Amazon.com
This new edition of C++ Primer, a favorite choice for a first C++ book, has been greatly improved with the latest and greatest on C++, stressing the built-in language features of the C++ Standard Library. For this new version--weighing in at a massive 1,237 pages--Stanley Lippman, a well-known C++ expert, teams up with Josée Lajoie, who has helped define the C++ international language standard. The new material is excellent for programmers who want to get the most out of new and advanced features in the language.
The authors still introduce the basics of C++, including data types and pointers, but quickly move on to stress how to get the most out of the built-in features of ISO-standard C++. Throughout this book built-in support for the C++ Standard Library, such as container classes like vectors and maps, and other standard features, such as the string class, are integrated into a tried-and- proven basic-language tutorial.
The major new features of C++ (templates, name spaces, and run-time type identification) all get their due. The result is an authoritative guide to basic and advanced C++ in a clear and readable style, with plenty of short, practical examples throughout the text. The book includes exercises--some quite challenging--for every section: a perfect choice both for self-study and the classroom. --Richard Dragan
Book Description
"
C++ Primer is well known as one of the best books for learning C++ and is useful for C++ programmers of all skill levels. This Fourth Edition not only keeps this tradition alive, it actually improves on it."
--Steve Vinoski, Chief Engineer, Product Innovation, IONA Technologies
"
The Primer really brings this large and complex language down to size."
--Justin Shaw, Senior Member of Technical Staff, Electronic Programs Division, The Aerospace Corporation
"[It] not only gets novices up and running early, but gets them to do so using good programming practices."
--Nevin ":-)" Liber, Senior Principal Engineer (C++ developer since 1988)
This popular tutorial introduction to standard C++ has been completely updated, reorganized, and rewritten to help programmers learn the language faster and use it in a more modern, effective way.
Just as C++ has evolved since the last edition, so has the authors' approach to teaching it. They now introduce the C++ standard library from the beginning, giving readers the means to write useful programs without first having to master every language detail. Highlighting today's best practices, they show how to write programs that are safe, can be built quickly, and yet offer outstanding performance. Examples that take advantage of the library, and explain the features of C++, also show how to make the best use of the language. As in its previous editions, the book's authoritative discussion of fundamental C++ concepts and techniques makes it a valuable resource even for more experienced programmers.
Program Faster and More Effectively with This Rewritten Classic
- Restructured for quicker learning, using the C++ standard library
- Updated to teach the most current programming styles and program design techniques
- Filled with new learning aids that emphasize important points, warn about common pitfalls, suggest good programming practices, and provide general usage tips
- Complete with exercises that reinforce skills learned
- Authoritative and comprehensive in its coverage
Customer Reviews:
Awesome book !.......2007-09-28
This book is great!! I had learnt C++ way back in 2000. I have been hearing about the drastic changes in C++ and hence bought this book. It really taught me a lot. This coupled with Scott Meyers make a killer C++ combination.
Good as a starting point..........2007-06-05
The book is very nice, all explanations are very clear, and the index is helpful.
However, the book only covers the language itself, not good programming techniques. You should probably also get "C++ Template Metaprogramming" by Abrahams and Gurtovoy, "Modern C++ Design" by Alexandrescu, and some books on object-oriented design. Maybe also one on the STL.
Good book if u already have some programming exp, but if not, the word "Primer" is a lie.......2007-05-25
I really couldnt say anything about this book. It explains well but if you have quite an understanding on programming and stuff.
This is the first book i had when i started to learn c++. And it was hard and confusing as hell at first.
Good introduction to C++.......2007-04-14
I had been programming in C for a long time already when I read this book. I had mucked around with C++ - reading other peoples' code - before reading it. So, I was not completely clueless, but clueless enough. I knew little about OOP, and had never seen templates before.
This book does an excellent job of teaching C++. The book is organized beautifully. The first part gets you going with the basic sytax, but at the same time introduces some library containers almost right at the start. This makes it easy to play with non-trivial code even as you are just starting. The next part is an excellent coverage of containers and algorithms. Then comes a detailed discussion on OOP, which is well worth the price of the book itself. Finally, there is a section on advanced topics.
The book is well written, and despite being discouragingly huge, is a breeze to read. Further, the organization above helps in quickly getting familiar with the key ideas of C++ and then zooming in.
I have been told by C++ gurus that there are certain flaws in the book, and that at one or two points it may be misleading. I am no C++ guru, and I did not find anything amiss with the book. C++ is not an easy language to learn, but it is not as hard as it is made out to be either. It helps to have an approach to teachin the language that does not start with C, does not build on C, but starts fresh from scratch. This book does that. For me, this book is sufficient as the only C++ book I need to have on my shelf.
The book is very good for middle level C++ reader.......2007-02-24
I like this book as I went through this book. I had learned C++ in one of my college class before. But we use different textbook, which was more narrow and doesn't touch the standard library at all. Even the temple chapter is hard to understand. But this book clear a lot of concept at same time give you standard library and alogorism. Also give you very detailed explanation of pointer, C and C++ comparison, etc.
Jashua
Amazon.com
The literacy rate in Farmer Brown's barn goes up considerably once his cows find an old typewriter and begin typing. To the harassed farmer's dismay, his communicative cows quickly become contentious:
Dear Farmer Brown,
The barn is very cold at night. We'd like some electric blankets.
Sincerely,
The Cows
When he refuses to comply with their demands, the cows take action. Farmer Brown finds another note on the barn door: "Sorry. We're closed. No milk today." Soon the striking cows and Farmer Brown are forced to reach a mutually agreeable compromise, with the help of an impartial party--the duck. But this poor, beleaguered farmer's "atypical" troubles are not over yet!
