Their Eyes Were Watching God

Amazon.com

At the height of the Harlem Renaissance during the 1930s, Zora Neale Hurston was the preeminent black woman writer in the United States. She was a sometime-collaborator with Langston Hughes and a fierce rival of Richard Wright. Her stories appeared in major magazines, she consulted on Hollywood screenplays, and she penned four novels, an autobiography, countless essays, and two books on black mythology. Yet by the late 1950s, Hurston was living in obscurity, working as a maid in a Florida hotel. She died in 1960 in a Welfare home, was buried in an unmarked grave, and quickly faded from literary consciousness until 1975 when Alice Walker almost single-handedly revived interest in her work.

Of Hurston's fiction, Their Eyes Were Watching God is arguably the best-known and perhaps the most controversial. The novel follows the fortunes of Janie Crawford, a woman living in the black town of Eaton, Florida. Hurston sets up her characters and her locale in the first chapter, which, along with the last, acts as a framing device for the story of Janie's life. Unlike Wright and Ralph Ellison, Hurston does not write explicitly about black people in the context of a white world--a fact that earned her scathing criticism from the social realists--but she doesn't ignore the impact of black-white relations either:

It was the time for sitting on porches beside the road. It was the time to hear things and talk. These sitters had been tongueless, earless, eyeless conveniences all day long. Mules and other brutes had occupied their skins. But now, the sun and the bossman were gone, so the skins felt powerful and human. They became lords of sounds and lesser things. They passed nations through their mouths. They sat in judgment.

One person the citizens of Eaton are inclined to judge is Janie Crawford, who has married three men and been tried for the murder of one of them. Janie feels no compulsion to justify herself to the town, but she does explain herself to her friend, Phoeby, with the implicit understanding that Phoeby can "tell 'em what Ah say if you wants to. Dat's just de same as me 'cause mah tongue is in mah friend's mouf."

Hurston's use of dialect enraged other African American writers such as Wright, who accused her of pandering to white readers by giving them the black stereotypes they expected. Decades later, however, outrage has been replaced by admiration for her depictions of black life, and especially the lives of black women. In Their Eyes Were Watching God Zora Neale Hurston breathes humanity into both her men and women, and allows them to speak in their own voices. --Alix Wilber

Book Description

One of the most important works of twentieth-century American literature, Zora Neale Hurston's beloved 1937 classic, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is an enduring Southern love story sparkling with wit, beauty, and heartfelt wisdom. Told in the captivating voice of a woman who refuses to live in sorrow, bitterness, fear, or foolish romantic dreams, it is the story of fair-skinned, fiercely independent Janie Crawford, and her evolving selfhood through three marriages and a life marked by poverty, trials, and purpose. A true literary wonder, Hurston's masterwork remains as relevant and affecting today as when it was first published -- perhaps the most widely read and highly regarded novel in the entire canon of African American literature.

Download Description

"E-BOOK EXTRA: Janie's Great Journey: A Reading Group Guide; PLUS: The Comphrehensive Edition: This special e-book is the only edition to include all three essays by Edwidge Danticat, Mary Helen Washington, and Henry Louis Gates.

Fair and long-legged, independent and articulate, Janie Crawford sets out to be her own person -- no mean feat for a Black woman in the '30s. Zora Neale Hurston's classic 1937 novel follows Janie's quest for identity -- a journey during which she learns what love is, experiences life's joys and sorrows, and comes home to herself in peace. "There is no book more important to me than this one." --Alice Walker "Their Eyes belongs in the same category with [the works of] William Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Ernest Hemingway, that of enduring American literature." --Saturday Review

Fair and long-legged, independent and articulate, Janie Crawford sets out to be her own person -- no mean feat for a black woman in the '30s. Janie's quest for identity takes her through three marriages and into a journey back to her roots."

Customer Reviews:

One for the Ages.......2007-10-07

Zora Neale Hurston's novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God" has been analyzed, criticized, and lionized over the brief span of its existence. Lately, praise has predominated though with continued carping on issues which she made clear she considered secondary to her purpose.

Hurston's mastery of language places this work in the top tier of Anglophone literature, and the broadness of her comprehension defies spatial, temporal, social, or political confines. Her novel is powerful because it is humane and universal in scope. The story enchants because the voice relating it is unfailingly compassionate.

This lyrical voice was owned by no one but Zora Neale Hurston herself. Throughout her professional life, she remained true to her vision regardless of praise or criticism.

Ultimately, Hurston's literary worth, and that of her detractors, critics, and rivals, will be judged by generations to come. I'm confident that her stature will endure and her insistence on self-definition will be vindicated.

A Novel Reviewed by an author.......2007-09-30

Three stars due to the consensus that it is a classic.
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston September 2007 Amazon
Janie Crawford, an attractive, confident, middle-aged black woman, returns to Eatonville, Florida, after a long absence. The black townspeople gossip about her and speculate about where she has been and what has happened to her young husband, Tea Cake. They take her confidence as aloofness, but Janie's friend Pheoby Watson sticks up for her. Pheoby visits her to find out what has happened. Their conversation frames the story that Janie relates. Janie explains that her grandmother raised her after her mother ran off. Nanny loves her granddaughter and is dedicated to her, but her life as a slave and experience with her own daughter, Janie's mother, has warped her worldview. Her primary desire is to marry Janie as soon as possible to a husband who can provide security and social status for her. She finds a much older farmer named Logan Killicks and insists that Janie marry him. After moving in with Logan, Janie is miserable. He is pragmatic and unromantic and treats her like a pack mule. Janie flirts with and marries in secret another man. After two decades of marriage, Janie asserts herself, Jody insults her appearance and after a savage domestic quarrel, it's over for them. Jody dies from illness and Janie is free. She rebuffs various suitors who come to court but when a man twelve years her junior enters her life there is mutual attraction. Only with her third and last lover, a roustabout called Tea Cake, does Janie at last bloom, as does the large pear tree that stands beside her grandmother's tiny log cabin. "She saw a dust bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming in every blossom and frothing with delight. So this was a marriage!" They move to the everglades for the final tragic conclusion of the book. Rife with dialect, some may find the book time consuming. The title has nothing to do with the story, but it is a beautiful thought. The book has been made into a written-for-television movie starring Halle Berry.
Trish New, author of The Thrill of Hope, South State Street Journal, and Memory Flatlined.

