Book Description

"I Remember Pete Maravich" is a beautiful hardcover book that details the professional career and personal example of "Pistol Pete" Maravich. His amazing record and ball-handling tricks are just some of the stories recounted here by some of Maravich's closest acquaintances, including his friends, fellow basketball players, coaches, and relatives. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Wonderful reading!
Pistol Pete was my childhood hero and this book tells me an awful lot about him from people who knew him during different parts of his life. It's people talking about Pete in their own words and the stories and memories are rich and interesting. I especially like the Christian angle to the book, telling of Pete's conversion to Christianity and his evangelical work. Most of the stuff I've read on Maravich downplay that stuff, but I think it as important as anything else he ever accomplished. Nice book for sure.

oral history
This biik is an oral history of Pete Maravich, the player and the person. It recounts the memories of various people who knew Pete as the Pistol and as just plain Pete. It gives a balanced view of his past and is especially interesting in recounting Pete's later days and his conversion to Christianity. A good read for people who may have read Pete's biography but want to see him through others eyes. ... Read more

Book Description

Three women, all philosophers, all of Jewish descent, provide a human face for a decade of crisis in this powerful and moving book. The dark years when the Nazis rose to power are here seen through the lives of Edith Stein, a disciple of Husserl and author of La science et la croix, who died in Auschwitz in 1942; Hannah Arendt, pupil of Heidegger and Jaspers and author of Eichmann in Jerusalem, who unhesitatingly responded to Hitler by making a personal commitment to Zionism; and Simone Weil, a student of Alain and author of La pesanteur et la grace.

Following her subjects from 1933 to 1943, Sylvie Courtine-Denamy recounts how these three great philosophers of the twentieth century endeavored with profound moral commitment to address the issues confronting them. Condemned to exile, they not only sought to understand a horrible reality, but also attempted to make peace with it. To do so, Edith Stein and Simone Weil encouraged a stoic acceptance of necessity while Hannah Arendt argued for the capacity for renewal and the need to fight against the banality of evil.

Courtine-Denamy also describes how as a student each woman caught the eye of her famous male teacher, yet dared to criticize and go beyond him. She explores each one's sense of her femininity, her position on the "woman question," and her relation to her Jewishness.

"All three," the author writes, "are compelling figures who move us with their fierce desire to understand a world out of joint, reconcile it with itself, and, despite everything, love it." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A good intro to these ladies and their times
This is not an easy book. It is a glance into the lives of 3 women, Hanna Arendt, Simone Weil, and Edith Stein, each of Jewish descent and, in particular, at the response each one made to Nazism. There is a review of each woman's life and her career. A lot of space is given to the education of these women, which is especially interesting since each studied under some of the biggest names in philosophy in the 20th century. It is not easy to follow, however, unless you have some basic knowledge of Heidegger, Jaspers, Alain, Husserl. But it is still interesting. Each of these women chose a different response (not just to nazism, but to the world, actually). Arendt became strongly Zionist, and an author of wonderful books; Simone Weil, strangely at odds with her heritage, but whose essays are marvels of clarity, chose a strange path of starvation (whatever the philosophical underpinnings, one wonders about anorexia); Edith Stein converted to Catholicism and became a Carmelite nun, devoting her life to prayer (though still writing). Each of these responses is fascinating in its own right. I highly recommend this difficult, but rewarding book.

disappointing story of three remarkable women
I am no philosopher, but have read the works of the three women who are the subjects of the book.
I was hoping to put the three lives into the context of the intellectual and social world they lived in, and how and why they made their individual decisions on philosophy, religion, and their approach to the questions posed by both Nazism and the feminist movement.
But little detail is given about the intellectual life. We are told the names of their mentors: but not any details of what these mentors taught (a major flaw for the non philosophy student who is not familiar with Heddiger etc.).
At the same time, except for some fine passages on Simone Weil, there is little detail on the inner lives of the women: we see only the outline of their parallel lives, often mixed together in a confusing manner. Arendt's affair with her professor, a subject recently treated in detail in a recent Atlantic magazine article, is given one sentence. Stein converts, with no more detail on her inner life than one could read in a blurb in the Catholic encyclopedia.
In summary, the author fails to provide details for the novice to understand the lives of these women, but does not go into sufficient depth for a philosophy student to learn anything new.
However, the passages on Simone Weil are an exception to my criticism. I did learn a lot about both her writings and why she thought and wrote her famous letters. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

