Holidays in Hell: In Which Our Intrepid Reporter Travels to the World's Worst Places and Asks, "What's Funny About This" (O'Rourke, P. J.)

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No doubt about it: P. J. O'Rourke has a bizarre sense of fun. "What I've ... been," he writes in his introduction to Holidays in Hell "is a Trouble Tourist--going to see insurrections, stupidities, political crises, civil disturbances and other human folly because ... because it's fun." Forget Hawaii or the Poconos--O'Rourke gets his jollies in places like war-torn Lebanon where he is greeted at the border by a gun barrel in his face, or Seoul, just in time for election-day violence. Wherever he goes, however, O'Rourke takes his quirky sense of humor, laser eye for detail, and artful way with words: a Philippine army officer is "powerful-looking in a short, compressed way, like an attack hamster," and the Syrian army is described as having "dozens of silly hats, mostly berets in yellow, orange and shocking pink, but also tiny pillbox chapeaux.... The paratroopers wear shiny gold jumpsuits and crack commando units have skin-tight fatigues in a camouflage pattern of violet, peach, flesh tone and vermilion on a background of vivid purple. This must give excellent protective coloration in, say, a room full of Palm Beach divorcees in Lily Pulitzer dresses."

O'Rourke's flip, sarcastic style isn't for everyone, of course; the concept that anyone could find sightseeing in the Beirut or El Salvador of the 1980s fun might prove offensive to more than a few readers right off the bat. But love him or hate him, P. J. O'Rourke knows how to tell a good story, and if you like your travel writing laced with more than a little cynicism, Holidays in Hell could be just the book you've been looking for.

Book Description

Now available from Grove Press, P. J. O'Rourke's classic, best-selling guided tour of the world's most desolate, dangerous, and desperate places. "Tired of making bad jokes" and believing that "the world outside seemed a much worse joke than anything I could conjure," P. J. O'Rourke traversed the globe on a fun-finding mission, investigating the way of life in the most desperate places on the planet, including Warsaw, Managua, and Belfast. The result is Holidays in Hell--a full-tilt, no-holds-barred romp through politics, culture, and ideology. P.J.'s adventures include storming student protesters' barricades with riot police in South Korea, interviewing Communist insurrectionists in the Philippines, and going undercover dressed in Arab garb in the Gaza Strip. He also takes a look at America's homegrown horrors as he braves the media frenzy surrounding the Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Washington D.C., uncovers the mortifying banality behind the white-bread kitsch of Jerry Falwell's Heritage USA, and survives the stultifying boredom of Harvard's 350th anniversary celebration. Packed with P.J.'s classic riffs on everything from Polish nightlife under communism to Third World driving tips, Holidays in Hell is one of the best-loved books by one of today's most celebrated humorists.

Customer Reviews:

Not funny.......2007-08-01

Ok, O'Rourke has this style of being intentionally very scholarly and distant to add to his entertainment value, but in my opinion the constant tongue-in-cheek-I'm-just-an-outside-observer-documenting-the-kookiness writing gets a little tedious after a while. Maybe it was fun in the 80's.

I have no problem with his humorous approach to serious issues if that's what you're thinking. Being a strange foreigner and all. I don't think it's offensive at all. But his stories read like all the crappy western travel anecdotes you've already heard combined. Like the ones Finnish dads are so excited about. Getting stuck in the Russian customs and bribing them with ballpoint pens. Problems with hygiene in all the poor countries. And France. And such. Not just funny anymore.

Irreverent, funny, and dated.......2007-05-14

Written in the 1980's, the 3rd world political references are a bit dated but his experiences in these countries and witty, irreverent observations are still relevant and entertaining. A good, light read with some quotable quotes.

Now you know where Borat got his storyline!.......2006-11-14

I know this book goes back to when Reagan was president and the commies were one-upping one another in Siberia, but "Holidays in Hell," now more than ever, is still a freaking hysterical book!

I remember reading it after I got hooked on O'Rourke in college. I had to put the book away for the weekend, because I'd be sitting in British Lit and remember something O'Rourke said, then I'd start snickering like an extra in Reefer Madness. Dangerous book to read and try to keep your mind on anything else.

P.J. O'Rourke is a humor god, as far as I'm concerned - and as for Borat, he obviously plagerized "Holidays in Hell" for his movie!

MUST VACATION READING -- BEHIND THE HEADLINES GREAT.......2006-08-04

PJ O'ROURKE WAS AN INTERNATIONAL editor for ROLLING STONE for years-- he's a dude from Ohio who has traveled the world especially as he says the 'hell holes' -- that's why it's called Holidays in Hell...he revisits some of the war zones he's been too -- Lebanon, Panama, Post-Marcos Philippines, El salvador and then throws in a whole slew of controversial trips -- to such amazing places as Seoul, Korea, Heritage USA, At sea with the America's Cup, Africa in the 'old days' a Mexico border patrol experience, the Holyland and even Epcot Center. You must read his stuff-- he may just be one of the best writers of our time. -- This guy has an amazing droll, dark comedy sense of humor or is it irony or sarcasm? His world goes behind the scenes where we would not want to go. He sees what we might not and talks about what we would never dare to -- at least without some brewskis in us. In the preface he talks about this being a takeoff of Mark Twain's Innocents Abroad-- and it is but it is also a cross between Chevy Chase National Lampoon Vacation and RV with Robin Williams and a bit of Updike (for the people) Steinbech for the locations/places vs spaces and the sarcasm of a Philip Roth -- and it appears to be non-fiction. Terrific read-took it on my vacation trip and it's easy to carry around and easy to read because each chapter is short -- 20-30 pages max and about one subject-- bit like a short story...yet it all flows together. No matter what happens to you -- restaurant closed, flat tire on car, plane delay, yearning for a fresh apple instead of peanuts-- it all looks like a day in the park compared to his hellish experiences. BUT THEY WILL make you laugh and think. The sad part is the headlines today read like they did 25 years ago-- so it helps us come full circle with some history on the hot spots like Lebanon and Israel and even Seoul. GREAT BOOK