Their Eyes Were Watching God.......2007-09-10

My son needed this book for school and we received in time for school. Great service!

Their Eyes Were Watching God.......2007-09-04

This book has been an extremely enjoyable read for me. It had a certain easy flow to it that made you want to keep reading it. This book didn't hook me right away, but I still gave it a chance. I am glad that I gave it a chance because it turned out to be one of my favorite books. If you enjoy hearing a good story, i recommend this book to you. Actually, I recommend this book to anybody and everybody! When i was asked to rate this book on a scale from 1 to 10, I replied by saying an eleven because i thought that this book was that good.

Good Read.......2007-08-21

This book is an easy read but it contains underling themes and plot structures that can be discussed in a class room setting. This is a good book and provides an interesting insight in young black woman's life who is trying to find her perfect mate.

The Search For Significance: Seeing Your True Worth Through God's Eyes

Average customer rating:

This book is a MUST for anyone pursuing peace in their life.
This book changed my life
Excellent book for spiritual growth
Really Good!
An excellent resource

The Search For Significance: Seeing Your True Worth Through God's Eyes
Robert S. McGee
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0849944244

Book Description

Robert McGee's best-selling book has helped millions of readers learn how to be free to enjoy Christ's love while no longer basing their self-worth on their accomplishments or the opinions of others. In fact, Billy Graham said that it was a book that "should be read by every Christian."

In this re-launch of this timeless classic you will:

Gain new skills for getting off the performance treadmill
Discover how four false beliefs have negatively impacted your life
Learn how to overcome obstacles that prevent you from experiencing the truth that your self-worth is found only in the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of Christ

Discover what two million readers have already discovered: that true significance is found only in Christ.

Customer Reviews:

This book is a MUST for anyone pursuing peace in their life........2007-03-06

I have to say that besides the Bible, this book changed my life. This book defines in a way that is easy to understand and grasp how much Jesus loves us and the truth about who we are to Him.

This book helps you to understand the lie that satan wants us to believe. That our self esteem equals our performance and other people's opinion. Understanding this lie really changed my life.

In addition, the book gives you prayers to memorize in times of the enemy challenging your thinking and behavior. How to not fear rejection, how to overcome the fear of not meeting people's approval. I recommend this book to anyone who is ready to get this burden off their back. The burden of having everyone else's expectations rule your life. Get your freedom back by really understanding, in depth, how much God loves you and get back the peace in your life that you've been missing. I love this book!!!!! A++++++++++++

This book changed my life.......2007-01-23

This is a very inspiring book. Some of us are in bad relationships and we need to know that we do have value and can improve our life simply by understanding that we have value already. This book shows you how to understand that and apply it to your life.

Excellent book for spiritual growth.......2007-01-10

My husband and I are reading it together. I is helping us see the roots of our disagreements. It is helping us be more kind and understanding with one another.

Really Good!.......2007-01-03

This book really makes you take a second look at yourself. Parts of it are almost too in-depth for me, but I still would recommend the book. It would be a great book to study. Lots of knowledge to be gained!

An excellent resource.......2006-08-30

I read this book some years ago. I had been a Christian 6 years at that time, but its contents were earth-shattering. It woke me up to some of the basic truths of the application of Jesus Christ and His word in my life. It opened my eyes to lies I had believed that had literally tormented me for some years. It helped lay a very strong foundation of self-worth and of freedom, and as I now serve God in full time ministry I still draw on the truths that were so powerfully imprinted on my soul through reading the book. Like Billy Graham, I believe every Christian should read this book.

Average customer rating:

An outstanding reading of a seminal work of American literature
Great Reading

Their Eyes Were Watching God CD
Zora Neale Hurston
Manufacturer: Caedmon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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Their Eyes Were Watching God (Cliffs Notes)
Their Eyes Were Watching God
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ASIN: 0060776536
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Book Description

Their Eyes Were Watching God, an American classic, is the luminous and haunting novel about Janie Crawford, a Southern Black woman in the 1930s, whose journey from a free-spirited girl to a woman of independence and substance has inspired writers and readers for close to 70 years.

This poetic, graceful love story, rooted in Black folk traditions and steeped in mythic realism, celebrates boldly and brilliantly African-American culture and heritage. And in a powerful, mesmerizing narrative, it pays quiet tribute to a Black woman who, though constricted by the times, still demanded to be heard.

Originally published in 1937 and long out of print, the book was reissued in 1975 and nearly three decades later Their Eyes Were Watching God is considered a seminal novel in American fiction.

Performed by Ruby Dee

Customer Reviews:

An outstanding reading of a seminal work of American literature.......2007-09-22

This was my first book on CD, and honestly I wasn't sure what to expect. _Their Eyes Were Watching God_ is a wonderful story about finding yourself, living, and love, but the Southern vernacular Hurston uses can be an obstacle in its reading. On the advice of a friend, I picked up the CD to try it out. Ruby Dee's reading of the story is masterful: rich, lyric and beautiful, much like the story itself. While I deeply love the book, I also highly recommend the CD as well. It is a sublime reading.

Great Reading.......2007-05-03

I bought this for my classroom and it was a terrific reading of the novel.

Through the Eyes of the Gods: An Aerial Vision of Africa

Average customer rating:

Could be so much better...
Somewhat Disappointing
A Great book of Africa & Photography
Gorgeous Images; Great Gift Item
The images are unique!

