Coming to Peace With Science: Bridging the Worlds Between Faith and Biology

Average customer rating:

Disappointing Lack of Rigor

Helps Bridge the Gap

Once again ignoring the third choice

never recevied book

Definitely worth the read.

Coming to Peace With Science: Bridging the Worlds Between Faith and Biology
Darrel R. Falk
Manufacturer: InterVarsity Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief

God's Universe

Evolution and Christian Faith: Reflections of an Evolutionary Biologist

Finding Darwin's God: A Scientist's Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution (P.S.)

Perspectives on an Evolving Creation

ASIN: 0830827420

Book Description

Is a thoroughly Christian and biblically informed doctrine of creation compatible with widely held conclusions of modern science, especially biology?For Darrel R. Falk, this is not just an abstract question but one with which he has personally wrestled. A professor of biology, Falk brings together his biblically based understanding of creation and the most current research in biology. The result of his efforts to acknowledge the validity of science and the authority of Scripture is a new paradigm for relating the claims of science to the truths of Christianity. Written with the undergraduate student in mind, this book nonetheless will help anyone who is looking for a place to stand in the creation-evolution debate, fearful that they'll have to choose between intellectual integrity and the faith of the church. Calling for charitable discussions within the church, Falk shows how an original and ongoing interaction of God with creation is fully reconcilable with the kinds of development identified by current biological science.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing Lack of Rigor.......2007-09-17

This book is highly praised in Francis Collins' foreword, and I found Collins' own book The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief to be a wonderful and inspiring book. But "Coming to Peace with Science" was a big disappointment for me. I suspect it would be entertaining reading for a Dawkins fan because it fills most of its pages with material debunking any literal view of the Bible. I say "the Bible" rather than just "Genesis" because literal interpretations of other portions of scripture are also critiqued, such as Revelations' "four corners of the earth."

For the believer who is indeed seeking to make some intellectual peace with the massive evidence against overly literal readings of the bible regarding origins and certain natural phenomena, Falk doesn't provide much of value. Believers already know scripture, and those that pick up this book are likely looking for something more rigorous than quotes from scripture and appeals to faith. Collins' book, in contrast, comes from the perspective of a believer and a profound respect for scripture, but also shows the way toward consonance between faith and science from a scientific, rather than solely spiritual perspective.

Helps Bridge the Gap.......2007-05-14

Like Darrel Falk, I am an evangelical Christian who is firmly convinced that God used evolution as his plan for creation. It is most helpful to have an author with his credentials discuss this subject headon in a straightforward manner. This book should be on the must read list for people who are honestly searching for the answer to the role of science and faith in their lives.

Once again ignoring the third choice.......2007-04-25

While I applaud the efforts of the author to remain true to Christian faith and also to science, the third and best path has once again been ignored. Old-Earth creationism, as presented by people like Dr. Hugh Ross, who has both a doctorate in physics and astronomy, presents the best method of understanding the literal meaning of Genesis Chapter one. Before any young-earthers blow their stacks, they should REALLY undesrstand, in full, what Dr. Ross teaches and how his understanding of the Hebrew in Genesis is in full agreement with other parts of the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. It is also in better agreement with both Christian and Jewish scholars throughout history. And Dr. Ross has also shown from the myriad of scientific evidence available, why evolution, as taught in the public schools, is impossible. A better book to read is "Creation and Time" by Dr. Hugh Ross, whose organization is called "Reasons to Believe". And Dr. Ross has people with doctorates in Biology on his staff.

never recevied book.......2007-03-27

I don't know how this book is. Amazon shipped to the wrong address and the never reimbursed me after they sent me an email that stated they would.

Definitely worth the read........2007-01-12

Anyone who believes the earth is only 6000 years old should be reading this book. Anyone who believes science and Scripture (not religion) do not relate, should be reading this book. Falk does a great job of pointing out where Scripture and science walk hand in hand. As it should, it has too, for the Bible is the Revealed Word and Will of God. All of sciences findings are confined to it, and not vise versa. I cannot say I agree with all of his study tools, the use of the NIV being one of them. However as I read I had all my Bible reference tools next to me and there still was not one contradiction. A pure joyful and humble experience.

The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth

Average customer rating:

Great Read -- But pay attention
A Passion for Life on Earth
" a title" ! What do you mean? explain
Not the Fittest
The creation: An Appeal to Save LIfe on Earth

The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth
Edward O. Wilson
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0393062171

Book Description

In this daring work, Edward O. Wilson proposes an alliance between science and religion to save Earth's vanishing biodiversity.

Dear Pastor:
We have not met, yet I feel I know you well enough to call you friend. First of all, we grew up in the same faith. Although I no longer belong to that faith, I am confident that if we met and spoke privately of our deepest beliefs, it would be in a spirit of mutual respect and goodwill. I write to you now for your counsel and help. Let us see if we can, and you are willing, to meet on the near side of metaphysics in order to deal with the real world we share. I suggest that we set aside our differences in order to save the Creation. The defense of living Nature is a universal value. It doesn't rise from nor does it promote any religious or ideological dogma. Rather, it serves without discrimination the interests of all humanity.

