Average customer rating:
- Cute, funny and scientifically sound.
- Great book!
- Science Made Fun & Easy
- Great for Teachers!!!
- wonderful science/literature connection
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What Is the World Made Of? All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2)
Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld , and
Paul Meisel
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0064451631 |
Book Description
Did you ever walk through a wall? Drink a glass of blocks? Have you ever played with a lemonade doll, or put on milk for socks? This latest addition to the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series introduces the youngest readers to an important science concept: the differences between solids, liquids, and gases. Any child who wants to know why he can't walk through a wall will enjoy Kathleen Zoehfeld's simple text and Paul Meisel's playful illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Cute, funny and scientifically sound........2007-10-02
Young children will be entertained and educated by What's the World Made of?, finding out about the three states of matter. With lots of funny, silly illustrations and some scientific observations of everyday stuff, this slim volume will stimulate readers to learn more about the suject and become increasingly aware of the world around them.
Excellent.
Great book!.......2007-02-17
Ordered this for my son's 6th birthday and he really enjoyed it! It's great at explaining it at a "kid level" and he giggled througout the book!
Science Made Fun & Easy.......2006-07-04
I have a 6-yr old boy and a 7-yr old girl. It's very rare to find anything that they agree on but with What Is the World Made Of? I was able to find a book that both of them would enjoy and learn from at the same time. The easy-to-follow language made it easy for them both to follow along. The fun pictures and odd bits of humor kept them interested and wanting to know more. A fantastic find & one I hope to be able to use for quite some time.
Great for Teachers!!!.......2005-10-24
This book is an excellent way to introduce solids, liquids, and gases. I used it with a 3rd grade class and it was perfect!
wonderful science/literature connection.......1999-07-12
this is an excellent literature connection for young children studying the concept of matter. it works well with the foss science module, "solids and liquids" for students in grades one and two.
Product Description
The world s best-selling Bible handbook now has a new look to reach an entirely new generation of Bible readers and seekers. Henrietta Mears timeless classic has been beautifully redesigned and carefully abridged for this sleeker, more reader-friendly edition. Still a comprehensive overview of God s Word, What the Bible Is All About Visual Edition is now illustrated with more than 500 full-color graphics, including maps, charts, timelines and photographs depicting life in the Holy Land as well as actual locations of the events of the Bible. Includes a complete glossary for easy word identification. The perfect gift for Bible lovers of all ages!
Book Description
Nice Bible handbook NIV edition
Customer Reviews:
what the bible is all about.......2007-05-23
Easy to read, well organized, and interesting book that explains each book of the bible. Provides information that if read before reading the book in the bible makes the book so much more understandable. Also, is a good review if the bible book has not been read for awhile. Mary jo
A real classic........2007-02-11
This book is a classic - I've owned copies for 30 years and read it through several times already.
WOW! This is a great help in Bible Study!!!.......2005-01-29
I got my copy of this great Bible resource several years ago from a beloved Aunt who is now in Heaven. What a rich and good way to be blessed as you study Gods word. I can see why my Aunt loved this book; I do too. If you love the Lord Jesus Christ you will love this book.
A Book of Truths, for Some.......2002-12-11
I didn't care much for this book but have to say that that's probably because it didn't take the path I'd assumed it would.
I picked it up thinking that it would be a somewhat disinterested look at theology, historical events and so on, and an even-handed look at Judaism and Christianity.
It isn't. It's a book for believers, specifically, Christians, which is fine if that's what you want. The author, Henrietta C. Mears, is clear on her own beliefs and what she and the reader should believe. She's a little more fond of !!!!! than I care for, and there's a kind of a see?-I told-you-so kind of tone to it. Have you ever seen those bumper stickers that say something like, God Said It/I believe it/That's It! ?
That's how this book reads. Now, having said that, here's the general direction of the book.
Mears analyzes every book of the Bible. Every single chapter of her book starts out with the word Understanding, then names that book, from Genesis to Revelation. She reels off details and assessments of each book, with the underlying assumption that the reader agrees with what the Rev. Billy Graham says in the foreword to this book: "The Word of God is the only real authority we have."
