The Roots of Endurance: Invincible Perseverance in the Lives of John Newton, Charles Simeon, and William Wilberforce (Swans Are Not Silent)

Book Description

John Newton, Charles Simeon, and William Wilberforce suffered lifelong opposition and endured for the causes of gospel truth, missionary zeal, and political justice. They found, in solid doctrine and humble joy, the tough roots for habitual tenderness in response to their adversaries—without doctrinal or moral flinching. They are examples of remarkable grace.

In Book 3 in The Swans Are Not Silent series, best-selling author John Piper looks at the lives of these three great men and focuses on how they not only endured great opposition, but that they did so with joy and without bitterness. Their lives exemplify how to set a pace and finish the race before us, encouraging every heart that it is possible to jump the hurdles in our paths.

Customer Reviews:

Saints, But Not In The Catholic Tradition.......2007-09-22

Piper continues his eulogies in 'The Swans Are Not Silent' by tracing the lives of three unique men called of God to be Job in our era.

These godly men had a tenacity that transcends human ability. As such, we can and do readily accept that it was God's providence in their lives that led them to such mighty labor.

All these men lived holy lives, yet suffered reproach for righteousness' sake. They all had a desire to put Christ first and this they then did in exemplary fashion. Once again, Calvinists glorifying God in the totality of their human life. It is an awe-inspiring read. When Piper introduces the modern way of 'giving-up' so easily and too often, it honestly probed into the depths of my soul. A great contribution to their Puritan piety.

Edifying Biographies of Three Great Men of God.......2007-05-09

I love biographies. I love John Piper. So I really love biographies written by John Piper. The Roots of Endurance: Invincible Perseverance in the Lives of John Newton, Charles Simeon and William Wilberforce is the third book (of four) in the Swans are not Silent biography series. Each book contains short, 30-40 page biographies of three saints; each section focusing on particular distinctives of that specific saint.

John Newton, Charles Simeon and William Wilberforce are the subjects of book three and are brought together under a common theme: each man possessed and exhibited character qualities that are essential to perseverance in Christian life and ministry. For Newton, it was the "tough roots of his habitual tenderness"; for Simeon, it was the "ballest of brokeness" that kept his ship from being tossed to and fro; and for Wilberforce, it was child-like joy in Christ that enabled him to steadily persevere with patience and hope in the midst of great opposition.

Piper shows us John Newton as a man who, after his conversion to Christ, lived out these words:

"Whoever...has tasted of the love of Christ, and has known, by his own experience, the need and the worth of redemption, is enabled, yea, he is constrained, to love his fellow creatures. He loves them at first sight, and, if the providence of God commits a dispensation of the gospel and care of souls to him, he will feel the warmest emotions of friendship and tenderness, while he beseeches them by the tender mercies of God, and even while he warns them by his terrors" (54).

There is much, much more; but to suffice it to say, Newton was a man who lived the truth of II Timothy 2:24-26.

Charles Simeon helps us to obey the commandment, "Be patient in tribulation" Romans 12:12. Piper wants Simeon's life to help us "see persecution, opposition, slander, misunderstanding, disappointment, self-recrimination, weakness, and danger as the normal portion of faithful Christian living and ministry" (78). Simeon himself endured such things and so becomes a model to us as we seek to live faithfully in the present age. Piper explains that Simeon's ability to persevere grew from "Roots of Endurance":

He had a strong sense of his accountability before god for the souls of his flock
He was free from the scolding tone even through controversy
He was not a rumor tracker
He was not a heresy-hunter
He dealt with opponents in a forthright, face to face way
He learned to receive rebuke and grow from it
He was unimpeachable in his finances and he had no love of money
He saw discouraging things hopefully
He saw suffering as a privilege of bearing the cross with Christ

But the deepest roots that gave health and life to these other 'roots' was Simeon's devotion to Bible study and meditation; and his experience of "Growing downward in humiliation before God and upward in adoration of Christ." Simeon said, "Meditation is the grand means of our growth in grace; without it prayer itself is an empty service."

But it was his experience of humiliation before God that could be considered his 'deepest root.' Simeon said,

"Repentance is in every view so desirable, so necessary, so suited to honor God, that I seek that above all. The tender heart, the broken and contrite spirit, are to me far above all the joys that I could ever hope for in this vale of tears. I long to be in my proper place, my hand upon my mouth, and my mouth in the dust...I feel this is safe ground. Here I cannot [error]...I am sure that whatever God may despise...He will not despise a broken heart" (110).

William Wilberforce's most well known accomplishment was his success in fighting for the abolition of slavery and slave trade in the British Empire. Both evils were abolished before his death in 1833. But Wilberforce was not a 'Single issue candidate." After his conversion in his mid -twenties, Wilberforce, who was already a member of the British Parliament, fought on a number of levels for the good of mankind. Piper informs us that "There was a steady stream of action to alleviate pain and bring greater social (and eternal!) good. 'At one stage, he was active in sixty-nine different initiatives.'"

Wilberforce, however, did not lose his edge on pure doctrine while pursuing social good. Piper explains,

"Many public people say that changing society requires changing people, but few show the depth of understanding Wilberforce did concerning how that comes about. For him, the right grasp of the central doctrine of justification and its relation to sanctification--an emerging Christlikeness in private and public--were essential to his own endurance and for the reformation of the morals of England" (158).

Wilberforce would write,

"The grand distinction which subsists between the true Christian and all other Religionists...is concerning the nature of holiness and the way it is to be obtained...[nominal Christians think that] morality is to be obtained by their own natural unassisted efforts: of if they admit some vague indistinct notion of the assistance of the Holy Spirit, it is unquestionably obvious on conversing with them that this does not constitute the main practical ground of their dependence" (159).

