If Olaya Street Could Talk -- Saudi Arabia: The Heartland of Oil and Islam

Book Description

If Olaya Street Could Talk is a portrait of Saudi Arabia and its people, encompassing a 25-year period during the era of its dynamic transformation from being one of the poorer countries in the world to becoming a state with a modern physical and economic infrastructure. It is also a story about the western expatriates who worked and lived in the country--from the "free and easy 70's"--to the period when they became specific targets for execution by certain religious fundamentalists. The book addresses western perceptions of the country and how those perceptions were formed, from TE Lawrence and Wilfred Thesiger to NY Times columnists Thomas Friedman, Maureen Dowd and David Brooks. The book's fundamental purpose is to examine the issue which dominates today's headlines: the "Islamic-Western cultural divide" and places this concept within the context of American issues, such as the experience with the black-white cultural divide as well as America's last significant conflict, the Vietnam War. It is in parts a travelogue, a sociological examination, a historical documentary, a love story, health care development and political commentary. The author is one of few Americans to have lived in the country during this period of time who had access to Saudis at all levels of society and freely traveled throughout a large portion of the country. No other book, in English or Arabic, covers this period of Saudi Arabia's transformation to a modern nation, the period from 1978 to 2003. The motivation for writing the book was to render a realistic image of the people of Saudi Arabia, as well as to examine some of the basis for the American misperceptions of this country and region, in the hope that it will inspire others to take steps towards ending the current policy of war without end.

Customer Reviews:

The Ex Pat Ladies who Lived on Olaya Street.......2007-10-15

I am an American lady who lived on Olaya Street for over a decade and befriended many ex-pat ladies who shared their time with me and others on a street that needs to be recognized internationally. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the most critical nations on the face of the Earth yet it lacks the maturity and degree of acceptance it must achieve to take its place in a political climate of survival of the spin masters and military giants. The cultural norms of Saudi Arabia are often picked over by cultural vultures that misjudge more than judge Saudi life style. I determined a long time ago not to become a defender of Saudi's cultural norms rather I seek when asked to clarify why certain cultural norms still exist and how they are viewed across the Saudi society and when able project what the future may hold. As western women our status never really changed -it was never particularly high in some quarters of Saudi Arabia due to the great misgivings some westerners and some Saudis had about the other - but the level of tolerance toward all women in Saudi dropped in the decades spanning 1980 to 2000.This was due of course to our mutual misgivings and the cultural bomb in the form of the first Gulf War. I am hoping that this topic will be addressed in the book which I have just ordered and cannot wait to read. I am hoping and sense I will not be disappointed that the book will let me revisit my time with friends and places and incidents in Riyadh. My husband was an engineer with The Royal Commission and I taught at the American International School of Riyadh. Olaya and the American School were bridges to places into the peoples' hearts and minds for me. The author's experience was similar. I am so grateful to the author for writing his story. He has elevated even validated the ex-pat experience in The Kingdom.

Refreshing Addition.......2007-10-08

This book is a refreshing addition to the spate of publications that thump readers over the head with political ideology or religious exhortation.

I, too, lived in the Kingdom for twelve years overlapping the author's stay, but I never met him. I have read many of the books that have popped up during the last decade, written by people who have lived there. Many authors have an exaggerated agenda and/or lack of real knowledge and participation in the culture of Saudi Arabia. Westerners seldom participate fully, if ever, but John Paul Jones does not pretend to offer explanations, excuses or condemnations of an ancient culture that matured on the other side of the world, independent of Western technology or philosophy until recently (historically speaking).

He offers something more interesting--an account of how individuals from these cultures relate to one another on a personal basis, how they find ways to accommodate differences that cannot be truly reconciled, and how they sometimes cannot find ways. He also underscores the obvious---that East and West have actually come together for the development of both, and have done so admirably in major ways. This message has gotten lost, especially since the atrocities of 9/11.

Any Westerner who has lived in Saudi Arabia will recognize the honesty of this book. It reads like a letter to a good friend, and does not aim to be a literary or scholarly treatise. It brings in aspects of the author's family life and his experiences in Vietnam. It bridges the cultural gap with elements of popular Western culture, as is evidenced in the title, derived from Baldwin's classic, "If Beale Street Could Talk."

Mr. Jones is well grounded in Western culture, yet manages to live and write with an attitude of objectivity that has served him well, and has facilitated his invaluable contributions to the well-being of both the Saudis and his fellow expats. This book is an addition to that legacy.

An American expat's musings on life with other American expats.......2007-08-26

The author has spent a good chunk of his life in Saudi Arabia, but there is nothing here to suggest he has any particular insights (good or bad) to impart, and it's not even clear from the book whether he established a serious friendship with a single Saudi, or had a single meaningful conversation with a Saudi. There is in fact more about the author's personal demons in the Vietnam war, which he fails to weave into the story to make awkward and unoriginal points about America and the Middle East. There are also weird digressions about country music and non-sequitur quotations of dated American pop songs that fail to resonate and do not advance the story being told. The one interesting part of the book is in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks, when the author is duped into playing an American role in what sounds like an anti-American Saudi televsion mini-series about the misfortunes that the 11 September attacks heaped upon the Saudi people.

Mostly, this is just a random collection of tales from a disconnected expat living in the expat bubble and observing Saudi customs from afar: look at how the women dress! look at the religious police harassing people! Nor does the book succeed in its stated task of conveying a sense of the rapid social changes that the Kingdom saw over recent decades. For a brilliant, if fictionalized, account of this, see the "Cities of Salt" trilogy, especially the first volume, by Abdelrahman Munif.

I used to take offense at the fact that comedian Dave Barry could visit a foreign country for a half week, and immediately turn around write a bestseller that would easily outsell any books written by scholars or journalists who had painstakingly built up a lifetime full of expertise on that country. It is far worse, however, that this man could live in Saudi Arabia for some 20 years and write such a horrible book, that offers less insight than Dave Barry might offer after a four day visit to the Kingdom. I've read perhaps two hundred books on the Arab world and this just may be the least worth reading of the lot.

