The Crimson Petal and the White

The Crimson Petal and the White
Average customer rating:

Great Expectations Unfulfilled

What are those positive reviews all about?!!

Fantastic Story, Over Too Soon

What a useless, 2nd-rate ending!

Way too long for what you get out of it.

The Crimson Petal and the White
Michel Faber
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | British | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0156028778

Amazon.com

Although it's billed as "the first great 19th-century novel of the 21st century," The Crimson Petal and the White is anything but Victorian. The story of a well-read London prostitute named Sugar, who spends her free hours composing a violent, pornographic screed against men, Michel Faber's dazzling second novel dares to go where George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss and the works of Charles Dickens could not. We learn about the positions and orifices that Sugar and her clients favor, about her lingering skin condition, and about the suspect ingredients of her prophylactic douches. Still, Sugar believes she can make a better life for herself. When she is taken up by a wealthy man, the perfumer William Rackham, her wings are clipped, and she must balance financial security against the obvious servitude of her position. The physical risks and hardships of Sugar's life (and the even harder "honest" life she would have led as a factory worker) contrast--yet not entirely--with the medical mistreatment of her benefactor's wife, Agnes, and beautifully underscore Faber's emphasis on class and sexual politics. In theme and treatment, this is a novel that Virginia Woolf might have written, had she been born 70 years later. The language, however, is Faber's own--brisk and elastic--and, after an awkward opening, the plethora of detail he offers (costume, food, manners, cheap stage performances, the London streets) slides effortlessly into his forward-moving sentences. When Agnes goes mad, for instance, "she sings on and on, while the house is discreetly dusted all around her and, in the concealed and subterranean kitchen, a naked duck, limp and faintly steaming, spreads its pimpled legs on a draining board." Despite its 800-plus pages, The Crimson Petal and the White turns out to be a quick read, since it is truly impossible to put down. --Regina Marler

Book Description

Meet Sugar, a nineteen-year-old prostitute in nineteenth-century London who yearns for escape to a better life. From the brothel of the terrifying Mrs. Castaway, she begins her ascent through society, meeting a host of lovable, maddening, unforgettable characters on the way. They begin with William Rackham, an egotistical perfume magnate whose empire is fueled by his lust for Sugar; his unhinged, child-like wife Agnes; his mysteriously hidden-away daughter, Sophie; and his pious brother Henry, foiled in his devotional calling by a persistently less-than-chaste love for the Widow Fox. All this is overseen by assorted preening socialites, drunken journalists, untrustworthy servants, vile guttersnipes, and whores of all stripes and persuasions.

Teeming with life, this is a big, juicy must-read of a novel that has enthralled hundreds of thousands of readers-and will continue to do so for years to come.

Customer Reviews:

Great Expectations Unfulfilled.......2007-10-06

I kept reading, despite the dullness of the plot, waiting patiently for the story twists to unfold that would take me into the lives of extraordinary people in an exrtroardinary story that I knew had to be there somewhere based on reading reviews like Publisher's Weekly. But the plot remained bland and never wavered, never rose up out of undevelopment. It's extraordinary how in so many pages nothing worthy of praise can occur. (If I want Dickens-like, I read Dickens. And This Is Not In the Same Ball Park with Dickens) Does one go with the first plot that comes into the mind? What a waste to not make these characters unforgettable after so many words.

What are those positive reviews all about?!!.......2007-09-08

I bought this book based on all the wonderful review "blurbs" - from the NYT, to Publisher's Review, and even more low-brow People Mag etc.

I looked forward to reading it over a long weekend -800 plus pages! yay!

However, I could not "get into" this book at all. I finally gave up at the 100 or so page mark. Characters not likeable or interesting, no compelling story line, frankly a chore to read.

After having "quit this book", I decided to check the real people reviews on Amazon and see if others had the same negative response (as compared to the professional reviewers on staff at mags/newspapers) and I see real people had a much more mixed response.

In particular, I saw lots of complaints about the ending (which wasn't one?!). Am I glad I gave up at the hundred page mark!

Fantastic Story, Over Too Soon.......2007-08-28

This book captivated me immediately and I suspended all but the most necessary of my obligations until I could finish it. But, alas, it was over too soon. At over 800 pages, I would have thought I'd be exhausted and ready for a new read, but I want to know what happens next for Sugar, Agnes, Mrs. Fox, William Rackham, and even Caroline, who only appears briefly but ties the book together in a subtle thread.

