Law and Ecology: The Rise of the Ecosystem Regime (Ecology and Law in Modern Society)

Customer Reviews:

GREAT BOOK!.......2006-05-29

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ. THIS BOOK IS TEN TIMES BETTER THEN HARRY POTTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazon.com

"It's well known that Mother River doesn't like a smart aleck," says Patricia McCairen. Accordingly, she plies her oars with reverence and skill on a sometimes hair-raising solo rafting trip along the Colorado River that winds though the stupendous stone valleys of the American Grand Canyon. Like the waters of the Colorado, which change from long, still stretches to boiling white water that barely clothes sharp rocks and hides holes that can suck down a raft, McCairen's moods--and even her name--change as the miles unwind. One moment, she's the cocky, athletic river guide Babe; the next, she's an earthier, more spiritual woman who answers to the name of Patch. Hours later, she seems more vulnerable, less convinced of her strength and joy in the solitude she so zealously courts. Canyon Solitude records these shifts and beautifully limns a journey that tests McCairen's mettle and shows that determination, grit, and the will to spurn conventional rewards offer their own deep satisfactions. --Francesca Coltrera

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

A Woman's Solo River Journey Through the Grand Canyon .......2007-08-08

I enjoyed the portions of her stories that dealt with river experiences and less enjoyed the amount of introspection the author shared. As one who has both run the river (with guides) and back packed the canyon I'm left quite impressed with her accomplishment.

Canyon Solitude - Excellent Book.......2007-05-19

This book is beautifully written and is very insightful. It is very descriptive not only of the river and the action that awaits the adventurous but also of the woman who takes the journey . . .her strengths, vulnerabilities and determination it takes to make such a trip. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves the great outdoors, appreciates the Southwest landscape or for anyone who needs to be inspired. I purchased this book first on a vaction and have had to purchase another copy as I read it once every year.

A book to savor.......2002-04-10

This is a wonderful read. It gracefully mixes adventure with honest self-revelation as it explores the potentials and pains of a woman at midlife. Especially meaningful to me were McCairen's meditations on solitude versus loneliness and her wrestling with fear of intimacy. Going alone into the wilderness is a radical act for a woman, and McCairen engages it with consciousness and skill. I was sorry when the book ended, I had grown to so look forward to curling up with it at the end of the day. I would welcome a sequel.

From Secretaryville to the Grand Canyon.......2001-12-05

I'm not a rafter, and have no particular interest in rafting, but this book somehow captured my interest and I read it in a couple of hours. Patricia has a poetic way of writing about nature and her adventures rafting over the Colorado, and she takes the reader along for the ride. I admire her greatly for her courageous decision to go it alone (at least most of the time) on a very hazardous journey. I hope she continues to write (and avoid that dreaded Secretaryville).

I wouldn't do it, but someone has to........2000-12-01

Experienced river-runner Patricia McCairen was suddenly faced with a choice when she found herself without companions for a trip through Grand Canyon. She could give up her permit and hope to get another at some point or she could go it alone. Certain she would be saved from her bravado she called the National Park Service to get special permission for a solo trip and was both surprised and terrified when permisssion was granted.

Thus did McCairen enter into a trip that would allow her to delve into the differences between solitude and loneliness and eventually come to grips with her course in life.

Canyon Solitude is more about a personal journey of the mind than a journey through Grand Canyon. Reading as she struggles with her history (with men, with her mother, with her professional goals) provides insight into how we all allow our direction to be shaped by others, only convincing ourselves that we are truly independent. As we find McCairen actually achieving independence it is easy to understand as she swings from exhileration to terror and back to exhileration, finally achieving contentment.

The book is a bit slow at times, but as with the actual river, it has periods of intense excitement that more than make up for the lulls. Perhaps without the calms between the rapids, it wouldn't be possible to really understand what has been accomplished.