A nostalgic, insightful read........2007-08-13

As another expat who spent many years, built a family & life, and had a wealth of unique experiences in the Kingdom - I read John's book with varying emotional reactions.

His book starts as a light-hearted narrative of a simpler, more naïve (from our perspectives) time in the KSA. Most of us who lived there in the 70s or 80s felt the same combination of adventure, freedom, and security on this peninsula of such antiquity and new-found modern vibrancy. The living, the work, and the travels were wonderful.

After the "Desert 1" war, we (as many) observed the accelerating cultural/social shifts described faithfully by John - not only in Saudi Arabia, but in the Middle East as a whole. As we decided to repatriate in 2000, I read the accounts of the Jones' last years with a two notable reactions: the curing of any latent desire to return, and sadness for all of the rather unbelievable gaffes on both sides that have led us to this dark place in history.

Most of us long-termers have many stories from those heady days, but John's taken the time and energy to publish his, and for that I thank him. If you want excellent insight into this Kingdom that is so enigmatic and crucial, read John's book. If you prefer not knowing: see the movie and watch corporate media.

This is a great read for anyone considering living in Saudi Arabia.......2007-07-23

Having lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for many years, I can confirm that this excellent book provides the reader a very truthful, honest, and insightful view of expatriate life in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is a beautiful country where I raised a family, made multiple lifelong friendships, and enjoyed my job working alongside many wonderful Saudis and other Arabs.
The country is immensely beautiful and this book describes in detail a young family's many journeys into areas in Saudi Arabia that few outsiders rarely see and experience.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has asked the question: "Why did you stay in Saudi Arabia so long?"

John Paul Jones: America's First Sea Warrior

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navy historian's view
Naval History
The real story of a naval hero
Well researched, well balanced
An even-handed and meticulously accurate examination of Jones' life and legacy

John Paul Jones: America's First Sea Warrior
Joseph F. Callo
Manufacturer: US Naval Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1591141028

Book Description

This fresh look at America's first sea warrior avoids both the hero worship of the past and the recent, inaccurate deconstructionist views of John Paul Jones's astonishing life. The author goes beyond a narrow naval context to establish Jones as a key player in the American Revolution, something not done by previous biographers, and explains what drove him to his achievements. At the same time, Admiral Joseph Callo fully examines Jones's dramatic military achievements—including his improbable victory off Flamborough Head in the Continental ship Bonhomme Richard—but in the context of the times rather than as stand-alone events.

The book also looks at some interesting but lesser-known aspects of Jones's naval career, including his relationships with such civilian leaders as Benjamin Franklin. How Jones handled those often-difficult dealings, Callo maintains, contributed to the nation's concept of civilian control of the military. Suggesting that Jones might well be the first U.S. apostle of sea power, the author also focuses on the fact that Jones was the first serving American naval officer who emphasized the role naval power would play in the rise of the United States as a global power. Another neglected aspect of Jones's career that gets attention and analysis is his brief tour in the Russian navy, a revealing chapter of his life that has been underreported in the two hundred years since Jones's death.

Rather than looking at Jones in a rearview mirror, Callo illuminates how this unique naval hero is linked to the nation's present and future. As a result, he gives us a sea saga that tells much about our own lives and times.

Customer Reviews:

navy historian's view.......2006-11-03

Mr. Callo is an excellent writer who analyzes Jones' carrer with many of the special insights of a naval officer. Dealing with his men, tactics in battle and the interface between the navy and the political bosses. Quite a contrast to Evan Thomas' portrayal of Jones attacks on England in a political context.

Naval History.......2006-06-26

I enjoyed this book. Admiral Callo presented a balanced history that placed the strategic, operational and tactical achievements of John Paul Jones' career in perspective. Admiral Callo, for example, discusses both the strengths and weaknesses of Jones' naval leadership, the fortitious circumstances of the tactical victory over the HMS Serapis (i.e. the role of chance and friction in war), the effect of tactical wins against the British in the larger strategic context of the American Revolution, and the joint operations involving the Russian fleet actions at the Liman of the Dnieper. All said, Admiral Callo avoids the hero-worship of some writers, providing a solidly researched, well-written biography of John Paul Jones' life. I recommend this book for Soldiers, Sailors, Airman and Marines - all members of the Armed Forces should know something about the life of an important patriot who established many traditions for the sea service.

The real story of a naval hero.......2006-05-15

Callo's book, many of the other recent historical novels of the same period, helped me better understand the difficulties faced by our new nation and it's leaders. John Paul Jones, like his peers Franklin, Jefferson and Washington, was not a hero but rather became one because of the challenges he faced both on the sea and in the politics of the new nation. The values and traditions we still follow today are well described and as a retired Navy Officer I better understand the origins of our Navy and Jones' contributions. I strongly recommend this book.

Well researched, well balanced.......2006-04-26

John Paul Jones was a most interesting character, filled with contradictions. He was a fighting captain of the nascent American Navy. He had the foresight to look at the future of America as a world power. At the same time he was a difficult man. He was difficult to put up with if he were your friend, he was disparaging of the poor performance of his fellow captains, he was self-promoting to an extreme. But he was not one you wanted to have an an opponent in battle. His failings prevented him from reaching high rank, among them was his relationship with women. He never married and was accused from time to time of rape, molesting a ten year old girl and numerous affairs with married women. He died in Paris, 45 years old.

This book, written by a Navy Admiral is perhaps the most carefully researched, most balanced of the biographies of John Paul Jones. It has neither the adoration, nor the snide condemnation of some other recent biographies.

An even-handed and meticulously accurate examination of Jones' life and legacy.......2006-04-08

Rear Admiral Joseph F. Callo, USNR (Ret.) presents John Paul Jones: America's First Sea Warrior, a biography that eschews both the blind idolization of past accounts and the inaccurately deconstructionist present accounts of Jones' amazing life. Scrutinizing both the well-known aspects of Jones' life, such as his stunning military victories and his tireless advocacy of naval power, and lesser-known aspects such as his relationship with civilian leaders like Benjamin Franklin, which in turn set precedents for a fledgling nation's concept of civilian control of the military. A glossary and an index round out this even-handed and meticulously accurate examination of Jones' life and legacy.