Total Classic PJ.......2006-07-03

I've read everyone of PJ's books, this one is his signiture writing if there is such a thing. Its up on the night stand with Catcher in the Rye and a few others that I pick up and re-re-re read every year. Holidays in Hell is a bit dated now but still the best thing he's ever done. I wish PJ would do a 21st century version of this book. Unfortunatly it doesnt seem that he talks about his travels much anymore. Lately, some of his books are getting a bit heavy and intense to read and seem to have less of that usual built in fun. Thats OK. Thats where his heads at now I guess.. I think PJ may be turning into (or already is) a crotchity old man who likes to complain alot. He is, however, the best writer in satire journelisem there ever was. I'm always looking on the book shelves or Amazon for a new PJ.

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I would lilke to meet this man
One Of The Most Important Books Of Our Times
Best book read in 30+ years of university teaching
A Breath of fresh air
From the Pen of Satan Himself...

Which Way Western Man?
William Gayley Simpson
Manufacturer: National Vanguard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0937944165

Customer Reviews:

I would lilke to meet this man.......2006-03-09

A fascinating book that I have read twice. I don't agree with all of it, by any means. I would like to see (and hear) Simpson debate C. S. Lewis or Malcolm Muggeridge.

But I have one question that will not go away; and were I to talk to Simpson about it, I think that his answer would polarize me to either like him a lot or dislike him a lot. And that question is this:

When you were a "Franciscan" you had a wife and child (and, indeed, your devotion to them was one of the reasons for your break with that way of life), but they are never mentioned again in your book. What happened? Did they die, did you just ditch them, did they disown you?

I have not yet found an answer to that question.

One Of The Most Important Books Of Our Times.......2005-04-19

Whether you agree with everything Simpson says or not, "Which Way Western Man" is undoubtedly a work of the greatest social and philosophical magnitude. The culmination of a life's work. That Simpson is sincere in his beliefs is not an issue. Here is a man who tested Christianity to the limits, by taking the words of its founder as true. Giving up everything in order to give himself to the poor, as the first few chapters of the book tell us, Simpson's honesty cannot be assailed. In many cases neither can his intellectual logic. He makes a compelling case for his beliefs regarding the threat to Western culture and values, and the way to avoid them. Sometimes, however, he can seem a little naïve, and I found this particularly so in his discussion of women. His naivete, however, is charming and purely a product of his intellectual honesty and lack of "worldly" wisdom. His critique of modern Christianity is heart felt, and for this reason his book should be on the reading list of every person calling him or her self a Christian. While pessimistic about the future of Christianity, Simpson remains generally optimistic about religion, calling for a new religion based on old values. Some could perhaps see this as a call to the re-emerging Paganism and Heathenism of today to make themselves true to their old values. This is a book for Heathens too ! His prescription for the salvation of Western culture and values are controversial, but they bring forth arguments that must be openly discussed, not hidden away and repressed by the politically correct. Repression only produces neurosis. Openness is required, and whether you agree with Simpson or not, "Which Way Western Man" is a book which MUST be read by every thinking person. As Western civilisation continues to develop, this book is probably one of the most important books of the time. Failure to examine the issues which Simpson raises will result in social disintegration, if not civil wars, throughout the Western world. Read this book and make up your mind which way you want western man to go.

Best book read in 30+ years of university teaching.......2005-01-23

Simpson has brilliantly exploded the myth of egalitarianism put forth by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Franz Boas inter alios. In Also Sprach Zarathustra Friedrich Nietzsche wrote: "... denn so redet m i r die Gerechtigkeit: die Menschen sind nicht gleich. Und sie sollen es auch nicht werden." If you are concerned as to why the West is in decline, then this is a "must-read" book.

A Breath of fresh air.......2004-12-31

Wow.... Of all the books and theories I've read about politics and society, none compare to "Which Way Western Man?". It's difficult finding truth in our information age with so many books and "analysts" all running in different directions. I suppose the best anyone can do is use their judgement and experience and decide what "truth" is for themselves. As for myself, I was completely blown away by William Simpson's views. I couldn't help but agree with him. His views on Jesus, women, race, and "the machine" couldn't be said better. The very next day after reading about "the machine", I went to work and everything he said just jumped right out at me. In fact the more I go about my daily life, the more I laugh to myself and think about how right he was.

But I warn you, ignorance is bliss and this book isn't for everyone. If you're a reality denier, don't even bother. It shakes the very foundations of everything you believe and everything we are taught is "right" like equality for example. Both as individuals and races, it is a biological fact of life that we are all UNEQUAL. We are not equal in intelligence, in character, or potential. You could get the data that supports this by reading something like "The Bell Curve" but you don't have to go any further then your workplace to see it. Sometimes the truth hurts. If you are someone who really does care about the state of the world, this book will make you very angry, or very depressed, or a little of both because it shows us how really sick we have become. And I have never questioned myself as much as I did when I finished. Someone who is more or less weak will not be happy thinking about how far they have it in them to go.