Book Description

The Bible –– sacred scripture, literary classic, historical document. No matter how it is viewed, it remains the basis of much of Western culture. This fully revised edition of the HarperCollins Bible Commentary is the most up–to–date reference book of its kind for understanding and interpreting the meaning of the Bible. The accessible and highly readable format sets a new standard for excellence.

The Commentary covers all of the Hebrew Bible, as well as the books of the Apocrypha and those of the New Testament, and thus addresses the biblical canons of Judaism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. its innovative format covers the books of the Bible in three ways:

General essays setting the literary, cultural, and historical context for the entire Bible
Articles introducing major sections of the Bible
Commentaries on the individual books themselves by the finest contemporary biblical scholars

The HarperCollins Bible Commentary is unprecedented in its clarity, organization, and insight into the Bible. Helpful cross–references to its companion, the HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, mean that readers will have all they need to explore the riches of the Scriptures for years to come.

Every section of the Commentary offers concise and authoritative guidance that will enable the reader to return to the text equipped to understand and appreciate the Bible more fully. Each of the eighty–three contributors to this splendid volume is a leading expert in his or her field and a member of the Society of Biblical Literature. They have produced a volume that belongs in homes, schools, houses of worship, and libraries –– wherever there is a Bible.

General editor James L. Mays is the Cyrus McCormick Professor of Hebrew and the Old Testament Emeritus at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. He has served as president of the Society of Biblical Literature and is a widely respected author and editor.

Customer Reviews:

Didn't meet my expectations.......2007-06-03

When I purchases this book, I was hoping for a lot more detail and insight than I found in the copius notes in my HarperCollins Study Bible. There's more, but I found that for me, this book was an unhappy medium between HCSB notes and more in-depth individual commentaries on the books of the Bible.

I rarely use this book now.

Worth My Money.......2006-10-20

I've read the Bible using both the Harper Collins Study Bible, and the JPS Study Bible, in addition to getting my degree in Religious Studies and the fact that there was still new and interesting information that illuminated my reading in almost every section is a testament to how much is contained in this book. It is extremely scholarly, but is still reverent to Christian & Jewish traditions. The essays in the introduction are wonderful, especially the one about how there is both diversity and unity in the Bible which is often overlooked by source & historical critical methods. It also finds the right balance between being deep enough for serious scholars and being written in a style that is approachable for the average person.

One of the Best Commentaries Available.......2004-06-03

I have a number of reference books that I use rather frequently for scripture study. Without a doubt, the two volumes I refer to most are THE HARPER-COLLINS BIBLE DICTIONARY and HARPER BIBLE COMMENTARY. I find these two volumes to be the most helpful tools for Bible study and homily preparation. The commentary is set up by biblical book and is divided into three sections: The Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament, and the Apocrypha. Each book of the Bible has its own short commentary, based on chapter and verse of scripture. This volume also has short articles placed throughout the commentary on various subjects in the Bible. Each commentary and/or article is written by a biblical scholar and many of the authors are among the best known names in Biblical studies. Many of the entries also have small bibliographies so that readers can get more detailed information if need be. The Harper-Collins Bible Commentary is an indispensable tool for students of Biblical studies, people involved in preaching and teaching of scripture, and anyone interested in a more in depth look at the Bible.

Of all the commentaries available, the Harper -Collins is probably the most ecumenical. The scholars who contribute to the volume represent not only the best in Biblical scholarship, but a number of different faiths. The information is rather straightforward and does not represent any one faith tradition, but the information presented could easily be used in any denomination.

This is one of the best.......2003-06-28

I have loads of Bible commentaries, and this one is absolutely fantastic, and totally worth the price. It is different from many commentaries in its approach, in that the various authors focus almost exclusively on the texts as literature, an approach which, particularly in the Old Testament, yields hundreds of interesting and enlightening insights which just are not present in others, and frankly, which never would occur to you or me otherwise. I used it as a resource while teaching an Old Testament class last year and I quickly came to regard it as indispensable. It does not delve into historical or contextual issues much (for that, you should get the sister volume, the Harper Collins Bible Dictionary, which is also amazing, or perhaps the IVP Bible Background Commentary by Craig S. Keener), but is fantastic in its own unique way.