Pastor, we need your help. The Creation—living Nature—is in deep trouble.

The Creation is E. O. Wilson's most important work since the publications of Sociobiology and Biophilia. Like Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, it is a book about the fate of the earth and the survival of our planet. Yet while Carson was specifically concerned with insecticides and the ecological destruction of our natural resources, Wilson, the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner, attempts his new social revolution by bridging the seemingly irreconcilable worlds of fundamentalism and science. Like Carson, Wilson passionately concerned about the state of the world, draws on his own personal experiences and expertise as an entomologist, and prophesies that half the species of plants and animals on Earth could either have gone or at least are fated for early extinction by the end of our present century.

Astonishingly, The Creation is not a bitter, predictable rant against fundamentalist Christians or deniers of Darwin. Rather, Wilson, a leading "secular humanist," draws upon his own rich background as a boy in Alabama who "took the waters," and seeks not to condemn this new generations of Christians but to address them on their own terms. Conceiving the book as an extended letter to a southern Baptist minister, Wilson, in stirring language that can evoke Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail," tells this everyman minister how, in fact, the world really came to be. He pleads with these men of the cloth to understand the cataclysmic damage that is destroying our planet and asks for their help in preventing the destruction of our Earth before it is too late. Never a pessimist, Wilson avers that there are solutions that may yet save the planet, and believes that the vision that he presents in The Creation is one that both scientists and pastors can accept, and work on together in spite of their fundamental ideological differences. 25 line drawings.

Customer Reviews:

Great Read -- But pay attention.......2007-10-05

It took me a couple of weeks to read this book, because the biology in it requires you to really pay attention. But Wilson's chapter on extinctions is scary and saddening.

A Passion for Life on Earth.......2007-09-13

It seems that Edward O. Wilson's goal in this book as an open letter to a southern Baptist minister was a persuasion to an enthusiasm in the enjoyment of the diversity of life, to use this to protect "The Creation" which is the biological riches that are still here, and indirectly to share his belief in evolution. Other than the last goal I felt his eloquent writing and passion was quite persuasive. He made me feel a bit guilty for not continuiing on as a biology teacher.

Wilson does mention evolution in the book but his mentioning is not part of an overall arguement in defense of it. I imagine some people that either do not believe in evolution or do and would like it well defended were disappointed in this aspect of the book. I did not feel that it was the main point, despite the title and it's near play on creationism, and I think Wilson's writing and avidity for the diversity of life are the substance of this book.

There are plenty of biological gems illuminated in "The Creation" and I think anyone would be interested and fascinated by such information as the existence of over 700 species of bacteria in the average person's mouth or details of the underground biosphere that could continue existing even with a complete scorching of the earth's surface. Wilson's has learned much about the life of the earth and this small book is a distillation of his learning and thoughts from a life of study. I would recommend it to anyone.

" a title" ! What do you mean? explain.......2007-08-08

Very detail analysis of issues. I hope our leaders are required to read such material

Not the Fittest.......2007-06-09

The book didn't quite live up to its billing. I'd expected something that was not at all incendiary or overtly driven by scientific (evolution theory dogmatic) beliefs. Instead, the book came across much more as smelling of sarcasm with tones of "surely everyone knows this stuff". This is certainly scientific apologetics, without apology to its supposed intended audience. Staunch marcoevolutionists will smirk at the veiled selfaggrandizement. Creationists will find nothing new in the "others'" view. Those with feet in both camps still await the Rosetta Stone that bridges the gulf.

The creation: An Appeal to Save LIfe on Earth.......2007-05-14

The book is written as an "impassioned letter to a Southern Babtist Pastor". I'm not sure that this letter would convince a "Southern Babtist Pastor" to help in efforts to save the bioshpere. He does have good arguments that would convince persons in the scientific community that we must save the biodiverity of the earth.

E. O. Wilson is a gifted author and keeps it interesting.

Average customer rating:

She's Seen Mermaids and Fairies & Lillith!!
Exploring the Levels of Creation
Sylvia ...i love her
perfect as always
Excellent Book /Great Insight

Exploring the Levels of Creation
Sylvia Browne
Manufacturer: Hay House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1401908918
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Book Description

Have you ever wondered about life and Creation? Is there life after death? Why do we have to go through these trials and tribulations? Why do we have thoughts and dreams that run from the sublime to those that are nightmarish and bizarre? Why do goodness and evil go hand in hand in life … or do they?

The answers to these questions and more are brought to light by author and spiritual teacher Sylvia Browne. She once again shares her psychic gifts and years of research in order to enlighten us and give us more insights into God and the realities of life.

This time she tackles the structure of Creation by showing us that there is purpose and order in our sometimes seemingly chaotic world and existence. She outlines the structural levels of Creation of not only life as we know it; but the reality of the afterlife and the heretofore-unexplored structure of the Lower Levels of Creation. From the beautiful and perfect life of the Other Side to the wondrous, weird, and strange Lower Levels, to the everyday intricacies of life on this planet, Sylvia takes us on another journey of exploration and truth.

Customer Reviews:

She's Seen Mermaids and Fairies & Lillith!!.......2007-05-08

In this book but only briefly, Sylvia writes that she has seen Mermaids and Fairies, and how they are entirely BEAUTIFUL creatures.

