Walter Benjamin has progressed over the years from an obscure lesser member of the Frankfurt School to a widely read leading member of that obscure school. Aided by such as Hannah Arendt, who introduced him to a wider audience in her writings (and also to me), readers have come to appreciate Benjamin for the beauty of his writing as well as his sharp insight.

This volume, along with its companion, is an excellent introduction to the style and thought of this man who, while out of step with his times, possessed the insight to give those times an original critique.

Possessed of a lively style and free from the Marxist bagge that weighs down his Frankfurt School colleagues such as Adorno and Horkheimer (I think Benjamin owes much more to Heidegger than Marx), Benjamin will hook any reader who takes the time to spend an hour or two with this book. From here it's an easy step to purchase other Benjamin writings, a step I can almost guarantee.

While his work is as important as Barthes, Foucault, or Derrida, or any other critic of the 20th Century, Benjamin's work has a mystical quality, a kind of enchantment, that resonates much more than any other critic I have read. It is always human and sensitive, even despite his determinedly impersonal tone.

When I think of Benjamin, I think of Emerson's famous line about Hawthorne - that he was a greater man than any of his works betray. The integrity and character of Walter Benjamin shines through his works, and is an inspiration to anyone who takes literature seriously.

This first volume of Bejamin's complete works is very attractive and welcome. Some of my favorite essays are present, such as his essays on children's literature, and the nature of language. I eagerly await the other two volumes.

This is a critical and often hilarious look at a stodgy organization that I believe has outlived its usefulness, whatever that might have been. From a former head several decades ago who became a consultant for the tobacco industry, to the Wilks suit (aided by the Scientologists? ), the book chronicles the many missteps the AMA has made long before the Sunbeam debacle. The current AMA leadership would do well to read this, and see how the outside world views what was once known as "The Doctor's Union."

For too long, the AMA has been able to offer itself as "dedicated to the health of America," with no dissenting voice to be heard. But with this hard-hitting expose, Wolinsky and Brune show the hollowness of that claim. In meticulously cited chapter after chapter, they build up convincing evidence that the American Medical Association is dedicated foremost to the health and wealth of doctors. With examples of the AMA's tacit support of Big Tobacco in the 1960s and 70s, its unwavering opposition to Medicare in the 1960s, and its massive lobbying operations in Washington, among others, an inescapable conclusion is reached:

The AMA can be hazardous to America's health.

There are many authors who deserve a larger readership (one thinks of William Gaddis, John Hawkes), but none more so than Joseph McElroy. A Smuggler's Bible fell on deaf ears when it was published in 1966, and because of this is often compared to The Recognitions and Under the Volcano. And the comparisons are valid, to a point: For while Gaddis's and Lowry's novels *have* received a deserved amount of, well, recognition (though it's never enough), McElroy's first novel hasn't. This goes for his entire opus of seven novels, all vastly intelligent, structurally and metaphorically brilliant, and, yes, challenging (and equally rewarding). If, as a reader, you feel you should be treated with respect and not have the novelist lead you by the hand and play you for an idiot, then I highly recommend this and McElroy's other novels. There are few voices as unique as his. Few novelists as concerned with what makes us what we are. And fewer are as capable. To summarize A Smuggler's Bible is a difficult task, but, essentially, an easy one (have I contradicted myself?). David Brooke, on the verge of a breakdown, is attempting to assemble, from eight very different manuscripts, his identity, his place in his friends' lives, as seen through their eyes. And in a variety of styles (the influences are strongly Nabokovian & Joycean), with each single manuscript having more material than many respected novels, the story unfolds, and we too begin piecing together what makes David Brooke David Brooke (and possibly what makes us us). McElroy shows a command of characterization, setting, voice, and metaphor that many a lesser novelist has been praised for. I highly recommend this novel, along with McElroy's Lookout Cartridge (currently out of print and perhaps the single most neglected work of the '70's). Joseph McElroy's are works far, far better than this hastily composed "review." Please read him.

There are many authors who deserve a larger readership (one thinks of William Gaddis, John Hawkes, Harry Crews), but none more so than Joseph McElroy. A Smuggler's Bible fell on deaf ears when it was published in 1966, and because of this is often compared to The Recognitions and Under the Volcano. And the comparisons are valid, to a point: For while Gaddis's and Lowry's novels *have* received a deserved amount of, well, recognition (though it's never enough), McElroy's first novel hasn't. This goes for his entire opus of seven novels, all vastly intelligent, structurally and metaphorically brilliant, and, yes, challenging (and equally rewarding). If, as a reader, you feel you should be treated with respect and not have the novelist lead you by the hand and play you for an idiot, then I highly recommend this and McElroy's other novels. There are few voices as unique as his. Few novelists as concerned with what makes us what we are. And fewer are as capable.