The device this author uses is pure genius - knowing that he's writing across a century to a modern-day audience, and starting us with one character and then, as that character meets another, having us follow along with the new face. None of the story's inhabitants are particularly likeable, except for little Sophie, but it doesn't matter. I still wanted to get to the next page and see what would happen for them. Highly recommended, and I'd love to see a sequel.

What a useless, 2nd-rate ending!.......2007-08-15

Pointless characters, nowhere plot devices - jerked around for 10 days of my life to get to a non-ending. Was it really worth it just because you were too sick of your own material to wrap the last 3rd of the book with satisfying or at least sensible endings? You lost me, buddy.

Way too long for what you get out of it........2007-08-06

What attracted me in the first place to this book is the fact that I enjoy historical fiction. I also enjoy books set in London during the 19th century. I figured based on the desciptive of the story that there would be enough action and drama to carry 900 pages. Wrong! What a snooze-fest.
I can see that some of my contemporaries really liked the book; that's fair. But honestly, I really could not see where the author could not have condensed a lot of what was written into a more compact story. And yes! The ending -- did the author simply get tired of writing in the middle of the page?

The Crimson Petal and the White: A Novel

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The Crimson Petal and the White: A Novel

Manufacturer: Harcourt, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0965456919

The Crimson Petal and the White - Parts 1 & 2

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The Crimson Petal and the White - Parts 1 & 2
Michel Faber
Manufacturer: Recorded Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: 1841978213

Product Description

Faber fills this novel with steamy sex, prostitution, poverty, madness, super-human forbearance, abduction, and graphic descriptions of life in Victorian England. Sugar, a well-read prostitute, meets William, heir to a perfumery business, at the brothel of Mrs. Castaway, who spends her days cutting Mary Magdalene pictures from religious periodicals. Jill Tanner lures us into this world, disclosing the story's many intimate details in a conspiratorial hush. With distinct voices and subtle inflection, Tanner reads with such understanding of the characters that we leave even the most tragically flawed with open-armed acceptance. K.A.T. 2005 Audie Award Finalist © AudioFile 2005

Average customer rating:

Ending a disappointment..

The Crimson Petal and the White
Michel Faber
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers Canada, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NW48J4

Customer Reviews:

Ending a disappointment.........2007-07-15

I enjoyed this book very much, anticipating every page until I got to the last page, and I felt like the author just stopped writing. Even his own words indicate his just stopping.. it was so frustrating that i do not want to read any more from this author. This is a good book, the story line is interesting and his discriptions put you right there. But the ending sucks.

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Crimson Petal & the White
Michel Faber
Manufacturer: HARCOURT INC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VURUFW

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Crimson Petal & the White 1ST Edition
Michael Faber
Manufacturer: HARCOURT INC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000Q0W3H2

Crimson Petal & the White 1ST Edition Signed

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Crimson Petal & the White 1ST Edition Signed
Michel Faber
Manufacturer: HARCOURT BRACE & CO@
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PKY99S

Crimson Petal & the White Signed 1ST Edition 4TH

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Crimson Petal & the White Signed 1ST Edition 4TH
Michel Faber
Manufacturer: HARCOURT BRACE & CO@
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000Q9PA7S

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The Crimson Petal and the White
Michel Faber
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NXS4IE

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Crimson Petal and the White
Michel Faber
Manufacturer: HARCOURT, INC.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OKIQT8

Book Description

Hailed as "captivating" (Booklist) and "exquisitely sensual" (Library Journal), Jo Beverley's Malloren novels capture the unforgettable world of Georgian England. Now her fans can discover why the book that started it all, My Lady Notoriousx, has been called "storytelling at its best" (Rendezvous).

Customer Reviews:

I love Jo Beverley series.......2007-10-09

Having read the Rogue (Regency) series, I have just settled into reading the Malloren series, written about Georgian England. I am thrilled so far. The reviews here have suggested it was hard to believe the charade could go so long with Lady Chastity acting as a young man, but that is the fun of this type of writing. One has o suspend disbelief a bit and get into the characters. I had no trouble doing so with this book. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I do wish the Earl of Wargrave, Chastity's father, were not so cruel as it was a bit hard to swallow but I love the Marquess of Rothgar. (He reminds me of the Duke of Bewcastle in the Mary Balogh "Slightly" series.) This is going to be a fun series! Thank you, Jo Beverley. You are the best. I am so glad you are working on one more book for this series.

