Spiritual Investments: Wall Street Wisdom from the Career of Sir John Templeton

Book Description

Gathered here are seventeen sound investment principles that will help people make sensible choices for financial security. What is surprising, however, is how applicable these principles are to life.

Customer Reviews:

A Very Bad Book.......2003-11-21

Poor writing. Poor spelling. Poor research. Poor content.

This book is doo doo.

Terrible!.......2001-01-27

This is, without a doubt, one of the worst books I've read in recent memory. It reads like a painfully long book report on Buster Keaton written by a junior high school student: short, awkward, repetitive sentences chock full of misspellings, grammatical errors, overused superlatives, and excessive generalizations. As if that weren't enough to dissaude anyone from trying to read his work, the author included a plethora of factual errors as well. I'm ashamed our public library actually carries a book this bad, but at least I didn't waste any money on it.

Unbelievably HORRIBLE.......1999-02-02

One question kept running through my mind as I read this book (or, rather, read the first half before I threw the thing out)....Did this author do any actual research for his information??? I noticed many glaring contradictions or falsehoods troughout the book, but chalked these up to the possibility of differing reports from interviewees. But, as soon as I read that DANNY KAYE starred in The Buster Keaton Story (actually starred Donald O'Connor), I promptly recycled the book and went in search of something (ANYTHING) better that may have been written about the greatest film comic of ANY time. Mr. Edwards, please stick to criticizing film....don't actually WRITE about it!

Run away!.......1998-01-03

This embarrassing book has so many factual errors it is difficult to know where to start pointing them out. One example will suffice: the author lists Danny Kaye AND Donald O'Connor as playing the lead in the biopic THE BUSTER KEATON STORY. Interesting sounding 'facts' abound. No proof is ever offered that these events, totally unknown to other Keaton biographers, ever occurred. I have to give them the same credence I did the Kaye/O'Connor credit. And how dare he repeat the old saws about the Fatty Arbuckle scandal? This author's main source of research appears to have been HOLLYWOOD BABYLON. This might have made good fiction if the writing style were not so excruciatingly bad. Avoid like the plague.

Hey Thanks For Info.......1997-04-23

First of all, thanx to the people who read and reviewed this book, and thanx to all on the net who told me about it. I went out this weekend to buy it, and as soon as I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. The author (Larry Edwards) sure knows how to write a book with all the usual dribble. Great ancedotes and the Hollywood history of the time is written in such a way you feel like you're there. I also feel the comparison of Keaton and Chaplin was done in a very fair way. SIMPLY PUT, THIS IS A GREAT BOOK and I am looking forward to his other AND ACCORDING TO AMAZON, THE NEXT ONE IS A BELA LUGOSI BIO ----AWESOME

Average customer rating:
Brighton Rock: The British Film Guide 11 (Turner Classic Movies British Film Guides)
Steve Chibnall
Manufacturer: I. B. Tauris
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 185043400X
Release Date: 2004-12-23

Book Description

Steve Chibnall is Leader of the Film Studies pathway and Co-ordinator of the British Cinema and Television Research Group, De Montfort University, Leicester. He is the author of Get Carter: The British Film Guide 6 (I.B. Tauris).

Book Description

Victoria's Secret and Calvin Klein are brand names practically synonymous with sexually suggestive advertising. Considering their high public profile and huge profits, anyone can see that sex sells. Despite polls indicating that the public would like to see less sex in advertising, Americans don's mean what they say. They continue to respond to the lure of provocative marketing and, most important to business, they buy. Knowing this, more and more advertisers are testing the limits of public taste in the highly competitive battle to capture the consumer's attention.

All of this is well documented in Tom Reichert's profusely illustrated book, THE EROTIC HISTORY OF ADVERTISING. As Reichert amply demonstrates, the use of sex in advertising is far from being a recent fad. As long ago as the 1880s, Duke Cigarettes enclosed in their packs--not baseball cards--but similar small cards showing scantily clad "women of the stage," which encouraged purchasers to keep buying to complete the whole set. In the 1920s Woodbury soap became the market leader largely through ads with images of romantic situations and claims that Woodbury soap made a woman's skin irresistible to the touch. In the 1930s White Owl cigars had great success in marketing through ads showing attractive couples locked in a passionate kiss, suggesting that only White Owls left the breath smelling pleasant. Warner Lambert capitalized on the same kind of imagery for decades to connect Listerine mouthwash with romantic success.

