Book Description
A sweeping narrative history of the events leading to 9/11, a groundbreaking look at the people and ideas, the terrorist plans and the Western intelligence failures that culminated in the assault on America. Lawrence Wright’s remarkable book is based on five years of research and hundreds of interviews that he conducted in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, England, France, Germany, Spain, and the United States.
The Looming Tower achieves an unprecedented level of intimacy and insight by telling the story through the interweaving lives of four men: the two leaders of al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri; the FBI’s counterterrorism chief, John O’Neill; and the former head of Saudi intelligence, Prince Turki al-Faisal.
As these lives unfold, we see revealed: the crosscurrents of modern Islam that helped to radicalize Zawahiri and bin Laden . . . the birth of al-Qaeda and its unsteady development into an organization capable of the American embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania and the attack on the USS Cole . . . O’Neill’s heroic efforts to track al-Qaeda before 9/11, and his tragic death in the World Trade towers . . . Prince Turki’s transformation from bin Laden’s ally to his enemy . . . the failures of the FBI, CIA, and NSA to share intelligence that might have prevented the 9/11 attacks.
The Looming Tower broadens and deepens our knowledge of these signal events by taking us behind the scenes. Here is Sayyid Qutb, founder of the modern Islamist movement, lonely and despairing as he meets Western culture up close in 1940s America; the privileged childhoods of bin Laden and Zawahiri; family life in the al-Qaeda compounds of Sudan and Afghanistan; O’Neill’s high-wire act in balancing his all-consuming career with his equally entangling personal life—he was living with three women, each of them unaware of the others’ existence—and the nitty-gritty of turf battles among U.S. intelligence agencies.
Brilliantly conceived and written, The Looming Tower draws all elements of the story into a galvanizing narrative that adds immeasurably to our understanding of how we arrived at September 11, 2001. The richness of its new information, and the depth of its perceptions, can help us deal more wisely and effectively with the continuing terrorist threat.
Customer Reviews:
Muslims and al-Qaeda 101.......2007-10-10
The Looming Tower is a must read for anyone wanting to know why world events have brought us to today. Lawrence Wright also makes it clear how difficult it will be to negotiate any type of peace with certain Muslim sects. Very factual. Well-researched and documented.
Excellent.......2007-10-10
This book, The Looming Towers, is an excellent portrayal of the genesis of the Muslim feelings of denigration and disgrace at the hands of the leaders of Western world. This book is sobering and frightening. It is well written and extremely interesting with excellent references.
The Looming Tower.......2007-10-10
I thought this an exciting and meaningful book,incredibly rich in detail.
Particularly enjoyed the background on bin Laden's father.
a fascinating read........2007-10-08
this is the third book in a row i have read that covers the events leading to the 9/11 attacks, and, of those three, it is by far the page for page best. "the looming tower" is a masterpiece of nonfiction that works wonderfully on so many levels: mideast politics, the dangers of religious extremism, the rise of al-Qaeda and its partner group al-Jihad, biographical work that paints a vivid human portrait of bin Laden, the best intentions of some and petty ego trips of others within the CIA and FBI whose conflicts hindered cooperation between those agencies leading up to 9/11, the complex and often quirky personalities of those working within the CIA and FBI, the conflicting intentions and seemingly zombie-like acts of cruelty perpetrated by the Taliban, etc... mile after mile of interesting ground is covered in a riveting narrative which never flounders on a single page. i found this to be one of the most thrilling books i have read in quite some time. putting aside the fact that this work is a first-rate primer on our contemporary history, you could simply look at it as a true crime masterpiece (right up there with norman mailer's "the executioner's song"). it certainly deserves the pulitzer prize it won. and it gets my highest recommendation. yes, indeed.
great insight into the killers attacking western civilization.......2007-10-06
This is a great work. Wright's Looming Tower provides an in-depth view of the main organization trying to bring down western civilization. In reading this treatment of this group, one quickly recognizes that these people do not like what we stand for as a country. From their eyes, we are the forces of debauchery, immorality, and crudeness. Their organization is structured to kill our civilization and us. Its really that simple. The cells of terrorists do not need technology, or resources, because they are smart and directed to one purpose. That focus will allow them to come at us repeatedly. Wright makes this clear, and does so by showing how their actions are directed to that one goal. So don't be deluded by those who claim the enemy is us or the president. Get this book, and become knowledgeable about what we face.
