In my opinion, the essay is the literary form where Chesterton's brilliance shines the brightest, and so these Illustrated News collections make for great reading. This volume, containing the columns from 1929-1931, is one of my favorites because he deals with a greater diversity of topics than, say, during the WWI years.

Chesterton was never afraid to poke fun at his own self or reputation, and in one of the first and funniest essays in the collection, titled " If I Was a Preacher," he remarks that a Utopia would be a place where he would be gagged and rendered speechless. He moves on in subsequent columns to confront the ideas of the era: the rise of Darwinism and scientism, the emergence of psychology and sociology as serious science, gender politics, prohibition, etc. Among the personalities he remarks on are H.L. Mencken, Clarence Darrow, Abraham Lincoln, T.S. Eliot, and Albert Einstein. Chesterton is especially entertaining when writing about modernism, and the myopia of a society which considered itself superior just because it was modern. There are a dozen or so essays on that alone. They make interesting reading because they are so applicable to the 21st century world, too.

For example: in a column here from August 1931, GKC satirizes the "modern" logic that says that marriage vows went out with Victorian dresses; he reasons that Socratic ideals must have gone out with long tunics, or that Spinoza's mathematics no longer made sense when he took off his shirt. Even those long familiar with Chesterton will find provocative and surprising reading here.

This book focuses on Gillespie's own contributions to modern-day psychoanalytic theory of the sexual perversions. It is a remarkable chapter in the evolution and development of what is today the world's most sophisticated, if largely unknown, clinical theory of sexuality. Gillespie's outline, in several articles, of his own general theory of sexual perversions, provides an excellent background for grasping the unique concepts and language which make an understanding of the process of sexual perversion especially clear and accessible.

Unfortunately, the most visible modern application of Gillespie's seminal work is the very controversial reparative therapy for homosexuality. The leading proponent is, of course, Charles Socarides, who drew heavily on Gillespie's theoretical contributions in formulating his own unitary theory of the sexual perversions. This same proven reparative model is applied by clinicians worldwide today in the therapy of all sexual perversions. Gillespie himself, in the articles contained herein, is clearly unequivocal in specifically declaring homosexuality a sexual perversion in the clinical sense.

Homosexuality is as controversial today as discussion of heterosexuality was in Freud's day, thus barring general public acceptance of this highly effective clinical view of treatment for the sexual perversions, so is it any surprise that this fascinating tale of today's most sophisticated sex theory ranks at only about 1 million on Amazon?

Of special interest to the general reader, this identical theory of the sexual perversions is the very same one which modern psychoanalysts such as the late Robert J. Stoller have consistently applied to their studies of the sex industry.

A deeply historicized, wry, and often funny look at the process by which London fashioned a model of US masculine selfhood and expanded territories of (barely sublimated) territorial/regional conquest. One of the best books I know on a single-author study of a Pacific author from imperial era of national expansion, then or now [sic].

At first it seemed this book was [spendy] but once I bought it I had no regrets. Mastering the material, means that one gets a glimpse at the potential exquisite simplicity of the p-adics. You also get a real sense that the proof of the greatest problem of all - the Riemann Hypothesis - is not far away if Haran's philosophy is pursued just one step further....

Todd London edits New Dramatists 2000, selecting the new works of graduating students of the Class of 2000. From issues of race and activism to living a life with value, these short plays are varied and well done.

Ten years ago this would have been a slim and depressing volume, but London-so long mired in nostalgia and mediocrity-has become the most adventurous of the world's capitals for new architecture and design. Norman Foster bestrides the world like a colossus, but some of his best work is now rising in full view of his Thameside office. Younger practices are also flourishing, and-in contrast to LA-most of the building is in the public realm: from the new underground stations and museums to the unjustly maligned Millennium Dome and the popular London Eye. Powell, a leading London critic, infuses this sparkling selection with sharp, insightful comments.

An excellent account of the events about the New London School explosion in 1937. Contains many eye witness and survivor accounts. Having been raised in East Texas and having older parents who were involved in the rescue themselves, Lori Olson presents information that has not been revealed in recent years. She has done a good job of presenting a fairly balanced account of the event. It is a short book - only 108 pages - but for anyone interested in Texas history or disaster history it is a must read. Glad that Lori, from Minnesota, took an interest in an old Texas event.

Pompey Casmilus is a secretary living in London in the 1930's. In this book, she describes her thoughts about love, work, friendship and the Germans, amongst other things. If you're looking for a plot this isn't the book for you, but if you want emotional honesty and a startlingly original (and up to date) viewpoint, then go ahead and read it. Don't let the book's surreal style put you off - there's plenty of thought-provoking material in there.

After reading Profundis, I was struck by Oscar, his life, times, regrets and the depth of his self-inflicted pain. This book provides the reader with a perspective on the London of Oscars' time which must be thoroughly understood to glean meaning to his life. Daily life is explored on various social levels as are those contemporary laws and social mores of which Oscar spoke and often debated. This book is a must for those who wish to OBJECTIVELY get beyond Oscar's sexuality and popularized personnae. A fantastic overview of the London which harbored the young Wilde -- rejected the sexual Wilde -- and ultimately embraced the visionary Wilde.

Professor Michael Beesley pioneered a series of lectures on utility regulation sponsored jointly between the Institute of Economic Affairs, London and the London Business School which previously had been published in the IEA Readings series.

In 1999 his untimely death deprived the UK of one of it's most distinguished economists only shortly before the latest of the lecture series got underway. Now aptly renamed the Beesley lectures the series has continued under the auspices of the IEA and LBS and this book, edited by Beesley's close friend and colleague, IEA Editorial Director, is the record of that 1999 lecture series.

The format of the book mirrors that of the lectures themselves - each year the academics and the practitioners alternate in giving the lecture while the others chair the session and comment before opening up to the floor for questions and discussion. In line with the IEA brief to express the issues clearly and cogently so that the layman can follow the debate, the papers are well written with the minimum of technical jargon to explore the current issues and examine possibilities for the future.

The whole question of the limits to public finance which instigated privatisation, deregulation and increased competition in the provision of public services the world over has led to a burgeoning literature on regulation which may be viewed as the ability of government to ensure service delivery standards without direct provision. As universities and research institutes the world over focus on the questions of regulation, this series, although focussing on the British experience, nonetheless provides insights which have general applicability.

The quality of this book is very high and is recommended reading for expert, student and layman alike. Some of the papers are a little dated such as Colin Mayer's excellent exposition on the 1999 Water price review but which has important lessons for the whole of utility regulation. Overall the papers provide interesting perspectives on the approach of the recently elected Labour government's approach to regulation and competition. Professor Catherine Waddhams Price's paper is a prime example of regulation with a social needs perspective. Colin Robinson has done a marvellous job is editing the papers. The most interesting from my own point of view are the Ian Jones paper on 'Railway Franchising' and the final paper by Dan Goyder on the new Competition Commission.

All in all this is a befitting testimony to a great man who always had a knack of finding a new way of looking at things from everyone alse.