John Quincy Adams, A Person History of an Independent Man
After seeing the movie Amistad I was curious about this president who was pretty much passed over in our history books. This Hecht book satisfied all my curiosities plus some I didn't think of. She covers the public and personal lives of JQA. All the public figures of the time, great and near great, American and European, walk through these pages. And, yes, the Amistad story is there. I have limited vision so I save wear and tear on my eyes each day in order to be able to read this great book in bed before I go to sleep. Minor criticism: I have to keep paging back to determine the year of given happenings. The author could have repeated dates a little more generously. Otherwise it would be a five-star! ... Read more

Book Description

When Fr. Seraphim found out that the early Western Father, Blessed Augustine of Hippo, was being attacked in contemporary Eastern Orthodox circles, then he--himself a Western convert to Orthodoxy--rose in his defense. This book is the outcome. Fr. Seraphim said he wrote it in the hope that it would help remove Augustine as a scapegoat for today's academic theologians, and thus "help free us all to see his and our own weaknesses in a little closer light--for his weaknesses, to a surprising degree, are indeed close to our own."

After discussing Blessed Augustine's strengths and weaknesses, Fr. Seraphim examines the opinions of other Holy Fathers concerning him. "His main benefit to us today," he writes, "is probably precisely as a Father of Orthodox pietysomething with which he was filled to overflowing.Here he is one with the simple Orthodox faithful, as well as with all the Holy Fathers of East and West who, whatever their various failings and differences in theoretical points of doctrine, had a single deeply Christian heart and soul. It is this that makes him unquestionably an Orthodox Father."

This new edition of The Place of Blessed Augustine in the Orthodox Church contains letters written by Fr. Seraphim concerning Augustine, passages from Augustine's Confessions which Fr. Seraphim found especially moving, and an Orthodox service to Blessed Augustine, commissioned by St. John Maximovitch. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Defense of Blessed Augustine
_The Place of Blessed Augustine in the Orthodox Church_ by Fr. Seraphim Rose is about the theological controversy that has raged over the ages concerning the noteworthy Bishop of Hippo. Blessed Augustine, after Jesus Himself and St. Paul is probably the most controversial figure Christian history. This short book puts Augustine in his proper sphere of veneration--that of a Father of Orthodox piety. Fr. Seraphim comments on recent disputes in the Orthodox Church about Augustine. Augustine has been criticized in some circles as having set the course of Western Christendom on that path that it followed after the Great Schism in the 1000s toward overly-logical rationalism, the Calvinist denial of free-will, and corrupting Orthodox doctrine on God's grace toward sinners. The modern day Orthodox theologians who disparage Augustine are censured for not looking at how Augustine has always been viewed-as a Saint and great Teacher. _Blessed Augustine_ goes into some detail about the free-will debate as well. The traditional Orthodox teaching, explains Fr. Seraphim, is one of synergy, or God's grace working with man's free will to attain salvation. Augustine's teaching was an overreaction to Pelagius, a heretic who placed too much emphasis on man's free will and lessened the role of God in salvation. Augustine never denied free will, but went a little overboard when he spoke about the effect of God's grace. St. John Cassian in the West, along with the Eastern fathers, were more moderate in the balance between God's Grace and free will, and spoke out against Augustine's errors. This did not make Augustine a heretic, or one who spread false doctrine. Fr. Seraphim points out several examples where venerated Fathers have taught error in isolated instances or as a matter of private opinion, but their thought as a whole were in continuous agreement. The last three parts of Blessed Augustine_ contain letters in which Fr. Seraphim discussed Augustine, the passages Fr. Seraphim underlined in the _Confessions_, and a liturgy for Blessed Augustine.

An insightful call to moderation
Fr Seraphim Rose's short text on Blessed Augustine is an insightful charge for Orthodox to embrace the tenets of moderation and understanding in an approach to the often controversial views of Augustine. While not an 'academic work' in the sense that it holds up to a great deal of critical scrutiny in all its points, Fr Rose's text nonetheless provides a much needed alternative to the frequent 'Augustine-bashing' found in certain circles, drawing out both the negative and the positive in the author's thought.

Excellent
Outstanding, Penetrating Insight, likely the best of all Rose's works, my highest recommendation, great for all Christians!

A Compelling Answer to the Orthodox Pseudo-Academics
I have never been particularly impressed by Fr. Seraphim Rose's other books - especially "Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future" and "The Soul After Dead" - but "The Place of Blessed Augustine..." is a beautifully written and convincingly argued defense of the great Bishop of Hippo.