Thank you for creating such an amazing book Mr. Simpson.

From the Pen of Satan Himself..........2004-08-19

William Gayley Simpson's _Which Way Western Man_ is a massive (1000+-page) tome recently republished in 2003 by the National Alliance. It is advertised as the most comprehensive and well-researched volume detailing "racialist philosophy." The author is an ex-Franciscan monk who repudiated many of his previous Christian moorings and embraced the philosophical speculations of Friedrich Nietzsche. Simpson collected, researched and wrote much of his material for this book during the 1930s and 40s and revised a substantial portion of his work in the 1970s. Simpson died in 1991 and this edition is the result of the efforts of the National Alliance's founder, William Pierce, to republish Simpson's work. As the back cover warns, "You may find in this book ideas or ideals that at first hearing strike you as abhorrent." Simpson does not fail to deliver on this statement. To many if not most readers this book is simply the thoughts of Satan himself in print. Although I do not agree with a good amount of the contents in this book, I believe it deserves a wider readership because of the counter-revolutionary stance of its arguments. Simpson analyzes many modern day issues and how they relate to the history and fate of Western civilization and to the white race that founded it. He begins by glancing at the teachings of Jesus and Christianity and concludes that although Jesus was a great mystic and philosopher, he has little to offer for the survival of the West. Simpson contrasts Jesus with Nietzsche and the figures of Aryan mythology and folklore, recommending the latter as offering ideals more natural to those of an aristocratic Western society. Simpson examines mysticism in general noting that it consists of a transformation of consciousness where one does not differentiate his own existence from that of the rest of the universe. The concept of God as a transcendent Deity is thus denied. According to Simpson, the only God knowable to humanity is an immanent inner voice speaking to gifted individuals who are in one way or another in tune with nature and the universe. Simpson contains two chapters dealing with relations between the sexes and condemns absolutely everything to do with the women's emancipation/feminist movement of the past 100 years. He advocates a return to earlier customs in which females were married at young ages (when they are by nature more fertile) to older, more experienced males. Since his objective is to expand and improve the breeding stock of the race, Simpson makes a case for arranged marriages and the reinstitution of polygamy and of course the traditional male patriarchal family structure. Simpson favors an aristocratic government that bases its authority on breeding, land, personal accomplishment and family tradition rather than on strictly financial status. His ultimate goal is a monarchy that would have an organic connection with the people rather than our current oligarchic regime of money-tycoons (often Jews and therefore racial aliens) that seek to exploit the people and the natural resources of the land. The second half of the book focuses on the necessity for a "purified" race and the gradual weeding out of inferiors by sterilization and in some extreme cases, euthanasia. Even incestuous marriages between very closely related relatives should be condoned because they are the quickest way to reproduce desired characteristics as long as the undesirable recessive traits are removed. Simpson discusses the radical differences between blacks and whites and advocates re-colonizing blacks to Africa. An African re-colonization plan is not novel to Simpson, however, because such prominent American statesmen played with the idea as Jefferson and Lincoln in addition to the popular Black Nationalist Marcus Garvey. Lastly, Simpson touches upon and elaborates on what is ultimately the most critical problem facing the white race: international Jewry and their control of finance. The Jews have been in a conspiracy to take over the whole world and make Jerusalem in Palestine the center of their world empire since ancient times. Simpson's solution to the "Jewish problem" is the denial of citizenship status to Jews everywhere and humanely settling them on a reserved area of the earth like Madagascar, which was in fact Hitler's original plan. There is much positive and negative content in Simpson's book. In one instance he claims that Europe has been on the wrong track since the end of the Middle Ages yet it should look toward a new Nietzschean philosophical underpinning that would guarantee racial survival. This is inherently contradictory because Christianity--and not only Christianity but also Catholic Christianity--dominated the worldview of aristocratic, monarchial Europe. There is also a discrepancy between Simpson's ideal vision of a decentralized, rather libertarian agricultural society and doctors and scientists examining people in order to determine their genetic desirability. The book is dated in some points. It does not discuss the many important issues related to this theme (baby boomers, immigrants from Latin America and Asia, the gay rights movement, for example) that have arisen in the meantime from the 1970s to the 21st century. I recommend this book for anyone interested in the role of Jews in the world today in addition to finding a more balanced, traditional outlook that acknowledges sexual polarity and the need to avoid miscegenation if a culture and national community want to survive intact. Religious and ethical questions aside, Simpson's _Which Way Western Man_ is ultimately a well articulated and reflective attack on the most pretentious doctrine ever elaborated: human equality.

That Which You Are Seeking Is Causing You to Seek

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Excellent introduction to Cheri's work.....
Zen at it's finest
Great little book.
It All Comes Down to Compassion
Great to meditate on

That Which You Are Seeking Is Causing You to Seek
Cheri Huber
Manufacturer: Zen Meditation Center
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Meditation | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0961475420

Book Description

The teachings of Zen are presented to Westerners in this book, which is comprised of many short sections accompanied by illustrations on subjects ranging from compassion and meditation to death. The concepts of "subpersonalities" (the many aspects of the personality) and "projection" (the notion that the entire world is a mirror of who we are) are introduced. Readers are encouraged to consider that they see the world the way they do not because the world is inherently that way, but because of who's looking. Seeing ourselves as having many different parts helps us make sense the the whirling mass of contradictions we sometimes experience within ourselves.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent introduction to Cheri's work............2007-02-26

I love the title of this book. It implies that what we are seeking lies deeply within is, was always there and really leads us forward whether we realize it or not. In short, this book is about getting quiet and listening to this inner wisdom and letting it guide you home. It is simply written, easy to understand and makes good psychological sense.

