Book Description
Does America, as George W. Bush has proclaimed, have a special mission, derived from God, to bring liberty and democracy to the world? How much influence does the Christian right have over U.S. foreign policy? And how should America deal with violent Islamist extremists?
Madeleine Albright, the former secretary of state and bestselling author of Madam Secretary, offers a thoughtful and often surprising look at the role of religion in shaping America's approach to the world. Drawing upon her experiences while in office and her own deepest beliefs about morality, the United States, and the present state of world affairs, a woman noted for plain speaking offers her thoughts about the most controversial topics of our time.
Customer Reviews:
Ultimate Answer.......2007-10-06
I must confess I have been following her public life since she became Secretary of State. I am her most avid reader having read her memoir six times. I ended my last reading on that book almost two weeks ago, and I finished reading the mighty and the almighty in five days last friday. To the point, I expected her second volume not to be a research work, it seems as though if I had to talk about the Middle East in school, this book would definitely be my guidance on that matter.
Now in all seriousness, I expected this book to be more about her accomplishments in government, and her sharp insights regarding recent events. This book could've just as easily be called 'The Mighty, The Almighty and Middle East Conflicts'. Do NOT get me wrong, I am all for that, I do believe the Middle East is, will and has shaped the world in every single way. Religion must be taken seriously into account as a player in world events, definitely. I am not against the content nor the topics of this book. I just wanted it to be more 'Madeleiney', if you will.
Mrs. Albright, if you are, or someone who knows you, reading this, I want you to know I expect your third book to be the ultimate answer to today's US Government Administration failures.
An Admirable Lady!.......2007-09-16
I think very highly of Madeline Albright and respect her accomplishments very much. I feel that the book is a little difficult to read though and I had a hard time sticking with it. It is however filled with lots of facts and events that make it worth the dedication.
Return to High American Ideals.......2007-08-26
This book may be directed to the "choir," as other reviewers have noted, but even the choir needs some encouragement from time to time. We've been through a rough 8 years.
I'm with her in her final comment: "I will never accept, however, that the United States is not better than we have been these past few years; nor will I stop believing (or praying) that we will recover our balance and begin again -- and soon -- to command the world's respect, and our own."
Human beings are religious animals, and we do perceive things differently. It is important to be tolerant of the beliefs of others; many of us are seeking God the best way we know how.
Politics and religion are both valid aspects of human life, but they are not the same thing.
Intelligent work about the subtleties of foreign policy wrt religion.......2007-07-17
Ms. Albright starts the book by providing background on how Americans have best handled religion in general. She gives several quotes from the founding fathers:
"George Washington disclaimed any interest in whether people were 'Mohametans, Jews or Christians of any sect, or Atheists.' His sole concern was that they should have the right to exercise freedom of worship, expression, and thought."--Page 18.
She then almost ventures into political heresy by giving a meaningful historical-political context to the Jewish-Palestinian conflict: (I had not been aware of the extent to which power elites in the world had gotten on board the Zionist mission.)
The remainder of the book is full of background about Judaism, Christianity, but especially Islam, that few are aware of--certainly not the current gang at the helm. Well worth the read, though Ms. Albright does not appreciate, or acknowledge anyway, the role of the CIA in creating the "world of terror."
...
For my complete review of this book and for other book and movie
reviews, please visit my site [...]
Brian Wright
Copyright 2007
Terrific.......2007-07-08
A great book written by a knowledgeable person. I treasured it and have shared it with friends.
Book Description
The bestselling account of the martyrdom of Jim Elliot and four other missionaries at the hands of the Auca Indians in Ecuador. New introduction by the author.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent!.......2006-09-09
I highly recommend reading this book. The passion for being a missionary starts here in Jim Elliot's life. Don't miss this wonderful story and testimony of Jim's passion for witnessing about Christ.
A once-in-a-lifetime book.......2006-05-06
The insight, sensitivity, and nobleness of character found in these pages would be notable if they were found in the words of a novel. The fact that they also serve as a historical record and the loving tribute of a devoted widow make them profound. The challenge offered to the reader by the example and set by Jim Elliot further enhances this book to palce it among the very finest I have ever encountered.
Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot.......2006-02-02
Shadow of the Almighty is by far the best biography I have ever read!!! It has been said that "You will be the same today, except for the people you meet and the books you read", I have found this to be very true in my life.
I feel you can glean so many spiritual nuggets from this book. From raising kids, praying for them, allowing God to use them, the importance of eating healthy and exercising, the value of education and when education is taking the place of God and true knowledge of Him....
Reading this book, almost makes the movie End of the Spear seem shallow. Unless you know the history of these men's lives before they went into missions it is easy to be disillusioned and think that a group of over zealous guys decided to go and reach the savage Auca Indianans, which is not the case. It was an absolute calling of God on each of their lives that God had been preparing them for most of their lives (at least this is the case with Jim Elliot). Even Elizabeth Elliot, Jim's wife, had the calling on her life. They were spiritually, intellectually, and physically prepared. Yes, they were a group of young, good looking, and fun guys, but they also were spiritually mature beyond their years and they knew their calling.
Elizabeth Elliot began compiling journal entries and letters of Jim's immediately after his death to begin the writing of Shadow of the Almighty, while the hurt and sting of her lose was still fresh! You will not find regret, resentment, bitterness or anger in her writing; only a life devoted to God even unto death. So while the book focuses on the life of Jim, remember it was his newly young widowed wife who wrote the very words contained within its pages.
