Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture

Amazon.com

Filippo Brunelleschi's design for the dome of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence remains one of the most towering achievements of Renaissance architecture. Completed in 1436, the dome remains a remarkable feat of design and engineering. Its span of more than 140 feet exceeds St Paul's in London and St Peter's in Rome, and even outdoes the Capitol in Washington, D.C., making it the largest dome ever constructed using bricks and mortar. The story of its creation and its brilliant but "hot-tempered" creator is told in Ross King's delightful Brunelleschi's Dome.

Both dome and architect offer King plenty of rich material. The story of the dome goes back to 1296, when work began on the cathedral, but it was only in 1420, when Brunelleschi won a competition over his bitter rival Lorenzo Ghiberti to design the daunting cupola, that work began in earnest. King weaves an engrossing tale from the political intrigue, personal jealousies, dramatic setbacks, and sheer inventive brilliance that led to the paranoid Filippo, "who was so proud of his inventions and so fearful of plagiarism," finally seeing his dome completed only months before his death. King argues that it was Brunelleschi's improvised brilliance in solving the problem of suspending the enormous cupola in bricks and mortar (painstakingly detailed with precise illustrations) that led him to "succeed in performing an engineering feat whose structural daring was without parallel." He tells a compelling, informed story, ranging from discussions of the construction of the bricks, mortar, and marble that made up the dome, to its subsequent use as a scientific instrument by the Florentine astronomer Paolo Toscanelli. --Jerry Brotton, Amazon.co.uk

Book Description

Ross King has a knack for explaining complicated processes in a manner that is not only lucid but downright intriguing. . . . Fascinating." (Los Angeles Times)

By all accounts, Filippo Brunelleschi, goldsmith and clockmaker, was an unkempt, cantankerous, and suspicious man-even by the generous standards according to which artists were judged in fifteenth-century Florence. He also designed and erected a dome over the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore-a feat of architectural daring that we continue to marvel at today-thus securing himself a place among the most formidable geniuses of the Renaissance. At first denounced as a madman, Brunelleschi literally reinvented the field of architecture amid plagues, wars, and political feuds to raise seventy million pounds of metal, wood, and marble hundreds of feet in the air. Ross King's captivating narrative brings to life the personalities and intrigue surrounding the twenty-eight-year-long construction of the dome, opening a window onto Florentine life during one of history's most fascinating eras.

Customer Reviews:

Just what I needed on the Dome in Florence.......2007-08-27

This slim volume contains a lot of detailed information - both on the construction of the dome, and on the politics and rivalries behind the scenes. It is well presented and makes for an absorbing read.
The drawings of the unique hoisting equipment developed by Brunelleschi showed that he was as much an engineer as an architect.
I'll be visiting the dome this fall and now have a wealth of information to make my tour more meaningfull.

A Thinker's Book.......2007-07-23

Some books are for cruising,easy reading with the mind in overdrive, even serious books like King's Judgement of Paris, the reading of which brought me to this book. Yes I know it should have been the other way around. I had picked this text up a few times in my bookstore strolls, but always was tempted elsewhere. Then I read that fine work on the birth of Impressionism and its Hercules like incunabula strangulation of the python of Beaux Arts . It was a wowser!! and I wanted a bit more of this author's breezy erudition. Kind of like a great graduate class with that perfect professor; so I went back and bought the "Dome." Well, it was no smoothie. Yes this earlier book has the artists achieving grand feats, there is the rivalry of big egos, there is even the conflict(inevitable) of creative minds mostly in agreement. But it does not have all the same zip as Paris. Maybe because with the passage of time the bits and pieces of these rivalries have been obscured , darkened like Michaelangelo's chapel by all the years smudges and wisps of smoke until when we clean them up, they no longer are what we have come to treasure. The physical difficulty, the inventiveness, the sheer bravado of construction at great height are a big part of this book. To me the tools are so many large ratchets and socket wrenches. Then too, there is the amor loci of architecture. How many copies of the Parthenon have we seen, and yet they are just not the Acropolis. So the Duomo. It is difficult to envision the redtiled Florentine skyline elsewhere. But the objects of Manet, Degas, Cezanne are transportable and have become loved items. Certainly the physical achievement of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Flowers far surpasses that of The Alba Madonna, but Raphael is after all with us and as has been said the near dear drives off the distant beloved. So I guess the subject cannot carry all the discussion of the mechanical wow. I am glad I took the course, learned a lot, but would be cautious in whom I would tell to just go ahead, you'll love it.

Can culture be thrilling?.......2007-06-27

I find books about engineering, art and architecture more interesting when they are written as cliff-hangers. 'Brunelleschi's Dome' by Ross King is one of them. As are his 'Michelangelo and the Pope's ceiling' and King's latest 'The Judgement of Paris'.
Superbly documented and written with great speed, they kept me reading instead of looking at the real thing. Coming back to the real things I find myself looking through different eyes!
If you like this type of reading, be sure to look for 'The Lighthouse Stevensons' by Bella Bathurst (HarperCollins, 1999) and 'St Peter's' by Keith Miller (Profile Books, 2007)!

great read.......2007-05-14

a well researched and very readable account of a staggering masterpiece, which at the time was considered impossible to build and of its creation and creator.