So, for example, in her chapter on Genesis, she writes: Satan appears to have special enmity for the book of Genesis. No wonder the Adversary has bent his attacks upon it. It exposes him as the enemy of God and the deceiver of the human race; it foretells his destruction; it depicts his doom." A few pages later, we get this sentence Remember, Jesus Christ is the center of the Bible.
She also gives us such tidbits of information as this: there are 31,102 verses in the Bible, using 775,693 words*; Psalm 119 is the longest chapter; Psalm 117 the shortest. Ezra 7:21 contains all the letters of the alphabet except J (I don't know how well this fact stands up in translated versions and a conspiracy theorist could have a field day with the source J!); the longest book in the Old Testament is Psalms, the longest in the New Testament is Luke.
This book is probably best used in an adult Christian education class or something similar. I don't see it helping much on an ecumenical or evangelical level. Perhaps it works as a self-education tool, for someone who's arrived at Christian belief and wants a wider understanding of the sense of the full Bible.
*In English, I assume.
Great Book!.......2001-10-01
This book has tremediously helped me understand God's word. I recommend this book for new Christians and to anyone who reads the Bible but, just can not grasp what it is trying to say.
Customer Reviews:
Want to learn about all 66 books in short period?.......2007-02-03
This book is for all ages... If you haven't read all 66 books and want to? Then, this is the right book for you. It summarizes the book and chapter well for all ages to comprehend easily.
Sylvia.......2007-01-03
This is a very nice bible for children as well as adults. It breaks things down into more understandable reading. I use it myself along with my regular bible.
Solid material in a fun format.......2006-07-26
I am a Christian Education Director and have been looking for some solid material for older youth 5th-8th grade. This book illustrates each book in the Bible within a couple of pages with black and white line drawing charactures. It may sound young, but even my adult committee wanted copies for themselves. I am putting together an entire curriculum using this book for the youth, over a four year period (two years OT & two years NT), along with "What The Bible Is All About Handbook:NIV Edition" for the teachers to get familiar with the Bible in about ten pages per book and the "What The Bible Is All About 101, 102, 201, 202", which are leader guides to teach.
Great resource, teaching tool & reference.......2002-01-30
This is one of those books where the kids version is better than the adults version! It breaks down the Bible, into sections and sub-sections. For example, it introduces the 1st 5 books of the Old Testament as the Books of the Law, explains why they are called that, the main points, the main people, an outline of what happens in each chapter- and then it goes a wonderful step further, and links in known historical information, a map of 'Where It All Happened', and other pertinent information about the world at that time. The same format is followed for each Book of the Bible. Within each book there are small illustrations & summaries of the main events in each chapter, which are surprisingly well done- not off-putting to an adult, very accessible to a child. The reference materials at the end- a good dictionary of words that one doesn't often see outside of the Bible!, Bible geography, good time lines of the Old & New Testaments, and an amazing 16 pages of good color pictures tucked away at the end make this book a must!
There are bits that are clearly written for children, and the section on 'Becoming God's Child' may or may not fit exactly with your view of things, but don't be put off by those: this is a great tool for getting to grips with a lot of information.
THE BEST!.......2000-09-04
I've just started out in my walk with Christ so Childrens books have been VERY helpfull in my study. Out of the 10 books this is by far THE BEST!
Book Description
The Cat and company travel by hot air balloon up and into various weather phenomena including rain, snow, thunder, tornadoes, and (yikes!) even hurricanes! Along the way they learn about thermometers, anemometers, wind vanes, cloud formations, humidity, fog, smog, weather folklore, and how to stay safe in lightning. Written and illustrated in Seussian style, this a great addition to the Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library!
Customer Reviews:
Happy Grandson.......2006-07-08
My grandson was very happy with this book. He loves reading books by Dr. Seuss and knows when he comes to Grandma's house a new one will be waiting for him. The book was presented as "used" but it looks brand new! Delivery time was as promised. Only negative comment for all the used books I have purchased thus far is that the postage charged has been far more than the book.