I guess what so impresses me about this book, is that it is more than the retelling of Jim's life. Throughout the book are original writings of Jim's, you see what makes his heart beat, his passion, his frustrations, his surrendered obedience, his incredible faith. You will see God's sovereignty, His hand, leading and weaving Jim's life and death.
The story begins with his childhood, and continues on up to his death. Really his story still carries on today. How many people has Jim's life impacted even now 50 years later? While in college ,Jim at one point lets His grades suffer a bit so that he can focus on earning the Degree of A.U.G. (Approved Under God). I am so impressed with chapter 3, here you will find a handsome, athletic, intelligent young man keep his focus on the Lord in an atmosphere that pulls most people away. At this point he doesn't even take his parents advice, if it is not what he is hearing from the Spirit. His obedience to Christ makes him a true leader among his classmates.
Following is a journal entry of Jim's, it show the wisdom and insight he had as a young man. "No one warns young people to follow Adam's example. He waited until God saw his need. Then God made Adam sleep, prepared for his mate, and brought her to him. We need more of this 'being asleep' in the will of God. Then we can receive what He brings us in His own time, if at all. Instead we are bloodhounds after a partner, considering everyone we see until our minds are so concerned with the sex problem that we can talk of nothing else when bull-session time comes around. It is true that a fellow cannot ignore women-but he can think of them as he ought-as sisters, not as sparring partners!"
The life of man totally committed to the will of God.......2005-10-21
This is my absolute favorite book of all time. In an age when I struggle to find like-minded people around me, Jim Elliot encourages and inspires my heart. In an introduction recently added to the book, Elisabeth Elliot says it all. She describes how HUNDREDS of young men over the years have come up to her at conferences or book signings and told her "that book changed my life." God answered Jim Elliot's prayer that he would be "A testament to the value of knowing God." It's so amazing to me to think how God could use this one man to reach so many people. Great book. If you are a young guy like me and wanting to live earnestly for Christ, you've got to read this book.
Living for God.......2005-06-24
All too often people remember Jim Elliot as one of the 5 who were killed trying to take the message of Jesus to a stone age tribe. This book shows that Jim Elliot was more than that one event. In the book you see that he lived for God to the same degree that he died for God. A reader of this book will see that they too can live a totally dedicated life for God. This book is a real apathy killer.
Average customer rating:
- MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
- A Classic
- Valuable insights, but could have been much deeper.
- Fantastic! Especially in North American rat race.
- WOW, what an impact this book is having on my life
|
Intimacy With The Almighty
Charles R. Swindoll
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0849956102 |
Book Description
Charles Swindoll offers all new insights from his own journal to guide people on a journey of intimacy with God. This keepsake book includes pages in Swindoll's handwriting collected in an embossed, antique-looking cover.
Customer Reviews:
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW.......2003-06-01
This small, quick read packs quite a powerful punch for the Christian looking for a closer walk with the Almighty.
The author shares with us his experiences with his walk with the Lord and helps us to see, through his life how he was able to draw closer to the Almighty, bringing him to a more fulfilled relationship.
He uses examples, such as turning from our busy lives and being still to know that He is God. He speakes to us of what it is to trust God and to surrender to One that loves us. Tenderely he leads us step by step into a deeper knowledge of knowing the way to a closer walk with Him.
This is a very good read, not too long, but extremely useful to the Christian seeking intimacy with their Maker.
A Classic.......2002-09-15
If every Christian followed the principles in this book, the world would take notice. No American Christian should neglect meditating on the truths Swindoll delivers in this short audio book.
Coming from the premise in Ecclesiastes, "God made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated," Swindoll suggests four principles to overcome ourselves for a better, more God-honoring life. Simplicity is a discipline 21st Century Christians need, and we aren't going to find it at the mall or in many other Christian books.
Valuable insights, but could have been much deeper........2001-09-17
Let me preface my remarks by saying that I'm a HUGE fan of brother Chuck, and I have great love and admiration for him as one of today's preeminent Christian leaders. Of all the persons I could choose to emulate, it would be Chuck Swindoll. In reviewing this book, my comments are intended to be totally objective and not a criticism of the author.
My main impression of this book is that, while it provides some valuable insights about some spiritual disciplines that every committed Christian should undertake, it stops far short of being a truly practical resource. Chuck Swindoll steps aside briefly from his hectic life to take stock of some key things that many (most?) Christians miss in their day to day walk with God. He introduces some disciplines which we would all do well to practice, but doesn't really talk about the "how."
In other words, and at the risk of sounding flippant, my reaction on finishing this book (about a one-hour undertaking) was: "Tell me something I don't already know." As a believer who seeks a closer relationship with God, I have long since recognized the need to try to slow down my lifestyle and find time to get alone with God for prayer, study and meditation. I have been struggling with these very issues for some time: how to balance work, parenthood, church activities, household chores, rest, etc. while still finding a way to spend a meaningful amount of time communing with God.
It was my hope that this book would be more of a "how-to guide" than just a simple overview of these truths, and in that sense I was a bit disappointed. Don't misunderstand me, I think the book is great as far as it goes, but I wish Chuck had taken the time to take this important subject into much greater detail. He speaks of "depth" but doesn't really provide it here. Had he done that, I'm sure I could have derived much greater benefit from it.