Read this book before you go to Firenze!.......2007-05-13

I often give a copy of this book to friends planning a trip to Italy... A quick read and a marvelous story about the intrigue...everything about renaissance Italy was an intrigue!... and history surrounding the building of the dome for il Duomo...I could almost feel Brunellschi climbing the stairs to the top dome with me...
This, and "Michaelangelo, The Popes Ceiling" also by Ross King, ought to be required reading for any student of history or anyone going to Italia... they breath life into Italian history.

Machine-Stitched Cathedral Windows: Updating an Old Favorite

Average customer rating:

Highly recommended for machine stitch needlecrafters.

Machine-Stitched Cathedral Windows: Updating an Old Favorite
Shelley Swanland
Manufacturer: That Patchwork Place
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1564772853

Book Description

Now you can create Cathedral Windows completely by machine! If you're short on time or a novice at handwork, you've probably passed this classic quilt pattern by. This exciting, all-new approach to Cathedral Windows uses a simple grid system to make the design faster to complete and more versatile than ever before. Discover how to:

• Create 12 beautiful Cathedral Window quilts with step-by-step instructions, clear illustrations, and full-size templates

• Use a special foundation-grid system to make unique, innovative designs not possible with traditional hand-sewing methods

• Vary your fabric choices on three different levels--the window frames, window panes, and background--for intricate-looking results

Customer Reviews:

Highly recommended for machine stitch needlecrafters........2000-03-04

Shelley Swanland's Machine-Stitched Cathedral Windows provides 12 beautiful quilts, with step-by-step instructions and templates for producing the cathedral window forms. Color photos provide eye-catching examples.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

Beneath Follet's capabilities
Anything less is criminal...
Favorite book ever
One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE books
Easy read.....

Pillars of the Earth
Ken Follett
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0688046592

Book Description

Ken Follett had long been a staple of the bestseller lists for his novels of intrigue and espionage. Then came The Pillars of the Earth, a grand novel of epic storytelling that readers and critics quickly hailed as his crowning achievement. Now, The Pillars of the Earth is available for the first time to a new audience of readers, in this attractive new trade paperback edition.

In 12th-century England, the building of a mighty Gothic cathedral signals the dawn of a new age. This majestic creation will bond clergy and kings, knights and peasants together in a story of toil, faith, ambition and rivalry. A sweeping tale of the turbulent middle ages, The Pillars of the Earth is a masterpiece from one of the world's most popular authors.

"A novel of majesty and power...Will hold you, fascinate you, surround you." --Chicago Sun-Times

"A towering tale...There's murder, arson, treachery, torture, love, and lust...A good time can be had by all." --New York Daily News

"Touches all human emotions...truly a novel to get lost in." --Cosmopolitan

Customer Reviews:

Beneath Follet's capabilities.......2007-10-08

This was a huge disappointment to me. Given that Follet can write a decent book and my interest in the subject matter, it was very much a let down to slog my way through this soap opera of 20th Century characters stuck in mideviel times. Given that I had taken this 700 page tome to Costa Rica and wanted it to sustain the bulk of my beach reading I had little alternative but to read it, although every 100 pages I would flog it across the sand. Maybe if I had hit the surf it would have been ruined such that I would have avoided wasting further time on it. For those that want real adventure of this time period I would recommend you read The Archer's Tale (and follow on books) from Bernard Cornwell. Most of all I wish Follet would have read The Archer's Tale and seen what his book should look like. I won't go near Follet's own sequel.

Anything less is criminal..........2007-10-08

What a wonderful book. My only warning: If you are to read Pillars of the Earth, park aside two days and don't let anything interrupt your read. If you don't, the book will force you to anyway.

Favorite book ever.......2007-10-08

I have also read this book twice. I have a new clean copy that I am saving for my third read. The reason why I enjoyed it so much is that I saw how life for us is really not any different than it was back then. Love, good food, treachery, war -- only the tools and accoutrements are different. I also loved the religious inferences - I enjoyed how Follett saw the hypocrisies and power that existed in the Church, yet you could only appreciate them through seeing the sincerity and devotion of Prior Philip. I found the cathedral building to be interesting, but I skipped paragraphs where it was too descriptive for me, oh well. There is so much to be discussed about this book. I had no idea that Ken Follett was writing a sequel - buying it and reading it on Tuesday will be my first priority!

One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE books.......2007-10-08

I'm reading it a second time (I never do that) and love it as much as ever. The setting and time period are rather strange to Americans but it keeps my interest as much as a thriller does. I wonder how writers like Follett know all these remote details about -- of all things, how monks lived, how builders build cathedrals and lots of minutia about the culture of that time. (They had a hard time with independent women then almost like the Moslems do today.) Anyway, read it! And don't let the size of the book drive you away. Just put it on a table or desk, turn off the TV and read it at any opportunity. You won't regret it.

