Book Description
Learn the mental techniques that professional bowlers use to perform their best and build high averages. Focused for Bowling provides proven advice to help you pick up spares more consistently, recover from and avoid slumps, and get more satisfaction from each trip to the alley.
From progressive muscle-relaxation techniques to positive self-talk and focus cues, Focused for Bowling gives you the mental edge that will help you excel in critical frames.
Considered the leading authority on bowling psychology, Dean Hinitz is a regular columnist in Bowling This Month. To pick up your game, pick up this book and see why some of the country's most elite competitors trust Hinitz to give them the edge they need for more accurate, confident, and consistent performance when the pressure is on!
Customer Reviews:
Another good bowling book.......2007-01-09
This book also covers a lot of info that bowlers will need when they look to take their game to the next level.
It's a Head-Game afterall.......2005-08-06
Dean Hinitz provides some clear solutions to one of biggest challenges to Scoring Success.
A Must Read.......2005-05-15
I've attended bowling camp, had lessons, watched videos, regularly read Bowling This Month, have read a dozen books on bowling and this by far is the best. If you're looking for advice on the physical fundamentals of the game this is NOT the book for you, read John Jowdy's Bowling Execution. However, if you have shown signs of having a relatively sound physical game then Focused for Bowling is for you. It emphasizes developing your mental game, which any seasoned bowler will tell you is the key to consistency and success.
Why do some excel in the spotlight and others crack under pressure? Your mental game is the answer. There are many exercises and suggestions in this book that will help you develop a stronger mental game. There is even a section on dealing with slumps.
Two years ago I was developing into a pretty good bowler. I loved the moment of needing a turkey in the tenth to win; and I often delivered. Then I went into a terrible slump. I tried everything, over thought the game, became negative about my ability, and lost my confidence as the anchor of my team. This year I started regaining my old form, but was still inconsistent and found myself thinking too much. The final straw: I missed a seven pin in the tenth that cost us a game. I picked up this book and have been lights-out since. I bowled a 299 and have average a consistent 205 for the past 8 weeks.
Once you understand the physical aspects of the game, you must read Focused for Bowling!!!
focused for Bowling.......2003-12-23
These are advanced concepts about the game that Hinitz has broken down into the simplest form. Physical talent will only get you so far in any sport, then comes the mental game. Hinitz's approach will help you identify who you are in the game, where you are in the game, and where you want to go...then help you get there! Along with Brian Voss's foreward are helpful comments and views throughout the book of several other top pros. Read, enjoy, bowl better.
Not Bad IF!.......2003-12-20
If you bowl less than a 240 average, this book isn't really for you. If you need advice on equipment or technique, this book isn't for you. But if you are really good, and are having problems with the mental parts of bowling, this book is perfect. It's not so much a bowling book as a mental guide to sports performance. It's a good book for that reason.
Book Description
From acclaimed author Jen Holling comes the second novel in a sensual new trilogy full of passion and intrigue about a trio of sisters with the remarkable gift of witchcraft.
Gillian MacDonell has always felt lacking because, unlike her sisters, she did not inherit any mystical powers. But when her father arranges a match with notorious Nicholas Lyon, Earl of Kincreag -- a Scotsman rumored to have murdered his wife -- strange visions plague her like never before. From Gillian's first moment inside Kincreag Castle, she is filled with foreboding and when attempts are made on her life, she fears the rumors may be true. But their passion burns bright and Nicholas's cold heart starts to melt. Will his desire for her turn to wrath when he learns that she's really a witch after all?
