Breaking Out of the Box: The Biography of Edward De Bono

Customer Reviews:

very little of De Bono.......2003-01-22

There is interest in this book... but it hardly surrounds understanding De Bono or his work better. Infrequently we get an idea of Dr De Bono - almost in a state of anxiety about getting on a plane, ignoring said biographer as he first appears at De Bono's gate. These, while interesting, are overpowered by an almost overzealous need to praise everything that De Bono has done.
We read that De Bono churns out another book mid flight: no criticism, no effort to understand if this new book adds much to what has gone before. Rather, we are left with the uneasy feeling that Dudgeon is in awe of his subject, afraid to wonder if any book written in several hours can really be an addition to what has gone before.
Although I happen to enjoy most of De Bono's work I couldn't help but feel that this book is something that De Bono would be proud of: "Simplicity" is one every page. Nothing is examined beyond the most cursory of thought. It's the only biography that I know of so, if you're desperate, grab a copy. Otherwise - spend your time elsewhere.

Book Description

Turkey Hunters and The People We Meet introduces us to some wonderful people that all turkey hunters are likely to recognize even if the names are not the same. Turkey hunters will find their own hunting memories rekindled by these beautifully woven tales that focus on the nature of the people who hunt the gobbling monarch of the spring. This is not one of the countless "how to hunt wild turkey books"; instead it is written for the purpose of allowing turkey hunters to further experience the grand bird that captivates our imagination. Settle in and experience turkeys and the people who hunt them in places reaching to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, the oak hammocks of South Florida, the swamps of Alabama, the brush country of South Texas, the Low Country of South Carolina, and several places in between. It is certain that Turkey Hunters and the People We Meet will become a coffee table fixture for all turkey hunters, undoubtedly reading these tales over and over again on the cold nights of February and early March as their minds begin the ritualistic preparation for the impending spring season.

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous Book.......2005-02-18

This is a must read for any hunter looking for someone who has shared in their experiences. Ryan Tucker has a knack for making you think you were there right next to him during all those exciting hunts. Whether you hunt or are just looking to experience the thrill of a hunt, this is the book for you.

Turkey Hunter must read.......2003-07-19

This book is something that we'll all want to read. It really helps you to remember your hunts. It was easy to follow and a great start to a good turkey season.

Book Description

This loving tribute to one of America's most beloved film actresses traces Taylor's career from precocious, pampered child star to full-fledged movie diva. It also recounts her glamorous life, her eight marriages, and her recent role as AIDS activist and fundraiser. With more than 100 full-color photographs, this superb illustrated biography provides an intimate look at a dazzling Hollywood personality.

Customer Reviews:

Lovely!.......2007-01-12

I love this book. The dustjacket cover is epecially beautiful I like how it is a shorter version or summary of Elizabeth Taylor's life bringing out some of the highlights Beautiful pictures! The author uses the word "indeed" too many times but other than that this is a first-rate book.

Wow..........2004-03-30

Although I have read many books on Liz, and know quite a bit about this lovely woman, this book gave me a renewed feeling about her. Thank you Ms. Branin, for reminding me why I so admire Elizabeth Taylor. For anyone interested in learning about this actress, this is a great place to start.

Nice pictures, but lacking in content.......2004-02-24

This book is, indeed, what its title claims it to be: pictorial. The pictures are good, so if you want to feast your eyes on the lovely Elizabeth Taylor, buy away. But if you're craving more textual content on the fascinating life of Liz, look elsewhere. The text was pretty wooden.....which is amazing, given the excitement of Liz's life.

The best book I have ever read on Elizabeth Taylor!!.......2003-01-06

I absolutely fell in love with this book!
Larissa Branin is a wonderful biographer of a wonderful actress.

Many books I have read on Elizabeth Taylor are too judgemental, and really were just written so that the author could state what was on their minds, and not to portray the actress. Also, they either gush over Elizabeth pathetically, or viciously attack her. But Branin, simply takes us through
Elizabeths life,letting us make our own opinions.

Some books have either too many pictures or too many small, insignifigent details, but this book was perfect, and I was sad when it was over.

An honest portrait of The Queen.
A beautiful Biography!!!

