Product Description

The Apostle John's first epistle has brought conviction,understanding and confidence to followers of Christ for the past 20centuries. This dynamic book of the Bible covers the practicalissues that affect our everyday lives--salvation, a godly defenseagainst loving the world, prayer, discerning false spirits, and somuch more.

Christians seeking both an in-depth study of this importantepistle and a careful application of the Scriptures will be drawnto this complete work. Noted Bible expositor Martyn Lloyd-Joneseloquently discusses 1 John a chapter at a time and gives thestraight truth about salvation, freedom from sin and developing adeeper relationship with God. It is a strategic work for all whoare seeking to live out their beliefs and faithfully follow theirSavior.

Customer Reviews (8)

Studies in 1 John - Life in Christ
This is a fairly deep book about how to live the Christian life in a troubled world.Martyn Lloyd-Jones is very practical in his discussion regarding the book of 1 John in the Bible.He always uses Scripture to back up Scripture.I would suggest to anyone who wants to grow in their relationship to God to read this book.I am having to read it slowly, but it is worth the time.

Faithful Expositor of God's word
Like all ofD. Martyn Lloyd- Jones works this is solid doctrinally, yet practical,convicting, and powerful for everyday living - He is always so faithful to the text-We need more like him today!!!

Life in Christ by MLJ
Still going through it but lots of information from a pointed point of view.If you haven't read MLJ before, its different.

Practical and Thorough Study of 1 John
In his book Life in Christ, Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that the theme of 1 John is fellowship with God. Fellowship is most possible when Christians have an assurance of salvation: "There is nothing as vitally important as our certain knowledge that God has loved us in particular in Christ..."

How can Christians have assurance? How can they know that they are living a "life in Christ?" There are certain tests that John repeats throughout his epistle. These tests are the topics most dealt with by Lloyd-Jones in this book.

First, do we love God? If so, our love will show itself in a practical way: we will keep His commandments. "Love is not a sentiment; it is the most active, vital thing in the world. If I love, I want to please--I keep the commandments; and what I may regard as the love of God in my soul is a pure delusion unless it leads me to keep God's commandments and to live life as He wants me to live it."

Next, we must love our Christian brothers and sisters. This is the ultimate proof that we love God. Again, this love is not to be based upon feelings, nor is it to be based upon whether a particular person is lovable or not. Our love should proceed from our new nature, as God's love proceeds from His nature. "We must once and for ever get rid of the idea that God has loved us by way of response either to something that is in us or to something we have done," and so we should love others regardless of how they act or treat us. "That is what salvation is for, to enable us to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves." What is the nature of this love toward the brethren? "It acts, it gives, it expresses itself."

Dr. Lloyd-Jones begins each chapter with an explanation of the theology behind John's passage: "We must start always by realizing the doctrine; always start with truth." After the theology has been dealt with, he moves on to the practical application, giving the reader such things as "Ten tests which you can apply to yourself to know for certain that you know the love of God."

Life in Christ was originally published in five volumes: Fellowship with God, Walking with God, Children of God, the Love of God, and Life in God. Each of these volumes corresponded to a chapter in 1 John, and they are now the main sections of this one-volume, 734 page book published by Crossway.

If you are looking for a book that will make you feel good about yourself, this is not the one. The Doctor is concerned to give true believers reasons for assurance, but he is equally concerned to strip non-believers of false assurance. If you prefer "easy believism," you will not enjoy this book. If, however, you want to honestly examine your claim to Christianity in light of the Word of God, I recommend Life in Christ to you.

The Foundations of Christianity and the Tests of True Grace
Here is a God-centered exposition set that does not use any Greek words, nor difficult jargons. It is layman-friendly, but solid, powerful, heart-and-soul-searching by which I have been greatly blessed. Though the audio version of Dr. Jones' sermons are available online through their recording trust website, but due to poor-quality technology, considering these were recorded in the 1930's and 40's, I tend to lean toward the text version for clarity purposes.