Shockingly Fantastic.......2007-06-06

This first book in the Malloren series was at times shocking and always fantastically good. Cyn Malloren is returning to his home and family after a short recuperation from war wounds. His overprotective brother has always opposed his military career and now Cyn wishes for a new adventure instead of a boring forced convalescence at home. He gets what he wishes for when he is kidnapped by a mysterious duo who turn out to be sisters Verity and Chastity Ware. Chastity is in disguise as a man but does not fool Cyn for a minute and he is at once intrigued and attracted to the mysterious "Charles". Charles is trying to help her widowed sister who is fleeing their mad father and her dangerous brother in law who want guardenship of her infant son. Verity hopes to marry her childhood sweetheart and hopes they can make it to him before their father or her brother in law catches them. Charles, the "Notorious Lady Chastity" is known as the social darling who was found with a man in her bed but refused to marry him. Chastity was set up by her father and Henry when she refused to marry him and after failing to fall in with their plans, her father beats her and shaves her head. Chastity then decides to help her sister run away and they kidnap Cyn to take his carriage but he soon convinces them that he wants an adventure and is all too willing to help them thwart their father. He allows Chastity to believe she is fooling him with her male disguise but he plans to have her in his bed and in his life as his wife, no matter how many odds are against them. When they finally give into their feelings, events transpire that reveal an evil plot in which her father is a major player...if they cannot uncover proof all may be lost....

This was so very good I never wanted to put it down. Although it is fiction the awful things that a father will do to further his own gain sickens me and knowing that back then females had no right but to do whatever their male relatives command was heartbreaking.....Verity and Chastity are both abused and used for their father's gain and even their brother is reluctant to help them. As far as the Malloren's, what a wonderful fictional family. I absolutely cannot wait to read each one's own story. These books are passionate, humorous, sprinkled with historical intrigue and just plain fun.

I was a bit disappointed by this one........2006-06-06

Call me crazy, but the idea of the hero in women's clothing and makeup was a total turnoff. And the fact that he appeared to enjoy it so much only worsened it for me. Add that to the author describing him as femininely beautiful and I had a nasty picture in my head that I couldn't get rid off.

Fort's treatment of Chastity was horrifying. He verbally and physically abuses her and never asks for forgiveness. I know his story is told in "Something Wicked," but I'm not sure I can ever forgive him for slapping Chastity across the face. I don't think he deserves Elf!

Chastity's father is a terrible addition to this book. I know he had to be portrayed as cruel, but Cyn should have beaten him to a pulp for it. The Earl verbally and physically abuses Chastity and it really makes for an uncomfortable read.

I am going to try to read some of the other books in the series. Hopefully they improve!

Great beginning to the Malloren series!.......2004-10-13

I really enjoy the works of Jo Beverley. I enjoyed the rouges series and feel this group will be super as well. Cyn and Chasity (Charles - as he meets her while she is pretending to be a young man) really have great chemistry. Cyn immediately realizes she is posing as a man but feels in his gut that she is terrified and needs his help. He also believes that she will not trust him if he unmasks her - so for at least a third of the book they interact both as males - and some of the scenes are quite amusing. The plot is a complicated one as the background of Chasity's father and his brutal ways of dealing with his daughters is reveled - and the protection of the highly regarded Malloren family will be the only thing that will perhaps save Chasity from scandal and ruin. I highly recommend this book!!

A keeper!!.......2004-07-06

This is actually the last book that I read in the Malloren series, and find that it did not disappoint me. I didn't like Chastity Ware at first but later on I came to realize that she is a very brave woman for going through what she did. I didn't like the parts where she confronted her father, not because it was badly-written, but because it was so well-written I was fearing so much for what was going to happen to Chastity half the time and the other half I was getting soo angry at the father and so frustrated that Chastity can do nothing about it but take it. It was really REALLY horrible what he did to her, I can't imagine anyone treating his daughter this way, and this was much more shocking than the whole orgy thing. This is what Jo Beverley's writing can do to you...it makes you totally put yourself in the character's shoes and emphasize, and I did a lot of that throughout the novel.