Excellent intro to weather concepts.......2004-10-25
I think this is one of the best of the books in Cat in the Hat's Learning Library. In this book, the rhymes are crisp and interesting. Some of the concepts introduced/covered include: meteorologists, weather maps, clouds, evaporation, condensation, snow, rain, thunder, lightning, tornadoes, and climatology. This book covers a lot in the simple and effective Cat in the Hat style.
Book Description
This book is about love. What it is and what it isn't. It is about you--and about everybody who has ever reached out to touch the heart of another. Among many other lessons of the heart, Leo Buscaglia reminds us: Love is open arms. If you close your arms about love you will find that you are left holding only yourself.
From the Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Leo.......2007-05-12
This book is one that everyone who is in a relationship..or has children.. should read and pass on to their friends.
Why don't we teach this in our schools?.......2006-07-16
This book has been in my library for years. I have given copies for gifts many times, I wish I knew how many. The information in this book is so very important for everyone and written in such a way that it can be easily read and understood by everyone. Should be required reading in every high school and university.
I have read other Buscaglia books and found them all to be well written and filled with beneficial content.
Thanks for the opportunity to review a winner.
Love 101: The class EVERYONE should take.......2006-07-14
Everyone should read,no make that study Leo's books. This book opened my eyes and softened my heart. Anyone who reads it with an open mind will find themselves transformed. I am someone who grew up VERY ANGRY. My anger caused me problems upon problems and was a contributing factor in the breakup of my first marriage. When I hit rock bottom and knew things had to change, it was then that I came across a worn, slightly abuse copy of a book at a second hand store. The Title on it was simply "LOVE". Don't misunderstand me, I am far from free from my anger. Yet, those who know me will tell you how much I have changed. I feel Leo books, DVD's (I have several), and tapes have been a major factor in that change. I recommend ALL items by Leo Buscaglia.
Leo talks not only about loving others, but loving yourself. Love your face, even if your nose doesn't quite match the rest of your face. Love yourself for who you are, no matter who that may be. It's the funny and odd things about us that sometimes makes us the most loveable. So, buy this book and, if your paying attention to what is said in it, learn to laugh, hug, cry (yes, even grown men can cry), and fall in love with this rollercoster we call life.
What life is all about..........2005-12-03
This is a 5 star book because it can change vastly the way you see things. It'll also make you want to bring love directly into your life and to give it to everyone around you.
The book covered the essential aspects of living in love and what love really is all about. Buscaglia will make you realize how important it is to study love but more importantly to live in it.
Mystery of Love is the greatest Mystery of all.......2005-04-30
This is sweet and simple in what it set out to do. Answers are attempted throughout but never finalized because love is never finalized.
BIG IDEA: Love is being ultimately present with the person or thing and growing together for the sake of growth.
OTHER IDEA: Education should be a 3 part process to help an individual:
1) discover their uniqueness
2) harness and grow their uniqueness
3) share their uniqueness
till next time...Tom
Book Description
Studies show that one in five of us worries too much about our health. In fact, pervasive worry over preserving health or preventing disease can _itself_ become a disorder, one with very real physical and emotional consequences. The condition is known as health anxiety, and it often leads people to misinterpret minor symptoms and normal bodily sensations as the warning signs of a serious disease. In It's Not All in Your Head, health psychologists Drs. Gordon Asmundson and Steven Taylor encourage readers to consider whether excessive worry may be their greatest cause for concern. This straightforward and effective self-help program teaches sufferers how the physical side effects of anxiety--like muscle tension, nausea, or a quickened heart rate--may compound their sense that something is wrong. For anyone whose personal life or career has been disrupted by health anxiety--and for their caring yet frustrated loved ones--this compassionate, nonjudgmental, and practical book may be just what the doctor ordered.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent !!.......2006-03-21
None of the other books listed by Amazon sounded like they dealt with health anxiety, so I tried this one. It is EXCELLENT!!! It is very thorough and simple to understand. It has wonderful tips to use as well as suggestions on how to work with doctors and when to get additional help. Not much is written for the regular person on health anxiety, so this is a very valuable resource. Health anxiety is a form of anxiety in which the person worries excessively about his health and bodily sensations. Going to the doctor repeatedly for assurance does not help because you can get addicted to the reassurance! By the time you get home from the doctor after he tells you that you are fine, you have convinced yourself that he must have made some type of error or omission of tests, and you are super worried all over again! This book uses cognitive behavior therapy to help break the cycle of worry and fear over symptoms.
