General Books - Page 2

The 48 Laws of Power

Robert Greene

List Price: $24.95 By: Viking Adult Amazon Marketplace: 50 new & used starting at $13.45

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 509 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Laws of Power is a practical, readable guide for anyone who wants power, watches power, or want to arm themselves against power. Written by Robert Greene and produced and designed by Joost Elffers, the renowned packager of The Secret Language of Birthdays, The 48 Laws of Power will be known as the essential--and controversial--guide to modern manipulation. In a bold and elegant two-color package, The 48 Laws of Power synthesizes the philosophies of Machiavelli, Suntzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz, with the historical legacies of statesmen, warriors, seducers, and con men throughout the ages. Using the stories of such figures as Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissinger, and P. T. Barnum, the Laws are illustrated through the tactics, triumphs, and failures of those who have wielded-- and those who have been victimized by--Power. At work, in relationships, on the street, or on the five o'clock news, these Laws are exerted everywhere. Whether your interest is conquest, self-defense, or simply being an educated spectator, The 48 Laws of Power will be the most important book you buy this year.

Case for Christ, The

Lee Strobel

List Price: $39.99 By: Zondervan Amazon Marketplace: 8 new & used starting at $8.87

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 640 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Failed to Address Any of My Questions 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

A good friend of mine, who is quite sincere in his belief, provided me with a copy of this book, believing it would quickly dispel my lifelong agnosticism. I read it in good faith, hoping that here at last might be a book that would address a lifetime's worth of questions. Unfortunately, I realized within the first few minutes of opening it that it would do no such thing. It glossed over the most fundamental objections I have within the first few pages and never looked back from there. Thus, to me, it was essentially worthless, though I labored on to finish the entire book out of respect for my friend. Thankfully, it was mercifully short, and the language made for an easy read. The content was of no value to me, but Strobel, at least, can write a coherent sentence and is a decent writer.

Christian believers should be aware of how weakly this book addresses genuine agnostic objections to the Jesus story, and how poorly it will prepare you to discuss and/or debate the matter with an informed unbeliever.

Quite simply, I have never believed the Jesus story, from the time I was a child. I don't believe in invisible things, be they ghosts, demons, leprechauns or the various and sundry gods of a thousand different religions. I have serious doubts that Jesus ever existed, though I can't rule out that the stories are not based on some bonafide rabbi who actually lived and breathed and preached for a time, even though he somehow missed the attention of Philo of Alexandria, a Jew who lived at exactly the same time and wrote extensively about the history of Palestine. I am puzzled by the existence of religion, which obviously has arisen in virtually every culture that has ever existed on this planet, but have accepted the reality that skeptics like myself are in the minority. Perhaps it is because I am a member of such a seemingly small minority that Strobel's book was not tailored to a mind like mine - but to me the fundamental flaw in his book is that he simply assumes from the very beginning that invisible and supernatural things do exist, that miracles happen, and that the stories told in the Gospels are true.

To me, it is obvious that all the biographical information we have about Jesus was first written by whoever developed the Gospel of Mark, and that little new or different regarding the actual life and biography of Jesus was added by the other three gospel writers. Thus we have what is essentially a point source regarding the life of Jesus, and I have yet to receive a compelling argument from anyone that counters my suspicion that maybe the entire story was a work of fiction invented by some literary genius now known to the world only as "Mark." Unfortunately, Strobel does not address this concern in the least. His only comment on this very serious objection is along the lines of: "these gospel writers seemed like good men, so why would they lie?"

Why indeed? The problem of course is that a devout Mormon will say the same thing about Joseph Smith, when to most outsiders it really does appear as if Smith made the entire Book of Mormon up virtually single handedly, and his motives for doing so: money, power, and even sex, are crystal clear to any outsider not caught up in the Mormon faith. The objection that no one person could have come up with the Jesus story is refuted not only by Joseph Smith, but by looking at the complex worlds created in fiction by people like Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, or J.K. Rowling. So of course one person could have come up with the Jesus story, especially since any simple course in comparative religion shows that most of the major premises of Christianity already were present in the Mediterranean basin at the time of St. Paul: whoever Mark was, living where he did, would have had access to the teachings and belief systems of Plato, Buddhism, Zoroaster/Mithras, Judaism, Heracles, and the ancient and well-developed Egyptian religion. From there, it would not be difficult to fuse and merge the best of each into a new amalgamation - the creation of such a hybrid religion would require creativity and ingenuity to be sure - but would not require the development of any new insights or philosophy - those were already there for the taking.