Download Description
"From acclaimed author Jen Holling comes the second novel in a sensual new trilogy full of passion and intrigue about a trio of sisters with the remarkable gift of witchcraft. Gillian MacDonell has always felt lacking because, unlike her sisters, she did not inherit any mystical powers. But when her father arranges a match with notorious Nicholas Lyon, Earl of Kincreag -- a Scotsman rumored to have murdered his wife -- strange visions plague her like never before. From Gillian's first moment inside Kincreag Castle, she is filled with foreboding and when attempts are made on her life, she fears the rumors may be true. But their passion burns bright and Nicholas's cold heart starts to melt. Will his desire for her turn to wrath when he learns that she's really a witch after all? "
Customer Reviews:
My Devilish Scotsman.......2007-08-24
After reading MY WICKED HIGHLANDER, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second book in the MacDonell Bride Series. Once again Jen Holling hits a home run with MY DEVILISH SCOTSMAN.
Unlike her sisters Gillian MacDonell is not a witch, she's not confident and she's definitely not bold. So why would an Earl want to marry her, especially after being humiliated by her sister Isobel?
Nicholas Lyon, Earl of Kincreag is cold hearted, aloof and he may have killed his first wife. But to keep from being shipped off to France, where she's expected to marry an old man, Gillian is willing to sell her soul to the devil, even if the devil is Lord Kincreag.
At first Nicholas resists the offer of marriage but softens knowing that it is his dearest friend, Alan MacDonnell's dying wish. So using her powers of persuasion, and quite a bit of boldness taught to her by her sisters, Nicholas gives in.
Gillian is hopelessly attracted to her Earl, and doesn't want to settle for a "good match," so she decides to give Nicholas a love philter, but instead of making him amorous, it makes him suspicious.
Nicholas believes she is trying to poison him and the marriage gets off to a rocky start, it becomes even rockier once Gillian arrives at Castle Kincreag.
Strange things start happening and she starts to have visions. But worst of all, she believes someone may be trying to kill her? Could it be? Would Nicholas kill another wife? Gillian doesn't want to believe it, she knows he is plagued with secrets, but she's glimpsed another side to him, a vulnerable side.
Hadn't she? Or could she be seeing only what she wishes most for? Did she imagine his kindness? Was his concern not real when she'd collapsed with her head pains? Was she imagining it all or was he acting? Trying to catch her off guard? But if it wasn't him, who was it and why? And what are the visions she keeps seeing? All fingers are pointing to Nicholas, even her sisters, who are witches, think him guilty. But is he? Or are there other sources of evil at work? AND when he finds her casting a spell with her sisters, will he protect her like he promised her father or will she face the same fate as her mother?
You'll have to read to find out!
Jen Holling has done it again. With a sweep of her pen she creates such heart-wrenching emotion, and a vivid picture of what Medieval Scotland must have been like. I fell in love with Gillian from the very start, she isn't the bold heroine that we normally see, but she grows into her own women as the book progresses. The attraction and love between the two characters is heartbreakingly warm and you can't help but cheer them on. The beginning hook is so intense that you won't be able to stop reading because of all the unanswered questions swirling through your mind. I had to resist the urge to peek! This story has so many twists and turns, and a few surprises that will keep you turning pages.
Congratulations again Ms. Holling on another wonderful book!
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars! *****
Now I can't wait to read, MY SHADOW WARRIOR, the final book in the MacDonell bride series.
Intense and suspenseful but well worth it.......2006-08-14
This is the second installment of the MacDonell Brides Trilogy, a tale of three sisters (Isobel, Gillian and Rose), with special abilities whose mother was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake. Their father, in an effort to protect his daughters, sent them to different parts of England and Scotland for their own protection. No one knew of their location except him and a select few.
Many years later, the three girls are summoned back to their father's estate because he is dying. Their father has solicited three of his most trusted friends to marry each of the girls for their protection. My Devilish Scotsman is Gillian's story.
Gillian is somewhat different from Isobel and Rose. She has, so far, not shown magical abilities and it has caused her to withdraw within herself. Another important and tragic fact about Gillian is that she watched her mother die. She was gathering herbs with her when she was captured. Because Gillian was just a little girl, she was eventually released but stayed behind to watch the townspeople burn her mother. It is in this installment that the sisters discover that a curse has been cast on Gillian. The curse prevents her from using her own unique magical ability, which is to see and talk to the dead. They are able to undo the curse but unable to discover the identity of the caster.