Book Description
This classic book explores the interactions of humans within the natural environment and probes issues thoroughly, examining their scientific basis, history, and society's response. Strong science, sustainability, and stewardship of Earth remain the underlying themes. Accompanies each copy of the book with the new Global City CD, built around the concepts of a large city that shows many of the environmental problems presented in the book. Includes an extensively revised layout and design. Keeps readers abreast of the latest developments or most pressing issues in the field, such as Global Climate Change. Offers "Environment on the Web" exercises that help readers access additional information on the Internet; important Web references are keyed to each chapter. An interesting reference for anyone interested in learning more about today's crucial environmental issues.
Customer Reviews:
Workbook - Environmental Science.......2007-08-21
It is a workbook and not what I was attempting to order. I expected a reading/learning media. This is only for use in classroom setting.
Highly disappointing.......2006-08-05
While the class I took that used this textbook was informative, this book was full of what seemed to be the authors' personal opinons. Like another person said here in the reviews about blame on the Bush administration, and lack of references aside from photo credits, this book seemed to be geared more towards giving you the biased outlook of the author than an unbiased view of environmental science.
I agree that this book is not fit for a college textbook, or any other type of education.
Interestign articles with a thick political spin.......2006-04-27
This revision must have been specially produced just to include all the anti-Bush rhetoric. In nearly every chapter, responsibility for the current state of the environment is laid squarly on President Bush's administration.
In addition, there are no references given for any of the information presented in the book. As a student, we are expected to take this author's word for it that everything he has presented is true and accurate, and that he is simply a repository for all of this accurate information. In fact, the lack of references is absolutely striking when you consider this is a textbook that is supposedly presenting facts. The only references given are those for photo credits.
Unfit as a college textbook.
One of the Best.......2005-08-16
This is one of the most readable environmental texts I've seen.
It is very comprehnsive and the coverage of the newest scientific results in the science of resource conservation is simply excellent. The content is oriented around a group of themes and applied to the concept of ecosystems and their management. Is almost as if the author has takrn the first halting steps toward a unified environmental theory.
Two negative points though. Coverage of forest resources is a little thin, and like most textbooks, the price is way too high.
Making environmental science relevant.......2004-11-28
Professor Richard Wright has succeeded where so many others have failed, by creating a textbook that makes the subject of environmental science relevant. After all, most students taking a course that uses this book are doing so because it's required, rather than as an elective.
As an adjunct professor of environmental science at Endicott College, I have reviewed many textbooks for possible use in introductory courses. This one is a standout, and based on feedback from students over the past four years, they, too, agree.
The text is easy to read, and enhanced by many graphs, charts and photographs.
David Liscio, adjunct professor, Endicott College, Beverly, MA
Book Description
A Mere Christianity for a new generation from a leading Christian scholar and Anglican bishop.
Customer Reviews:
Scratches Where it Itches.......2007-09-23
A friend used to tell the story of being lost in rural Ireland on holiday. Stopping a local farmer, he asked the way to Dublin. The farmer replied, "Well now, if I were trying to get to Dublin, I wouldn't start from here."
The genius of this book, which I have found enormously helpful in clarifying what I think about Christianity, is that it starts from where I and, I suspect, many others Westerners find themselves. This is not a book which requires you to be on the wavelength of the already-committed Christian or to be familiar with her in-house vocabulary. The author is clearly used to addressing a wider audience.
I have to confess that I have little patience with the religious jargon or party-politics of the kind found in some of the other reviews on this page. As I try to understand what Jesus may have to say to me about God, I find the in-fighting of his followers over the precise meaning of words like "atonement" or debates about whether the Reformers or the Roman Catholics have it right, profoundly unhelpful and unattractive. Such discussions do not make me want to go searching for God if I have to do so in the company of those who enjoy splitting theological hairs or putting each other down.