I just wanted to share this, even though it is just a few lines in the entire book. The rest is very interesting of course. I'm just completely happy Sylvia wrote about how she has seen these Heavnly beings.

Exploring the Levels of Creation.......2007-03-28

One of Sylvias best!!!
I cant even begin to tell you what it did for me.
Thank You Sylvia!

Sylvia ...i love her.......2007-03-09

What can i say that everyone already knows...She lifts your spirit. Even if some of you don't want to believe...it's ok...i do and that is all that counts. She is a wonderful writer and i love her.

perfect as always.......2007-03-09

I have never read a Sylvia Browne book that I have not loved and felt great truth within the pages, and this book is just the same. It is a bit like her creation trio of books but this one has ALOT of new information in it. Really you cannot compare the two, (this book and her 3 book creation series) because they each have their own wisdom and truths in them. I loved this book and as Sylvia says, if what some of what she says does not feel right to you, then leave it. She is not attempting to make us all believe that everything she says and believes is the only way. I, however, usually agree with her truths. WONDERFUL BOOK BY A WONDERFUL BLESSING OF A WOMAN.!

Excellent Book /Great Insight.......2007-03-09

I was particularly fascinated by the information regarding the "Lower Levels" of creation. Actually, it made me want to go there. Not for a long time or anything, just long enough to look around and get the hell out. The 7 stages of human life along with the 7 levels of life on the other side was really informative as well. I (for the first time in 37 years) realized what I was doing here on earth and what my purpose was from this one book. I guess that is really important huh? It is also a great inspirational book and reminded me of what it means to live here on the earth and that all is well and that I'll be returning home one day so not to worry. That's pretty good to get all that from the pages of a book. I love Sylvia Browne. :o)

Sword of Truth, Boxed Set III, Books 7-9: The Pillars of Creation, Naked Empire, Chainfire (Sword Of Truth)

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Sword of Truth, Boxed Set III
sword of truth set 3
The Sword of truth Series by Terry Goodkind
Great reading
Great Job

Sword of Truth, Boxed Set III, Books 7-9: The Pillars of Creation, Naked Empire, Chainfire (Sword Of Truth)
Terry Goodkind
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0765356856

Book Description

This Mass Market Boxed Set, is the Third Boxed Set of The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind:

The Box Set includes:
Pillars of Creation, 0-765-34074-7
Naked Empire, 0-765-34430-7
Chainfire, 0-765-34431-9

Book 7: Pillars of Creation

Sequel to the New York Times bestselling Faith of the Fallen

New York Times bestselling author Terry Goodkind has created his most lavish adventure yet. Tormented her entire life by inhuman voices, a young woman named Lauren seeks to end her intolerable agony. She at last discovers a way to silence the voices. For everyone else, the torment is about to begin.

With winter descending and the paralyzing dread of an army of annihilation occupying their homeland, Richard Rahl and his wife Kahlan must venture deep into a strange and desolate land. Their quest turns to terror when they find themselves the helpless prey of a tireless hunter.

Meanwhile, Lauren finds herself drawn into the center of a struggle for conquest and revenge. Worse yet, she finds her will seized by forces more abhorrent than anything she ever envisioned. Only then does she come to realize that the voices were real.

Staggered by loss and increasingly isolated, Richard and Kahlan must stop the relentless, unearthly threat which has come out of the darkest night of the human soul. To do so, Richard will be called upon to face the demons stalking among the Pillars of Creation.

Discover breathtaking adventure and true nobility of spirit. Find out why millions of readers the world over have elevated Terry Goodkind to the ranks of legend.

Book 8: Naked Empire
Beginning with Wizard's First Rule and continuing with six subsequent fantasy masterpieces, Terry Goodkind has thrilled and awed millions of readers worldwide. Now Goodkind returns with a broad-canvas adventure of epic intrigue, violent conflict, and terrifying peril for the beautiful Kahlan Amnell and her husband, the heroic Richard Rahl, the Sword of Truth.

Richard Rahl has been poisoned. Saving an empire from annihilation is the price of the antidote. With the shadow of death looming near, the empire crumbling before the invading hordes, and time running out, Richard is offered not only his own life but the salvation of a people, in exchange for delivering his wife, Kahlan, into bondage to the enemy.

Book 9: Chainfire
With Wizard's First Rule and seven subsequent masterpieces, Terry Goodkind has thrilled readers worldwide with the unique sweep of his storytelling. Now Goodkind returns with a new novel of Richard and Kahlan, the beginning of a sequence of three novels that will bring their epic story to its culmination.

After being gravely injured in battle, Richard awakes to discover Kahlan missing. To his disbelief, no one remembers the woman he is frantically trying to find. Worse, no one believes that she really exists, or that he was ever married. Alone as never before, he must find the woman he loves more than life itself....if she is even still alive. If she was ever even real.