Through the Eyes of the Gods: An Aerial Vision of Africa
Bobby Haas
Manufacturer: National Geographic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0792238826
Release Date: 2005-09-01

Customer Reviews:

Could be so much better..........2007-01-23

I was disappointed with the book. Although the book is well done, good quality and big pictures, the photos were just "nice".
I expected more.
There were a few beautiful images, but none "jaw dropping", and in general, I think they had no poetry, no soul.
To me it seemed like an average person photographing from a helicopter (= scared animals), not a true artist capturing the magic of Africa.
I was even bored half way through. I recommend checking it out at your local bookstore before ordering it through Amazon, to make sure you're getting what you expect.
Nick Brandt's book, despite very different in style, causes much more emotion.

Somewhat Disappointing.......2006-11-14

Having spent time in Africa, I was expecting really spectacular photos, given the promos I had seen and read. My anticipation wasn't rewarded, however. Unique vantagepoints, but compositions could be better, and there is no text to help compensate.

A Great book of Africa & Photography.......2006-02-26

This is a coffee table book that you will be drawn to many times-not just the first time. The photography is of course beautiful, and the selection is diverse. I love it.
Mike

Gorgeous Images; Great Gift Item.......2005-12-26

I saw Bobby Haas at the National Geographic this fall as he presented these images and launched their exhibition of his work. The images are truly astounding. The landscape and wildlife of Africa have often been captured through gorgeous photography, but I've never seen anything like this. Haas's aerial photography really shows us this remarkable part of the world from a whole new angle. He was a great lecturer, too, very enthusiastic and filled with exciting tales of his adventures. The book is beautiful and it made a great Christmas gift for my parents, who have traveled extensively in Africa and loved seeing places they had visited in such a new way.

The images are unique!.......2005-10-30

This book was just a feature on The Sunday Morning Show. The views of Africa that this man has captured from a helicoper are very moving. I not only want to own this book I wish I could go to Washington DC and see the exhibit of the original photographs. An exhibition of Robert Haas's photographs can be viewed in National Geographic's M Street Building, October 25, 2005, to January 25, 2006. But if that is not possible buy the book.

God's Eye View Worshiping Your Way To A Higher Perspective

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Practical teaching from one of today's leading Evangelists
so awesome!
A contemporary guide to worship
Amazing! A Must Read.

God's Eye View Worshiping Your Way To A Higher Perspective
Tommy Tenney
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0785265600

Book Description

In God's Eye View, Tommy Tenney explores how worship lifts us up to see the trouble we face from God's perspective instead of being trapped in an earthly, time-bound viewpoint. The higher we go, the smaller our problems seem. Tenney also teaches the Principle of Magnification: The closer you get to something, the bigger it appears. In other words, worship not only "shrinks" our problems; it also magnifies God in our lives and to others.

Worship doesn't really change our problems; it just minimizes their influence over us as we focus on God. He doesn't promise to remove all of our circumstances, but God does assure us that in His presence and from His perspective--we can see things as they really are and not how they appear to be.

In the book of Revelation John was instructed to "behold the Lion," but from an earthly perspective John saw only the Lamb. The heavenly perspective reveals that the Lamb is the Lion, the babe of Bethlehem is the "ancient of days," and the dragon is really a weakened lizard. God's eye view is higher than man's.

Higher than a bird's eye view, higher than a man's eye view is God's eye view.

Customer Reviews:

Practical teaching from one of today's leading Evangelists.......2005-04-17

The main purpose of Tenney's book is to instruct the Body of Christ in how to transcend the meagre perspective of their everyday life and gain the higher perspective from "God's eye-view" through the process of worship. He is a very practical teacher and isn't afraid to use analogies and anecdotes plucked from the mundane experiences of life. Perhaps this is his gift. However, his efforts to sustain the interest of this reader through these sometimes repetitive "personal anecdotes" left me with the impression of saccharine sentimentalism rather than the spiritual profundity and precision that has made him so reputable. Catch phrases such as "seek his presence not his presents," become too familiar and can grow tired on the reader. This is not to belittle their poignancy and relevance but such things tend to try to supplement where scripture and/or revelation is lacking. Other than that criticism, I admit it was a good read and the time invested in it has probably made me a better man in the end, and perhaps a more informed Christian in the process.

so awesome!.......2004-04-03

i have been so blessed with this book. Tenney wrote it in simple language that anyone can understand. He uses his personal examples from his life, from his relationships with his daughters to know how God is our Father! He emphasizes how we have to worship in whatever circumstances, and everything would look smaller than they appear to be, when we worship our Lord Jesus Christ. This book has been just very insightful in many ways, a must read.

A contemporary guide to worship.......2002-05-02

If you have ever felt frustrated and unfulfilled by what passes for "worship" in some churches, or in your personal relationship with God, then this book could crystalize many things for you! I loved Tenney's illustration about how we like to "gather around the church coffeepot" to talk ABOUT God, but virtually ignore His very presence there with us! I remember feeling exactly that way before, I have wept through church services in years past, not because I felt the Holy Spirit there, but because I didn't! It was just as he described in the book, everything was ABOUT Him, yet He was not allowed in. This book helps us direct our attention TO our loving and wise Heavenly Father.
Tenney tends to be repetetive and belabor his points in this book too, but apparently that's just his style and we'll have to live with it to receive his message. Jesus makes more of an appearance in this book than He did in the God Chasers; I do not believe Tenney intended to exclude or bypass Jesus ever, rather, many of his scripture illustrations are from the Old Testament where Christ is not yet manifest in person. Also, I think Tenney ASSUMES we understand our salvation is based on the finished work of Christ. Perhaps this is one point he SHOULD clarify more. I doubt an unbeliever would read this book. If he tried, he would be confused as a goose trying to fly in a snowstorm.
In summary, this book has me going around singing that song, "I CAN'T WAIT TO WORSHIP THE LORD!"

