For anyone interested in the psychology and group dynamics of millenarian/prophetic groups, this book is essential reading. Sometime in the late 1950s or early 1960s the authors stumbled upon and infiltrated a group based on a prediction of imminent world destruction. When the prediction failed (after all, we are all still here in the late 1990s), the group underwent a severe crisis. This study details how that crisis developed and was resolved, drawing from it some general ideas about how groups based on prophecies survive the failure of those prophecies.

In this book, Festinger, et. al., set forth the cognitive dissonance model, which helps any of us to observe the unfolding human drama with greater understanding. It compares with Julian Janes' masterpiece, The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, as a work in which the reader is urged on by the awakening suspicion that perhaps on the next page, just beyond the horizon of comprehension, lies a unifying theory that will lay to rest the most vexing enigmas.

On this note, Festinger came through, by observing social cultism in action and identifying its dynamic elements and tracing them to the common human condition. But he doesn't scrawl arcane formulae or speak in academic tongues to reach his readers. He simply explains in very simple, concise language why his very human subjects behave in such bizarre, but predictable, ways. His conclusions may be summed in a few sentences, derived from a very entertaining account of a UFO cult of his time, which is identical in form and content with the many varieties of social cultism running rampant today, especially the 12-step recovery group movement that, during the half decade since this book's publication, has silently possessed our social service system.

Festinger's cult-founding protagonist, Marion Kreech, may be constructively compared to AA founder, Bill Wilson, but her bizarre message did not find the mass appeal that surrounds AA. Moreover, the disconfirmations of her improbable predictions did not have the resounding support of others of greater accumulated credibility, who ironically now include Festinger's own descendents in the social sciences who endorse the disease concept of addiction and require 12-step indoctrination for its remission.

Interestingly, Festinger inserts a cameo-like discussion of Joseph McCarthy's ultimate failure, which in the cognitive dissonance model, resulted from his accusations of persons of greater credibiilty. It seems quite likely that AA's day in the sun will end when its prophets attack the character of famous "dry drunks" for whom the public has greater esteem than our de facto state religion, Alcoholics Anonymous.

My last biased comments are an example of how Festinger's work may fit into anyone's subjective experience, to simply illuminate why people do the damndest things.

This work first saw print in 1956. It is the story of a UFO cult in a large city in the Midwest...how it developed, how the leaders recruited followers, how predictions about the coming end of the world started flowing from the psychic members who allegedly channeled messages from the spacemen/pilots. The cult members were told they would be saved, picked up by saucers on an appointed date. The members quit jobs, sold possessions, and gathered, only to be disappointed. Did they all quit in a huff? No way. The first failure only made them more determined they were right, more anxious to be ready for the next announced departure date. Then a second failure. A few members fell away, a few suffered doubts, a few challenged for leadership themselves. The point of this book is that it takes "three disconfirmations" to kill a movement of true believers, and even then, some still hang on to the discredited "theology" by grasping at excuses. I found this book by accident about 30 years ago, and have read it at least four times. I find it fascinating. In the 1970's I knew two women in Albuquerque who were amateur psychics. They started bringing forth "space brethren messages" and eventually, although they failed to attract a following, they went up into the nearby mountains one night sure they would be lifted off before the coming unspecified disaster. They waited, but no ship appeared. I think people inclined toward UFO beliefs haven't changed much since this book was published. The basic data shown in this study can apply to religious or political groups as well. I am sorry it is out of print, but if you have an interest in this field, get a used copy...the prices are reasonable and the book will not disappoint!

This book is about women in the middle ages who were under twenty and had significant recognition in the outside world. It is appropriate for readers of all ages. Its content being educational and yet fun. Its subjects vary in greatness and culture, having everyone from infamous to famous characters who left written records. Their achievements have helped to modernize the role of women.

This is yet another fine history book by the fabulous author, Vicki Leon. I have all of her books and always look forward to her newest ones. This one will be loved by children and it is exactly the kind of book that kids like. Who says history can't be fun? With Leon, all of histry is a riot! I liked it a lot and so did my children.