Fantastic! Especially in North American rat race........1999-10-06
Satan has a unique strategy for every culture. In North America today he has chosen the rat race. Keep Christians too busy doing good things that they forget Who they are doing them for! This little book helps us get back on track. Slow down, find time to be alone with God in a quiet place. Journal your thoughts. Then surrender! I have purchased several copies and given them to leaders in our church. Thank you Chuck!
WOW, what an impact this book is having on my life.......1998-03-19
I could never imagined how taking the time to enjoy solutitude with my Lord and Savior was what was missing from my life. Swindoll reminds us that when we are sooo busy, we are missing what is most important--HIM, our Almighty, the great I AM. This book was so short, but it's words and basis will remind you of what is probably lacking in your life. I was reminded that depth is needed for a relationship to grow. Solitude is needed to "grow" that depth and stillness to hear HIM. Go for it--read this book! What have you got to lose?
Book Description
From Los Angeles and New York to Chicago and Miami, street gangs are regarded as one of the most intractable crime problems facing our cities, and a vast array of resources is being deployed to combat them. This book chronicles the astounding self-transformation of one of the most feared gangs in the United States into a social movement acting on behalf of the dispossessed, renouncing violence and the underground economy, and requiring school attendance for membership.
What caused the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation of New York City to make this remarkable transformation? And why has it not happened to other gangs elsewhere? David C. Brotherton and Luis Barrios were given unprecedented access to new and never-before-published material by and about the Latin Kings and Queens, including the group's handbook, letters written by members, poems, rap songs, and prayers. In addition, they interviewed more than one hundred gang members, including such leaders as King Tone and King Hector. Featuring numerous photographs by award-winning photojournalist Steve Hart, the book explains the symbolic significance for the gang of hand gestures, attire, rituals, and rites of passage. Based on their inside information, the authors craft a unique portrait of the lives of the gang members and a ground-breaking study of their evolution.
Customer Reviews:
Important addition to the literature on street organizations.......2004-04-03
Few books are currently available on street organizations (commonly referred to by sociologists, anthropologists and criminologists as "gangs") that present both an insider perspective and outsider analysis, and place these social formations into the context of both the contemporary and historical variables that cause their formation, and direct their transformation into radical political organizations.
Without romanticizing the negative elements of the gang phenomena, this study offers a counter-perspective to the criminological canon, and challenges the theoretical assumptions proffered in all but a few standard texts on gang-behavior.
A must read for those interested in the underclass debates, Latino/a youth culture, and grass roots social movements.
Book Description
From the author of Lords of the Horizons, the fascinating story of a new kind of money for a new world. Money has always been at the heart of the American experience. Paper money itself, invented in Boston in 1698, was a classic of American ingenuity-and American disregard for authority and tradition. With the wry and admiring eye of a modern De Tocqueville, Jason Goodwin has written a biography of the dollar giving us the story of its astonishing career through the wilds of American history. Greenback looks at the dollar over the years as a form of art, a kind of advertising, a reflection of American attitudes, and a builder of empires. Goodwin shows us how the dollar rolled out the frontier, peopled the Plains; how it erected the great cities; how it expressed the urges of democracy and opportunity. And above all, he introduces us to the people who championed-or ambushed-the dollar over the years: presidents, artists, pioneers and frontiersmen, bankers shady and upright, safe-blowers, and crooks and dreamers of every stripe. It's a vast and colorful cast of characters, all agreed on one thing: getting the money right was the key to unlocking liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Greenback delves into folklore and the development of printing, investigates wildcats and counterfeiters, explains why a buck is a buck and how Dixie got its name. Like Goodwin's Lords of the Horizons, another story of empire, Greenback brings an array of quirky detail and surprising-often hilarious-anecdote to tell the story of America through its best-beloved product.
Customer Reviews:
Evolution of the dollar..........2005-03-11
I'm a professional currency trader, so I bought this book to learn more about the history of the US Dollar going back to its creation. This book does give a lot of the history of the dollar, but unfortunately it is rather boring. Some of the stories are enjoyable and possibly apocryphal, but the book is still a very slow read. 90+% of the book is devoted to the history of the US currency prior to the 20th century, so be prepared for some deep history of colonial America. There is a lot of good information in the book, but sadly, the story is boring.
Another entertaining and instructive book by J. Goodwin.......2003-08-22
Jason Goodwin is a polarizing author, whose books are either hated or loved by his readers. As in his best-known previous book, "Lords of the Horizons", in "Greenback" he uses a lot of wonderful anecdotes to spice up his prose and keep the reader interested. As in that book, his grasp of the essence of the subject is pretty good, although one could disagree in the details.
I am one of those readers who choose to stay away from rigorous, traditional history books because I am turned off by the stuffiness and the pedantic detailed narrative that they often provide. (I came to this end after having read a good deal of them...) I believe that the history of any subject is the sum of the personal histories of the people who participated and formed those events, famous or obscure, big or small. Jason Goodwin gives us plenty of those little personal stories and thank God for that as far as I am concerned.