This hilarious tale will give young rebels-in-the-making a taste of the power of peaceful protest and the satisfaction of cooperative give and take. Witty watercolors by award-winning illustrator Betsy Lewin (Snake Alley Band, Araminta's Paint Box) will make this a favorite for one and all, even if words such as "ultimatum" and "neutral" throw the younger set. (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter
Book Description
Farmer Brown
has a problem.
His cows like to type.
All day long he hears
Click, clack,
MOO.
Click, clack,
MOO.
Clickety, clack,
MOO.
But Farmer Brown's problems REALLY begin when his cows start leaving him notes....
Doreen Cronin's understated text and Betsy Lewin's expressive illustrations make the most of this hilarious situation. Come join the fun as a bunch of literate cows turn Farmer Brown's farm upside down.
Customer Reviews:
A Darling Book!.......2007-09-29
I love this book! It is so creative and fun to read and it has a sweet message. Children will love it. It is also available in Spanish. Another one of her books, "Dooby Dooby Moo," is also an absolutely wonderful book!
Great read for kids and adults!.......2007-09-26
This book is fun for kids with real-life humor. The cows and farmer are feuding over electric blankets. So, of course, "Being a neutral part, duck delivered the message."
It doesn't get any better than that!!!!
Cows on Strike!.......2007-09-04
This is one of those childrens books that I probably enjoy a lot more than my children -- and they enjoy it quite a bit. The cows are going on strike, typing letters to Farmer Brown to negotiate better "living conditions". By the time Farmer Brown relents through his intermediary, Duck, he's got another problem on his hand. Guess who? The Duck. Utterly enjoyable, this book makes me and my kids laugh every time I read it to them.
Kids LOVE this book!.......2007-08-18
This book has been read so many times at our house! Okay, honestly, the first time I read it, I thought it was just okay. -But, since I'm a grown up, I can be a little rusty on the kid wisdom of what's great and what's not. This book was an instant hit with our daughter and for a while she would request it every night! So then I was thrilled that she loved a book that much and since I was reading it so often, I came to love it too.
The story is about some sly cows that type out their demands and hold their goods till they get what they want. The hens are in cahoots as well. Farmer Brown types out his reply of noncompliance. Finally, a deal is struck and everyone is happy. -Until the ducks get a hold of typewriter and make out their own requests.
Recommended ages for this says 4-8, but I'm thinking this is more along the 2-6 range.
Great Kids Book.......2007-07-22
I don't have kids, but have given this to a number of friends' kids who are around age 3. It has been a big hit. It is fun for the adult to read also. One of my friend's little boys started "demanding" milk after hearing it a couple of time!
Amazon.com
If you don't have a lot of time, but still want to learn the latest in C++, you don't have to learn C first. You might learn more by digging into current language features and classes from the very beginning. That's the approach that's offered by Accelerated C++, a text that delves into more advanced C++ features like templates and Standard Template Library (STL) collection classes early on. This book arguably can get a motivated beginning programmer into C++ more quickly than other available tutorials.
What separates this title from the rest of the pack is that it jumps right in with samples that take advantage of the Standard C++ of today--from streams to built-in container classes, such as vectors and linked lists. Early examples are more complex than in other books, but the thoroughness and relaxed pace of the explanations will bring the novice up to speed. (Although it ships at a slender 350 pages, Accelerated C++ is packed with samples, tips, and example problems; about 10 per chapter.)
After a tour of basic C++, the book looks at more advanced C++ features, such as templates, including built-in support for containers. Besides tapping the strength of Standard C++, you also will learn to design with your own templates. (Other tutorials would defer this material until later on.) The authors have tested the approach in the book in their own teaching, and honed a set of worthwhile examples that will help anyone get familiar with these powerful language features. All examples make use of the command line and console (without GUI programs), but the advantage is that this code should run on any of today's operating systems and compilers. Later sections cover the basics of class design, which include good coverage of operator overloading and inheritance.
With its innovative approach to teaching the language, Accelerated C++ will challenge readers in the right way. It suggests that you don't need to learn C to be productive in C++. Written in an approachable style, it deserves a close look from any C++ novice. --Richard Dragan
Topics covered:
- Introduction to C++
- Console I/O with stream classes
- Basic string handling
- Loop and flow-control statements
- Arrays
- Using functions and methods
- Using Standard Template Library (STL) containers (vectors, linked lists, and maps)
- Iterators
- Sorting and generic functions
- Basic class design
- Pointers and arrays
- File I/O
- Memory-management techniques, including statically and dynamically allocated memory
- Adding stream support to custom classes
- Conversion operators
- Operator overloading
- Friend functions
- Inheritance
- Polymorphism and virtual functions
- Handle idioms for classes, including reference counting
- Quick reference to the C++ language
Book Description
Why is Accelerated C++ so effective? Because it
*Starts with the most useful concepts rather than the most primitive ones: You can begin writing programs immediately.
*Describes real problems and solutions, not just language features: You see not only what each feature is, but also how to use it.
*Covers the language and standard library together: You can use the library right from the start.
The authors proved this approach in their professional-education course at Stanford University, where students learned how to write substantial programs on their first day in the classroom.
Customer Reviews:
The best C++ book I've found........2007-10-08
I have purchased about 15 books on C++ and this was hands down the best. As the description says, it is more top down than bottom up. There are thousands of features of C++. You might even use some of them in a program. This book gets you programming immediately using the more important and commonly used C++ functions and explaining in actually pretty gory detail what they do and how they do it. I found it utterly approachable and useful from the first page on.
You can always by a reference to look up more features as you need them. I really liked this book and I think its approach is actually seminal. This is how teaching programming should be done.