Customer Reviews:

Sword of Truth, Boxed Set III.......2007-08-06

Terry Goodkind is one of the Kings of Fantasy and has the amazing ability to bring the reader right into the story with very few if any boring "set-ups." The adventure always rolls right along and gives the reader the never-ending desire to turn the page, read another chapter, oh heck, finish the book, it's not that late. Goodkind is an author those of you who love fantasy will read over and over and over again.

sword of truth set 3.......2007-05-07

Goodman has developed a complex vile group of villians in the Order and Jaagang. Reminds a reader of the current world events.

The Sword of truth Series by Terry Goodkind.......2007-04-12

Sorry, but I'm nowhere near reading ( Books 7-9)yet; I'm on book number 2( just started it) and with that said I am extremely happy I started reading this series of 12 books and I got the book before the series started. Terry Goodkind books just the kind books there should be more of, I'm looking forward to finding more of his work in the future. P.S. I bought 1 -9 and have put in an order for # 10 and the book that lead to the series to be deliver first of June. Thank you help me re-start my love for reading once more, by keep the cost down.

Great reading.......2007-03-21

I have read all but one of Terry Goodkinds sequels. I have found his books to be entertaining and they grip you with their tales. I hope these books get turned into movie sequels or tv sequels.

Great Job.......2007-01-10

I am very happy with the product and the person(s) I bought this from. It came very quickly as promised and I had no problems with it and I would do business with them again.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914

Average customer rating:

Another Excellent Historical Piece by Mccullough
The Path Between the SeasVery interesting
Panama Visitor
The building of the Panama Canal
Details beyond belief

The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914
David McCullough
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0671244094

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On December 31, 1999, after nearly a century of rule, the United States officially ceded ownership of the Panama Canal to the nation of Panama. That nation did not exist when, in the mid-19th century, Europeans first began to explore the possibilities of creating a link between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the narrow but mountainous isthmus; Panama was then a remote and overlooked part of Colombia.

All that changed, writes David McCullough in his magisterial history of the Canal, in 1848, when prospectors struck gold in California. A wave of fortune seekers descended on Panama from Europe and the eastern United States, seeking quick passage on California-bound ships in the Pacific, and the Panama Railroad, built to serve that traffic, was soon the highest-priced stock listed on the New York Exchange. To build a 51-mile-long ship canal to replace that railroad seemed an easy matter to some investors. But, as McCullough notes, the construction project came to involve the efforts of thousands of workers from many nations over four decades; eventually those workers, laboring in oppressive heat in a vast malarial swamp, removed enough soil and rock to build a pyramid a mile high. In the early years, they toiled under the direction of French entrepreneur Ferdinand de Lesseps, who went bankrupt while pursuing his dream of extending France's empire in the Americas. The United States then entered the picture, with President Theodore Roosevelt orchestrating the purchase of the canal--but not before helping foment a revolution that removed Panama from Colombian rule and placed it squarely in the American camp.

The story of the Panama Canal is complex, full of heroes, villains, and victims. McCullough's long, richly detailed, and eminently literate book pays homage to an immense undertaking. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

The Path Between the Seas tells the story of the men and women who fought against all odds to fulfill the 400-year-old dream of constructing an aquatic passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It is a story of astonishing engineering feats, tremendous medical accomplishments, political power plays, heroic successes, and tragic failures. Applying his remarkable gift for writing lucid, lively exposition, McCullough weaves the many strands of the momentous event into a comprehensive and captivating tale.

Winner of the National Book Award for history, the Francis Parkman Prize, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award, and the Cornelius Ryan Award (for the best book of the year on international affairs), The Path Between the Seas is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, the history of technology, international intrigue, and human drama.

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From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Truman, here is the national bestselling epic chronicle of the creation of the Panama Canal. In The Path Between the Seas, acclaimed historian David McCullough delivers a first-rate drama of the sweeping human undertaking that led to the creation of this grand enterprise. The Path Between the Seas tells the story of the men and women who fought against all odds to fulfill the 400-year-old dream of constructing an aquatic passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It is a story of astonishing engineering feats, tremendous medical accomplishments, political power plays, heroic successes, and tragic failures. Applying his remarkable gift for writing lucid, lively exposition, McCullough weaves the many strands of the momentous event into a comprehensive and captivating tale. Winner of the National Book Award for history, the Francis Parkman Prize, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award, and the Cornelius Ryan Award (for the best book of the year on international affairs), The Path Between the Seas is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, the history of technology, international intrigue, and human drama.

Customer Reviews:

Another Excellent Historical Piece by Mccullough.......2007-10-03

Very well researched. Good narrative and excellent voice on the audio version. Not a boring moment combined with excellent history. Perfect audiobook, especially for long trips.

The Path Between the SeasVery interesting .......2007-10-01

Very interesting and detailed history. Since I plan on visiting the Panama Canal soon, this book has greatly enlightened me as to all the engineering, building and political problems that went into and preceeded it's construction. I expect it will increase my enjoyment of the canal.

Panama Visitor.......2007-09-07

I am getting ready for my second Panama Canal Cruise. I wanted to read this this book before my first Panama Cruise but didn't get to it. This is a hard read, as there are so many people to keep track of, especially during the French attempt to dig a canal. This is a very interesting part of U S and World History as told in vivid detail by David McCollugh.