Book Description
Henrietta Mears's all-time classic gives an excellent overview and understanding, in clear and concise language, of every book in the Bible. It includes these features: € Reading plans, maps, commentary and other study helps; € Historical background on every key event in the Bible; € How Jesus is revealed in the Old Testament; € Bible teaching suggestions; an article on "How to Become a Member of God's Family" € Glossary with clear definitions of Bible words
Customer Reviews:
Most useful book for teaching the bible to new believers!.......2007-10-03
People new to the bible need this book! It is unlike any other commentary or bible handbook. Henrietta Mears points to Jesus in each important bible passage, so His Glory shines forth. Filled with dozens of fresh approaches, interesting facts, and helpful lists to enhance bible learning. Indispensible for guiding folks around their bibles in a short amount of time. Combine with "Reproducible Maps, Charts, Time Lines and Illustrations" for a good hands-on program.
Recommended for homeschoolers!
What's the BIBLE all about review.......2007-09-12
I have ordered at least 35 of these books for students I have taught over the past 2.5 years only because it is one of the best sources of Bible knowledge apart from the Bible itself. The organization of the material and the way it is presented makes it a great lead-in to student Bible study. It does not portent to replace the Bible, simply establish a different way of understanding what the Bible has to offer. I keep several variations of this book in my personal library. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that wants a obtain a clear cut understanding of the Bible before they read the Bible itself.
Invaluable resource!.......2007-01-24
I can't say enough good things about this book! I have purchased it twice for each student in my Bible classes at our congregation. (5/6th grade level). I use it in my preparations to teach and since it is reproducible for that use, find it to be invaluable. I disagree doctrinally with some of the teaching in it (Calvinistic teachings) but for helping others to understand the books of the Bible and its chronology, it is wonderful. There are maps and charts as well as a good dictionary in the back of the book. Get it for your children AND yourself!
Excellent purchase!!!!.......2007-01-11
Great supplemental to the bible in a year reading plans. Additionally, a great alternative to understanding / getting through some of the more difficult chapters of the old testament.
Excellent explanation to the Bible.......2006-07-26
This book is an excellent description of each book in the Bible within about ten pages per book. It explains concepts that would otherwise go unnoticed. I am using this book for my Sunday school teachers, who are excited to be able to get a better understandng of the Bible, a long with some of my 11th and 12th grade youth who want to learn more. This is one book that you will be glad you purchased.
Book Description
Studs Terkel records the voices of America. Men and women from every walk of life talk to him, telling him of their likes and dislikes, fears, problems, and happinesses on the job. Once again, Terkel has created a rich and unique document that is as simple as conversation, but as subtle and heartfelt as the meaning of our lives.... In the first trade paperback edition of his national bestseller, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Studs Terkel presents "the real American experience" (Chicago Daily News)--"a magnificent book . . .. A work of art. To read it is to hear America talking." (Boston Globe).
Customer Reviews:
Book was STOLEN from Chicago Public Library.......2007-01-17
The book was in great condition, with one MAJOR catch: it had a Chicago Public Library bar code on it. I called the library, read them the bar code, and they asked me to please return it, as it had been taken without their permission. Amazon kindly sent me another book, and the stolen edition goes back to the library!
how people see their job tells a lot about them.......2007-01-14
What's engaging about this is the stories. Studs is known for his work getting people to tell their stories. This is one of his contributions to the cultural history of America, told first person, in a way that is timeless and just as relevant today as when it was written. One way to sum it up might be to say this is about what people learned from their work, and about themselves and others in the process. The subject might sound boring, but it's alive and seething with emotions.