With numerous illustrations showing many erotic ads--some campy, some esthetically elegant, some homoerotic--that push the boundaries of sexuality and taste from over a century of product marketing, Reichert not only tracks the history of sex in advertising but also explores the many factors that make the link between sex and our consumer culture so successful. Among other things, he considers the range of salacious imagery, from mildly suggestive to the use of outright nudity; the emotional impact of sexy ads; the influence of sex on brand recognition; what works and what doesn't; the differences between male and female responses; and the possible harms of using sex in advertising, especially in regard to young audiences and the perpetuation of female stereotypes.

This thoughtful, enjoyable, and fascinating look into the world of advertising--from the late 1800s to the most erotic ads of today--will appeal both to media-savvy consumers and aficionados of pop culture.

Customer Reviews:

Fun and enlightening.......2003-06-25

If you think advertising has recently become too risque, this is the book for you. Reichert has dug up some amazing examples from the last 150 years to prove that sex has always sold. It's a fun, easy read, and you'll learn something as you enjoy looking at what people considered sexy a century ago.

The Erotic History of Advertising.(Book Review): An article from: The Historian

Average customer rating:

The Erotic History of Advertising.(Book Review): An article from: The Historian
Rob Schorman
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Historian, published by Thomson Gale on March 22, 2005. The length of the article is 558 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Erotic History of Advertising.(Book Review)
Author: Rob Schorman
Publication: The Historian (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 22, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 67 Issue: 1 Page: 180(1)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

It's a wonderful day, Jumblers! Jammin' Jumble®, the most recent collection of the always-popular puzzles, is here to brighten your day. Throw your cares to the wind and pop open this book, and you'll be busily unscrambling letters and forming words to come up with the _____ mystery answers. Solving the 180 ___ Jumbles® in this ____ will put a smile on your face and a little zip-a-dee-doo-dah in your step.

Customer Reviews:

Just what we wanted.......2007-01-18

My 92-year-old mother had lost her vision and her mobility, and her greatest pleasure was doing the Jumbles together. We would read them and she would usually beat us getting the answers. It was a blessing to have this book in her final days.

Book Description

The volatile stock market is turning serious investors into macroeconomic-data junkies. Yet understanding just what the economic statistics mean, their place in the actual machinations of the economy and financial markets, and how to decipher the market's likely reactions to the latest pronouncements is a daunting challenge. Interpreting and applying effectively the complex cocktail of statistical data to investment decision making can be overwhelming. This book hones in on the dozen most important economic statistics observed on Wall Street today and points out the role that each plays in moving markets. It highlights the key interrelationships that each statistic possesses in and among the other economic indicators, and outlines their practical significance to investors. An extremely readable desk reference written from the combined perspective of a former trader, academic, and current Wall Street economist, "The Trader's Guide to Key Economic Indicatorswill lead readers through the mists of information, revealing what these important measures are and what they really mean.

Customer Reviews:

Great coverage of important indicators without messy details.......2005-02-27

I found this book to be very readable and balanced from start to finish. Sure, some of the material became a little dry, but each chapter was readable in a single sitting. The excellent consistency between chapters with respect to the writing style and use of charts made the book well worth the time to read. The author has done a great job in pointing out what matters for each index he described. I wish all books on finances could be written with such clarity. This book is ideal for anyone who wants to learn more about spotting trends in the economy by learning the significance of the dozen economic indicators the author presents.

Quality book but too factual.......2004-08-24

This is a quality book without question. However, it provides too much factual descriptions about all the indices rather than important, key insights. I often had a hard time finishing every chapter completely. It often proves difficult (if not impossible) to get a hold of the data mentioned in the book without subscribing to a professional service like Bloomberg. 20% of this book gives 80% of the insight : I'd rather had seen the author explore that 20% in depth.