The building of the Panama Canal.......2007-07-19

David McCullough's book of the history of the Panama Canal is a well written and researched document on all aspects of the building of the canal, beginning with the French and completed by the United States. One gets a detailed understanding of the political, economic, and social conditions of France and the United States during these years and the people responsible for this engineering feat. McCullough vividly describes the jungles of Panama and the diseases and hardships endured by the workers. He gives great detail on the design and methods used to build the canal. This book offers history at its best.

Details beyond belief.......2007-07-08

As another reviewer wrote, if you're looking for a book to keep you glued to the edge of your seat, this is not like the one for you. ON the other hand, if you really want to learn all the details and power plays that went into this adventure this is the book, although it does drag a bit at times. The reader will walk away with a working knowledge of this period of history and the major players, not to mention many of the minor ones.

iText in Action: Creating and Manipulating PDF

Average customer rating:

Good book
Excellent book on a great open source software project...
iText saved me!

iText in Action: Creating and Manipulating PDF
Bruno Lowagie
Manufacturer: Manning Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Word Processing | Microsoft | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1932394796

Book Description

Imagine a publisher who wants to "stamp" his ebooks on the fly with the name of the buyer (to discourage sharing). Such a publisher would (and we know one who does) use iText for the task. Developers looking to enhance web- and other applications with dynamic PDF document generation and/or manipulation will find this book unique in content and readability. Based on ongoing examples that encourage learning "in action," they will finally understand PDF and learn how to build applications that produce professional, high-quality PDF documents. While the basic functionality of iText is easy to acquire, this book lowers the learning curve for more advanced functionality. It explains how to use iText to create/manipulate PDF documents on-the-fly in one or more of the following situations:

Due to time or size, the PDF documents can't be produced manually

The content of the document must be calculated or based on user input.

The content needs to be customized or personalized.

The PDF content needs to be served in a web environment.

Documents are to be created in "batch process" mode.

All the examples are written in Java, but they can be easily adapted to .NET by developers using one of the .NET ports: iTextSharp (C#) or iText.NET (#J). While iText is a free Java library and the examples are written from the point of view of the Java developer, nine out of ten examples can be run by .NET developers with only minimal changes.

Customer Reviews:

Good book.......2007-05-28

This is nice book, though most of the contents can be found online (I believe it is linked from the author's website). I have created some complex PDF files using iText following the examples on the book and online tutorials. This is the book from iText creator, surely it worth a 5 starts.

Excellent book on a great open source software project..........2007-04-08

I've always figured that there should be some way to create PDF files without the manual effort of any 3rd party software client. Now I find out there is a way, and it's rather exciting... iText In Action by Bruno Lowagie covers the iText open source software project. It's a very well done reference manual that can also serve as a tutorial for a decent Java developer.

Contents:
Part 1 - Introduction: iText - when and why; PDF engine jump-start; PDF - why and when
Part 2 - Basic Building Blocks: Composing text elements; Inserting images; Constructing tables; Constructing columns
Part 3 - PDF Text and Graphics: Choosing the right font; Using fonts; Constructing and painting paths; Adding color and text; Drawing to Java Graphics2D
Part 4 - Interactive PDF: Browsing a PDF document; Automating PDF creation; Creating annotations and fields; Filling and signing AcroForms; iText in web applications; Under the hood
Appendixes: Class diagrams; Creating barcodes; Open parameters; Signing a PDF with a smart card; Dealing with exceptions; Pdf/X, Pdf/A, and tagged PDF; Resources; index

Lowagie starts off with a brief background of how iText came into being, along with a scenario of where the ability to programmatically create PDF files could dramatically change the way a college would run a department. Then after a short Hello World example that involves creating a simple document, he delves into all the different features and capabilities. The book at this point starts to change from tutorial to reference manual, but it's done in such a way that you could just keep working through the material in tutorial fashion with little effort (and good results). The example code in all the chapters are extensively annotated and explained, so you're not left to your own devices to try and figure out what the logic is trying to accomplish. In fact, I would say that the code annotation and commentary is some of the best I've seen in a book of this type. Great job...

The main target audience for this book is the Java developer, as the iText project is Java-based. There are .NET ports for J# and C#, and knowing how close those languages are to Java, this book should work pretty well for those development efforts with a little bit of thought and modification. Other languages should be able to use the iText toolkit if they have some way to call Java code modules from within their programs. As a Notes/Domino developer, I should be able to utilize all of this package in any Java agents I write, and the LS2J feature of LotusScript might also work well. After reading this book, I know I have some things I need to try...