Amidst all his efforts for the good of all men, Wilberforce would suffer great slander, pain at home (with his wayward son), and tremendous physical sufferings brought about by medical ailments. But he persevered through these trials by a child-like joy in Christ. Joy, to Wilberforce, was a Christian's high duty:

"We can scarcely indeed look into any part of the sacred volume without meeting abundant proofs, that it is the religion of the Affections which God particularly requires...joy...is enjoined on us as our bounden duty and commended to us as acceptable worship...A cold...unfeeling heart is represented as highly criminal" (150).

In each example, I gave only a taste of what is in the book. And I strongly recommend not only this volume, but each volume of the Swans are not Silent series. They are edifying, strengthening, and very interesting. I am confident that they will encourage you as you seek to persevere with tenderness, brokeness, and joy in Christ.

Amazing Endurance by the Grace of God.......2007-03-12

The Roots of Endurance is the third volume in a series of biographical books by John Piper called "The Swans Are Not Silent." Each book covers three figures from Christian history under a common theme. In this book, Piper looked at the lives of John Newton, Charles Simeon, and William Wilberforce, each of which endured to their ends facing remarkable adversity.

Piper set the stage with an introduction connecting the three men together in history, spiritually, and theologically. As usual, his words are salted with spiritual wisdom and worth meditation. From the life of John Newton, Piper explored "habitual tenderness" and what it means to have "a tender heart and a theological backbone of steel."

The biography of Charles Simeon is one of my favorite from the series so far. For the first twelve years of his service at Trinity Church his congregation resisted and rebelled against him, and yet he remained there for fifty-four years! And as many now know due to the recent movie, "Amazing Grace," William Wilberforce also maintained his service through many years, though for him it was in Parliament fighting slavery. Piper told the stories of these men's inspiring lives along with great academic footnotes and insightful practical application.

Unlike the other books in this series, I thought the concluding thoughts to The Roots of Endurance were a bit shallow (compared to Piper's other reflections) and perhaps rushed. However, the book stands well enough on its own without the conclusion and I would recommending reading it if only for the biography of Charles Simeon.

Encouragement from three great saints of the faith.......2007-01-30

What a great book - in my opinion Piper is such a great writer and the subject of his essay this time was one of my personal heroes - William Wilberforce. But this wasn't just a book about the life and ministry of Wilberforce, it was a look at the interaction of three incredible men of God that all lived at the same time in England and how they each endured through extraordinary conditions. The elder statesman was John Newton, well-known today as the author of the hymn "Amazing Grace." Newton, a former slave-trade captain, became an outspoken abolitionist as he pastured a church and ministered to the lives of his parishioners. Piper also brings into the mix another pastor, a contemporary of Wilberforce, Charles Simeon who pastured Trinity Church on the campus of Cambridge for fifty-four years.

The primary emphasis of this book is simply to introduce Christians today to some of the great men of the faith from years past - the great cloud of witnesses of Hebrews 12. This book is actually Book Three of The Swans are not Silent series and after reading this one, I'm looking forward to diving into the others. But the book is not just biographical in nature - Piper does a great job applying the lessons learned from the lives and struggles of these great men to our own personal spiritual journeys. In this book, specifically, each man had to overcome significant opposition to their faith and the common root of endurance they shared was their deep devotion to God's Word and their unwillingness to compromise their principles for expediency or approval. However, each individual did have opportunities to demonstrate God's grace in their own lives as they worked with those who stood in opposition to them, and in most cases, won them over as brothers-in-Christ by their compassion.

Three incredible stories of three god-sized challenges overcome by three humble, but God-centered, men. The book is a great read for almost anyone - a friend struggling with a life issue, a young person wondering how God could use them, or a pastor as he sacrifices to lead and minister to his flock - The Roots of Endurance is a challenging, uplifting and encouraging read and just what the doctor ordered to spur one another one toward love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24).

Superb!.......2003-09-06

John Piper produced another top-notch work. This book is articulate, to the point, and easy to read. He clearly did a tremendous amount of scholarly work in writing this book. Very few works exist in Reformed circles wherein non-theologians can read and understand due to the concise nature of the writing. Piper did an excellent job describing how these men dealt with tremendous strife - and where the ability to do so originated. These men understood God's grace... and that is a point not lost, but rather promoted, by Piper. This is another book I can highly recommend.

The Hidden Smile of God: The Fruit of Affliction in the Lives of John Bunyan, William Cowper, and David Brainerd (The Swans Are Not Silent, 2)

Average customer rating:

God's provision through suffering
Yes, They Carried Their Crosses Well
One of my favorite books
Challenging and encouraging - great read!
Lessons Learned From Hard Lives

The Hidden Smile of God: The Fruit of Affliction in the Lives of John Bunyan, William Cowper, and David Brainerd (The Swans Are Not Silent, 2)
John Piper
Manufacturer: Crossway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1581342470

Book Description

Bunyan. Cowper. Brainerd.

We read their stories and wonder how they endured. How does one survive twelve years in a dank prison cell? How does one survive month after month of a depression so debilitating that death seems the only hope? How does one endure tuberculosis? Or cancer, or emptiness, or death, or loneliness, or divorce? Whatever the trial may be, how does one endure without the soul shriveling up and blowing away with the breeze?

In the lives of John Bunyan, William Cowper, and David Brainerd, we find the strength of soul that not only endures hardship, but honors God in the midst of it. The Giver and Sustainer of life enabled them to worship through all their suffering. That's why their affliction bore so much fruit. The story of their suffering, their perseverance, and their passion is one that can inspire the same hunger for the supremacy of God in your life.