The Fastest Way to C++.......2007-08-25
This book is the fastest way to get up to speed in programming in C++. No time is wasted. The reader is plunged immediately into writing C++ programs. There are no digressions into C, simply real-world problem-solving using the Standard C++ Library. Constructors, destructions, vectors, pointers, arrays, and memory management are all covered - in context - not as separate, abstract concepts. If you're trying to learn C++ programming, don't waste your time with other books. This is the one to buy.
Free C++ resources, such as compilers and the libraries are available for free at [...]
One of the best programming books I've read........2007-08-15
The book is surprisingly small, but the text is very well-written. It's concise, to the point, and remarkably thorough. It is written so that you dont even need a C background, and doesn't actually explain how to create your own class until the middle of the book. It's a very nice presentation.
I am very proficient in C, and was impressed on how many "tiny details" the authors were able to weave into the text. For example, they explain why three question marks should not appear in your source code (not even in string literals). I had never heard this before, but it is an example of the thoroughness the book provides.
The book is not exhaustive, and skips a lot of the C++ language -- on purpose as it immediately explains.
A great book. Highly recommended.
Great fast intro to C++ for programmers.......2007-07-13
As someone who knows "how to program" already, and knows several languages (C, Perl, PHP, Java, some Lisp and Forth, and enough Bash to get by), I wanted a book that would simply teach me "how C++ works", without reteaching me C or dragging on with explanations of what an "if" statement does and when you should use it.
I'm very happy with the book -- Chapter 0 (the first -- it gets bonus points with me for numbering this way) starts with a "Hello, world!" program, and by Chapter 2 (the third) it's already dealing with complex control structures. It dives right in to the STL, without explaining it. We simply learn that a vector holds a set of items in a certain order, and when it's fast and when it's slow. The book never burdens you with knowledge until you need it. (In comparison, another C++ book I've read, which will remain unnamed to avoid my own embarrassment, devotes entire large chapters to covering basic program structure, input/output, variables, arithmetic, if statements, for statements, and so on. It probably took the better part of a dozen chapters before they introduced useful STL types like vectors. This book just brings the concepts in when they're useful.)
I would recommend this book to anyone who already knows other languages and simply wants to pick up C++, or someone who doesn't know programming yet but can pick up logical concepts quickly. I would not recommend this book to someone who doesn't know how program and doesn't have that logical mind, because although it explains how things like control structures work, it doesn't beat them into the ground. (Having helped out with some Computers 1 classes at my high school, I know that some people naturally understand things like "if" and "while", and others struggle with applying the concepts even though they can perfectly explain what the control structures do.)
Not that bad.......2007-06-13
This is just an average book, I did not find anaything special
Amazon.com
Oh, the wonderful things Mr. Brown can do! In this "Book of Wonderful Noises," Mr. Brown struts his stuff, as he imitates everything from popping corks to horse feet ("pop pop pop pop" and "klopp klopp klopp," respectively) while inviting everyone to join him in the fun. Young readers who are still learning their sounds and letters will get a wacky workout as they follow along with the very serious-looking, squinty-eyed Mr. Brown. Whether it's eggs frying in a pan or a hippo chewing gum, the skillful Mr. Brown just keeps topping himself, with a "sizzle sizzle" or a "grum grum grum." "Mr. Brown is so smart he can even do this: he can even make a noise like a goldfish kiss!... pip!" As usual, the words and pictures of Dr. Seuss make reading (and making all sorts of funny noises) impossible to resist. Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? will stay fresh through many a giggling reading. --Paul Hughes
Book Description
Hears an introduction for babies to the wonderful mishmash world of sounds. Listen to the cow's MOO, the frying eggs' SIZZLE, and the thunder's BOOM BOOM BOOM. There are plenty of noises for everyone!
Customer Reviews:
Great story for young and old.......2007-09-27
This has been my daughter's favorite book since the beginning. Everyone in our house knows this story by heart, including her. She's only 21 months old and already needs a new book because it is falling apart. She drags it out all the time. It is really easy to get into the story and change voices and make it fun. My daughter can almost read it to me now!
Fun book for infants.......2007-09-24
We read this book to my daughter before she was born. Could always get a "kick" out of the sounds. Now that she's 5 months old, she still loves this story. We can - fortunately or unfortunately - recite it in our sleep. Think it's a great "sound" book for the young ones. Plus, the pictures are very colorful and it is a board book - even better.
The classics are always a good choice........2007-09-20
My husband and I collected several books in anticipation of our son's birth, and among them many Dr. Suess volumes. We were so excited to discover that our son loved this one! From the earliest age he latched onto it as a favorite and would bring it to us to read. The board version is slightly more condensed than the original which turns out to be handy for little attention spans. Get it...its worth every penny.
Favorite book!.......2007-08-09
This is my son's all-time favorite book. He loved it from a few months of age through about 3 years old. Would recommend to anyone with little kids! A really fun read!
Great entertainment for young children.......2007-07-20
Young children will absolute love it when they're parents make various sounds of animals that Mr. Brown can make, and they will love to try to make the sounds themselves while having a great time. Perfect for young children.
Average customer rating:
- La La Lovely
- A marvelous classic
- MOO BAA We love this book!
- Moo-Baa-La-la-la
- Best Boynton!
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Moo Baa La La La
Manufacturer: Little Simon
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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
ASIN: 067144901X |
Book Description
Serious silliness for all ages. Artist Sandra Boynton is back and better than ever with completely redrawn
versions of her multi-million selling board books. These whimsical and hilarious books, featuring
nontraditional texts and her famous animal characters, have been printed on thick board pages,
and are sure to educate and entertain children of all ages.
Customer Reviews:
La La Lovely.......2007-08-03
We don't go anywhere without this book. My baby loves it and I often find her just sitting in her room and flipping its pages, "reading" it to herself. Excellent!
A marvelous classic.......2007-07-18
Read this innumerable times to my daughter in her younger years -- one of our mutual favorites. Too many wonderful memories to count.