Nicholas Lyon, Earl of Kincreag and Gillian's betrothed, is not happy about having to marry her. He hasn't had a very good track history with women. His first wife was caught cheating on him. She died from a fall of a cliff and many believe Nicholas murdered her. Also, Nicholas initially agreed to marry Isobel but then Isobel and Philip eloped and he was left feeling humiliated and jilted. Nevertheless, Nicholas owes a debt to Gillian's father and in place of Isobel he agrees to marry Gillian in her stead. Gillian, for her part, is happy to marry Nicholas. Almost from the first moment she saw him, she's felt an attraction for the dark and brooding earl.
Almost from the moment Gillian arrives at Kincreag castle, she senses a sinister presence within but cannot figure out what it is. She, of course, doesn't believe any of the stories of Nicholas murdering his first wife until attempts are made on her life as well. Everyone believes Nicholas is trying to murder her, but Gillian has complete faith in her husband. Because since their betrothal, Nicholas and Gillian have been falling in love with each other. Nicholas has always felt a sense of failure in not protecting his family from harm and he isn't about to make the same mistakes again. He would move heaven and earth to keep Gillian safe.
I really enjoy this series. Jen Holling does a great job of weaving a beautiful story filled with intertwining plot lines. The storyline, however, never plunges into total darkness. There is enough humor and poignancy to keep it light.
Darker than the first book, and much better - 3.5 stars.......2006-07-21
For so many years, Gillian felt that she was some kind of mistake, the odd one in the family with no magical powers. After years of hoping, she has given up in despair and resigned herself to the fact that she's not a real MacDonell like her sisters are. So she thought she could finally be of some importance if only she could be a countess. Thus, when the opportunity presented itself in the form of the Earl of Kincreag, Gillian is more than ready to take the role that her sister, Isobel, has turned her back on. So who cares if she is marrying the "Devil Earl?" Deep in her heart, she knows that he is innocent. But what happens when her true powers start to manifest just when she is slowly starting to break down her husband's defences?
After being cuckolded by his first wife, whose suicide was blamed on him, Nicholas Lyon is suspicious of all women. But in need of an heir, he has no choice but to remarry. Owing his life to Alan MacDonell, he will do anything to repay him, even if it means marrying another of his daughter especially after her older sister practically left him at the altar and ran off with a knight. But as long as he gets his heir, he will put up with the marriage... but then Gillian starts breaking down his defences.
MY DEVILISH SCOTSMAN is the second instalment in Jen Holling's MacDonell Brides trilogy. Featuring a more serious plotline than the first book, this deals with more magic and paranormal. I liked Gillian's character, meek at first, yet we are given the reason for this, as she was the only one who saw her mother burnt for witchcraft. I enjoyed seeing her discover her real powers and it was good to see her effect on Nicholas. As for our hero, I wasn't sure about him when I first read of him in the first book. But it was so good seeing him change and laugh again. My favorite part is when he discovers Gillian's attempt in giving him a love philter. It sure provided much entertainment.
The other two books in the trilogy are MY WICKED HIGHLANDER (book 1) and MY SHADOW WARRIOR (book 3). I recommend reading them in order as the mystery regarding the sisters' father's illness continues on from the first book.
I'm a fan........2006-05-15
I'm 22 and I still read a lot of teen intended materials because I certainly don't like the kind of books my mother reads, but I'm visiting and I'm bored so I started reading this book, and, I'm hooked. It was nothing like I expected, and who can argue with witches, magic, Scotland, and old age history?
a keeper.......2005-11-14
I read this book in one day. It kept me engrossed from the beginning til the end. If you like the TV show Charmed you will enjoy the premise to this series of books; three lovely witches each with unique paranormal gifts.
This is Gillian's story, the only member of the family without a mystical gift. Her dying father's wish is for her to marry Nicholas. I was enchanted by their love story. Even though Gillian doesn't have mystic abilities that doesn't stop her from using witchcraft to her advantage in capturing Nicholas's heart. As the story progresses so does Gillian's understanding of her own supernatural talents.
