders have worked against the policies Israel considered to be in its best interest. He tells in a fascinating way of how President Truman against the advice of all his most powerful advisors, made the decision to support the founding of the Jewish state.
Oren provides a tremendous amount of interesting information which will be new to most readers. His account of the Melville and Twain visits to the Holy Land are a prime example of this.
This is a wonderful, highly readable and informative book which should be in the library of everyone who wishes to understand the role of America in the Middle East.
A Very Good Read.......2007-09-05
I bought this book expecting an insightful book, and the content filled my expectations. The author does a sufficient job in providing information without being dry and most importantly, with little detectable bias. With a topic like this, it would be prudent to be a little reserved regardless of the authors background but there was no propaganda involved. Overall it is a good read, smooth flow, continuity and can make you feel a little more knowledgeable apart from what you hear on the news every day.
Nothing New Under the Desert Sun.......2007-08-28
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered because most Muslims in the Middle East seem to hate Americans? Take comfort from the fact that most of them have hated most of us for at least the two hundred years we have sought to engage them. We have preached, pleaded, prodded, provoked and punished, and nothing has worked for any length of time. As this and many other works on relations between Muslims and the "Infidels" have demonstrated beyond doubt, we persist in believing not only that we can convert them to our religious views, but that there is a good chance that we can all "get along", you know, "live and let live".
The main reason is our refusal to acknowledge that Islam is as much a political as a religious regimen. Politcally and religiously, it has always provided for the accommodation of Christians and Jews: they must pay a tax for living in a Muslim hegemony and acknowledge its supremacy. What could be simpler?
Further, "democracy" is as foreign to the Middle Eastern Muslim mind as the concept of religious tolerance. It is no accident that in the Middle East the only democracy worthy of the name is that of Israel nor that the price Israel and the rest of the world have paid for the novelty is the seemingly perpetual unrest that literally surrounds the country.
The principal value of this wonderfully well-written book is to demonstrate and explain America's long history of involvement in the Middle East which dates back a lot longer than most, even well-informed, readers will have guessed. Its principal-if implicit-message is that there's much of that history yet to be written and, by extension, that out inevitable further exertions are not likely to be any more consistent or consistently fruitful than have our previous endeavors. While some readers (including me) might weary a bit of the extended discussion of our early, mostly military and missionary, involvement, dating back to the turn of the 19th Century, it proves central not only to Oren's wide-screen view of that involvement over the intevening period, but also crucial to his examination of our motives and missteps. The aptness of the title, "Power, Faith, and Fantasy", may be demonstrated in our current situation in Iraq: we had the power to oust Saddam and his army in short order; the Administration's faith in the rightness of our cause was sincere and well-intended; and the chimera of a democratic government in Iraq serving to light and lead the benighted Middle East will turn out to be pure fantasy. I would venture that neither we nor our children will live to see a peaceful Middle East at harmony with the world. But this book makes a very valuable contribution to understanding why that is true. Fell better now?
Book Description
In this provocative book, author, consultant, and church leadership developer Reggie McNeal debunks these and other old assumptions and provides an overall strategy to help church leaders move forward in an entirely different and much more effective way. In The Present Future, McNeal identifies the six most important realities that church leaders must address including: recapturing the spirit of Christianity and replacing "church growth" with a wider vision of kingdom growth; developing disciples instead of church members; fostering the rise of a new apostolic leadership; focusing on spiritual formation rather than church programs; and shifting from prediction and planning to preparation for the challenges of an uncertain world. McNeal contends that by changing the questions church leaders ask themselves about their congregations and their plans, they can frame the core issues and approach the future with new eyes, new purpose, and new ideas.
Also available: The Present Future DVD Collection (978-0-7879-8673-5), Reggie McNeal's DVD presentation of the ideas and insights featured in his best-selling book.
Customer Reviews:
The New Church.......2007-09-11
Excellent book which speaks to the problems the modern church faces. Gives specific information and direction to deal with current issues. I have found this work tremendously useful in advocating change for the church I serve as pastor.
One that must be read........2007-07-25
This book explores the emergent church culture. The book's focus is on missional living within a ever changing culture. The books deals with the changing paradigm of modernism to postmodernism. Some church leaders would consider this book radical, but this book is helpful in providing a proper perspective on reaching out in faith. It is a plea to change churchianity into Christianity. Because of the influence of mega-church culture, we have been seduced into selling Christianity like a product on the open market, the book presents a way to authentically change the community for Christ.