Zen at it's finest.......2007-01-13

Cheri Huber resonates with many who are ready to explore something more than the "I, me, mine" and "more, more, more" culture in which we live. I have given this book as a gift to at least ten people. The book does not endorse a specific religious doctrine, but explores common sense ways to view the world, and ourselves, through compassionate eyes. Highly recommended.

Great little book........2006-11-10

Reader be forewarned - the typeset for this book is made to look like hand writing, so it's a little different. I actually liked the typeset and illustrations - it lent the book a very informal, friendly feel.

I really enjoyed the book. I've been a lazy buddhist for some time, and this book motivated me to start sitting again. I shared the passage on attachment with my wife, as it explained the buddhist ideas on attachment far better than I had been able to, and she finally "got it". Highly recommended.

It All Comes Down to Compassion.......2005-11-12

"That Which You Are Seeking Is Causing You to Seek" is a book about finding, realizing & using the compassion we already have within. It's about realizing the mental & physical violence we create for ourselves & other's, and choosing to stop it. It's about listening to our self-talk, and choosing to realize when this "mental chatter" is not truly benefiting us - when it's wrong - when it's judgmental - when it's hurtful; and then to realize our personal power to change what we think/hear/say, and how we behave/act.

This is a wonderful book that includes many great insights - Although I must admit that I don't necessarily agree with all of the Zen-Buddhist thoughts included here, but then again, how do we learn about ourselves & other's if we read only those works that we are in full agreement with?...

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in spirituality &/or compassion - I think it has a lot to offer.

Great to meditate on.......2004-09-09

This is a wonderfull little gem f a book filled with witty wisdom and thoughts to ponder for days. I love the font style chosen as it looks like handwriting and I love the authors insight even more. Buy this little book and open your mind to a realm of possibility.

Visionary Leadership Skills: Creating a World to Which People Want to Belong

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Leading to the future
Dry
"How-to" book covering various useful aspects of Leadership
Visionary Leadership Skills

Visionary Leadership Skills: Creating a World to Which People Want to Belong
Robert B. Dilts
Manufacturer: M E T a Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0916990389

Customer Reviews:

Leading to the future.......2003-08-24

If you are a manager and want to discover the secret of what leadership is and start your journey to that new dimension this is a great book to learn how to do it and guide you through the process. if you are a facilitator or a consultant it's a great tool to be used in your work with people and corporates. There is always some new insight that comes up every time you read it and you can develop with it an amazingly powerful frame in which anything is clearer and easier and ... POWERFUL!
I enjoy it any time I read it and have made all my people study it, and use it for my consultancy in corporates, with success and development for everybody.

Dry.......2002-01-06

The principles in this book are excellent, but it lacks representational language. In other words it is a very dry read.

"How-to" book covering various useful aspects of Leadership.......2001-06-19

This book is the result of a leadership project that started in 1988 and includes learnings from Dilts work for companies as Fiat, Apple and Pharmacia. This book applies the principles of several NLP models that Dilts has been developping over the years to the domain of leadership. This includes "neuro-logical levels" (alignment between mission, values and competencies/ going from vision to action / situating leadership models on their logical level, ...), "Walt Disney's creativity strategy" (creating the future, turning dreams into reality), several belief strategies (e.g. for assessing motivation for change), ... The formats, worksheets and exercises in this book are typical for Dilts and may be well known for those that have read some of this other books, but if you haven't read anything from him or you want to apply his work in the business world, this material will be very useful.

I can say that Robert Dilts is of the "Giants on whose shoulders I stood" when I started my work on the topic of emotional intelligence. When I started my company, "Acknowledge.net", I've been putting much of the content of this book into practice myself and developped some of my current thinking from there on. Studying with Dilts is even better, but reading the book is better than nothing.

Recommended reading!

Patrick E.C. Merlevede, MSc. -- author of "7 Steps to Emotional Intelligence"

Visionary Leadership Skills.......2000-06-21

Dilts gives you creative and powerful tools for management. He takes you through the steps of becoming a visionary leader. From an idea or dream to engaging others in helping you create a vital organization, this book shows you the way. In addition to giving you the big picture for managing people; the book has assessment tools and exercises to improve leadership skills. I found it well written with easy to apply principles.

The Two-Headed Eagle: In Which Otto Prohaska Takes a Break as the Habsburg Empire's Leading U-boat Ace and Does Something Even More Thanklessly Dangerous (The Otto Prohaska Novels)

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Otto Takes to the Air
biggins best to date
Otto Prohaska in the air

The Two-Headed Eagle: In Which Otto Prohaska Takes a Break as the Habsburg Empire's Leading U-boat Ace and Does Something Even More Thanklessly Dangerous (The Otto Prohaska Novels)
John Biggins
Manufacturer: McBooks Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1590131096

Book Description

It is the summer of 1916 and, as luck would have it, Otto is assigned to the nascent, unreliable, and utterly frightening Imperial and Royal Austro-Hungarian Flying Service. Ottto's aerial chauffeur is the self-willed Sergeant-Pilot Toth, with whom he can only communicate in broken Latin—although when all else fails, screaming will suffice! On the ground the rickety Habsburg Empire begins to crumble before the onslaught of WWI, while in the air Otto confronts a series of misadventures and the winds of change.