MOO BAA We love this book!.......2007-06-07
My daughter received this book when she was just a few months old. She is now almost 2, and has the book memorized. She can recite it from memory! She loves this book and we read it almost every day. She likes to point to the animals at the end while I make the noise they make. this was the very first book she could read on her own. we just adore it!
Moo-Baa-La-la-la.......2007-03-14
This is a fun, lyrical book to read aloud. I've been giving it as gifts since my son was born almost 20 years ago.
Best Boynton!.......2007-02-16
So hard to choose which is our favorite Sandra Boynton book, but it might be this one. We all have it memorized, from Grandma to the kids. Boynton's work is so catchy it's easy to memorize them, though. The illustrations are always so bright and cheerful, with the cutest expressions on the animal's faces.
Book Description
Duck and his friends are at it again.
This time they're pooling their considerable resources to win a local talent show, because first prize is a TRAMPOLINE.
The cows want to sing.
The sheep want to sing.
The pigs want to...dance. Dance?
And Duck? Duck just wants to win that trampoline. But first he has three small problems:
1. Farmer Brown 2. Farmer Brown 3. Farmer Brown
That remarkable, bestselling duo, Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin -- who brought you Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type; Giggle, Giggle, Quack; and Duck for President -- cordially invite you to the county fair, where the talent is truly wild.
Customer Reviews:
Good for adults and children.......2007-07-29
Doreen Cronin is a superb story teller for children, and also the adult reading it to them.
Fun and Clever Barnyard Tale!.......2007-07-28
"Dooby Dooby Moo" is the kids' equivalent of a light summer read. It's loads of fun, easy to follow, poses no great moral crises, and has a touch of suspence. Doreen Cronin's casual, sometimes silly tone is complemented by a wry narrative and visual wit, some smart references to pop culture, and appealingly informal watercolors with unexpected colors (especially in the shadings). Betsy Lewin excels at both minimalist pictures (e.g., two cows grazing), as well as panoramic landscapes (an exquisite night time overview of a county fair).
The plots goes something like this: Farmer Brown is suspicious (but ultimately without a clue) about the sounds coming from his barn. The animals snore with a Sinatra flair: "Dooby, dooby moo" (the cows). Fa, la, la, la, baaa(the sheep), and "Whacka, whacka quack (the duck). While this play on "Strangers in the Night" doesn't relate directly to the story, adult readers who enjoy the allusion. When the animals aren;t snoring, we discover, (although Farmer Brown doesn't know), they're praciticing for the county fair talent contest! THe cows and sheep sing--Here's the sheep's renditions of "Home on the Range":
"Baaa, baaa, baaa, baaabaaa.
Fa la baaa, fa la baaaa, baaaa baaa baaa!"
Cronin perfectly mimics the sounds! The pigs...well, the pigs practice "an interpretive dance," (shades of "Fantasia") which, unfortunately, puts everyone to sleep, including their tenacious singing and dancing coach, the duck. Farmer Brown, distrusting his noisy animals, takes them with him to the county fair, exactly what they wanted! Cronin and Lewin earn the gold medal for their parady of pre-performance routines. Duck, somewhat of an anxious perfectionist, paces back and forth, the precious pigs coif their hair, and the cows, acting very much the diva bovine, dainitly quoff their tea.
The judges generally love the singing (with the notable exception of one very grumpy cat), but even they fall asleep during the porcine dance. THere's a wonderful surprise ending as Duck (who's had his eye on the first prize trampoline) lets loose with his version of "Born to Be Wild!" RIght to the last page, Farmer Brown remains ignorant of his homegrown talent, and the new trampoline in his barn. The duo that produced the Caldecott Honor-winning "Click Clack, Moo: Cows That Type," and several other best selling and/or award-winning stories, have teamed for another delightful behind-the-scenes romp with farm animals. "Dooby, Dooby, Moo" is 35 pages of light, lively entertainment.
Another favorite!.......2007-07-06
My daughter loves these books and now that she is learning to read she seems to like them more.
Farmer Brown knows his animals are always up to something. As such he always keeps an eye on them. One thing that concerns him is the way they sleep. Dooby, dooby, moo.... the cows snore. Fa la, la, la baaaa the sheep snore. Whacka, whacka quack Duck snores.
Duck likes to read the newspaper before farmer Brown wakes up. He notices a talent show will happen at the county fair with the best prize ever. A trampoline.
Everybody decides to enter it and start practicing. The cows sing "Twinkle, twinkle, little star." The sheep sing "Home on the Range." The pigs do an interpretive dance!
Farmer Brown hears all this and starts watching them even more. Eventually, he decides they can't be left alone and so he puts them in a truck and takes them to the fair!
Duck steals the show with a rendition of Born to be wild!
The artwork is what makes the story fun! The singing is fun as well. Just remember to moo bah and quack to the songs!
Great addition to music curriculum.......2007-05-29
I have been using this book for my Kindergarten music classes this year and the children love it! First, I teach the songs that go with the different animals, then we read the story. They can't wait to join in on "Dooby Moo" or "Fa-la-la-baa", and are at the edge of their seats waiting for the "Boings" at the end. Students learn to listen for auditory cues and have fun singing.
Fun & funny!.......2007-03-09
My 6 and 3 year olds love Click, Clack, Moo, so we thought we would give this one a try. They don't like this one quite as much, they do enjoy it. Cute book for sure!
Book Description
An Introduction to the New Testament focuses on "special introduction" that is historical questions dealing with authorship, date, sources, purpose, destination, and so forth. This approach stands in contrast to recent texts that concentrate more on literary form, rhetorical criticism, and historical parallels—topics the authors don’t minimize, but instead think are better given extended treatment in exegesis courses. By refocusing on the essentials, An Introduction to the New Testament ensures that the New Testament books will be accurately understood within historical settings.