The first epistle of John contains some redundancies to emphasize how exceedingly important the points being repeated are to ensure the audience truly understands and embraces them; namely, the doctrines of the Lord Jesus Christ, who he is, his nature, his accomplishment on the cross, as well as the goal of Christian life, that is, a joyful "fellowship with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ". It exposes the reality of Christians, who are "of God" living in a fallen world that "lies in wickedness", the reality of spiritual warfare against 'the world', 'the flesh' and 'the devil' within which false doctrines are included. John, often called "The Apostle of Love" also covers exquisitely the test of the existence of true grace in a person by hammering over and over the importance of embracing the right doctrines, keeping the commandments, loving the brothers. Pastor Jones clarifies several times, from the redundant nature of the epistle, the true meaningof the Apostle's exhortations,being aware of the danger of the two extremes resulting from a misinterpretation, whether intentionally or not; namely the antinomianism and legalism or perfectionism, as well as the false doctrines that are still pertinent today, particularly mysticism, which I believe the Pantecostal denominations need to heed. Some verses that Dr. Jones preached are particularly encouraging to me, among which are when he covers what the "world" means in ch.2 v. 15-16, the test of a Christian in ch.5 v.19, idolatry in ch.5 v.21, in addition to the exposition on some parts that I had a hard time understanding, as in ch.3, v.6-9, 20, and ch.5 v. 16.

I can tell Pastor Jones is the kind of preacher I wish I had the privilege sitting under. Though I may not have the preaching experience of what Prof. JI Packer describes as "with the force of electric shock, bringing to at least one of his listeners more of a sense of God than any other man" but I would agree with Pastor John Piper's comment that "many of us have felt this shock even through the written form of Lloyd-Jones' sermons." ... Read more

Product Description
Amazing how well prepared we are for the worst, knowing just what to do when a bus careens out of control, a bear makes an angry charge, or a blind date has bad breath. But what happens when that last powerball number comes up-and you have a perfect match? Or when, in front of a televised audience of millions, the voice says "And the award goes to..."-and it's your name?

THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO HANDBOOK shows readers how to cope with sudden wealth, power, love, success, and earthly glory. In scenario after scenario, it's what to do when life takes a turn for the lucky. When, for example, your car is rear-ended by another vehicle on a country road and Bill Gates stumbles out and slurs, "What'll it take to make this go away?" When Yale University accidentally admits your child-with a full scholarship. When an ATM machine goes berserk and starts spewing cash. When your husband says, "Dear, if we're going to spend $5,000 on a dress, don't you need the right necklace to go with it?" There are tips on how to accept an Oscar, sleep in First Class, shop for a private plane, take the presidential oath, and handle a polite, friendly teenage child.

THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO HANDBOOK combines practical information (what do experts advise lottery winners?) with shrewd social strategy, and is illustrated throughout with first-aid-manual style black-and-white line drawings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Shoot me...
I don't know what I was thinking. This book wants - really, really wants - to be clever, but when someone has nothing to say, has no real observation to make, it just comes across as empty. Why did the author base a book on another which was half-baked to begin with? And how can you make a successful parody of a book whose only saving grace was a chuckling undercurrent or irony. At least the original was subtle. I hope the poor dears don't decide to write a novel!

This book is a parody to itself.
I was not expecting this book to be nearly as funny as the Worst Case Scenario series, but even with low expectations, this book left me completely underwhelmed.If you've read the WCS books, don't buy this one, its not even remotely amusing.The scenarios are interesting to imagine, but the "tips" this guy gives do not have the same "over the top" humor that the WCS books have.In fact, the introduction says "open the book to any page and you will find it so funny you will buy the book."Not true at all.

One of the things that made the WCS books great is the illustrations.This book features an old balding guy in every illustration (is he supposed to be the author?).

I only purchased this book because an Amazon 3rd party seller had it for 70 cents, which still seems like a rip off to me.

good times
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK AND SERIES.IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SIMILIAR ABOUT WAITING TABLES, CHECK OUT CLAMCHOWDER.BIZ.THIS BOOK IS FANTASTIC.

GREAT PARODY!
This book is spectacular. The scenarios are far-out but holarious none the less. However, the only fault I found was the excessive reference to sexual themes. I didn't think that was necessary.

Ha Ha
This book is kinda cheesy. It makes you think it is going to peak some time, and make you pee in your pants laughing. I kept waiting for it to capture me and turn into a page turner. It's okay but I think a 14-25 year old would be amused with it. Definetly not for scholar readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An Unusual Thriller
Having read this book a couple of times, but many years ago, I wasn't sure it would hold up.I had lost my hardback copy way back in the seventies, and could never find another, until this renewed publication.

Christopher writes in a poetic, descriptive style, and this story unfolds slowly at first.A lot of time is taken to set up the characters, and the first part of the novel is frustratingly slow in a few places.But the book is not long, begins to pick up speed in the middle, and it practically races to its heart-pounding finale.

Concerning a group of miniature people discovered living in a remote old house in the southern Irish countryside (which has become a hotel run by the woman to whom the estate was willed), this story reveals itself as something different from what it seems at first.One might think of fairy tales and pixie dust, but this yarn is more sinister, and answers fewer questions than are asked.The story is actually plausible, if one does not look at the science too closely.