To summarize A Smuggler's Bible is a difficult task, but, essentially, an easy one (have I contradicted myself?). David Brooke, on the verge of a breakdown, is attempting to assemble, from eight very different manuscripts, his identity, his place in his friends' lives, as seen through their eyes. And in a variety of styles (the influences are strongly Nabokovian & Joycean), with each single manuscript having more material than many respected novels, the story unfolds, and we too begin piecing together what makes David Brooke David Brooke.

McElroy shows a command of characterization, setting, voice, and metaphor that many a lesser novelist has been praised for. I highly recommend this novel, which demands multiple readings, along with McElroy's Lookout Cartridge (currently out of print and perhaps the single most neglected work of the '70's).

Joseph McElroy's works far, far better than this hastily composed "review." Please read him.

This book does a wonderfull job of depicting the struggles involved in raising a family & building a farm on the great plains. Just 3 or 4 generations ago many of our own families were living the same life as the Ise's.

You can get so lost in this story that you will laugh and cry with the family as they go through the years.through birth and death rain and shine you will enjoy every line of this book.I got a real feeling of what it must have been like to settle the country, and the early years of this century. now that we are leaving the 1900's in the space age learn what it started out like.

I spent an evening reading this and I couldn't put it down. It was just outrageously funny. It's a pseudo-medieval epic poem in rhyme, and the rhymes are often very unexpected and creative. It's loaded w/ puns (good and bad) and modern references couched in verse and set in a knights of the round table context. It does get ribald and raunchy at times, so avoid it if moderately graphic depictions of gay sex are going to offend you. Otherwise you can't go wrong with this one. Mr. Howard must have some mind. Read the sample pages Amazon has available, you'll see what I mean.

This is the kind of book that makes you wonder how the author ever dreamed it up in the first place. OK -- the knights of the Round Table offer a good subject for gay treatment -- but rhyming couplets? What an undertaking! The rhymes are very clever and often surprising, the puns are groan-worthy, and the jokes poke fun at everything from show tunes to opera to fast food. Our hero Rod stumbles from adventure to adventure, trying to stay on course but usually giving in to some amorous escapade, and each episode builds on what came before as the poor guy tries to learn how to fight like a true knight. There's real suspense when he's called upon to show his stuff and the conclusion is actually quite touching. I read it twice and liked it just as much the second time. Don't let the poetry put you off -- this book is an easy read and really very funny -- something different that almost defies description but is highly recommended to all.

This is a fabulous book and exactly what I was looking for. I'm also thrilled that it has an accompanying CD that matches exactly. I am leading a seder this year for a church group who has never heard any of the songs before, so I wanted the traditional melodies, easy to follow sheet music, and easy guitar chords. This is perfect! I'm so pleased.

"SONGS OF THE SEDER fills a great need.... a gem of a book."

I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone looking to deepen their relationship with God. Unlike other books with "steps" or actions to take to enliven your relationship with God, this book provides practical advice, rooted in our Christian legacy, which actually draws you closer to God.

Few books guide us in how to actually come close to God -- and stay there. This book not only addresses the problems of meaninglessness, depression, and dryness that arise as we spiral further and further out of God's orbit; but also nails down the core problem: self-centeredness and self-will; and gives practical ways, historically proven by many saints, to move yourself back into relationship with God. Solidly based on the author's personal experience -- he writes of what he knows. Highly recommended if you truly have a desire to know God as revealed in Jesus.

SPC is one of the most powerful tools available to any organization or workgroup that wants to implement continuous improvement. Unfortunately, it is not widely used outside of manufacturing or companies that are committed to quality. One of the reasons is that is perceived to be difficult to learn. This wonderful book changes that by introducing statistical process controls in a clear, gentle manner.

The book is divided into modules, each of which builds upon the preceding one, and can be used as a training text or as a self-study guide. The first module covers the basics: causes of variation, tools (historgrams, control charts, variable and attribute charts).

Modules 3 and 4 go deeper into the tools, explaining why you would use them, how to use them and how to interpret them. This is the heart of the book.

Machine and process capability, the subject of module 5, can be applied beyond the shop floor. For example, I work as an information technology consultant and was able to apply the knowledge from this module to project estimation and controls, service level measurement and quality assurance processes. This information is also applicable to other areas and will be useful to anyone who works at a company registered as ISO-9000.

Module 5 covers all of the common quality problem-solving tools ranging from brainstorming to scatter diagrams. IT consultants and practitioners will find the sections on cause and effect diagrams and Pareto analysis useful for process improvement for defect identification and removal, and other related objectives.