There are many moments of laughter and lightness, and I loved Cyn's outrageousness, and I can't imagine he can end up with anyone else other than Chastity, who can be just as outrageous as he is. The only problem (if you can call it that) is the overshadowing of Cyn by his big brother Rothgar and also a little by Chastity's big brother Fort. Maybe I was a little biased since I have read Fort and Rothgar's stories already, but even if I hadn't I would have had my attention diverted to these two. Rothgar is definitely intriguing, sometimes even a little supernatural, and you can just wait to get into his mind and see what makes him tick 'cause it's like he's always under control!!I loved the scenes with him and Chastity (that scene on the stairway!!) and I've even felt a twinge of regret that she is head-over-heels for Cyn already...because it seems that Rothgar and her have a good connection.

The ending was pulled off a little too well...everything just fell into place like that. I would have liked more complications/surprises. Of course, you have Rothgar to thank for that. Overall I give this book 5 stars because there are so many wonderful characters with vibrant personalities in here and it made me cry and laugh and not want to put the book down. Cyn wasn't my favorite hero, but him and Chastity made a perfect couple.

4 Titles By Jo Beverley : Lord of My Heart The Devil's Heiress Devilish My Lady Notorious
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4 Titles By Jo Beverley : Lord of My Heart The Devil's Heiress Devilish My Lady Notorious
Jo Beverley
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Beverley, Jo | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000QTW0NA

Product Description

multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.

5 Titles: My Lady Notorious; Tempting Fortune; Something Wicked; Secrets of the Night; Devilish (Malloren Family)

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5 Titles: My Lady Notorious; Tempting Fortune; Something Wicked; Secrets of the Night; Devilish (Malloren Family)
Jo Beverley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WFNAQE

Product Description

The first five books in the Malloren Family Series: My Lady Notorious; Tempting Fortune; Something Wicked; Secrets of the Night; Devilish

First 6 Titles in the Malloren Series: (1) My Lady Notorious; (2) Tempting Fortune; (3) Something Wicked; (4) Secrets of the Night; (5) Devilish; (6) Winter Fire (Set of 6)

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First 6 Titles in the Malloren Series: (1) My Lady Notorious; (2) Tempting Fortune; (3) Something Wicked; (4) Secrets of the Night; (5) Devilish; (6) Winter Fire (Set of 6)
Jo Beverley
Manufacturer: Various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WNQFVI

6 - JO BEVERLEY - MY LADY NOTORIOUS - HAZARD - DANGEROUS JOY - SOMETHING WICKED - WINTER FIRE - TEMPTING FORTUNE

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6 - JO BEVERLEY - MY LADY NOTORIOUS - HAZARD - DANGEROUS JOY - SOMETHING WICKED - WINTER FIRE - TEMPTING FORTUNE
JO BEVERLEY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000W45YEG

6 - JO BEVERLEY - MY LADY NOTORIOUS - HAZARD - DNAGEROUS JOY - SOMETHING WICKED - WINTER FIRE - TEMPTIMG FORTUNE

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6 - JO BEVERLEY - MY LADY NOTORIOUS - HAZARD - DNAGEROUS JOY - SOMETHING WICKED - WINTER FIRE - TEMPTIMG FORTUNE
JO BEVERLEY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000W481ZA

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My Lady Notorious
Jo; Beverly, Jo Beverley
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000N8Q1I4

Deathstalker Coda
Average customer rating:

This book just plain reeked.

All good things must end, even the wildest space opera ride of all time

5 Stars for a Space Opera

The unfortunate conclusion

What the???

Deathstalker Coda
Simon R. Green
Manufacturer: Roc Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Green, Simon R. | ( G ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Space Opera | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0451460111

Book Description

As foretold, Owen Deathstalker has returned to save the Empire from the mysterious entity known as the Terror-leaving his descendant Lewis with the task of leading an army against the legions of the madman who has usurped the throne.

Customer Reviews:

This book just plain reeked........2006-12-31

I am sorry I bought it. This book was horrible, from beginning to end. It was nothing more then a rehash of the first books and provided nothing original at all. I am embarrassed to even claim to have read it. I hope Mr. Green, who has written some very fine pieces of science fiction, goes back to the drawing board and figures out what to do with his career. If no one will buy any of his books unless the word, "Deathstalker" is in the title, then I feel for him, because he is a much better author then he let on in this book or the two that proceeded it.