Tom Wright, however, caught my attention immediately not only with his crystal-clear prose and fresh, provocative imagery but with the insight that the reader will know what he means when he speaks of the Echoes we have all heard which speak to us of the greater reality for which we are all looking. In the four short, brilliantly crafted and memorable chapters which make up Part 1, he explores four areas of human experience which preoccupy many of us: the search for justice in a world which seems incapable of providing it; the widespread interest in "spirituality" which has many of us caught up in wild goose chases; the universal need to live in relationship with others, with the created order and, Wright would add, with God; and the puzzle of beauty, what it might be and why it fascinates us. The first part of the book essentially asks the question, "Do these experiences ring bells with you?". Inevitably, the answer is "Yes", and the reader is then drawn into a explanation of why this might be so from a Christian perspective which is always illuminating, sometimes erudite, never patronizing. Parts 2 and 3 take a fresh look at the historical Christian faith under headings with which most Christians, from the evangelical to the orthodox, would be familiar and comfortable. They include "Jesus, Rescue and Renewal", "Living By the Spirit", "Prayer" and "Believing and Belonging".
One of the marks of a great teacher is the ability to simplify and distil complexity without becoming simplistic or imbalanced. Tom Wright has this gift in abundance. One senses the depth of his scholarship on every page and respects him for it, but the text which emerges from the depths of his experience is attractive and accessible enough to hold even a teenager's attention. One might almost say that, like many popular airport novels, this is a "page turner". Once hooked, you want to know what comes next.
The overview that he is able to offer of the key components of Christian belief is impressive. If nothing else (and it is a great deal else) this would make a first-rate revision course in Christian basics for jaded believers in need of refreshment. And for those who may have been misled without realising it. I have been a Christian for 35 years, have belonged to a number of different churches and have read countless books about the Christian faith; but I have been startled to discover in these pages that I hold assumptions which shouldn't be there. I am grateful to have been put right by a man who really knows what he's talking about and can demonstrate it with wisdom and gentleness from a deep knowledge of Scripture, theology and church history. If I may use a Wright-like image, the experience of reading this book has been, for me, a little like sitting in the chair at the optician's while he places a series of lenses in front of my eyes. As lens after lens is applied and adjusted, eventually the furniture in his office comes into clear focus and I see it and him as they were meant to be seen, without the blur.
If you are looking for a book which has a chance of reigniting your hope that the church may have something to say to the world after all, as long as it scratches where people are itching and speaks to them in a language that they understand, this may well be it. On the other hand, if you are trying to sort out which of the scandalously numerous Christian denominations has cornered the correct interpretation of this or that verse of the New Testament, you may be disappointed. There is an absence of bigotry here, as one would expect of a book written by a thoughtful disciple of Jesus. As the author Anne Rice has written, "This is a book about Christ that is full of the spirit of Christ himself".
A Great Overview of the Christian Faith.......2007-09-19
N.T. Wright, known for his scholarly work on the historical Jesus, writes for a more general audience in this book.
Wright begins the book by discussing four `signposts' of the divine; our desire for justice, our quest for spirituality, our need of relationships, and our apprehension of beauty. According to Wright, while such things do not necessarily point us to the Christian God, they do compel us to look beyond the purely physical universe to something deeper.
He then proceeds to go through the basic Christian story, from the beginning of the Old Testament to the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He goes on to discuss the practical implication of this story for our lives, including an explanation of the relevance and importance of Christian disciplines such as worship, prayer, and Biblical reading.
One of Wright's main themes is to explain that, according to the Christian worldview, heaven and earth interlock. This is opposed to pantheism, where God and the universe are one, and Deism, where God is separated from, or at least not much interested in, the world. Wright points out that the beauty of living the Christian life is the ability to live where heaven and earth collide. Christians are not merely those who believe an abstract set of theological truths, they are people who are striving, individually and collectively, to live as a part of God's new creation-
"We are called to be part of God's new creation, called to be agents of that new creation here and now. We are called to model and display that new creation in symphonies and family life, in restorative justice and poetry, in holiness and service to the poor, in politics and painting." [236]
Simply Christian is an extremely accessible and readable book that will come as a breath of fresh air for many.
Vibrant Study!.......2007-09-10
The Episcopal Church my wife and I attend is using this book along with the Bishop's video and workbook in Christian Education. Very solid and uplifting! I truly recommend it! Grace and Peace!
