Dependable Sage publications once again provides a classic reference volume with insights and guidance from classic authors/researchers in research methods.

Hey, people, what gives? The bio of Eugene (and an incredible job it is, Katherine) is up the Amazon list (...) or so, and here lingers his gem (...). I want every one of you people who bought Milking the Moon to pony up the dough for a copy of The Untidy Pilgrim. You can't understand one without the other. (...)Now that it is back in print, shame on everyone who doesn't buy one! There Eugene, I hope I have redeemed myself. They don't write 'em like this anymore. My copy still has the dew on it.

In this volume, Eugene Freeman has helpfully collected and edited twenty-three talks by rationalist philosopher Brand Blanshard, twentieth century philosophy's finest exemplar of what he himself called the "rational temper."

The talks are grouped loosely around the theme, "What is the purpose of education?" They are divided into three sections: "Ends," a series of eight talks in which the question is pretty directly addressed; "Corollaries," eight talks in which several related issues are canvassed; and "Homilies," a group of seven "humanistic sermons" in which Blanshard offers reflective advice on matters from "books" to "courage" to "admiration."

I won't try to summarize the specific content of this broad collection, but the overall thrust is the same as that of Blanshard's philosophy in general. Basically, Blanshard identifies education with philosophy, not as a narrow technical specialty but as the broad attempt to "see things steadily and whole." He develops this theme with his usual style, grace, vigor, and urbanity, and very effectively excoriates the antirationalism of most of the twentieth century.

Readers new to Blanshard and without much background in philosophy might want to start with this volume, which is uniformly accessible and non-technical and deals with themes that will be of general interest. Many passages present nontechnical discussions of themes Blanshard treats at greater length in his longer works (particularly _Reason and Goodness_). Most of these discussions cover territory that will be familiar to Blanshard's longtime readers, but even they (well, "we") will find some new delights here. (I am thinking particularly of "Sanity in Thought and Art," which is cited several times in _The Philosophy of Brand Blanshard_ but is not in print anywhere else.)

As Blanshard notes in this volume, our admirations tell us something about ourselves and prompt us to become more fully what we are and should be. One object of my own admirations is Blanshard himself, and I recommend his works highly for the inspiration I have drawn therefrom.

This is a very "wordy" book about a complex man, his life, politics, and beliefs. It is not a history per se of Malcolm X, nor is it a biography, rather it is a collection of ideas within ideas about Malcolm X and what made him tick. I must warn you though it is not as easy book to read, but it rates five stars in my opinion because it attempts to be analytical and non-judgemental about the man and his times. Not an easy task when you are writing about someone as famous as Malcolm X. This is a good book to supplement Alex Haley's book on Malcolm X as it looks deeper into the man and what he stood for. Well worth reading if you have the time and patience.

After Eugene Smith died in 1978, his estate allowed the Center for Creative Photography (Tucson, AZ) to select from Smith's master prints to create the Eugene Smith Archive. This book illustrates the more than 1,800 prints in the Center's collection. There are 200 pages of six (occasionally 12) 5cm X 7cm photographs per 10.5 X 11-5/8 inch page. The Center's accession number identifies each plate.

The photographs are arranged chronologically and, when applicable, include the name and date of the magazine that published the photo-essay. The Archive, and this book, includes many photographs that Smith printed but were not included in the published essay, and includes unpublished assignments, pictures of family and friends and more.

The quality of photoengraving is remarkably excellent.

As far as I can determine, this is the only book containing the comprehensive work of W. Eugene Smith, truly the master of the photographic essay.

This is a great introduction to one of the most outstanding photographers of all time. The author obviously understands Smith's genious!!

This review is for the Aperture 1970 Hardcover Edition, unknown ISBN, Library of Congress Number 70-99254.

The book begins with a three-page chronology of Smith's life from 1918 through 1969. (Smith died October 15, 1978.) Although brief, it covers his awards, achievements and major assignments. The photographs are not arranged in strict chronological order, however, but in an "episodic" form as a series of portfolios. Smith writes:

"Photographs related to the photographic - essay are presented here as individual works, as excerpts from the essays, presented in portfolio form. There is no intention to offer a thorough journalistic approach to the subjects involved."

Smith was a meticulous and masterful printer. Photoengraving, of course, cannot approach the quality of the original print, but Aperture did a remarkably fine job. I own an original print of "Jazz" and the reproduction compares very well except for the depth of the blacks.

The book concludes with a fascinating biographical essay by Lincoln Kirstein and an extensive bibliography.

I would recommend the biography of W. Eugene Smith, Shadow and Substance: The Life and Work of an American Photographer to anyone interested in the life and times of this photographer. I felt that the author drew a picture of a driven, artist who had a sense of public right and wrong. From this book, I learned that whether or not he led a life that I would want my children to emulate, his sense of outrage towards social injustices were larger than his personal being. And, he presented his stories "up close" and personal. After reading the book, the photo essays became even more revolutionary and engaging. Smith becomes real. Enjoy.

I have heard Eugene Schwartz lecture on the subject of education several times, and I'm always impressed with his breadth and depth, with his passionate intensity of presentation and the lightness of his humor. All of these qualities, I assumed, could never be captured in a book - but they have been! "Waldorf Education" offers a concise -- but not superficial - picture of the vast and complex world that every Waldorf school creates. Eugene is well-versed in contemporary educational research, and he is a learned scholar who brings historical and sociological perspectives to his subject.
In sum -- if you can only read ONE book on Waldorf Education, this is the one!

The favorite novel of Lew Wallace who wrote Ben-Hur, it inspired him to write The Prince of India, his own version of the tale. Now in a new book, entitled MAL TEMPO, available from Amazon, you can read the story behind the story of the Eternal Wanderer!