I found this book very enjoyable to read and rich in information, although not as exciting as "Lords of the Horizons", so I am giving it 4 stars instead of the 5 I gave that one. I hope Jason Goodwin keeps giving us those great books on his diverse subjects and full of those colorful characters, and I am looking forward to his next book of non-sterilized history.
Milestones in the Evolution of Value Storage.......2003-05-28
This is a very enjoyable work, well-written and researched, with numerous anecdotes and sidelights. I thought particularly strong the early chapters on colonial and post-revolution America. One sees in Jefferson an early version of a common type today: the person who is adamantly opposed to debt and credit instruments because he himself is hopelessly swamped in debt. Today's debt paranoiac shuns credit cards and deferred payment schemes of all stripes in favor of cash (paper dollars and checks drawn on bank accounts). But for Jefferson those very paper dollars and banks were suspect. For him, the only "real" money was metallic: gold or silver. The only stores of value in his opinion were coins or bullion or land.
This brought him into opposition to Hamilton, who wanted to inaugurate the new republic by assuming a huge load of debt (all the promises of payment represented by the wartime "Continentals"). Hamilton had a plan to set up a bank and issue paper money backed by gold reserves which didn't exist yet, but which he was confident could be built up by land sales and import duties. His plan, a risky scheme in Jefferson's opinion, was approved by Congress, and our little country began its life with a whopping 42 million dollar debt (p. 102). In spite of Jefferson's misgivings, the scheme worked so well that some twenty years later Jefferson himself was able to double the nation's land area by buying Louisiana from Napoleon.
I was disappointed that in this book, devoted as it is to various forms the dollar took over the years, no mention was made of the exact type of payment by Jefferson for Louisiana. Was it gold bullion? American gold dollars? Spanish gold dollars? Was there some of the paper money that he so despised? Was there a mortgage involved? Or a more racy installment plan (No interest and no payments until May 1808, or until the emperor conquers Russia, whichever comes first! Don't delay! Act now!)
"Greenback" then goes into satisfying detail on the banknote phenomenon, the system of the 19th century whereby banks printed notes (dollars, promises to pay) and either backed them up or did not back them up with gold in their vaults. As I understand it, the US government did not start printing such notes until the Civil War, and it did not become the sole legal printer of dollars until the 1920s. I would have liked more detail about how that latter change came about. What was the exact last day when you could use a dollar printed by a bank. Why did they wait so long to pass such a law, which seems perfectly natural to us now? Might the conversion have had anything to do with the subsequent worldwide depression? All fascinating questions for a follow-up volume which I hope will come from the febrile pen of Mr. Goodwin.
BAD History - Light.......2003-04-09
Simply put, this is a bad book. It is poorly written and is bad history.
When the author stops digressing, he has many unimportant and trivial anecdotes about the dollar in American history.
His interpretation of American history is terrible. Just a few examples: Early in the book he cited Hawthorne, Thoreau and Twain (who lost a fortune trying to be an industrialist) to reach the conclusion that Americans did not collect and hoard money in the nineteenth century. Apparently he did not read the rest of his book which went on ad nauseum about Americans in the nineteenth century chasing and counterfeiting the dollar. In another instance he concludes that all civil rights were suspended during the civil war (not that this had anything to do with $) - completely ignoring the fact that the Supreme Court overturned Lincoln's attempt to suspend habeas corpus. Lastly (I could go on and on), he finished the book by noting that on our dollar bills are the icons that were present at the birth of our nation. This, after telling how Grant and Cleveland were on our bills! Last I looked they lived late in the next century.
I kept hoping that some pearls about the dollar would come shining through. Whatever pearls there might have been were muddied by his erroneous history and his horrible interpretations of the history he included.
I felt I wasted a good deal of time reading this book. If one wants to read the only useful part of this book, limit yourself to the chapter(s) describing the private banknotes. Nothing before or after is at all worthwhile.
A good read, but know your history!.......2003-03-18
I am about halfway through this book. It is a pretty good book; it has an intriguing subject. But it is a bit confusing, and Mr. Goodwin has a tendency to go offtrack. Also, be prepared to know your history, because a lot of the people mentioned do not have introductions and/or biographies. Overall, this book is pretty good.
Book Description
Every day of the week in contemporary America (and especially on Sundays) people raise money for their religious enterprises--for clergy, educators, buildings, charity, youth-oriented work, and more. In a fascinating look into the economics of American Protestantism, James Hudnut-Beumler examines how churches have raised and spent money from colonial times to the present and considers what these practices say about both religion and American culture.
Customer Reviews:
must read for stewardship leaders.......2007-07-09
As a denominational stewardship leader at the Conference level, I found this book extremely helpful in understanding our history of financing Protestant churches. It brings to mind the wisdom that "there is nothing new under the sun".
Fills in a lot of holes about church stewardship in early America........2007-05-15
A Book Review by Russell Earl Kelly
Having completed my Ph. D. on the subject of tithing, I thought this book complements mine. Each book fills in the holes which the other does not discuss.
This book points out that before 1870 tithing was not a subject of any importance in the Protestant churches in the USA. However, by 1890 it was the most important theme for church support at least from professional educated ministers. It took longer for the laity to begin accepting it. It would take several more decades before pew rentals and other fund-raising schemes were replaced.
The book is very helpful to understand the methodology of church support and the surprisingly high salaries received in the upper scale churches. It does not go into what I thought was the farmer-merchant-preacher of the plains states and the wild West who I thought were mostly self-supporting.