John Piper invites you to read their stories, consider their lives, and be encouraged that no labor and no suffering in the path of Christian obedience is ever in vain. Even the bleak hill of Golgotha was a skull with a frown of affliction on its face. But "behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face."

Just as Bunyan's, Cowper's, and Brainerd's suffering produced the worship and humility that is essential to Christian living, we too can look to God for great privileges to come from our own pain. And we too can remember, "The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower."

Customer Reviews:

God's provision through suffering.......2007-10-10

This book is a great encouragement, especially for any depressed or discouraged Christian. It's good to be reminded that God causes all things to work together for good for those that love Him... and that He can work through us, even through depression. "Hallelujah! What a Savior! Hallelujah! What a Friend"

Yes, They Carried Their Crosses Well.......2007-09-24

In the second part of Piper's eulogies to great men of the Faith, in 'The Swans Are Not Silent' series, we get to meet Bunyan, Cowper (pronounced Cooper) and Brainerd.

The introduction to the book brings us to an important theological aspect in the Christian life: the fruit of affliction. It is by these means of trials and tests, that God shapes the character of the lives of men and women, who lay claim to being Christ's. The cost of discipleship is ravaging, demanding, painful and yet, brings much glory to God, only if we continue to see His good in our circumstances.

Of this school, John Bunyan was an unchallenged leader. Most probably the most famous of Puritan preachers and pastors, the Bedford tinker grew in stature and favor with the English folk, which extends right to this day. Those that say Bunyan only had to agree to not preaching without a licence, at no other cost was his gaol term enforced, fail to know those days. As Piper explains, they were the Non-Conformists, who refused to bow the knee to the Church of England with her popish traditions and catholic conventions. If you read Bunyan's sermons, you will readily see the sort of principle he disagreed with. For example, that they had a Common Prayer Book, and for every circumstance, Holy Day, or gathering, they were required to pray from it word-for-word. NO! says Bunyan, for 'I will pray by the Spirit and by my understanding!' 1 Cor 14:15

What really touched my heart was that Bunyan confessed he loved his oldest daughter most. Born blind from birth, she was his weak spot. During the twelve years imprisonment when she had occasion to visit with his second wife, he claims that it was extremely hard to part with her. A fathers heart! If ever he needed an excuse to conform and be released from prison, she was there. Yet God graciously supplied in His means of grace to Bunyan.

Quote: 'Let me beg of thee, that thou wilt not be offended either with God, or men, if the cross is laid heavy upon thee. Not with God, for He doth nothing without a cause, nor with men, for...they are the servants of God to thee for good. Take therefore what comes to thee from God by them, thankfully.'

It were as if Bunyan saw Christ in his tormentors, and heard Christ plead with him to transfer their guilt, their actions, onto Christ, and thus be free to love them.

Bunyan is with reason well-loved.

Cowper was a hymnist and could rise above his melancholy to deliver the most beautiful odes of praise to God. Suffering from depression, he regularly had to keep the foes of darkness at bay, and dug deeply from the wells of grace to bring forth his fruit, much of which is still well-known and in use today.

Brainerd was made public by Jonathan Edwards, the great American theologian. Brainerd was a missionary who lived in the most depriving of conditions amongst the Indians he was doing missionary work to. He also had ailments and was ill for most of the time, yet continued to thank God for every breath and word he was able to bring. God sustained him and then He mercifully took him away, at a relatively young age. Missionaries who are pitted against tests, deaths of various kinds, always refer to Brainerd's work for exhortation.

This is a remarkable book in the sense that these men were principled and knew not the easy way out. They continued to live out their witness, knowing that it was the Holy Spirit at work in their life's calling, despite the odds being stacked against them. So in good times and tough, God was sovereignly ruling in their lives.

Solemn and awe-inspiring.

One of my favorite books.......2007-07-26

If you are reading this, you really need to read this book. Have you suffered affliction? There is JOY in this book. As I read about David Brainerd, I couldn't help praying "Lord change me." There is a sense of healing in this book as God really undertands our suffering and loves us.This book left the image in my mind of David Brainerd riding his horse in the rain through the woods, throwing up blood from TB in a mission to share the gospel to the Indians. He was rejected by the seminary. There was nothing easy about his life. This is a book to read over and over. It will bring healing and joy to you in your affliction.

Challenging and encouraging - great read!.......2007-04-24

The second of Piper's The Swans are Not Silent series, this book was the most difficult to read because of the subject it dealt with - suffering. Piper selected three great men of the faith, known for their devotion to the Lord and their godly walk and let the reader peak behind the curtains of their lives - and the suffering, depression, attempted suicide and struggles of these three men was very distressing. Yet, even as Bunyan face his twelve years in prison for preaching the gospel, he saw his struggles actually ordained and orchestrated by God for His own glory; a view that both Cowper and Brainerd shared regarding their own hardships and turmoil.

In a country where suffering is avoided at all costs and seen by many as spiritual weakness, the lives of Bunyan, Cowper and Brainerd shout a different story about the sovereign hand of God in the lives of His children. 1 Peter chapter 4 tells us that we should not consider suffering strange, but rather as a sign that the Lord truly is in control and that He is working out our salvation for His own glory through our hardships. Looking back at the lives of these three saints, it is easy to see how God has been glorified in their struggles - from the writings of Bunyan to the poems and hymns of Cowper to the effectual call to ministry that the life of Brainerd has had on hundreds if not thousands who followed him. While these three struggled greatly, many have tasted the fruit of eternal peace from their hardships.