My one complaint is that the characters are overdrawn for a slight plot such as this, but I think I understand why Mr. Christopher did it this way.Explaining it would give away the ending, so I'll let it suffice to say that I would have liked a lot more action and just a little less psychoanalysis of the numerous characters.There could have been so much more to this work, I feel, but in its favor, it's an atmospheric chiller with some memorable passages that lingered in my mind for years.Expanded some, and handled the right way, THE LITTLE PEOPLE would make for a fascinating movie.

engrossing
I read this book a long time ago (shortly after being published) and as with all John Christopher's works, I was not let down.His books are always thought provoking, sometimes scarey, always worth reading! ... Read more

Product Description
Examines the personal life and football career of the quarterback for the Denver Broncos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful informative reading
I found this book to be very informative and inspiring. JohnElway is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. This book onlydoes him justice.I fell like i know him in a better sense after reading this book.END ... Read more

Product Description
A brief account of the life and accomplishments of Christopher Columbus. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An Attractive Book that Begins to Add a Little Historical Detail to the Classic Approach to the Columbus Story
This is an interesting book with nice artwork that unfortunately is a bit dry.I've included the first three paragraphs for your perusal so you can get the gist of the book's style.

Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy.
His parents wee Susanna and Domenico Colombo. Do-
menico was a master weaver.Susanna was the daughter
of a weaver.

Genoa is at the shore of the Ligurian Sea, part of the
Mediterranean.When Christopher and others looked out
over the water, they saw no end to it.

Christopher was a tall boy with a thin face and freckles.
He worked in his father's shop, but he dreamed of going to sea.

While the downside of the book is it's stark prose and a lack of smooth transitions in places, on the plus side it has nice artwork and covers many details that other little kid books don't.For example, it talks about how important Christopher's brother, Bartholomew, was when it came for inquiring after funds for the expedition.He was the one who spoke to the Kings and Queens of England and France - not Christopher.In addition, the author discusses how Christopher was once shipwrecked, and how he ran a shop with Bartholomew that provided books and maps for navigators.

In a general sense, this book builds a picture of Christopher Columbus as a man who didn't give up when faced with delays and difficulties.After reading and discussing the book, children should be left with the impression that Christopher's trip wasn't a sudden and whimsical affair and that he acquired years of sailing experience and struggled through many setbacks before being able to begin his great adventure.I, personally, like the emphasis on Columbus' struggle as it demonstrates that persistence works.

In addition, this book introduces the fact that the native inhabitants of the new world were not well treated by the Europeans.It doesn't go into detail, but it at least mentions the fact, along with the notion that the Indians retaliated in turn.In our home, we talked about this part with our six year old, but not our four year old.[Lets face it, those that would have us talk about genocide and what-not must not have young children in their lives as their suggestions are ludicrously inappropriate.]

Three Stars. [C+].Attractive book with pastel artwork.Not a great Read-aloud as it is a little dry, but you if can drop some of the verbiage and adapt the text a little bit, it makes a good educational text for the advanced preschooler on up to about eight-year old.The author touches on many points that children can relate to.And it is one of the few books for children that I have run across that even mentions that the men Columbus left behind were mean to the Indians, and that the Indians, in return, murdered them.

A great mythology - but one that denies the truth of Columbus' conquest
The story presented here is not surprising, as it recounts the traditional, accepted tale of Columbus' journey.It focuses on Columbus as a person, his desires, struggles, and eventual "success."

Unfortunately, this kind of a focus is very limiting.The bias embedded in the book treats the indigenous people as mute, subservient, nameless creatures who are happy to invite the invaders onto their land.Adler even relegates them to the status of mere goods saying something along the lines of, "On his journey back to spain, Columbus brought back with him pineapples, spices, and a few Indians."Those Indians, if you look at Columbus' own words, were slaves:

"Thursday, October 11, 1492
It appears to me, that the people are ingenious, and would be good servants and I am of opinion that they would very readily become Christians, as they appear to have no religion. They very quickly learn such words as are spoken to them. If it please our Lord, I intend at my return to carry home six of them to your Highnesses, that they may learn our language."

"October 14, 1492
...these people are very unskilled in arms. Your Highnesses will see this for yourselves when I bring you the seven that I have taken. After they learn our languages I shall return them, unless Your Highnesses order that the entire population be taken to Castille, or held captive here. With 50 men you could subject everyone and make them do what you wished"

Adler's story also fails to mention that Columbus himself was responsible for a tribute system that resulted in the death and mutilation of thousands of Taino.It might be nice to think that it was a result of the "bad deeds" of his men, but Columbus' logs, and the writings of his contemporary, Bartoleme De Las Casas tell a different story.