I was impressed how the 1791 Bill of Rights removed state and local supported taxes from the churches and forced them to search for other means of support.
The book agrees with my conclusions that tithing has not always been a doctrine in the established churches either inside or outside of the U. S. until around 1900 and beyond.
Don't expect biblical arguments of every tithing text in this book. That is not its purpose.
Russell Earl Kelly, Author of Should the Church Teach Tithing? A Theologian's Conclusions about a Taboo Doctrine.
Book Description
Some ancient civilizations, notably the Babylonians and the Israelites, held fast to the belief that their particular god (or gods) were stronger than all other heavenly powers and gods combined, supremely able to protect their well-being and success as a nation. This belief (which resounds in the modern-day rallying cry "God is on our side") led to some foolhardy and rash decisions, particularly when it came to war. For a nation defeated or conquered by a foreign power inevitably faced the profound, perplexing question: "Why did our God, who has sworn to protect us, allow this to happen?"
Jonathan A. Goldstein turns to the religious literature of these ancient peoples to discover how they reconciled their beliefs with the realities of history. In a magnificent blend of several academic disciples (literary criticism, political theory, biblical and classical history), he compares and contrasts the responses of different eras and nations–from the Israelites, Babylonians, and Egyptians to the Zoroastrians, Iranians, and Persians under Alexander the Great. Goldstein’s close readings of literature written following such devastating events as the fall of the Israelites to the Assyrians and the Babylonians demonstrate that theology, far from being a static and unchanging set of beliefs, evolves with the course of history. Revealing how each defeat helped to shape and define the religious beliefs of the conquered, Peoples of an Almighty God clearly demonstrates that no belief can remain unchanged or untouched by the beliefs of other people.
Book Description
With its tales of illegitimacy, prison, stardom, exile, love affairs, and tireless battles against his critics, priests and king, Roger Pearson’s Voltaire Almighty brings the father of Enlightenment to vivid life.
Voltaire Almighty provides a lively look at the life and thought of one of the major forces behind European Enlightenment. A rebel from start to finish (1694-1778), Voltaire was an ailing and unwanted bastard child who refused to die; and when he did consent to expire some eighty-four years later, he secured a Christian burial despite a bishop’s ban.
During much of his life Voltaire was the toast of society for his plays and verse, but his barbed wit and commitment to human reason got him into trouble. Jailed twice and eventually banished by the king, he was an outspoken critic of religious intolerance and persecution. His personal life was as colorful as his intellectual life. Of independent means and mind, Voltaire never married, but he had long-term affairs with two women: Emilie, who died after giving birth to the child of another lover, and his niece, Marie-Louise, with whom he spent the last twenty-five years of his life. The consummate outsider; a dissenter who craved acceptance while flamboyantly disdaining it; author of countless stories, poems, books, plays, treatises, and tracts as well as some twenty thousand letters to his friends: Voltaire lived a long, active life that makes for engaging and entertaining reading.
Customer Reviews:
Light and Disappointing.......2007-05-19
Pearson's book is "accessible." It does cover all of Voltaire's life. There are some nice photographs. It is also, however, chatty and superficial. I had expected at least some exploration of the ideas and the art that gave rise to Voltaire's vast reputation. I am no pedant - a mere college undergraduate type of treatment probably would have been adequate. Alas, in Pearson's book Voltaire seems almost a dilettante, pampered and frivolous. I hope such fluff is not what one has to put up with in order to obtain an "accessible" biography of a great man. I actually got a much better notion of who Voltaire was from reading the introduction to The Portable Voltaire. This was simply unsatisfying. I am now looking to read something more substantial.
Meet the Man.......2006-02-14
I was once asked the question, "If you could have lunch with one famous person, living or dead, who would it be?"
My answer: Voltaire.
Francois Marie Arouet, (1694-1778) who took the pen name "Voltaire" for reasons still unclear, (the author lists some guesses but doesn't choose one) was the 18th century itself, distilled into a frame so thin that it appeared as though a good stiff breeze could blow him away. But not only did he live to the age of 84, he also wrestled one of the most powerful institutions in history, the Catholic Church in France, virtually to a standstill. One of the most prolific writers of all time, he is said to have churned out a million words during his life: plays, essays, letters, poetry, satire. He never wrote a novel; novels were considered trashy entertainment in his day and he never cared to write one. He isn't read much anymore, not even in France, and he is remembered today not so much as a philosopher in his own right, but as a brilliant, witty popularizer of other people's ideas. But his razor-sharp French prose style was the envy of the young Rousseau, who ultimately went on to have an even greater and more profound impact on the world.
What inflamed Voltaire's passion inflamed his need to write, and nothing did the trick more quickly than intolerance and injustice. Imprisoned more than once himself, Voltaire repeatedly put himself in jeopardy defending in print the victims of injustice and religious bigotry, a particular plague of his age, and launching one spirited attack after another on their tormentors, those in political and ecclesiastical power, which in 18th century France were pretty much two sides of the same coin.