Church Transformation.......2007-05-24
While many will be turned off by the author's strong language and seeming 'over stating' of the case; most of what McNeal says and recommends rings true. The church in North America is dying and dying rather fast as seem by the exodus of members and churches from the major denominations. If you are a leader - and especially a pastor - in a church you need to study this book (preferable with the rest of your team) and seriously consider what and how you are going to respond to the new world order. Unlike the Boomer Generation who have `grown up' and for the most part taken their responsible position in leadership in the ministries of the church, this current last generation (Millenniest or Matrix) are not likely to do that. They are looking for something better and God may indeed pass by the North American Church to accomplish His purpose in reaching the entire world with the Love of Jesus for the Glory of God.
The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church.......2007-05-15
Excellent book! SO HELPFUL!
Thought Provoking.......2007-05-13
This book will challenge you as it unfolds the truth of many churches in North America. At times you will want to stop reading and toss it to the side. Other times you find yourself in total agreement. Reggie demonstrates great courage as he asks questions most Christians don't want to ask about their church. The DVD series is even better as it presents the same tough questions through the caring style of Reggie McNeal.
Amazon.com
Consistently lauded for its lively, readable prose, this revised and updated edition of A People's History of the United States turns traditional textbook history on its head. Howard Zinn infuses the often-submerged voices of blacks, women, American Indians, war resisters, and poor laborers of all nationalities into this thorough narrative that spans American history from Christopher Columbus's arrival to an afterword on the Clinton presidency.
Addressing his trademark reversals of perspective, Zinn--a teacher, historian, and social activist for more than 20 years--explains, "My point is not that we must, in telling history, accuse, judge, condemn Columbus in absentia. It is too late for that; it would be a useless scholarly exercise in morality. But the easy acceptance of atrocities as a deplorable but necessary price to pay for progress (Hiroshima and Vietnam, to save Western civilization; Kronstadt and Hungary, to save socialism; nuclear proliferation, to save us all)--that is still with us. One reason these atrocities are still with us is that we have learned to bury them in a mass of other facts, as radioactive wastes are buried in containers in the earth."
If your last experience of American history was brought to you by junior high school textbooks--or even if you're a specialist--get ready for the other side of stories you may not even have heard. With its vivid descriptions of rarely noted events, A People's History of the United States is required reading for anyone who wants to take a fresh look at the rich, rocky history of America.
Book Description
Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, A People's History of the United States is the only volume to tell America's story from the point of view of -- and in the words of -- America's women, factory workers, African-Americans, Native Americans, working poor, and immigrant laborers.
This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.
Customer Reviews:
The Things we aren't told about in school........2007-10-03
If you ever want the missing pieces of history filled in from your US history courses - READ THIS. Labor strikes, public strife, divide and conquer propaganda to keep lower classes at bay - all very interesting and angering.
Biased focus a disappointment.......2007-10-02
Zinn disappoints with a biased and narrow accounting of the United States' history. Despite the one-sided slant on key events (and much information not presented), this book is worth reading if only for the volume of factual stories and events gleamed over by conventional texts.
A people's History of the US.......2007-09-28
It is a book I needed for a college class. I have not read it but my review is on the speedy delivery of the book. I received it quickly and was the book was in great shape. Thanks
The Left's Perspective.......2007-09-25
(Surprise ending to review) I have to say the book was enjoyable but also very sickening. America's long history is filled with a lot of evil leaders, diplomats, discoverers, teachers, students, and.... let's just say people. The victims are countless; this book tells their story.... in vivid detail mind you. I myself read the book long ago. However, I recently had to come to Afghanistan, sit in a guard tower, and listen to the newer end of the book (audiobook) told by Issacson himself. Basically he blames America for 9/11 and feels we have no business in the country I currently serve in, even at the very beginning. I don't know your politics but there it is. Now here is my opinion, I no longer trust him, or any of his observations about America's past. Honestly worth reading, but with one eye shut!