Customer Reviews:

Otto Takes to the Air.......2007-08-28

John Biggins' books dealing with the character, Otto Prohaska, have been a delight to read and this one is no exception. The conscientious Habsburg naval officer has served as a U-Boat commander, secret agent and almost savior of the Archduke Ferdinand in pervious installments. In this one, he takes to the air as a combat pilot. All of this would seem ludicrous to many serving officers but, Biggins makes it believable.

Part of the charm of these books is that the protagonist is a basically good guy. He is employed by a decaying empire teetering on the brink of collapse but still tries to serve as best he can. All too often, his efforts are thwarted by the agents of the bureaucracy.

Like the others, this is a fascinating book. It is not only enjoyable, it gives a glimpse of the reasons for the internal decay of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

biggins best to date.......2007-02-01

The third Otto Prohaska novel in John Biggins' acclaimed fictional series is a good deal better than his first; it is in fact excellent historical fiction. Biggins' character Otto Prohaska in this case covers the five months he spends in the Austro-Hungarian air force flying over the hellish Isonzo front with Italy, involved in photographic espionage and recon, desultory bombing runs, and various special tasks. Along the way he deals with incompetent and cowardly commanders, gallant and honorable (or not) foes and compatriots, the Emperor as well as mutineers, and all the fun and games of flying highly erratic and dangerous contraptions in every kind of weather.

Biggins has only gotten better at showing us the collapse of the venerable but decaying Empire, besieged from the outside and rotting from the inside. The languages, the regulations and meaningless red tape, the starvation and shortages caused by the war and the blockade - they are all there, presented with stark clarity and empathy. The horrors of war, constant suffering and death in causes both noble and less so, are another constant theme. In the end there remains some room for personal honor and even humor. One great quote which can summarize much of Biggins/Prohaska's viewpoint reads, "The truth of the matter is that two world wars were, for Europe, nothing but a vast experiment in negative Darwinism, in which the best died and the worst survived to breed."

Biggins has also done outstanding research on all types of WW1 aircraft, ships, weapons, etc., and the reader is amazed at the detail effortlessly presented in the book.

Of course for many readers the future WW2 will hover in the background as well; various characters in Biggins' account of the First carry within them the seeds of the very worst features of the Second, from the death camps, racism and nationalism, to wholesale bombing of civilians and the destruction of entire cities.

Biggins' characters are better and more fully drawn, the story lines hangs together better, the dialogue is tighter and the situations are all more interesting than in A Sailor of Austria. For current historical fiction, The Two Headed Eagle is an outstanding read and highly recommended.

Otto Prohaska in the air.......2007-01-10

This is the third in the series that chronicle the adventures of Linienschiffleutnant Otto Prohaska of the Imperial Austro-Hungarian Navy around the time of the First World War. This book sees the hero attached to the KuK Armee's air service on the Italian Front in 1916, where he has to battle against various difficulties, including obsolete and under-maintained aircraft, a commanding officer obsessed with meaningless statistics, poor logistical support, the peculiarities of Austro-Hungarian bureaucracy, and the Italians. The author's research is impeccable, and the fictitious events in the book could have happened; they're all technically possible. The peculiarly horrible conditions on the Isonzo Front are well described, and remind the reader that conditions there were just as terrible as those on the Western Front.

The Two Headed Eagle is one of those books that has the reader eagerly turning the pages to follow the hero's adventures, but at the same time dreading the fact that the book is coming to an end. It's great stuff!

Which People's War?: National Identity and Citizenship in Wartime Britain 1939-1945

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Which People's War?: National Identity and Citizenship in Wartime Britain 1939-1945
Sonya O. Rose
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0199273170

Book Description

Which People's War? examines how national belonging, or British national identity, was envisaged in the public culture of the World War II home front. Using materials from newspapers, magazines, films, novels, diaries, letters, and all sorts of public documents, it explores such questions as: who was included as 'British' and what did it mean to be British? How did the British describe themselves as a singular people, and what were the consequences of those depictions? It also examines the several meanings of citizenship elaborated in various discussions concerning the British nation at war. This investigation of the powerful constructions of national identity and understandings of citizenship circulating in Britain during the Second World War exposes their multiple and contradictory consequences at the time. It reveals the fragility of any singular conception of 'Britishness' even during a war that involved the total mobilization of the country's citizenry and cost 400,000 British civilian lives.

That Which Is: Tattvartha Sutra (Sacred Literature)

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Mind-blowing

That Which Is: Tattvartha Sutra (Sacred Literature)
Umasvati
Manufacturer: AltaMira Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Jainism | Other Eastern Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0761989935

Book Description

That Which Is, known as the Tattvartha Sutra to Jains, is recognized by all four Jaina traditions as the earliest, most authoritative and comprehensive summary of their religion. Unique in bringing together classical commentaries from each tradition, this translation of the Tattvartha Sutra provides in one volume a detailed explanation of the universe, the place of humanity within it, and the path through it to liberation. This excellent introduction to Jaina belief is illuminated by thirteen diagrams and is an invaluable resource for understanding one of the oldest religious traditions in India.

Customer Reviews:

Mind-blowing.......2003-02-15

I read this book as a part of my studies in Eastern philosophy, in particular Indian philosophy, and the only term I can come up with is "mind-blowing". I considered myself an agnostic until I read this book... This book contains within the basis of the Jain religion, as well as many philosophical points which students of Eastern (and in particular Indian) philosophy and religion cannot ignore. Truly the best and most comprehensive text on the subject of Jainism.