Like many in the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, The Pastoral Epistles is fantastic.
As a lay person attempting to understand The Pastoral Letters so as to lead a Bible Study group in them, I found Guthrie's exegesis of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus excellent and well pitched for my level. I tend to find the Tyndale NT Commentaries more 'meaty' than Bible Speaks Today (BST), and yet more approachable than Word Biblical Commentaries (WBC) or the New International Commentaries on the New Testament (NICNT) and this volume in the series is no exception.
Guthrie's coverage of issues such as dating and authorship are very interesting, yet thankfully separated from the main commentary so those whom are not interested in the issues need not be bothered by them.
All in all, an excellent tool for those seeking to increase their understanding of God's Word, especially in a lay leadership capacity.

This commentary shows Guthrie as a superb scholar. It is well written, insightful and never boring. His work on the authorship of the pastorals (it was Paul contra liberals)shows his deep commitment to conservative scholarship. I recommend it highly.

Despite the title, this isn't so very far along in the series and in fact features the introduction of the very politically correct "Ms. Liz Probert." The cases are the usual set, and Rumpole faces his usual trials and tribulations, most notably from a new member of chambers who wants to make everything much more efficient. The eponymous tale is one we've seen dramatized, where Rumpole has great success betting on a "four-horse accumulator," tells a judge exactly what he thinks of him, and is (of course) frustrated when his go-between leaves the country with his winnings.

Entertaining, as always.

Rumpole has an assortment of foes in this collection of 7 stories: Judge Bullingham, his Head of Chambers Sam Ballard, dishonest prosecution witnesses, police officers, prosecuting barristers, and even the barrister defending his client's co-defendant in a case of armed robbery where a bank guard was wounded. No wonder he thinks of winning a fortune betting on horse races and moving to Spain in the last story, "Rumpole's Last Case". You should enjoy reading this book to find out how many cases Rumpole wins and if he really retires.

The Shooters is full of great portraits of the Old West most famous characters. Not only is it painstakingly accurate, but it is as enjoyable as any western movie. It not only details the lives of the West more well- Known figures, such as Wyatt Earp and Billy the Kid, but unknowns as well, such as Print Olive, Bass Outlaw, and Johnny Ringo. It is a great book for the scholar of the Old West or for someone who just wants the nuts and bolts.

Having spent the vast majority of my life in the South West and the very city where Mr. Metz live I have had a chance to see first hand the fabrications that a formed about such me as Billy the Kid, John W. Harden, Wyatt Earp, and others. With this in mind it is nice to find a true to life and exqisitly written book about the lives thease men really lead. This book is a literary gold mine for all those interusted in the history of the American West.

An update of a much earlier edition, this volume is useful when examining African culture, political and social history. The author makes studying about Africa a personal experience for youngsters because he provides several perspectives on African 'rites of passage' that American teens can compare with significant events in their own lives. What is especially nice, the author has chosen a variety of written material. He has included interviews, poems, and essays (some autobiographical), which gives the reader a break from reading after document.

Also important, Mr. Leon has surveyed a wide variety of ethnic groups from every corner of the vast African continent which gives ther reader an opportunity to appreciate similarities and differences between African peoples.

The book is illustrated with discussion-provoking black and white photos, and includes maps, a bibliography, notes and an index. Terms from African languages are defined in the text, but a glossary would have been nice.

This is perhaps the most insightful history of Africa that has been written in less than 300 pages. Moreover, it reveals a view of Africa as seen by Africans as well as by outsiders. The narrative line that runs from the glories of the West African kingdoms to the post-independence period of the 20th century is interwoven with firsthand accounts by Africans that make for compelling reading.

this, my first novel by henry james, was recommended to me by a trusted friend privy to my affection for the work of austen, the brontes, wharton, bowen and hall. i must admit to having had reservations about a victorian novel with a female protragonist written by a man, but was pleasantly surprised to find that james had depicted the female perspective, in isabel archer, with notable aplomb. i was a little disappointed that, in spite of the book's length, i felt there was a huge leap from the first half of the book, which firmly establishes the young miss archer as a woman intent to never marry and the second half, which finds her rather abruptly married to the third of three men who have made the appeal to her. still, this is a classic work of literature that deserves all the praise it has received. it is far more dense than works by the aforementioned authors and, as such, makes awful subway reading--unless, of course, your train breaks down and there are no crying children or blaring boom boxes in your car.

Henry James is one of my favorite authors and "The Portrait of a Lady" is one of my favorite books. James is the only author who can begin a sentence and still have my complete attention when he finishes it two or even three pages later.