Easy read............2007-09-22

I loved this book the second time around as much as the first. Mr. Follett gives life to the cathedral as each chapter unfolds to dramatic characters and scenes associated with the construction of a massive building. If you are taking classes in architecture or the dark ages you will appreciate and understand the key words in his descriptions. I can't wait for the sequel.........I hope it is as page turning as Pillars of the Earth!

Darwin's Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society

Average customer rating:

evolutionism and functionalism
An Exciting and Thougtht Provoking Look at Human Nature
Best book I read this year
Sound central argument, but not easy to like
Difficult to Read

Darwin's Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society
David Sloan Wilson
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0226901351

Amazon.com

God or evolution? Though the debate about our origins has swirled in epic controversy since Darwin's time, David Sloan Wilson bravely blends these two contentious theories. This has been tried before, of course, mainly by religious intellectuals. What makes Darwin's Cathedral stand out is that Wilson does not pursue the classic "intelligent design" argument (evolution is God's hand at work), but instead argues that religion is evolution at work.

Wilson sees religion as a complex organism with "biological" functions. He argues that the social cohesiveness of religion makes it analogous to a beehive or a human body--and, in fact, religious believers sometimes employ these metaphors. He writes, "Thinking of a religious group as like an organism encourages us to look for adaptive complexity.... Mechanisms are required that are often awesome in their sophistication." To Wilson, therein lies the astonishing complexity of religion, just as in the biological world.

Following Wilson's argument requires understanding the rudiments of evolutionary biology; a smattering of theology, history, anthropology, sociology, and psychology is helpful, too. But the reasoning isn't as challenging as Wilson warns in the introduction. For educated readers, it's an accessible book.

In just 260 pages, Wilson can't begin to do justice to the broad swath of intellectual work he's cut out for himself. And ultimately, the book's main failing is its simplicity. In addition, his approach to religion is so clearly an outsider's that he is unlikely to win many converts. Adaptive-mechanistic explanations of forgiveness and altruism may be intriguing to the atheist in the ivory tower, but they are likely to elicit little more than a bemused and passing interest from believers. --Eric de Place

Book Description

A Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year, 2002

Until recently, evolution and religion have been considered contending, irreconcilable theories of origin and existence. In this book, David Sloan Wilson takes the radical step of joining the two, but not in the usual fashion. The key, he argues, is to think of society as an organism-one in which morality and religion are adaptations that allow groups of humans to function as a coherent whole.

Customer Reviews:

evolutionism and functionalism.......2007-01-06

This is an interesting combination of the biological evolutionary theory of group selection with a revisited form of sociological functionalism. It is well argued and well written and it provides an alternative/ complement to individual and gene theories of natural selection, on the biological side, and to cognitive approaches to religion, on the anthropological side.

An Exciting and Thougtht Provoking Look at Human Nature.......2006-12-06

This is an exciting book because of the explanatory power of the ideas expressed. Group selection as an evolutionary force was largely dismissed on the basis of William's work in the 1960s. Now Wilson not only revives it but suggests how our very human nature has been dependent upon it. The problem has been that evolution at the level of the individual rewards self concern and weeds out altruism. This makes cooperation difficult because individuals will always do better by avoiding the effort of cooperation while enjoying the fruits of the efforts of others (free-loading). However when humans evolved culture there was the possibility that the non-cooperators could be made to comply by punishment, banishment etc. This fundamentally changed the name of the game. Groups with norms fostering cooperation and punishing non-cooperators could out compete less functional ones and as a consequence grow and multiply in comparison. What Wilson suggests is that religion has been a potent method of establishing the norms, motivation and punishments required. Once groups could effectively cooperate then traits that facilitated this would be further selected by genetic evolution allowing further cultural progress and the development of our "human nature". He further suggests that the "irrational" beliefs fostered by religion are selected by group selection because they foster more functional groups in the evolutionary survival sense. He is also clear about the down side of religion in that while it fosters within group function it also fosters antagonism to outside groups and individuals.

Wilson's writing style is usually clear but sometimes round about and redundant. The material frequently requires thought to work through the logic and implications. I read a lot of books on evolutionary theory and this is one of the most thought provoking I have read in years.

Best book I read this year.......2006-08-02

Very well written book on group selection and religion. Entertaining as the Scott Atran and Boyer books on religion. Good for anyone to read this book if you are interested in evolution and/or religion. The theoretical part is slightly difficult to understand especially if you have no previous experience on group selection.

Wilson does not talk about how silly religion is - like Dawkins - but is positive/objective about his subject: openly respects the features of religion which support coherence of groups, is critical about the features of religions which make the members of the religious group to behave badly towards other people (e.g. out-group people). But admits that the different sides of the religion (the in-group and out-group morality, intolerance against those who do not obey the norms) go hand in hand.

Sound central argument, but not easy to like.......2006-06-11

This is a hard book to like. David Sloan Wilson is not a particularly clear writer, but that's not the main problem. What frustrates is his inability to restrain himself from taking potshots at other researchers. What comes through clearest is not his theory about the evolutionary basis of religions, but his disdain for those with differing theories. Many, he repeats, should be consigned to the "rubbish heap of history." Elsewhere he refers to a whole collection of other theories as a "wilderness". Many theorists are reviewed in a way that fails to elucidate but merely serves to set up convenient foils for Wilson.

