The most enlightening discussion of Catholic social teaching that I have come across to date, this book is fully characterized by its subtitle, "Paradigms in Conflict." The subtitle captures the author's essential insight, namely, that Catholic social teaching from Leo XIII to John Paul II is informed by incompatible paradigms of economic analysis, which, moreover, entail conflicting social imperatives.

According to the author, three paradigms of economic analysis inform Catholic social teaching--organic social theory, the orthodox or neoclassical model, and the radical social model. Simplifying, they may be represented in their ideological origins by St. Thomas Aquinas, Adam Smith, and Karl Marx, respectively.

Organic social theory is built on the feudal vision of society as a body wherein different parts work together in harmony, so that this theory assumes the divine institution of hierarchy and the practicability of noblesse oblige. This model is the most persistent in Catholic social teaching.

Although this social model has served the Church well for centuries, conflicts, very powerful, inherent in the capitalist political economy of the nineteenth century compelled the Church to come to grips with two principal ideologies--classical economics and Marxism--prescribing divergent imperatives for dealing with unprecedented social realities.

Classical economics and its progeny assume the necessity of giving free play to market forces in bringing about economic benefits in society. Marxism and its children, in contrast, concentrate on the structural analysis of social relations and seek dialectical change in social structures.

Briefly, Catholic social teaching is self-contradictory when it endorses capitalist dynamics while at the same time it conducts structural critique, advocating systemic reform, all for the purpose of achieving feudal ideals of social justice. Catholic social teaching is conflictive, for example, when, on the one hand, with Leo XIII it affirms the right to private property as intrinsic to the natural law, while on the other hand, with Paul VI it criticizes structural injustice in international economic relations, of which the right to private property, now transformed in its very nature by capitalism global in magnitude, is an intransigent accomplice.

In surfacing occult contradictions, the book is valuable. But I seriously wonder whether the various paradigms are indeed incompatible. At some higher or more comprehensive level of understanding they may be consistent with each other, in much the same way that quantum and gravity theory work for the description of matter at varying levels of granularity, so that a unified quantum gravity theory has even been constructed.

Another valuable contribution of this book is that it helpfully places Catholic social teaching at different points of the ideological spectrum, showing, for example, how with Leo XIII and Pius XI, the Church staked its position on the right, with John XXIII and Paul VI it moved considerably to the left, and with John Paul II it has unmistakably settled on the right again.

The author concludes by arguing for the Church to take a position on the left, adopting a consistent paradigm of structural analysis and structural change. Her argument appended at the end is not altogether convincing in its brevity.

One visible weakness of the book is that it adopts a deeply philosophical approach to economics to the neglect of scientific understanding. But this weakness is understandable. After all, the author builds on her background in Catholic social teaching, which flows from a philosophical rather than scientific tradition.

This book is not an easy read. It assumes understanding of the original magisterial documents and discusses them at a rather high level of abstraction. But for anyone who cares deeply about how the Church addresses worldwide problems of poverty and injustice, it's well worth the effort.

Although Celtic applique is by no means a beginners job, Philomena makes it a lot more do-able than I had thought. Beautiful, inspiring pictures and very very clear instructions. The reason I like this book so well, is because there are so many quilting books out there, but very few of them are geared to something other than traditional quilts and will actually also be a "must have" for experienced quilters like myself. There's nothing like trying something new and going right to it. My kind of quilting book. This books title could have been inspiration (all in capitals !!).

This book, written in England, provides an outstanding description of the development of children and teenagers with cerebral palsy. The authors described the emotional, neurological, social, and motor control issues in a very clear and succinct way. I found this book to be more helpful in explaning developmental issues than several American reference books which are much longer than this book. I especially liked the description of the importance of play for young children.

Also good was the clear recognition that society unfairly puts the burden on individuals with disabilities to adjust to non-disabled norms, rather than making the adjustments necessary to fully integrate disabled people. For example, how many times do restaurant and hotel owners complain that it is "too expensive" to make their buildings accessible?

Well worth the money.

It was wonderful entertainment. Once I got about halfway into the book, it was impossible to put down! It has a little bit of mystery in it, and until I found out all that mystery, I just couldn't put it down! It is a warm, entertaining book.

If you are a student of decorative arts or you simply love the sparkle of crystal droplets and soft candlelight in a dimly lit room, "Chandeliers" is for you. It is lavishly illustrated and informative. Hilliard offers a thorough history of the chandelier, from the most rustic wood or bronze medieval pieces to the highly refined crystal showpieces of the 18th and 19th centuries to fanciful Venetian glass creations and contemporary works. Chandeliers are shown in period settings as well as in modern homes and in unexpected settings. An excellent resource list of antique dealers and retailers is also provided complete with website addresses.

I loved this book and have read it at least 5 times. This is one of the most emotionally pulling and honest books I have read in a long time. I cried throught out the whole book. . . each time I re-read it.

I remember watching Charles in Charge in 1990, when it was in syndication and it was always one of my favorite sitcoms. When I found this book, I was really excited to revisit one of my favorite shows. The book is a novelization of the Charles in Charge episode called "Amityville". Charles and Buddy have just come back from a 2 week hiking trip to find that Charles' former employers, the Pembrokes, are moving to Seattle. Charles now finds himself working for a new family, the Powells. All of the characters are just as I remember them. Buddy always makes me laugh. If you're a fan of the show, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It will bring back many memories!

I read this incredible novel over ten years ago. It has left an impression upon me by the way it brought history to life. There is a great deal of plot, mystery and romance to satisfy a reader with a great appetite for books. It is essencially a great Rennaisance tapestry, rich with extrordinary content.

Whether you live in the nation's capital, Chevy Chase self or have an interest in architecture and history, this book is sure to please you. Beautifully written and illustrated, this is ***** reading. Sure to feature prominently on my coffee table for a long time too!

Like everyone, I have had my joys and sorrows. This book touched my life in more ways than I can tell - it gave me joy, it gave me a sense of peace, it gave me hope. This is an inspiring book for everyone who is human. I loved it!