"The Portrait of a Lady" is filled with the long, rambling sentences for which James is so famous, but, as in his other books, these sentences remain interesting from the first word to the last. This is, however, definitely 19th century prose and the book is filled with sentences that begin with, "Dear Reader," or "Our heroine." While this might be very tiresome to some readers, in the hands of a writer as skillful as James, it has never bothered me one bit.

James loved to write about the wealthy people of the world, more specifically, those who needn't bother working for a living. He loved studying the way in which an excess of free time affected the choices they made. The characters created in "The Portrait of a Lady," are excellent examples of people who, perhaps, have too much time on their hands. Isobel Archer, in particular, makes some very questionable choices, then does nothing to correct them. Although likeable, she seems to be a character possessed of an ennui that's virtually unshakeable. Isobel not only refuses to to take action to correct her mistakes, she refuses to take responsibility for them at all. It seems as though the more time (and money) James' characters have, the less they make good use of either one.

If you're a reader who's not discouraged by 19th century literature and all its intricacies and convolutions, I think you'll find both Henry James and "The Portrait of a Lady" fascinating. I know I did.

Henry James is one of my favorite authors and The Portrait of a Lady is one of his greatest works. In it, he creates a unique and unforgettable heroine, Isabel Archer, and then proceeds to let her make all the mistakes the young are capable of making. In fact, Isabel is so sure of herself that, at times, I found it difficult to have much sympathy for her poor choices. But one thing I never felt for Isabel Archer was indifference, all to James' credit.

The Portrait of a Lady is truly 19th Century literature at its finest, but that means it also contains elements that might be distracting for the modern reader. There are lengthy descriptions, the pace is rather slow and James never lets us forget we are reading a book. He makes liberal use of phrases such as "our heroine," and "Dear Reader." While all of this was expected in the 19th Century, some readers today might find it annoying.

Those who don't however, will find themselves entranced by a beautiful story of love and loss, unforgettable characters (there are many more besides Isabel, most notably the enigmatic Madame Merle) and gorgeous description, all rendered in James' flawless prose.

Anyone who loves classics or who wants a truly well-rounded background in literature cannot afford to pass this up.

A tragedy by William Shakespeare, written around 1599-1601. Before the play opens, the king of Denmark has been murdered by his brother, Claudius, who has taken the throne and married the queen, Gertrude. The ghost of the dead king visits his son, Prince Hamlet, and urges him to avenge the murder. Hamlet, tormented by this revelation, appears to be mad and cruelly rejects Ophelia whom he loved. Using a troupe of visiting players to act out his father's death, the prince prompts Claudius to expose his own guilt. Hamlet then kills Ophelia's father Polonius in mistake for Claudius, and Claudius tries but fails to have Hamlet killed. Ophelia drowns herself in grief, and her brother Laertes fights a duel with Hamlet.

Hamlet's dilemma is often seen as typical of those whose thoughtful nature prevents quick and decisive action.

Hamlet contains several fine examples of soliloquy, such as " To be or not to be" and Hamlet's earlier speech lamenting his mother's hasty remarriage and Claudius' reign which opens "O! that this too too solid flesh would melt". Much quoted lined "Neither a borrower nor a lender be", "Something is rotten in the stste of Denmark", "Brevity is the soul of wit", "To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;" The lady doth protest too much, methinks," and "Alas, poor Yorick". Arguably Shakespeare's finest play and one that can be read again and again.

Hamlet is, by far, the most complex of Shakespeare's many plays. Many of the themes covered are love vs hate, action vs non-action, revenge, and jealousy. Hamlet discovers that "something is rotten in the state of Denmark" when he encounters the ghost of his father, the King, who has recently been killed in battle. From here, Hamlet goes on a search for the discovery of what happened to his father. However, Hamlet not only uncovers secrets of the past, but also the depths of his own being.

The Folger Edition of Hamlet is a great edition to buy, especially for those who are studying this play in high school or college, because it is relatively cheap in price and is very "reader-friendly" with side notes and footnotes that accompany each page of each scene. So, even if you aren't a Shakespeare lover or if Shakespeare is just a little intimidating (we all know how this feels), this version at least allows you to get the gist of what is going on. Also, there are summaries of each scene within each act, to let you know in layman's terms what is taking place. I highly recommend this edition.