Harlan Ellison's Dream Corridor Volume 2

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!!!!!

Harlan Ellison's Dream Corridor Volume 2
Harlan Ellison , Gerard Jones , Mark Waid , Steve Niles , John Ostrander , Various , Eric Shanower , Neal Adams , Paul Chadwick , and Steve Rude
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1593074948

Book Description

Ever wonder what it would be like to walk into someone else's mind and have a look around? Well, what if that person happened to be a brilliant storyteller whose imagination has captivated millions of readers over the past five decades? In the award-winning anthology Harlan Ellison's Dream Corridor, we have had both the privilege and peril of rooting around in the eponymous fellow's noggin to see what makes him tick - and what engrossing stories have been hidden away in the cracks and crevices of his gray matter. The words of world-renowned science-fiction author Harlan Ellison are once again translated onto the page by top comics creators, including Paul Chadwick, Neal Adams, Steve Rude, Gene Colan, Steve Niles, Gerard Jones, Richard Corben and the legendary Oz illustrator Eric Shanower. Most of these stories have never before seen print!

Customer Reviews:

!!!!!.......2007-05-23

An EXCELLENT collection of hardcore fantasy and science fiction. Harlan Ellison is the master of his trade. Here, like before, he's the tour guide, giving tidbits of information about who drew and penciled what, his inspirations, autobiographical details, etc. It's a good selection of stories; each one is imaginatively illustrated in a different and distinct style by top notch artists, providing for an unpredictable, sometimes disturbing, sometimes whimsical journey. I think Ellison is best when visualized like this, and Dream Corridor (both volumes) is some of my favorite work by the author. A great buy for both fans and newcomers.

Stories:

The Silver Corridor
Opposites Attract
Djinn, No Chaser
One Life, Furnished in Early Poverty
Goodbye to All That
The Voice in the Garden
The Discarded
Gnomebody
Moonlighting
Eyes of Dust (fragment)
Rock God
Are You Listening?
The Lingering Scent of Woodsmoke
The Man on the Juice Wagon

Adaptations by:

Mark Wald, Ty Templeton, Tony Isabella, Gerard Jones, Jan Strnad, Bret Blevins, Steve Niles, John Ostrander, Diana Schutz, Elliot S! Maggin.

Illustrations by:

Gene Ha, Rags Morales, Jay Lynch, Paul Chadwick, Kent Bash, Bret Blevins, Gene Colan, Neal Adams, Terese Nielsen, Richard Corben.

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Save your Money

Avengers: Galactic Storm, Vol. 2
Len Kaminski , Tom DeFalco , Mark Gruenwald , Roy Thomas , Dan Thomas , Gerard Jones , Bob Harras , Paul Ryan , Pat Olliffe , Rik Levins , Dave Ross , Rurik Tyler , Jeff Johnson , Stephen B. Jones , Steve Epting , Greg Capullo , Craig Brasfield , John Czop , Darren Auck , and Dave Simons
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785120459

Book Description

One galaxy's heroes are another's villains, and two galaxies' worth of them are in head-on collision - with the Avengers in the middle of a war whose repercussions will haunt them for years! The events that split and shook the Earth's Mightiest Heroes to their foundations end here, and intergalactic boundaries aren't the only lines being drawn! Plus: The tri-galaxy war devastates the Earth far more literally when we see "What If the Avengers Lost Operation: Galactic Storm?"! Collects Iron Man #279, Thor #446, Captain America #400-401, Avengers West Coast #82, Quasar #34-35, Wonder Man #9, Avengers #347, What If? #55-56.

Customer Reviews:

Save your Money.......2007-07-12

This graphic novel contains the conclusion to the Galactic Storm series, which was originally published by Marvel in the Annual issues of their various on-going series (Capt America, Avengers, Thor, etc...). As a rule of thumb story lines that involve Annual issues from multiple comic series are wretched.

This one is no exception. The story telling is choppy, because each Annual covers one hero (or set of heroes). The art is middling to bad, again because its an Annual; Marvel and DC feel its ok to let quality slip. Marvel even managed to get two of the issues in this book out of order.

Go ahead, buy it. I dare you.

John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy

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Background to US Navy Traditions
An excellent and balanced account of Jones
From Pirate to Hero
Don't judge this book by it's cover!
On Azure Waves

John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy
Evan Thomas
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743258045

Amazon.com

Evan Thomas's John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy grounds itself on the facts of Jones's life and accomplishments to bolster his place among the pantheon of Revolutionary heroes while also working to deflate the myths that have circulated about his name. Jones, we learn, was confronted throughout his life with controversy and was crippled by ambition. But Thomas lauds Jones for early innovations as an American self-made man who rose from Scottish servitude.

Jones, despite his too brisk manner, was a true success, if not genius, as a naval captain. Early in the Revolutionary War, he captured a shipload of winter uniforms destined for General Burgoyne's army in Canada, which instead warmed General Washington's troops as they swept across the Delaware to defeat British at Princeton and Trenton. Later, Jones helped formulate the Navy's plan of psychological warfare on British citizens. And Jones's strategy to cut off the British fleet via the French Navy was arguably the most decisive strategic decision of the War.

In the end, Thomas makes a good case for a renewed appreciated for Jones's role in the broader revolution, citing his many connections to the Founding Fathers and his contributions to the broader war effort. While it may be that the John Paul Jones who proclaimed "I have not yet begun to fight" never existed, the real man behind the textbook legend is every bit as compelling a figure in Thomas's hands. This temperate biography situates Jones in what will likely prove durable fashion among portraits of Adams, Franklin, Washington, and Jefferson. --Patrick O'Kelley

Book Description

John Paul Jones, at sea and in the heat of the battle, was the great American hero of the Age of Sail. He was to history what Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey and C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower are to fiction. Ruthless, indomitable, clever; he vowed to sail, as he put it, "in harm's way." Evan Thomas's minute-by-minute re-creation of the bloodbath between Jones's Bonhomme Richard and the British man-of-war Serapis off the coast of England on an autumn night in 1779 is as gripping a sea battle as can be found in any novel.