The paranormal twists throughout the book were engaging. There were a few inconsistencies that had me turning back pages to figure out what was going on. Not enough to distract me for long. I too would have appreciated even more of Gillian and Nicholas's love story. The ending was darker than the rest of the book. I wished for more time with the main characters to have them bring light back into their world. All in all this was a great book I will read again!
Product Description
Historical Romance
Average customer rating:
|
My Devilish Scotsman
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HJRQUG |
Product Description
Set 3 MacDonell Brides Series : My Devilish Scotsman My Shadow Warrior My Wicked Highlander
Book Description
This is the era of Luke Skywalker’s legacy: the Jedi Master has unified the order into a cohesive group of powerful Jedi Knights. But as the new era begins, planetary interests threaten to disrupt this time of relative peace, and Luke is plagued with visions of an approaching darkness. Evil is rising again–out of the best intentions–and it looks as if the legacy of the Skywalkers may come full circle. Honor and duty will collide with friendship and blood ties as the Skywalker and Solo clans find themselves on opposing sides of an explosive conflict with potentially devastating repercussions for both families, for the Jedi order, and for the entire galaxy.
When a mission to uncover an illegal missile factory on the planet Adumar ends in a violent ambush–from which Jedi Knight Jacen Solo and his protégé and cousin, Ben Skywalker, narrowly escape with their lives–it’s the most alarming evidence yet that sparks of political unrest are threatening to ignite into total rebellion. The governments of numerous worlds are chafing under the strict regulations of the Galactic Alliance, and diplomatic efforts to enforce compliance are failing. Fearing the worst, the Alliance readies a preemptive display of military might in a bid to bring the rogue worlds in line before an uprising erupts. The designated target of this exercise: planet Corellia–renowned for the brash independence and renegade spirit that have made its favorite son, Han Solo, a legend.
Something of a rogue himself, Jacen is nevertheless duty bound as a Jedi to stand with his uncle, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, on the side of the Galactic Alliance. But when the wary Corellians launch a counterstrike, the Alliance’s show of force–and a secret mission to disable Corellia’s crucial Centerpoint Station–give way to an armed skirmish. Once the smoke clears, the battle lines are drawn. Now the specter of full-scale war looms between a growing cadre of defiant planets and the Galactic Alliance that some fear is becoming a new Empire. And even as both sides struggle to find a diplomatic solution, mysterious acts of treachery and sabotage threaten peace efforts at every turn.
Determined to root out those behind the mayhem, Jacen follows a trail of cryptic clues to a dark rendezvous with the most shocking of revelations . . . while Luke grapples with something even more troubling: dream visions of a shadowy figure whose Force power and ruthlessness remind him of Darth Vader–a lethal enemy who strikes like a dark spirit on a mission of doom. An agent of evil who, if Luke’s visions come to pass, will bring untold pain to the Jedi Master . . . and to the entire galaxy.
Book Description
This is the era of Luke Skywalker’s legacy: the Jedi Master has unified the order into a cohesive group of powerful Jedi Knights. But as the new era begins, planetary interests threaten to disrupt this time of relative peace, and Luke is plagued with visions of an approaching darkness. Evil is rising again–out of the best intentions–and it looks as if the legacy of the Skywalkers may come full circle. Honor and duty will collide with friendship and blood ties as the Skywalker and Solo clans find themselves on opposing sides of an explosive conflict with potentially devastating repercussions for both families, for the Jedi order, and for the entire galaxy.
When a mission to uncover an illegal missile factory on the planet Adumar ends in a violent ambush–from which Jedi Knight Jacen Solo and his protégé and cousin, Ben Skywalker, narrowly escape with their lives–it’s the most alarming evidence yet that sparks of political unrest are threatening to ignite into total rebellion. The governments of numerous worlds are chafing under the strict regulations of the Galactic Alliance, and diplomatic efforts to enforce compliance are failing. Fearing the worst, the Alliance readies a preemptive display of military might in a bid to bring the rogue worlds in line before an uprising erupts. The designated target of this exercise: planet Corellia–renowned for the brash independence and renegade spirit that have made its favorite son, Han Solo, a legend.