NONSTOP VICTIMHOOD AND MARXIST DISTORTION.......2007-09-25
If you want to read the history of the US presented in terms of nonstop atrocity, victmization, suffering and horror, run and get this book. This starts before the country was founded--in 1492--so that Columbus's atrocities can be included. We must then learn about the slaughter of the Incas--not an obvious fit for a book on the US but no racist murder can be omitted. What can be omitted is why people came to this country and what they built here. My own family, from two different ethnicities, came running over from Europe to avoid famine and massacre. They found decent lives, tolerance, and were able to educate their kids and quickly reach a level of middle class comfort and decency. This is the story of the majority of Americans and it is nowhere in this book. The distortion is constant. Lincoln who was assassinated for saying black Americans should get the vote is presented as a man without principles. Neil Armstrong's name is nowhere in the index--he is the American who was the first man to walk on the moon--why have him in a history of America? Cortez who never set foot here is in the index and receives considerable space--that make sense. That people around the world are still flocking to an ongoing historical horror show called the USA is inexplicable as far as this book goes. I will admit I didn't read every word--the distortion angered me too much. Folks, I am a left leaning individual who loves my country. I am sorry I bought this book--it repels me.
Book Description
Another Spencer Johnson #1 Bestseller
#1 New York Times Business
#1 Wall Street Journal
#1 BusinessWeek
From the Author of Who Moved My Cheese?
Dr. Spencer Johnson’s stories of timeless, simple truths have changed the work and lives of millions of readers around the world. Now comes an insightful new tale of inspiration and practical guidance for these turbulent times.
Good Things Happen To Those Who Open The Present
The Gift That Makes Your Work And Life Better Each Day!
For over two decades, Spencer Johnson has been inspiring and entertaining millions with his simple yet insightful stories of work and life that speak directly to the heart and soul. The Present is an engaging story of a young man’s journey to adulthood, and his search for The Present, a mysterious and elusive gift he first hears about from a great old man. This Present, according to the old man, is “the best present a person can receive.”
Later, when the young boy becomes a young man, disillusioned with his work and his life, he returns to ask the old man, once again, to help him find The Present. The old man responds, “Only you have the power to find The Present for yourself.” So the young man embarks on a tireless search for this magical gift that holds the secret to his personal happiness and business success.It is only after the young man has searched high and low and given up his relentless pursuit that he relaxes and discovers The Present—and all of the promises it offers.
The Present will help you focus on what will make you happier and more successful in your work and in your personal life, today! Like the young man, you may find that it is the best gift you can give yourself.
www.ThePresent.com
Customer Reviews:
Christians Beware of Hollow Philosophy.......2007-05-18
The Present by Spencer Johnson is a self-proclaimed life changing book for those who would incorporate its principles. For those who have not read it, the book is all about living in the present, and focusing on the positive aspects of every moment, never focusing on the negative. It presents these teachings by telling a story (typical of existential philosophy). The story is about an old man (read: guru) who shares the secret of meaningful living throughout the life of a man seeking answers. The old man never seems worried; he is always relaxed and appears to be at peace with life and the world. Through a series of cryptic messages, the old man teaches the other man that he can find meaning in the "present," which essentially consists of an existential experience that each person defines for themselves. By focusing on the good in the moment, we can find peace, meaning, and success.
This book ascribes to a combination of existential philosophy and Zen Budhism, blurring the line of truth. Truth is not seen as an objective thing, but an existential experience. Experience, not propositional truth, is the key to unlocking the meaning of life. Salvation comes through the teachings of a human guru leading to spiritual enlightenment, which man can achieve on his own. By definition, this is a godless philosophy.
The Present ignores the real problem of man: his depravity. I can be "in the moment," or practicing carpe diem while engaging in ungodly behavior. Of course, this is all up for interpretation. The existentialist is not interested in my definition of right and wrong, but only in his subjective experience. There is no authority to which one can appeal. So what if my carpe diem approach hurts others? It is up to the practicioner to decide if that is against his value system, which is determined by a kierkegaardian leap of faith, rather than any transcendent moral standard.
There is truth in most errors, though. That is were the deception lies. The message of focusing on the positive can be helpful, but only in the biblical sense of giving thanks to God in all circumstances (1 Thes 5:18), not in avoiding pain. What is right is more important than what makes me feel good. Jesus told his followers they would (and should) suffer, and exemplified it through the cross. While suffering, he cried out "My God, why have you foraken me" (Mark 15:34). This is the most poinent of the examples of partial truths, though there are others.