Drawing on Jones's correspondence with some of the most significant figures of the American Revolution -- John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson -- Thomas's biography teaches us that it took fighters as well as thinkers, men driven by dreams of personal glory as well as high-minded principle, to break free of the past and start a new world. Jones's spirit was classically American.

Customer Reviews:

Background to US Navy Traditions.......2007-01-11

John Paul Jones was a historical figure, but I really did know much about him until reading this very well written story. I gave this book to a number of friends this year as a holiday gift. Jones made two voyages around England during the Revolutionary War sailing ships procured for him from France. There have been modern ships in the Navy named Ranger and Bon Homme Richard, but I did not know until reading this that those were the names of Jones ships during those famous voyages. After reading this you will know the answer to a great quiz show question which is who is the patron, that the ship, Bon Home Richard was named after. I look forward to reading the story that Evan Thomas just released describing American naval heroes of WWII.

An excellent and balanced account of Jones.......2006-12-30

I have to admit I bought this book because it was in the closeout bin and I got a deal on it. I next have to admit that it sat in a pile of books to read for at least three months before I got around to reading it. But on starting it, I was highly impressed. It's well paced, factual, well researched without being dry and scholarly.

First, I had no idea that his battles were fought off the English and Scottish coasts and that he was considered to be a pirate by the English- I always thought he fought battles off the American coast.

Second, I had no idea that he was so closely tied with Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and the closing stages of the French monarchy- nor that he served under Catherine the Great in helping her to gain a passage through the Black Sea.

Third, the personality of the man, greatly flawed in its insatiable desire for glory and honor, was balanced by an ability to fight-- and to WIN.

America wasn't a third-rate, fourth-rate or even a fifth-rate naval power during her Revolutionary War. America was essentially a "no rate." But Jones gave America victories when most others (with a few notable exception) did not. And he forced the British to bring home more of Her navy to protect home waters.

For those who have read any of the Horatio Hornblower or "Lucky Jack Aubrey" works of fiction, I recommend that they also read this book.

War is mostly waged by ordinary men- with fears, hopes, desires and needs like all of us. However, in every major conflict there a very few, like John Paul Jr., son of an English landscape gardener, who do more than their duty would dicate. For John Paul "Jones" it was his desire to be covered with glory and honor as well as his desire to build a winning AMERICAN Navy that caused him to push himselves and others far beyond the normal limits.

To "Jones", the thoughts of marriage, children, even his health were secondary to these.

I salute Evan Thomas for an excellent work about the father of the American Navy.

From Pirate to Hero.......2006-12-14

If you want to understand how the modern navy was born in America this is one of two books you will need. Understanding the mentality that drove our early navy to their few successes is a harrowing story that is told best here. This focuses on our lake fleets as well as our ocean fleets and does so in a very concise manner. The prose is very good and the information is well referenced. Anyone looking for information on the history of American navy will be well served with this book.

Don't judge this book by it's cover!.......2006-10-22

Don't judge this book by it's cover! (The cover is beautiful...)

I'll begin with the good things in the book. It has a decent overview of Jones' life and accomplishments. A first-time reader about Jones will find the catalog of his daring exploits both interesting and exciting. Evan Thomas's narration of the sea battles and manoeuvers are as thrillingly told as any of O'Brian's or Forester's epics. However, besides the battles, this book doesn't do much but echo the author's malicious conclusions about Jones.

Thomas seems to think that he is writing a Doctoral or Master's thesis and that we, as readers, continually forget what the main point of the book is. Don't be decieved, the author is not a fan of Jones. In striving to be "historically fair", we are faced with a book mainly about Jones's glaring shortcomings. Thomas has made it his goal to make sure we know that every single thing Jones did (from his letters to his heroics) was motivated by his "demon pride" (p. 310). It seems every paragraph begins or ends (sometimes both) with a scathing statement about Jones' lust for glory. Instead of stating the facts in an interesting narrative, we are faced with a continual repitition of Thomas' main thesis: Jones was not a hero, but a vain, glory-seeking upstart who wasn't even a good seaman. Often we get a sense that the thesis is wearing thin and completely falling apart. In order to buttress that, Thomas redundantly restates it lest we forget and start forming our own conclusions. Heaven forbid great men did great things for great reasons!

I have read scores of historical biographies and none have been as vitriolic towards their subject as Thomas is to Jones. Granted, Thomas does an effectual job belittling everyone, but I thought the part of the title "Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy" meant he liked Jones. It must have been added by someone else, for it doesn't reflect the author's views.

As I said previously, the book isn't without merit. It's battles are told very well, and the overview of Jones' accomplishments (and failures) are great. However, I would recommend reading another account of Jones that didn't seek to villify him and call it "historical fairness" (or whatever the term for giving more pages to his faults rather than his accomplishments is). If you want your conclusions dictated to you, read this book. If you prefer to draw them yourself, look elsewhere.

On Azure Waves.......2006-07-24

I am unaware of any hero from the American Revolution who was not flawed in some way, and John Paul Jones is no exception. But as always, the truth of their lives is much more compelling than the mythology of their lives: the actions and quotations invented about them by storytellers, which seemed to be necessary in order to cement their greatness in history (and probably to sell pamphlets and books), have only served to freeze them into short, individual moments of otherwise longer careers and lives.

There is a certain tragic sadness about the life of John Paul Jones, and Evan Thomas captures that sadness in this excellent biography. Jones was a man who, without a doubt, possessed a brilliance of naval tactics--tactics that provided the American cause with tangible cachet at its darkest hour--but a man who could never quite claim membership in the rarified company of Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin. Jones is the blue-water twin of George Washington: ambitious, dedicated, domineering, persevering, far-seeing, and challenged at every turn by lesser men, but the ducks of fate would never quite line up in his favor to boost his confidence beyond the flaws of his personality.

Evan Thomas' telling of Jones' story makes no apologies, spares no remonstrance. Thomas describes Jones through manic highs and lows, with revelations that can cause the reader to wince at Jones' more pitiful moments. But then a battle comes and Jones stands boldly, for honor not for gold, and sets aside his demons for a greater cause. Jones recognized his flaws and wrestled with them throughout his life. If anything, this struggle makes Jones greater--fully human and fighting to rise above his faults.