For anyone interested in sharing with students more than one simple and incomplete version of this history, I would recommend Rethinking Columbus, edited by Bill Bigelow and Bob Peterson.

A good beginning but Adler leaves out important details.
With great illustrations, Adler gives us the bare facts of Columbus' life, however, he leaves out the passion of the man that children can really appreciate.Furthermore, Adler "forgets" that 1 reason Columbussailed was to find new lands but another reason was to win converts toChrist.This & other historical information is lacking in his book. Iwas left with more questions than answers based on this book & will belooking elsewhere for these important answers.I wish the end of the bookhad a "parents note" with a synopsis of Columbus' life in moredetail. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Would you be a hero?
Neil Miller is a teenager much like any other. He has a reasonably loving family, and while they are not rich, they are also not poor.Then one day the Millers set out on a short trip down the motorway to visit Neil's grandparents in the small village of Winchelsea.Suddenly a lorry jack-knifes across the road and the Miller's car smashes full-pelt into it.Everyone, except Neil, is killed.Neil goes to live with his grandparents in Winchelsea.He starts school again in the nearby town of Rye.He and his grandfather return to the Miller's house to collect a few essentials and mementoes, then leave never to return again.Life seems to go on for Neil but really he lives in a numb, empty world.He cannot make new friends at school.He does his schoolwork as a distraction, to fill up the time, rather than out of interest.If anything Neil becomes more cynical about life and people, though perhaps more realistic. Then one day on the news Neil hears about the Calcutta Plague.It strikes the elderly, seeming to make them even older overnight.Quickly the disease spreads to other places and alarmingly begins to infect younger and younger people.Surely Neil and his grandparents will be safe in England, in little Winchelsea?But swiftly, mercilessly the plague rushes closer and closer.Who will survive and how many?Is the end of civilization near?

The theme of apocalypse and survival is common in science fiction and this novel could have been just one more, a basically run-of-the-mill story.Christopher, however, turns the standard formula on its head.His tale is not one of heroism and endurance against all odds; rather, it is a catalog of not-coping, bad-luck and misadventure.In real disasters there are certainly those who shine as examples to us of the heights the human spirit can reach to, but how would most of us ordinary people react?Christopher thinks not well.Even Neil, the main character of the story, is able to go on because he has already been numbed by personal tragedy.The events of the cataclysm drift by him as a fog of meaningless happenings.Certainly Neil is upset by further deaths, but not really upset, as we might realistically expect.Interestingly the reader does not dislike Neil for his callousness.Instead we understand him and sympathize.

Christopher's succeeds in creating memorable characters and Clive, for one example, stands out as an amiably eccentric, but strangely threatening individual.Clive is slightly mad and Christopher has captured this illness and irrationality well.Neil, however, is the only character who develops as he gradually thaws from his numbness.

The story proceeds at an interesting pace and as soon as the details of one circumstance have been adequately explored we move on to a new occurrence or new character. This means that the story is to a certain extent episodic and that some of the characters remain cameos.Each episode receives at least two chapters though, so we do not feel that any incident is treated trivially.

As we have noted above apocalyptic plots are common in science fiction and indeed can be traced back as for as Mary Shelley's (1826), where civilization is also whipped out by a plague.We are also reminded of Richard Jefferies' (1885) with the vegetation covering the remains of lost culture.H. G. Wells' (1898) with its maladaptive Preacher and Engineer episodes can also be quoted.Robert O'Brien's (1976) is an example of a good, contemporaneous teen-novel with a similar theme, although in that book the disaster is nuclear holocaust.

All in all is not a bad effort and will certainly entertain the intended audience (who may not have read the many look alike works).Christopher's extended exploration of the psychology of disaster (maladaptation and anti-heroism) make his book different from the rest.
... Read more

Product Description
Thirteen-year-old Luke has no reason to suspect that anything will ever change in the primitive society of the future in which he lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Prince Is Worth Excavating
John Christopher made me love the end of the world. When I was a child, someone (I've forgotten exactly who) gave me a copy of Christopher's Tripods Triology, a YA romp through an earth dominated by towering, three-legged, metallic creatures. The mélange of post-apocalyptic survivalism and science fiction completely captivated me, but as the years rolled on I lost track of Christopher. Seems I wasn't the only one. Despite steadily writing under a variety of pseudonyms since the early 1950s, Christopher (whose real name is Samuel Youd) has garnered little notice. The trilogy that first attracted me remains in print, and The Death of Grass got a new edition from Penguin this year, but the majority of his oeuvre remains forgotten. That's a shame, because his novels display an enviable economy of style and tight-as-a-drum plotting. Both are certainly on display in 1970's The Prince in Waiting.