On the face of it this is a dated survey of Americans and how they feel about their jobs. While there's some nostalgia in here in the attitudes and jobs of eras past it's also a fun read and one that I would recommend to teens, college students and anyone interested in perspectives about work and how we see ourselves and others.
We all know that most people hate their jobs. Work is seen as something we have to do, and few of us seem to find a job that we like or enjoy. How we feel about work, and what we do for a living, in many ways defines who we are. Seeing people share their their perspectives on this helps us see ourselves in a different light, and taken as a whole this book helps us see a perspective of America's history.
One thing I found interesting in this was the work ethic people found even in jobs they hated. Work ethics seem to be less clearly defined today in a world where ethics have gone astray, and where people tend to care less about what they do and how they do it. Seeing the pride a man took in his work, even if he hated it, tells us something about the character of a person. It's also interesting to see how people who had jobs you would assume they would have hated were content in their roles and saw what they did as a service even when others might look down on them.
The construction worker who wants to make sure his son doesn't have to do what he does was one I enjoyed and remember. An airline stewardess in an era dominated by of bigoted males... the stories this books tells are about relationships and attitudes, and in a way it's still very vital and contemporary.
It's about relationships with work, family, with other people, and with ourselves and or past and future. You'll probably see yourself and people you know in the attitudes within this book. In that way it's timeless, candid and informative, and touching.
an epic of America--.......2006-04-05
This is a fascinating book. Filled with brief, antecdotal stories of people narrowing down their lives to reflections on their jobs, the very souls of many of these people shine through. People good and bad, generous and selfish, greedy, self-absorbed, charitable and open-hearted, Terkel has captured more than just an historical document chronicling the present-past-tense viewpoints of a handful of citizens, but has exposed a universal understanding of differences of opinion throughout the nation. People speak, sometimes angry, often full of regret and a sense of meaninglessness or loss, and they tell the story of human aspiration and dreams. For all the increasingly irrelevent references to issues and phenomenon of the early 1970s, for every comment on times gone by dimming increasingly into the past, there remains a profound relevence for every civilization to come (and no doubt every one that preceded the subjects) regarding the very search for meaning in our lives.
I could rarely recommend a more powerful book dealing almost esclusively with the conscience and so I urge you, when times look either up or down, to browse through this rather hefty tome and think deeply down into yourself and wonder if you are truly pleased with the direction of your life. Herein some of the most brazenly arrogant and humbly neglectful people relate both their triumphs and regrets. Somehow master-interviewer Terkel was allowed access to all of these demons pigeonholed beneath the romanticized personas people tend to put on when attempting to define themselves.
Buy this, read this. Now . . .
MAGNUM OPUS!!.......2006-03-31
Studs Terkel wanted to write a book about working for a living. So he sat down with a grocery store cashier and interviewed her about her job. He didn't ask very many questions; he just turned on a tape recorder and let her pour her heart out. She explained what she did for a living, how and why she came to do it, what she liked and disliked about her job. She talked about the little dramas and boredom that filled her working hours and the toll it took on her private life. When she was finished talking she had created a vivid "snapshot" with words of what it's like to work as a grocery store cashier.
Then Studs interviewed a bartender, a teacher, a pro athlete and dozens of other people from dozens of professions. They each created in their own words unique self-portraits of themselves at work. The book Working is like an art gallery filled with these detailed self-portraits.
And just like strolling through an art gallery looking at paintings will give you a feel for the visions of a variety of artists, reading Working will give you a taste of the flavor of the working lives of it's subjects.
The dreams and experiences of ordinary working folk.......2005-06-05
Labor history students will easily recall Studs Terkel's Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day And How They Feel About What They Do to be a landmark charting the dreams and experiences of ordinary working folk: add a new foreword by Adam Cohen of the New York Times to Terkel's classic and you return an important reference to modern times, with over a hundred interviews with working folk as relevant today as when it was first done.