If you have any sort of need involving the creation of PDF files from within your own system, iText is a great alternative to explore. And if that seems to be the way to go, I don't know of any better book to get than this one...

iText saved me!.......2006-12-16

In January 2006 I was assigned to build a system that would create lots of PDF reports, typically with hundreds of pages of tables, and with tables nested in other tables. I started with an an open-source tool called BIRT that is well-designed and powerful, but it didn't quite give me sufficient low-level control over some aspects of PDF creation. When I realized that BIRT wasn't going to work for me, I was behind schedule and in trouble. Then I discovered iText. (BIRT actually is built using iText jar files.) I found that iText gave me exactly what I needed: an easy-to-use yet powerful Java API for creating PDF files. The remainder of the project, using iText, went smoothly, and my boss was very happy with the results. But I sure wish that I'd had Bruno Lowagie's "iText in Action" book at the time! That would have shaved a few weeks off of the project and would have saved me from learning some things painfully, by trial and error. As the original developer of iText, Bruno Lowagie is uniquely qualified to write this book. He obviously put a huge amount of effort into it, reflecting his longstanding commitment to iText. He made every effort to explain things as clearly as possible, and to document the pitfalls as well as the attractive features. It is evidently a labor of love for him. The book is written to the high editorial standards of other Manning books, with clear organization, good typography and layout, and so on. I highly recommended iText itself, and also this book, to anyone who is using Java to work with PDF files.

Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos

Average customer rating:

illustrating and entretaining
Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos
Great Introduction for the layman
It's A Possibility
Science Fiction

Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos
Michio Kaku
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cosmology | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Cosmology | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1400033721
Release Date: 2006-02-14

Book Description

In this thrilling journey into the mysteries of our cosmos, bestselling author Michio Kaku takes us on a dizzying ride to explore black holes and time machines, multidimensional space and, most tantalizing of all, the possibility that parallel universes may lay alongside our own.

Kaku skillfully guides us through the latest innovations in string theory and its latest iteration, M-theory, which posits that our universe may be just one in an endless multiverse, a singular bubble floating in a sea of infinite bubble universes. If M-theory is proven correct, we may perhaps finally find answer to the question, “What happened before the big bang?” This is an exciting and unforgettable introduction into the new cutting-edge theories of physics and cosmology from one of the pre-eminent voices in the field.

Customer Reviews:

illustrating and entretaining.......2007-08-23

The book gives a understandable review for the curious layman of the exciting ideas in cosmology and correlated areas , like string theory
it is spiced with personal details about the scientist involved

All over it is a exciting expirience and a highly recomended book

Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos.......2007-08-16

This book is actually to be a Christmas gift, so I haven't opened it. It arrived very quickly and in good condition. Thank you for expediting it.

Great Introduction for the layman.......2007-08-12

I truly enjoyed this book. It covers very profound subjects in a manner that the average layman can understand. With this book, I had to read it in small bites. Each page was packed to thought provoking ideas. After reading a little, I wanted to just sit, think and reflect. It is good book to read with others. The ideas need to be discussed to be absorbed.

I enjoyed the cosmology, the string theory, M-theory, and the standard model. I had heard about them but I never knew much about them. The author lets you know which areas are hotly debated in the science world. Most books about this subject have too much math for me to work through.

The ending was a little too much.

It's A Possibility.......2007-08-02

Michio Kaku has created a scenario of possibilities in the evolution of this world. Kaku explores the potentials of parallel worlds and realities. In quantum physics anything is possible. Kudos for Kaku. Bettye Johnson, award-winning author, Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls.

Science Fiction.......2007-07-11

Kaku has an agreeable, engaging writing style that makes some of the more challenging physics and mathematics accessbile to the layman. Where I felt my interest waning, however, was in the section where he discusses at considerable length various exit strategies from the universe trillions of years from now when it will come to an end. A page (at most) would have sufficed to cover this scenario; instead he went on and on about the various possibilities for intelligent beings to escape from our universe into parallel worlds. The death of our universe is too distant an event for us to be expending too much brain power now on devising contingency plans.

Average customer rating:

Great!
Excellent Curriculum
Makes Scientists of Science-Haters!
I am a (...)home schooler and I love this book.
Top quality science text book.

Exploring Creation With General Science
Jay L. Wile
Manufacturer: Veritas Pr Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Science & Technology | Teens | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1932012060

Customer Reviews:

Great!.......2007-09-29

I took this class, and i found this book to be very good. I learned very much in various ways to disprove the HYPOTHOSIS of evolution, and now, for once, I have a very clear idea of what science exactly is. I have also taken Physical Science, and that was very good too.Exploring Creation With Physical Science I would definitely suggest this book to any Christian Homeschooler, but I also have a Christian friend who is in public school but is taking this course at home...

she is enjoying it very much!

Excellent Curriculum.......2007-03-11

This is my first year back to homeschooling and as my twins are in sixth grade and stronger in math/science than I am, I was nervous about keeping up with them and challenging them. This textbook was perfect for us! It is written TO the student and presents both evolutionist and creationist views. (The author does not fail to point out that all textbooks are biased in one way or another and admits that he believes, (as we do) that the case for creation is stronger) I have learned so much this year--the excitement is contagious. (I was only taught evolution in my science schooling) I have even facilitated the labs for our co-op and feel totally comfortable. As I mentioned, the book and labs are written TO the student. All I have to do is encourage them to have fun learning! We're looking forward to moving on to the Physical Science next year.

Makes Scientists of Science-Haters!.......2006-01-21

I do not have praise enough for Jay Wile's Science books. This book sets the stage for all the further Apologia courses with an introduction to science history, the Scientific Method, the correct process of scientific experiments, an analyzation of scientific dating processes, and the overall benefits of science via introduction to various branches.