All good things must end, even the wildest space opera ride of all time.......2006-08-12

After seven previous novels totaling thousands of pages, two intergalactic revolutions, the deaths of billions of people across a vast spectrum of home worlds, the apocalyptic threat of two all-but-unstoppable alien forces, and heaven only knows how many humorous remarks by a succession of over-the-top characters, the Deathstalker saga finally comes to an end, I am sad to report, in Deathstalker Coda. I'm hoping Simon R. Green will pull another Deathstalker rabbit out of his hat at some point, but it really looks like Deathstalker Coda brings one of the most frolicking space opera series of all time to its completion. It should come as no surprise when I suggest to you that you shouldn't start your Deathstalker journey here - at a minimum, you should first read Deathstalker Legacy and Deathstalker Return because those two novels chronicle the final chapter in the life of the universe's greatest hero. For the full back-story to the climactic events of Deathstalker Coda, however, you really should read all of the Deathstalker novels. I promise it won't hurt a bit, as they are all incredibly entertaining and quite addictive.

As this novel opens, more than two centuries have passed since Owen Deathstalker, quiet historian turned intergalactic hero, and his band of unforgettable rebels overthrew the despicable Empress Lionstone XIV, stopped the galaxy-destroying power of a mysterious alien force called The Revenant, and ushered in (after a lot more fighting) a new era of peace throughout the galaxy. The golden age ended, however, when the power-hungry Finn Durandal betrayed basically everyone and usurped the throne from the rightful King Douglas. (One thing that has not changed over the years, however, is the Deathstalker luck, as Owen's ancestor Lewis has been branded an outlaw after running off with Douglas' beautiful fiancée.) Under Durandal's capriciously iron rule, the worlds' enforcers of justice have been decimated, and billions of citizens once again suffer under the megalomaniacal despotism of a royal fiend. And that's not even the bad news. All of these woes tend to pale in comparison to the approaching threat of the Terror, a destructive, world-eating force that dwarfs even the unparalleled horrors of The Revenant. Since Owen's disappearance two centuries earlier, legend has said that the Deathstalker would return when his people desperately needed him. It seemed pretty unlikely to those of us who witnessed his death, but return he has - just in time to get the shock of his life (upon learning just who and what the Terror really is).

There is no shortage of heroes and fiends in the world of the Deathstalker, and virtually every single character is larger than life. This is space opera pushed to its extremes, which makes for a wild and bloody ride all the way to the very end. I must admit, however, that there's a sort of a dual nature to this story. On the one hand, you have Lewis Deathstalker and his allies fighting to overthrow self-proclaimed emperor Finn Durandal, while on the other hand you have Owen Deathstalker setting out alone to stop the threat of The Terror. These two narrative streams don't truly flow together until the very end, which makes this novel a little less enjoyable than Green's earlier efforts, but the conclusion really does tie everything together nicely. Those who have read the first five novels know that the end of that original series lacked a sense of closure, with the fates of two beloved characters ringing a little less than true. With Deathstalker Coda, that sense of closure is finally achieved, making for a conclusion that does not disappoint the devoted Deathstalker fan.

Green's ability to keep so many characters and so much history straight across such an extensive, action-packed series is an achievement in and of itself, as is his remarkable ability to keep the story moving at a brisk pace with nary a moment to rest along the way. Owen's story in its totality requires quite a commitment from the reader, but all the thousands of pages making up the complete saga seem far too few for those of us who would love to see the Deathstalker story go on indefinitely. It's been an extended adrenaline rush, as I can honestly say I've never enjoyed a series as much as I have flat-out enjoyed every single minute of the Deathstalker saga. Owen, you will be missed - but you will certainly never be forgotten.

5 Stars for a Space Opera.......2006-07-22

Simon R. Green returns to the rich, vibrant universe he created for the Deathstalker series. In this book, the seventh book in the series, Green leaves behind the characters which he worked very hard to create for the first six books to focus on their successors. If you enjoy space operas, this is one of the finest. Complex charater motivation is played out across a galaxy Green has populated with science fiction horrors and wonders. While there are many factions and characters, this book (and series) never becomes difficult to follow. Mind-candy at its most delicious.

The unfortunate conclusion.......2006-07-11

I have read the entire series... and while I have been used the occasional bad bit of writing and plot tie ups in the series ( usually only in sections of a book ) I was very saddened to see that almost the entire book was cliched and ( I really hate to say this ) badly written. Dialogue between characters was weak almost as if I was reading a rough draft. And it appeared that the writer was just trying to finish the book with as few loose ends as possible.