Book Description
What is the meaning of life? It is a question that has intrigued the great philosophers--and has been hilariously lampooned by Monty Python. Indeed, the whole idea strikes many of us as vaguely pompous and perhaps more than a little absurd. Is there one profound answer, an ultimate purpose behind human existence? Julian Baggini thinks not. Rather, as Baggini argues in What's It All About, meaning can be found in a variety of ways. He succinctly breaks down six answers people commonly suggest when considering what life is all about--helping others, serving humanity, being happy, becoming successful, enjoying each day as if it were your last, and "freeing your mind." By reducing the vague, mysterious question of "meaning" to a series of more specific (if unmysterious) questions about what gives life purpose and value, he shows that the quest for meaning can be personal, empowering, and uplifting. Illustrating his argument with the thoughts of many of the great philosophers and examples drawn from everyday life, Baggini convincingly shows that the search for meaning is personal and within the power of each of us to find.
Customer Reviews:
It Must Be About Something Else.......2007-09-12
This book is a string of pearls. The pearls are the worthy quotes of philosopher's which the author offers page after page. The book itself however, serves as nothing more than the string that binds the pearls together. The pearls are probably worth the book but the book is not worth the pearls, which can easily be harvested elsewhere.
Baggini's major premise that the question concerning the meaning of life can be best answered through a myriad of other questions is a valid and interesting concept that initially piques the reader's interest. Thereafter however, the book is a boring recitation of Sartre at best. If Julian made his living in entertainment he would have to be an impersonator. The book offers nothing new to the conversation of philosophy and fails to live up to its title's promise. If the author has any idea what it's all about, he certainly does not tell anyone before the last page.
What's It All About is replete with negative innuendos toward any opinion other than the author's, unproven assertion ad nauseum, the unsubstantiated approval "beyond criticism" of the author's perspective and an almost immediate anti-religious agenda so apparent that philosophical objectivity flees from the book in the first chapter. Immediately after dismissing the legitimacy of any religious claim, the author audaciously attempts to depict the theistic perspective about life's meaning. This task he attempts with the knowledge of a two-year old and the energy of an octogarian. If the author is a leading proponent of modern philosophy as the dust jacket purports, one is left to wonder about the future of objective, critical and thinking philosophy.
Overall, the book lacks insight, intrigue and interest. It will certainly serve to encourage anyone who is already convinced of Baggini's perspective but it lacks the objectivity and overarching perspective of the worthy predecessors whom he quotes in the hopes of gaining credibility with a modern audience. The book ends with no answer to the question the author himself raised...undoubtedly ensuring a sequel.
Interesting journey.......2007-08-13
If you ever wondered what is the meaning of life, or simply like philosophy, I think you'll like this book. It discusses many views on the subject in a interesting manner (playing the devil's advocate). I like the feeling of "I would never have thought of that!" that the book gives.
Also, even if you don't find the meaning of life, you can find known ways of having a frustrated life (and maybe avoid them).
Yeah, what IS life all about?.......2007-04-21
I recently finished an eye-opening 8-week course at my church's School of Theology entitled "The Meaning of Life." Each class consisted of an animated Sunday afternoon two-hour round-table discussion about the topic. I stumbled across "What's It All About?" after the first session, and found it a helpful addition to the class.
The author focuses on six possible answers to the central question, "What is the meaning of life?" They are: 1) helping others, 2) serving humanity, 3) being happy, 4) becoming successful, 5) enjoying each day as if it were your last, and 6) freeing your mind. I was intrigued with his diagnoses of the motivations people bring to these answers. In addition, his assertion that the answers can (and usually must) be combined with each other made sense. However, Mr. Baggini suggests that the question, "what's the meaning of life?" may be invalid, since there's no way to know if life itself has meaning or not. To that quandary, he responds, "[life] means something to us (p. 166)." Therefore, a better question would be, "How can or does life mean something to us (ibid.)?" Sounds reasonable to me.
Mr. Baggini is not religious, so he doesn't believe in spiritual realities outside of the physical universe. But unlike some others who share his beliefs (or lack thereof), he's not condescending or demeaning towards people of faith. As a Christian, I've seen some serious negativity from non-believers (cough*Sam Harris*cough), and it was refreshing to read a book that didn't try to blast my faith out of the water and make me feel stupid. Indeed, after reading "What's It All About?" I felt like the author respected my spirituality. That challenged me to critically evaluate my own Christian-based motivations, and to also apply grace to other folks with different strokes.