Small wonder I wanted to have lunch with him. And small wonder that Roger Pearson has given this delightful biography the subtitle "A Life In Pursuit Of Freedom." Each chapter has a title and a descriptive summary, in the style of an 18th century novel. In lively and witty prose, Pearson takes the reader from Voltaire's inauspicious beginnings (he was an illegimate child who was expected to die) to his first clashes with the authorities, (he spent close to a year in the Bastille when still only 23) his liaisons with one woman after another, the business dealings that made him wealthy, his sojourn in England, (where he found the relatively tolerant atmosphere refreshing enough to publish a series of "English Letters") his rocky relationship with Frederick the Great, and the whole cavalcade of one of history's most colorful and brilliant lives, leading right up to his retaking by storm, in the last days of his life, the very Paris from which he had been so often banned.
As the decades running up to the French Revolution, which Voltaire helped start but didn't live to see, roll by, Pearson traces every parry-and-thrust of the life of a writer in an age and a society in which writers were closely watched and frequently harassed by the government, their works censored and sometimes burned, their personal freedom never completely secure. Observing his dartings around Europe, hopping over a border here, leaping into a midnight carriage there, in order to stay ahead of those who would imprison him again, one wonders how Voltaire ever got anything written. But write he did, compulsively, exhaustively, and on an array of subjects that would fill a dictionary. (One of his best-known works is, in fact, a "Philosophical Dictionary.") By the time of his death, while the war against intolerance and bigotry was far from won -- most likely it never will be, entirely -- nevertheless the ideals of the French Enlightenment had already borne fruit on this side of the pond, the American Revolution being in full swing in 1778, and it was possible for writers in France and elsewhere in Europe to express their ideas with much less fear of the authorities than ever would have been possible in Voltaire's youth.
Will Durant wrote in 1965, "When we cease to honor Voltaire we shall be unworthy of Freedom." Read this book. Meet the man.
Well Done Biography of an Interesting Character.......2006-01-14
One of the more interesting and amusing characters in history, Voltaire is surprisingly little known in today's world. During his time he seems to have had the ability to annoy everyone. Jailed, exiled, he kept turning up and continued to satarize the upper classes from whom he seemed to crave acceptance.
This new biography is written with somewhat the same attitude of irreverance. It's light and amusing while at the same time conveying both the story and the tone of Voltaire's writing, philosophy and life.
Particularly interesting is the political interplay of the times when the leaders of various countries and empires are dealing with each other to see who is going to rule. This was a time just before the American Revolution (Voltaire associated with Benjamin Franklin during his stay in France). It was a time when the seeds were being sown for the French Revolution when the world of Voltaire was turned upside down.
Learning to think.......2006-01-12
Voltaire has been part of my life for nearly a quarter of a century, ever since I picked up a copy of The Portable Voltaire at a used bookshop near my high school for one dollar. I made the purchase at the suggestion of a pretty girl who I never did convince to go out with me. I guess that's not really relevant to anyone but me, except that Voltaire does write about how heartbreak (which is what that frustration seemed to be at the time) can be a stone on the path to enlightenment.
Whether that disappointment and the many that followed inched me closer to real enlightenment over the years, I can't say. But one of the first times I ever remember feeling more enlightened than many of my peers was as it dawned on me that my familiarity with the 18th-century philosopher and writer was all but unheard of among South Floridians in their late teens (and even among most of their teachers).
I must admit I've always been puzzled by Voltaire. Despite my long exposure to his work, I cannot identify a single component of his beliefs that I have adopted as part of my core philosophies. Only a couple of his lines have stuck in my memory over the years, and even upon re-reading it as an adult I found Voltaire's seminal work Candide a bit of a slog. Yet I continue to think of him as one of the most important factors in my intellectual formation, for reasons I assumed too vague or subtle to pinpoint.
With an eye toward discovering why that is, I picked up a copy of Roger Pearson's new biography, Voltaire Almighty: A Life in Pursuit of Freedom. Previous biographies I've seen were too academic or too technical to hold my attention for long. But after leafing through it, I had high hopes for Mr. Pearson's effort.
I was not left unrewarded, even though I consider the biography only a mixed success. Mr. Pearson, I think, tries too hard to overcome the weakness of most academic biographers who produce informative but utterly boring works. He does this through the use of humor that is at first refreshing but quickly becomes irritating. I don't think this biography covers any significant new ground in Voltaire's life, but many of the stories I had read or heard in the past are retold here in a mostly readable way (at least when Mr. Pearson does not try to be witty).
What is new is the way Mr. Pearson relates some of these anecdotes to what we know of Voltaire's iconoclastic beliefs. Take the fact that he refused to cover up that his birth in 1694 was the result of an illicit affair between his mother and an intellectual and songwriter called Rochebrune. While most people of his generation would seek to obscure such ignoble circumstances, Voltaire instead venerated his mother for preferring Rochebrune's "wit and intelligence" to the company of her attorney husband, who, Voltaire said, was "a very mediocre man."
Similarly, his selection of the pen name Voltaire -- he was born François-Marie Arouet -- was his unusual way of escaping the wrath of French censors. He denied authorship of works that were clearly his, and he lived most of his life in exile outside his native France.
Mr. Pearson calls attention to the fact that while Voltaire was best known as a playwright during his lifetime, and he first came into the public eye as a writer of satiric verse that his lasting value comes from his historic work. A historian, not in the sense of a chronicler of battles and kingdoms, but in his discussions about the zeitgeist of his age: art, literature, philosophy, and economics. The presentation of these aspects and his biographical details may be flawed, but they can hardly fail to entertain and inspire.