I almost really hope that Mr. Green did not write this book but someone else finished it for him, it would explain many of the amauterish mistakes I would catch.

Simon R. Green's books are among my many favorite's. I still reread the fist Deathstalker book and Blue Moon Rising. The Hawk and Fisher series is excellent light reading. I am just sad to see such a conclusion to a story that swept me up in its mythos and took me along for a ride.

What the???.......2005-11-09

Simon Green's Deathstalker series was one of the best I have ever read, untill this book came out. Plots that took several hundred pages to set up were resolved in the blink of an eye. It seemed like that Green set out to finish the series on a long weekend. What a total waste of money.

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Deathstalker Coda

Manufacturer: GOLLANCZ (ORIO)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GZ9D8Y

Average customer rating:

Deathstalker Coda

Manufacturer: GOLLANCZ (ORIO)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GSMVCQ

What We Can't Not Know: A Guide
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Wowie

What You Can't NOT Know

Pure gold.

A Challenge to Contemporary Society

Silly and shallow.

What We Can't Not Know: A Guide
J. Budziszewski
Manufacturer: Spence Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Ethics & Morality | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Political | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Church & State | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Philosophy & Religion | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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Written on the Heart: The Case for Natural Law

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ASIN: 1890626546

Book Description

J. Budziszewski's newest book is about the lost world of common truths—about what we all really know about right and wrong.

We are passing through an eerie phase of history. The things that everyone really knows are treated as unheard of, and the principles of decency are attacked as indecent. Exposing the emptiness of contemporary moral fashions, Budziszewski explores the rules of human conduct that we can't not know.

Budziszewski's purpose is to "bolster the confidence of plain people in the rational foundations of their common moral sense." There are certain moral truths—"as real as arithmetic"—that are part of the equipment of a rational mind. He describes the basic principles of morality known to all men, explains why those principles are under attack, and demonstrates that we do in fact know what we think we know.

Addressing "the persuaded, the half-persuaded, and the wish-I-were-persuaded," Budziszewski shows Protestants, Catholics, and Jews the unanimity of their traditions on the common truths. And what about the unpersuaded, those who deny the reality of a moral law? They are on the other side of a dispute over the basic norms for human life. Civility, Budziszewski insists, does not require denying the unprecedented gulf between the two sides. What's needed are both charity and clarity, which Budziszewski provides in abundance.

"A few times in a generation, if we are fortunate, moral intelligence finds a voice as lucid, engaging, and relentless as that of J. Budziszewski," says Richard John Neuhaus, publisher of First Things.

Customer Reviews:

Wowie.......2007-07-25

Not brain candy. Nutrition for your head. I would recommend you read it, whoever you are.

What You Can't NOT Know.......2007-05-19

This book is a perfect example of the best in critical thinking. Intelligent and well focused on what we need to know to be human, made in the image and likeness of God.

Pure gold........2006-02-14

I have read hundreds of books on religion, morality, and philosophy, but Budziszewski has taught me much that I did not know, or at least realize. C. S. Lewis' Abolition of Man is wise warning to an age in which we tinker with the formula for man: but Dr. B goes beyond Lewis. His work is like the anti-dote to a deadly pandemic.

In my book, Jesus and the Religions of Man, I asked, "Where did Marx go wrong?" I pointed out that Marxists created a three-fold hierarchy of moral values for "the classes, the masses, and the enlightened." They criticized capitalists for oppressing the poor, nagged ordinary people to work hard, don't spit, and take thought for comrades, and justified their own actions by a loose "end-justifies the means" code. The existence of these three systems side by side I found not only hypocritical, but ironic, since Marx himself said communism "abolishes" all morality. But I did not have an explanation for the phenomena, beyond noting that moral law seems hard to abolish.

Budziszewski does not say much about Marxism, but he does explain this, and similar, behavior. He argues that "deep conscience" exists in everyone, and that ultimate values -- neatly summarized by the Ten Commandments -- are indestructable. His writing is lucid and brilliantly (and perhaps deceptively) simple. Even though this book is chock-full of interesting ideas, it is easy to read.

I found two main weaknesses, one negative, the other positive. The negative weakness is that Dr. B's case would be not only easier to digest, but also stronger if he referred to non-Western cultures more. (Having lived many years in and studied several Asian cultures, examples that confirm his argument spring to mind.) The positive weakness is that Dr. B argues in too much the Ivan Karamazov fashion -- cherry-picking newspaper clippings of sordid acts, and holding them up to our noses as if they were "where the culture is going." His arguments about sexual promiscuity and abortion suffer less from this problem. And some of the stuff he dredges up is truly frightening.