Given my above statement, it's ironic that the book's biggest flaw is Mr. Baggini's missteps concerning some key Biblical passages. For example, he writes that Abraham could've fallen back on the Ten Commandments as an excuse to avoid sacrificing Isaac (p. 49). However, the Ten Commandments weren't in existence until much later in history, so that point is not valid. Also, he takes the position that the resurrected Jesus humiliated the doubting apostle Thomas by having him touch His wounds (p. 45). However, I and other Christians consider Jesus' actions as meeting Thomas where he was, vs. an attempt by Christ to denigrate His skeptical disciple. Christ knew that most who believed in Him would be forced to do so by faith, which in this rationalistic age is a lot tougher to maintain without a Thomasian experience.
Despite the above issues, "What's It All About" is a well-written and thought-provoking discussion of a central human question. Recommended.
The "Big" Questions Asked and Answered, Sort of.......2006-04-28
Julian Baggini begins with a blast, but ends a little lackluster. The first-two chapters examine what if, or why should, the existence/non-existence of God make a difference into determining the meaning of life. The remaining chapters evaluate "other" claims some people often make as to what they find "meaningful" in their lives. The "bottom line" is that living itself, for its own sake, is what truly the only thing that gives life meaning, and that all the other ascriptions are, at best, some of the reasons that build into "life lived."
I'm not the least bit surprised that a modern analytic philosophy like Baggini ultimately finds refuge in the thought of Jean-Paul Sartre, because only existentialism has asked the "big" questions that philosophy is suppose to answer in the past 800 years. There are many excellent works that make Sartre more accessible than his horrid "Being and Nothingness," with "Existentialism and Humanism" topping the list. Robert Solomon is another modern analytic philosopher drawn to the existentialist mode, and his readings always produce excellent fruit.
If one wants a quick discounting of all the traditional answers given to the question, this book fills that need. But for a more evaluative understanding, seek either Sartre or Solomon. Overall, a good read, but the tedium starts to gestate after the fifth chapter.
Worth a read.......2006-03-26
This is an fast paced overview of various philosophies that takes a fun approach to debunking many of the accepted purposes for our existance. If you majored in philosophy, this one will be a bit simplistic, but for the rest of us, it makes for an easy comparison of the various "isms". No, it doesn't really give us the definative answer(s), but great food for thought. Does give short shrift to New Age and Eastern religions due to the author's admitted lack of knowledge in these areas, but still well worth the read.
Customer Reviews:
not worthy.......2007-01-17
I am kind of disappointed at this book. The illustration is dull. The words are plain.
Not very appealing for preschoolers or 1-2 graders, while it is too simple for a savvy reader. I would not recommend it for either gifts or self use.
Excellent first book about space..........2000-03-30
What a GREAT book! I was looking for a book for my 3 1/2 year old that would introduce him to space in a simple way, "What's Out There" is exactly what I wanted. He is so captivated by this book, it is short, simple and easy to understand. It is perfect for him now and will be for the next several years. All of the basics are covered such as the 9 planets and their relation to the sun, how the earth travels around the sun and spins, the moon, gravity, the make-up of all the planets, asteroids etc. Each topic is explained in a fun and easy way for a child to understand and the illustrations are wonderful. Highly recommend as a first book about space!
Books:
- What Paul Meant
- Where God and Science Meet [Three Volumes]: How Brain and Evolutionary Studies Alter Our Understanding of Religion (Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality)
- Your Invisible Power
- 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life
- A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I Am a Missional, Evangelical, Post/Protestant, Liberal/Conservative, Mystical/Poetic, Biblical, Charismatic/Contemplative, Fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Green, Incarnational, Depressed-yet-Hopeful, Emergent, Unfinished CHRISTIAN
- A Guide to the I Ching
- A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
- A Man of Faith: The Spiritual Journey of George W. Bush
- A Passover Haggadah
- Alter Your Life
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