Not just for traders. Easy to read book for anyone........2004-06-29

This book was surprisingly easy to read and understand. Very interesting material for anyone curious about the factors that influence the economy and what measures to watch to understand where we are heading. Concentrates on the major indicators and tells you where the data comes from. Illustrated with lots of charts and tables to help you understand the relationships over time. Organized so that the information builds up to the more complex relationships. Though written by an economist, this book is surprisingly easy to read and the material was interesting (even for someone that slept through econ 101, like me). The most useful economics book I have run across. Highly recommended.

Superb Overview of Major Economic Indicators for Traders.......2004-06-24

Even if you once knew all the ways that economic indicators are defined, data collected and reported, chances are that all of this has changed (unless your knowledge is less than 2 years old). In addition, the best way to use these indicators is constantly changing as new analytical tests are developed and back-checked. So if you are the chief economist for a Wall Street investment bank or brokerage firm, you probably don't need this book. But if you hold stock and bonds in the United States less often than 10 years, you can profit from this book.

Each chapter provides a delightful history of how a relevant indicator was developed, how the measurements are made now, how to apply the indicator for stock and bond investing and the latest technique for getting an "edge" on just looking at the indicator alone. The material is written in the kind of simple language that almost anyone can easily understand. The math is simple, too. If you can do arithmetic, you can understand this book.

There are individual chapters GDP; leading, lagging and coincident indicators; employment; industrial production and capacity utilization; indices from the Institute for Supply Management; manufacturers' shipments, inventories and orders; manufacturing, trade inventories and sales; new residential construction; consumer confidence and sentiment; advance monthly sale for retail trade and food services; personal income and outlays; and the consumer and producer price indices. Each discussion looks at how these data help you understand the future business cycle, interest rates, corporate profits and Federal Reserve actions.

I thought that the graphs were one of the best parts of the book. You can judge for yourself how powerful the relationships are that Mr. Yamarone outlines.

As I finished this book, I realized how nice it would be to have similar books for consumer decisions (like when to refinance your home, etc.) using the same kind of indicators in different ways.

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The Trader's Guide to Key Economic Indicators.(Book Review): An article from: Business Economics
Edmund A. Mennis
Manufacturer: The National Association for Business Economists
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000ALRBGU
Release Date: 2006-07-14

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Business Economics, published by The National Association for Business Economists on April 1, 2005. The length of the article is 453 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Trader's Guide to Key Economic Indicators.(Book Review)
Author: Edmund A. Mennis
Publication: Business Economics (Refereed)
Date: April 1, 2005
Publisher: The National Association for Business Economists
Volume: 40 Issue: 2 Page: 76(1)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Confederate guerrilla. Bank robber. Cold-blooded killer. Jesse James was all of these, but still, most of his life remains a mystery. Now Marley Brant, author of the acclaimed biography The Outlaw Youngers, sets the record straight, painting a portrait of a man obsessed with rebellion, loyalty, and an irrepressible need to be known. He loved as intensely as he hated. And in his eyes, the war between the states would never be over. From his obscure childhood to his explosive career during the Civil War to his earning the reputation as the country's most notorious bandit, Jesse James brings you the facts and dispels the fiction. Once and for all, we can finally know the man and the myth. * Includes rare photos from the James family archives * There are many myths and misconceptions about Jesse James-this book sets the record straight and is the most up-to-date book on the subject * The author's first book, The Outlaw Youngers, drew rave reviews from the Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and others

Customer Reviews:

jesse james.......2006-03-16

a little wordy in the second chapter, but it is finally understand able why jesse and frank james reacted to their family and defending what they believed in. loving their family and what is good. hating what was not right in their eyes.

Jesse James: The Man and the Myth.......2004-02-06

Apparently, Hollywood paid Brant to do research for a movie on the Younger Brothers. Without a doubt, the research overlapped to the James brothers. For the first ¾ of the book, she does a fare job of exposing the myths & must have tired because she took the last quarter to reiterate the dime store versions of history.

I question not so much of what was written, conversely what was left out of the book that would eliminate the absolutes is disturbing.