Amazing! A Must Read........2002-03-12

This book brings new meaning to worship. It puts new light to what worship really means and how it changes your view on any issue that you are facing. Tommy's common sense approach to getting into God's Presence is refreshing.
This book will show that your problems are only as big as the way that you look at them. When you worship, you go from looking at things from your prospective and are lifted up to God's prospective. (When you look at Mt. Everest, it is the tallest mountain in the world. But look at it from an airplane at 35,000 ft. it is nothing.)
I have had problems putting this book down. This is a nice complement to the God Chaser series. If you are interested to going higher in God, then this book is a must.

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
Awesome Book!
great alien species, solid read
Better than Ringworld
Uneven

The Mote in God's Eye
Larry Niven , and Jerry Pournelle
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Amazon.com

In the year 3016, the Second Empire of Man spans hundreds of star systems, thanks to the faster-than-light Alderson Drive. No other intelligent beings have ever been encountered, not until a light sail probe enters a human system carrying a dead alien. The probe is traced to the Mote, an isolated star in a thick dust cloud, and an expedition is dispatched.

In the Mote the humans find an ancient civilization--at least one million years old--that has always been bottled up in their cloistered solar system for lack of a star drive. The Moties are welcoming and kind, yet rather evasive about certain aspects of their society. It seems the Moties have a dark problem, one they've been unable to solve in over a million years.

This is the first collaboration between Niven and Pournelle, two masters of hard science fiction, and it combines Pournelle's interest in the military and sociology with Niven's talent for creating interesting, believable aliens. The novel meticulously examines every aspect of First Contact, from the Moties' biology, society, and art, to the effects of the meeting on humanity's economics, politics, and religions. And all the while suspense builds as we watch the humans struggle toward the truth. --Brooks Peck

Book Description

Writing separately, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle are responsible for a number of science fiction classics, such as the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Ringworld, Debt of Honor, and The Integral Trees. Together they have written the critically acclaimed bestsellers Inferno, Footfall, and The Legacy of Heorot, among others.

The Mote In God's Eye is their acknowledged masterpiece, an epic novel of mankind's first encounter with alien life that transcends the genre.

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Humans discover the Moties, a very different race of aliens. Neither side is particularly honest with the other, and they are both quite martial.

The Moties prove to be rather a handful, being genius savant types with technology, and gremlin or tribble like as far as being annoying goes.

Interdiction seems the only option.

Awesome Book!.......2007-05-25

A Science Fiction novel set in the distant future, when humans have spread across the galaxy, is not a new premise, nor was it when Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle wrote The Mote In God's Eye in the early 1970's. A similar novel, in terms of setting, was Frank Herbert's DUNE, published nearly a decade before The Mote In God's Eye. Having read both of the aforementioned books, I must agree with Robert A. Heinlein's description of The Mote In God's Eye as, "Possibly the finest science fiction novel I have ever read (The quote was on the front cover of the book.)."
The first of the book's four parts, "Meet Crazy Eddie", begins on the spaceship MacArthur, where a rebellion against The Second Empire of Man has been quelled. The ship's Commander, Roderick Blaine, is the protagonist of the story. He is instructed to take Horace Bury, a wealthy trader suspected of plotting the uprising, to the imperial capital of Sparta, after repairs are made in the New Caledonia system. Sally Fowler, the niece of a prominent senator, is along for the ride after being rescued from the rebels. Once the ship arrives at New Caledonia, which is when events begin to get interesting.
The title of the book is explained on New Caledonia. From there and only there, the Coalsack nebula looks like the outline of a hooded face, the star Murcheson's Eye always watching the people on the planet. A strange ship enters the system, having originated within the Coalsack, at a star called the Mote. With the line, "And something he couldn't see was coming at him out of the Mote In God's Eye (Mote, pp. 54)." The story truly begins. Needless to say, Blaine attempts to communicate with the probe. Failing that, the MacArthur sets out for the Mote, to find the probe's origin, and learn about the aliens who had built the probe.
I would recommend The Mote In God's Eye to anyone who likes Science Fiction books. The story is well written, the characters are interesting, and there are very few boring lulls in the story. Something is always happening somewhere. This was a welcome change from some of the books that I read. While some books are superbly written, there can still be parts that are essential to the plot, but as boring as C-SPAN. The writers took a unique approach to the idea of first contact with aliens, and made them truly that, alien. Their culture is completely different in many respects, and yet similar in just as many others. While some parts are a bit difficult to understand, the end result is a book which should be read by all Science Fiction fans.

great alien species, solid read.......2007-04-26

Of all the alien races I've read in sci-fi books, the Moties are described, perhaps, the most completely. The Moties in the book even rank as one of my top-five favorite alien races. Number one would be the Braid aliens in Greg Bears Anvil of Stars.

I think the portrayal of the human-Motie relationship is what made this book such a classic. Exploring the Motie's social strata (and it's evolution) is very interesting and would even make a nice off-shoot series.

From the start of the book, it's a solid good read all the way till the satisfying end.

Better than Ringworld.......2007-04-10

This novel's characters and plot are both more fleshed out than Ringworld, though that's not saying much. The characters are pretty much standard adventure-potboiler stock, defined by a single personality trait or idiosyncrasy, but there is enough of a variety, and he plot keeps moving so it's not so bad. The thing that raises this whole book above the 3-star middle-of-the-road summer poolside read is the aliens. They are interesting enough to make for a really decent third act. For those who enjoy the really character-intensive sci-fi like Simmons or Butler, this one might not cut it. But for those who prefer a more 'page-turner' style, this would be a good one. And probably my second favorite 'first contact' book behind Clarke's Rama. The aliens are really quite interesting.