For each New Testament document, the authors also provide a substantial summary of that book’s content, discuss the book’s theological contribution to the overall canon, and give an account of current studies on that book, including recent literary and social-science approaches to interpretation.
This second edition reflects significant revision and expansion from the original, making this highly acclaimed text even more valuable.
• A new chapter provides a historical survey examining Bible study method through the ages.
• The chapter on Paul has been expanded to include an analysis of debates on the “new perspective.”
• The discussion of New Testament epistles has been expanded to form a new chapter.
This new edition will help a new generation of students better grasp the message of the New Testament.
Customer Reviews:
Very informative.......2007-06-13
The book gives great details on each book of the new testament. I actually transferred some of the information over into my bible. I really enjoyed the read. I had to read it for a class, but really enjoyed it once I got started.
A good foundation in NT studies.......2006-11-10
This is a very good book for those who would like a basic overview of the NT books. It has a conservative slant, but also gives liberal viewpoints on Biblical topics. I recommend it.
SUPERB, BALANCED REVIEW OF THE NEW TESTAMENT DATA.......2006-09-07
This book is wonderful! After studying dozens of texts about the origins and modern historical analyses of the New Testament canon--ranging from Helmut Koester's Ancient Christian Gospels to Walter Bauer, Elaine Pagels, and Bart Ehrman's positivistic polemics--I finally found this book. I am a scientist (physician) and have not had the benefit of a seminary education, so I should, perhaps, have started here. The book presents thorough, well-reasoned critiques of the data and conflicting theories about the origin and significance of the entire New Testament canon, book by book. It contains ample references to the the key research and publications on various subjects, somewhat like a good scientific or medical review article. This was a very welcome contrast to the popular publications of Bart Ehrman, which typically reference only his own biased writings on any particular subject. My only criticism of this excellent text is that it gives short shrift to the history and profound exegesis of the Eastern Orthodox Church Fathers; viz. St. John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, and others. In the Orthodox tradition, we tend to view theology as a "fabric woven from on high," including revelations in the post-Apostolic era to those saints who have achieved "theosis," direct contemplation of the Divine mind.
A Fine Introduction.......2006-05-27
As others have noted, this NT Introduction is a standard introductory text from an evangelical perspective. In this updated version, Carson and Moo add some good stuff on canonicity that was not part of the original Carson/Moo/Morris edition. Most of the remaining material is similar.
As can be expected, the analysis and conclusions in this Introduction are decidedly conservative on questions of authorship, canonicity, original situation of the writings, and historical reliability of the documents. The authors helpfully analyze many contemporary challenges to evangelical understandings of the NT so that the beginner and intermediate levels of readers will gain a good introductory grasp of the many bones of contention that exist over many issues in virtually every book of the NT. Moo's strong work in Romans and James, coupled with Carson's strong work on the Fourth Gospel, can be particularly seen in this book's treatment of these canonical documents.
One could have hoped for a more lengthy treatment of contemporary issues, and one could also have hoped for more robust bibliographies upon which the reader could proceed with more in-depth study. But because this is an introductory work, it is probably inappropriate to expect such things in this kind of treatment. The beginner who wants to develop a good working knowledge of NT scholarship from an evangelical perspective will likely be quite satisfied with what they find in here.
Thorough and Provocative.......2006-02-27
In this new edition of Intro to the NT Carson and Moo have significantly improved the work they initially published with Leon Morris (who has since passed away). The chapters are reorganized, the margins are wider, and the material has expanded to include the contribution of works published since the first edition. Having used both editions for coursework and personal study, I find the second edition far superior. While the layout of the first edition was doable, the second is much roomier and suitable for study. More than all these considerations, the authors superbly point the reader to Christ, to become like him. I have been challenged not only academically as I've read this work, I have been also been convicted spiritually.
Book Description
This is a hardcover set that helps readers understand the historical and cultural background of the books of the New Testament. Brimming with lavish, full color photos and graphics, each book will walk you verse by verse through the books of the New Testament.
Customer Reviews:
Superb specialty commentary set focusing on often overlooked aspects of the Bible.......2006-12-08
At first when I opened this set to determine how I might benefit from this commentary, I was disappointed, but not because of the content, but because of what I was looking for. I was looking for indepth information on a passage, but that is not the real value of this book. This book gives historical and cultural background information on specific passages of Scripture, and helps to explain often-misunderstood verses and passages of Scripture. The purpose of this commentary (or at least the value I glean from it) is not scholarly lexical study, or explanations of theologies in the New Testament, but instead the significance of the cultural settings often ignored by us who live 2000 years after the writing of Scripture and in vastly different cultural contexts.
A great example of the use of this commentary is John 7:37-44. The commentary explains why it was significant that Jesus used the phrase "streams of living water." In doing so, it explains the 7th day of the "great day of the Feast" (Feast of Tabernacles) was the pinnacle of the celebration and that each day of the Feast had the priest pouring water over the altar that symbolized the coming of the Holy Spirit. This is often lost in most commentaries, and the authors of this set spend a great deal of time focusing on the aspects of the Bible that are so often glossed over because the historical significance of the events are lost on us, who have not lived in Scriptural times and settings.
The authors show no sign (to me) of theological bias toward any tradition besides emphasizing conservative, contemporary, scholarly study of the Bible.
This set is beautifully bound, with heavy covers and reminds me of a college textbook, rather than a commentary. The books open without having to crack the spine, and the pages are very heavy glossy stock. Throughout the book are color photos and illustrations of biblical artifacts, archaeological finds, and maps/charts depicting items spoken about in Scripture.
Overall, this is a superb set for background information. This is not the best choice as a first commentary set, since it specializes in backgrounds of the text, and not strictly on exegesis. However, this set acts as a superb specialty set to help students of the Bible understand many of the tougher illustrations the biblical authors used in conveying the Truth about Jesus Christ.
