The book "More Than a Carpenter" is an excellent resource for finding answers to those tough to answer questions. The information is provided in a straight forward manner and demonstrates what can happen when your eyes are open to the truth; rather than closed to what is in front of you.

I found this book of Advent meditations in 2000, and found them enjoyable and thought-provoking. but I felt that I had missed much. So when Advent rolled around in 2001, I set out on the journey again. I was right. There was more for me to learn about myself and my spiritual journey.

Something I particularly liked was that the journey didn't stop at the stable on Christmas Eve, but continued a full two weeks beyond--taking me back into the real world and reminding me that I cannot remain at that special place, that the stable has gifts for me to return to the everyday world. At this point, I plan to make the journey again in 2002.

McDowell takes traditional blocks, and layers and overlaps them, using color transparency, to create different depths and images. The depth and complexity is extraordinary; the templates and color charts are very helpful; and the author tells of the inspiration for each quilted wall hanging. You can choose to reproduce one of McDowell's offerings, or strike out on your own.

This anthology is as exciting and interesting as McDowell's M and W; Stroud's Quest; Crary's The New Wittgenstein; and Brewer's Perception and Reason. This anthology contains new material from some top-flight folks in the field.

M and W is an important text; it engages, as very few contemporary philosophy of mind texts have, the serious and neglected dualisms of conceptual scheme and empirical content; spontaneity and receptivity, which are, needless to say, Kantian concerns. McDowell is a proponent of conceptual content (within the realm of a 'minimal empiricism') and appeals to Kant and Wittgenstein to buttress his descriptive approach to philosophical inquiry. M and W has some brillant and evocative insights (with more than a few expensive obscurities), and some of McDowell's metaphors are splendid indeed, such as the teetering 'seesaw' and the 'sideways on picture.' Of course, it attempts to negotiate Kantian insights concerning human cognition with certain contemporary discussions on the Myth of the Given (Sellars), The Third Dogma (Davidson)and the Tribunal of Experience (Quine), and Rorty's attack on epistemology.

This anthology could offer disenchanted graduate students a reason to complete doctoral studies in philosophy. It is that rich and exciting. I am seriously nervous with glee (nerd alert!).

The most important and interesting articles here are: M. Friedman, "Exorcising the Philosophical Tradition" (previously published); R. Pippin, "Leaving Nature Behind" (on subjectivism); B. Stroud, "Sense Experience and the Grounding of Thought" (always a pleasure to read Barry); R. Brandom, "Non-Inferential Knowledge, Perceptual Experience..."; G. McCulloch, "Phenomenological Externalism" (see A. Brueckner and/or K. Falvey on this topic); H. Putnam, "McD's Mind and McD's World" (also see his Three-Fold Cord on McD and his soon to be released UW lectures from Columbia UP); C. Larmore, "Attending to Reasons."

This is my highest recommendation.

Jarman and McDowell came along with their magazine, The Reaper, when it was needed most. They've done a lot to bring back narrative poetry (McDowell is the founder of Story Line Press). They wrote these essays together, and weren't afraid to say what they thought--they weren't afraid to make anyone mad (they remind me of Randall Jarrell in that way). Meg Schoerke's introduction and the first Reaper essay introduce those of us who are unfamiliar with The Reaper. "Navigating the Flood" takes on criticism, and they aren't afraid to name names. Their essay on Wallace Stevens discusses his impact on contemporary poetry and the narrative. Two essays, "The Reaper's Non-negotionable Demands" and "The Elephant Man of Poetry" (which is about Robert Frost) are the two best essays in the book, and two of the best essays about poetry. They attack the state of poetry with satire and humor in "The Reaper Interviews Jean Doh and Sean Dough" and "The Dogtown Letters", and both essays will make you laugh out loud. The sad thing is that it just as easily could have been real. In addition to four other essays, there is also a guide to writing narrative poetry. This collection is so great that you wish that The Reaper was still in circulation, and you hope that one day Jarman and McDowell will collect a "Best of" and release it soon.

This book is excellent. My 12 year old will benefit greatly from the biblical wisdom herein. Thanks Josh!

I was a sceptic - more than that, I was a hard-core atheist before I read this book. Now, whether I like it or not, I have to accept the fact that Jesus has been resurrected on the third day - fact, not myth.

In this book, McDowell addresses all possible (and not-so-possible) "natural" explanations of the resurrection, and discusses them in detail, proving each one wrong. His approach of letting the facts speak for themselves rather than trying to press them into a belief system is what really impressed me.

With all the evidence presented, I can no longer deny the facts, and have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. There just isn't a doubt any more.

We bought this book for our son when he turned six. This book was the highlight of his day and helped to create in him a real desire for reading every night before bedtime. The book was comprised of stories where someone in the Bible had to make a choice. At the end of each story, the book asks if the person made a good choice or a bad choice. It asks other questions about the story as well, and it gives the child an activity to do and finishes with a short prayer. It is a wonderful book and I hope Mr. McDowell writes another one.

My friend gave me this book. I saw the title and thought "Hm... This must be one of the 'girl' books!" And I was mistaken. This book has changed me. It was a loud alarm clock to wake me up and deal with the problems in my personality that I did not take serously, and stopped me from having shallow relationships with people. This is a dangerous book also. Once you read it, you won't be able to live in the old way. I have recommended this book to my friends, and this is the book I am going to give to my future children when they grow up.

This book is written by eight women with famous or influential Christian husbands. These women show how they have learned to lean on Jesus Christ in the worst of situations: Suicide attempts, childlessness, egotistical husbands, poverty, etc.