A classic in the making.......2007-09-09
This was a wonderful book. The insights of the author were deep and encouraging. The book certainly would strengthen someone's faith. He deals with most of the common ideas of Christianity, such as worship, belief, transformation, but is not "out there" is his ideas. In fact, his ideas are fresh, without being strange. This is a great read with great insights. Certainly a book most people would enjoy and benefit from.
way too much.......2007-09-04
this book was recommended, so i bought it. Wished I hadnt. Too much non-sense, and way too complicated for an otherwise "Simple" subject. I gave it to a intellectual friend of mine who said it was mindless rambling.
Product Description
By applying the principles shared in this book people have been healed of sickness. These people found freedom...You can too!
Customer Reviews:
learn some dynamics........2007-09-17
i don't use this book to the full potential and i get blessed from reading the little sections i index for. i usually only look up say some sort of cancer, or back pain, or something a friend has, and it tells you how it affects you, what spritual roots it is probably feed by. like bitterness will be the root for these types of diseases. then you can start opening those wounds to Jesus to heal. so get it and root out your real pains (bitterness, fear,...) so your bodies pains can get healed. ADD, MS/CS, cancer, diabetes,...
Just reading this book, I was healed of migranes!.......2007-09-16
I cannot believe that anyone would give a bad review of this book. I came across this book 3 years ago and after reading less than half the book, I was healed of migranes that had plagued me and put me to bed 7-10 days a month.
Yes, it gets you to examine yourself...........but if you do a self examination with a sincere heart you will see where you are separated from Him, yourself or others. Through this examination and the desire to become what God created you to be and reading the Word, more and more freedom begins to take place in your life.
I have been healed of Guillian Barre, Fibroid Malalgia, Migranes, Genital Herpes, Chronic Pain from a broken back, IBS and other diseases.
Thank-you Pastor Wright for lending yourself to the Holy Spirit. Keep on keepin on!
A More Excellent Way.......2007-09-14
A more excellent way by Henry Wright is a fantastic book for everyone to read. It provides the root causes of most diseases and is quite accurate. His material is being used all over the world. I especially like how each statement is backed by scripture from the Holy Bible. I have attended his conferences and they are a real eye opener. I have also talked with one of the people who had 17 diseases which were all cured by using the protocol outlined in Henry's book. Would hightly recommend this excellent material.
Life Saving, Earth Shaking.......2007-09-11
How do I say "Thank You" enough for this amazing book. With an "incurable" disease breathing down my neck, this book points the way to life through both the promises of God and true repentance as well. Prepare to allow God to plow up your life so you can be free! This book deals with the spiritual roots of disease. That is not "you filthy sinners" but where have we opened the door to the enemy and given him a "foothold."
horrible, I wouldn't give it to my worst enemy.......2007-07-28
I thought the book could not have been worse. That there are silly minded people who will buy such tripe may fit an economic model of how to make money, but the book is best used as a fire starter.
I could sell this book on ebay or somewhere, but I would not contaminate someone else's mind with such garbage
Customer Reviews:
Redundant Rambling Fiction.......2007-06-02
It is common knowledge that this book is really a pile of lies. It isn't much of an autobiography and leaves the reader wondering which, if any, parts of it to really consider seriously.
It is truly painful to read due to the unending redundant rambling nature of Menchu's storytelling.
I cannot believe that this garbage is still being assigned as required reading. Worthless.
I,Roberta Menchú.......2007-01-24
We give I, Rigoberta Menchú four stars because it was a good book but at the same time it was complicated to understand. For instead, it was a good book because she explains her life very well with details. Rigoberta also never gave up she kept going no matter as hard situation she'll face in her life. This book is complicated because Rigoberta just keeps repeating her self, is like we want to know more, something different. What we learn from this book, if we really truly want something we should never give up and when you feel like falling down for a moment, pick your self up and accomplish your dream.