Aficionados of 18th century naval literature will appreciate Thomas' descriptions of the battles. Neophytes will appreciate Thomas' use of modern language and the glossary of 18th century naval terms in the back of the book.

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Great for intro and depth at the same time!
Horrible View of Theology
An excellent introduction to theological studies
A Place for Evangelicals and Liberals to Meet
Excellent overview of contemporary theology

Essentials of Christian Theology
Stanley J. Grenz , John B., Jr. Cobb , Sallie McFague , Serene Jones , Robert W. Jenson , Hughes Oliphant Old , Ellen T. Charry , Paul F. Knitter , Richard J. Mouw , Noel Leo Erskine , David S. Cunningham , Kathryn Tanner , Clark M. Williamson , and William C. Placher
Manufacturer: Westminster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0664223958

Book Description

Presenting two dialoguing essays on nine foremost theological questions, William Placher— the recipient of the American Academy of Religion's 2002 Award for Excellence in Teaching—has provided an unparalleled introductory reader in theology. Himself giving an excellent discussion of the history and current state of each doctrinal issue, he allows the essays to explore and raise questions about their key elements—and the contemporary issues confronting them.

Customer Reviews:

Great for intro and depth at the same time!.......2006-11-10

Placher's volume is helpful to the first-time reader of Christian theology, but it is also engaging to a more seasoned audience. His introduction ("Why Bother with Theology?") not only stands as a useful argument on its own--it also sets an appropriate tone for the rest of the book.

Each chapter focuses on a specific issue of Christian doctrine (e.g. trinity, atonement, church). Placher begins every chapter with a brief but cogent summary of the history of the topic, including some of the historical theological perspectives that have shaped how we think about the topic today.

The chapters continue with brief essays from prominent contemporary theologians--two per chapter--presenting their perspectives. They represent the diversity in contemporary theological scholarship, ranging from the liberal to the conservative, the systematic to the scriptural, and including liberation and feminist theologies.

It is a great first-time read, and it is also something that should then be kept on the shelf for future reference. It may be rather expensive, but it is worth every penny.

Horrible View of Theology.......2005-10-22

I was very skeptical when I read the authors brief summary in the beginning of this book. He states the views are from people from every walk, ethnic and "sexual orientation." That automatically threw a red flag for me. The view on homosexuals is jaded and far from Divine viewpoint. One reviewer was absolutely correct when he stated "it is a place for liberals and Christians to meet." Saints don't compromise leave this book on the discounted shelf.

An excellent introduction to theological studies.......2005-08-27

If you are beginning a journey in Christian theology, this book is for you. Dr. Placher has put together a collection of essays by 18 distinguished scholars. Nine important issues are discussed. Each section begins with a helpful introduction by Dr. Placher which serves to frame the discussion. Then two authors with different perspectives present their thoughts on the topic. At the end of each chapter are questions for discussion and a list of additional resources.

This book could serve as an excellent launching pad for further research in any of these areas. The great thing about the book is that it is not set up in an "us" versus "them" way. The authors don't set themselves up on the opposite sides of issues. Rather, each presents his or her own views in a non-confrontational way. By reading two perspectives on an issue, more of the nuance of the topic shows through. This is a wonderful resource.

A Place for Evangelicals and Liberals to Meet.......2005-06-04

I teach at a conservative evangelical seminary and used this as a supplementary text to the mainstay (Millard Erickson). I must say that Placher has done a fantastic job of choosing a stellar lineup of essayists from a broad spectrum of opinion. Moreover, unlike some counterpoint books that leave the reader bewildered, each section here is unified by Placher's excellent introductions. The opinions expressed range from progressive evangelical to mainline liberal, and while there are definitely some places where my students were irritated (e.g. a defense of homosexual practice) or simply mystified (Cobb's process theology), their overall impression was positive. They recognized how much their horizons had been broadened, and that is the mark of an excellent introduction.

Excellent overview of contemporary theology.......2004-08-15

As a seminary student who read this book over the summer, not for a class, but just to keep up my theological "chops," I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone wanting to explore different facets of theology from a multitude of viewpoints. The best use of this book is to read the introductions and the essays, and note the authors and issues of interest for future exploration. Because of the diversity of viewpoints, nobody will be in agreement with every theologian in this book. But all of them will make you think. Most of the authors (not all) operate from the traditional trinitarian framework at least as a launching pad, so much of this material at least speaks the same language as the knowledgable reader.

In my opinion, the most interesting theologians represented were John Cobb, the process theologian, whose writings I might investigate further, and Serene Jones, who does theology that makes sense to the averate person in the pew (actually, there are several who do that). My least favorites were Clark Williamson, a stereotypical liberal on a soapbox, and Sallie McFague, who gets too close to pantheism for my comfort (actually, she would be known as a "panentheist"). It was encouraging to me to read some very thoughtful evangelicals as well, including Stanley Grenz and Richard Mouw.

Bottom line: if you want to get past Calvin, Luther, and that ilk and see where the action is in theology TODAY, this is a great place to start.

Think Biblically!: Recovering a Christian Worldview

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College course in a Biblical worldview concept
excellent book
The only healthy way to think
Biblical Worldview in a World of Chaos

Think Biblically!: Recovering a Christian Worldview

Manufacturer: Crossway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1581344120

Book Description

“A truly Christian worldview begins with the conviction that God Himself has spoken in Scripture. As Christians, we are committed to the Bible as the inerrant and authoritative Word of God. Scripture is the standard by which we must test all other truth-claims. Unless that dominates our perspective on all of life, we cannot legitimately claim to have embraced a Christian worldview. Think Biblically! issues a serious call to recover a Christian worldview that is absolute and exclusive. These essays are intended to reaffirm and restore a biblically-based view of life’s reality from God’s perspective. Whether the reader is a student in high school or college, a pastor or professor, a missionary or biblical counselor, a layperson or Christian worker, this book will help refocus proper attention on God’s understanding of the world in which one lives.” —Adapted from the Preface and Chapter 1

What we think shapes who we are. That’s why the Bible tells us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2a). In a world of differing voices competing for our allegiance, we must learn to “think biblically” so we can distinguish good from evil. God is the Creator of this world; His voice—His Word—must guide our thoughts and our lives.