Which leads me to the conclusion Mr. Pearson's work helped me to come to regarding the personal importance of Voltaire in my own life. More than any agent of information about the Enlightenment, Voltaire's value I think comes from his ability to inspire, to stimulate readers to think for themselves -- something I think he did (and still does) for me. Not a bad endorsement, I'd say.
Almighty?.......2006-01-01
While the "Almighty" in the title goes against my grain given the book's freedom-loving, deist, and most human of subjects, this biography is well worth reading. Professor Davidson writes in a light style, which pays fond homage to that of this great figure of the Enlightenment.
Another good book on Voltaire came out in 2004, "Voltaire in Exile" by Ian Davidson. If you want a full life biography, go with "Voltaire Almighty". If you are mainly just interested in Voltaire's later life and work in advancing human rights, go with Mr. Davidson's worthy effort. Or, read both and compare.
Book Description
When church historians reflect on the worship revolution that happened around the turn of the 21st century, Darlene Zschech will be credited for playing a major role, Bill Hybels says. While challenging the Christian in the congregation to be an extravagant worshiper, Zschech also presents valuable insights and help for the worship leader. These are the words of a woman of God who lives what she writes.
Customer Reviews:
One should do more than look at the surface.......2005-01-26
I must admit that when I read the review by the individual in Sweden I was shocked at the ignorance. With all due respect to the individual the only way that his assessment could ever be drawn from this outstanding resource is if someone reads only on the surface of the words and pays no attention to the vast context that can be gained by examining Darlene Zschechs history and the Church in which she serves.
This is a fantastic resource. It is not written to be a theological treatise nor is it void of deep theological truth that she could easily give evidence for if she wanted to compose an apologetic, which she does not. She is challenging people like the reviewer I referenced to realize how quickly we "box" worship in "acceptable, manageable forms." We are God's children, He loves us. God spends everyday responding to His children just as Jesus responded to the people who sought Him out. God doesn't respond because He owes us, it is because He loves us. Darlene's mission is to help every believer unshackle themselves from the bonds of "manageable worship" so that God's children will love Him more extravagantly.
I would encourage the reviewer to spend some time, reference some other materials from Darlene and the Hillsong team, listen past there music and see the heart of people who are rtruly sold out for God and who, in my opinion, have a practicing theology that is far more acurate and biblical than the majority of Churches and Christians who like to label their theology as more acurate than theirs. Every one who wants to love the Lord more needs to spend time in this book!
James
excellence.......2005-01-07
This book is one of the best I have ever read about worship. It has both uplifted me and inspired me to pursue my hopes and dreams. It's almost like the author is speaking directly to me. I think this book would be a great study guide for a worship team or Sunday school class. Thank you, Darlene!
Theology matters.......2004-12-20
I must confess that I had a negative bias towards this book when I started reading. I like good hard rock music, or classical music like Bach, and I find much of the new worship music rather dull and uncreative. Moreover, the lyrics are often theologically lame or misleading.
After a few chapters some sympathy for the author was awoken. Zschech is honest about (some of her) mistakes and problems, and it didn't sound too easy to be Darlene Zscech.
Sympathy and biases aside - well maybe not 100 % objetivity will follow... Theologically, Zschech seems to assume a charismatic, evangelical Christianity, influenced by the Word Faith movement. It's a bit vague, since the theology is often only assumed, not described let alone argued. Christians know what they believe, seems to be the assumption, and what is needed is dedication. The question a Christian should ask him- or herself is how much they are willing to worship God. How much are you prepared to sacrifice? From these preconditions (no outlined theology and focus on our service) one easily falls into some form of legalism.
Zschech mixes our work and God's. Our worship seems to be inevitibly blended with God's love. The lyrics in "Shout to the Lord" is no coincidence: "All of my days I want to praise, the wonders of your mighty love". The relationship between God's acts and our worship is even reversed, when Zschech says that God acts as a response to our worship. (Granted, some Bible verses are given to support this view, this is definitely not the general thrust of the Bible.) When we praise God, God acts. This also turnes praise into prayer, in an odd way. Shouldn't praise be a response to what God *has* done (Rev. 4:4; 5:9-10)? If we want God to do something, shouldn't we simply pray?
In this book we can read about a showbusiness spirit, look-at-me spirit, and creating an atmosphere of faith. This kind of hyper-spirituality is not based on the Bible, and tends to ascribe our human faults and sins to spirits (cf. James 1:14). The focus on atmosphere (here and now) may make us somewhat overlook the objectivity of the Gospel and salvation.
What I really miss in this book, is what i percieve as true worship. When believers together sing about and give praise to God for salvation through Jesus' death and resurrection - without any other motives than that. In order to have such worship, Hillsong first would need a sound theology. And in order to have good corporate worship, the "intimacy" of the music and lyrics would have to change since they also tend to make the songs individualistic.
Instead of this book, I would recommend Vaughan Roberts chapter "The Place of Music and Singing in Church", which can be found in his book "True Worship" or on the internet.
"Extravagantly Wonderful".......2004-04-01
"...I long to be known as an extravagant worshiper...that God would discover the song in my heart to be elaborate, overgenerous, and wasteful in my pursuit of Him." -Darlene Zschech.