Fact or Fiction?.......2002-07-10

I did not check up on the source of references for this book, but I really enjoyed the reading! It was the most interesting factual book I have read in a long time. I thought the Author was very clear on the instances that were tall tales and what not. So over all, if your interested in a spicey history such as Jesse James, I highly recommend this book.

Excellent Research and Lively Reading.......2001-10-25

This is an extraordinary book!
As a Civil War buff in years past, I was particularly drawn to historical biographies. In recent years, I have developed a keen interest in the Post Civil War and Outlaw periods. I've visited many historical sites, museums and the like. I've heard lectures and had conversations with on-site historians, academic pros and other enthusiasts. When the subject was JESSE JAMES, virtually all of them spoke highly of this book and considered it a "must read." That's what led me to buy the book. I am amazed at the depth of the research, much of it painstakingly conducted first hand. It is unusual to see such a strong mix of documentation -- archived legal papers, state records, historical first hand accounts, family accounts and so on -- gathered in such a logical, readable format. Events are well chronicled and presented in an engaging manner. Conclusions are both logical and thought provoking. To use a cliché (as I am definitely not a writer/biographer!) I found myself reluctant to put it down. Rarely have I experienced such pleasure in getting to know an important historical figure, their times and the forces that would drive their destiny. I can personally recommend "Jesse James" to anyone seeking scholarly knowledge of the man and his times. Jesse's remarkable personal story truly comes alive in this engaging, artfully presented and very well written book. I now look forward to reading more of Ms. Brant's books -- for knowledge AND pleasure!

Erring on the side of legend.......2001-10-01

Marley Brant is perhaps better known for her book on the Younger brother, partners in crime with Jesse James and his brother Frank. There have been literally dozens of books on the story, and one might legitimately ask, why another one? I opened the book to pages 58-59 and immediately found the apocryphal story of the alleged attack on the farm outside Kearney, Mo. where Jesse was born, which supposedly occurred in February 1867, presented as fact. I checked the source, note #4, Chapt. 6, on page 274, and found it to be I, JESSE JAMES, a work of historical fiction by Jesses great-grandson. In his book, JESSE JAMES WAS HIS NAME, by William Settle, one of the few reliable accounts, this yarn is debunked, in note 34, page 210 by Robert James, Frank James' son. It appeared in the mythmaking writings of John Newman Edwards, the father of the James myth, in the 1870's. I would have given this book a four star rating, but for things like this. The book in in fact rather dated, in light of more recent scholarship. The fact that it came out somewhat after
the 1996 DNA testing on the remains of Jesse James and spate of cable documentaries about same, and was only published in paperback, indicates that it was probably intended to cash in on the backwash of interest generated by the media. Brant went on to write a book about Southern rock music.

Amazon.com

Assiduous research, beautiful writing, and a great talent for historical reconstruction make Laura MacDonald's Curse of the Narrows the definitive account of the Halifax explosion of December 1917. MacDonald is a master of minutia--chemistry, laws of navigation, the horrors visited on the poor people of Halifax's north end--and she writes with supreme authority and exquisite detail.

MacDonald begins her account with geography and she sets the scene by examining the bustling port of Halifax in the First World War. Using the very best recent scholarship, she then reconstructs the accident itself, describing closely the series of small errors that lead the Norwegian freighter Imo to ram into the French munitions vessel Mont Blanc in the narrows of Halifax harbor: "The Mont Blanc, with 2,925 tons of explosives, packed in hermetically sealed holds inside a super-heated hull was now the most powerful bomb the war and the world had yet produced." When it exploded, thousands of innocent people were killed in an instant. If MacDonald had limited her investigation into the causes of the accident her book would still be worth buying. She offers much more: examinations of the inquiries and court cases, the official response to the devastation, and above all the ways in which families were challenged by the appalling effects of the explosion. By tracing the struggles of these families, the Duggans, the Frasers, and the Galloways among others, MacDonald brings the scope of the tragedy home to the reader in a way that few would have believed possible. Be warned. Parts of this book are book have an impact on the reader's soul no less than the concussion of the explosion itself. This is a magnificent accomplishment. --William Newbigging

Book Description

The dramatic story of one of the greatest disasters in history

In 1917, the port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was crowded with ships leaving for war-torn Europe. On December 6th, two of them—the Mont Blanc and the Imo—collided in the Narrows, a hard-to-navigate stretch of the harbor. Ablaze, and with explosions on her deck filling the sky, the Mont Blanc grounded against the city’s docks.