Through the first half of the book, Wilson often claims facts not in evidence, making a reader trying to follow his arguments increasingly doubtful. One of the most salient and crucial examples is when he writes: "cultural evolution increases the potency of selection among groups and decreases the potency of selection within groups", when he seems to have just convincingly demonstrated the opposite.

I lead with these comments only because they weigh so heavily to the early parts of "Darwin's Cathedral" and repeatedly distract attention from his actual arguments. But when he puts aside his need for demeaning others, Wilson can get to the point. His main thesis is that religious groups are organisms and as such they can evolve adaptive behavior through the same mechanisms as other organisms.

To accept this, you must first be convinced that selection and adaptation can be found to operate at levels other than the individual. Despite Wilson's endless attention to the history of countervailing views, this is generally accepted by evolutionary theorists. Nonetheless, much of "Darwin's Cathedral" consists of laying out the case for group-level selection.

Wilson argues this from essentially two directions. In one, he demonstrates that in fact genes, cells, and human beings are organisms made up of other organisms. At almost any level you wish to apply Darwinian constructs, you find not an individual but an organism. Thus thinking of groups of human beings (or even groups of groups) as subject to evolutionary design and adaptation should not be a conceptual leap. This, he argues, has been convincingly demonstrated. Secondly, he subjects various religious disciplines (most prominently Calvinism, Judaism, and early Christianity) to the test of whether their characteristics can be predicted from a theory of group selection. He finds that they can.

One of his best turns of phrase is that "rational thought is itself a Darwin machine". But, he says, the competition between the products of rational thought is not just within an individual brain, but within groups. This turns out to be an essential part of his argument that successful religions are the adaptive results of group selection.

Some of Wilson's examples meander and weave past the markers of relevance and comprehension. But his chapter-length treatment of Calvinism in its original historical context is especially effective in demonstrating and conforming to Wilson's central arguments. He succeeds in using Calvin's catechism to convince us of his larger argument that religions must be exclusionary and demanding in order to survive group-level competition. Wilson's logic and writing are at their best here.

"Darwin's Cathedral" is full of provocative and in some cases compelling ideas. A reader may end up not liking David Sloan Wilson's writing style very much, and feel in a self-congratulatory mood when making it all the way through his book, but the main argument seems a sound contribution to the development of a theory of an evolutionary basis of religions.

Difficult to Read.......2004-11-19

I find this book very difficult to read and probably will not
finish it. The subject matter and the reviews fascinated me, but
the actual reading of the book is very hard work. This is not
like reading something by Richard Dawkins or Stephen Jay Gould.
This is like reading a college text book.

People sometimes believe that because a book is hard to read and
understand that the author is expressing deep and complex ideas.
Sometimes that may be true, but it is more often true that the
author is just not that good at expressing himself in an easy to
understand way.

Obviously I am in the minority here, because most of the other
reviews gave this book 5 stars. It was some of the other
reviews that caused me to buy the book, but the truth is that I
got more from reading the reviews than I have gotten from the
book so far.

Average customer rating:

Dirty Christians
Thoughts on Self
Unbelievable
Excellent
A psychological thriller

Glittering Images
Susan Howatch
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0394562062
Release Date: 1987-09-12

Book Description

An outstanding storyteller, Susan Howatch has created a novel of spirituality and morality where the loyalties and passions of four people are played out against their dedication to religion and the path of right.
"Passionately eloquent...[A] tale of God, sex, love, self-analysis and forgiveness."
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Customer Reviews:

Dirty Christians.......2006-12-30

I wasn't crazy about the style of this book-page after page of psychoanalytically-influenced dialogue between hyperarticulate and hyperaware characters-but the themes were intriguing. The glittering image of the title refer to the face that each of the characters presents to the world, masking the true insecurities and sins beneath. Howatch does a remarkable job of pulling her characters out from behind these images, then showing them slip back behind them in denial and fear. I also thought the book was an intriguing exploration of sin and lies, and took a realistic, complex approach to human sexuality and behavior (unlike most sanitized "Christian" fiction). I am very interested in the history of the 20th Century church, so I enjoyed peeking behind the curtain at the Anglicans.

Thoughts on Self.......2005-08-21

This book probes into the human mind and soul, always wondering what will happen next. I was hoping for more theological insights. It had more romance, mystery, and just plain novel that I had expected. But an overall thought provoking book on divorce within the church and how one can be redeemed in Christ. Good book for a christian or a non-christian.