The Voynich Manuscript: The Unsolved Riddle of an Extraordinary Book Which has Defied Interpretation for Centuries

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Simply the best source of information on the voynich manuscript!
Fascinating Riddle Within an Enigma
Fascinating Riddle Within an Enigma
Understanding the Obsqure
The Elegant Enigma

The Voynich Manuscript: The Unsolved Riddle of an Extraordinary Book Which has Defied Interpretation for Centuries
Gerry Kennedy , and Rob Churchill
Manufacturer: Orion Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 075285996X

Book Description

In 1912, Wilfrid Voynich, an antiquarian book dealer, stumbled upon a strange volume, its vellum pages covered in a beautiful but unrecognisable script accompanied by equally mystifying pictures. The codex has remained undeciphered from that day to this. Voynich believed the codex to be the work of medieval philosopher Roger Bacon, others that of the Elizabethan mathematician and occultist John Dee. Whoever created the book—which now resides at Yale University—it remains to this day a singular enigma which continues to defy the best efforts of linguists, cryptologists, and scholars. With the benefit of the authors' exhaustive research, readers can hazard their own guesses as to the meaning and provenance of this most beguiling of mysteries.

Customer Reviews:

Simply the best source of information on the voynich manuscript!.......2007-06-25

The best and most well-written source about the elusive voynich manuscript. This book covers the alleged owners, possible clues to the cypher, the history of the manuscript itself, and so much more.

Fascinating Riddle Within an Enigma.......2007-06-21

The Voynich manuscript remains one of the most puzzling artifacts handed down to us from antiquity. It is in an unknown language, using an unknown script, and not so much as a word has been successfully translated (though many have tried). It is filled with whimsical illustrations of plants that cannot be identified, stars that do not exist, and astrological diagrams unlike anything seen elsewhere. It is also filled with drawings of naked women cavorting in vessels of green liquid for purposes which cannot be fathomed. The author is unknown, the date is unknown (although figured to be between 1250-1450), and how the manuscript came to be preserved for the past 650 years is also a mystery.

It has been suggested by some researchers, and the authors of this book tentatively agree, that the whole thing might be an elaborate Medieval fake. Yet the sheer magnitude of it -- 272 pages, 211 illustrations, 170,000 characters, all carefully arranged and consistently produced -- would seem to argue against that. Add to that the statistical analysis of the text, which indicates that it probably *is* a legitimate language, and you have a real puzzle on your hands.

Since so little has been gleaned from the manuscript itself, the authors take the reader on a tour through Medieval scholarship, alchemy, astrology, astronomy, religious history and cryptology (since many have speculated it could be in some kind of code). The lives of several of the proposed authors are studied, along with many people who may have had a hand in preserving it. Thus the book is about a lot more than the manuscript itself, and indulges in many fascinating digressions along the way.

In the end, the riddle remains unsolved. The Voynich is probably a minor alchemical text of no particular import, perhaps the last surviving text in this language after the Crusades destroyed nearly 80% of the world's non-Christian libraries. For a fascinating glimpse into the superstitious Medieval world and the learning lost through subsequent winnowing by rampaging zealots, this book offers an excellent read.

Fascinating Riddle Within an Enigma.......2007-06-20

Understanding the Obsqure.......2007-05-24

This book is a very interesting read for persons of a certain education. Not easily understood by many readers.

The Elegant Enigma.......2007-05-07

I was very excited to read this book, as I very much enjoy learning the path of mysterious texts. This book presents many possibilities for the origins of the codex. I personally don't have patience to cipher the many options the authors gave in cracking the text, but I appreciated the layers of work they put into presenting them. Also, I was pleased that they did not shy away from esoteric possibilities. The description of it being a written account of glossolalia was particularly interesting. All the same, this book is more about the figures around the manuscript. Whatever you come away believing about the source of the text, it's path has been colorfully impressive.

God's Passion for His Glory: Living the Vision of Jonathan Edwards (With the Complete Text of The End for Which God Created the World)

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Very helpful edition of an excellent work
Challenging Read
A Word of Warning About Piper's Emphasis
Majestic and Breathtaking
Great Minds Think Alike

God's Passion for His Glory: Living the Vision of Jonathan Edwards (With the Complete Text of The End for Which God Created the World)
John Piper
Manufacturer: Crossway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1581347456

Book Description

In his essay The End for Which God Created the World, the great theologian Jonathan Edwards proclaimed that God’s ultimate end is the manifestation of his glory in the highest happiness of his creatures.

Pastor John Piper has devoted his years of ministry to exploring the implications of this stunning truth for life and ministry. Understanding that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him has made all the difference for John Piperâand can transform your life as well.

Here Piper passionately demonstrates the relevance of Edwards’s ideals for the personal and public lives of Christians today through his own book-length introduction to Edwards’s The End for Which God Created the World. This book also contains the complete essay supplemented by almost a hundred of Piper’s insightful explanatory notes. The result is a powerful and persuasive presentation of the things that matter most in the Christian life.