Amazing book of survival.......2006-12-30
I read this book years ago and re-read it again recently. It is still one of my favorite books. Rigoberta Menchu suffered unbelievable atrocities and incredible losses and still lived to tell her courageous story through an interpreter. I think the book is phenomenal and I recommend it to anyone with a heart. It helps explain a lot about the Guatamalen people and their strife. It also is a timely book since the illegal immigration debate rages on in this country on a daily basis. It paints a vivid picture of the suffering of indigenous peoples and helps us to relate to their need to escape their countries in search of a better life. I dont know what David Stoll had to gain by writing a book that contradicted Menchu's powerful account. She states at the beginning of her book that her perspective is hers alone and that her memories may have been clouded by the trauma. It makes me crazy when people pick apart one tiny aspect of a book and then, throw the entire thing out as a sham. The same thing happened with the James Frey book, A million little pieces. People tended to ignore the overall strengths of the book and his basic message of surviving drug addiction over a few little insignificant details. This book is the same situation. The overall message and story of rigoberta menchu is so powerful and moving, it must be read, even if there is a fact or two that someone wants to contradict.
Memorable.......2006-06-16
I read this book shortly before visiting Guatemala, and I have to say it made my travel experience alot richer. I felt more sensitized to the currents of racism and political struggle still present in the country, as well as to the pain of a people recovering from a horror in the not so distant past. Nearly every Guatemalan that I met had some powerful story of the genocide, and this book gave me a good background on the facts and politics behind the peasant struggle.
Though it has been criticized as being imbellished and realistically inaccurate, I think that it can still be used as a tool to learn about the native Quiche culture in past and present times. Their spiritual and political beliefs and their connections to the natural world are interwoven throughout the memoir. And most importantly, the horror of a major Latin American genocide that still scars the memories of peasants in the region today. Rigoberta was very matter of fact in sharing information about the torture and killing of her people in gruesome detail... so detailed that it was difficult to read at times, but nevertheless, essential in understanding the extent of the what happened to her people.
Whether you read this book as fact or historical fiction, I think it is a good read for anyone interested in Latin American history, politcal science, peasant cultures, or human rights. It is a story that will stick in your mind... and your heart.
Just 2 or so hours South of Miami! .......2006-01-11
It is incredible that such human suffering went on, and in many ways is still going on, just a couple of hours (by pane) away from where I live. Rigoberta Menchu's book, written as dictated by her, is sad and tells of horrible situations.
Guatemala is a beautiful country, the indigenous sill dress in their local garb, each unique to a particular village. Guatemala has been referred to as the most exotic country in the Western hemisphere.
A good friend of mine, a Guatemala Indian, told me about the efforts of the Indians to get help from the United States. They sought out various Native American tribes in the U.S., that to them was seeking help from America. From what he told, it never occured to the elders of the Guatemalan groups to approach anyone other than Native Americans. And they did not receive help, because help was not available. But had they approached the U.S. government, they most likely wouldn't have been helped either.
I have been in Guatemala so many times, I started to call it my second home. There is still a lot of oppression, and the indigenous still feel fearful of the police and the military. I have not been there in a couple of years and am yearning to return.
The last time, the police/military made great efforts to change their image. Instead of stopping trucks and harrassing the passengers, they handed out white carnations!
Menchu does not deal with the greatest problem that is keeping the indigenous in danger, that of language barrier. The Guatemala Indians speak over 20 local languages. The languages are so totally different, that communication is impossible. Though some books are written in the local languages, they cannot be read by the indigenous because they are illiterate. Division is a "great" tool to keep populations from binding together to fight a common evil. Spanish is the country's political language, but over 80% of the indigenous do not speak Spanish.
I have traveled into the villages, into the hills and mountains where customs as ancient as the peoples themselves still reign. All of them have experienced evil. Their story did not end with Menchu's book. It continues, and who knows how much longer it will continue.
Book Description
As competitors strive to win the war for talent, effective human resource management is necessary to gain true competitive advantage in the marketplace. Three challenges companies face are sustainability, technology, and globalization. Human Resource Management 5th Edition brings these challenges to life by highlighting real-world examples pertaining to these issues and relating it to the concepts within the chapter. This best-selling McGraw-Hill/Irwin Human Resource Management title provides students with the technical background needed to be a knowledgeable consumer of human resource (HR) products and services, to manage HR effectively, or to be a successful HR professional. While clearly strategic in nature, the text also emphasizes how managers can more effectively acquire, develop, compensate, and manage the internal and external environment that relates to the management of human resources.
Customer Reviews:
HR Management.......2005-10-17
The book was brand new and in excellent condition. I received it quickly. I would order from this seller again in the future!
Book Description
A contributed volume of readings on using sociology to create practical social and organizational change.