Unbelievable.......2005-05-30

It's hard to believe that the same author who wrote "Glittering Images" also wrote "Wheel of Fortune" and "Cashalmara" which I loved. "Glittering Images" is the most boring, stupid book I've read in many a moon. The main character, Charles, has a breakdown early on, and what follows is almost unreadable-- pages and pages of boooooring text. The funny thing is, it's not clear why he had the breakdown-- his problems were serious, but hey-- he was a clergyman, and solving problems should have been withing his ability. He falls in love, at first sight, with one woman, then he has sex in the woods, but practically in public, with another woman he has known one day. Three times in a row !! What a guy!! The archbishop Charles has been sent to investigate wants to jettison his faithful wife because she doesn't make the grade in the bedroom, so he, the wife, with her assistant, have a do-it-yourself divorce, and then he and the assistant "get married", while the wife looks on smiling. I couldn't believe I was wasting my time reading this. But, the book has a totally fatal flaw. It's boring, folks !! Here again, I've made a mistake I've made before---- I bought the whole series before I read "Glittering Images." A waste of time and money.

Excellent .......2005-02-24

Glittering Images is Howatch's first book in the "Church of England" series. It follows the main character, Charles Ashworth, as he sinks into a profound spiritual crisis and slowly emerges while reconciling himself with the familial and societal pressures he faces.

Howatch's biggest strength is her gift for dialoge, which is sharp and witty, and her understanding of Anglican theology and theologians. Her characters undergo religious psychoanalysis, and do so in a way that allows the reader to not only identify with them and their struggles, but also learn from their spiritual achievements, even if the reader is not spiritual themself.

I highly recommend this book, as well as the rest of the series, to anyone seeking an intelligent fiction novel.

A psychological thriller.......2004-08-16

No blood. No gore. It takes a skilled writer in this day and age to write a suspense-filled story and yet dispense with what others consider almost essential elements these days. Much of the story is about what goes on in the mind of the main protagonist. Themes are sex, God, repentance and an Anglo Catholic version of psychoanalysis. Slow reading, but well worth the effort.

The Cathedral & the Bazaar: Musings on Linux and Open Source by an Accidental Revolutionary

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A great start point to everyone who wants to understand the open source world
Amazing!!!
ESR Helps the Intermediate Software Developer Understand His Environment
For those who question why open source makes sense
A classic with much to offer, but flawed.

The Cathedral & the Bazaar: Musings on Linux and Open Source by an Accidental Revolutionary
Eric S. Raymond
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0596001088

Amazon.com

It may be foolish to consider Eric Raymond's recent collection of essays, The Cathedral and the Bazaar, the most important computer programming thinking to follow the Internet revolution. But it would be more unfortunate to overlook the implications and long-term benefits of his fastidious description of open-source software development considering the growing dependence businesses and economies have on emerging computer technologies.

The Cathedral and the Bazaar takes its title from an essay Raymond read at the 1997 Linux Kongress. The essay documents Raymond's acquisition, re-creation, and numerous revisions of an e-mail utility known as fetchmail. Raymond engagingly narrates the fetchmail development process while elaborating on the ongoing bazaar development method he uses with the help of volunteer programmers. The essay smartly spares the reader from the technical morass that could easily detract from the text's goal of demonstrating the efficacy of the open-source, or bazaar, method in creating robust, usable software.

Once Raymond has established the components and players necessary for an optimally running open-source model, he sets out to counter the conventional wisdom of private, closed-source software development. Like superbly written code, the author's arguments systematically anticipate their rebuttals. For programmers who "worry that the transition to open source will abolish or devalue their jobs," Raymond adeptly and factually counters that "most developer's salaries don't depend on software sale value." Raymond's uncanny ability to convince is as unrestrained as his capacity for extrapolating upon the promise of open-source development.

In addition to outlining the open-source methodology and its benefits, Raymond also sets out to salvage the hacker moniker from the nefarious connotations typically associated with it in his essay, "A Brief History of Hackerdom" (not surprisingly, he is also the compiler of The New Hacker's Dictionary). Recasting hackerdom in a more positive light may be a heroic undertaking in itself, but considering the Herculean efforts and perfectionist motivations of Raymond and his fellow open-source developers, that light will shine brightly. --Ryan Kuykendall

Book Description

Open source provides the competitive advantage in the Internet Age. According to the August Forrester Report, 56 percent of IT managers interviewed at Global 2,500 companies are already using some type of open source software in their infrastructure and another 6 percent will install it in the next two years. This revolutionary model for collaborative software development is being embraced and studied by many of the biggest players in the high-tech industry, from Sun Microsystems to IBM to Intel. The Cathedral & the Bazaar is a must for anyone who cares about the future of the computer industry or the dynamics of the information economy. Already, billions of dollars have been made and lost based on the ideas in this book. Its conclusions will be studied, debated, and implemented for years to come. According to Bob Young, "This is Eric Raymond's great contribution to the success of the open source revolution, to the adoption of Linux-based operating systems, and to the success of open source users and the companies that supply them." The interest in open source software development has grown enormously in the past year. This revised and expanded paperback edition includes new material on open source developments in 1999 and 2000. Raymond's clear and effective writing style accurately describing the benefits of open source software has been key to its success. With major vendors creating acceptance for open source within companies, independent vendors will become the open source story in 2001.

Customer Reviews:

A great start point to everyone who wants to understand the open source world.......2007-01-03

I think it's quite hard to find a book (and also an author) with deep knowledge and clear information related to Open Source software as this one. The logic presented here is useful not only for aspirant hackers but also for everyone interesting in the fascinating Open Source revolution.