âOne studies the time and backgrounds of some men in order to understand them. Others have such rare greatness that one studies them in order to understand their timesâ¦. Jonathan Edwards was such an original.â
â Paul Ramsey, editor of Edwards’s ethical writings in the Yale critical edition

âNo man is more relevant to the present condition of Christianity than Jonathan Edwards.â
â D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

âThe western church â¦ much of it drifting, enculturated, and infected with cheap grace â¦ desperately needs to hear Edwards’s challenge.â
â Charles Colson

â[Edwards] speaks with an insight into science and psychology so much ahead of his time that our own can hardly be said to have caught up with him.â
â Perry Miller, former Harvard historian

âOne of the most holy, humble and heavenly minded men that the world has seen since the apostolic age.â
â Ashbel Green, 1829, former president of the College of New Jersey

â â¦ the profoundest reasoner, and the greatest divine â¦ that America ever produced.â
â Samuel Davies, 1759

â[Edwards] was a man who put faithfulness to the Word of God before every other consideration.â
â Iain Murray, Edwards’s biographer

âThe disappearance of Edwards’s [God-entranced] perspective in American Christian history has been a tragedy.â
â Mark Noll, Wheaton College historian

Edwards’s book, The End for Which God Created the World [is] â¦ unsurpassed in terms of its theological grandeur.â
â David Brand

Customer Reviews:

Very helpful edition of an excellent work.......2007-10-14

Jonathan Edwards never wrote his planned magnum opus, in which he would present an integrated Biblical Theology. One two-part (arguably) work stands out as his most profound synthesis: Concerning the End for Which God Created The World and The Nature of True Virtue.

This book contains the full text of God's End, the first of the two, in which Edwards polemically answers the question of what is ultimate in God's purposes. While being a polemic against the philosophical assumptions of his age in general, and their bearing on Christian thought in particular, it is an extraordinarily useful piece of writing for anyone in any age, getting to the heart of God.

Edwards' own introductory chapter is worth reading in its own right, where he displays masterful care in analysing what different kinds of purpose exist, and therefore frames the question that he is answering with utmost care.

In part I, he proceeds to engage with those arguments that will dismiss his own conclusion; he puts them well and uses the groundwork of his introduction to dismiss them.

Finally, in part II, he turns to heart-warming exposition of how God answers the question of what His ultimate purpose is. In one sense, therefore, the book is written backwards and we are left tantalised until the final part of the book.

His conclusions are then developed in The Nature of True Virtue where ethics are analysed in the light of God's purposes, but that isn't in this particular book.

What is in this book is some gold-dust by John Piper. He has re-edited Edwards' work himself: his starting point is the older Banner of Truth edition, but he has corrected it in the light of the recent Yale Edition: Ethical Writings (The Works of Jonathan Edwards Series, Volume 8). The result is a very readable and accurate edition, with some timely footnotes to help us on our way to avoid misunderstanding a centuries-old text.

That all takes up about half the volume; the first half is written by Piper. Brilliant stuff, as we've come to expect from this wonderful man of God, but do turn to Edwards' work first.

Challenging Read.......2006-06-02

The book is in two parts. The second part of the book is an essay by Jonathan Edwards called, "The End for which God created the World." Edwards lived in the 18th century and was a careful and brilliant thinker. Needless to say, the essay is very tough read. I tried reading it slowly and carefully, but I gave up and decided to read it in normal mode. I plan to go back in a year and try it again. The essay needs to be digested slowly with multiple readings. Piper has added many footnotes to help guide the reader through the more difficult passages.

The first part is Piper getting you prepared emotionally and physically for the intellectual climb. He does an excellent job of encouraging the reader to make the climb for the view is great from the top.

The book is worth reading even if you don't understand it. It helps bring into focus all of Piper's writings.

A Word of Warning About Piper's Emphasis.......2005-06-21

This is a general comment on Piper's books. I deeply appreciate the work of John Piper--especially his emphasis on missions and on living God-centered, Christ-exalting lives of worship. And I am Augustinian, so I love Piper's theology and am thrilled that he has become so popular. But I do want to provide a warning. Piper's main emphasis is (and you'll read this over and over again) "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied (or delighted) in Him." This is a biblical and wonderful proposition that Piper became aware of through the writings of Jonathan Edwards. To Edwards, this proposition was one small part of his theology.

But Piper has taken this idea, which he calls "Christian Hedonism," and built his whole life and ministry around it. The problem is that if you read enough Piper, you will begin to focus on the FEELING of being delighted in Christ, rather than on Christ Himself. And when your feelings don't match what you want them to be, you will become disheartened. (And let's face it, few of us have the emotional intensity of John Piper.) At that point, your feelings (of being delighted in God) become the object of your desires and, thus, an idol. Yes, they are feelings TOWARD God--but those feelings are NOT GOD. And when the focus of your life has become your emotions, it has deceptively become an idol.

I know Piper fights against this tendency. But I'm afraid he is often unsuccessful. The fact is, the Christian life is not going to be one of unending joy in God. Read the Psalms to see how often the psalmists cry out in agony and desperation and sadness to the Lord. Read Romans 7 to find out how tough and discouraging the Christian life can really be.

According to Piper, our happiness in God should be the driving motivation in our life. But when Christians are inevitably not overflowing with delight in God, then under Piper's framework, the only solution is to seek that feeling of joy rather than just do our duty. There are times when duty and obligation (which Piper hates) are the only motivations for the Christian to be obedient and live a life of faith. I agree wholeheartedly with Piper that delight in God is a much better motivation for the Christian than duty. But when that delight is not there, we still must be faithful and obedient, and we can't always wait on our feelings to drive us on toward the prize.

Read Piper's books. And enjoy his passionate and Christ-exalting preaching. But beware and repent when your emotions--rather than the Triune God Himself--become the focus of your life.

Majestic and Breathtaking.......2003-05-02

The End for Which God Created the World represents the core of Jonathan Edwards's thought. Edwards's thesis is this: God designed everything to revel in his glory, and he desires for us to take joy in his magnificence. What's more, those who enjoy God will enjoy him with ever-increasing joy for all eternity. Isn't that a breathtaking thesis?