Fr. Seraphim refutes many Orthodox "scholars" (such as Fr. Michael Azkoul) who show a sort of hypocritical "West-o-phobia" in their shameless, merciless bashing of St. Augustine. While not ignoring the fact that some of St. Augustine's personal theological opinions concerning inherited guilt, grace, and free will are rejected by the Orthodox Church, Fr. Seraphim highlights his genius in many other areas. He makes an important distinction between holy Augustine himself and later medieval "Augustinians," who took the flawed points of the saint's theology and transformed them into a vast theological system. Above all, for Fr. Seraphim, St. Augustine is admired as a "Father of Orthodox Piety" - his "Confessions" are one of the greatest works on Christian repentance and reflect a mystical Orthodox experience with the Holy Trinity.

The book includes many added goodies, including icons of St. Augustine and others, excerpts from the "Confessions," letters of Fr. Seraphim, and an Orthodox service to St. Augustine written by the 20th century American saint, John (Maximovitch) of San Francisco. ... Read more

Book Description

More than two decades after his death, John Wayne is still America's favorite movie star. He has become a cultural icon whose stature seems to grow with the passage of time. In this illuminating biography, Ronald L. Davis focuses on Wayne's human side, portraying a complex personality defined by frailty and insecurity as well as by courage and strength. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A good look at John Wayne without the scholarly commitment
This biography succeeds in its evenhanded portrayal of John Wayne. No doubt some will criticize it because Davis doesn't spend his time eschewing Wayne's politically incorrect opinions, but neither does the author lionize Wayne the man. What you have left is a concise and readable 400 page biography that covers all the movies and all the wives. Davis gives his opinions as to why the Wayne legend still survives, and what his fellow actors thought of him way back when.

Interesting is the story behind the making of the ALAMO, a film he produced, directed and starred in, the subsequent Oscar campaign, and the aftermath. Also interesting is Wayne's relationship with director John Ford, whom he loved, and their disagreements.

Outstanding
Though very in-depth in explaining each movie John Wayne appeared, the book lacks somewhat in explaining who John Wayne was. In comparison, Donald Dewey's recent biography of Jimmy Stewart gives the reader a more detailed examination of Stewart than Ronald Davis does of Wayne. Ronald Davis also relies too much on the self-centered Pilar Wayne, the third Mrs. John Wayne, for anectdotal information. Davis's use of interviews with Harry Carey, Jr. are quite valuable and illuminating. It's a shame that Davis didn't thoroughly interview other actors who shared the screen with Duke, including Ron Howard, about whom Duke thought highly or Kim Darby (Mattie in True Grit), who didn't like the Duke (remember, True Grit was filmed in 1968). Mr. Davis does an excellent job explaining Duke Wayne's desert years in the thirties doing one-reel westerns. One has to admire Wayne's persistance. One note Pilar Wayne reveals through Ronald Davis that puts Wayne in a very bad light and has changed my personal views toward him to the strongly negative, was Duke Wayne's insistance that a pregnant Pilar get an abortion. The baby was inconvenient as Duke was in the divorce court with number two wife Chata in a highly charged divorce battle. The baby was killed but Duke Wayne received a fairly good divorce settlement. A conservative icon, when the chips were down, was capable of a selfish, dishonest, sordid, dirty act. The Duke was a great actor and icon but was not a good person. He was not a great American.

--Derek Leaberry ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I AM THE GREATEST!!!!
I have been an avid Ali fan since the 60's. I remember the Rumble in the Jungle, his gold medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome and how he "shocked the world" in 1964 by defeating Sonny Liston for the heavyweight title. I always have loved his charisma and enthusiasm for the sport of boxing...now my grandchildren can share in the glory of this true American icon. Gordon's portrayal of Ali is thorough, but written on a level that children will be able to understand the affect that he has had on the world.

Looks like by using the old Rope-a-dope tactic, laying low, and waiting for the right time to buy an Ali book for the kids, was the right one-two combo! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO WRITE ABOUT THIS MAN
"Muhammad Ali: Through the Eyes of the World" is a fine documentation, which tells the story of a fine man. It was a good effort by Lennox Lewis, (a heavyweight champion), and Mark Collings; although that I didn't come across any new event or issue regarding the life of this greatest champion that sports has ever known. However, since most books that bear Ali's perspectives are hard to find in continental Europe, I was more than glad to lay my hands on this one.
I have either heard or read every story that I found on the pages of this book, yet, the refreshment it offered was great. I had a satisfactory pastime with it; and I guess that you'll cherish it too.
No matter how much you know about The Greatest, this book will certainly knit-up your weekend. The chapters are well-arranged, and the overall documentation is cute.

