I am a 3rd grader in Chicago and my teacher read us this book about 3 kids and two adults. Their names are Luther, Carrie, Dilly, Mama, and Papa. It was in the time of slavery. Dilly's mother was sold to a mean white man, where Luther and Carrie's mother lived too. Carrie's father was sold to another white man with lots of horses, but the father escaped. They made a daring escape. Running from dogs and people, and sliding across the great Mississippi, by foot and by horse, they reached many stops on the Underground Railroad, including places in Chicago and around Chicago that I know about. Along the way, they get separated from each other. A lost aunt, a future uncle, and an old-time taxi driver are part of the puzzle that is finished by the end of the book. I'll let you find out the rest. This is probably the best book I've read about slavery. This story changed my life because I will never tease someone that has a different color skin from me.

The many definitions of voice in the dictionary give an introduction to the variation of meaning behind the word, but, as with most dictionary definitions, leaves one grasping only the thinnest of meanings. It cannot give voice to all the meanings, subtleties, nuances, and uses of words. It speaks with an intentional voice, and in realizing that intention, leaves much out. So it is true with many throughout history, and it is still true even in today's relatively more tolerant pluralistic and diverse society.

Turner and Hudson, in this book Saved from Silence: Finding Women's Voice in Preaching, address the question of why and how women should find a voice in preaching in today's church. In so doing, they explore different historical examples, from women mentioned in the Bible to other women in later Christian history. The importance of voice is brought in from the outset, prior to specific examples. What does one mean by voice? '"Voice" as a metaphor corresponds to basic principles in feminist, womanist, and liberationist thought that recognise the issues of power and oppression in relationships.' (p. xii) Their terminology expands beyond the specific task of the recovery of women's voices, and speaks to all humanity. 'If the church recommitted itself to a "voice-centered" theology and mission, the church would be called to take more seriously the systems and structures that stifle the voices in human community.' (p. 139) To a very large, the recovery of women's voices, as one voice that has been explicitly excluded from the greater conversation in the church throughout history, can lead to the recovery of the lost and/or stifled voices of all in the church. This is true in many aspects of the life of the church, not simply preaching. Liturgy and biblical studies often overlooked women (among others). The ignoring of these other voices can have serious consequences. 'It challenges the accuracy of the claim that liturgy is the work of the people when so many of the people are rendered invisible and silent.' (see In Her Own Rite, by Marjorie Procter-Smith, p. 61, which I have also reviewed)

The recovery of lost or stifled voices is no easy task. 'The inability of the silent women to find meaning in the words of others is reflected also in their relations with authorities. While they feel passive, reactive, and dependent, they see authorities as being all-powerful, if not overpowering.' (see Women's Ways of Knowing, by Mary Field Belenky, et al., p. 27, which I have also reviewed) There is great pressure, both officially sanctioned and unofficially encouraged, that keeps those silent from speaking out. When the silent do speak out, it is often ignored. 'Our history as a church is blessed, however, with stories of women who, empowered by God's spirit, have courageously chosen to speak rather than to flee. . Yet, in each generation, feminist work is received as it had no historical past.' (p. 89) It is made more complex in that the silence isn't always a complete stifling. 'Because people do not share a single experience of oppression or define themselves in the same way, one person may feel "voiced" in one situation and then "silenced" in another.' (p. 17) Women in different cultures, and indeed different social classes, denominations, or other such varying conditions, may find greater or lesser degrees of being silenced.

One can look to the biblical text itself, Turner and Hudson argue, to see that there is a call for an empowering of voice to women (among others). 'We found in the biblical texts a model for ongoing interpretation that demands that the contextualised voice speak to its world. We found a hermeneutic that makes our own engagement with the text - because it is ours - important and necessary.' (p. 2) The example of Elizabeth and Zechariah at the beginning of Luke-Acts, and Elizabeth's interactions with Mary, are given as instances of women's voices being empowered over those of men.

If, as Turner and Hudson state, 'The purpose of religious life is to assist and sustain the conversation between God and humanity,' then the silencing of anyone on a categorical basis leads to a brokenness. (p. 50) Each of us can relate to the feelings of women in being silenced, although the correlation is sometimes, given our individual circumstances, an imperfect one - for instance, being a male (white male, besides) affords me other opportunities for voice for which I do not have to fight; however, there are circumstances in which I am silenced by design or by neglect. As we explore the silencing of any individual or group, it gives us opportunity to reflect upon ways in our own lives in which we have been silenced.

In the silencing of any voice, the church runs the risk of silencing an important prophecy. In the silencing of any voice, one makes a choice, and treads on the dangerous ground of not hearing those difficult things that God intends, that are necessary, that are good and just. The hearing of these voices can enrich our lives, even through the irritation that might occur.

This book provides much intriguing and fascinating information on the role of scent and smell over history. It's captivating to find the emphasis past cultures and time periods had on scent and smells - and how much of that we have lost. Particularly interesting are the sections on scent as it relates to seduction and magic. A bit "scholarly" but understandable and educational!

Stansfield Turner was a Rhodes scholar and naval officer who rose to command of a carrier task group, a fleet, NATO's southern flank, and the Navy's most prestigious intellectual institution, the Naval War College. He served from 1977-1981 as Director of Central Intelligence under President Jimmy Carter, and his book in my mind was the first serious contribution-perhaps even a catalyst-to the growing debate over whether and how much reform is required if the U.S. Intelligence Community is to be effective in the 21st Century. His eleven-point agenda for reform is of lasting value, as are his ideas for intelligence support to those responsible for natural disaster relief and other non-military challenges.

Beidel and Turner have spent many years leading research in the various aspects of shyness and social phobia in children. This book is a compilation of work in that area. It is an important contribution to the literature. What makes it different from other books on social phobia is that it focuses not only on the developmental aspect of the condition but also on how to manage the condition in children as well as adults. Each component of effective treatment is discussed and treatment for children and adults is compared and contrasted. This fills many important gaps in the area of social phobia.

This is a fun book to read, and must have been a fun book to write. There are two parts in the book. Part I consists of 14 interesting essays, answering the questions such as: What would Santa Claus have to do to deliver all his presents in one night? Which celestial body is equal in volume to 54,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Big Macs? How loud must a noise be to have lethal effects? How hot would Hell be and how cold would Hell have to be before it froze over? What is the amount of air pressure required to burst a condom? Part II defines and explains all sorts of common and uncommon measures and scales, with lots of tables, illustrations and interesting examples.

My favorite essay is: How many jumping Chinese does it take to start an earthquake?

This book gives the readers a new understanding of all the measures and scales, in a very witty way. That's all I have to say about this book.

Extends Esther Bick's work on skin functions of the ego in suprising directions. Adds crucial understanding of pre-object aspects of emotional development. A masterwork. --Ivri Kumin, M.D.

This is an excellent book addressing an area that I feel has been addressed quite poorly within much of academia. He takes up the threads of a number of divergent thinkers and considers how practices, traditions and so on come into being.

the book is written for an academic audience but is very readable.

This is a great book to have especially if you are a student struggling with theories. It is very clear and gives accurate definitions and descriptions of the theories utilized in the field of Social Work. I recommend all Social Work students to purchase the book.

I found this book to be quite unique in the way it covers its subject area. I know of no other book which seeks to treat in a botanical manner the more conspicuous and important woody plants of the Sonoran Desert biome. I discovered the existence of plants that I previously did not know about. Each species is covered very well, with notes on its appearance, distribution, ethnobotany, and ecology. Excellent half-tone black and white photographs. I can't recommend this book too highly if one is interested in learning more about the Sonoran Desert woody plants.