When I read these words I just knew I had to have this book! This is my life's longing and Pastor Darlene Zschech put it into words. This woman of God has the hand of God's favor upon her so powerfully and her beautiful anointing is so wonderful. This book is such a wonderful glimpse into the heart of Darlene. She talks about some of her hardest life lessons, highest mountaintop experiences, and deepest worship to our Lord! So many times during the book I found myself in tears because of the beautiful spirit and life God has put within her. It jumps off the page and into your spirit. This book is definatly an instument the Holy Spirit will use to minister His water of life into the well spring of your soul!
I was encouraged, challenged, and motivated to love my Jesus more and more every moment from now until forever. How wonderful that this life is only the beginning of an eternity worshiping our Beautiful God! If you are a worshiper, this book is a must! If music is your God given destiny, as it is mine, it is imperitive you read this book. I have begun to make this quote the verbalization of my heart's cry and am already seeing and feeling the Holy Spirit breathe new life into the deepest corners of my heart. I know more than ever God's dream is mine and that He will allow me the priveledge of glorifying Him in this calling. I know God will bless you as you delve into the depths of Darlenes love for Him! Mine will never be the same
Take a look at your heart as you read through this book........2003-01-15
This book is filled with a challenge to make worship your lifestyle, not just on Sunday morning. Darlene shares personal stories and examples in the scriptures which cause the reader to see that being an extravangant worshiper goes deep into one's heart to see what lies there. Worship comes from deep within your being. The act of worship is the outside that is seen. But God sees the heart of the worshiper. It is not just all about the music and lyrics but the preparation of your heart.
Take a look at your heart as you read through this book. You will discover how God is drawing you ever closer to Him. The insights shared by Darlene will confirm to you that you want to hear from Him in the simplicity of His presence. You will see that having radical faith and expection when you worship will refresh you! You will not look at worship the same way as you have before. You will find worship is a part of you, not just something you do.
--- reviewed by Susan Bradbury for Christian Bookshelf
Book Description
What little treasure do you wear or keep in your pocket or bag that you have to have with you all the time? Why does it make you feel good, lucky, or safe? Find out here! Barbara Black Koltuv takes you on a journey of understanding---a virtual treasure hunt for amulets, talismans, and magical jewelry. Lavishly illustrated in full color, this book holds a valuable cache of intriguing images and information about the creation, use, and meaning of amulets, talismans, and magical jewelry. Learn what they have done for generations of spiritual seekers. The Second Commandment of the Old Testament forbids the making of idols to represent God. Nevertheless, we have always needed a direct and personal connection to the divine. A way is provided in Exodus, when God says, Make a sanctuary for me and I will come to dwell among you. God then gives instructions for building the Ark of the Covenant---the first tribal amulet, not yet personal, but a way for God to be present with us. From there, amulets, talismans, and magical jewelry evolved to provide a personal connection to God. Koltuv's love of Hebrew scripture flows through her fascinating collection of pictures and biblical stories that explains the use of and need for sacred objects that affirm this personal connection. You'll be dazzled and entranced by the array contained here: glass beads for protection against the evil eye; the mezuzah found on door frames; the hamsa, or five-fingered hand; engraved pendants and precious tiny boxes containing special prayers; Aaron's breastplate; the knots on the prayer shawl and the teffilin; henna hand and foot painting; amulets from the Sefer Raziel that protect newborn infants from evil forces; and much more. When you open this book, you open yourself to a new awareness of the magical objects surrounding us in everyday life and religious practice, as well as to a healing spiritual connection!
Customer Reviews:
Focuses upon the creation, use, and meaning of objects invested with magical or spiritual powers .......2005-11-06
Beautifully illustrated with color photography, Amulets, Talismans & Magical Jewelry: A Way To The Unseen, Ever- Present, Almighty God by clinical psychologist and Jungian analyst Barbara Black Koltuv focuses upon the creation, use, and meaning of objects invested with magical or spiritual powers as reflected in the Hebrew scriptures, rituals and beliefs. These items range from glass beads for protection against the evil eye, to the mezuzah found on door frames, to the hamsa (five fingered hand), engraved pendants, tiny boxes containing special prayers, Aaron's breastplate, the knots on the prayer shawl, the teffilin, henna hand and foot painting, amulets from the Sefer Raziel that protect newborn infants from evil forces, and so much more. Amulets, Talismans & Magical Jewelry is a welcome and informative contribution to personal and academic library New Age, Metaphysical, and Judaic Studies reference collections.
A book for all people.......2005-08-25
Whether you wear a charm, own a rabbits foot or a mystical scholar you will find much in Barbara Koltuv's book on Amulets Talismans and Magical Jewelry that you never did before as I did.
At six when I was left in school I ran home first chance I got. My father took me for a blessing to a Hasidic Rabbi in Brighten Beach in Brooklyn, N.Y. in the 1930's. Besides the blessing Rabbi Yechiel Ashkanazi gave me a kamaiah: It was a Heh, fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet representing God's name. My mother sewed it into a little cloth pouch and hung it around my neck with a string.
Reading this book brought me to new level of relationship with that Heh seeing how many people in so many lands who were soothed, protected,and made tranquil by amulets.
I will use the book mostly as an encyclopedia yet it is seldom that I open the book anywhere and not get captured by the contents of the page.
Charles Roth, Leader of Hasidic Workshops
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