Amazing!!!.......2006-07-14

I'm enjoying this book very, very much!!!
I makes you want to adere to an Open Source project. :)

ESR Helps the Intermediate Software Developer Understand His Environment.......2006-02-04

This is my second experience with ESR's books, and I've been very pleased with both of them. Looking at software development from his "anthropologist" perspective, has proven extremely helpful in better understanding my experiences in the industry, and especially in seeing things about people and processes that I didn't realize were there until he'd pointed them out. I don't think this would have made much sense to me if I was new to the software development environment, but now that I've been in it for several years and experienced different people and different groups with their own different processes, ESR's conceptual insights have helped me evaluate my own way of working and thinking. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's been in software development for at least three years... I think your own experience is very important to have behind you when reading ESR's books. This kind of reading led me to the Fred Brook classic "The Mythical Man-Month", which I think is still full of applicable insights (a whopping 30 years after it was first published).

For those who question why open source makes sense.......2006-01-29

Eric Raymond presents a coherent and well-supported case that explains why open source makes commercial sense. Putting aside the "religious" fervor of some of his arguments, the logic on why the open source movement can spawn successful businesses is irrefutable. Read it and you will understand why traditional (proprietary) software business models have become a dying breed. I would rate the book a "5" but for some parts where the text becomes somewhat convoluted and repetitive. Overall, a must-read for anyone involved in software development.

A classic with much to offer, but flawed........2005-12-30

Eric Raymond is widely regarded as the anthropologist of the hacker community. This is Eric Raymond's revised classic with some new material. It is the first comprehensive commentary on the sociology of the Open Source community, and recommended reading for anyone doing business in software development, or running a business that depends on software and the Internet.

Like many of Eric Raymond's colleagues and fellow Geeks, he is clearly a brilliant individual, carried forward by focused effort and imagination. And like many talented people, he is an autodidact; self taught bar some courses in philosophy and mathematics. This is not a criticism. Raymond's career, publications and contribution show amply the intellectual qualities he possesses. However, his lack of training in social, economic and cultural science shows. And, as an insider (he is one of the original tribe of hackers) he is not the best person to make a disinterested commentary on the hacker community.

Great hackers, he tells us, are humble people. A more critical observer would have analyzed the comparative payoffs of styles showing why a loud mouth style - while it might work for some performers or show oriented careers - doesn't pay in this community. This is generally true of communities in which peers are well able to judge the quality of each other's contributions. Faking it doesn't payoff, and looking like you might need to fake it is counter productive. Insofar as the behaviour of chief hackers is humble, we learn more about the social economy of hackerdom than about distinctive individual personalities.

Despite many insights, Eric Raymond is wrong in his principal analysis. Why, he asks, do talented people spend years of unpaid work on projects that benefit others for no pecuniary reward? He characterizes hackers as members of a gift giving community, and attributes too much of the hacker motivation to altruism and idealism.

The central problem is not "why do hackers work for no pay?" Rather, why do people work for money? Or, more fundamentally, why do people work? I take it that readers will agree that we can roughly divide our motives into physiological drives (hunger, thirst, need for shelter, sex) and the "higher" needs (self fulfilment and meaning). After satisfying the needs for food, shelter and companionship why do we continue to work at all? If it is to get status, to get power, to feel good about ourselves and similar, then money beyond basic needs is unnecessary. Onassis once remarked "Without women, all the money in the world is worthless." Some of us work to become wealthy, and we trade that wealth for status, power, respect and admiration, and perhaps we use our wealth to get women, sex and occasionally love. If this is what these motives are for, then even the higher needs are secondary to sex; or, as evolutionary psychologists tell us, are all about reproduction.

Money is a means. If I can earn status, power and respect directly, why waste time with money? Of course, money is fungible. That means it can be traded easily for a great many things; a big house and a luxury car, perhaps. But possessing these is merely another way of obtaining status, power, respect, admiration and sex, if not love.

Why am I writing this review? By my own dispassionate analysis, I am advertising my capacity to say sensible things and I am making a reputation; this is an asset in the social and commercial market place. Amazon might like me for doing this, but they would be mistaken to think that I write reviews out of altruism directed at Amazon; at least not defined in any metaphysical or moral sense. Sociobiologists denote some social instincts "altruism" but these are operational definitions of instincts as Machiavellian as any scheming tactician can be said to possess; in that sense I may be an altruist. Hackers too, for their work is not unlike my book reviews. Hackers trade in an economy that differs not one jot from the money economy, and Eric Raymond, in so far as he supposes it to be a fundamentally different kind of economy, is mistaken.

Likewise the account of hacker commitment to lofty ideals are not any more credible - but also not any less credible - than the mission statements and codes of ethics written by CEOs of major corporations. Among hackers are people as likely to steal code as are others to donate code; to write viruses as to write Fetch Mail. An anarchic disrespect for some of our more widely accepted conventions for protecting property rights is a characteristic of hacker mentality; not one that we should admire. Of course, honourable idealists are found among hackers; Eric Raymond is clearly one of them. Take, for example, the Open Source Initiative that is largely his work. What an outstanding contribution that is! Clearly he is passionate about his beliefs and ideals. But honourable idealists are found among entrepreneurs too, also successful ones, and even among politicians. Let us not delude ourselves about what it is the really motivates us and our fellow travellers.