All four books of this series are outstanding - highly recommended for all Christians to read. Piper introduces us to some great men of the faith and challenges us with their lives to walk in a manner worthy of our calling as those who went before us have done.

Lessons Learned From Hard Lives.......2007-03-30

Affliction - it is a word that few Christians in our day would like to use in refrence to life. In the midst of the purpose-driven, make me happy Jesus generation comes this wonderful book by John Piper on the lives of John Bunyan, William Cowper (pronouced Cooper), and David Brainerd. What we learn from this book is just what the title suggests: there is fruit in affliction. Reading this work by Piper helps me to see that Romans 8:28 is still true even when it seems life is tough. God is able to use the difficult times in our lives not only for His purpose (Ephesians 1:11) but for others. Did David Brainerd know that his short 29 years on planet Earth would shake up so many Christians and call so many to abandon it all for the sake of world evangelism (Luke 14:33)?

I urge all disciples of Jesus to read this work by John Piper. The chapters are fast paced and you will not get lost in minute details of these men's lives. Piper covers the basics of their life and then he shows you what lessons we can learn from their affliction to help us in ours. An excellent book that I give five stars too without any reservations.

Average customer rating:

Not My Favorite
just okay
Annoying flaws and inconsistencies
A great, great mystery.
A "must read" for any Victorian mystery buff.

The Silent Cry (William Monk Novels)
Anne Perry
Manufacturer: Ivy Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0804117934
Release Date: 1998-07-29

Amazon.com

Readers of Anne Perry's series of Victorian murder mysteries know that her novels are as much social histories as crime stories. She pens her tales with an acute eye for period detail and a strong moral outrage at the hypocrisies and miseries of life in 19th-century England. Mysteries featuring Inspector Thomas Pitt and his upper-class wife, Charlotte, explore the life of the middle class and aristocracy; those that center on William Monk illuminate the back alleys and pauper's hospitals of England's lower classes. In The Silent Cry, Monk and his friend Hester Latterly, an independent young woman inured to life's horrors by her nursing service during the Crimean War, investigate the murder of prostitutes in Seven Dials. As always, Perry's grim landscape of tenements, sweatshops, and boozing kens becomes almost as much a character as the living people who inhabit them, while Monk and Hester's rebellious intelligence and unconventionality keep us coming back for more.

Book Description

Deep in London's dangerous slums, Victorians transacted their most secret and shameful business. For a price, a man could procure whatever he wanted, but it happened now and then that the price he paid was his life.

Now, in sunless Water Lane, respected solicitor Leighton Duff lies dead, kicked and beaten to death. Beside him lies the barely living body of his son, Rhys. The police cannot fathom these brutal assaults until shrewd investigator William Monk uncovers a connection between them and a series of rapes and beatings of local prostitutes. Then, shockingly, it begins to appear that young Rhys may have killed his own father. . . .

Customer Reviews:

Not My Favorite.......2007-04-24

I am a devoted reader of Ms. Perry's Monk & Pitt novels; but I must say that this book is a far cry from her best. Her character development is usually spot on and the reader usually has a myriad of possible culprits from which to choose. However, this reader was left wondering if the author allowed her parlormaid to write the book as the ending was so implausibly and melodramatically far-fetched.

just okay.......2004-08-10

I had mixed feelings about this book. On the positive side, the Victorian atmosphere and detail are absorbing, the Cockney dialog is well-rendered, if occasionally heavy-handed ("D'yer want me ter say 'oo I got, an' wot 'e found?"), and the mystery does come to an unexpected and dramatic conclusion.

However I found the investigation to be very slow-moving and implausible. A murder has occurred in a dodgy London slum, and several prostitutes have been raped in another. On the surface these crimes appear to be unrelated, but Inspector Monk comes to an "inescapable" conclusion as to what happened and the motive behind them based on, in my view, the thinnest of circumstantial evidence. I could never accept that a detective of his purported caliber would see this as a closed case. Similarly, when the book moves to the courtroom, the defense attorney -- supposedly a man of unparalleled gifts -- is stymied as to how to refute the iron-clad case against him. I would fire that attorney.

Lastly, while the turmoil of Monk's halting romance with Hester and his memory loss may be a satisfying thread for readers of the ongoing series, I didn't think either of these dimensions moved far enough along to engage people who have just read this book alone.

I found John M. Gray's "The Fiend in Human" to be a much more subtle and effective Victorian thriller. This one left me flat.

Annoying flaws and inconsistencies.......2002-02-22

Other reviewers mention small flaws and inconsistencies in the plot of this book and I am afraid, for me, they detracted from what was otherwise an interesting look at the hypocrisy of Victorian London. Unfortunately it is hard to point out these flaws without being a spoiler so suffice to say that the ending was not borne out by the behaviour of the characters throughout the book and I think that, even allowing for the mores of the time, there are elements of a nurse's job that would have required closer contact with the patient than Miss Latterly seemed to exercise.

A great, great mystery........2000-05-14

I read a LOT of mysteries, and the outcome of this one left me stunned. When you read a mystery, you hope to be surprised by the resolution, and this one rates with the best of Agatha Christie.

If you've never read Anne Perry, this one showcases all that she's capable of.

A "must read" for any Victorian mystery buff........1998-07-20

The story's topical subject matter adds suspense to the already curious mystery which slowly unfolds. Monk and Hester are still unsure of how they feel about each other, and this just adds further spice to the mix. A well thought out plot, which only leaves one yearning for more.