Some Christians are reluctant to purchase commentaries that are not written explicity from a "faith-perspective", but I have to say that although this is a scholarly work, I do not regard it as incompatible at all with a devout faith in the inspired nature of the writings discussed. It is true that the writers use the NRSV translation for their Biblical text and this is usually a big turn off for some folks, but if you can overlook that, you'll get a lot out of it. For the devout student looking to assemble a great resource library, this book might be coupled with a more theological, faith-based commentary (the AMG Concise Bible Commentary by Don Fleming is an excellent choice), and of course the HC Bible Dictionary I mentioned above. And while I'm on the resource library thing, I might as well also recommend that serious Bible students check out the English Standard Version translation of the Bible.

Anyway, the HC Bible Commentary is an invaluable, thoughtful, and penetrating analysis of The Bible. You'll never read The Bible the same way again.

A good single-volume commentary.......2003-06-18

The HarperCollins Bible Commentary, published in 2000, is a good volume to have sitting on one's shelf. So far as one-volume commentaries are concerned, this one is accessible, authoritative, and well conceived and written. 'The Commentary covers all of the Hebrew Bible, as well as the books of the Apocrypha and those of the New Testament, and thus addresses the biblical canons of Judaism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. Its innovative format covers the books of the Bible in three ways.'

These three ways include general essays that set context (literary, historical, sociological, etc.), major sections of the Bible, and individual commentaries on each book.

This book is the product of a cooperative effort between HarperCollins Publishers (a major publisher in the field of biblical and religious material, both scholarly and popular) and the Society of Biblical Literature (the major academic group of biblical scholars, of which I am a member). The range of contributors is international in scope, as well as incorporating the views of scholars and researchers from many faith traditions and points of view regarding the biblical text.

The general editor is James L. Mays, professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. Associate editors include Joseph Blenkinsopp, Beverly Roberts Gaventa, Jon D. Levenson, Wayne A. Meeks, Carol A. Newsom, David L. Petersen, and Gene M. Tucker - a list of names second to none in the field of biblical studies, and a testament to the authoritative nature of this book, as well as its depth and accessibility.

'The positions and approaches presented in this volume represent the mainstream of scholarship typical of the Society of Biblical Literature; eccentric and improbable positions are avoided. The individual commentaries and articles, however, do express the learning and judgment of their authors as scholars. As a result, the volume includes a rich diversity of biblical scholarship. Those who use this Commentary encounter the variety that characterizes the continuing work of scholarship on the Bible rather than the single approach of one school of interpretation.'

This is meant to be a companion to the HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, a book widely used as in homes, libraries, churches and classrooms for background material and ready reference. I had always considered the Dictionary to be a companion volume to the HarperCollins Study Bible, one of the more authoritative and annotated volumes of the New Revised Standard Version around (because Oxford University Press dragged its heels at getting the NRSV out in their version, HarperCollins has managed to steal Oxford's old pre-eminence). This Commentary is designed to be a companion volume to any English Bible, not just the HarperCollins versions, and not just the NRSV.

The introductory essay talks about the Bible as a whole, its history and development, with particular attention given to the stages of writing and development. For those studious enough to have compared Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Jewish Bibles, one finds many things that are different - the order of the Old Testament, for instance, is not the order of the Hebrew Bible, hence it is inaccurate to call the Old Testament the Hebrew Bible, and vice versa. The ordering makes a difference. Also, the apocryphal books (and sections in canonical books) have an ambiguous relationship both with the Jewish and Christian canons. To this discussion, Fred Craddock (the author of the introduction) concludes that the canon serves a purpose, whichever canon one might be speaking of.