As thousands rushed to their windows and into the streets to watch, she exploded with such force that the 3,121 tons of her iron hull vaporized in a cloud that shot up more than 2,000 feet; the explosion was so unusual that Robert Oppenheimer would study its effects to predict the devastation of an atomic bomb. The blast caused a giant wave that swept over parts of the city, followed by a slick, black rain that fell for ten minutes. Much of the city was flattened, and not one in 12,000 buildings within a 16-mile radius left undamaged. More than 1,600 Haligonians were killed and 6,000 injured; and within twenty-four hours, a blizzard had isolated Halifax from the world.

Set vividly against the background of World War I, Curse of the Narrows is the first major account of the world’s largest pre-atomic explosion, the epic relief mission from Boston, and the riveting trial of the Mont Blanc’s captain and pilot. Laura M. Mac Donald is as adept at describing the dynamics of a chain reaction explosion as she is at chronicling unforgettable human dramas of miraculous survival, unfathomable loss, and the medical breakthroughs in pediatrics and eye surgery that followed the disaster

.
Using primary sources--many of which haven’t been read in decades and--with a wonderful feel for narrative history, Mac Donald chronicles one of the most compelling and dramatic events of the 20th century.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding book on a tragic event in history that people may not know about.......2007-09-21

This past summer, I visited Halifax, Nova Scotia and learned (for the first time) of a detonation of more than 5 MILLION pounds of explosives that ignited when a Munitions ship (the French ship, Mont Blanc) was scraped by a Belgian Relief Ship (the IMO). The Mont Blanc slowly drifts towards the port while French sailors jump the ship knowing what is about to happen. The tragic event that occurred just minutes later killed more than 2,000 people with several thousand wounded all due to an error in the narrow shipping lanes. I knew I had to read more about this event and found this book on the subject.

The author does a great job of setting the scene before the collision and then what occurs during and after the explosion. I was stunned when I read about the explosion, the shock waves that killed people instantly and the tragic (and horrific) scenes afterwards as the entire port area of Halifax was destroyed. The primary documents in the back of the book add to the quality of her work (statistics, interviews, etc...) and her writing style keeps you interested in the people who led the rescue efforts and those people who were permanently scarred from the explosion.

This is a great book about a little known piece of history that occurs during the First World War. I know I won't forget this book for a long time.

The "September 11" of the 1900's.......2007-05-15

This is an account of what resulted when a ship, heavily-laden with explosives for the WWI war effort, collides with another ship in Halifax harbor. It is a gripping moment-by-moment story of people in the town and on the ships as they react to the moments leading up to the explosion (which would be unrivaled in size until Hiroshima) and the recovery efforts that begin after. Individual survivors must recover and scramble to save themselves and others, doing the best they can, while a long-distance relief train, filled with medical workers, is sent from Boston. In the meantime, we continue to see the ongoing experience of the survivors "making do" as a blizzard bears down on the stricken city.

I thought this whole story was very fascinating, and reminded me strongly of 9/11. Only in this account, modern advances in technology, medicine, and communications are absent.

Tragedy and triumph.......2007-03-09

Once again, I have learned something that I had never known before reading this book: the explosion, tsunami and massive snowstorm that struck Halifax, Nova Scotia in December 1917. This is a well-written book that outlines the ship accident minute by minute, and then comprehensively details its awful aftermath. We get a story of great suffering and heroic action, particularly by the medical staffs that came to help from Boston, New York, and a host of Canadian cities. These dedicated people worked day and night without stopping to alleviate the suffering of the population of Halifax. If you wish to read a tale of heroism in the face of tremendous odds, this is the book for you.