Average customer rating:

Toxic Dumping and a Serial Killer too
BERNHARDT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER
A Terrific Thriller
JUST DIDN'T CUT IT!!!!
Disappointing

Silent Justice
William Bernhardt
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345428137
Release Date: 2001-02-27

Book Description

When a powerful corporation is charged with dumping toxic chemicals into a community's drinking water and killing innocent children, Ben Kincaid knows the class action suit is a suicide mission. Facing off against the small Kincaid staff is Tulsa's largest law firm. Challenging Ben in the courtroom is the firm's fabled top gun--not to mention a hot-headed judge with a notorious soft spot for big business. But as Ben prepares for legal battle, a sadistic killer strikes. With each gruesome murder, a terrifying connection is more deeply drawn between Ben's quest for justice and another man's relentless hunt for the spoils of his own private--and very dirty--war.

Customer Reviews:

Toxic Dumping and a Serial Killer too.......2005-01-07

A twelve year old child dies from acute lymphocytic leukemia and he's not the first in the small town of Blackwood, Oklahoma. Eleven other children between the ages of eight and fifteen have recently died of the disease. Blaylock Industrial Machinery has been doing a little toxic dumpin and Attorney Ben Kincaid, champion of the underdog, is seeking justice for the victims. This is almost a suicide case for Ben as he's a sole practioner up against a well heeled, powerful law firm.

Then there is the small matter of the serial killer who appears to be targeting Blaylock employees. So you can see there is room for plenty of suspense in this book and Mr. Bernhardt does not disappoint or shrirk his writer's duties. He delivers well rounded characters, a first-rate plot and plenty of action in this gem of a story that showcases Mr. Bernhardt's great trial writing.

BERNHARDT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER.......2004-02-16

A practicing attorney in Tulsa, Bernhardt has added Silent Justice to his well received series beginning with Primary Justice. To date, this series has won him a legion of fans and garnered the Oklahoma Book Award.

With Silent Justice Bernhardt continues the story of almost-too-honest-and-courageous-to-be-true lawyer Ben Kincaid. This time, although every nerve ending urges him to back off, Ben takes on a powerful manufacturing company that has contaminated the city's water supply by dumping toxic waste. Ben's stance puts him head to head with Tulsa's most powerful law firm and his former employer, Raven, Tucker & Tubb.

A hater of civil defense "because there's nothing civil about it" Ben prepares to take on the city's legal and financial structures as well as a judge who leans toward big business. He has been moved by the plight of the middle class families whose children died dreadful deaths due to the contaminated water. "I think we're doing the right thing here. Not the smart thing," Ben declares. "Certainly not the safe thing. But the right thing."

The riveting courtroom drama is set against a string of brutal murders perpetrated by a fiend gone amok.

Bernhardt takes no chances here as he injects suspenseful subplots, which serve to propel the non-stop action. There are plenty of thrills in Silent Justice for those who like their reading spattered with blood and smattered with legalese.

- Gail Cooke

A Terrific Thriller.......2003-10-11

Blaylock Industrial Machinery Corporation has to dispose of chemical waste, but they want to save money, so they bury some of their toxins in leaky drums that contaminate the groundwater. Children get leukemia, many die as did Cecily Elkins' son.

When she learns about Blaylock's illegal dumping, she contacts other parents who have lost children. They want to sue and hire Ben Kincaid to take their case even as a serial killer is torturing and killing Blaylock employees. Who is the killer? Why is killing?

This is a five star legal thriller that I couldn't put down.

Reviewed by Vesta Irene

JUST DIDN'T CUT IT!!!!.......2002-03-17

I have read all the series in order, this being number nine. I really liked the first ones much better. Silent Justice really has two stories at the same time. Ben has a class action suit against a big company for dumping chemicals into drinking water and therefore killing children. Meanwhile, his friend, Mike Morell is after a person who is killing people for no apparent reason. What is the killer looking for? What is the merchandise? I nearly went to sleep reading page after page of much to complicated words for my small brain understand during the trial. I really like Ben, Christina McCall, Jones, Loving and Mike. Maybe its time for me to change instead of thinking Bernhardt will go back to writing like he did earlier. It is sort of a surprise ending but I thought I would read forever to get to that part. Sorry, but the writer has done better.

Disappointing.......2002-01-05

Didn't keep my interest. Found it hard to finish. Maybe I was spoiled by recently reading some old Grisham books. This is no comparison.

Average customer rating:

Very nice BASIS for your Film Library
A great introduction to the Silent Film genre.
A CLASSIC
Twenty-year old book is still one of the best on silent film
ONE OF THE FIVE GREATEST BOOKS ON SILENT FILMS!

American Silent Film
William K. Everson
Manufacturer: Da Capo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0306808765

Book Description

Praised as the "best modern survey of the silent period" (New Republic), this indispensable history tells you everything you need to know about American silent film, from the nickelodeons in the early 1900s to the birth of the first "talkies" in the late 1920s. The author provides vivid descriptions of classic pictures such as The Birth of a Nation, Intolerance, Sunrise, The Covered Wagon, and Greed, and lucidly discusses their technical and artistic merits and weaknesses. He pays tribute to acknowledged masters like D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and Lillian and Dorothy Gish, but he also gives ample attention to previously neglected yet equally gifted actors and directors. In addition, the book covers individual genres, such as the comedy, western gangster, and spectacle, and explores such essential but little-understood subjects as art direction, production design, lighting and camera techniques, and the art of the subtitle. Intended for all scholars, students, and lovers of film, this fascinating book, which features over 150 film stills, provides a rich and comprehensive overview of this unforgettable era in film history.