Machine-Stitched Cathedral Stars (That Patchwork Place)

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Machine Stitched Cathedral Stars - Shelley Swanland

Machine-Stitched Cathedral Stars (That Patchwork Place)
Shelley Swanland
Manufacturer: Martingale and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1564773701

Book Description

A Traditional Favorite with a Twist--Now Made Easy by Machine

Believe it or not, these complex-looking quilts are stitched completely by machine! The same foundation-grid techniques that made Shelley Swanland's first book, Machine-Stitched Cathedral Windows, so popular are now enhanced by glorious stars. These innovative methods will expand your options for creating gorgeous quilts.

· Breathe new life into classic patterns with machine piecing--12 step-by-step projects show you how

· Create the striking illusion of "floating" star blocks with special fabric-selection techniques for Cathedral Window quilts

· Sew squares, rectangles, diamonds, or kite-shaped pieces into stunning star shapes--they're a snap to stitch with Shelly's surefire technique

Floating Windows, Checkerboard Stars, Stars on Fire, Exotic Diamond Stars--now you can make all of these stunning patterns with the speed of your sewing machine!

Customer Reviews:

Machine Stitched Cathedral Stars - Shelley Swanland.......2004-09-01

I loved the various projects within this book that I borrowed from a friend and promptly turned around and ordered my own copy. I've made Holiday Magic twice now (only because I could not give away my first one as planned) and hope to venture onto other projects from within soon.

This is not a book for beginners as it is a bit confusing to follow, but with help from an experienced quilter you can definitely complete your project (which is how I started my first one). The only drawback I found was that the general construction directions are at the front of the book (same technique for all) and then the various projects follow with some added instructions and/or references to the front. That is something I did not care for (kept losing myself) but understand the reasoning for it.

Book Description

The Canvas Cathedral is a book that would serve as both a history of evangelism as well as a personal history of the evangelical ministry of Billy Graham.

Dr. Lewis Drummond carefully examines the history of evangelism and the methods used throughout history. He starts with the Apostle Paul and ends with a special emphasis on the ministry of Billy Graham.

This book is a "must buy" for pastors, teachers, professors, students, and lay persons who are interested in the various ways that ministry and evangelism has taken place over the centuries, from Roman coliseums to canvas cathedrals.

For this reason, The Canvas Cathedral can be used in the classroom, the church, or for personal study to learn more about the scope of evangelism through the centuries.

Customer Reviews:

Not Impressed........2003-09-08

Canvas Cathedral read like a doctoral thesis that got way out of hand. Granted it is a historical look at evangelism, but every ten paragraphs mentions how Graham "fits the mold and makes it better." It almost reads like, "I like Billy, you should too!" One must doubt the professionality of the book, simply because he frequently refers to Graham as "Billy." Something that should be avoided in an "objective" analysis.

On the Brighter side, this is an excellent analysis of an anglo-protestant world-view of history.

A Carefully Researched Presentation of Billy Graham.......2003-04-10

To cover the work of Billy Graham's 60 year ministry is a formidable task. The author in his presentation examines Billy Graham's work from the historical perspective, going back to the first chapter of Genesis and giving a survey of evangelism from that time on. He is a serious student of the Bible and stresses memorizing scripture. Prayer is a vital part of Billy Graham's life. No other man has preached to as many people as Graham has but the author is quick to point out that Grahm works in a context of support provided by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Assoc (BGEA). Graham has been the intimate confident of presidents ane other leaders. Interesting little known facts are also to be found.

Book Description

A dramatization in verse of the murder of Thomas Becket at Canterbury. “The theatre as well as the church is enriched by this poetic play of grave beauty and momentous decision” (New York Times). “Within its limits the play is a masterpiece.... Mr. Eliot has written no better poem than this and none which seems simpler” (Mark Van Doren, The Nation).

Customer Reviews:

Haunting!.......2007-03-06

My high school put on the play, "Murder in the Cathedral" for their fall drama in 1969. In retrospect, my guess is that few of the players and still fewer of the audience had any real idea as to the momentous events that the play dramatized. Yet, the language has lingered with me from that day to this, now close on forty years later:

"...the stubborn King, and the French King, in ceaseless intrigue, combination...
....meetings unending, and endless, at some place or the other in France...
....you will be left to your own devices, which must be paid for at higher prices...
....It does go against the grain a bit to kill an Archbishop, especially when one has been brought up in a strong Church tradition..."

The play, in fact, dramatized the struggle between Saint Thomas A' Becket and Henry II over the rights of Church and State. Truly, it was a classic confrontation between what ultimately became, under the Tudors, the power of the state relative to the rights of Holy Church. Now, as a high school junior, I had wanted, of course to play Thomas. I wound up as the lowly Second Priest. But, knowing now what I did not know then, I understand that I could not have done the Archbisho's character justice, as I was then a Protestant. In fact, the reasoning of Thomas, particularly with regard to the Temptors, was classic Catholicism.