Excellent colorful resources that gives you insight into each N.T. book.......2006-06-30
This is one of the most helpful resources to me when preparing Bible studies and messages. Each N.T. book is written by a reputable, evangelical scholar who has expertise in that particular book. For each N.T. book, there is a very helpful capsule in the beginning that tells you the important facts of each book (author, date, occasion, and key themes). Next, there is a helpful brief commentary for the whole book. There are excellent, color in-text maps as you read the commentary. Furthermore, there are great feature articles that give you insights into some of the pertinent beliefs, gods/goddesses/ key terms that are featured in the N.T. book. There is also a capsule on "reflections" that help the reader ponder and meditate on key themes and concepts. Finally, there is a wonderful annotated bibliography at the end of each book for further, suggested reading.
I am a seminary trained teacher who regularly prepares and teaches presentations and Bible lessons. This is one of the most helpful resources in my library which gives me a comprehensive analysis at a N.T. book at a glance. I read through this backgrounds commentary first and then read through various scholarly commentaries on the particular N.T. book.
I give it my highest recommendation and believe that it will be an excellent resource for laypersons, seminary students, pastors, professors, and Sunday School teachers. It may be pricey but well worth the cost. I hope you'll be as blessed as I am by this outstanding resource.
good but not that good.......2004-08-25
The title "Illustrated" compel me to expect a commentary that be tastily read through cover-to-cover. However, I found its photos are not as bright as Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Holding the name "Commentary", I feel like reading an extensive study bible when there is no bible text; this commentary explains selected word or phrase of almost every verse in the New Testament. And honestly, as it claims to enlighten "Bible Background", I regard NT Wright's The Challenge of Jesus gives much better cultural-historical illumination to the Gospel.
This commentary also need more proof-read, for example, when I tried to find what the bible says in 2 Chron 1:34 as Vol. 1 page 9 cited, I found 1 Chron 1:34 fit better to the passage. Its maps also do a little help. I often met with them a few pages after the text or sometimes even couldn't locate some places stated in the text.
The Note provides more information. But I feel it useless because I was too lazy to go back and forth to find out what the indication number stands for. It's supposed to be placed right bellow the text as footnote instead of as end-of-chapter note.
Yes, considering this non-technical commentary neither as expository nor critical, it gives enjoyable and insightful comments that also lavishly illustrated with full-color photos of archeological findings (not with art-works as in CEV Learning Bible). But, if you consider yourself as informed layperson, you need to wait for the next edition.
A great NT Commentary for the Newbie.......2003-03-03
While William Barclay's set on the NT is my favorite and should be on the bookshelf of every serious student of the NT, Zondervan's Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary is probably the most friendly for the newcomer or teenage Bible student. Unlike Barclay's set, this has glossy paper and excellent illustrations, maps, and insets. These come closest to resembling college textbooks in their format and appearance. They are likely to appeal to high school and college age kids, and old guys like me who like to sit on the sofa and read a Bible commentary that just looks good and is interesting. Again, Zondervan has produced a product with mass appeal.
A handy reference that is easy to use.......2003-01-05
All four books are hardcover and smith bound, measuring 8" x10". The set is a background commentary for the New Testament and includes many, many color pictures, maps, and charts (on every page there is something). Further the set is littered with interesting sidebars which are set as text boxes in the margins or as boxes set within the text. The set is written from an evangelical perspective.
Overall the set appears to be well done. Each Gospel or epistle covered has an introductory historical survey of the culture that the Gospel or epistle was written in as well as the specifics of the local customs or issues that are addressed within the Gospel or epistle.
The commentary then proceeds to address the historical-culture issues that each verse has as a backdrop. For example in the third volume the introduction to the Epistle to the Romans contains,
"Understanding Paul's own situation as he writes Romans helps us appreciate the purpose and theme of the letter. In 15:14-22, he looks at a period of ministry just concluded. "From Jerusalem all the way around Illyricum," Paul tells us, "I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ" (15:19). This verse indicates that Paul's ministry has reached a significant geographical turning point. As Luke tells us in Acts, Paul first preached Christ in Damascus (and perhaps Arabia) after his conversion (Acts 9:19-22; cf. Gal. 1:17). Only after three years did he go to Jerusalem to preach, and then only briefly (Gal. 1:18; cf. Acts 9:28-29). Why, then, mention Jerusalem as the starting point for his ministry? For two reasons. First, the city represents the center of Judaism, and Paul is concerned to show how the gospel spread from the Jews to the Gentiles. Second, the city stands at one geographic extremity in his missionary travels. At the other extremity is Illyricum, the Roman province occupying what is today Albania and parts of Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Only here does Paul refer to missionary work in this province, although such a ministry can be fit easily into the movements of Paul on his third missionary journey (see comments on Rom. 15:19). An "arc" drawn from Jerusalem to Illyricum, therefore, passes over, or nearby, the important churches that Paul has planted in south Galatia (Pisidian Antioch, Lystra, Iconium, Derbe), Asia (Ephesus), Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea), and Achaia (Corinth).
But what does Paul mean when he claims that he has "fully proclaimed" the gospel in these areas? The Greek has simply the equivalent of our verb "fulfill" (peplerokenai). To "fulfill" the gospel, therefore, probably means to preach it sufficiently such that viable churches are established. These churches can then carry on the task of evangelism in their own territories while Paul moves on to plant new churches in virgin gospel territory (cf. 15:20-21).