Elements of a TQM system covered in module 8 may have been better placed in module 1, but it is thorough and a good starting point for anyone who is new to quality.

This book finishes with a module that provides the answers and solutions to practice problems from the preceding modules, which underscores its value as a class test or self-study guide.

I recommend this book to associates who either have never heard of SPC (and there are a lot of them) or think it is beyond their ability to grasp. It is impossible to have a viable, effective program of continuous improvement without SPC. The authors have done a remarkable job of writing a book that lives up to its title by simplifying SPC. As such they have made an important contribution to quality by making this effective tool available to anyone who will take the time to read the book and apply what they learn.

SPC Simplified came along at just the right time. I needed help developing statistical analysis that I could interpret to upper management. I used this text to assist me in constructing my first run charts, variance analysis, error analysis, root cause analysis, brainstorming session and my first Process Cause and Effect Analysis. Great job. A good buy for anyone in Performance Improvement.

It has been my great pleasure to be instructed by Dr. Mageo, as well as to have read this top-drawer collection of essays. The scholarship displayed in this collection is superb, and I would _highly_ recommend this book for both academic and recreational reading. Its presentation is masterful, its individual essays highly informative and superlatively written, and its central theme(s) strong and clear. Anyone with even a passing interest in folk religions, psychological anthropology, or simply cultures in general will benefit a great deal from this text.

This book is a collection of 11 high quality articles, most by anthropologists, that brings a variety of approaches to the study of the relation of spirit possession to history in the islands of the Pacific Basin. The authors situate their studies in Samoa, Tonga, Nukulaelae (Tuvalu), Anuta (Solomon Islands), Rotuma (Fiji), Dadul (Papua New Guinea), Chuuk (Federated States of Micronesia), and South Sulawesi (Indonesia). Fortunately, the editors provide a map of the Pacific Basin, without which this reader, at least, would have been at sea. The aim of the collection "is to examine the changing roles that gods and spirits have played in various cultures, relating them on the one hand to specific historical and cultural contexts, and on the other to cultural and psychological universals" (2). I will say emphatically that the lead article, "Gods, Spirits, and History: A Theoretical Perspective," by Robert I. Levy, Mageo, and Howard (11-27), should be required reading for anyone undertaking work on spirit possession. Among the issues that Levy et al. discuss is the difference between gods and spirits. While this differs from culture to culture, their conclusions are that gods represent and participate in mainstream morality and social institutions, are mediated by high-status priests, are subject to manipulation through praise, supplication, and gift giving, and are more distant from sensual and other kinds of personal experience, while spirits are inherently more dangerous, are comparatively free from the control of hegemonic institutions, are mediated by people of ordinary or low status, have the power to possess, enter or contaminate people, are more likely to engender disease and disorder, and exist in the margins of human social and epistemological order. Two topics recur through many of the articles: (1) the effect of modernity on belief in spirits and on possession, particularly because of the modifying influence of modernity on performance modes, and (2) the effects of Christianity. On many of the islands possession has been on the decrease as lifestyles have changed due to the pressures of both modernization and Christianity. However, the Christian Church has not always been effective in eradicating beliefs in local spirits. In other cases, the Church has not even attempted to eradicate beliefs in local spirits. In short, this volume is an important addition to the field of possession studies.

I read this book and found it inspiring and helpful. I particularly found the secret that Hudson Taylor speaks of relevant to transforming and deepening immensely my own walk with God. Not only I, but years ago my father's life was dramatically changed as he was inspired to have faith in the God who took care of Hudson Taylor as a missionary in China. After reading this book my father was able to put confidence in the Lord to take care of him as he stepped out into full time Christian service. (Hudson Taylor relied on God to provide for all of his needs and would not tell others what his financial needs were. God was faithful to meet all of Taylor's needs as well as the missionary society he founded. But there is far more in this book than that).

If you are looking for a deeper, intimate walk with God then read this book. Or if you struggle with living faithfully, joyfully and consistently for the Lord then read this book. The spiritual transformation that occured to Hudson Taylor took place after years of service on the mission field. Many Christians, like Hudson Taylor did, will benefit to find the secret of that transformation. I did.

A book for missionaries, which indeed we all are for Christ. This is a thrilling true story of one man's relationship to our Lord and what his life becomes in service to Him. All those who have dedicated their lives to Christ can learn a lot about living out the faith and what God can do when you put your entire being into His loving hands. What this man, Hudson Taylor, does in China, we have assurance that God also wants to do in our lives even right where we are. A blessing for the indivual reader, and subsequently for those around, affected by the ministry inspired.