Uneven.......2007-04-09

Reading a book written in 1974, about the year 3000 can have some amusing repercussions. The human world does not only seem dated now, as other reviewers are arguably pointing, it would seem dated even back then. Actually, the Mote's world is exactly the Stereotypes Circus that has given science fiction its bad name. There is a society bordering on victorian, the engineer with a scottish accent, the crazy astronomer, the bad (but perhaps not that bad) Arab, the young woman of the aristocracy who falls in love with the young captain, the Russian commander who acts like a robot, a benevolent but sceptical priest.... Compare for an instance, the Mote's woman with let's say Lamia in Simmons' Hyperion or the priest with Father Dure in the same novel and you 'll know the difference.
However, the part of the novel in italics (the part where the aliens act and think) is decent and has stood the test of time well. The aliens are believable, free of cliches and especially in the last part of the book, stressed in a way one feels one should be stressed when the survival of the race is upon him. The novel could have been much better and less uneven if the humans had more depth than the depth of an unaired Star Trek episode.

More Than Meets The Eye: Fascinating Glimpses of God's Power and Design

Average customer rating:

Splendid!...Glory goes to God.
Awesome Reinforcement of God's Artful design
"Reason Redeemed by Grace"
Love-Hate
Fascinating blend of science and theology

More Than Meets The Eye: Fascinating Glimpses of God's Power and Design
Richard A. Swenson , and M.D., Richard A. Swenson
Manufacturer: Navpress Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

More Than Meets the Eye will help readers see the inner workings of creation and give them a fresh awe of God and the amazing things He's done through creation.

Customer Reviews:

Splendid!...Glory goes to God........2007-10-10

I'm just starting my second round thru the book. There's just so much to try to wrap one's mind around. I recommend this book to those who have an interest in physics, quantum mechanics, science, theology and the Creator of the Universe! (Sub-atomic particles will make your head spin!) I also recommend Dr. Swenson's video series of the same title.

Awesome Reinforcement of God's Artful design.......2007-09-09

Don't know how ANYONE could read this book and believe that "we" crawled out of some sludge hole as some other creature and "evolved" into what we are today. We were CREATED by the MASTER ARTIST! All you need to know is here. An excellent book to provide to those you know who are unsaved and skeptical!

"Reason Redeemed by Grace".......2005-10-30

The two Amazon Editorial Reviews (from Publishers Weekly and Booklist) just don't get it. Why is it hard for people to understand that a book written by a Christian, for a Christian audience, by a Christian publisher will develop it's theme from a Christian perspective. And why would someone wonder how a Christian could believe that God could hear a billion prayers at once (since, God being God, from the Christian world-view, can hear an infinite number of prayers at any given "moment").

"More Than Meets the Eye," by Dr. Richard Swenson offers exactly what the subtitle accurately promises: fascinating glimpses of God's power and design. It does not pretentiously pretend to offer in-depth scientific analysis. It does present micro and macro signs of God's transcendence and immanence. Science and faith, when looked at with what Luther called "reason redeemed by grace," consistently connect to show God's handiwork, God's fingerprints, God's footprints everywhere--from the largest star to the smallest particle. No, "More Than Meets the Eye" is not the final word. However, it is a fascinating glimpse for those willing to look at creation and the Creator with intellectual integrity and spiritual authenticity.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," "Biblical Psychology," "Martin Luther's Pastoral Counseling," and "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."

Love-Hate.......2004-01-06

I had a love-hate relationship with this book. Its content is really fascinating; it collects amazing facts and anecdotes about everything from the human body to modern research in physics. But its writing style was ludicrously and distractingly over-Christian; I groaned audibly at the segue from a discussion of the mysterious dynamics of the inner ear to a reminder that we should use our ears to listen because "softly and tenderly Jesus is calling." So cheesy and unnecessary! The fascinating details of anatomy and molecular function are pure theology and need no superficial pseudo-spiritual commentary to make them "Christian," and I can't recommend this book to many people for that reason. I found its content riveting and compelling in SPITE of the writing style.

Fascinating blend of science and theology.......2002-12-09

This book does a wonderful job of pointing out miracles of God as discovered by modern science. Swenson presents the complexity of the universe from a Christian world-view and masterfully mixes orthodox commentaries into his discussions of human anatomy and physiology, and modern physics. Multiple scientific thoughts are explained well enough to be understandable and intriguing but without the intricate detail of a science textbook. This book is very edifying for Christians with a passion for science and technology and would likely be a good evangelism tool for presenting a Christian world-view to a scientist or engineer that does not yet know the Lord.

Sit Down and Shut Up: Punk Rock Commentaries on Buddha, God, Truth, Sex, Death, and Dogen's Treasury of the Right Dharma Eye

Average customer rating:

Straight to the 10,000 points
Getting even better
see nothing,hear nothing,say nothing
What a Relief!
suprisingly good

Sit Down and Shut Up: Punk Rock Commentaries on Buddha, God, Truth, Sex, Death, and Dogen's Treasury of the Right Dharma Eye
Brad Warner
Manufacturer: New World Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Zen | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Buddha | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Dharma | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1577315596

Book Description

In Sit Down and Shut Up, Brad Warner tackles one of the great works of Zen literature, the Shobogenzo by 13th-century Zen master Dogen. Illuminating Dogen’s enigmatic teachings in plain language, Warner intertwines sharp philosophical musings on sex, evil, anger, meditation, enlightenment, death, God, sin, and happiness with an exploration of the power and pain of the punk rock ethos. Riffing on his triumphant return to Ohio for a reunion concert of Akron punk bands, Brad uncovers the real heart of Zen, in teachings and stories with a sharp smack of truth,.

Customer Reviews:

Straight to the 10,000 points.......2007-10-09

I recently picked this book up, wandering through an airport bookstore between flights. I've always avoided the "Cool Zen" school, wherein the participants practice a Joseph Campbell-esque creative mythology, picking and choosing what aspects of the Zen doctrine to live. Fortunately, getting past the cover, I found this book to be worth the read.

Brad Warner presents a lucid and at times satirical perspective on the writings of Dogen, the man who basically brought Zen to Japan. He recounts a recent trip back home, during which he has the opportunity to play again with his old punk band. While on this trip, Brad shows the profound impact that the teachings of Dogen can have on a life, as time and again, he pulls Dogen's teachings into the direct experience of his life. For those who study Dogen and his teachings, it is refreshing to see a "plain language" account of the insights that Dogen had so many centuries ago.