In pursuit of this calling, Paul is moving on to Spain (15:24). On the way, he hopes to stop off at Rome, evidently to enlist the Roman Christians' support for his new gospel outreach (see comments on 15:24). but before he can begin his trip to the western Mediterranean, he must first return to Jerusalem (15:25). Throughout the third missionary journey, Paul has collected money from the Gentile churches he planted to bring back to the impoverished Jerusalem believers. Now he is ready to embark on this trip, and he earnestly asks the Roman Christians to pray for it (15:30-33). The collection represents for Paul a key step in what he hopes will be the reconciliation of the Jewish and Gentile Christians in the early church" (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, vol. 3, pp. 3-5).
An example of the commentary itself from 2 Cor. 11:14:
"Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light (11:14). In some Jewish traditions, Satan transformed himself into an angel of light and deceived Eve a second time:
'Then Satan was angry and transformed himself into the brightness of angels and went away to the Tigris River to Eve and found her weeping. And the devil himself, as if to grieve with her began to weep and said to her, "Step out of the river and cry no more...come out to the water and I will lead you to the place where your food has been prepared."'"
Largely this set appears to be written as a tool for working pastors. It's tone is conversational and does not appeal to excessive use of jargon. It provides all kinds of references and antidotal information which would be useful for sermon illustrations and story-telling. In addition, contemporary source material is referenced as well as recommended reading should a topic peak the readers interest to the point where they wish to more fully explore it. While Zondervan's Backgrounds Commentary is not a scholarly reference, it is obviously aimed at the pastor or church leader who wants to go beyond the basics of a working knowledge of the Bible, yet who also wants a reference that doesn't take a week of reading to get at the stuff that they will eventually wind up presenting in a sermon or Bible study.
A caveat I do have offhand is that the footnotes appear as endnotes at the end of each Gospel or epistle. Stylistically I can understand why this was done as footnotes would break up the overall flow of the work presented; however for footnote geeks this does involve the "Sears Roebuck" method of getting at them.
Customer Reviews:
Simply the Best.......2007-08-08
Dougas J. Moo has written the greatest one-volume commentary on the Book of Romans!
Two other books by Moo on Romans are also helpful:
1. Encountering the Book of Romans: A Theological Survey (Encountering Biblical Studies)
2. Romans: The Niv Application Commentary: From Biblical Text to Contemporary Life
John th Baptist.......2007-07-12
Moo's commentary is good not excellent. I find he tends to chase rabbits. I would have prefered to have read more of his own thoughts on the verses as to so many different opinions of others. Over all he has done a good job, but I would not say his commentary is better than Hodge or Cranfield or some of the other older commentaries on Romans.
Excellent Resource.......2007-02-07
When studying the book of Romans, an student of the Bible who works with the Original Languages would be remiss to leave this Commentary out of their consultations. Moo displays his competency in both the language and the contemporary ideas surrounding commonly disagreed-upon passages. This commentary used along with Schreiner's work on Romans make a powerful tag-team.
This would be an excellent commentary were it not for the.......2006-06-29
fact that, despite a very admirable attempt, the author completely misunderstands what Paul was actually saying in Romans. The confusion arises from Martin Luther's distortion of the phrase 'rightousness of God' in Romans 1:17 and from reading scripture from an egocentric perspective rather than considering the original historic context. Martin Luther understood the phrase 'righteousness of God' to refer to God's righteousness which he somehow 'imputes' into a person. Without room for an exhaustive explanation, suffice it to say that Martin Luther was wrong.
The 'righteousness of God' referred to in 1:17 refers to God's determination to fulfill the covenant He had with the Jews through Abraham. The Jews had always believed that two things set them apart as God's people: 1) descent from Abraham (ethnicity) and 2) works of Torah (circumcision, sabbath observance, food laws, etc.) For such Jews, the gospel challenged what they had always believed and called into question God's justice. Paul defends God's righteousness by undercutting both their ethnic boast and their boast in 'works of Torah' and by showing how God had been faithful to the covenant by sending our glorious savior Jesus Christ. The predominant Jewish belief regarding the final judgement was that God would vindicate the Jews up against the evil gentiles (as in a great law court setting). Paul's argument through chapter three places Jews as well as Gentiles in the defendants chair in need of vindication.
Stunningly, rather than help the Jews, the effect of Torah was to actually give them the knowledge of sin (3:20), serve as a basis of God's wrath against them (4:15), and concentrate sin within Israel (5:20). Apart from Torah Jesus was displayed as the answer to how God would redeem humanity and creation (3:20-26). Read in context, in chapter 7 Paul sets forth the delimma of the Jews under Torah. Sin had hijacked the law, enticing them to sin, thus resulting in death, preventing Torah's intent to give life. Chapter seven actually vindicates the 'ego' and the Torah. The solution is presented in Chapter 8. God sent Jesus to be Israel's representative to die on the cross where he condemned SIN in the flesh. Sin had been the true culprit all along.
With the help of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, the Torah thus accomplished it's goal or end (telos) of giving life (10:4) for all who have faith in Jesus Christ. This fulfilled God's purpose for the covenant made with Abraham resulting in a single worldwide family defined, not by 'works of Torah' but by faith in Jesus Christ. God had been faithful to the covenant but in a way never expected by the average Jew. Paradoxically, this itself was a fulfillment of the law (Hab.2:4) 'the just shall live by faith'.
If you really want to understand Romans, it is my prayer that you will seriously consider purchasing N.T. Wright's commentary on Romans in the New Interpreter's Bible: Acts - 1 Corinthians (Volume 10). God bless you in your quest to know him better.
heavy hitter.......2006-03-28
Extremely in depth, conservative commentary by well-respected scholar. Expensive but worth it if you want a heavy hitter.
Book Description
33 of the world's best business minds tackle one urgent question: What does it really take to make your organization remarkable?
Most organizations are stuck in a rut. On one hand, they understand all the good things that will come with growth. On the other, they're petrified that growth means change, and change means risk, and risk means death. Nobody wants to screw up and ruin a good thing, so most companies (and individuals) just keep trying to be perfect at the things they've always done.