Strobel fails to address the fact that not a single contemporary Roman source mentions Jesus, and that references to Jesus from later writers like Tacitus and Josephus are not only scant but controversial. The oft repeated claim that the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are "one of the most documented events in history" becomes ridiculous to anyone who has ever actually investigated the matter - but again - Strobel fails to address this.

Having thus blithely, and as I said earlier, in one sentence, dispensed with the most serious objection to Christianity - that the entire thing might have been invented, just like every other religion known to man, Strobel barrels along, treating each story in the gospel now as though it was actually witnessed by a sober and honest person.

I do not make these comments in an effort to stir up a debate, but in the event a Christian apologist happens to make a good faith effort to refute any of the concerns I've just expressed in the last few paragraphs in a "comment" to this review, I would observe that his or her efforts would be far superior and far more useful to me than anything in Strobel's book.

And THAT, more than anything else, drives home the point that Strobel's book is useless. If a stray Christian passerby can spend five minutes responding to me and come up with more compelling and direct arguments than Strobel did in the year or so he spent writing this book, that ought to tell you something about how useful Strobel's book really is as a refutation to agnosticism.

Editorial Review:

A Seasoned Journalist Chases Down the Biggest Story in History.

Is there credible evidence that Jesus of Nazareth really is the Son of God?

Retracing his own spiritual journey from atheism to faith, Lee Strobel, former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune, cross-examines a dozen experts with doctorates from schools like Cambridge, Princeton, and Brandeis who are recognized authorities in their fields. Strobel challenges them with questions like How reliable is the New Testament? Does evidence exist for Jesus outside the Bible? Is there any reason to believe the resurrection was an actual event?

Strobel’s tough, point-blank questions make this remarkable book read like a captivating, fast-paced novel. But it’s not fiction. It’s a riveting quest for the truth about history’s most compelling figure.

What will your verdict be in The Case for Christ?

Mere Christianity

C. S. Lewis, Michael York

List Price: $15.99 By: Thomas Nelson Amazon Marketplace: 14 new & used starting at $4.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 445 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Disappointing Defense 2 out of 5 stars.
3 of 5 people found this review helpful.

C.S. Lewis presents a disappointing defense of Christianity and Christian Ethics. The primary advantage of this work is that it is clearly written, and uses many analogies to help illustrate its points to the reader. The major disadvantage, however, is that these analogies and analysis are far too simplistic. By introducing an analogy Lewis merely assumes it as proof of the very thing he is trying to argue. Page after page is filled with analogy and reasoning which seems to rest on an undefended assumption. His argument that Christ was either "Divine or a Madman" for calling himself the Son of God, and that therefore we must believe the former is really ludicrous. Any number of persons have been false prophets and made false claims, but because the claims are outrageous doesn't mean we must accept them. If Christ is any different, he has not shown how Christ's ideas were different, which is where he should have gone. I write this from the perspective of one friendly to the Christian religion and its ethics, and simply don't think Lewis has done a very good job in arguing for the Christian religion. Too many of his arguments are really thinly veiled theological assumptions that are uncritically presented in two-dimensional depth.

Editorial Review:

This 20th century masterpiece of Christian apologetics, read by acclaimed actor Michael York, is one of C.S. Lewis' best-loved works. In this audio edition of Mere Christianity, believers and non-believers are provided an unequaled opportunity to hear a powerful and rational case for the Christian faith.

Many Lives Many Masters

Brian L. Weiss

List Price: $13.00 By: Simon & Schuster Audio Amazon Marketplace: 10 new & used starting at $19.95

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 350 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great reading, thought provoking! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Dr. Weiss has written an easy to read and fascinating book on the concept of reincarnation. It's made me think more about this belief and makes me want to read more about it and what spiritual journeys we're following. Very thought provoking.

Many lives, many masters 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

"Many Lives,Many Masters" has explained many experiences and stories that I could not understand before. The reincarnation and the wisdom passed on by the masters are very similar to the belief of Buddhism. I am not a religious person but born in a Buddhist family. I refuse to read religious books because I simply felt that they are written to sell their religious believes. This book certainly will help me understand the purpose of life & religions better.

It is highly recommended for all. The interesting experiences of Catherine and the messages from the Masters will makes you think and help answering many soul searching questions.