'The community of faith embracing the canon has said yes to certain books and no to others. Individual preferences among believers has not altered that fact. ... Each community in each generation does not create its own Bible. The church exists in time and over time with traditions and memories received and passed along. The closing of the canon ensures that the process will not cease and that no one will chop down the family tree, no matter how strange the birds nesting in its branches.' After illuminating essays, the commentary is arranged in general order by broad section: Biblical History (those books that give a narrative historical tone, Genesis - Chronicles); Psalms and Wisdom (included in this are the books of Job and Song of Songs); the Prophetic Works (the major and minor prophets); the Apocrypha (Catholic and Orthodox); New Testament Narratives (gospels and Acts); and Books in the Form of Letters.

Book Description

The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible is steadily increasing in popularity. It is highly respected among academics, including evangelicals, and popular in theological colleges, where it is preferred to the New International Version. This edition incorporates extensive annotations and the Deuterocanonical books/Apocrypha, making it an ideal edition for students and serious Bible readers. The NRSV sensitively avoids gender exclusivity without any loss of accuracy or clarity, and retains the traditional style of referring to God as `He' or `Him.'

Customer Reviews:

The very best study bible. Buy a cover. You'll need it........2007-09-30

`The Harper Collins Study Bible' for the New Revised Standard Version is one of, if not the best study Bible I've found for serious study. Its closest competitor may be the `Oxford Annotated Bible', which I originally used to prepare Bible Study classes, until a Theological Seminary professor recommended the Harper-Collins. The very first thing which one notices is that the general editor for the Harper-Collins is Wayne Meeks, who, even in my short experience with Biblical studies, stands out as one of the more important mentors of Biblical scholars in the United States.
One thing the Harper-Collins is not is a fancifully colored layout. The text of the scriptures are plainly stated, but with the advantage over Oxford of providing titles for the various subjects and incidents (commonly called pericopes when they appear in the Gospels). Oxford does not have these, and they are an immediate help.
Another thing the Harper-Collins does not have is a Concordance section. Oxford has such a section, and I found it a total waste of space. While their section was a few dozen pages, the Strong concordance runs to over 1200 pages. One can imagine that Oxford left a lot of things out!
The Harper-Collins and Oxford had several features which were virtually identical, such as the maps section and the table of parallel passages in the Gospels. Oxford did have a comparable section for Hebrew Scriptures, which I do not see in Harper-Collins, so that's one point for Oxford.
Harper-Collins also has an eminently useful listing of all Hebrew passages quoted in the Christian scriptures. This is invaluable. I only wish they had done it by both OT and NT books rather than just by OT books.
In the notes, I tend to find Harper-Collins more useful and richer in the number of notes and the amount of information therein, but that may vary from book to book, as different contributors did different books. It is certainly true of the Gospels.
Like some other books, `Oxford' is a brand name which yields good, but not excellent results. If you can get your hands on a Harper-Collins Study Bible, you will not be disappointed, as long as you do not expect it to replace commentaries on individual books.

Excellent translation- superb annotations- binding problems?.......2007-05-17

The NRSV is a superlative translation of scripture with very few drawbacks. Unlike the writers of the dogmatic, Evangelical-doctrine-riddled NIV, the translators of the NRSV (and earlier RSV) made a real attempt to be literal, yet use modern language. When there is ambiguity or other difficulty in translation, the NRSV includes footnotes that tell the reader other possible readings, rather than arbitrarily choosing what to include and not informing the reader that there are other possible translations (as the NIV does).

The annotations are comprehensive, and were written by the foremost Bible scholars, yet are easy-to-read and shed much light on difficult passages. I would question those who decry this Bible as "un-believing" or "dangerous to the faith." I've had my doubts about Christianity before, but after reading the Harper-Collins Study Bible cover-to-cover, I found renewed interest and inspiration, rather than the alleged detrimental effects being shouted-about by some reviewers.

If to you ignorance equals faith, don't read this version. If honest scholarship that doesn't shy away from difficult concepts is dangerous to the soul, go ahead and burn this book-- but you'll never grow in your faith.

I am no liberal- but I found this Bible to be faith-affirming, and it helped me to see God in a new way that was much more beautiful and wonderful than before. My faith and the way I approach life changed after reading this Bible. It may do the same for you- but it's not the easy kind of self-affirming, indoctrinating Bible study notes sought by some people.