Customer Reviews:

Very nice BASIS for your Film Library.......2007-05-28

If you are truly serious about the Silent Film Era,then this book is a must for your Library.

The author (who has since died) is very thorough in his research, from start to finish. The B&W photos are also fun to look at.

You might,though, find some of the chapters a bit "dry"...but then, most comprehensive history books (on any big topic, as this one) can seem as such.

Note that this film history book was written in the 1970's, so possibly a few more films may have been discovered or have been restored by now. Still, this 1970 film history book holds up very well , even in 2007.
The actual silent film "facts" presented by the author have not changed all that much since the 1970's, since the silent film experiences from the 1900's to the 1920's have basically remained the same. Infact, the author lists a thorough time-line in the appendix of this book, listing most American silent films that have been found and restored in the last century! Quite a feat in itself, and so interesting!

A great introduction to the Silent Film genre........2001-04-14

I am so glad that Da Capo put this old Oxford University Press book back in print. I had read it back when I was a teenager in Chandler, Arizona and found its descriptions of these elusive films fascinating. For instance, this book was the first place I had heard of FW Murnau's excellent Sunrise, which is now a favorite of mine. Get this book for your private Silent Film Genre Reference Library.

A CLASSIC.......2000-07-23

This book is a classic. If you own only two or three film books, this should be one of them. Everson was the man. He saw everything, and what's more, he understood what he saw. There is no better introduction to the world of silent film.

Twenty-year old book is still one of the best on silent film.......1999-12-16

This book, written by the late film expert William K. Everson, is one of the best that you will read on silent film. Everson covers the entire silent film era from its beginnings to the coming of sound. This book focuses on the artistic successes more than the business end of the topic. While he completely covers D.W. Griffith's career, he also champions other early directors like John Collins. He covers interesting topics like art direction (or the lack of) in many early films. While the scope of the book is American films, he devotes time to the influence of European films and filmmakers on American films.

This books is an excellent introduction to silent film, yet a person familiar with the topic will not be able to put it down either.

ONE OF THE FIVE GREATEST BOOKS ON SILENT FILMS!.......1999-02-14

This 1978 book from the late, great William Everson is , in my opinion, one of the five best books ever written on the subject.Any serious scholar of silent film should have a copy. Highly recommended!

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A great (if quick) read
punchy prose style
A cute, quick read.
A great old-fashioned story
It's no Princess Bride

The Silent Gondoliers
William Goldman
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0345442636
Release Date: 2001-01-02

Book Description

The return of a beloved classic,
from the bestselling author of The Princess Bride!

Once upon a time, the gondoliers of Venice possessed the finest voices in all the world. But, alas, few remember those days--and fewer still were ever blessed to hear such glorious singing. No one since has discovered the secret behind the sudden silence of the golden-voiced gondoliers. No one, it seems, but S. Morgenstern. Now Morgenstern recounts the sad and noble story of the ambitions, frustrations, and eventual triumph of Luigi, the gondolier with the goony smile.

Here, in this brilliantly illustrated exposition of the surprising facts behind this all-but-forgotten mystery, S. Morgenstern reveals the fascinating truths about John the Bastard, Laura Lorenzini, the centenarian Cristaldi the Pickle, Enrico Caruso, Porky XII, the Great Sorrento, the Queen of Corsica--and of course, the one and only Luigi. His tale will captivate you as much as his song!

Customer Reviews:

A great (if quick) read.......2007-04-01

While I was surprised at how quick a read this was (I got through it in two lunch breaks at work) it was still an enthralling read. Goldman has the ability to let you feel his characters in only a few lines and this is no exception. By the time I reached the end I felt as emotionally invested in the hero as I did when reading the Princess Bride. I have noticed other people have given this book low marks solely because it "isn't the Princess Bride". While I agree the Princess Bride is by far the better book I feel it is unfair to dismiss this book as poor based on the comparison. It would be like saying The Hobbit was a 1 star book because The Lord Of The Rings was better.

punchy prose style.......2007-01-03

Goldman writes this novella with the same irreverant style he used for "The Princess Bride." It's a cute little story about a man who loves to sing but is so horrible that the entire city of Venice pelts him with garbage.

It flashes back and forth through the decades of the twentieth century and tells a cute little story but never quite achieves the grandeur of Goldman's other works.

As a stand alone book it doesn't really hold up, it might have been better as an extra in yet another version of Bride. For my money I felt there should have been more.

A cute, quick read........2006-10-12

This is a cute little fable that's quick and easy to read. I was, however, a little disappointed. I expected something a little more like "The Princess Bride", considering that it was written by William Goldman (and that the S. Morgenstern device was used again). On its own, it's a nice little story. Just don't compare it to "The Princess Bride".

A great old-fashioned story.......2006-03-11

A classic book with an old-fashioned fairytale feel. If you love The Princess Bride as I do, you will instantly fall in love with Luigi and his "never give up" attitude. He is the unsong hero, the quiet guy in the background getting on with his life as best he can. He bears many similarities in my view to dear Wesley of The Princess Bride but in a more unassuming way. It is a really sweet book and I loved every page of it.

It's no Princess Bride.......2005-11-03

After reading The Princess Bride, few books will meet its standards...So, with HUGE expectations, I read The Silent Gondoliers. It was a big dissapointment! It would be an ok childrens book...but it lacked the wit and great storyline that I've come to expect from William Goldman.