With the Bible in their hands, John MacArthur and other scholars and teachers from The Master’s College confront the false worldviews that dominate our postmodern world. The authors provide models for cultivating a biblical mind-set on worship, psychology, gender, science, education, history, government, economics, and literature. This book will prove to be helpful to anyone striving to Think Biblically! in today’s culture.

Associate Editors:

Dr. Richard L. Mayhue, Provost
Dr. John A. Hughes, Vice President for Academic Affairs

Contributors:

Dr. Mark Tatlock, Vice President for Student Life
Dr. Patricia A. Ennis, Chairperson, Department of Home Economics
Dr. Clyde P. Greer, Jr., Chairperson, Department of History and Political Studies
Mr. Grant Horner, Assistant Professor of English
Dr. John A. Hughes, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Taylor B. Jones, Chairperson, Department of Biological and Physical Sciences
Dr. John MacArthur, President
Dr. R. W. Mackey, II, Chairperson, Department of Business Administration
Dr. Richard L. Mayhue, Provost
Dr. Brian K. Morley, Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics
Dr. Paul T. Plew, Chairperson, Department of Music
Dr. Stuart W. Scott, Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling
Dr. John P. Stead, Professor of History and Political Studies
Dr. John D. Street, Chairperson, Department of Biblical Counseling

Customer Reviews:

College course in a Biblical worldview concept.......2006-08-28

A really outstanding book exploring the concept and role of the Christian mind throughout history with a challenge to the reader to be not just a hearer of the word, but a doer as well. MacArthur is thoroughly Reformed in his presentation of the Christian worldview laying out the foundation of the Creation-Fall-Redemption model as the framework within which is built the Christian mind. MacArthur begins with presenting the case for the sufficiency and authority of Scripture and continues to remind the reader that developing intellect is not the goal of the Christian worldview - rather, it is bringing all things into focus using the lens of God's revealed Word. MacArthur writes that "the Christian mind should be a repository of God's revealed truth." The rest of Part One of the book presents the foundational truths of the nature of God, the nature of man and man's responsibility to walk in obedience to God's will in his relations to others.

MacArthur then taps the expertise of his faculty at The Master's College in Part Two as each chapter explores some component of a biblical worldview. The chapters cover issues such as understanding the currently postmodern thought, profiling true masculinity and femininity, an in depth examination of the role of worship and music, a contrasting view of psychology with true biblical counseling, a look at the significance of science, the role of Christian education, an honest reflection on history, a biblical worldview of the church in relation to the state, a biblical concept of economics and the importance of literature and the arts in culture from a Christian perspective. Each chapter really could be its own book on the subject, presented from a professor whose expertise is in that particular field of study.

Personally, I enjoyed the book, especially the foundational concepts presented in Part One. MacArthur's Coming to Grips with Sin (chapter 4) was absolutely outstanding and is essential for the Christian to understand that Scripture teaches that sin is the problem with the human dilemma and the only viable solution to the condition of mankind is offered through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Every chapter had something valuable - a nugget of pure gold - but the second half of the book was pretty tough treading. Overall, a very good book that would be an excellent recommendation for any person interested in examining how their faith addresses all facets of life beyond just the issues of religion.

excellent book.......2006-02-28

I'm a college student, and I ordered a bunch of these books for the men's small group that I attend, and all of us can agree that we're learning a lot. John MacArthur and his colleagues do a great job presenting the inerrancy of the Bible, and what negative ramifications there could be if our presuppositions are otherwise. Definitely helps us to understand the Bible and God more.

The only healthy way to think.......2004-05-29

Think Biblically is edited by John MacArthur, who also has contributed four chapters to the book. The other contributors are faculty members of the Masters College. Every person has a weltanschauung we are told in the introduction. A weltanschauung is a personal worldview. This book contrasts the christian worldview from a secular mindset. How should a christian think about and relate to the world in which we live? Think Biblically is very helpful in giving answers to that question on a number of subjects. How should a christian view creation versus evolution,history,education,church and state,science?
An important feature of this book are the insights given to what the implications of not holding a christian worldview can be. On p.79 John MacArthur writes "There is no viable explanation of the universe without God. So many immense and intricate wonders could not exist without a designer. Theres only one possible explanation for it all, and that is a creative power of an all wise God." God has given meaning to everthing that exists, and without God there is no meaning to anything. This is ultimately where evoulutinary philosophy must lead. It is mans attempt to escape moral accountability for his actions from an omnipotent, righteous creator. As the Bible says in Romans 1:22 "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."
What the christian believes about about creation, masculinity and feminity, history, literature will greatly impact how we live and interact with those in our culture. There is no neutral ground . We are affected by our culture whether we realise it or not.
Think Biblically will help to instruct and challenge christians to see if they are reflecting Biblical truth in the postmodern world in which we live. This is an important and relevant book for twenty first century christians.

Biblical Worldview in a World of Chaos.......2004-05-17

It seems in our day that few Christians understand what they believe and even worse most churches fail to communicate sound doctrine and instead choose to build churches based on experience or pragmatic teachings of men (Mark 7:1-13).

This edition from the staff of Master's College and Seminary in Los Angeles, CA gives its readers a biblical worldview. Notice I said "biblical" because this book does a wonderful job of presenting the Bible is the sole authority for faith and practice. Every worldview from politics to feminism is examined in the light of Scripture. Because this book makes the Bible its source for divine truth and authority, the writers avoid their opinions and give us God's view of a world gone mad.

Book Description

This innovative collection explores the concept of space as it relates to feminist studies. Utilizing a range of theoretical perspectives, a distinguished group of international scholars crosses over the thresholds of difference, methodology, and representation that challenge feminist geography.

John Paul Jones: A Sailor's Biography (Classics of Naval Literature)

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Missing pages
"Every hero becomes a bore"
John Paul Jones: a literate biography with blemishes and all
A Great Sailor, If Not A Great Man
A perfect biography, a fitting tribute!

