Ron Allen is a professor of preaching and New Testament at my seminary, Christian Theological Seminary, and the author of many books on preaching and biblical exegesis. For this volume, he teamed with John Holbert, who teaches preaching and Hebrew Bible at Perkins School of Theology, SMU. One of the perennial tasks of a preacher is to faithfully use the scriptures that came before the four gospels and rest of the Christian era writings. This books addresses that issue head-on.

One of the issues, which comes to the forefront at the very start of such an inquiry, is what to call it? There are issues with the terms 'Old Testament', 'Hebrew Scriptures', and other commonplace terms we take for granted. The assumptions built into the term 'Old Testament' conjure up negative images and an implicit second-class status. Thus, the authors adopt the terminology, still imperfect, of First and Second Testaments.

Attendant to this, and highlighted in the opening of the first chapter, is the tendency on behalf of Christian preachers to trivialise the First Testament, recasting it as at best less important than the Second Testament writings, and at worst, recreating a Marcion-esque trait of leaving it out altogether. Marcion recast the Bible as a small document that included only a few of the major Pauline letters and the gospel of Luke.

'Ironically, Marcion's ideas led to the formation of the Christian canon as we know it. He forced the church to consider the question of what should be in the canon and what should not. The church ultimately and wisely voted against Marcion and said that it could not live without the First Testament. Nonetheless, Marcion's ghost still haunts the Christian pulpit.'

In approaching the First Testament as a document worthy of preaching, Allen and Holbert look toward images of God and God's relationship with humanity that are able to stand alone while reflecting a message consistent with the gospel message. 'The First Testament does not always need the Second to give it meaning and importance for the Christian community.' Allen and Holbert give a systems of twelve steps to follow to build a credible and useful sermon from First Testament passages. (Readers of Allen's other texts will know that he is big on step-by-step methodologies for sermon construction.) In addition to this process, the authors give various thematic approaches that could be appropriate for use of First Testament texts in preaching, such as creation, covenant and steadfast love, deliverance and justice.

Perhaps the most interesting chapter is the fifth chapter, 'Texts that Apparently Offer Little or Nothing to the Christian Pulpit.' To the astute reader, the word 'apparently' in the chapter title is an obvious give-away. Taking on texts such as regulations about circumcision, dietary restrictions, Temple rites and regulations, Allen and Holbert recommend various techniques and modes of thinking that can make them more relevant and useful. Above all, the authors caution against using these texts merely to dismiss them.

'The preacher may be tempted to criticise or dismiss difficult passages because they do not appear to measure up to Jesus Christ or the Second Testament. This tactic is often problematic. It probably misrepresents the relationship between Christ, the Second Testament, and the First Testament. It presumes that the picture of God and religion in the Hebrew Bible is inferior to that of the church and that the First Testament is discontinuous with Christ and the church.'

Allen and Holbert then take a brief survey of the current state of biblical scholarship and criticism, particularly as it applies to the connection between the Testaments. The authors then look at five different sermons, the texts of which are presented in their entirety, with notations and important points highlighted in the midst of the sermons by commentary set off in italics.

One of the tasks of Christian Theological Seminary over the past few decades has been a deepening Jewish-Christian dialogue and recognition on the part of Christian preachers and leaders of their responsibility in making Jewish-Christian relations difficult. This text helps in the process of reconciliation, by helping to limit the misinterpretation and misrepresentation of the Jewish people and the Hebrew scriptures in Christian pulpits.

This is a useful text for anyone who wants to a greater understanding of the significance of the First Testament for current Christian preaching and practice.

The companion to Monro's first volume, Iliad I-XII, this is classical scholarship at its best and most essential. Monro produced in the 19th century an edition of Homer's great epic in Greek that is still used by scholars around the world who read and work with the poem's original Greek text. This book is not for beginning readers of ancient Greek, since it follows the usual format of Oxford Classical Texts and lacks any commentary. But for those who can read the Greek, this volume offers some of the best moments of the epic: the death of the hero Achilles' great friend, Patroklos and his funeral games; the savage return to battle by Achilles and his victory over Hector; the final ransom of Hector's body by his aged father Priam from his mortal enemy. No one who can should miss the chance to read the Iliad in its original beauty.

This edition, in the original Greek, contains half of the Iliad and is followed by several other volumes, which contain the second half of the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Homeric Hymns.

The Iliad centers around the anger of the warrior Achilles when Agammenon unjustly takes his concubine. Achilles subsequently refuses to fight, and, because his divine strength makes him indispensible to the Greek war effort, the Greeks are nearly driven from the Trojan shores.