Summers slide by and winters linger in Winchester. Luke Perry knows this wasn't always so, knows that the ancients enjoyed fairer skies before they offended the Spirits with their abominable machines and brought down destruction on the entire globe. Now men dwell in isolated city states, avoiding the great ruins and warring with one another for grain and gold. Laws are few but absolute. No matter how battles go, cities themselves are inviolate. The deformed, dubbed polymufs, must be destroyed if they are animals or condemned to perpetual servitude if human. And any attempt to construct a machine requires the death penalty. So say the Seers, cloaked mystics who commune with the invisible Spirits and teach men their commands. The Seers have frightened Luke at times, but now they have good news for him: His father is destined to become Winchester's prince -- and Luke himself a prince of princes.

The Prince is remarkably seamless. Christopher rolls the action from adolescent worries to near-future exposition to royal intrigues to bone-jarring battles with nary a hitch. Indeed, even his action scenes, which often feel tacked on to many children's reads, are organically integrated. Sharp words and clenched fists fit with Luke's angry impulsiveness. Also, the powers that steer Winchester may not be entirely invisible, and while the ending doesn't come as a complete surprise, it has enough of a twist to make it enjoyable. Prince is worth excavating from the ruins of history.

A decent beginning for an uneven series
The first book in the Sword of the Spirits trilogy, which is IMO stronger than the more famous Tripods series--better concept, better (particularly female) characters, better plot twists--but, paradoxically, no single book in this trilogy is as strong as the individual books in that series. It really feels like the author had an excellent idea, got it two-thirds of the way figured out, and went with the incomplete result. Go ahead and read the series, but be prepared for the high point coming from book two, not the ending.

Not as good as the Tripods but still interesting
Of course, one can't help but compare this trilogy to the author's more famous Tripods trilogy and yes, the trilogy this book belongs to (The Swords of the Spirits) does fall short.But having said that, I enjoyed reading about this much darker, less hopeful world, where politics and personal gain rule the lives of the protagonists.Our main character, though young, must combat enemies and keep his wits about him.A future where men live to fight and women are clearly in a secondary role (well at least the author included a few women here, in Tripods, there were hardly any mentioned and barely worth remembering) seems pretty backward to me but then again it is a apocalyptic future. I'm looking forward to reading the next two books in the series.

The trilogy starts bravely, but the last book craters ...
For 1972 it isn't bad, but the downsided ending offerring only the hope of commercial conquest and a rather trite "I shall have no son" (because I am a twit) for the conclusion, brings it to a sorry close.

Theseries either needs a fourth book or a rewrite of the ending with a bettereditor.

A Royal Story With A Difference
The Disaster had destroyed so much of the world. Volcanoes and earthquakes brought civilization crashing down into ruins and permanently changed the planet. The survivors blamed this on the machines. Now people live inseparate medieval communities, worship Spirits and despise technology.Anyone caught with a machine of any kind is killed.

In Winchester, youngLuke Perry is named Prince in Waiting by the Seers. Luke tells a tale oftreachury, murder, and intrigue. The Seers have chosen Luke for a specialmission...

This is a good story about friendship, loyalty, suspicion,pride and belief. John Christopher writes about a superstitious society ofthe future in a style that makes readers want to turn the page. ... Read more

Product Description
Hooray for feather beds! Huge and soft, the perfect place to play ... and before you know it ... sleep. One of John Denver’s most popular songs brings back favorite childhood memories. This is the fourth in Dawn Publications' highly acclaimed John Denver & Kids picture book series, adapted and illustrated by award-winning artist Christopher Canyon. The hardback edition comes with a CD of John Denver singing this children's classic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Disappointed
I eagerly awaited the arrival of Grandma's Feather Bed and was disappointed by the bug eyed characters who are more scary than cute.I've always loved John Denver's music and I was captivated by Christopher Canyon's illustrations for Take Me Home Country Roads where the characters are charming and lovable. The music will always remain a favorite, that won't change, but I think the people in this book look weird.

Very Pleased
This book brings to life one of John Denver's signature songs. My 2 year old daughter wants to listen to the song and look at the book almost daily. The CD is a different version from any Greatest Hits CDs, so this book for my daughter has become a gift to me as well.