Beauty from within.......2000-12-21

This book is well done, and a loving tribute to Elizabeth Taylor. The only disappointing factor was that many of the photgraphs were ones frequently seen. It would be nice to see those rare photos of Miss Taylor, and more candids! I also found the book interesting in the fact that as Elizabeth has gotten older,her inner beauty shines through even stronger. Just look at those eyes - they tell volumes!

Average customer rating:

good, but not quite as good as pot stories

good, but not quite as good as pot stories

good, but not quite as good as pot stories

Psychedelic Trips for the Mind

Paul Krassner's Psychedelic Trips for the Mind
Paul Krassner
Manufacturer: High Times Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

High Times Presents Paul Krassner's Pot Stories for the Soul

Magic Mushrooms and Other Highs: From Toad Slime to Ecstasy

The High Times Reader

ASIN: 1893010074

Book Description

When People magazine called Paul Krassner "the father of the underground press," he immediately demanded a blood test. In this sequel to the Firecracker Award-winning Pot Stories for the Soul, he proves People right. Psychedelic Trips for the Soul includes funny, wild, and illuminating tales by and about such mind-altered luminaries as Timothy Leary, John Lennon, Abbie Hoffman, Groucho Marx, Jerry Garcia, Eldridge Cleaver, Squeaky Fromme, Wavy Gravy, Ken Kesey, Ram Dass, and even Hollywood's "million-dollar mermaid" Esther Williams, among many others.

Customer Reviews:

good, but not quite as good as pot stories.......2003-08-17

This is the second in a series of three books edited by Krassner collecting people's stories of their experiences with various drugs. The first, Pot Stories for the Soul, was about marijuana. This book was originally going to be called Psychedelic Stories for the Soul and the third to be called Magic Mushroom Stories for the Soul, but the humorless creators of the insipid Chicken Soup for the Soul series threatened legal action, and this book became Psychedelic Trips for the Mind and the third book will be titled Magic Mushrooms and Other Highs: From Toad Slime to Ecstasy.
Of the first two books, the first is the most entertaining--it has the widest variety of stories and many of them are quite amusing, horrifying, or otherwise entertaining. This book contains more stories of countercultural figures--the first three chapters are on countercultural history, Timothy Leary, and the Grateful Dead. Krassner's contributions to this book have all previously been published elsewhere.

Other chapters include a whole set of people's stories about tripping at Disneyland, the obligatory chapter of bad trips ("Bummers"), which are often the most entertaining, and a chapter by prisoners.

good, but not quite as good as pot stories.......2003-08-17

Psychedelic Trips for the Mind.......2001-09-04

Nice collection of historic stories about the history of LSD. This has a slightly different account, of the history we have all heard before; as reguards the 60's counter-culture movement.

Average customer rating:
Perceptual Puzzlers: 100 Challenging Exercises Designed for Maximum Fun and Cognitive Conditioning
L. B. Lang
Manufacturer: Thunder Bay Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Puzzles | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Perplexing Perceptions: Over 125 Challenging Exercises

Number Enigmas: Over 125 Challenging Exercises Designed for Maximum Fun and Cognitive Conditioning

Mind's Eye: Over 125 Challenging Visual Exercises

Confounding Logic: Over 125 Challenging Exercises

Devious Deductions: Over 125 Challenging Logic Puzzles (Brain Games)

ASIN: 1592230199

Book Description

Containing over 100 exercises, Perceptual Puzzlers challenges even the cleverest puzzle solver. For fun or for sport, these puzzles are perfect for car trips or airplane rides or even to find out who is the real puzzle wizard in the family. Puzzlers used to old-fashioned black-and-white puzzles will be happy to move up to this techno-colorful puzzle book.

Book Description

Apply the principles of Scrum, one of the most popular agile programming methods, to software project management#151;and focus your team on delivering real business value. Author Ken Schwaber, a leader in the agile process movement and a co-creator of Scrum, brings his vast expertise to helping you guide the product and software development process more effectively and efficiently. Help eliminate the ambiguity into which so many software projects are borne, where vision and planning documents are essentially thrown over the wall to developers. This high-level reference describes how to use Scrum to manage complex technology projects in detail, combining expert insights with examples and case studies based on Scrum. Emphasizing practice over theory, this book explores every aspect of using Scrum, focusing on driving projects for maximum return on investment.