As a writer, I found Mr. Warner's writing clear and lucid, demonstrating a strong understanding of the sometimes terse, sometimes confusing translations of Dogen's works. It is important to point out that in no way does Brad try and state authoritatively how to encounter Dogen's teachings. Rather, with direct experiences, he tells of his experiences. Each will have a different experience, and yet, all of us will have the same experience. Brad understands this fact, and yet, he lets this idea unfold in you. He shows, he does not tell. I must point out that his somewhat chummy style is not for everyone, but I found this familiarity to be a warm method to diffuse the stifling austerity of other writers.

I recommend this book to anyone who has struggled with Dogen, who has wanted to see just how these teachings impact their life, or who wants slightly irreverent look at these profound teachings. Through that irreverence is truth, and through this book, you may find the voice that finally opens up the world of Dogen to you. For me, it has rekindled my Dogen studies, something I think Brad would appreciate.

Getting even better .......2007-09-23

How much do I envy Brad Warner? Hard core punk rocker. Japanese monster movie work. Lived in Tokyo. A Zen Buddhist master. One hot book already ("HardCore Zen" and now this one.) A column in Suicide Girls. And in one of his recent Suicide Girl columns he reveals that his well-known master Gudo Nishijima has asked him to be his sucessor ... and Brad has accepted. This from a guy who reveals in this book he hates being a Zen master, hates the challenges, the assumptions of his authority. Yes, I shouldn't envy him, I don't know his actual condition or what awaits him (or me) but it's hard not to envy a guy whose accomplished so much...yet is telling me to just go and sit facing a blank wall. Here's a guy who I expect might next show up on Entertainment Tonight having been spotted clubbing with Paris Hilton (could that be, Brad? Probably not) and yet he's the successor to Gudo Nishijima, who along with Chudo Cross, translated Dogen's masterwork Shobogenzo into English. So impressive it is distracting. Rather than sit down and shut up, I want to fly to Tokyo, I want to enter a cool-sounding rap into my word processor. Did Nishijima have sales of the translations of Shobogenzo in mind when he asked Brad to be his successor? No, I'm too cynical. And Brad's power to explain Zen, to the extent it can be explained, shouldn't be slighted.

Remember the Fuller Brush Man? One used to come lugging a suitcase to our neighborhood periodically when I was young. My Mom would always be glad to see him and he's spend time showing her his latest products. She's always buy at least one. He was well-trained, could explain each product convincingly and was polite with her. The Fuller Brush Company (which still exists today although it may have abandoned door-to-door sales which never seemed cost-effective anyway) prepared him. But its an identity one can be proud of and something to keep one busy. Is it perhaps a roughly similar way that Brad Warner was prepared by his Zen teachers, trained using the entire Zen tradition? For a Soto (at least) Zen practitioner, Dogen's Shobogenzo is one element of that training. Another is the sitting method zazen. But Brad is one exceptional Fuller Brush Man. Must be to be selected to be a successor of Nishijima (or so it would seem). Or to hang out with the Suicide Girls. Any can be trained but not all have a gift to teach. I suppose I should be asking myself whether I have the gift to learn.

I confess I did zazen for 5 years every day but wasn't "making progress" and stopped and having been searching around in other ways the past 10 years. Recently I wondered if Zen might be worth a second try, which is why I read this book.

Shobogenzo is long and almost every page of it can be baffling. All four volumes of Nishijima and Cross's translation are available (at the time I write this review), new or used, via Amazon. If you enjoy this book by Brad, you may want to dive into them but don't expect it to be easy. Brad's gifted rap helps. He shares explanatory powers that Baba Ram Dass, who he expressed admiration for, also has.

Brad may seem like he has an answer for everything but he is wise enough to point out firmly that he won't take your own responsibility for yourself from you. And can't. He's strict about zazen posture (a position he clarifies, outside this book, by noting that if he made it easy for people to believe they could do zazen seiza style or sitting in a chair they may well lose the important body-and-mind benefit of correct posture. He has helpful positions, much learned from Nishijima but delivered in his cool punk rocker way, of enlightenment, the will to truth, reincarnation, boredom, and why we aren't happy (or hopefuly sad) all the time.

As in Hard Core Zen, I find his explanations of how I am the universe wanting. For an explanation that connected better with me, I suggest some from the Tibetan Dzogchen tradition (e.g. You Are the Eyes of the World, New Edition. And, as with other Buddhist teachers, the teaching that self is an illusion isn't so reassuring: my boss still expect ME to have my assignment done by the deadline whatever I make of my "self". But as to just what is meant by that Buddhist teaching, more explanation would have been helpful to reduce its mysteriousness (unless somehow I missed that elaboration in this book. The illusion, as I understand it feebly, being that the self exists independently, whereas actually its a dynamic process always dependent on other phenomena). One place the elaboration can be found well-stated is in Master Sheng-Yen's There Is No Suffering: A Commentary on the Heart Sutra But overall, Brad's explanatory powers seem much improved since Hard Core Zen. Grounding his explanations in passages from the Shobogenzo may be part of the reason why.