Much more could be said. The point is this: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (Col. 2:8) In the end, what the author tries to do will not work: his program cannot offer real hope to mankind, for it does not deal with human depravity. Rather than seeking to find meaning by focusing on my present, we truly find it in God's presence. The quest for ultimate meaning is found in a relationship with the God of infinity, and through developing intimacy with Him. For a much better alternative to The Present, read Practicing His Presence by Brother Lawrence and Frank Laubach.
Energize the team and prioritize.......2007-02-19
I purchased this book for my department at work. The team was under a lot of pressure to perform and as is often the case in adverse conditions, some were beginning to blame others and lose focus on the tasks at hand given the large amount of work yet to be done.
The response I recieved from the workforce was varied but all positive. Living in the present, learning from our past, preparing for the future, and living with purpose has become a sound bite in our department. The book is a quick read (less than 90 minutes), is entertaining, comes on CD if you want a book on tape rather than paper, and has been talked about far more than the time it took my team to read it.
If you have customers or coworkers that do important work and you have lost touch with what needs to be done, this book will help you step back from your task saturation and reflect on where you are at, where you need to go and why it is important for you to do so.
This is a book I will share for many years to come.
The Present Is A Gift.......2007-01-20
A lot of wisdom and common sense wrapped up in a small package! Easy and fun to read yet, as deep and profound as you want to go.
The Present Will Change Your Life.......2006-12-07
Often when I host a Leadersway training session I ask which of the many books we have read the group found most valuable. The answer I receive most often is, "The one about The Present".
"The Present", by Spencer Johnson is a great little book of only 104 pages that is packed full of more good advice than most books twice its size. The concept is simple, yet complex; the ideas are easy, yet difficult; the message is clear, yet indistinct. You must think, focus, and seek to understand "The Present".
For those of you who have not read this great book, or need a refresher, here is a condensed version of the concepts that you need to remember.
Always remember that you live neither in the past nor the future. You only live in the present. Therefore, you will be happiest and at your most productive when you focus on what is happening at the current moment in time. That is the essence of it.
Always focus on what is "right" in the present moment. Never focus on the negative in any situation. Focus on the positive and you will make good things happen. You will never make a positive choice or create a positive result in the present if you focus on the negative.
Speaking of focus: Always focus, focus, focus. When you are speaking with someone focus on them and what they are saying. Eliminate extraneous thoughts of other things, turn away from your computer, turn off your phone, and pay attention. That's it! Your life will be much better by simply applying that one simple rule to your dealings with others. You will learn more about them and they will appreciate you much more. Apply this to all elements of your job and your life. You will be much more successful and the fruits of your labor will be that much sweeter.
You need not eliminate the past or the future from your life completely. You should learn from the past. Remember your mistakes and take steps not to make the same ones over and over again. Also, remember to recall the good things of the past and attempt to recreate them. In times of trouble, always buoy yourself up with good memories and positive thoughts.
Do not make the mistake of wasting your present by dreaming of an imaginary or unrealistic future. You must always plan for the future and do positive things in the present in order to attain your goals. "Plan your work and work your plan." Do not wish your life away by making unfounded assumptions that the future will be better than the present unless you have done the work and laid the plans to make your dreams come true.
The Present is all you have right now. Enjoy it and live it to the fullest!
A logical companion book to "The Present" is "Always Remember: If it ain't fun it ain't Worth Doing!" This one will show you how to use the "Present" in real workplace situations... Wayne Kehl
A Take-Away Told in a Clever Story.......2006-10-17
I picked up this book at the recommendation that the moral of this book would do me some good -- and it did. The key take-away is woven through a clever story of this short book. I picked it up at the bookstore and read through it in a few hours. It is recommended for those looking for a reminder to see what's in front of them now (i.e. Don't forget to smell the flowers). However, it is NOT recommended for those looking for an eye-opening revelation.
Caveat/Note: I have not read any of Johnson's other books but I would consider taking a look at it based on my review of this book.