Something of a rogue himself, Jacen is nevertheless duty bound as a Jedi to stand with his uncle, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, on the side of the Galactic Alliance. But when the wary Corellians launch a counterstrike, the Alliance’s show of force–and a secret mission to disable Corellia’s crucial Centerpoint Station–give way to an armed skirmish. Once the smoke clears, the battle lines are drawn. Now the specter of full-scale war looms between a growing cadre of defiant planets and the Galactic Alliance that some fear is becoming a new Empire. And even as both sides struggle to find a diplomatic solution, mysterious acts of treachery and sabotage threaten peace efforts at every turn.
Determined to root out those behind the mayhem, Jacen follows a trail of cryptic clues to a dark rendezvous with the most shocking of revelations . . . while Luke grapples with something even more troubling: dream visions of a shadowy figure whose Force power and ruthlessness remind him of Darth Vader–a lethal enemy who strikes like a dark spirit on a mission of doom. An agent of evil who, if Luke’s visions come to pass, will bring untold pain to the Jedi Master . . . and to the entire galaxy.
Customer Reviews:
Great Audio.......2007-08-05
WOW! This whole series is great to listen to. Marc Thompson does an excellent narration, and his impressions of Han and Luke are dead on!
Great start for a new saga.......2006-07-20
This book has it all. Action, suspense, drama, foreshadowing of events that you know are going to happen but hope the whole way through that they don't. If the rest of the books in this series can keep up with the pace and plot of this one it will be another hit saga for Star Wars.
Well that was depressing........2006-06-19
WHOA THERE. UH UM.. OK. Stutter, Gulp & Yuk. The only thoughts I have about this book would be massive spoilers. If you loved Star By Star you'll love this. In Dark Empire, Leia saved Luke from the dark side, so it can happen. But I fear history may repeat itself and balance is about to be restored.. again. This is not why I read Star Wars novels.
Quoting Robert Mc Adams - It is rather depressing how the Star Wars universe is being portrayed right now, and frankly, if this series continues on the arc it is going -- it will have killed the universe I have loved to read about for so long -- leaving me with no reason to continue reading about it.
Hope or Hopeless - We will have to see where they take this story arc. We have the makings of a new three way rebellion.
Aaron Allston - there is little of the sense of humor well got in previous Allston Books.
Audio Book - The switch to 6 hour abridgments is great. The overall production is excellent.
Amazon.com
Dave Shiflett gives us a book that is essentially a marketing research project on modern Christianity. The focus? Why are the conservative, orthodox brands of faith increasing market-share while mainline Protestant denominations are losing it? Shiflett uses personal interviews as his research tool. And there is undoubtedly a vicarious thrill as Shiflett presents hard questions to figures from both camps. For example on homosexuality, he asks the liberals whether they "…entertain the slightest worry that converting a former sin into a celebrated and even consecrated virtue might possibly have eternal consequences?" And to the conservatives, "If God is indeed omniscient and omnipresent, why [does] He allow disaster to occur, especially to those who have so closely cast their lot with him?" The answers Shiflett receives from his subjects measure out in words the true distance between the liberal and conservative positions.
Shiflett shows us that the progressive's journey starts by questioning literal Biblical interpretation. The liberal position observes that perhaps we should use the wisdom God gave us when seeking to understand and live by a Book that advises stoning for unruly children. Taking various Biblical passages like these without a grain of salt could leave us running short of rocks. In contrast, the conservative's dogmatic adherence to the same Book begins and ends with the nature and strength of faith itself. The sure belief that no matter the event, it can somehow be understood as the mysterious working of an omnipotent Creator. So the tragic events at Columbine for example (discussed in detail in the book) are not solely an indication we live in a world where people can choose to do very bad things. Instead, they are seen as evidence in the physical world of a spiritual warfare happening between God and the devil, where the eternal souls of us all are the territory in dispute. Looking at a tragedy like Columbine with these eyes reveals that "…God has a plan, and his plan is to turn evil into good."