Ali through the blind eyes of the world
Following the recent release of Hollywood's horrible 'ALI' movie, we have yet another book attempting to ride the Ali bandwagon. The best thing about this book is that it contains a lot of cool photographs that I hadn't seen before. Very little of the text is new or insightful, though. With few exceptions, these people just retrace the same old tired topics. Ali refused to go to Vietnam, Ali won the heavyweight title, Ali is funny, Ali is kind, etc... True, but how many different times do I need to hear somebody say this? Of all the people chosen to comment in this book, few of them have anything unique to say about the man. In addition, a lot of these people don't really seem to know fact from legend. For example, several references are made to the story about Ali throwing his Olympic medal into the river. This is complete fiction, dreamed up for the '70's book and movie, "The Greatest". In reality, he just lost the medal somewhere. There are a few good entries here, such as the ones by referee Arthur Mercante, Bert Sugar, Angelo Dundee, daughter Hana, ex-wife Veronica, and several people who fought against or helped train Muhammad. These cover less than 1/2 the book, though. Instead of getting some redneck comedian who's never even met the man, why not get Joe Frazier or Ken Norton or George Foreman or Ali's current wife Lonnie or his best friend Howard Bingham to comment? How about his brother, Rahman? Leon Spinks, even. The editing is atrocious, at least in the hardcover edition. If you really want to read something about Ali that's well written and well researched, I would suggest the great books 'Muhammad Ali, His Life and Times' by Thomas Hauser and 'King of the World' by David Remnick.

The Worlds Greatest
Muhammed Ali: Through the Eyes of the World by Mark Collings and Lennox Lewis helped me tremendously to understand the life of Muhammed Ali. This book kept me interested throughout. What was unique about this book that kept me wondering what was behind the next page was that it was told from many people's eyes, not the authors'. From his opponents to his four wives, you got the story from everyone. When someone's story started to get old, here it was, a new story. The different commentaries give you his whole life story. You hear about the way he fought, how he loved kids, his love for entertaining, his generosity, you hear it all. After reading the book I had the feeling that I knew Ali as a person. I give this book five stars. If I could, I would give it more.

Shows Ali the way he should be shown
I just got done reading the King of the world by David Remnick and he did a wonderful job portraying that first part of Muhammads life. But This book, Through the eyes of the world, did so much more for me to understand the life of Muhammad Ali. It is absolutly astonding how people pictured him and how they admire him now. There is no specific writer, it's all comwntaries from different people, actors, writers, poets, photographers, trainers, etc. This book shows whaty kind of a man he truly was, not the man that the public wants you to think he was. He was a man that stood up for himself better than anyone. He got Boxing out of control of the mob and defied how the white man wanted black boxers to act. Some comentaries in this book are short and some are long, but all give very good and detailed explainations and descriptions of how they viewd Muhammad Ali. I give this book a definate 5 stars. I would give it 6 stars if I could. What the heck, I'd give it 100 stars. In fact I do, I give this book 100 stars. ... Read more

Book Description

A new interpretation of the first six books of Augustine's Confessions, emphasizing the importance of Christianity rather than Neoplatonism. ... Read more

Book Description

Daring Daughters brings to life the timeless stories of women who over the centuries have faced adversity with courage, character, and often humor. The women presented in Daring Daughters found a way to live their lives as they desired. Some overcame obstacles, some created their own roadblocks while seek a dream. Whether their historic contributions were by default or intent, they left their mark. They were survivors. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

One of our best statesmen
It is ironic that the thing that reflected poorest on John Quincy Adams, his tenure as president, is what he is today remembered for. In fact, his most outstanding achievements were in the field of foreign affairs and civil liberties. Professor Bemis's book addresses the first of these (the second is handled in vol. 2).

Because of his father's career as a diplomat during the American Revolution, John Adams probably had the best education in foreign affairs of any statesmen in early America. While charges of nepotism haunted Adams, it was money well-spent in terms of results. Adams was posted to Prussia, Russian and Great Britain during the Napoleonic War. He managed to secure a peace treaty with Britain which was threatening to send over the Duke of Wellington to resolve the war of 1812.

As Secretary of State, Adams established the principles that later became enshrined as the Monroe Doxtrine. His vision of Western Hemispheric solidarity was designed to allow the new American Republic to stand up to the more powerful nations of Europe. Adams did much to establish anti-colonialism as the hallmark of American Foreign Policy up to the Second World War.

The job of Secretary of State was seen as the springboard to the presidency in the "Era of Good Feelings." Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe had held this office. The rise of Adams was overshadowed by that of Andrew Jackson. However, given the nature of politics at the time neither he nor Adams were able to achieve a clear victory in electoral college. The inconclusive results of the election of 1824 led to the ultimate decision resting with the House of Representatives. When the fourth runner up and Speaker of the House, Henry Clay was in a position to decide the outcome.