Book Description
Succes in poker is part luck, part math, and part subtefuge. While the math of poker has been refined over the past twenty years, the ability to read other players and keep your own "tells" in check has until now been mostly learned by instinct and practice. However by using Navarro's techniques illustrated with Hellmuth's examples you will be able to decode and interpret other players nonverbal comunication while concealing your own. You will essentially become a human lie decector and a feared player.
Customer Reviews:
Not impressed.......2007-09-28
I am mainly a internet player, but have played at very prestigious card rooms to the likes of the Bike in LA, and commerce. Usually NL 300 to 500 and up. I read this book expecting maybe more than i should have. I can sum the entire book up by saying simply "pay attention". Nothing really ground breaking at all here. It was a quick read, so i rated it a bit higher than i thought the content was good. Mike Caro's book i find, although outdated, is more packed with information. How the hell am i supposed to make a desicion on a big hand based on something i cant see. Like the over emphasized feet section of the book. Im sure this stuff will help a bit, but it should be used as a basic beginner tool. I thought with this guys qualifications there would be more. I was wrong. Just dont expect to hit the tables and crack the code, cuz u will be the one getting cracked.
I've read this book three times already..........2007-09-20
I'm on my fourth way through this book and can't get enough.
First off, this is not a Hellmuth book. Hellmuth chimes in every now and then but it's primarily a Joe Navarro book. Joe goes through tell-after-tell and describes what you need to look for and how much value you should give what you're observing at the table.
I've been playing the game for years and took a lot away from this book. In fact, it's already helped with a couple of wins. Seriously.
There will be a few items in here that surprise you and other stuff you already know. But, all in all, you can't go wrong purchasing this book. It's full-up with excellent, excellent material.
Phil Hellmuth Presents Read 'Em and Reap: A Career FBI Agent's Guide to Decoding Poker Tells .......2007-08-23
very helpful book, describe how to understand players behaviours/reactions at the poker table when they've nuts and when they're bluffing using simple and detailed description with the help of photos
Worth a Read.......2007-07-27
This book is short, well-written, and to-the point. The photos are very good. The book puts the material into conceptual frameworks that make remembering and catagorizing tells easier. I have also read Mike Caro's book on the subject.
Definetly a must read but don't expect to go pro just yet........2007-07-14
This book is perhaps the first book to talk about the physiology and psychology of tells at the poker table. Its an absolute great idea to have a former FBI interrogator explain how to tell when people are telling the truth or lying. The only reason why I do not give it 5 stars is because some of the tells described in the book can be a bit impractical. Also with experience you'll learn that Tells aren't like what you see in the movies. Spotting Tells aren't the be all end all factor that will take your game to the pro level. But ultimately a good read, its well written and presents interesting explanations to peoples initial reactions to certain poker stimulus. READ IT!!!
Average customer rating:
- Excellent.
- Organization? Is that not in the authors' dictionary?
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Worlds Together, Worlds Apart: A History of the Modern World (1300 to the Present)
Robert Tignor ,
Jeremy Adelman ,
Stephen Aron ,
Stephen Kokin ,
Suxanne Marchand ,
Gyan Prakash ,
Suzanne Marchand ,
Michael Tsin , and
Stephen Kotkin
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Worlds of History Volume Two: A Comparative Reader: Since 1400
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The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy.
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Human Record
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Worlds Together Worlds Apart Study Guide: History of Modern World (1300 to Present)
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Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 9001900 (Studies in Environment and History)
ASIN: 0393977463 |
Book Description
This provocative narrative history dramatically departs from the standard "rise of the West" storyline that has driven world historiography for a century. A stellar group of historians paint a decidedly different modern world history, one in which the rise of the West was not predetermined and where global integration has manifested itself in fits and starts rather than as a smooth process over the last seven centuries. This fresh interpretation, driven by powerful ideas and colorful stories, promises to engage readers for decades to come.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent........2007-03-31
Unlike the previous reviewers I found Tignor's text to be a highly lucid and comprehensive account of world history. If you have not read much history than you will have to be patient at first with the writing style as it is chock full of information and concepts that can seem disconnected an quite abstract. Yet, if you have the perseverance to stick with it, you be rewarded with a rich understanding of the themes that run through the narrative of human history. Strongly recommended.