Edwards marshalls huge amounts of scriptural evidence to support his claim, and, as always, he brilliantly answers philosophical objections against what the scriptures reveal about the matter. His writing throughout is penetrating, perceptive, persuasive, and deeply worshipful.

I think John Piper's goals in his contribution to this work were to whet the reader's appetite for the feast of The End for Which God Created the World and to make the work more accessible to the average reader. He succeeds in both respects. After reading Dr. Piper's introduction I was eager to plow forward, and, while reading The End . . ., I found Dr. Piper's explanatory footnotes helpful.

The End for Which God Created the World is a majestic work, and I am grateful that John Piper took the time to re-introduce it to the general public. May God use this humble offering from Jonathan Edwards's pen to help our tragically parched world find the living water flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb!

Great Minds Think Alike.......2002-08-03

This is a solid, powerful, stunning, and most biblical text from both Jonathan Edwards and John Piper. This book includes Edward's essay titled "The End for Which God Created the World," along with comments and further delineation from John Piper. To read Edwards sometimes takes much concentration and hard work, and Piper has done a great job bringing this work to life.

The first part of the book is an introduction to Edwards's work, by Piper (a sort of commentary, if you will), and the later part is the actual work of Edwards's. Piper begins by expressing his concern about the issue at hand, and then leads into a discussion of not only Edwards's life but his work as well. Piper comments on Edwards's conclusions in relation to Piper's concerns in his current ministry and then allows the reader to take what Piper has discussed and make application of it through Edwards's original work.

The thing I find most interesting about this work is its relevancy. What I mean by this is the fact that Edwards's wrote this work 200+ years ago and it is still pertinent to our own culture today (sure proof that the Truths of God endure forever). This is a great text, solid theology, and extremely relevant reading for today. I heartily recommend this work!

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The Guns of August

Guns of August

A great start

Strong anti-German bias

An August Book

Guns Of August: The Drama of August 1914, a month of battle in which war was waged on a scale unsurpassed and whose results determined the shape of the world in which we live today [Illustrated]
Barbara Tuchman
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Zimmermann Telegram

The First World War

ASIN: 0517385740
Release Date: 1986-12-31

Book Description

"More dramtatic than fiction...THE GUNS OF AUGUST is a magnificent narrative--beautifully organized, elegantly phrased, skillfully paced and sustained....The product of painstaking and sophisticated research."
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Barbara Tuchman has brought to life again the people and events that led up to Worl War I. With attention to fascinating detail, and an intense knowledge of her subject and its characters, Ms. Tuchman reveals, for the first time, just how the war started, why, and why it could have been stopped but wasn't. A classic historical survey of a time and a people we all need to know more about, THE GUNS OF AUGUST will not be forgotten.

Customer Reviews:

The Guns of August.......2007-09-15

If you have any interest in World War I the Guns of August is a must read. This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for years--I know this because the price on the jacket is under $20.00. I was always concerned that the book would be a slow and plodding work with too much time invested in describing the strategies of the various battles.. Yes, there are varied descriptions of the various August 1914 battles, but they read like a novel, are essential in understanding the futility of the War and the superficial understanding of the world that England, France, Russia, and even the United States had in 1914.

Barbara Tuchman is an excellent writer--it is know accident that she won the Pulitzer Price for this book. Surprisingly, this is a quick read and the 400 pages (hard cover) go very quickly. One develops a keen understanding of the mindset of the French, English, and Germans before and during the war. Tuchman gives fair treatment to the French, English, and Germans. It is not surprising that the war aims of the Germans do not seem to differ much between WWI and WWII. . Tuchman paints a portrait of pre war Europe with its artificial entangling alliances as a powder keg ready to explode. As you read the story of the first month of the War you are struck with the overarching theme, which I think is true of most wars, that while the powers sough an early overwhelmingly decisive battle you feel the foreboding by those in the know that if timetables are not met this will be a long and stalemated conflict. August of 1914 certainly sets the stage for the remainder of 20th century history. This is a great book. I do not know why I waited so long to take it off my shelf

Guns of August.......2007-09-12

Super account of the first days and campaigns of WWI.

"Guns of August" is particularly good in its ability to capture the mindsets of generals on both sides. The account of the violation of Belgian neutrality and the civilians' taking up arms to defend their nation at all costs was especially effective (and well-researched).

A great start.......2007-09-12

For those of you just beginning to explore the Great War and it's causes this book is the place to start. Tuchman's ability to weave together the all to human story of the mistakes and blunders committed by egotistical, naive, and often downright stupid leaders, still resonates clearly today. This book should be required reading for all politicians and State Department officials.

Strong anti-German bias.......2007-08-27

This book has excellent military analysis and I can see why it has many admirers. However, I purchased it in order to learn more about the origins of World War I and was profoundly disappointed. The analysis is quite limited and dominated by a heavy anti-German bias. Of course all works of history will show the author's bias to some degree, but parts of this book read like a melodrama, with Germany as the villain and Belgium as the hero.

Studying the start of World War I gives us an opportunity to learn better ways of preventing future catastrophic wars. When the analysis of German war aims relies on "the hatred of a barbaric culture against anything civilized," that opportunity is lost.

An August Book.......2007-08-23

While it's been a while since I read this, I clearly remember that it was superb. Tuchman's ability to bring history to life is unsurpassed.

I'd strongly recommend this book to anyone with the least interest in the subject of WWI. While just using the war's first full month, BT gives us a clear view of that world and its people who became involved in the incredible machine of death that was The Great War.

I would also suggest Keegan's "The First World War" for a fuller description of the war in its entirety.

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