One star reviews below may perhaps be explained by the fact that Budziszewski does not do what I just did -- critique an error in another culture -- but attacks the "culture of death" in the West. The reaction often shows more emotion than careful thought. Consider:

(1) "B gathers up all his personal prejudices and political opinions and declares them 'natural law.'" Not really. In fact, "B" focuses on the Ten Commandments, which was in existence well before any modern political party, and has close parallels in (for example) the Buddhist and Taoist traditions. (Including bans against killing babies in the womb.)

(2) "B's conversion to Catholicism demands that he opposes birth control and abortion." In fact he opposed abortion long before becoming a Catholic. Indeed, he joined the Catholic church the same year this book was published.

(3) The book "might be impressive for those who mistake religious superstition for reason." If the critic means Augustine, Aquinas, Pascal, Kepler, and Lewis would love it, I think so, too.

(4) Two critics accuse Dr. B of "preaching to the choir." "Why write a book for people who are already convinced they are in the moral right because the Bible sys so?" As he makes clear, the Bible says NO ONE is in the moral right, including the choir. We can all benefit from Dr. B's work of making the logic of sin and rationalization clearer, because these are forces that work on everyone. Besides which, members of the choir live in a world where these forces go largely unchecked, and in which we are called to be "salt and light." Anyone, including skeptics, may benefit by thinking more clearly about right and wrong.

(5) Another complaint is about a "substantial section about ID" which the reviewer found "distant from a philosopher's roots" and "extreme." I have my doubts about ID. But I only found one long paragraph on the subject, the relevance of which was clear. Besides, I have recently read books by philosophers who made evolution a centerpiece of their skeptical philopophies -- what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

(6) One person is mightily distressed that Dr. B defines an agnostic as someone who "claims ignorance about God." He calls these "loaded words" that indicate a "weak and desperate intellect." But "a" means "not," and "gnostic" means "knowing" -- is "ignorant" so loaded a synonym for "not knowing?" In fact Thomas Huxley, who invented the term "agnostic," used the word "ignorant" himself to explain his view. But perhaps the reviewer was ig -- I mean, did not know that.

(7) Further: "An agnostic's contention that it is impossible to know whether there is a God is the most rock solidly honest viewpoint that any person can take." Really? This claim implies that the agnostic can somehow KNOW that God cannot possibly reveal Himself to man. How can anyone possibly know that? It seems to me simple confession of ignorance is far more reasonable.

(8) Finally, "Every sensible Christian is convinced they can't know they're right, therein lies faith." This reader is confused about how Christians understand faith. See the anthology in "Faith and Reason" on my web page, christthetao.com, for quotes by leading Christian thinkers down through the centuries.

It is not surprisingly that some nails complain when Dr. Bud hits them resoundingly on the head! But as the Proverbs say, "faithful are the wounds of a friend." Read this thoughtful, essential book, and see if people (including ourselves) act like that. Then pass it on to a friend.

BTW: For more on Dr. B's claim that God is known universally, see the chapter on "The Non-History of God" in my book, Jesus and the Religions of Man.

A Challenge to Contemporary Society.......2006-02-04

"By contrast with surface conscience, deep conscience cannot be erased, cannot be mistaken, and is the same in every human being. The only way to tamper with it is self-deception - telling myself that I don't know what I really do." ~J. Budziszewski

Society seems to be unraveling in ways our ancestors could never have imagined. This unraveling seems based in a deeply rooted rejection of what we know to be true.

In our struggle to survive physically, emotionally and spiritually, we confront an undeniable force that can at times make us consider our lives from a completely new vantage point. In order to defend our own right to pleasure, existence and absence of pain we may in fact make decisions that leave us living in the open grave of consequence. Half dying inside, half alive to the world, we may try to find our way back to what we have always known, that place where we can make the right decisions and experience a rebirth or a renewal of the mind. Can we ever find true happiness if we deny the natural law written on our hearts?