John Paul Jones: A Sailor's Biography (Classics of Naval Literature)
Samuel Eliot Morison
Manufacturer: Naval Inst Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0870213237

Amazon.com

America's greatest naval historian, Samuel Eliot Morison, writes about America's greatest naval hero in this Pulitzer Prize-winning biography. The Scottish-born John Paul Jones struck several severe blows to English morale during the American Revolution, as he fearlessly ravaged the king's ships within sight of British shores. With tactical brilliance and almost reckless courage, Jones eagerly attacked larger foes and soundly beat them. During one famous engagement, his opposing commander called out and offered Jones the opportunity to surrender. Jones's immortal response: "I have not yet begun to fight!" This marvelous book is a fitting tribute to a controversial yet romantic figure, who now lies buried at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Book Description

Written by the renowned naval historian Samuel Eliot Morison, this Pulitzer prize-winning book is widely recognized as the only authoritative, modern biography of the naval officer frequently referred to as the father of the U.S. Navy. It vividly portrays the illustrious career of John Paul Jones, from his early training at sea in the British West Indian merchant trade to his exploits in the newly independent American navy and his appointment as an admiral in the Russian navy and command of a squadron in the Black Sea. With compelling detail and remarkable insight, the dramatic narrative captures Jones's tenacity and fierce dedication and loyalty to his men and country, despite ill treatment and only begrudged recognition from his superiors. Jones's incredible victories at sea form an important part of the book. Morison's description of the battle between Jones's Bonhomme Richard and HMS Serapis is considered one of the most vivid accounts of a naval battle in the English language.

Customer Reviews:

Missing pages.......2007-04-29

The book is very interesting, well written by an author clearly concerned with facts not myths as he differentiates between tales surrounding the subject and actual events.
Too bad the book is missing pages 77 thru 92. (At least my copy is, anyone else come upon a similar print? If I keep it will it turn into a collectable?)

"Every hero becomes a bore".......2004-09-25

John Paul Jones is one of those figures on the fringes of the American pantheon. Most educated people have heard the name, but few know anything about the man beyond, perhaps, that he proclaimed, "I have not yet begun to fight!" Much to my surprise, after reading this classic biography (winner of the 1960 Pulitzer Prize for Biography) by Samuel Eliot Morison, the godfather of US Naval history, Jones' exploits are both relatively unknown and relatively modest. There is, however, nothing relative or modest about Morison's biography, which is an excellently structured and wonderfully written piece of history that is a pleasure to read.

How did Jones attain immortality for his role in the American Revolution while other leading military figures of the period (most notably, in this reviewer's opinion, General Nathaniel Greene) have nearly vanished from history? Jones' attachment to the United States, both as a nation and a cause, were slight, even dubious. He was born and raised in Scotland and didn't arrive in America until roughly 1775 (on the run from a murder trial, no less, which also prompted him to add the alias "Jones" to his birth name of John Paul). He never owned a home or even maintained a permanent resistance in his adopted land, and instead lived with friends or at hotels at government expense. During his forty-five years of life, Jones only spent about three of them on American soil -- and that time was divided among four brief visits. His commitment to the principles of the American Revolution are a bit suspect, although he did frequently claim to be a citizen of the world engaged in the fight for liberty. Nevertheless, when Catherine II of Imperial Russia, the ruler of the most despotic of European monarchies, dangled a much coveted flag officer position before him in 1788 Jones quickly jettisoned his liberal pretensions and jumped at the offer.

If Jones lacked the deep American roots of a John Adams or the strong ideological convictions of more recent immigrants like Thomas Paine, he was at least a military hero, right? Well, sort of. Jones' major military exploits during the war can be summarized as follows: a partially successful raid on his hometown port of Whitehaven, Scotland followed by a botched kidnapping attempt and then the capture of a modest-sized British warship while cruising the Irish Sea aboard "Ranger" in 1778, and then the famous defeat of the "Serapis" off Flamborough Head in September 1779 aboard the "Bonhomme Richard." Like Doolittle's Raid on Tokyo in 1942, the military value of these actions were minimal, but the psychological impact -- both at home and with the enemy -- was enormous. The British home islands had, afterall, been inviolable since a Dutch raid in 1667. Thus, Jones stands alone as the man who brought the American Revolution home to the British Isles, albeit in a way that caused little material damage.

So, through a combination of moxie, luck and the general absence of anything else to cheer about, John Paul Jones -- one-time slave trader, murderer, Imperial Russian admiral, and alleged rapist of a 12-year-old (in his defense he swore, foreshadowing a future American scandal, that he "did not have sexual relations with that [girl]," although conceded that other amorous relations did occur) -- emerged as a bona fide hero of the American Revolution. Jones died alone, indigent and forgotten in Paris in 1792. But today his remains rest in an ornate tomb (modeled on Napoleon's) at the US Naval Academy and he is widely regarded as the father of the US Navy, which has become the global juggernaut he dreamed it would be.

In closing, Morison does a remarkable job in capturing not only the essence of his subject-- Jones' native intelligence, egotism, insecurity and opportunism -- but also the pulse of life on the open ocean in an eighteenth century sailing vessel. The skill, experience, fortitude, and endurance it must have taken to guide these ships in battle and in treacherous seas with a motley collection of mutiny-inclined men as a crew is difficult to fathom. That Jones did so with such obvious success is, indeed, impressive. For readers with an interest in naval affairs or simply a love of sailing, this book would be a welcome addition to your library.

John Paul Jones: a literate biography with blemishes and all.......2002-03-15

A hero of my youth, this book appears to tell the full story. This is a scolarly work which reads easily. I only wish I would have read this book in my twenties. There are some wonderful life lessons in this biography. If you read it you will learn his flaws, his good and fine attributes, and some mysteries. This is first-rate biography and detective work by the author. I recommend it.