---

Many people seem to be complaining about the quality of the binding, etc. It may be that the paperback versions are poor quality, so I would suggest readers buy one of the hard-cover editions. I've never had any problems with the binding or pages and I have the hard-cover student edition.

Thank you for reading this review. If you choose to buy this study Bible, I pray it will help your faith-journey. It will NOT turn you into an "evil unbeliever" as some suggest!

great buy.......2007-01-09

I got this for a class I took along with the handbook and it was great. Easy to read and follow. Plus it was required for the class. :)

For liberal theologians.......2006-09-17

Buyers beware, the Bible commentaries are written by liberal theologians. They tend to disbelieve miracles and try explaining away Divine prophecy by assigning late dates for the books. When I was reading the commentaries, I couldn't help but get the feeling that the writers were trying to destroy my faith. Also, while it is not a bad translation, the NRSV does have some gender-neutrality inserted into it. All in all, I cannot recommend this study Bible. It reads like skeptics and non-believers wrote it.

Good solid scholarly bible.......2006-07-17

There are a huge number of different Bibles out there on the market and sometimes it can seem hard to know what to choose.

The Harper Collins study Bible is in my view an excellent balance between scholarly criticism, historical analysis, and theology. The commentators of this Bible do not take as strong a 'liberal' line as the authors of the NIB by Abingdon do, for example. Likewise, they do not wheel out the same tired arguments for biblical inerrancy or infallibility you see so often in fundamentalist or deeply conservative devotional Bibles.

This Bible has many delightful and useful features to aid the serious student's understanding of the Bible. These range from a dozen or so maps to the lists of canonical books across the main branches of Christianity (including Eastern Orthodox and Catholics), excellent historical introductions to each text, timelines and notes regarding authorship, and good annotated notes which in my reading reflect very well on the best scholarship from a range of areas which bring valuable insight to the meaning of the Biblical text, especially in its relation to outside history, culture and Near-Eastern religion.

I've read many, many books 'about' the Bible and long commentaries, including the very best. In my view, the best commentaries on scripture are the Word Bible Commentary, the Anchor Bible Commentary, and the New Interpret's Bible Commentary. The condensed commentary in the Harper Collins Bible seems to reflect the best judgements of all these great achievements in biblical scholarship.

Some may feel uncomfortable with the way the Bible is 'questioned' but the textual notes do not really say anything which is not known to any scholar in many major non-fundamentalist branch of Christianity. However, it is true this Bible is more for the scholar or student rather than a devotional Bible or a bible designed for Biblical study classes in Church. For Protestants, the NIV Study Bible is no doubt the best bible for this purpose and I agree (though I don't consider myself Protestant). The Oxford Annotated Bible and the New Interpreter's Bible are also very good, though the NIB tends to get rid of too much tradition in favour of the latest fashions in some liberal theological schools.

However with some patience you will get a lot out of this Bible, and a better understanding of the meaning of the text itself.

HarperCollins Bible Commentary - Revised Edition

Average customer rating:

HarperCollins Bible Commentary - Revised Edition
James L. Mays
Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OF0HN6

Customer Reviews:

Florid style covers up any actual information book may or may not contain.......2007-06-20

When I got this book, I expected a history of our calendar and its links to the ancient world written for regular people as opposed to scholars. The writing is fluid, but so florid that it's hard to get actual information out of it. The writing is so self-indulgently flowery that it disguises the message rather than delivering it. Since the subject matter is in fact nonfiction, this is not a particularly effective style.

There are a lot of books out there on the history of the calendar that ARE readable, even to the non-academic. This one is not worth buying.