Applying Sociology: Making a Better World is a book about putting sociological ideas into action. The editors, sociologists and educators, who are active in both government and private sectors, have assembled a collection of readings by contributors who bring a wealth of practical experience and innovative ideas to the field.
For anyone interested in Sociology.
Book Description
Over 500,000 copies sold! Couples will explore how to clarify role expectations, establish a healthy sexual relationship, handle finances, and acquire a solid understanding of how to develop a biblical relationship.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Resource.......2007-09-10
This is an essential resource for anyone assisting couples as they prepare for marriage. Covers topics on expectations, love, communication and conflict resolution. I would also recommend his related resources: After You Say I Do and his book for re-marrieds.
Good and Bad.......2007-08-16
I have liked this overall, but sometimes it feels like there are sooooo many questions!!! I would definitely suggest breaking up the chapters, some of the questions are a little more involved then I expected
ok.......2007-01-16
Not quite as informational as I was hoping. Good for very young newlyweds.
A must "DO" Before You Say "I DO".......2007-01-11
I am currently working through this book in my pre-marital counselling class. It provides you with a lot of insight into yourself while sharing the same with your partner. This should be required reading in High School before we go on and mess up our lives because we think we know it all.
Very helpful!.......2006-06-01
I greatly appreciate Norman Wright. I have been using his materials in pre-marital counselling for many years. He is very practical, very easy to follow, and very biblical in his approach.
Harlan Betz, author of "Setting the Stage for Eternity"
Book Description
Why did Christianity begin, and why did it take the shape it did? To answer this question - which any historian must face - renowned New Testament scholar N.T. Wright focuses on the key points: what precisely happened at Easter? What did the early Christians mean when they said that Jesus of Nazareth had been raised from the dead? What can be said today about his belief?
This book, third is Wright's series Christian Origins and the Question of God, sketches a map of ancient beliefs about life after death, in both the Greco-Roman and Jewish worlds. It then highlights the fact that the early Christians' belief about the afterlife belonged firmly on the Jewish spectrum, while introducing several new mutations and sharper definitions. This, together with other features of early Christianity, forces the historian to read the Easter narratives in the gospels, not simply as late rationalizations of early Christian spirituality, but as accounts of two actual events: the empty tomb of Jesus and his "appearances."
How do we explain these phenomena? The early Christians' answer was that Jesus had indeed been bodily raised from the dead; that was why they hailed him as the messianic "son of God." No modern historian has come up with a more convincing explanation. Facing this question, we are confronted to this day with the most central issues of the Christian worldview and theology.
Customer Reviews:
Brings Unity to History, Philosophy & Theology.......2007-09-14
N.T. Wright recovers the original traction that the idea of resurrection has upon the mind by his masterful integration of many fields of study.
Resurrection is not merely the idea of life after death, but the very overthow of death. Comparing the different concepts of resurrection surrounding the resurrection of Jesus Christ, he avoids anachronistic traps of reading one age upon another. He also is able to reason to see what would be considered evidence of the resurrection and engauges many possible alternate explanations that ulimately come up short. All in all, he shows that the study of history does not lead one away from the truths of faith by our incapacity to know the past, but that it indeed sheds much more light upon the ancient world than many give history credit for.
A splendid read. The depths of Wright's scholarship are matched by his mastery of the English language and a healthy dose of wit.
He makes all things new!.......2007-05-23
This book, if you like research and evidence for a thing that has happened, is a court-case; signed and delivered victory for the belief in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It is one of many, by N.T. Wright providing not specualtion, but proof that Jesus was God.
He truely, "...made all things new!"
For a possible case of what happens next; check out this tagged bookEva-Christ
Detailed Discussion of the Doctrine of Resurrection.......2007-04-11
NT Wright has given us the most detailed discussion of the doctrine of resurrection in print today. The first part of the book surveys ancient Greco-Roman literature for concepts of the afterlife. While there are concepts of dying and rising gods and stories where people come back to life, none of them qualify as bodily resurrections, and Wright points out that no one in the Greco-Roman world would have considered a bodily resurrection desirable or even possible.
Wright then discusses the the doctrine of resurrection in Paul's writings, and in the writings of the early church fathers. He concludes that there is wide assent to the idea that Christ had a bodily resurrection and that this is the guarantee of our own resurrection.