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Silent Music: The Science of Meditation
William Johnston
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0060641967

The Awful End of Prince William the Silent: The First Assassination of a Head of State with a Handgun (Making History)

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William the Silent - now 'the Silenced'
starting a new trend in assassination
A Great Bit of History
THE MAN SEEMED TO HAVE A DEAD WISH

The Awful End of Prince William the Silent: The First Assassination of a Head of State with a Handgun (Making History)
Lisa Jardine
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060838353
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Customer Reviews:

William the Silent - now 'the Silenced'.......2006-09-19

A small, but eloquently written study, dealing with the assassination of the Prince of Orange. Many of you may expect to read about the birth and evolution of the wheel-lock pistol, others - extremely detailed information about the day of the "red herrings", as Albert Finney (in his role as Hercule Puarot) calls the day of murder. Don't want to spoil it for you, but on the evolution of the "dag" the information is not very detailed. There are a few paragraphs speaking about the pistoleers and the change of tactics, but its mostly about the diplomatic background and the diplomatic gains and losses of the "potentati" of the period. A large part of the book deals with the impact of the Prince's violent death on the English society and diplomacy, and also gives an overview of the English intervention in the Netherlands.
The account of the killing itself is not very extended, yet it doesn't seem to lack anything important to the common reader. A small part is dedicated to the assassin himself, but personally I would like to read a more detailed analysis of the man's character, psychology, ideology, of his connections, political, religious... (maybe what lacks here is an overview of the depositions, of the witnesses, of the inquisitorial proceedings).
On technical issues... The language was clear and easy to read. The scholar will find it perhaps a little complicated where structure is concerned. To me it appeared that there was no clear division between the chapters, with the exception of the one that deals with the killing itself. This of course is a strictly personal opinion.
The general impression is that this book is more about the diplomatic "game" around the killing and especially its aftermath and its results on the English policies in the Netherlands. Not a lot of information on the Spanish though, nor indeed on the French. The pistol (the wheel-lock "dag" specifically) is treated more as a revolutionary new tool of the potential assassin than a new weapon which played a part in the transformation of the way of war and tactics. The structure is a bit without a system, but its not very damaging to the contents of the book.
In all a rather pleasant read; educative; not boring; in most cases very informative; but lacks information which even if it is less crucial, would be very useful. In two words: not bad. In another three: could be better.

(this is a copy of my review of the same at the UK branch of Amazon)

starting a new trend in assassination.......2006-05-01

Book of a very unusual title, the author Lisa Jardine make her case in her short but informative study of the assassination of Prince William the Silent of Orange, one of the moving leaders of the Dutch Protestant rebellion against Imperial Catholic Spain. The book covers both the major events of William's life that led up to his death as well as the development of the wheel lock pistol which made such an assassination so easy. Influence of wheel lock pistol went beyond the military uses and civilians began to used themselves for protection as well as for other uses.

It was interesting to note that this was the second effort on William's life by a pistol but considering how rare such an event was the first time, I don't think William took proper precaution against a second effort. In some way, this would make a great movie, a Spanish double agent worming his way into William's trust and confidence before blowing him away. Of course, the assassin's fate wasn't too pleasant but he seem to to bear it well.

The author states that now that one of the leaders of Europe can be assassinated by a pistol, this make all leaders equally vulunerable. This was especially true for William's close ally, Queen Elizabeth of England which had her own Cold War with Spain going at that time and she herself, victim of many assassination plots.

Book proves to be well researched and well written. Its a short book but it don't waste any pages. I did wish there was a good photo or a drawing of type of wheel lock pistol that the assassin used to killed William as well as Spanish reaction to his murder which was strangely absent.

You would think that no matter who the enemies may be, foreign head of states would refained from using assassins on other foreign head of states since this will lead to copycat policies. But obviously, Hapsburgs leadership weren't thinking that way.

The book come well recommended to anyone interested in the tidbit of history that had a long lasting impact. A new trend of assassination was born when William the Silent was murdered, it will be replayed in history as the author stated, in murders of Lincoln or Archduke Ferdinand (which launched the murderous World War I).

A Great Bit of History.......2006-03-06

Lisa Jardine has another home run! Her histories are the most readable and clear and obviously very well researched. The wheel-lock pistol had a very great influence on warfare and weapons development. And the influence and interaction of French, Dutch, English, German and Spanish interests is clearly depicted.

If weapons history is of interest try "Of Arms and Men" by Robert L. O'Connell.

THE MAN SEEMED TO HAVE A DEAD WISH.......2006-03-05

This is a very short book about a very obscure ruler who death sent shock waves thru the ruling class of Europe with his death with a handgun,and it took two try by two different men to get the job done,you would think that after the first attempt he would have forbid guns to be in his presence,but no and that was his downfall the second try did him in and every since then assassination have plauged the famous and not so famous. Not a great way to go done in history as a trivia fact.

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Silent Spring Revisited

Manufacturer: An American Chemical Society Publication
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Insecticides & Pesticides | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Natural History | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0841209804

Book Description

A landmark in environmental concerns--this extraordinary book continues the ecological revolution that Rachel Carson started 20 years ago. The risks of pesticide use remain, but the issues today have become conflicts of values. How do we trade off the dangers of toxic chemicals and their cost to the environment with the benefits of higher agricultural productivity? This book presents a daring new look at these very important concerns.