Hamlet is considered, by many scholars, the pinnacle of Shakespeare's dramas. If you haven't read it yet this this Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism edition would be a great place to begin.

The text notes that are included with the play are very helpful to understand some of the more difficult language nuances that are inevitable with any Shakespeare. The structure is well laid out and conclusive. It complements the complexity of Hamlet very well.

Of course Hamlet is one of the great paradoxes and mysteries every written. The search of finding yourself and what it is that fuels the human spirit. Hamlet can be a very confusing play because of the depth of substance. However, the critical essays that suppliment the reading make it very accessable.

Each of the critical essays are of different schools of literary criticism: Feminist Criticism, psychoanalytic criticism, post-structuralist (deconstuctionist) criticism, Marxist critism, and finally a New Historicist criticism. Before each critism there is clearly written introduction to explain the motives and histories of that type of criticism.

This edition of Hamlet will not only introduce the reader to more Shakespeare, but also explain the play and help to familiarize the reader with literary criticism too. It is a beautiful volume that cannot be more recommended if you are wanting to buy a copy Hamlet.

I read this book in school and in my opinion the story may be good but the vocabulary was very difficult. You can't read without a dictionary. I had to read like five times a line because I didn't understand a word. It's a very dramatic and romantic play. I like tragedies but this play is very detailed and has a lot of scenes. I would like some day to read the same story but in actual English. If it weren't because of the literature teacher didn't help us understand I think nobody would have understood a thing. It's a very good story. I would recommend to read it but not in old English. Shakespeare's words are weird but romantic and may be too nice for his time. He is very creative and plays a lot with the characters.
It's funny how two different teenagers and from families who hated each other could have love one another. At the end they would have died if instead they had had hated each other because of the quarrel. This tragedy is weird and something different from all of the other plays, and I think that may be that's why It's still famous now a days.

I went throughout high school never reading this book. It's so well-known; everyone knows what it is about and how it ends. Movie after movie has come out depicting the events. However, I will honestly say that it is definitely worth the read. It's a beautiful story of two lovers who suffer from forbidden love. I hate sappy books. I despise them. But this one was different. I don't know if it was because it was fast paced or if it's the fact that people were always dueling, or what. However, I will say that Shakepeare is brillant. This, along with so many of his other stories are great. ROMEO AND JULIET is a brillant tale, and after reading it, I am more able to appreciate everything I have seen and heard about it. If nothing else, it's a wonderful play about honor, devotion, independence, and unification. And this edition is really helpful in understanding Shakespeare's language, for on each page, there are notations that tell what his words and phrases mean today...which is REALLY helpful.

I have seen all movie versions about Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and still love the book everytime I revisit the story. Every word captivates the reader into truly feeling the passion and tragedy of these two lovers. Even a character such as Tybalt Capulet won me over as far as description goes. Shakespearian writing is very much complex and confusing but it has a touch romance and anger which adds to the emotion of the story. Read this classic tragedy!

Uris' book is not 'hate literature' against Arabs or Islam. He tells the story of the establishment of Israel and its devastating impact on the Arab people then living in Palestine. The story is primarily told from the perspective of an Arab boy growing up during that time period. Uris contrasts and compares the lifestyles of the Western-oriented Jews and the tradition-oriented Islamic Palestinians. "The Haj" is heavily biased in favor of Israel, Judaism, and the West, but is also accurate in its portrayal of the Palestinian socio-political-economic system of the time. His description of Islam's influence on the lifestyle of Palestinian Arabs is highly unflattering and Western culture-biased: a worst case scenario of the application of Mohammed's teachings. However, it is not entirely unfair or totally inaccurate. While there is much more to Islamic society than Uris describes, many of the same conditions and beliefs detailed in "The Haj" continue to prevail in the 'outback' regions of Arab countries. Uris clearly casts the Jews as the 'good guys' and the neighboring Arab nations as the 'bad guys.' He places the Palestinians somewhere in the middle: a 16th century culture/people caught up in a 20th century conflict, not of their making and beyond their ability to influence.