The Nag Hammadi writings (including the Acts and Gospel of Thomas) emphasize the leaving behind of the body for some sort of (Platonic?) disembodied existence. This teaching is different than the emphasis on New Creation and bodily resurrection.
Finally, Wright mines the gospels for their teachings on resurrection, and he includes powerful expositions of the resurrection of Jesus narratives. He says that there is no way that Christianity could have gotten started without a belief in Christ's bodily resurrection, and that it is a very early development and not a later one.
He concludes with a personal statement of belief in Christ's resurrection (I guess some have questioned this about Wright in the past). He notes that taken together, the empty tomb and the resurrection appearances of the risen Christ constitutes necessary and sufficient evidence to account for the rise of Christian belief.
It took me nine days to read this 741 page book, but it is immensely rewarding and full of learning.
It's all about worldviews.......2007-01-02
I think one's reaction to this massive work of superb scholarship will depend on one's worldview.
If your worldview is that there is a God (or god, as Wright would put it) who remains interested in the affairs of His creation, and that this God can cause supernatural things to occur, then you will probably agree with Wright: no other explanation for the rise of Christianity makes nearly as much sense as the accounts given in the New Testament. If God has given you the gift of the Spirit, but you've still harbored doubts about "could Jesus really have risen bodily from the dead," then this book will almost certainly make your faith stronger.
On the other hand, if your worldview is that no form of the supernatural is possible and that there is no omnipresent God, you are not likely to be convinced by this book - because its argument, ultimately, rests on the conclusion that a supernatural event, orchestrated by God, occurred: i.e., Jesus's body did not begin to decay when his heart and lungs stopped pumping oxygen to his cells, and God transformed this body into a "transphysical" form with which Jesus made his post-Resurrection appearances. Wright's whole argument is that this is the most likely explanation of the historical events that followed, and he develops that argument superbly. But if you cannot accept the basic premise, and if you are not able to at least consider that your worldview could be incomplete, then none of Wright's arguments are likely to sway you.
As a believing Christian, I believe that God did, indeed, raise Jesus from the dead; and Wright's beautiful prose and erudite scholarship have, if anything, strengthened my faith. But I have real doubts about whether skeptics (if somehow they could be convinved to read the 800 pages) would be convinced by this work.
Also an Important Reference and Commentary.......2006-10-21
Do not view this book as merely a "defense of the resurrection" - a number of more slender volumes can accomplish that feat. This book is instead a significant historical and theological treatment of the idea and doctrine of the resurrection within a wide variety of ancient sources. While it does result in an affirmation of the historic Christian position that Jesus indeed rose from the dead, this book also serves more broadly as an historical and theological reference work.
I have found, in particular, Wright's discussions of the gospel accounts to be some of the most useful contemporary commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John available. In exploring the final chapters of each gospel, he provides insight into each gospel's individual purpose and also the unity of the four. And DO NOT MISS Wright's discussion of Mark's abrupt (or not?) ending! Whereas many scholars are all too happy to view Mark as a gospel without a resurrection account, Wright offers crippling critique against this modern view and provides compelling evidence that the resurrected Jesus of Matthew and Luke is likewise the risen Lord of Mark.
I offer this example because some will not wish to read this book cover to cover, yet you should know that large sections of this book will still prove helpful. My example (the gospel accounts) comes near the end of this large volume; there are numerous other issues explored that I haven't begun to discuss here! (Old Testament view of resurrection, intermediate state, Jewish understanding of resurrection in Jesus' day...)
I suspect Wright will be (or has been) dismissed by liberal theologians unwilling to allow to the table someone who would indeed call Jesus "Lord." Yet as one whose nose has been in plenty of more skeptical volumes, whether biblical commentaries or works on the "historical Jesus," I find that Wright's scholarship is as rigorous as anything I've yet to see. Surprisingly, he is also quite readable: a rare and fortunate combination.
I should note that I don't agree with some of Wright's views concerning Jesus as expressed in his earlier work, "Jesus and the Victory of God." But this book has given me tremendous respect for N.T. Wright. (His newer volume entitled "Simply Christian" is also a gem.) But for a work of this magnitude, with so much that is useful to the historian, theologian, or (for that matter) evangelist -- I must give this 5 stars.