One thing that hasn't changed from Hard Core Zen to this book seems to be Brad's apparently strong interest in Lucy Lui. I suppose that is just a reflection of his honesty [Or, guys, how do you want to be reborn? ]

So do I go sit? For 15 years, influenced by Krishnamurti, I avoided methods as best I could. I was, unfortunately, heavily influenced by Krishnamurti as an authority. When I finally threw in the towel on Krishnamurti, I decided to give the minimalist method of zazen a try. Can I now go back to zazen ... and not be heavily influenced by Brad as an authority? Will I see him on Entertainment tonite? Brad suggested seeking out a local zendo. There is one near me. There are also contemporary masters less cool but impressive, such as Zen master and former IBM executive Les Kaye Zen at Work and Chan master Sheng-yen Faith in Mind: A Commentary on Seng Ts'an's Classic. Is it written anywhere a Zen master can't be as cool as Brad? I'll have to ask Lucy Lui.

see nothing,hear nothing,say nothing.......2007-09-14

After reading this book i really felt like i hadnt read anything,but in an accidently productive way.
It just made me come to the realisation that being a regular good guy who follows a traditional religion like dare i say christianity is properbly a lot more useful than philosphising things to the point of where nothing really exist just the idea that nothing exist.In fact that would be practising zazen, as the author keeps pointing out that what its all about at the end of the day.
I cant see the point of this,unless its the point above.
If i wanted to learn about zen and dogen id read a book about zen and dogen,not how someone else thought about Dogen.Maybe id go to Japan and experince the particular culture that inspired Zen.I dont deny that the Reality that Dogen talked about exist,but i just cant feel it here.

Contemporay culture has no real relevance in the Zen world view,so it doenst give the author any perspective that is really helpful.His references keep pulling you into world views/ideas that are the very opposite of the state that Zen aspires to.
As someone who was involved in punk,i didnt feel the fact that the author played bass ina punk band,gave this any more meaning for me,In fact less so.
Its the same to me as christian punk???punk and christianity cancel each other out,you cant be one plus the other,in the same way Zen and punk cancel each other out.You just create something new that is not one or the other, its not `hardcore' any more,to use the authors own point of reference!Its all or nothing this Zen business.For most people it will be nothing i suspect.

How will this inspire people,other than introducing to new ideas,and some Buddhist philosophy they can talk about for a few minutes at dinner parties??Will those ideas prove useful to them ina holistic sense or will they just remain in the realm of ideas.As an idea alone zen is very dangerous ,so popularising it is not a good thing properbly!
For me personally this book was a waste of time,it didnt inspire me to do anything other than realising that i was wasting my time reading it.So yeah it kind of worked,but not i imagine how the author envisaged,but there again who knows.

What a Relief!.......2007-09-13

Like author Brad Warner, I practice a form of Buddhism which has its roots in Japan. Unfortunately, the school with which I have been associated for the past 20-some years has ZERO ability to laugh at itself, even when the group or its leader says or does something absurd. We in the SGI (soka gakkai international) take our mission for world peace VERY SERIOUSLY and although we can make jokes about others, we never, ever joke about our sect or its leader. Never. Ever. We can only strive joyfully together and warmly encourage each other to unite with the heart of our leader in Japan. A recipe for boring prose if ever there was one.

What a huge relief it was, then, to encounter this book, where Warner actually uses his own, clear, funny, insightful voice to discuss Buddhist perspectives on life, death, compassion and consciousness. He interweaves these topics into a sort of travelogue of his return to Akron, Ohio to appear with a reunion show of punk-rock bands from the 80's. This helps to "ground" the concepts being addressed, but in a day-to-day way which is more interesting than a typical corporate cube experience.

I and a few friends have been on a bit of a Dogen "kick" for awhile, and "Sit Down and Shut Up" is an extremely valuable commentary to support that effort. All the other commentaries I have read have been earnest but plodding, and I have had about all the earnest, plodding prose I can handle for the next fifty lifetimes. Warner takes his subject seriously, but he doesn't take himself too seriously, and that is a huge relief.

With all this praise, I must point out that Warner does make a few errors. For example, in his discussion of the Lotus Sutra's parable of the Burning House, he does not mention the super-dooper-cool prize (i.e., the great white ox cart, i.e.,"Buddhahood") that all the children get when they leave the burning house.

Another massive blunder (and I can proof your next book for this kind of stuff if you want, Brad) is his shocking claim that "be excellent to each other" is what Bill and Ted said to the future people in "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey". Everyone knows this scene occurred in the "Excellent Adventure". You have to be more mindful of stuff like that, Brad - don't forget to wind your watch.

All in all, I have recommended this book to a number of people and will continue to do so. I hope that Brad continues to write and I look forward to visiting his zendo one of these weekends.

suprisingly good.......2007-07-31

The cover is too cool to be a serious book, or at least that is what I thought when I first saw it. There is some stuff in it that really helped me in both understanding and motivation to practice. The writing style is different. It made me think of how maybe some of the old Zen masters just let their own personalities free while tring to communicate truths/experiences. Seems liked adding in bio/memior material, besides being entertaining, gave me a better sense of what the author was trying to say in some of the dense old Dogen translations.

Eyes Wide Open, rev. and exp. ed.: Looking for God in Popular Culture

Average customer rating:

Learning to Live in the World.
Eyes Wide Open
A practical, analytical & Christian-based approach to movies
Solid treatise on Christianity and culture

Eyes Wide Open, rev. and exp. ed.: Looking for God in Popular Culture
William D. Romanowski
Manufacturer: Brazos Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Communication | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1587432013
Release Date: 2007-02-01

Book Description

Grounded in Christian principles, this accessible and engaging book offers an informed and fascinating approach to popular culture. William D. Romanowski provides affectionate yet astute analysis of familiar, well-loved movies and television characters from Cinderella Man to Homer Simpson. He speaks with expertise on films from The Chronicles of Narnia to Crash and music from Mozart to U2, bringing sources as diverse as Shakespeare and Allan Bloom into the discussion. Romanowski's confessional approach affirms a role for popular culture in faithful living. Practical, analytical approaches to content, meaning, and artistic style offer the tools to participate responsibly and imaginatively in popular cultural activities. An engaging read, this new edition introduces students and thoughtful readers to popular culture--one of the most influential forces in contemporary society.