Grandma's Feather Bed
Great book/CD for parents who grew up hearing John Denver sing this song on 8-tracks and cassettes and want to sing and dance with their preschool children.

Grandma's Feather Bed book/audio
Cute book with lyrics.The song was not the original recording... a little disappointing.

Good book
The illustrations are great...very colorful and lots of things to point out to a child.The music is good, very lively and attention catching.My 3 yr. old grandson just loves the book and the music. ... Read more

Product Description
Best in Show is the first in-depth look at the method behind film director and actor Christopher Guest's madness - and genius. John Kenneth Muir focuses his attention on the acclaimed Guest-directed trilogy of what some call "mockumentaries": Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show and A Mighty Wind. In these films Guest has escorted rapt audiences into the purportedly real worlds of a small-town theatrical company, dog show competition, and folk music festival. Muir also details the events that lead to Rob Reiner's influential and legendary This Is Spinal Tap, which Rolling Stone called the best rock and roll movie of all time, and in which Guest played the part of guitarist Nigel Tufnel. Much of Best in Show exemplifies the unique process by which Guest directs films. He employs a common repertory company, improvises scenes often without any rehearsal, and does not use any screenplay with dialogue, instead following a detailed outline often co-authored with his ace actor/writer Eugene Levy. Company members that have been interviewed for this book include Fred Willard, Harry Shearer, Bob Balaban and Michael Hitchcock. Guest's influences - Saturday Night Live, National Lampoon - as well as his more conventional comedies, such as The Big Picture and Almost Heroes, are studied. Best in Show is general enough to bring new fans to the table, yet detailed enough to satisfy the most in-the-know Guest fan and film student. A complete filmography with Guest's directing, acting and writing credits is included, as is the appendix, "You Know You're in a Christopher Guest Film When ..." Guest once commented, "I am drawn to people who have dreams that are slightly out of reach." Now, thanks to John Kenneth Muir, the fascinating world of Christopher Guest and company is substantially more within reach. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Interesting insight, but reads like a long editorial.
This book has some great stories from the cast and details about deleted scenes that are not on the DVD of the films, but contains a lot of filler.

For fans of Christopher Guest himself, you get a very detailed history of his performing career, although Guest himself was not interviewed for the book, he speaks through quotes from magazine interviews.

And that is how the book reads, like a long magazine article.For much of the book the author just recaps the major plot points of Waiting for Guffman, Best In Show and A Mighty Wind.

The main opinions/anecdotes of the films come primarily from: Harry Shearer (a lot of Harry Shearer), Bob Balaban, Fred Willard, Deb Theaker, Michael Hitchcock and surprisingly June Chadwick (Jeanine from Spinal Tap) who has yet to be in an actual Christopher Guest film, but is oft quoted concerning improv acting.

The most entertaining moments of the book come from the explanations of bits that were cut from the films, especially from Fred Willard who seems very disappointed that many of his bits went unused.

An OK read that's not expensive, not a long book so it's good for and afternoon read.Worth the money, if you are a Guest completist. ... Read more

Product Description
An authoritative new edition of Milton's essential verse

John Milton, who abandoned early plans of becoming a clergyman to become a poet, was a master of almost every type of verse-from the classical to the religious, from the lyric to the epic. His writing reflected his radical views and his profound understanding of politics and power. This collection includes such early works as the devotional "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity," "Comus," and the pastoral elegy "Lycidas." ... Read more

Product Description
If Pope John Paul II's theology of the body is a "theological time bomb set to go off" (George Weigel), this book lights the fuse. With clarity and precision Christopher West unpacks the pope's weighty talks and translates them into a much more accessible language. Theology of the Body Explained makes the perfect companion to the Pope's text. For the first time ever, readers have a commentary that follows the complete series of general audiences, explained in an appealing way. Scholars and average readers alike will find this commentary greatly rewarding. "In my biography of the Pope, I wrote that the theology of the body needs explication for those who aren't specialists in biblical studies, theology, or philosophy. I am delighted that Christopher West has taken up that challenge. With intellectual care, with the experience bred of long years of teaching this material in the ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

a good effort
Theology of the Body Explained is a gallant and partiallysucessful effort by Christopher West to make Pope John Paul II's talks on this subject more accessible for those Catholics who aren't theologians.

It is very serious, very careful and pretty ponderous. The book really doesn't take off until you've slogged through 70+ pages.This is a mighty subject and an important one and West deserves praise for trying to get the message to to the peoplebut except for highly motivated grad students or those who want to really wow them down at the parish hall, Theology of the Body Explained is a bit more than most folks can digest.