It's difficult to articulate how skillfully Wile unveils a student's OWN recognition of truth...not the student's OWN TRUTH, but his recognition of THE truth through carefully sequenced experiments or revelation of information. Wile guides through each module with a completely understandable dialogue and completely achievable experiments uncommon to most textbooks.

When a student can read with understanding, perform experiments with accuracy and comprehension, discern intended outcomes through their own deductive reasoning, they are going to remember it! When a student succeeds, they are more likely to ENJOY it!!

This overview course whets the appetite for more study and more than adequately prepares the student to approach the successive books with mastery of the basic process of scientific study.

ONE minor warning: The first chapter is initially boring and somewhat intimidating. It gives a quick-shot overview of the history of science and covers a lot of ground and a lot of information in short order. We feared the whole of the book would be the same. We eventually discovered some very necessary information emerging throughout the module...primarily an explanation of how the church gradually became considered an enemy of science and how essential the church was in its development. I just mention this as a caution not to give up with the first module!!

I am a (...)home schooler and I love this book........2005-12-20

At first I wasn't too interested in science. I never even knew that there was another science side. I thought that there was only Evolution. At first I thought "eh" with science, but I was actually lovin' it when Mom bought this book for me! If a parent or kid is reading this, I recommend buying it: It is very good and it will give you a choice: Believe Uniformitarians, or Catastrophists. Those two words you will learn about when you buy this book.

Top quality science text book........2004-06-30

Very complete and organized. Solid foundation of general science from a Christian perspective, without being sappy. Goes into The progress of Science,Scientific Inquiry, How to Analyze and Interpret Experiments, Applied Science, History of Life: Archaeology,Geology, and Paleontolegy. The Fossil Record, Uniformitarianism and Catastrophism, What is Life? The Human Body-Digestive System,Resiratory and Circulatory Systems,Lymphatic,Endocrine, and Urinary Systems, Nervouse Sytems. Energy and Life. All Experiments can be done in the home using house hold items, and have organized supply lists for each Module.
A+++++ Curriculum.

Average customer rating:

Three Ways to Make Use of This Book
Literal Creationists- Don't Read This Book!!!
fulfills a serious need and fulfills it well
A Handy Guide To Rebutting Creationist Objections To Valid Mainstream Science
The Ultimate Puchline to Creationist Jokes

The Counter-Creationism Handbook
Mark Isaak
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Science & Religion | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0520249267

Book Description

Those opposed to the teaching of evolution often make well-rehearsed claims about the science that sound powerful and convincing. And many people who support the teaching of evolution--students, teachers, parents, administrators--do not have the background to respond. They know that scientists have thoroughly dismantled these arguments, but they don't have a handy way of responding to these attacks. The Counter-Creationism Handbook is a one-stop resource for addressing over 400 of the most prevalent claims made by creationists. Each claim is followed by a succinct and scientifically valid rebuttal, and the book includes print and on-line resources for further reading and information.
The Counter-Creationism Handbook:
Covers claims made about the disciplines of philosophy, biology, paleontology, geology, astronomy, physics and mathematics, history, and more.
Addresses the claims of Biblical creationism, intelligent design creationism, and some creationism based on non-Christian religions.
Includes an introduction on how to address creationists in different venues, how to deal with novel claims, and why accurate science is important.
Is organized thematically, with extensive cross-referencing.

Customer Reviews:

Three Ways to Make Use of This Book.......2007-10-05

1. Keep it close to your front door in case missionaries of any religious denomination come calling. Don't try to read it to them; trade it with them for any materials they bring, on the mutual promise to read the trades.

2. Carry it with you on all airplane flights longer than one hour in case you find yourself sitting next to a loquacious creationist. Don't engage in argument; just read the book conspicuously, chuckle often, and hope the creationist is tempted to read over your shoulder.

3. Bring it to your local school board meeting, having familiarized yourself with the index. Have a scissors ready to snip out pertinent responses to any creationist assertions. Fold the snippet into a paper airplane and fling it ostentatiously at the misguided creationist.

Honestly, I couldn't imagine any other use for the book, since there's no chance whatsoever that any earnest creationist will ever look at it. Unfortunate but true. And if your own personal social experience includes face-time with creationists, don't depend on facts that you really don't have or on science that you really don't know. Be polite and sincere and genuine. The effect will be unsettling.

Literal Creationists- Don't Read This Book!!!.......2007-10-03

Where's this book been all my life?

If only I'd had this book around when I taught evolutionary biology for three years in a school where mandatory intelligent design classes were taught. My experience there would have been so different. This is a book that needed to come out twenty years ago. It is simply amazing. Isaak goes through *every single argument* that the Literal Creationists make, and refutes them all. While some of his points on specific scripture references are off, most of his points on scripture are right to the crux of the argument. He is to be congratulated in recognizing that, to convince the Literal Creationist, you need science and a deep look into theology and the Bible. The index in the front provides for a quick leaf-through whenever you are presented with that "out-there" argument. Again and again I recognized wacky arguments that I had heard from my previous school's administration, that I had no response to because one couldn't be prepared against every strange idea that might pop into someone's head. (Like the sun is powered by gravitational collapse, and not by nuclear fusion. Yes, that was actually taught to students by the school administration.) Here, in this book, there are the convincing refutations.