Reading this book in the original language makes a big difference. Homer is a master of both sound and sense and to read him in translation deprives the reader of the former.

The lack of commentary and vocabulary in this edition does not make it the best choice for beginners in Greek.

Terese Allen is one of Wisconsin's finest cookbook authors who draws upon her years of collecting Wisconsin ethnic food traditions, teaching cooking classes, and working as a professional chef, caterer and restaurant manager to produce truly "user friendly" cookbooks showcasing some of the finest dining Wisconsin has to offer. Hometown Flavor is her newest cookbook and continues to document her considerable culinary expertise. From Tomato Wild Rice Soup with Italian Cheese, Smoked Fish & Fettucine with Fresh Vegetables, and Lamb, Potato & Asparagus Stew, to Spareribs with Onions, Apples & Maple Syrup, Door County Barbecue Sauce, and Cactus Salad Tostados, Hometown Flavor offers taste-please, appetite satisfying fare. But the thing that truly sets this wonderfully unique, enthusiastically recommended contribution to the kitchen cookbook collection apart from all others is her fascinating and informative tour of Wisconsin's cheese factories, butcher shops, bakeries, and other specialty markets.

Collaboratively written by Allan F. Platt, Jr. (Program Coordinator and Physican Assistant at the George Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Grady Health System, Atlanta, Georgia) and Alan Sacerdote (Chief of Adult Endocrinoloty, Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center and Clinical Profesor of Medicine at SUNY Health Science Center, Brooklyn, New York), Hope And Destiny: A Patient's And Parent's Guide To Sickle Cell Disease And Sickle Cell Trait is a guide written especially for non-specialist general readers of all ages who must cope with sickle cell anemia, either in themselves or in their family and offspring. Individual chapters cover the causes of sickle cell disease; current tretment options; genetic counseling; age-based developmental issues; pain assessment and management; as well as new treatments and research. Hope And Destiny is confidently recommended as a solid and informational primer.

Author shows deep, personal knowledge of quilting and the Hopi people. Enjoyed the historic photographs, accurate presentation of the culture of the Hopi people, and the information about specific women and their work. Especially liked story of use of quilts in naming ceremony! I know many Hopi, and they like this book, too.

This enchanting work brings the burlesque back to life! When Lydia Thompson hit New York theaters in 1868, she and her troupe were an immediate success. But she also initiated a vituperative debate over the appropriate limits for the female performer. Robert Allen vividly describes how Americans increasingly put aside their religious reservations and took to the theater by the mid-19th century. He first examines the physical and social arrangement of space within the theater auditorium. He then takes his reader on a journey through the male-impersonating, revealingly attired, slang-spouting, minstrel-dancing burlesque women to their descendants - the cooch dancers and modern day striptease. A unique book for entertainment buffs and feminist thinkers alike. To read actual burlesque plays see "The Best Burlesque Sketches".

Before his sudden death in 1969, Lee Allen had spent 10 years as the librarian at the Baseball Hall of Fame, and at least thirty as one of the game's most indefatigable researchers. The Hot Stove League, first published in 1955, displays Allen's dazzling erudition to great advantage. It's the only book of its kind to have made numerous lists of the best baseball books ever written.

Unlike authors of many superficially similar books, Allen doesn't just string together unverifiable tales and pointless lists. His well-written stories are organized by topic, often accompanied by tables of heretofore-uncompiled data, and inevitably based on Allen's own encyclopedic knowledge of baseball history. Lazier authors still repeat myths Allen debunked almost 50 years ago.

The Hot Stove League would be perfect bedtime reading, except that many of Allen's tales will keep readers awake all night looking for more information about his subjects.

I purchased a lot of books to develop my stand-up act. I thought I was losing my natural sense of humor that I developed much earlier in my life. Steve Allen's book had me throwing out one liners three hours into it. Following his examples, I found it easy to reverse thoughts, change meanings and come up with new ideas. Although Steve's book starts out slow with a long definition of what is funny, once you get past Steve's ramblings, the book picks up momentum and puts your brain on receptive. I reccommend this book highly for anyone who wants a beginning book to help develop their sense of humor.

THE BEST.I READ THIS BOOK IN THE 80'S AND WENT OUT AND ASSUMED A PROPERTY IN NO TIME .WITH NO MONEY BECAUSE I HAD NONE AT THE TIME.AND WALKED AWAY AT CLOSING WITH 300 IN CASH.YOU LEARN HOW TO LOOK FOR A SELLER NOT A HOUSE.HOLLIS IS A GIFT FROM GOD I WISH I COULD THANK HIM PERSONLY .THIS IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WILL EVER READ. WORTH ITS WIEGHT IN GOLD