Excellent novel on the origins of the Israeli/Arab conflict, bends over backward to portray the Arabs in as positive a light as history will allow. It's unfortunate that a few reviewers here feel compelled to lie about history and Uris because he doesn't echo the Arab line on the Mid-East conflict. For example, one of the negative reviews claimed that Uris is Israeli. Sorry, but the truth is, he is an American. Ironically, these lies about "THE HAJ" reminds me of those episodes in the book itself, when Arabs are confronted with a truth they feel uncomfortable with. They concoct a version of events that makes them look better and even they themselves start believing their own invention.

Take these emotional reviews with a grain of salt. Especially those claiming to be coming from Jews. Any reading of history will support the facts that Uris has based his novel on. A great read. Get a copy and read it today. It will help further understanding of today's struggles.

"The Haj" by Leon Uris is an important book (in print or audio form) for understanding the negative aspects of Arab culture and little known aspects of the Arab-Israeli conflict that the great majority of the media won't share with us. Specifically, "The Haj" is historical fiction about a Palestinian-Arab family before and after the 1948 War for Israeli independence (From about 1922 to sometime around the 1960's or 1970's).

Leon Uris wrote this about the book (in the beginning of "The Haj"):

"Many of the events in The Haj are a matter of history and public record. Many of the scenes were created around historical incidents and used as a backdrop for the purpose of fiction. There may be persons alive who took part in events similar to those described in the book. It is possible therefore, that some may be mistaken for characters in the novel. Let me emphasize that all of the characters in the Haj are the complete creation of the author, and entirely fictional. The exceptions, of course, are the recognizable public figures who were associated historically with this period, such as David Ben-Gurion, the Mufti of Jerusalem, Abdullah, Yigal Allon, and others."

There is no question that this book is fiction regarding the details its' story tells, but the story itself is a real one. Arab refugees did stream out of Israel during the 1948 war and Arab leaders telling them to do so (there are taped broadcasts of these calls) was definitely one of the major causes of the plight of the Palestinian-Arab refugees. There was also very definitely a very active terrorist movement among the Arabs in the Middle East, which survives to the present day (witness groups like Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hizbollah, the PLO / Palestinian authority, and others). The Palestinian-Arabs continue to suffer under poor leadership that represses their rights (witness many human rights organizations' reports of extrajudicial killings by the Palestinian Authority, the same autocratic leader, Yassir Arafat, who refuses to transfer the reins of power, and other facts). It is also a well-documented fact that the Mufti of Jerusalem was an ally and guest of Hitler during WWII. These things are facts and are indisputable. "The Haj" tells a story using the device of historical fiction to relay the often-ugly facts of life for the regular "fellah" (sometimes translated as peasant) in the land the British called Palestine and is now known again as Israel.

The book is well written (good grammar, punctuation, style, etc.) and the story flows. I enjoyed reading about the characters of the story, but often wanted to cry for them. Some of the most poignant moments of "The Haj" occur during the flight of the Haj's (the main character is Haj Ibrahim and the book is the story of him and his family) family during the 1948 war and in refugee camps in Jordan. It was very sad to see how members of the same culture (the Arab culture) and most of the time the same religion (Islam) can be so cruel to each other. This is still an endemic problem in the Arab world (witness how the Arab governments squabble among each other and often fight and kill one another). Some of the depictions of the relations between the largely city-dwelling Palestinian-Arabs and the nomadic Bedouin are among the saddest. There is still a strong hatred between these groups to the present day.

Why read "The Haj?"

Read "The Haj" because this is real information presented in a novel format that you can no longer get from most university classes about the Middle East. Read it to learn what AP and Reuters news services constantly gloss over in their writings used by newspapers around the world. Most of all, read "The Haj" to understand that one of the fundamental truths about problems in the Middle East is that the problems have less to do with Israel and Jews than cultural, political, and even religious problems and divisions in the Arab world. Israel is really a side issue at best (and excuse used by the Arab governments to cover their faults). Autocratic tyrannies (or gangster governments like Yassir Arafat's Palestinian Authority) are the true source of unhappiness in the Arab world. It's easy to understand that truth after reading "The Haj."

You can get this same information from a pile full of academic texts (and I do recommend reading more research about the Middle East after reading "The Haj"), but this is the easiest and quickest way to introduce yourself to the bitter realities of politics in the Middle East.

I highly recommend "The Haj."

Review by: Maximillian Ben Hanan