In 2003, Seth Godin's Purple Cow challenged organizations to become remarkable—to drive growth by standing out in a world full of brown cows. It struck a huge chord and stayed on the Business-Week bestseller list for nearly two years. You can hear countless brainstorming meetings where people refer to purple cows and say things like, “That's not good enough. We need to create a big moo!”
But how do you create a big moo—an insight so astounding that people can't help but remark on it, like digital TV recording (TiVo) or overnight shipping (FedEx), or the world's best vacuum cleaner (Dyson)? Godin worked with thirty-two of the world's smartest thinkers to answer this critical question. And the team—with the likes of Tom Peters, Malcolm Gladwell, Guy Kawasaki, Mark Cuban, Robyn Waters, Dave Balter, Red Maxwell, and Randall Rothenberg on board— created an incredibly useful book that's fun to read and perfect for groups to share, discuss, and apply.
The Big Moo is a simple book in the tradition of Fish and Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. Instead of lecturing you, it tells stories that stick to your ribs and light your fire. It will help you to create a culture that consistently delivers remarkable innovations.
Customer Reviews:
Too much hype.......2007-09-15
This book is a collection of random very short chapters by various authors. Essentially they will tell you the sun rises every day, if it rains you'll get wet and so forth... it's amazing that still nowadays the press gets mad over such things. It's time to scream "The King Is Naked"!
One in many that offer something else for your growth.......2007-07-12
The book i purchased gave me new visions how to do better what I want.
A Quick & Fun Read on Becoming Remarkable.......2007-03-19
Seth Godin decided to do something remarkable.
He thought, "Why not publish a book written by 33 people that doesn't make a dime of profit?"
Why not?
The result is The Big Moo, an anthology of 72 short, pithy essays covering everything from a list comparing big companies vs. startups, to a lesson on leadership learned in a redwood forest, to what a Colorado roofer did right, to what a local print shop did wrong.
The chapters bounce around all those topics and more, but all relate to the core idea of being remarkable. Godin defines remarkable, in business or personal life, as doing something not good, and not perfect, but that stands out, that causes people to start talking, "remarking" about it. In other words, not only do you have to stand out (as he wrote about in a previous book The Purple Cow), but you have to do something really out of the ordinary, remarkable, a.k.a. "The Big Moo." He says that the real challenge before us is to do something truly remarkable with our work and our lives. The Big Moo doesn't pretend to be a step by step guide to guaranteed remarkability, but instead is a freewheeling brainstorming session to whet your appetite and spark your creativity toward creating your own remarkable life.
The book itself is the prime example of doing the remarkable. The editor, Seth Godin, approached 32 people, some famous like Tom Peters and Guy Kawasaki, and others famous only to the people they have impacted. He asked them to contribute material to the book for free, with the agreement that all the book's profits go to charity. On top of that, all the material is anonymous, so that you're not sure who wrote which chapter. Remarkable.
How I received the book is an example of the ripple effect of remarkability that Godin is aiming for. My copy came from Glen Tullman, the CEO of Allscripts. When his company read the book, they asked the question, "What can we do remarkable?" The result of asking that question is a new collaborative initiative that Allscripts has launched that will provide the ability for every physician in America to use electronic prescription prescribing completely FREE, which is absolutely unheard of. Now that's remarkable.
The Big Moo is a quick and fun read, sure to give you some good food for thought for your own remarkable life.
Excellent Compilation of Essays .......2007-02-01
I purchased this book prior to reading Purple Cow which wasn't a mistake per se, but I read a few pages of this then decided to purchase and read Purple Cow before ultimately tackling the Big Moo.
Most of Seth Godin's work centers around a premise to get the reader to really think then eventually act on that thinking. This title is no different--it's a collection of essays compiled by some of the best marketing and business minds around in an attempt to get you to think about your current (or possibly a past) situation and what changes you may wish to make to become remarkable instead of ordinary.
It's a quick read which delivers on its objective to generate actionable thought. It's also fun to try to figure out which author wrote each essay as he/she isn't identified for each.
Highly recommended as a sequel to Purple Cow.
Good follow up to Purple Cow.......2006-10-31
If you like case studies, and you liked "Purple Cow," this book should definitely be on your list. Make sure your read "Purple Cow" first though.
Books:
- Call After Midnight & Under The Knife: Call After Midnight\Under The Knife
- Charlotte's Web (Trophy Newbery)
- Deep Water Passage
- Don't Hit My Mommy: A Manual For Child-parent Psychotherapy With Young Witnesses Of Family Violence
- Eat, Drink, & Weigh Less: A FLEXIBLE AND DELICIOUS WAY TO SHRINK YOUR WAIST WITHOUT GOING HUNGRY
- Edwardo: The Horriblest Boy in the Whole Wide World
- Everyday Food: Great Food Fast
- Fab Five: Basketball, Trash Talk, the American Dream
- Fear No Evil: A Novel
- Fever 1793
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
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- Family Houses by the Sea
- Avengers Files
- Clickart Christian Publishing Suite III
- Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar
- Ever After
- Colorado's Best Wildflower Hikes Vol 2: The High Country
- Money Therapy: Using the Eight Money Types to Create Wealth and Prosperity
- Central Bank Strategy, Credibility, and Independence: Theory and Evidence
- Annual Report on Exchange Arrangements and Exchange Restrictions, 2000
The C++ Standard Library: A Tutorial and Reference
The C++ Programming Language (Special 3rd Edition)
Effective C++: 55 Specific Ways to Improve Your Programs and Designs (3rd Edition) (Addison-Wesley Professional Computing Series)
Accelerated C++: Practical Programming by Example
C++ Primer Answer Book (Visual QuickStart Guides)