Customer Reviews:

Simple introduction to Scurm........2007-08-01

This book provides a simple introduction to Scrum. Author briefly explains basic Scrum concepts based on real life case studies. However this book is not sufficient to start practicing Scrum in real projects. You will need at least a Scrum Master training course in order to fully understand Scrum techniques.

Coming from PMI PMP background I have noticed that the author does not understand the foundations of "traditional project management". For example on page 88 he draws a Network Diagram and refers to it as to Gantt chart... He also very often mentions PERT charts as one of his painful memories from waterfall projects.
Being such an expert in software project management Ken should know that there is no PERT chart, just the PERT technique (for estimating the duration of a task). PERT chart is a name of Network Diagram, wrongly introduced by Microsoft Project. It really strikes me how many people confuse MS Project with project management.

All in all, this book is worth reading if you need a brief introduction to Scrum.

SCRUM time!.......2007-07-03

This book did an amazing job of entertaining me and pumping me up to know more about scrum. Unfortunately, i haven't been able to practice any of this stuff at work becauase i'm not the project manager. I can't wait to learn more about scrum so i bought ken's other book "Agile software development using scrum" and am reading it now. It's much of the same material just more in depth and i'm loving it as well.

5 stars for the book! i'll let you all know how the methodology is after i find out!

From Product backlog to sprint review, you see how scrum is implemented and how each Chicken plays their role to it's fullest in this book!

Learn by example.......2007-06-25

This is a great book on Scrum. In a light, enjoyable series of anecdotes about real-world projects, it succeeds in communicating the deeper principles rather than just the surface-level practices.

Prompt and reliable service.......2007-06-07

I am completely satisfied with the shipment and quality of the book. I would absolutely go back to this seller, if he has what I need.

Good agile book.......2007-05-28

This book is one of good agile development book.
It provides the idea to implement agile process in our team.

Average customer rating:

What every Marketing employee should read
Quick read that will inspire.
Best tool when implementing Scrum
It's a great book, but you need more to become an agile project manager
Great conceptual change in PM thinking

Agile Software Development with SCRUM
Ken Schwaber , and Mike Beedle
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Computers & Internet | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0130676349

Customer Reviews:

What every Marketing employee should read.......2007-10-01

A revolutionary change to software development, relevant especially for business partners to read and master when development undertakes this progressive approach to staying competitive and advancing products.

Quick read that will inspire........2007-09-16

This book is worth every penny. After buying the first one I bought two more so that I could pass them around the office. It's thorough and inspiring.

Best tool when implementing Scrum.......2007-08-13

I've been a ScrumMaster for over 3 years now, and I still use this book on a constant basis (that's my fault, not the book's!). :)

While there are newer books, including Scrum for Project Managers by Ken, I find this book to be the closest to the cookbook many people want and need when implementing new methodologies and processes.

If you're thinking about implementing Scrum, this is the one book you cannot afford to pass over.

Good job Ken!

It's a great book, but you need more to become an agile project manager.......2007-07-26

I've read both of Ken Schwaber's books back to back. Schwaber underscores that a Scrum Master is not a project manager, so you need to be aware that there's a gap to be filled between what a Scrum Master does and expectations by a client around agile project management.

Great conceptual change in PM thinking.......2007-06-11

Ken has created a radical thought of empirical project management as against the prevailing defined process paradigm..
Enter the world of successful Agile project management using SCRUM. And who say's it is anarchy here?? Ken introduces the concept of discipline in chaotic projects life

Average customer rating:

Agile Software Development With Scrum
Ken Schwaber
Manufacturer: PEARSON PTR @
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N7BAUE

Average customer rating:

fascinating and informative

How little I knew

popularizing v being wrong, very wrong

Wide as the waters

Appreciating the text now so readily available.

Wide as the Waters: The Story of the English Bible and the Revolution It Inspired
Benson Bobrick
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
General | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
General | World | History | Subjects | Books
General | Church History | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Bible & Other Sacred Texts | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

In the Beginning: The Story of the King James Bible and How It Changed a Nation, a Language, and a Culture

God's Bestseller: William Tyndale, Thomas More, and the Writing of the English Bible---A Story of Martyrdom and Betrayal

God's Secretaries : The Making of the King James Bible (P.S.)