Book Description
Over the last ten years, the ARM architecture has become one of the most pervasive architectures in the world, with more than 2 billion ARM-based processors embedded in products ranging from cell phones to automotive braking systems. A world-wide community of ARM developers in semiconductor and product design companies includes software developers, system designers and hardware engineers. To date no book has directly addressed their need to develop the system and software for an ARM-based system. This text fills that gap.
This book provides a comprehensive description of the operation of the ARM core from a developers perspective with a clear emphasis on software. It demonstrates not only how to write efficient ARM software in C and assembly but also how to optimize code. Example code throughout the book can be integrated into commercial products or used as templates to enable quick creation of productive software.
The book covers both the ARM and Thumb instruction sets, covers Intel's XScale Processors, outlines distinctions among the versions of the ARM architecture, demonstrates how to implement DSP algorithms, explains exception and interrupt handling, describes the cache technologies that surround the ARM cores as well as the most efficient memory management techniques. A final chapter looks forward to the future of the ARM architecture considering ARMv6, the latest change to the instruction set, which has been designed to improve the DSP and media processing capabilities of the architecture.
* No other book describes the ARM core from a system and software perspective.
* Author team combines extensive ARM software engineering experience with an in-depth knowledge of ARM developer needs.
* Practical, executable code is fully explained in the book and available on the publisher's Website.
* Includes a simple embedded operating system.
Customer Reviews:
A System Software Engineer.......2007-04-10
This is the best book I've seen for the ARM series of processors. I have developed with many processors, on and off the Job and am now planning to develop for the ARM7 and ARM9 processors; particularly the AT91 and the AT91SAM7 series of processors by ATMEL. Base on the processors' hardware specs they are perfect for the small time developer. But, when looking the ARM's instruction set, it appears that programming them requires a steep learning curve.
This book will easily reduce my learning curve, at the very least, by more than half. It is clear, comprehensive, and to the point.
In a world that has strict requiresments on performance, power, as well as development time, a developer has to ARM himself. This book will show you how to do just that.
Excellent for a beginner.......2007-03-13
You know C, you know pointers, you know how to program. But what you need is something to teach you more about creating firmware applications. How to actually make something work! What actually goes on inside this black-box that we call the ARM core? How do you make it do some simple DSP?
There should be a course in every college that basically teaches the information contained in this book!
Very Satisfied.......2007-03-09
Product came in faster than expected and it was in new, excellent condition.
extremely useful.......2006-04-14
This book covers many aspects of programming the ARM familiy, including a surprisingly thorough discussion on fixed-point DSP computation.
Having come from another architecture, this book really got me going on ARM. It complements the documentation manufacturers usually provide for their ARM chips in that it covers the ARM core much more in-depth.
The book discusses everything from register usage to memory management units. If you want to become an expert programmer in C/Assembly on ARM systems, you must buy this book.
Also included is a nice comparison of the ARM and Gnu assembler directives, which came in handy when I converted an ARM assembly file to the Gnu syntax.
If your company will buy it for you, get it.......2005-03-15
In the ARM tradition of charging for everything, the firmware guide by Sloss is easy to read, and comprehensive up to ARM10/StrongARM XScale/926/940. That said, the book looks like the notes from a firmware lecture delivered by an Arm Apps engineer. The book is strongest in coverage of MMU and cache, but weak on ARM11 (1136 only and as a final chapter) and essentially non-existent in Jazelle coverage. Nice features are the toy RTOS which appears early at reappears with more features (memory protection, and MMU, for example). That this book is so quickly out of date brings the point that MDR bulleted last year, that the ARM family needs birth control but that is a topic for another discussion. Sloss' book has 'non-commercial license' for all the sourcecode. huh? Regarding this book, Freescale for example publishes equivalent information (old ESS manuals) in the 860/8260 training manuals for free, on their website. If your company pays for your books, by all means have them get the sloss book for you it makes a great read on the john, but if you are a student or independent developer, you would be as well served by studying the ARM ARM and applicable ARM source code for U-Boot, Redboot and the L4 microkernel, or even Ed Sutter's book, with the added benefit that you would have a license to use the code in your project.
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