A Great Sailor, If Not A Great Man.......2001-03-29

It has been said that most great men are bad men. Samuel Eliot Morison's superb biography of John Paul Jones supports, if not proves, that proposition. Jones's greatness is undeniable: Although he was the son of an obscure Scottish gardener, he virtually founded the United States Navy, he won one of the most important sea battles of the Revolutionary War when he was only 32, and he later commanded ships in the service of France and Russia. But Jones also was extremely temperamental, excessively vain (after receiving an honor from France, he liked to be addressed as "Chevalier Paul Jones"), and he had mistresses in practically every port. Morison, a longtime professor at Harvard and the author of the authoritative, Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Christopher Columbus, as well as a massive, multi-volume history of the U.S. Navy during World War II, reports all of this in a matter-of-fact fashion. Morison's Jones is a great sailor and a man of the world in every respect.

According to Morison, Young Jones was highly ambitious and went to sea at age 13 "as a road to distinction." During the next 15 years, he learned well his trade and he also became an American patriot. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Morison writes that the American navy was "only a haphazard collection of converted merchant ships," and the Royal Navy was probably the most powerful in history. But General George Washington, according to Morison, "had a keen appreciation of the value and capabilities of sea power," and, in October 1775, Congress appointed a Naval Committee of Seven to manage the colonies' maritime affairs. In December 1775, seven months before the American colonies declared their independence from Great Britain, Jones accepted a commission as a lieutenant in the continental navy.

Although Morison is primarily interested in Jones's activities during the Revolutionary War, he makes a number of more generally cogent observations. For instance, the United States government was in a state of nearly constant impecuniousness and was able to afford to build only one of the largest class of naval vessels, a ship of the line, during the conflict. In Morison's view, this was the status of the war at the time of the battle off Flamborough Head in September 1779, which secured Jones's fame: "The War of Independence had reached a strategic deadlock, a situation that recurred in both World Wars of the twentieth century. Each party, unable to reach a decision by fleet action or pitched land battles, resorts to raids and haphazard, desultory operations which have no military effect." That deadlock continued, according to Morison, until 1781. Morison also writes that Britain took the position "since the United States were not a recognized government but a group of rebellious provinces,...American armed ships were no better than pirates."

Morison appears to be deeply impressed by Jones's technical competence: "One of Paul Jones's praiseworthy traits was his constant desire to improve his professional knowledge." That passion for self-improvement reached fruition September 1779 off the Yorkshire coast of east-central England when a squadron which Jones commanded from the Bonhomme Richard defeated the H.M.S. Serapis in a three and one-half hour battle during which those ships were locked in what Morison describes as a "deadly embrace." (Bonhomme Richard sank during the aftermath of the fierce fighting.) It was during this battle that Jones defiantly refused to surrender with the immortal phrase: "I have not yet begun to fight." According to Morison, "[c]asualties were heavy for an eighteenth-century naval battle. Jones estimated his loss at 150 killed and wounded out of a total of 322." Morison writes that Jones was at his "pinnacle of fame" in late 1779, and, when he visited France, which was allied with the U.S. during the Revolutionary War, in April 1780: He became the lion of Paris, honored by everyone from the King down." When Jones returned to the United States in 1781, however, he was unable to obtain what Morison describes as a "suitable command," and he never fought again under the American flag. In 1788 and 1789, as "Kontradmiral Pavel Ivanovich Jones" he swerved in the navy of Catherine II, "the Great," Empress of Russia. When he died in 1792, he was buried in France, but, in 1905, his body was returned to the United States and now rests in the chapel of the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Jones's nasty temper is frequently on display. Morison remarks on various occasions that his crews were "disobedient," "sullen," and "surly." Which was cause and which was effect is difficult to ascertain. Jones clearly was an overbearing commander, which may explain, though does not excuse, his crews' bad attitudes. On one occasion Jones had one of his officers "placed under arrest for insubordination [giving the officer] a chance to clear it up, and Jones was unwilling to admit his error." It is not prudent to compare events during war in the late 18th century to the peace and prosperity of our own time, but no reader of this book will be impressed by Jones's interpersonal skills.

Morison makes numerous references to "prize money," the curious, but apparently then-universal, practice of rewarding captains and their crews in cash for capturing enemy ships. The fact that Jones pursued prize money with vigor may raise additional doubts about his character, but I would guess Morison believed that Jones simply followed a custom which probably motivated many successful naval captains of his time.

Morison held the rank of admiral in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Although the degree of detail in his narrative is fascinating, I found some passages too technical, and I suspect some other lay readers may be baffled as well. (The book's charts and diagrams were, however, very helpful.) But that is a small price to pay for a wonderful biography of one of the most intriguing figures of the American Revolution.

A perfect biography, a fitting tribute!.......2000-08-27

As someone who had recently seen the "John Paul Jones" movie that was made in 1959 with Robert Stack, I was curious to learn more about the man who put the U.S. Navy on the map. Of course, most know him as the one who coined the immortal, defiant phrase "I have not yet begun to fight!" This book delves beyond that, as Morison shows Jones as he really was, a human being born in obscurity in Scotland who developed a love for the sea at an early age. He was simultaneously a shrewd combatant with a quick temper (in many ways the American equivalent of the great English admiral Nelson,) and a gentleman who enjoyed the company of numerous lovely ladies ashore. Morison leaves no stone unturned as he takes the reader on a detailed, captivating journey (from page one, the reader is hooked.) He sailed the waters that bore witness to Jones's battles and drew extensively upon the naval archives of the four primary countries that figured in Jones's life. To give you some idea, the engagement with H.M.S. Serapis is fleshed out in such marvelous detail that one can almost smell the gunpowder, but Morison goes beyond that, explaining what happened before, during, and after, most of which one would not learn in history class. In fact, I would make book that at least ninety percent of what one will read in this book would not be learned in history class. Morison has included pictures, charts, diagrams, excerpts from letters (some of which are in French with English translations), and has deftly blended them and the text into a perfect biography. For anyone who wants to learn more about Jones, this is required reading.

Sterling Point Books: John Paul Jones: The Pirate Patriot (Sterling Point Books)

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7th grade biography report

Sterling Point Books: John Paul Jones: The Pirate Patriot (Sterling Point Books)
Armstrong Sperry
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1402736150

Customer Reviews:

7th grade biography report.......2007-01-30

My 7th grade son recently read this for a biography report for school. He enjoyed this. He said it was entertaining and kept his interest. He would recommend it to others.

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