Editorial Review:

A practicing psychiatrist and past-life skeptic is amazed when one of his patients recounts past-life experiences and astounded when he personally undergoes regression and recalls detailed previous lives of his own.

The Art Of War

Sun Tzu

Amazon Price: $3.99 List Price: $3.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Filiquarian Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $2.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

NOT THE BOOK 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is just the cliffnotes to the book. This is not the actual book. Also, very poorly published.

the art of war 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The book was very interesting. It really made look at issues in a totally different light. I love this book.

Ancient Timeless Knowledge 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

While this book is barely 70 pages long, the classic strategies in it are concise and valuble, quite timeless. The book was written 2500 years ago as a basic primer on strategy - and has withstood the test of time. It won't take long to digest the book - but that gives you more time to implement its strategies. There are sections on strategies, planning maneuvers, deception, etc., Together with Robert Green's book on Strategy it is a fine combination.


Michael Mandaville, Author of the upcoming "Citizen Soldier Handbook: 101 Ways For Every American To Fight Terrorism"

Editorial Review:

Twenty-Five Hundred years ago, Sun Tzu wrote this classic book of military strategy based on Chinese warfare and military thought. Since that time, all levels of military have used the teaching on Sun Tzu to warfare and cilivzation have adapted these teachings for use in politics, business and everyday life. The Art of War is a book which should be used to gain advantage of opponents in the boardroom and battlefield alike.

Captivating: unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul

List Price: $29.99 By: Oasis Audio Amazon Marketplace: 11 new & used starting at $2.95

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 303 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Bestselling author John Eldredge and his wife and co-author, Stasi, unveil the beauty and mystery of the feminine soul by showing readers the three core desires of every woman’s heart. Every little girl has dreams of being swept up into a great adventure, of being the beautiful princess. Sadly, when women grow up, they are often swept up into a life filled merely with duty and demands. Many Christian women are tired, struggling under the weight of the pressure to be a "good servant," a nurturing caregiver, or a capable home manager. What Wild at Heart did for men, Captivating can do for women. This groundbreaking book shows readers the glorious design of women before the fall, describes how the feminine heart can be restored, and casts a vision for the power, freedom, and beauty of a woman released to be all she was meant to be. By revealing the core desires every woman shares—to be romanced, to play an irreplaceable role in a grand adventure, and to unveil beauty— John and Stasi Eldredge invite women to recover their feminine hearts, created in the image of an intimate and passionate God. Further, they encourage men to discover the secret of a woman’s soul and to delight in the beauty and strength women were created to offer.

Machiavelli's The Prince

Niccolo Machiavelli

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 284 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Poor Translation 2 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This review was submitted on the web page presenting Mansfield's translation.

I have been using Wootton's translation of The Prince in a university program where the texts are set by the faculty. This year we changed to the Mansfield translation and I've requested that we return to Wootton's.

In his attempt to provide an "accurate" translation of the Italian, Mansfield made the mistake of many translators in overlooking the clarity of his English prose.

For example, where Wootton writes, "he increased the strength of one of the most powerful Italian states," Mansfield writes, "he . . . increased the power of a power in Italy." (15) There are other odd uses of diction in Mansfield, for example, where Wootton speaks of a "founder," Mansfield uses the word "introducer." (23) And though concise in places, Mansfield has a tendency to write long sentences, perhaps in imitation of the Italian, where Wootton is more to the point.

If you're still not convinced, compare the following passages:

Wootton: "So, too, with those who, having been private citizens, were made emperors of Rome because they had corrupted the soldiers. Such rulers are entirely dependent on the goodwill and good fortune of whoever has given them power. Good will and good fortune are totally unreliable and capricious."

Mansfield: ". . . as also those emperors were made who from private individual [sic] attained the empire through corrupting soldiers. These persons rest simply on the will and fortune of whoever has given a state to them, which are two very inconstant and unstable things."

Editorial Review:

Widely read for its insights into history and politics, The Prince is one of the most provocative works of the Italian Renaissance. Based on Niccolo Machiavelli's observations of the effectiveness of both ancient and contemporary statesmen, the rules for governing set forth in his manual were considered radical and harsh by his contemporaries and shocking to many others since then.This major new edition combines an accurate and accessible new translation with important related documents, many of which appear here in English for the first time. In his clear yet comprehensive introductory essay, William J. Connell offers fresh insights into Machiavelli's life, the meaning of his work, the context in which it was written, and its influence over time. Document headnotes, maps, a chronology of Machiavelli's life, questions for consideration, a selected bibliography, and index provide further pedagogical support.