The play is wonderfully rich in language and meaning. It can be read in one long sitting. And reading it is well worth the time and effort. Pick up this little book, and be richly blessed by the experience.

"Blood for blood.".......2006-08-19

The murder and subsequent martyrdom of Thomas Becket is always a chilling tale and one that poet T.S. Eliot does a masterful job in relating. "Murder in the Cathedral" is a look at Becket's return from France, after his fallout with King Henry II, and his murder by knights of the King. The play may be a difficult read for those unfamiliar with Becket's life, and those unused to Eliot's poetically styled play. Yet it is an intriguing look at one of the church's martyrs, told by a man who came to faith later in his life.

The first act of the play centers around Thomas Becket's return from France. He had fled there for a period of years in an effort to avoid the King, and their 'difference of opinion', to put it simply. Becket was first appointed Chancellor by Henry II, and then made Archbishop. King Henry II hoped that by granting Becket both titles he would have more control over the church; but Becket saw things differently, and roused the king's anger when he excommunicated several bishops. Throughout the first act, Becket is set upon by four temptors who reveal his fate to him, serving as a catalyst for readers to learn some of Becket's background and to know that he wasn't purely without fault.

The second act moves at a much faster pace than the previous, with the king's knights denouncing Thomas and trying to persuade him to reverse his decision. When Becket refuses, the knights return and kill Thomas at the altar of the church, a death that he gladly accepts as a martyr for his Lord. The most intriguing part of the play is when, after the brutal murder is completed, the knights turn to the audience and explain their reasons for killing Becket and why it was the right thing to do in an effort to preserve England. "Murder in the Cathedral" is a play that will make readers want to examine the events surrounding Becket's death, and leave them wondering if all those explanations at the end might be right after all.

Thomas Beckett as martyr philosopher; Shakespearean genius.......2004-10-16

The audiobook version of "Murder in the Cathedral" (with Robert Donat playing Thomas Beckett) is a surprising delight, especially for those who love rich language and philosophical musings.

Centered around the age-old story of how Thomas Beckett, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered by knights for defying the king's authority, the play explores a variety of themes: church vs. state, the quest for power, the pursuit of pleasure, the heroism or vanity of martyrs, and the search for life's meaning in the face of death and the "void".

The performances of the actors in this audiobook are superb, especially that of Robert Donat. Hearing his deep resonating voice, you truly feel the charismatic power of the archbishop and former chancellor to the king.

The performance alternates between straight dialogue, poetry, and the Gregorian style chanting of monks. While the poetry and chanting is tedious in parts, it at least breaks up the dialogue into digestable chunks and moves the plot along.

Readers shouldn't be put off by the medieval theme of this piece. The substance of the play is as modern and relevant as any play you'll find. The plot contains a novel twist as well.

With its many poetic and philosophical flourishes, there's more than a trace of Shakespeare in this work. And here's a little known fact: another T.S. Eliot work, "The Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats", was the inspiration for Cats, the longest running Broadway musical.

So push the rewind for me. Time to visit that bloody cathedral again.

Written by a dilettante........2004-09-29

"Murder in the Cathedral" is more of a coffee house production than a dramatic classical play. Since I do not care for poetry, or Shakespeare, I knew I was jumping headfirst into a dead-end. Still, I did not expect to be bored out of my gored. T. S. Eliot was attempting to use the genre "poetic drama" to his benefit, but instead conjured up an illiterate form of speaking. I disliked the play 'A Man for All Seasons,' (involves the death of Thomas Moore) but at least that play can be coherently understood, and actually teaches something. I do not recommend.

Murder in the Cathedral.......2004-05-11

The play is about Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury and is not worth reading if you like a literal story, where what you read is what you get and reading between the lines is unnecessary. That is what I liked about this play. It allows you to interpret the dialogue so that you develop your own understanding behind the plot.
Thomas Becket lived in the 12th century and rose to power because of his friend King Henry. Becket at first had been a Chancellor in Henrys court and had then been given the title of Archbishop. Henry wanted him to have both the titles whereas Becket refused because he felt he could not perform both jobs to the same expectations. This was because Henry had radical views about the separation of the church and the state and Becket did not agree with these views because he did not believe he could serve two very opposite masters. The result was an argument between the two.
Literally, Henry and Becket are in a skirmish during the play, but the actual conflict is between Becket and his conscience. The play goes deep into Christianity and the Catholic faith, which I found to be enjoyable. Just as Christ had tempters, so does Becket. They offer him power and material wealth, when all they want in return is for Becket to alter and transform his principles.
I liked how you saw main characters in this play, such as the Chorus, progress from fearing the unknown to joyfully accepting God. While the play has Christian connotations within, it stresses primarily on universal human values such as humility and devotion.
The entire play is written in verse and Eliot managed to capture such complex themes and dialogue in such concise yet poetic words.

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