This Book Provoked My Thinking on Then & Now.......2006-12-13

MacDonald describes how the tragedy occurred, and what different spectators saw around them as the Imo careened into the Mount Blanc. Today, the whole world watches tragedies like this from every angle (and aerial too) on TV. It took 90 years after the fact to have a definitive work on the Halifax explosion. In our media age, as Katrina occurred, millions of published words, photos, videos and accounts documented it.

While information has been revolutionized since then, human nature thankfully hasn't. MacDonald tells of many small instances of heroic altruism, such as the MB crew, knowing time was of the essence, taking time to be sure all were accounted for; people allowing the hijacking of their personal autos for the rescue effort; a man taking a baby and falling on it to shield it from the expected explosion. In Katrina we saw many instances of people helping people, in the Twin Towers, the young helped the old down the staircases. Another thing that hasn't changed is the need to find loved ones. I think of 9/11, the many poignant good byes on cell phones and how relatives appeared immediately with posters and pleas.

In 1917 Halifax, other than blaming the Germans, there seems to be little finger pointing among the populace. Liability seems to be an issue for the boat owners, not the people who lost families and homes. While the streets are patrolled, it seems that the rumors of looting are more prevalent than actual looting. Finger pointing now drags out for years in court rooms with high priced lawyers and huge settlements. Looting is a mixed bag, common in New Orleans and virtually absent from 9/11.

When the sketchiest of info reached them by telegraph, medical and relief personnel throughout the region quickly boarded trains and some shoveled the train tracks to make their way to Halifax. Again, in thinking of modern times, people are still generous when these tragedies occur (9/11. the tsunamu in Asia, Katrina) but time is no longer a practical commodity for medical professionals. Today, there are careers in disaster relief. There are still volunteers working side by side with Red Cross and other paid staff to help. Most people, particularly medical personnel, cannot just drop everything and go.

The Red Cross had greatly evolved since the San Francisco earthquake. In the following 11 years they had had experience in fires and other disasters. They now had guidelines for relief and rehabilitation and had savvy advice about organizational structures, handling money, etc. You can see the roots of the sophisticated organization that exists today.

The distribution of relief funds has certainly improved. The Black man who made an incredibly modest request (especially considering many others) was totally rejected because he requested a reassessment of his claim which begged the issue of the 10% rule for Blacks and 20% for whites.

Colossal Disaster.......2006-08-29

This is a true story of the gigantic explosion in Halifax harbor in Nova Scotia on December 6, 1917, resulting from the collision of the Imo, a Belgian relief ship, with the Mont Blanc, a munitions ship carrying almost three thousand tons of explosives. The explosion was so great that its effects were later studied by Opphenheimer to predict the results of an atomic bomb explosion. It is an event that is probably not well known by later generations, but is interesting to learn about, both on account of its enormity, and because of the manner in which it was handled by those so devastated.

The "Curse" is a minor part of the story related by the author, but ties in neatly to the great disaster. Laura Mac Donald did a superb job in researching the details of the fatal explosion and its aftermath. She recounts the particular events leading up to the gigantic explosion and its immediate results with great precision, and even provides a map so the reader can follow what happened. But when she begins to tell us how the survivors reacted, where they were and where they went, the map's deficiency shows up because there is not enough detail to trace their steps and corrolate their movements with the narrative. However, I count this observation as a minor criticism, for she richly details the physical and emotional effects of the explosion on the Halifax and Dartmouth residents.

While the explosion is certainly an important part of the whole story, the more interesting part is that which followed, the reponse of the people involved in this great tragedy, and their ability to cope with it. Many of those who badly needed help themselves were willing to help others in whatever way they could. In a single instant, more than 2000 people were killed and more than 6000 were seriously wounded, and 9000 were left homeless. The scale of destruction was enormous. And then came, almost immediatley, the effort to provide treatment and relief for those who were suffering. Those efforts were, in so many cases, absolutely heroic. The few doctors and nurses that were available worked around the clock for two to three days. Manual labor was needed to restore those buildings left standing into temporary hospitals and clinics. Because communication ability had been destroyed, messages needed to be gotten out for help and it was necessary to physically send someone to the nearest town to broadcast the alert for help needed. Then did the reponses come; from Montreal, from Ottowa, from Maine and Boston and Rhode Island, as well as New Brunswick. Doctors and nurses and auxiliaries were needed, and they came. The Red Cross came to provide relief services. The response was heroic, the help provided was monumental. It is a story of man's HUMANITY to man ! What they did for the beleaguered population of Halifax-Dartmouth was awesome.