Christopher West wrote another book, Theolgoy of the Body for Beginers that is much shorter and far more lay person friendly.

Required reading for EVERYONE!
This book is so amazing.He makes John Paul's encyclical understandable to the average person.I believe and tell people all the time that this should be required reading for everyone, christian and non-christian, catholic or protestant.Find the answers for the meaning of life and more.

Detailed Down to Earth View of Theo of the Body
In this book, Christopher West handles the Theology of the Body by John Paul II in a way that respects the beauty and seriousness of the subject.He also brings John Paul II's very thick language down to earth so that your average person can fully grasp the details of the Theology of the Body.

At the very beginning of the book, Christopher West covers John Paul II's impact on religious studies.He provides a fantastic, well thought out picture of John Paul's development into the Phenomenological and Personalistic giant that led him to develop the Theology of the Body.This study gave me an understanding of the importance of John Paul's general teachings and what brought the Theology of the Body into existence.

The book is complete in its coverage of the Theology of the Body, ending with how it follows on Humanae Vitae.And the Theology of the Body is a great follow up to Karol Wojtyla's (John Paul II's) 1960 book entitled Love and Responsibility.

The book is solid, full of details and captures the depth of TOB.If one is looking for a less detailed (summary) view of TOB, see Christopher West's "Theology of the Body for Beginners."

Excellent Accessibility and Depth
Christopher West is a well-established name as a popularizer of John Paul II's Theology of the Body. This book differs from West's other works in being a systematic commentary on the pope's 129 noontime talks on the meaning of the human body according to Catholic Christianity, which we given over five years early in his pontificate (1979-1984).

The organization of the book is impeccable. The book is divided into six "cycles", which are formed according to the main themes of John Paul's talks, which I list below:

1. "Original Man": Adam and Eve before the Fall, and how their integrity as individuals and in their relations with each other and God contrast with our imbalanced, Fallen condition.

2. "Historical Man": our current, fallen state. West explains the Pope's penetrating analysis of how exactly sin touches our lives.

3. "Eschatological Man": a stirring vision of how our form is divinized (which reminds me of Eastern theology's emphasis on the Transfiguration) and how marriage is consummated with our perfect communion with God in heavean.

4. "Celibacy for the Kingdom": one might wonder how celibacy fits into the picture after the Pope does so much to elevate the dignity of marriage, but in fact here West shows how celibacy and marriage complement each other.

5. "The Sacramentality of Marriage": this treats John Paul's study of St. Paul, including a wonderful explanation of an unpopular phrase from Ephesians: "Wives, be submissive to your husbands...".

6. "Love and Fruitfulness": West looks into John Paul's closing reflections on Humanae Vitae, the encyclical of Paul VI that raised a fury among Catholics who were disappointed by the papacy's continued stance against artificial contraception.

The cycles are in turn broken down into sections, each of which generally comments on one or two of John Paul's noontime audiences. Everything is scrupulously referenced not only to the Theology of the Body talks (which Pauline Press also publishes) by also to the Catechism and pertinent encyclical letters on sexuality and the human person. At the end of each cycle, West also has a review section, summing up the key points of that particular cycle.

In this book, West recounts how the Theology of the Body had helped him heal from a long period of being a lapsed, worldly Catholic, and this sense of wonder and freedom permeates the book. There is food for the mind and the heart, as I have grown to appreciate the dignity of marriage, celibacy, and the human person in a way I would never have expected just a few years ago. The very methodical organization and annotation of this volume might lead one to suspect that this book is dry, but it in fact reads wonderfully. In the space of a few weeks I read the entire book, in spite of a busy schedule as a medical student.

While it is best to read this book along with the original talks of the pope themselves, this commentary could be read on its own with great profit, as I have done. I am working on the original talks, but I read way ahead with West's book, loving every minute of it, and shall return to John Paul's masterpiece with that much more understanding and appreciation.