The Militia and the Right to Arms, or, How the Second Amendment Fell Silent (Constitutional Conflicts)

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Misrepresentation of the Facts
Armed with the truth for a change
Authors misrepresent what militia is
Very enlightening

The Militia and the Right to Arms, or, How the Second Amendment Fell Silent (Constitutional Conflicts)
H. Richard Uviller , H. Richard Uviller , and William G. Merkel
Manufacturer: Duke University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Civil Rights & Liberties | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Constitutions | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Constitutional Law | Law | Subjects | Books

Human Rights | Constitutional Law | Law | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0822330172

Book Description

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
—Amendment II, United States Constitution

The Second Amendment is regularly invoked by opponents of gun control, but H. Richard Uviller and William G. Merkel argue the amendment has nothing to contribute to debates over private access to firearms. In The Militia and the Right to Arms, or, How the Second Amendment Fell Silent, Uviller and Merkel show how postratification history has sapped the Second Amendment of its meaning. Starting with a detailed examination of the political principles of the founders, the authors build the case that the amendment's second clause (declaring the right to bear arms) depends entirely on the premise set out in the amendment's first clause (stating that a well-regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free state). The authors demonstrate that the militia envisioned by the framers of the Bill of Rights in 1789 has long since disappeared from the American scene, leaving no lineal descendants. The constitutional right to bear arms, Uviller and Merkel conclude, has evaporated along with the universal militia of the eighteenth century.

Using records from the founding era, Uviller and Merkel explain that the Second Amendment was motivated by a deep fear of standing armies. To guard against the debilitating effects of militarism, and against the ultimate danger of a would-be Caesar at the head of a great professional army, the founders sought to guarantee the existence of well-trained, self-armed, locally commanded citizen militia, in which service was compulsory. By its very existence, this militia would obviate the need for a large and dangerous regular army. But as Uviller and Merkel describe the gradual rise of the United States Army and the National Guard over the last two hundred years, they highlight the nation's abandonment of the militia ideal so dear to the framers. The authors discuss issues of constitutional interpretation in light of radically changed social circumstances and contrast their position with the arguments of a diverse group of constitutional scholars including Sanford Levinson, Carl Bogus, William Van Alstyne, and Akhil Reed Amar.

Espousing a centrist position in the polarized arena of Second Amendment interpretation, this book will appeal to those wanting to know more about the amendment's relevance to the issue of gun control, as well as to those interested in the constitutional and political context of America's military history.

Customer Reviews:

Misrepresentation of the Facts.......2004-04-09

The language in this book is verbose, hard to read, one almost has to be a college professor to understand it. Once you do get through it, you find that the authors, while putting forth facts about the concerns between maintaining a militia and not having a large standing army, totally ignore facts that show that the intent all along, of both federalists and anti-federalists, was to protect a pre-existing, God given right of individuals to keep and bear arms, for any reason, including hunting and self-defense, but most importantly to resist a potentially tyrannical government. They also repeat standard gun control arguments, e.g. the word "bear" only had a military context when it came to firearms, even though the minority report from Pennsylvania expressly requested an amendment that would protect the individual's right to "bear" arms for hunting. Such is the nature of books with an agenda, spinning facts and propagating half-truths and lies.

Armed with the truth for a change.......2004-03-23

This book seeks to balance two predominant schools of thought regarding the Second Amendment: The individualist school and the collective rights school. Uviller and Merkel's thesis is that the right to bear arms was an individual right, but only within a collective context of service in a state sanctioned, regulated and disciplined militia. The book has it right. Uviller and Merkel are well researched. This book is not a polemical such as Halbrook's "That Every Man Be Armed" - it is historical scholarship. A must read for anyone who seeks a scholarly and objective, as well as balanced approach to the understanding of the Second Amendment.

Authors misrepresent what militia is.......2004-02-11

This treatise has one fundamental flaw, a misrepresentation of what the
term "militia" means. The authors equate it with an organized body
initiated and commanded by state government officials, but if that is
what the word means to them, it is not what the word meant to the
Founders. The term is from Latin, and it translates as "defense
activity". In the idiom of the era, a word for an activity could also be
used to refer to those engaged in that activity, and that usage is the
source of the confusion here.

There is also a misrepresentation of the meaning of the word "state",
which, when used in the context of the Constitution, does not mean the
government of the state, but the people of the state, whether they acted
through a government or not. When the Founders referred to a state
government, they used the term "state legislature".

The authors are correct in their thesis that the right to arms is tied
closely to the duty of militia. However, they commit a logical error in
concluding that if the duty is being neglected, the right disappears.
The duty is indeed being neglected, but the duty continues, a duty that
arises out of the social contract that created the society and the
natural rights and duties of mutual defense of rights that are the terms
of the social contract.

The duty, and the right to perform that duty, continues, regardless of
whether it is being actively performed or not. In fact, it is being
performed by millions of civilians every day, in thousands of ways.
Every time anyone reports a crime, conducts his own criminal
investigation, or makes a civilian arrest, that is militia. Any time
anyone defends himself or another from injury, that is militia. Any time
anyone asks others to join him in defending the community from any
threat, that is a militia call-up. We are all militia, when we engage in
militia, even when we act alone. There is no need for initiation or

leadership by some official. Of course, sheriffs are supposed to be the
militia commanders of their counties, and constables militia commanders
of their wards or precincts, but if they neglect to perform that duty,
the duty falls upon anyone present who is aware of a threat requiring
defensive action, or preparation for such defense.

For more on this topic see http://www.constitution.org/cs_defen.htm .

Very enlightening.......2003-11-26

This is a must read for anyone who really wants to understand the truth about the second amendment.The authors present an impressive amount of historical research to show that the second amendment protects an individual right to bear arms only in connection with an organized citizen militia. Some have claimed that the second amendment protects an unconditional right to bear arms. However, an objective examination of history, reveals that this notion is undoubtedly false. The term "bear arms" referred to military service at the time of the writing of the second amendment. When deciding on the language of the second amendment, the first congress debated whether conscientous objectors should be exempt from bearing arms. Obviously, they weren't talking hunting or using guns to defend one's home against criminals.

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