The Bible in English: Its History and Influence

William Tyndale: A Biography (Yale Nota Bene)

ASIN: 0142000590

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Benson Bobrick's Wide as the Waters: The Story of the English Bible and the Revolution It Inspired is a brisk and gripping work of history, religion, and literary criticism. Translation of the King James Bible took centuries to complete, and Bobrick provides colorful descriptions of the distinctive contributions of various translators who took part in the project, particularly John Wyclif in the 15th century and William Tyndale in the 16th century. (Tyndale, he points out, is the second most widely quoted writer, after Shakespeare, in the English language ["eat, drink, and be merry," is Tyndale's phrase; so is "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"].) Wide as the Waters interprets each translator's work according to its contemporary political context in England. The book's most dramatic passages are found in its account of Henry VIII's showdown with Rome, which resulted in (among other things) Tyndale's execution. Although Bobrick may overstate the singularity of the Bible's influence on the English Revolution (he asserts that the concepts of liberty and free will that guided revolutionaries who overthrew Charles I were primarily derived from the King James Bible), his argument is, at the very least, an effective and engaging reminder of Scripture's liberating power. --Michael Joseph Gross

Book Description

Next to the Bible itself, the English Bible was-and is-the most influential book ever published. The most famous of all English Bibles, the King James Version was the culmination of centuries of work by various translators, from John Wycliffe, the fourteenth-century initiator of English Bible translation, to the committee of scholars who collaborated on the King James translation. Wide as the Waters examines the life and work of Wycliffe and recounts the tribulations of his successors, including William Tyndale, who was martyred, Miles Coverdale, and others who came to bitter ends, as well as the fifty-four scholars from Oxford and Cambridge who crafted the King James Version of the Bible.

Historian Benson Bobrick traces this story through the tumultuous reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary Tudor, and Elizabeth I, a time of fierce contest between Catholics and Protestants in England.

Once people were free to interpret the word of God, they began to question the authority of their inherited institutions, both religious and secular. This led to reformation within the Church, and to the rise of constitutional government in England and the end of the divine right of kings.

Wide as the Waters is a story about a crucial epoch in the development of Christianity, about the English language and society, and about a book that changed the course of history.

"Bobrick is an exceptionally able writer of popular histories. . . . This new book is by far his most ambitious. . . . He succeeds entirely in the challenge he sets himself." (Simon Winchester, author of The Professor and the Madman, for The New York Times Book Review)

"With this compelling study, Bobrick has written an intricate and delightful prelude to any effective understanding of the evolution of modern Western democracy." (Michael Pakenham, The Baltimore Sun)

"[Wide as the Waters] . . . has the satisfying concreteness of a good novel. . . . This fast-paced nonfiction narrative is so engaging that it's likely to make a believer of any reader." (Daniel Mendelsohn, New York Magazine)

Customer Reviews:

fascinating and informative.......2007-08-18

Although the author writes from the Protestant perspective the book is written in an easy to read, flowing style that it keeps you turning pages. I learned so much from this book that it will remain on my bookshelf as a reference. I very much enjoyed reading this book, although I have some reservations about some of his conclusions. Whatever faults I found with the book were overshadowed by the sheer scope of his research into the personalities and achievements of the translators on the Bible.

How little I knew.......2007-01-14

My knowlege of history is spotty. Bobrick made it clear that I had known little of English history.

"Wide as the waters" is dense with facts. While readable, it does appear as if it were a draft into which Bobrick had packed all the facts but not gone back for a final rewrite with enhanced readibility in mind.

Bobrick does make clear the abuse of religous authority, arguments of tradition versus Scripture, the power of the English monarch, the extent of intolerance of what might seem nowadays small religous differences and the problems of Biblical translation. "Wide as the Waters" conveys the excitement of a time when courageous men risked their lives to speak freely and when the "common" people got access to the Bible. I hadn't heard of the Lollards before, who, like Cathar perfects in France, also chose a simple, dangerous life.