Organization? Is that not in the authors' dictionary?.......2005-11-02
While this book contains valuable information it seems horribly put together in seemingly random order. Many-a-times I found that I would be reading the exact same sentence in Chapter 3 as in Chapter 4. The authors largely ignored any sort of geographical or chronological organization and just puts sections in wherever the mood struck them.
book.......2005-10-04
the book arrived in the same condition they said it would and arrived when they said it would
Try Harder.......2003-10-30
Not only does this provocative narrative dramatically depart from the admittedly tired "rise of the West" storyline - it departs from the purpose of an educational text altogether. The writing in this book is, in a word, pathetic; the authors don't even appear to have a grasp of how to construct a paragraph. The powerful ideas and the context-hungry hodge-podge of stories in this interpretation of the history of civilization since 1300 are skewed by the authors' blatant preoccupation with the cultural dis-integration of contemporary Globalism - to the point of affecting the architecture of the book itself. Readers who flee from the possibility of understanding anything will certainly be engaged by the colorful pictures in this book. The rest of you would do well to keep shopping.
Book Description
From the era of slavery to the present day, the first full history of black America’s shocking mistreatment as unwilling and unwitting experimental subjects at the hands of the medical establishment.
Medical Apartheid is the first and only comprehensive history of medical experimentation on African Americans. Starting with the earliest encounters between black Americans and Western medical researchers and the racist pseudoscience that resulted, it details the ways both slaves and freedmen were used in hospitals for experiments conducted without their knowledge—a tradition that continues today within some black populations. It reveals how blacks have historically been prey to grave-robbing as well as unauthorized autopsies and dissections. Moving into the twentieth century, it shows how the pseudoscience of eugenics and social Darwinism was used to justify experimental exploitation and shoddy medical treatment of blacks, and the view that they were biologically inferior, oversexed, and unfit for adult responsibilities. Shocking new details about the government’s notorious Tuskegee experiment are revealed, as are similar, less-well-known medical atrocities conducted by the government, the armed forces, prisons, and private institutions.
The product of years of prodigious research into medical journals and experimental reports long undisturbed, Medical Apartheid reveals the hidden underbelly of scientific research and makes possible, for the first time, an understanding of the roots of the African American health deficit. At last, it provides the fullest possible context for comprehending the behavioral fallout that has caused black Americans to view researchers—and indeed the whole medical establishment—with such deep distrust. No one concerned with issues of public health and racial justice can afford not to read Medical Apartheid, a masterful book that will stir up both controversy and long-needed debate.
Customer Reviews:
(5 Stars - 1 Star )Minus 1 for the author's (in her opinion inserts and excerpts).......2007-06-16
6/16/07 author Harriet Washington's book showed great research: I started with her Appendix " which is all of 1 sentence (Pg 405) which was entitled "Choosing a Clinic Trial: ; and then scanned the author's "Acknowlegements: Pg 407-412) in which she lauded many, mentioned many wished to be anonymous, and asked apologies of the many whose names she chose not to name ; and then scanned :the Notes Pgs 413-464* ,which with much detail beginning with "Chapt. 1 :Southern Comfort" to Epilogue: Medical Research With Blacks Today (*e.g Pg 436 note 18 from Chapter 6 "Diagnosis Freedom (author Albert Deutsch"s ""The First U.S. Census (1840) of the Insane and its use in Pro Slavery Propaganda read 2/2/1944 before the New-York Historical Society)...to the Biliography (Pgs 465-484): example: New York Times article(12/11/1934 "Tuberculosis Test Reported Success"..to the Index (Pgs 485-501 incl of Yale University (pgs 5,124,169,258,267). 6/16/07 abj
Help Us !!.......2007-06-14
It is a powerful book and must be read. The medical industry is effecting everyone because we really do not know if the medication being described is authentic or expermential.
Powerful insight!!!
Great Summer Read.......2007-05-28
The book is very informative and readable not too many medical terminologies. It is straight forward and to the point backed by documentation.
Awesome Book.......2007-05-22
I first learned about this book in a class at Florida A&M University. It is a must read for all African Americans. She presents unbiased views of the history of medical abuse that has inflicted African Americans from colonial times to the present.
A must read.......2007-05-21
I can't really describe this book except to say that this is a MUST read for anyone who has any interest in what has been done to blacks medically through out the years.
Excellent book.
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- The Memory Keeper's Daughter
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- There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say
- To Kill a Mockingbird
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