Not What it Seems To Be.......2007-02-26

I came across this little paperback tucked in between more impressive-looking tomes at the bookstore in the European History section. If not for the subtitle, "A Miscellany of History and Myth, Religion and Astronomy, Festivals and Feast Days," I'd never have bought it, because the title proper does not satisfactorily describe the content. I am not interested in TIME, per se, but I did write a master's thesis in folkart and am very interested in all kinds of folklore, genealogy, ritual, and comparative religion. So I bought it and have loved it...great bedside companion on these wintry nights. A huge bonus is the beautiful writing style of Mr. Judge - he makes pictures in my head - the highest praise of this artist/folklorist. The book justifies the deep human yearning to celebrate the cycles of the natural world without having to deny one's more conventional religious upbringing (no doubt a growing concern since paganism is one of the fastest growing religions). Comforting.

Not meant to be a thorough exploration of the calendar.......2007-02-21

It's a little disconcerting writing a review of a book when you know the author himself reads them!

The key word in the title of this book is "miscelleny". I think I was hoping for a more comprehensive and studious tour through the wilds of the history of our calendar and how it came to be what it is today. Although it's clear that research was done and a history of how the calendar came to be is indeed tackled, it's all a bit... well, flowery, for my tastes.

Here's a small sampling of what I mean:
"...Deneb glittering in her beak like a diamond she's plucked from an Eastern treasure horde. High above both, ruby-red Arcturus marks the heel of the kindly shepherd Bootes, who drives the stars of spring across the sky. Orion flees, humbled, below the western horizon..."

It's all well and good, it's just not for me. I'd guess that references to "lovemaking" and related terms are actually used more often than references to the word "calendar". If you enjoy stories and myths from Greek and Roman times, with a smattering from the Celts, Germans, and other "westerners", told somewhat floridly, you'll like this.

One thing that sticks with me is the disturbing story of the Wicker Man. It, and some of the other tales, made me want to know more (how long did this go on, how wide-spread was it, who was chosen to be the victims, etc.), but I kept coming back to that word "miscellany"... it's not MEANT to be thorough.

So to sum up I'd say the book delivers what the title promises, but didn't satisfy my curiosity about the subject!

Beautiful Book For A Long Wintry Night.......2005-12-21

This is actually the wife of the Amazon member. I bought this back in the summer, at the solstice. How quickly i found myself at another, albeit more starkly beautiful solstice ..... The depth of knowledge and the beauty of the prose is outstanding. As one familiar with world religions, anthropology, mythology and the like, i found this book to be a refreshing change from so much of what is currenty available through the new age/earth religion venue: this book is absolutey stunning and will pass the test of time. I brought it to work with me, and it is my companion for this year's quiet, solitary solstice. Such a balm for the spirit, and a comfort ......highly recommended.

An interesting collection of information about our calendar.......2005-11-19

This is the second version of my review. I do not want Mr Judge to hate me. ;) I was too harsh, Mr Judge. I appreciate your feedback. I will try to improve my reviews.

In fact I do like to write and I encourage you to keep on writing and publishing. Maybe I am not the best critic in the world, but I try to be honest and fair. And as a matter of fact, I encourage EVERYONE to try new things and take risks. That is what makes life interesting. I congratulate you.

In the book, we are given many interesting stories, facts, anecdotes and opinions (yes, I leave this in, though after 18 months, I do not remember the particular item that jumped out at me - I will try to find it an update this review) about the perception and measurement of the passage of time.

As I said earlier, the writing is quite poetic moves along well.

I enjoy reading books like this and do wish the author had included a bibliography and/or footnotes. A lot of work went into his research and he should get the credit. A book setting forth information as 'history' should have some supporting documentation. My comment about 'scholastic effort' was poorly worded. I probably wrote that after grading a stack of my students research papers.

If the author had documented his book as well as he did his response to my review, I would have had nothing to complain about.

I am sure William Shakespeare, Shelby Foote and Robert Browning would love this book.

The Dance of Time: The Origins of the Calendar - A Miscellany of History and Myth, Religion and Astronomy, Festivals and Feast Day

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The Dance of Time: The Origins of the Calendar - A Miscellany of History and Myth, Religion and Astronomy, Festivals and Feast Day
Michael Judge
Manufacturer: Arcade Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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