One learns of the responsbilities of proofreading, particularly so when it comes with a Bible, with the story of the "Wicked Bible". One wonders, if instead of omitting "not" in the seventh commandment, what would have become of the printer if "no" had been omitted in the first commandment in Exodus 20:3. As it was, the printer was fined and later sent to debtor's prison where he died 12 years after the "Wicked Bible" was released. Don't rush out looking for a copy of the "Wicked Bible": all copies were reportedly recalled.

Other than a reminder of my ignorance of large pockets of history, what I will most bring away from this book is the knowledge of the people who risked suffering and their lives to pave the way for the freedoms we take for granted today.

The memory of people like the Lollards (and the Cathars before them) is still subject to considerable misrepresentation to this day. I, for one, am most thankful that their sacrifices are well-documented. We must still, however, be on the alert for those who would try to reduce our religous freedoms. One step for us to not be midled is to turn to the historical record and consider the vested interests of the sources of the histories we read. Wikipedia notes, I believe correctly, that "The Lollards stated that the Catholic Church had been corrupted by temporal matters and that its claim to be the true church was not justified by its heredity." This may explain in large part why the Catholic Church labelled them heretics, a position still found in the "Catholic Encyclopedia". (For those interested in the Cathars, there are many books available which represent them fairly: Stephen O' Shea's "The Perfect Heresy" is an excellent introduction. Rene Weis's exceptional, detailed "The Yellow Cross" is closely based on historical records. The Cathars, like the Lollards are them, decried corrupt practices found in the Roman Catholic Church and were similarly then labelled as heretics by the Roman Catholic Church.)

Bobrick is to be commended to bringing the historical events and issues in England surrounding the Bible to our attention. Were it not for reputable historians like Bobrick, we might be misled by the work of propagandists.

popularizing v being wrong, very wrong.......2007-01-10

With one massive exception, my problems with this book are more generic than particular. The popularized history certainly has a place on library shelves, but I will generally leave such a book on its shelf for reasons shortly to become obvious. I certainly should have left this book on the shelf, unread.

Sadly, Bobrick avoids none of the pitfalls of the genre - un-attributed quotes, passive voice, disportionately detailed digressions into radically random nooks and crannies of history dictated by his sources (which remain un-cited,) not by the importance of a sub-topic to his over-view. Passive voice is the norm for such a book - "it can be seen," "it is suggested" - because the author doesn't want to take the time to sort out his sources, so he simply tosses in an insight without bothering to say who sees or who suggests. While I find this intellectually bankrupt, I do realize that footnotes are not attractive to a main-stream audience. Still, it's hard for me to believe that a main-stream audience would choose to have important distinctions glossed over, even if, at first blush, they may seem to be minor points. Bobrik's details, where they do appear, suggest no principle of inclusion but that of the arbitrary. If we must hear what Wycliffe ate at Oxford, we should also hear about the theological nuances in his translation of Genesis. Surely the latter is more important than the former in a book on the English Bible. But Bobrick evidently found the info on food, so he includes it, not bothering to read up on the more significant topic of Wycliffe's insertion of the word "nouyt" (nothing) into the first line of the first creation story.

Even crucial sub-topics receive cursory attention only. For all that he spews out half a chapter and more on the reign of Queen Elizabeth -- a corner-stone figure in any study of English history/theology -- his information never advances beyond the Blue Badge school of scholarship. In his bibliography, Bobrick cites only two studies of the much-studied monarch: Joseph M Levine's popularized life from the 1960s and the work of that prolific popularizer of accomplished females, Alison Weir.

So what do we call a text that is a popularization of a popularization? A meta-pop? Well, Bobrick never met a pop he didn't like.

OK, now for that massive exception. As with the details about Oxford meals, Bobrick tosses in bits and pieces of medieval and early Renaissance factoids. This, in context, is fine. Who can object to reading about the screech owl that gainsayed a pope? But, since they are off the topic of his summary, these factoids obviously receive little scrutiny from the author. (Yes, passive, as in "these items are passively conveyed to the reader.") Sometimes Bobrick's tidbits are simply popular history having one more unthinking iteration. And sometimes they are wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