The result was the famous "corrupt bargin" in which Adams came in as president and Clay was appointed to be secretary of state. The hint of "political hanky panky" undermined the presidency of John Quincy Adams. There were a number of good ideas proposed, a national university, a system of observatories, internal improvements featuring a national network of canals and roads that would have opened up the west and promoted greater regional ties and interdependence. Unfortunately these good ideas were ineffective against the charisma of Jackson and the political machinations of Van Buren, the first national political boss. The presidency of John Quincy Adams was ineffective against well-organized congressional opposition.

Beemis is excellent on all points. He correctly assesses the highlights of his career. This is intended to be a scholarly biography, not a popular representation. The level of detail and the flow of the narrative may drag at times, but this book is well worth the effort. ... Read more

Book Description

Eleven-year old Jeanne Marie, daughter of an American military officer stationed in post war Germany, is abducted and raped. Life is forever altered as she wakes from this experience with an unwelcome dark gift. The haunting memoirs of this nationally acclaimed clairvoyant are based on her true experiences, as she is compelled to take on the inconceivable task of helping lost children by “seeing” through the eyes of missing and murdered victims. In bone chilling detail, Jeanne Marie recounts her involvement in several sensational cases, among them, an untold story of Adam Walsh. After years of the personally painful and terrifying ordeal of living through these deaths, Jeanne Marie reluctantly agrees to help a DEA agent find a missing murder witness. But as she peers through the eyes of this missing girl, Jeanne Marie unwittingly finds herself entangled in Miami’s subterranean world of world of white slavery, drugs, murder and Afro-Caribbean mysteries. When Jeanne Marie is initiated into the secret priesthood of Santeria, her story escalates into a supernatural thriller as she learns what this clandestine community expects of her in return. ... Read more

Book Description

To the world, three-time heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali is known as "the Greatest." To his daughter, Hana, he is simply known as Daddy. Now in a heartfelt tribute, Hana Ali shares the life lessons she learned from her father, and offers an intensely personal look at one of the most revered men on the face of the earth.

Sprinkled among her insightful anecdotes, Hana Ali presents a collection of Muhammad Ali's most provocative and profound poetry and quotes -- spanning from the turbulent 1960s to today -- as well as classic and never-before-published photographs. She also confides the wisdom and understanding of a cultural icon whose battle with Parkinson's disease has not stopped his commitment to African-American pride, nor his ongoing fight against poverty and racism. Lovingly conveyed through Hana's unique perspective, More Than A Hero is more than just a rare glimpse inside the Ali family -- it is an inspirational reminder that we can all achieve greatness. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Pap
Total and utter sheer pap, glurge and mush.

Ali isn't just the most written about boxer ever, he's also the most written about athlete. What a shame that most of the books written about him, like his mushy tribute from one of his many daughters, totally whitewash (no pun intended) one of the most controversial and intriguing figures of the 20th century. I wish somebody would write a biography of Ali that told it like it is, good and bad.

Let the Young Dream of Him!
Hana Ali does a marvellous job at presenting her father, the famous and unforgettable Muhammad Ali, and some of his writings. We admired him when he became the World Champion of his boxing category. We admired and supported him when he refused to go and fight in Vietnam for conscientious reasons ; « No Vietcong ever called me a nigger ») and when the system got its vengeance by getting his boxing title off him and putting him in the « can » for quite many years, punishing him for his objection but also punishing his wife and his children. We admired his will power when he reconquered his title. To read his poems, his writings is most invigorating. His daughter presents him as a hero and an angel. We feel his faith in a God of goodwill and charity, of love and peace in every single sentence, in every single page. We understand the total admiration his daughter cultivates for him. Especially since he now endures his natural ordeal which is named Parkinson's. Some pages of that book are beautiful, and that is enough to say so. His love for the poor, for the deprived, for the dispossessed is one more reason to think he was and is a great man, a great spirit, a soul all Afro-Americans can be proud of, a model for younger generations of any race who have lost the desire and the strength to fight for a better future for humanity. An inspiring book that we should all read and comment, that we should have teenagers read and comment in school. Only one flaw in that perfect gem : the one instance when he cannot convince his daughter to eat her vegetables, and he accepts her to dispose of them in the toilet. Has Hana thought of those in the world who have no vegetables at all to eat ? I have been educated in this absolute morality that considers that food is too hard to be bought, cooked, prepared for it to be in any way thrown away. Even bread crumbs can be used to bread some meat or to thicken your soup. But nevertheless, it is and remains an inspiring book. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Paris Universities II and IX. ... Read more