Professor West has done the world a great service in promoting John Paul II's magnificent celebration and defense of the human person. ... Read more

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John Hay reveals the ubiquitous but often unnoticed emblems all around us. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A John Hay "Greatest Hits"
If you're unfamiliar with this naturalist's writings, then you're in luck.This sampler contains essays from nine of his books, from _The Run_ (1959) to _In the Company of Light_ (1998), as well as several of Hay's poems and his John Burroughs Medal acceptance address.Here you will follow and see along with him as if on the same trail, gleaning tidbits of natural science in the process.Shorelines and wetlands are the main areas featured -- mostly in New England, and often in Cape Cod -- though a few forays take us to Florida and to the rainforest of Costa Rica.Read Hay's insights into the intricacies of salt-water habitats, and you're apt to see more the next time you go beach-combing yourself -- from the smallest creatures in the water to the larger ones winging above you.Here you will also run across Hay's astute environmental observations and admonishments:


"Every life that touches on another, or becomes a part of another, keeps the earth's fluidity in being."("Homing," from _The Undiscovered Country_)

"We ought to be tuning up to what is around us, but our own static is too loud."("Listening," from _The Undiscovered Country_)

"At times I think that all the plants, birds, fish, and every other living organism are waiting for our departure so that they can resume timeless engagement with the earth."("Fire in the Plants," from _A Beginner's Faith in Things Unseen_)

This smorgasbord is a nice addition to any nature-lover's bookshelf and could inspire the reader to search out one or more of the featured titles to delve deeper into John Hay's work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Paleoindian Book
I was really looking forward to this addition to my early American library.Fortunately I "Looked Inside" at the Table of Contents and Index and was very surprized to find no mention of the Atlatl, the major hunting weapon used by Paleo people the world over. Predating the bow and arrow by thousands of years. Not only artifacts but wonderful petroglyphs in the US Southwest.A simple but most effective weaponstill used by the Aboriginal people in Australia's Outback as well as well as South American Indians for large fish in the Andean lakes and by Alaskan natives for seal.
Maybe I missed something.
Barry VanWinkle

An Excellent Synthesis in Southeastern Archaeology
This book is a series of papers initially presented at a symposium during the Southeastern Archaeological Conference.It summarizes what was known at that time (1993) about the Paleoindian and early Archaic periods in the Southeast; that is, the time when the first ancestors of later Native American cultures first settled in what is now southeastern North America.

The book covers the entire southeastern region, with site reports and syntheses from Florida out to Arkansas and north to Virginia.It presents a good picture of what we know of the first human settlers in this region, including their believed use of "staging areas" - that is, places the first settlers could learn about their new environments before moving outward into more marginal territory - as well as the environmental factors, such as stone outcrops and plant and animal communities, that would have affected patterns of human settlement.

My only complaint against the book, like so many others in archaeology, is that it does not address what is known or what could be known of the cultures themselves beyond the merely physical.That is, there is far too much attention paid to environmental and technological factors at the expense of attempts to understand what these first settlers may have been thinking, or what their cultural systems or worldviews may have been.However, this alone does not mar what otherwise is a well-written and comprehensive synthesis.

I enjoyed the book, and recommend it to anyone interested in Native American cultures and archaeology.

The Paleoindian and Early Archaic Southeast
Very useful collection of papers and summaries of papers on paleo and early archaic Americans in this region.The thought provoking theories on settlement and hunting practices that evolved along with the changingclimate make this well worth reading.I keep my copy handy and refer backto it often. ... Read more

Product Description
From Reviews of the second edition:
'Christopher Johns is an internationally recognised pioneer of reflective practice in nursing and health care. The first edition of this book was an excellent resource and this updated version is equally impressive. This is a superb resource for nurses and all those eager to enhance their knowledge and skills in reflective practice. It is well presented, user-friendly and stimulating.'
Nursing Standard

Becoming a Reflective Practitioner is a practical guide to using reflection in every day clinical practice. It explores the value of using models of reflection, with particular reference to Christopher Johns' own model for structured reflection.

Becoming a Reflective Practitioner includes accounts of everyday practice to guide the reader through the stages of reflective practice within the context of care, 'desirable practice', and the caring relationship. This third edition reflects significant developments in reflective theory and gives greater attention to different approaches to reflection including the use of narrative dialogue. New chapters are included on ensuring quality and managing conflict. Exemplars are included throughout and further references and reflected reading are included at the end of each chapter.

Reflective practice is acknowledged as an effective approach to developing nursing care which evolves as the practitioner develops his or her own practice. This book will therefore be of interest to all nurses involved in developing their clinical practice.

• A practical guide to developing reflective practice
• Reflects significant  developments in reflective theory
• Examines Christopher Johns’ own model for structured reflection
• Centred on care and the caring relationship
• Challenges practitioners to question their practice

Product Description
This edition makes easily accessible the most important parts of Marx's and Engels's major early philosophical work, "The German Ideology", a text of key importance for students. ... Read more

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Product Description
New edition of a textbook which has a long history of its own, having been published in its first edition in 1955. A companion text covers the earlier "half" of history. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or. ... Read more