Customer Reviews:

Learning to Live in the World........2006-09-10

The basic premise of EYES WIDE OPEN is that in the realm of culture, Christians have been too complacent for far too long. Romanowski begins the book with an introduction illustrating why Christians should become involved in culture, specifically pop culture. In the following chapters the author gives a detailed description of what culture is, the "difference" between high culture and low culture (as well as an explanation of why there really isn't a difference), what often is associated with being "faith" friendly in popular art nowadays, what makes up a Christian worldview, the typical Hollywood cultural landscape, the importance of Christian criticism, etc. Towards the end of the book the author makes some very general suggestions about how Christians can become involved in pop culture and the last section of the book (appendix two) is a review of the movie TITANIC from a Christian perspective.

The book raises many salient points that Christians should be aware off. Culture is a part of our lives and as believers in Christ, we are called to be involved in the world. For someone who has never seriously considered these issues, EYES WIDE OPEN might serve as a wake-up call. Also, even though the book is directed towards the lay person, the book is written in such a way it could confuse someone who has never had a beyond-high-school-education. I was able to follow the book's over-arching structure and pattern but there were several times I found myself thinking, "If I hadn't heard any of this before, this would be really confusing." The other criticism I have of the book is that the book is marketed as an "easy-to-read guide for interpreting and evaluating popular culture as a Christian." The author appears to be at least an amateur critic of film and movies. In fact, the book was filled with references to films. However, there is a lack of references to television, music, the Internet, mainstream novels, etc: there is a section where the author talks about Bruce Springsteen and another section where he discusses the television show E.R. However, that's about it. It would have been nice to have another few appendixes at the end of the book where the author reviews a television show, an album, and perhaps a popular website or work of fiction. Also, since the author chose to review TITANIC instead of a more worthwhile film (just because it's the #1 grossing movie of all time is besides the point--just about every movie from 1933-1959 had a higher attendance than any film released since then) or instead of reviewing another movie, too, it dropped a notch in my estimation.

Overall, this is a decent book for a Christian lay person who is interested in becoming engaged in popular culture but has no idea how to go about that. It should provide a good foundation. For a more indepth approach check out ROARING LAMBS by Bob Briner or ADDICTED TO MEDIOCRITY by Franky Schaeffer.

Eyes Wide Open.......2002-01-29

Romanowski is skillful at paring down his previous work, Pop Culture Wars, and enhancing the practical aspects of interacting with Popular Culture as an evangelical Christian. He Gives the necessary background and history to contextualize his position, while providing the reader with good tools for thinking critically about popular art.

One note of critique would be that, though it is obvious that he has a commanding knowledge of film, it would be beneficial to explore other popular artforms and give current expamples. Along the same lines, the examples that he used to prove some critical comments directed to the evangelical Christian popular art (particularly the Christian Contemporary Music) community were a bit dated.

But overall, this is a book that I have and will continue to use in a classroom and small group setting because it packs a punch in a small space.

A practical, analytical & Christian-based approach to movies.......2001-09-12

Eyes Wide Open: Looking For God In Popular Culture is an easy-to-read, highly engaging guide for interpreting and evaluating popular culture from a Christian perspective and framework. William Romanowski (professor of communication arts and sciences at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan) offers a practical, analytical, and Christian-based approach to movies, music, and television programs, enabling the reader to engage the media that so saturates modern life. Romanowski's illuminating examples range from Casablanca to Titanic, from The Simpsons to ER, from Bruce Springsteen to Amy Grant. Eyes Wide Open is informative, rewarding, insightful, and strongly recommended reading for parents, pastors, teachers, and teens.

Solid treatise on Christianity and culture.......2001-06-26

Christians are not that much different than non-Christians when it comes to consumption of popular culture. All but the most legalistic watch many of the same movies, listen to the same music, and watch the same TV shows as everyone else. Romanowski realizes this, and with this book (along with others he has written) he analyzes the culture from a Christian perspective and gives the Christian, who is in the world but (hopefully) not of it, valuable tools for being a cultural critic. I would have rated this book higher, but for me it doesn't break a lot of new ground, and the appendices concerning an analysis of the movie "Titanic" could have been better utilized on a movie with more depth and meaning (even though I do admit that, like everyone else, I cried at the end of the movie). On the other hand, you've got to love a book with a chapter entitled "Christians Who Drink Beer" (even though, personally, I don't). Others who haven't read widely in this field like I have would surely give it a higher rating, because it is a very competent, easy to read book on an important subject.

Zora Neale Hurston : Novels and Stories : Jonah's Gourd Vine / Their Eyes Were Watching God / Moses, Man of the Mountain / Seraph on the Suwanee / Selected Stories (Library of America)

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Inspired

Zora Neale Hurston : Novels and Stories : Jonah's Gourd Vine / Their Eyes Were Watching God / Moses, Man of the Mountain / Seraph on the Suwanee / Selected Stories (Library of America)
Zora Neale Hurston
Manufacturer: Library of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0940450836

Book Description

When she died in obscurity in 1960, all her books were out of print. Now, Zora Neale Hurston is recognized as one of the most important and influential modern American writers. This volume, with its companion, "Zora Neale Hurston: Folklore, Memoirs, and Other Writings," brings together for the first time all of Hurston's best works in one authoritative set. It features the acclaimed 1937 novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God," a lyrical masterpiece about a woman's struggle for love and independence. "Jonah's Gourd Vine," based on the story of Hurston's parents, details the rise and fall of a preacher torn between spirit and flesh. "Moses, Man of the Mountain" is a high-spirited retelling of the Exodus story in black vernacular. "Seraph on the Suwanee" portrays the passionate clash between a poor southern "cracker" and her willful husband. A selection of short stories further displays Hurston's unique fusion of folk traditions and literary modernism--comic, ironic, and soaringly poetic.

Customer Reviews:

Inspired.......2006-02-20

If Ms Hurston finally gets the readers she deserves, she will take her place among America's finest writers of the 20th Century. She is a joy to read and repays second and third perusals. The oral narrative quality of her writing places her squarely in the company of the best of her Southern contemporaries. She shares their great gifts. By all means, don't deny yourself the pleasure of reading her work.

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