On page 67, Bobrick identifies - literally parenthetically - Christine de Pizan as "the author of Le Roman de la Rose." This is so wrong as to be criminal. Not only was Christine de Pizan not the author, she spent much of her career condemning the text, both in the famous querelle de la Rose -- an early version of a pamphlet war, in which she sided with the Chancellor of the University of Paris in condemning the wildly popular work of Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun -- but also in her own oeuvre (such as The Book of the Duke of True Lovers and the famous Book of the City of Ladies.) The average undergrad English or history major knows that de Lorris and de Meun authored the text and that Christine de Pizan famously objected to it. If Bobrick's general knowledge of the period (and this is precisely the period of his topic) allows him to make such an error, I'm forced to regard all his other asides with the gravest suspicion. Yeah, sure, I know that Christine de Pizan didn't write the R de R, even though it's not my field. But what about the other stuff that Bobrick tosses out, other things also not in my field? Now that I know he can make a whopper of an error -- trust me, this is no nit being picked -- must I take the time to google every statement? Well, yes, if I want to file any of this away as knowledge. And what else could I do with it? Bobrick doesn't know enough about Englishing the Bible for his opinions to matter, so we are left with learning stuff from his bits and pieces. But the bits and pieces, as witnessed above, can be wrong.

That's the real sin of his error, casting doubt over everything else.

Popularizing should not mean mis-stating.

For a more trustworthy book on the topic by a scholar in the field, see In the Beginning: The Story of the King James Bible and How It Changed a Nation, a Language, and a Culture by Alister McGrath.

Wide as the waters.......2006-02-23

I found this an interesting book. It presented a historical comment on the history of the bible and it use and misuse by various people.

It (the bible) can be used as a foundation for required 'checks and balances' in churches and society. Sadly, in many circumstances, it is ignored in both.

A good historical read and an insight into the determination and faith of those people who brought the bible to where it is today.

Recommended

Appreciating the text now so readily available........2006-01-02

Benson Bobrick masterfully tells the story of how the Bible became readily available in the native tongue of millions of people in the English-speaking world and how thus engaging the minds of the laity broke the stranglehold of power held by the cartel of Church and State.

Many readers of the ancient Scriptures in English will recognize the names of Wycliffe, Tyndale, Coverdale, and King James I, though comparatively few have an appreciation for the work that they, and thousands of others, have done to make the Bible available to them. Such readers would do well to give Bobrick's present work serious consideration to develop a deeper appreciation for the text that is now so easily found.

Wide as the Waters: The Story of the English Bible and the Revolution It Inspired is also valuable background to the Bible for those whose interest is in understanding the English language better, and how much of the tongue's richness in expression comes from translation of the Scriptures from Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. Even as a strictly literary exercise, the Bible and comparisons among translation are well worth consideration. Indeed, if Doug Hofstadter can find so many insights from studying translations of a brief poem in his Le Ton beau de Marot, imagine how much mastery of one's language can be compounded from a work as comprehensive and profound as the Bible. I will go so far as to assert that no man can be called educated while ignorant of the Bible.

An important conclusion Bobrick offers readers is that translation of the Bible into English served as a foundation for the modern democracy. This is a conclusion worthy of some discussion. Supposing that any relationship between present systems of government and the Bible is limited to the Judeo-Christian belief system documented in the Bible and reflected in much of Western law would be a mistake. More central to Bobrick's point is that leaders could no longer claim Biblical support for their directives without having the ability to prove it from the Scriptures. In summary, authority reverted from men in offices back to the written word inspired of God.

As is evident from the Scriptures themselves, the inspired writings were the authority in the early days of Christianity. Luke, a believing first-century physician and close companion of Paul, wrote approvingly of those who searched the Scriptures for agreement with the word preached to them. (Acts 17:11) Nor was any particular privilege granted by virtue of office; no less a figure than the Apostle Peter was sternly and publicly reprimanded for acting contrary to Scripture. (Galatians 2:11-14) A priest or even bishop correcting the head of a Church, whether Catholic or Orthodox, in such a manner had been unthinkable for more than a thousand years by the time Wycliffe began his work.

By speaking only dead languages in their services and ensuring the inaccessibility of the Scriptures to the common people, religious leaders were able to put themselves in a position of power over others. Many people were inclined to show reverence and to work to please their Creator. Lacking the Scriptures for themselves, they became dependent upon those who claimed to represent God. Such leaders freely mixed in the world's politics, blessing, cursing, installing, and removing even kings. So it was throughout Christendom that people were led to perform every imaginable action and misdeed, supposing that they were acting as God required of them while in fact only satisfying the whims of their leaders.