Shiflett makes no pretense of editorial objectivity. His own views as to which group of religious leaders should perhaps worry about the exact nature of their eternal reward, and which ones will be welcomed by a majestic, sometimes foreboding God into heaven, are quite obvious. But he still gives a fair shake to subjects on both sides of the divide, presenting his questions, and recording the hopes, fears and faith he finds in the answers. And like any good marketing analysis, Exodus looks beyond the numbers and comes to some clear conclusions, one of which being that the power of orthodox Christian faith lies in its clear hope and steady assurance of what lies beyond death's door.--Ed Dobeas
Book Description
Why, in this age of moral relativism, are millions of people eager to adopt tougher and more traditional religious practices? Why are they fleeing denominations that focus on social justice rather than dogma, such as the Unitarians and Episcopalians? Why are they joining conservative churches like the Southern Baptists in record numbers?
Many articles have been written about the decline of mainstream Protestantism— especially since the Episcopal Church confirmed an openly gay bishop, sparking a fierce debate among its own members. But no author has gone behind the scenes to interview the Americans, liberal and conservative, who are at the heart of this important shift.
Journalist Dave Shiflett reveals why liberal pastors have cast aside tradition and Christian belief as they remake their churches. He shows why there are so many refugees from the mainline denominations into Roman Catholic, evangelical, and Orthodox churches.
Exodus undermines several stereotypes about conservative believers, who are better educated, wealthier, and more worldly than we assume. Many of those who flock to conservative churches don't agree with all of their new churches' teachings on issues like abortion and divorce. They don't all believe that every word of the Bible is true. Yet they're tired of being told that nearly anything goes. They hunger for the traditional Christian message of hope.
This is a fascinating book that will shatter many myths about the “religious right.”
Customer Reviews:
Repetitive but thought-provoking.......2007-07-22
In a culture that seems to be getting more secularized by the day, why are so many Americans quitting "Churches of What's Happening Now" in favor of a more daunting path? Shiflett's book discusses the decline in church attendance in mainline Protestant denominations, the beliefs of breakaway groups within these denominations who disagree with changes in traditional beliefs, and some of the burgeoning alternatives, including Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and evangelical Christianity. The point is made - repeatedly, since Shiflett has an annoying habit of repeating just about everything he writes at least three or four times - that the conservative counterrevolution is not a flight into a "comfort zone," as some might describe it, but a movement full of potential risks, whether they be a general alienation from pop culture or (as one Catholic priest interviewed herein firmly believes) the potential for future outright persecution of religious believers. Anyone who believes that Catholics and evangelicals are "poorly educated and easily led," as a leading newspaper notoriously opined some time ago, will be quickly set straight after reading the diverse and well-thought-out opinions expressed by the individuals interviewed by Shiflett. One major trend in the growth of orthodoxy - the Orthodox Jewish movement, exemplified in pop culture by Michael Medved (no, I don't include Madonna in that mix) - is not touched upon. Since the focus of the book is on Christianity, this was not entirely surprising, but it still seems odd, since Orthodox Jewry definitely ties into Shiflett's theme that seeking out a more rigorous faith has become a profoundly anti-establishmentarian act. Mormonism is briefly mentioned, but it, too, is passed over. Despite these omissions, the book is well worth reading by anyone who wants to understand why "Christianity Lite" has proven to be far less palatable and satisfying to millions of people around the world than its practitioners and proselytizers could have imagined when they set out to recreate a church more "in tune" with the modern world.