I was once a Literal Creationist, and have since seen the light of evolution. I have studied it intensely, along with it's import on theology. And still I learned a good deal from this book. Had I read this book when I was still walking in darkness, it would have been far more than enough to convince me. I can't imagine how a Literal Creationist could leave this book, having read it cover to cover, and still come away convinced of a literal interpretation of Genesis and an instant intelligently designed creation. Even if they come into the book with a closed mind, the sheer weight of argument and evidence is a veritable flood that shall wipe the world clean of it's iniquity.

fulfills a serious need and fulfills it well.......2007-08-29

"What good is half an eye?" "Why are there still monkeys?" "Where are the transitional fossils?" You name it, this book answers it.

The Creationist claims are conveniently categorized by fields of interest, such as theology, biology, and paleontology. Some of the book is too technical for me, but most of it I find very interesting and easy to understand. Even if you find some of the material difficult to understand, you can later look it up in the handy index.

The author of this book is one of the editors of the highly-respected talkorigins Website. He knows his stuff, too. The bibliography runs from page 269 to 319.

Most, if not all, of the information in this book is also available on the talkorigins Website. But don't try to read it all off the screen, you'll hurt your eyes. Don't try to print it all out, either, you'll hurt your printer. Rather, buy this book.

A Handy Guide To Rebutting Creationist Objections To Valid Mainstream Science.......2007-08-04

While I believe that there are other, better books currently available which delve into the legal and philosophical issues presented by Intelligent Design and other flavors of creationism (e. g. books written by Scott, Forrest, Kitcher and Pennock), Mark Isaak has created a useful "handy-dandy" reference guide which offers a succinct rejoinder to every absurd creationist claim, covering a wide spectrum of subjects from philosophy to astronomy, and of course, biology. As such it is an invaluable guide for anyone seeking not only to rebut creationist claims, but equally important, to understand the philosophical and religious rationale behind these claims. However, I am quite skeptical that mere refutation of absurd creationist claims like "Evolution is just a theory" or "there are dinosaur and human footprints side by side in some Texas river bank" may be succinct to persuade most creationists, who truly are fundamentalist religious zealots, whether they are Young Earth Creationists or IDiots (Intelligent Design Advocates). And yet I recognize that Isaak's clear, concise, well-written tome is an invaluable resource too for educators and probably deserves to belong on the bookshelves of school administrators and school district superintendents (or chancellors) around the country.

The Ultimate Puchline to Creationist Jokes.......2007-07-15

There's an old joke about a new visitor to a neighborhood Irish bar. The newcomer listens as one of the regulars shouts out a number and all the others burst into laughter. Soon, another patron shouts out a number with more ensuing laughter. The newcomer asks the bartender what's going on. The bartender replies, "Everybody has come here for so long that we tell the same jokes over the years. We know the jokes so well we have a number for each joke. Instead of telling the whole joke, we just shout out a number." The newcomers nods and waits a few minutes. Then he shouts, "42!" All the regulars glare at him and mutter into their beer. "What happened?" he asked the bartender. The bartender replies, "You can't tell an Irish joke with a Scottish accent!"

Creationism is one long running joke broken into a whole series of objections to evolution. Mark Isaak has undertaken the Herculean task of categorizing each creationist objection as its own joke and assigning each its own number. Isaak has analyzed the creationist claims and broken them down into subcategories of philosophy, biology, geology, paleontology, astronomy and physics. Now, instead of wasting time describing any creationist objection, you can just shout out its number. After assigning the number, Mark Issak then delivers the punchline.

The book is set out in a carefully cross indexed and well-documented format intended as a reference book for educators, public speakers and any person interested in countering creationist arguments. Anyone familiar with Isaak's Talk.Origins site will read any creationist literature and nod knowingly, thinking "there is argument CA201 ("Evolution is just a Theory") again!" Just as the jokes are known by number, the creationist arguments have been rebutted so thoroughly and so many times, that they really can be reduced to numbers.

This book is a valuable resource to anybody who teaches evolution, writes about it or speaks about it. It is a great resource to consult when responding to any creationist argument. When I do so, I also refer to the argument by its "Isaak number." This does two things. First, it demonstrates to the truly uninformed and disinterested individual that scientists really have thought about all of the objections to evolution. Second, it demonstrates that many creationists are really dishonest at heart.

The creationist arguments span so many fields of science and philosophy that it is impossible to be an expert in each. Furthermore, there may many versionsof creationism. The Counter-Creationism handbook serves as a common reference manual for those fields outside an individual educator's areas of expertise and also addresses each version of creationism from young earth creationism to intelligent design, on its own terms. It is a joy to be able to find so much information on so many subjects in one volume.

Some creationist arguments are so well refuted that merely making the argument is evidence of dishonesty. For example, the claim that evolution somehow violates the second law of thermodynamics (Argument CF001) is so well worn that its even rejected by the creationist organization Answers in Genesis. Issak's reference book allows evolution educators to quickly identify the creationist augment, the rebuttals to the argument and areas for further research and reading.

It's now on my bookshelf and I intend to use it.

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