In this position, the Church had become perverted, an instrument not to support the preaching of the Christ's message of hope for mankind but to enrich and empower the hierarchy at the expense of the common people. Certain men became so sure the legitimacy of their offices that they forgot its foundation, deviated from it, and became illegitimate. Little wonder, then, that "the first question ever asked by an Inquisitor of a `heretic' was whether he knew any part of the Bible in his own tongue," as Bobrick writes at the opening of Wide as the Waters. And little wonder that the hierarchy for so long resisted allowing a translation of the Scriptures that would be comprehensible to the people.

Yet the translation did come, and it brought with it a clear understanding of authority, separate from power that comes from office. Bobrick skillfully makes this point. That this leads necessarily to democracy, however, is not something I'm prepared to embrace.

First of all, democracy, per se, was around long before there was an English Bible, or even Christian Scriptures ("New Testament"). The Athenians pretty well had this down a few hundred years before Christ walked the earth. (A discussion question at the end of the book raises this issue itself and looks for discussion of the validity of the conclusion in light of democracy's origin.)

Secondly (and more importantly in my opinion), the revolution in government started by the English Bible must include the American brand of the representative republic. The critical feature here is not a law of the making of the people, but a government of limited and enumerated powers, spelled out in law, available for the governed to read for themselves. The most visible difference between Christianity and the Judaism from which it sprang is a matter of law: a comprehensive and complex set of directives in the latter case versus a simple set of instructions that helped people to see Christ as a model and to demonstrate their faith through the use their own consciences in following that model. Arming the people to question those who claim to lead them, to see the standard for themselves, and to give them the room to act is the stuff of revolution. In the centuries since the Bible became available in English we have seen the fruits of that revolution-and they've been second only to the revolution in thought and behavior that Jesus Christ himself started two centuries ago.

Wide as the waters. The story of the English bible and the revolution it inspired. (Book Review). (book review): An article from: Catholic Insight

Average customer rating:

Wide as the waters. The story of the English bible and the revolution it inspired. (Book Review). (book review): An article from: Catholic Insight
David Dooley
Manufacturer: Catholic Insight
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Catholic Insight, published by Catholic Insight on January 1, 2002. The length of the article is 1938 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: Wide as the waters. The story of the English bible and the revolution it inspired. (Book Review). (book review)
Author: David Dooley
Publication: Catholic Insight (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2002
Publisher: Catholic Insight
Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Page: 44(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Customer Reviews:

Best Introduction to Astronomy.......2005-06-23

I burrowed this book from a public library and read many parts of it, i found it a very well introductory handbook for all interested in astronomy...beginners & advanced alike 'll always find it very comprehensive & full of sound advice & information...i'm considering ordering a copy for myself,,,very handy & never failed me whenever i consulted it

The Rough Guide to the Universe 2 (Rough Guide Reference)

Average customer rating:

The Rough Guide to the Universe 2 (Rough Guide Reference)
John Scalzi
Manufacturer: Rough Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cosmology | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Cosmology | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

The selection of air pollution control apparatus can be a daunting task even for experienced pollution control professionals. The Air Pollution Control Equipment Selection Guide eases the burden by providing extensive information on the best equipment available for any air pollution control problem. Instead of endorsing one technology over another, the author provides general information so that you can decide on the proper technology to use for any given application. The book offers ample introductory information including a helpful "Air Pollution 101" chapter that reviews the basics of air pollution control. The text is divided into sections that are organized by the primary technology employed, i.e., Quenching, Cooling, Particulate Removal, Gas Absorption, etc. This structure enables you to jump from section to section and quickly compare technologies. Each section defines the type of gas cleaning device, the basic physical forces used in it, its common sizes, and its most common uses. Many air pollution control problems are not solved with one type of device, but through using a variety of designs synergistically. To make this task easier, the author includes sections on each of these devices and notes where they are commonly used in concert with other equipment. Wherever possible, the text includes current photographs or drawings of typical equipment within that device type. Written in an easy to read style, Air Pollution Control Equipment Selection Guide serves as a technologically accurate reference that will facilitate the selection of air pollution control equipment for any operation.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books