Prophetic view on the future of Christianity.......2006-09-28
Shiflett has an eye for the future. In EXODUS he keenly observes that Christian churches are in the midst of a major change. The identity of churches (and individual believers) are less identified as Catholic/Lutheran/Methodist/Presbyterian, and increasingly identified as fundamentalist/evangelical/mainline/liberal. While he does not dwell on these blossoming distinctions, he does call attention to the undisputed fact that the liberal end of the spectrum is in decline and the conservative end is growing. He spends most of his time on the perspectives of people on each side of the divide, reporting on their views of the various churches and why they decide to stay or leave. As the pastor of an evangelical church who was trained in a mainline seminary, I have had first-hand experience of his conclusions. Give it a read - especially the introduction.
This "I'm Okay. You're Not Okay" Analysis of Religion is Not Helpful.......2006-06-21
Why is that some people have such an either/or mentality toward religion and the practice thereof by others? We live in a country with many diverse religions and all different stripes within those religions. No one form of Christianity has a corner on truth. Thankfully, in our society we can all still find the best fit for our personal belief systems and we don't have to be crammed into a "one-size-fits-all" church. There is room at the table for all Christians.
Recommended reading: Think Again: A Response for Fundamentalism's Claim on Christianity.
As for the notion that ALL liberal Christian churches are losing members and ALL conservative church are growing, that is not my personal experience. I belong to a thriving and growing LIBERAL protestant church. My experience is that churches that take conservative stands on issues are growing and churches that take liberal stands on issues are growing. The churches that are dying are those that do not stand for anything, that just want to trod a boring neutral ground with sermons that are safe and give no meaningful answers for life's questions.
We all owe a debt of gratitude to the historic tradition of liberal Christianity in America. Without this entity we would not have had the abolition, civil rights and sufferage movements. Many of us can thank our 19th century liberal Christian ancestors for our expanded freedoms today.
The more liberal churches may not be as noisy about their faith, but, trust me, they are out there and they are gaining members. They're just not as "showy" about it as their conservative counterparts.
Critics Miss the Point.......2006-06-16
As someone formally trained in the sociology of religion, I take issue with those who criticize this book because it is not "scholarly" enough.
For those who want to read how Darwin, Marx, Freud and (especially) Rousseau have undermined Orthodox Christianity in North America and Europe, they can read another book.
This book is not a scholarly treatise but a jeremiad, driving home a compelling central thesis: mainline denominations, in their thirst to make social relevancy the highest good have, paradoxically, ceased to be relevant at all.
Inaccurate Title.......2006-05-29
I liked the book, so this reads harsher than it probably should: Do not buy this book if you want to learn "Why Americans are fleeing liberal churches for conservative Christianity." As it turns out, Shiflett is not really interested in providing an explanation for this "Exodus." In the Introduction, Shiflett summarizes Dean Kelley's argument in "Why Conservative Churches are Growing" and seems to agree with it, raising no objections and saying that the 1972 argument is "still supported by the data." What Shiflett set out to do was, as he acknowledges, more modest - "to try to tell the story of mainline decline and traditionalist growth through the eyes of individuals on both sides of the divide" (xviii). In other words, the book is about how the participants experience, talk about, and make sense of the "Exodus." There is no fault in this, except that the title suggests a very different kind of book. The strengths and weaknessness of the book he did write are covered well by the other reviewers.
Books:
- Folly and Glory: A Novel (Berrybender Narratives)
- High Country: A Novel (Literature of the American West)
- Hockey Drills for Puck Control
- Horseman, Pass By : A Novel
- Insiders: Take It Off (Insiders Novel)
- JLA/Avengers: The Collector's Edition
- Justice League: I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League
- Krik? Krak!
- Legacy of the Drow Gift Set: The Legacy, Starless Night, Siege of Darkness, and Passage to Dawn (Forgotten Realms: Legacy of the Drow)
- Lovin' You Is Wrong
Books Index
Books Home
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Bowling: How to Master the Game
The Ultimate Guide To Weight Training for Bowling (The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Sports, 5) (The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Sports, 5)
Sport Psychology Library: Bowling
From Gutterballs to Strikes