Stillness Speaks

Amazon Price: $17.95 List Price: $17.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: New World Library Amazon Marketplace: 13 new & used starting at $5.75

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 146 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Powerful combinaiton 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

There is a powerful combination when I read the book while I am listening to Eckhart read it. It brings to Life what he has written.

Stillness Speaks 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is a wonderfully thought provoking CD. I find myself listing to it over and over again! It is well worth your time and money.

Editorial Review:

In Stillness Speaks, best-selling author Eckhart Tolle illuminates the fundamental elements of his teaching, addressing the needs of the modern seeker by drawing from all spiritual traditions. At the core of the book is what the author calls “the state of presence,” a living in the “now” that is both intensely inspirational and practical. When the pressures of future and past thinking disappear, fear and frustration also vanish, conquered by the moment. Stillness Speaks takes the form of 200 individual entries, organized into 10 topic clusters that range from "Beyond the Thinking Mind" to "Suffering and the End of Suffering." The entries are concise and complete in themselves, but, read together, take on a transformative power.

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson

Amazon Price: $15.96 List Price: $19.95 In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. By: Random House Audio Amazon Marketplace: 9 new & used starting at $9.95

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Total reviews: 2118 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher, or a colleague.  Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, helped you see the world as a more profound place, gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it.

For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago.

Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded, and the world seemed colder.  Wouldn't you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you, receive wisdom for your busy life today the way you once did when you were younger?

Mitch Albom had that second chance.  He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man's life.  Knowing he was dying, Morrie visited with Mitch in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college.  Their rekindled relationship turned into one final "class": lessons in how to live.

Tuesdays with Morrie is a magical chronicle of their time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie's lasting gift with the world.


From the Hardcover edition.

The Five Love Languages of Children Audio Cassette (Booksounds)

Gary Chapman, Ross Campbell

Amazon Price: $11.24 List Price: $14.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Northfield Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 30 new & used starting at $3.29

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 58 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

I'll admit I was skeptical 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Ordinarily, the follow-on books are kind of flat. The Elizabeth George "After God's Own Heart" books seemed this way, although the first one, "A Woman After God's Own Heart" was excellent.

I was expecting the same sort of flatness from this book. I found a lot to apply in the original Love Languages book, and I'm still sneaking it into my marriage. It's one thing to tell your Quality-Time husband that you are a TOUCH wife, and a whole different thing to gently convince him to touch touch touch touch touch touch. It has brought me to a whole new level of positive reinforcement.

So I figured this one for kids would be a couple of hundred pages of telling parents that kids need *every* love language. And indeed, there was some of that.

But the book was full of clues for how to recognize your child's love language, how it may change over time, and how to communicate.

The book offered a lot. I thought the chapters on conflict were very worthwhile, and even on how to discipline in the different love languages. My kids are so different that I needed all the pointers I could get. And surprise -- thinking about love languages across generations has helped me communicate better with my parents, too -- off to a good start, anyway.

I read this 6 months ago. My eldest started talking more, to me and to other people, NOTICEABLY more, and it's bringing me some relief from one of my biggest parenting worries -- how remote this child has been. That has been the biggest and most immediate change in our family recently, and I can trace it to this book.

I would recommend you read the first Love Languages book first, and then this one to think specifically about your kids.

Oh, and for moms, definitely read A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George. It's family-enhancing.

Editorial Review:

Does your child speak a different language? Attitude. Behavior. Development. Everything depends on the love relationship between you and your child. When children feel loved, they do their best. But how can you make sure your child feels loved?Since 1992, Dr. Gary Chapman's bestselling book The Five Love Languages has helped more than 300,000 couples develop stronger, more fulfilling relationships by teaching them to speak each other's love language. This year Dr. Chapman and Dr. Campbell presented a new tool developed to help adults better relate to children in their book The Five Love Languages of Children. Read by Dr. Chapman with comments from both authors in the introduction and epilogue, this marvelous asset is now available on audio cassette to help you discover your child's primary language. Learn what you can do to effectively convey unconditional feelings of respect, affection, and commitment that will resonate in your child's emotions and behavior.