The Christmas tree sent each year to Boston by Novia Scotia is a subtle but profound expression of gratitude for the great effort that the City of Boston made to provide help in the disaster. Almost overnight they organized a train to ship great quantites of medical supplies and clothing and other necessities, as well as providing doctors and nurses. Boston's response was seen as the supreme act of charitableness in a time of the greatest need.

The book is well-researched and well-written, and contains five appendices, providing statistical information on the disaster, the names and relationships of many residents in the disaster (some killed, some surviving), a look to the future of disaster management, an interview with Francis Mackey (the pilot on the Mont Blanc, the ship loaded with explosives), a listing of all the ships in the harbor on that fateful day, and a discourse on whether the tragedy was an accident or the result of sabotage.

Because this work was so well-researched and documented, it may forever stand as the definitive account of what happened at Halifax-Dartmouth on December 6, 1917. Mac Donald does, however, graciously and grandly, offer recognition of all the written materials that preceded her work. This book is certainly worth reading.

Curse of the Narrows: The Halifax Explosion 1917

Average customer rating:

Curse of the Narrows: The Halifax Explosion 1917
Laura M. MacDonald
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Canada
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Disaster Relief | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0002007878

Book Description

Critique and Crisis established Reinhart Koselleck's reputation as the most important German intellectual historian of the postwar period. This first English translation of Koselleck's tour de force demonstrates a chronological breadth, a philosophical depth, and an originality which are hardly equalled in any scholarly domain. It is a history of the Enlightenment in miniature, fundamental to our understanding of that period and its consequences.

Like Tocqueville, Koselleck views Enlightenment intellectuals as an uprooted, unrealistic group of onlookers who sowed the seeds of the modern political tensions that first flowered in the French Revolution. He argues that it was the split that developed between state and society during the Enlightenment that fostered the emergence of this intellectual elite divorced from the realities of politics.

Koselleck describes how this disjunction between political authority proper and its subjects led to private spheres that later became centers of moral authority and, eventually, models for political society that took little or no notice of the constraints under which politicians must inevitably work. In this way progressive bourgeois philosophy, which seemed to offer the promise of a unified and peaceful world, in fact produced just the opposite.

The book provides a wealth of examples drawn from all of Europe to illustrate the still relevant message that we evade the constraints and the necessities of the political realm at our own risk.

Reinhart Koselleck is Professor of the Theory of History at the University of Bielefeld and author of Futures Past: On the Semantics of Historical Time. Critique and Crisis is included in the series Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought, edited by Thomas McCarthy.

Book Description

Twenty five years in the making, this scholarly look at the doctine of Biblical inerrancy, the concept that the written words of the Bible are the perfect Word of God, is now available nationwide for the very first time. Detailed enough to enrapture the most dedicated, concise enough to interest lay people, "The Ultimate Heresy" is a must read for those interested in the origins of Christian faith.

Customer Reviews:

Best Scholarly work I have read in a long time!!!.......2005-03-12

Cragun has written one of the most informed and scholarly books on the doctrine of Inerrancy. Definitely not for just reading on the weekend. Be forewarned: This book will knock your socks off with the beliefs exposed. What is your view on inerrancy? Either way you will be challenged by what you read here. Whether you agree with him or not this is a great book for anyone looking to research the bible and what it truly means. If you actually take the time to look at what you believe, as well as looking up every verse, you may be surprised in what you find.

A good piece of advice is to read this book as well as a very conservative version of inerrancy and uses them to help you further your understandings and beliefs. It is definitely the long way around the issue but in the end the most rewarding.

Average customer rating:

The Ultimate Heresy

Manufacturer: Green Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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