Like an ancient warrior for truth, J. Budziszewski shows the way back to a world of true compassion. By drawing on his knowledge of wisdom traditions, he explores our deepest consciousness, the deeply held beliefs of all people and all cultures. He compares the thought processes of various philosophical traditions and then explains the significance of natural law in our modern culture and makes reasonable conclusions from startling evidence. He gives insight into modern art, explains the dangers of desensitization and laments the lack of true compassion.

What is false compassion?
What is the left hand of God?
Why should feelings not become our masters?
Is postmodernism a rebirth of Sophism?
What is the real purpose of remorse, confession, atonement, reconciliation and justification?
What will abortion and medical infanticide eventually lead to?
What is the true goal of cloning?
Why do people in some countries fear their doctors and need to carry cards to
explain why they don't want to be killed if hospitalized?
Why does guilt appear as depression and even suicide?
Why do some people fail to feel guilty or is there a deeper guilt without feelings?

While Budziszewski bases his logical thought processes on evidence and intense study of our culture and cultures before us, he doesn't not address the deepest emotional needs of human beings and how our need to be loved and accepted causes us to at times make very irrational decisions. (He covers reason perverted by passion in more detail in his first book.) These decisions could be the result of low self-esteem, abuse, choices between ending your life or finding meaning. He briefly discusses the ways in which human beings can become "ethically defective" or at least "become in need of realignment with natural law." His explanation of the biblical Decalogue succeeds in expanding our awareness of modern application.

It is easy to say what should be, but not as easy to address what is. To live a moral life, you almost have to deny yourself all that you know will harm you in the future. One of the problems with life as we know it is that we obviously do not always comprehend the consequences of our actions. There is a delicate balance that must be formed to create harmony and until we can create this harmony in ourselves, there is little hope for peace in the world.

What We Can't Not Know is a beautiful awakening to what "should be" and "how we can bring our soul back into an alignment with natural law." To love our neighbor may very well mean we have to increase our own self-esteem or increase our knowledge about how our actions will affect our fellow human beings. To do anything else is to live blindly and to allow those fueling our deception to lead us blindly. The power in J. Budziszewski's writing is how it awakens what can be suppressed, hidden and denied.

The search for truth then becomes a search for what we already know to be true. We can then no longer say a person is not a person if we see human life as a gift from God or that we are created in God's image. The very basis of this book is a belief in God, although the concepts are very logical because they are based on real-life experiences. Are atheists really rejecting what they truly know? Do they rather wish there wasn't a God than know there isn't a God? How does denial play itself out in our lives and how do we overcome our immediate impulses to do the wrong thing when it feels right?

The logical thought processes will in no doubt appeal to anyone who is searching for the very basics of how to live and once those elements fall into place, there is a new understanding of every challenge presented. One of the most enlightening moments in this book was understanding how we all convince ourselves that we don't know what we truly do know.

You may also wish to read "The Revenge of Conscience" and "Written on the Heart" before reading this map leading the way out of destructive thought processes and moral neutrality.

~The Rebecca Review

Silly and shallow. .......2005-12-26

This book might be impressive to those who mistake religious superstition for reason, but any intelligent reader can easily see through its numerous holes. Basically, Budziszewski gathers up all his personal prejudices and political opinions -- and then declares them "natural law". His conversion to Catholicism demands that he oppose birth control and abortion, so -- voila -- he blithes declares these notions to be 'natural and moral'.

That's the kind of deep thinking you'll find in this book, along with multiple mischaracterizations of concepts that he misrepresents in order to easily knock down. Example: he claims that utilitarianism is about maximum pleasure, when even a high-school sophomore knows that it's about maximum value for the greatest number.

If you're eager to demonstrate your capacity for shallow thinking, this book will be a great help to you. But if you're not satisfied with pat, circular reasoning, you'll spend most of your time with this book making notes in the margin that say "sloppy logic", "non-sequitur", "unfounded claim", "easily disproven", "strawman argument", etc.

The right double negative.(book on the Ten Commandments)(Book Review): An article from: First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life

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The right double negative.(book on the Ten Commandments)(Book Review): An article from: First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life
John M. Grondelski
Manufacturer: Institute on Religion and Public Life
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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This digital document is an article from First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, published by Institute on Religion and Public Life on August 1, 2003. The length of the article is 1236 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The right double negative.(book on the Ten Commandments)(Book Review)
Author: John M. Grondelski
Publication: First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life (Refereed)
Date: August 1, 2003
Publisher: Institute on Religion and Public Life
Issue: 135 Page: 46(3)

Article Type: Book Review

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