An Architecture of the Ozarks: The Works of Marlon Blackwell

Book Description

"I live, practice, teach, and build in northwest Arkansas, in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It's a place considered to be in the middle of nowhere, yet ironically close to everywhere. It is an environment of real natural beauty and, simultaneously, one of real constructed ugliness. Abandonment, exploitation, erasure and nostalgia are all aspects of this place and are conditions as authentic as its natural beauty and local form. This land of disparate conditions in not just a setting for my work -- it is part of the work. By choosing to live and work here -- to call it home -- I've been able to get beyond the surface of things, to turn over the rock and discover the complex and rich underbelly of my place -- its visceral presences and expressive character -- that so informs and sustains my efforts. I am working from the conviction that architecture is larger than the subject of architecture." --Marlon Blackwell
Marlon Blackwell is a passionate polemicist. He's also a very gifted architect. The projects in this first monograph on the "radical ruralist," as touted by the Royal Institute of British Architects, offer a new architectural language that at once celebrate the vernacular and transgress the boundaries of the conventional. The results are -- we can't help it, there's no better word -- beautiful.
Incisive essays by David Buege, Dan Hoffman, and Juhani Pallasmaa and lush photography by Tim Hursley, Richard Johnson, and Kevin Latady explore Blackwell's projects, including his widely acclaimed Keenan TowerHouse, the award-winning Moore HoneyHouse, 2Square House, and Flynn-Schmitt BarnHouse, studios, and institutional buildings.

Customer Reviews:

Striking, yet affordable, houses.......2006-03-28

It is with releif that we look at the work of this small town architect living and working in rural Arkansas. It is proof that the creative design of striking small homes is not dead. The buildings illustrated here are not the expensive luxury homes of the rich, nor are they the cookie cutter homes of the modern American sub-division. Instead, they are striking buildings that are well within the range of the average house buyer.

Mr. Blackwell clearly works well with the client and the location of the proposed dwelling. That part of the country, for instance, is prone to frequent flooding. As a result, a number of the houses shown here are built up above ground. These houses, though, are far from the traditional set of poles with a conventional house positioned on top. The results look like insects, or maybe space ships. Yet the designs are so simple that the costs would not be extremely high.

This book is a refreshing look at brilliant design in an unexpected corner.

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The best writer you never heard of
Ozarkian epic
A touch of magical realism in the Ozarks
A G-Damn Masterpiece!
Classic Work of Regional Fiction

The Architecture of the Arkansas Ozarks
Donald Harington
Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0156078805

Book Description

The Ingledew saga follows six generations through 140 years of abundant living and prodigal loving in a book that was praised as one of the year's best novels by the American Library Association. Drawings by the Author

Customer Reviews:

The best writer you never heard of.......2007-03-08

Why oh why have I not heard of this writer before. The Architecture of the Arkansas Ozarks, by Donald Harington, is an American, "100 Years of Solitude." It is hard to think of comparisons. It is a sophisticated, very witty, bawdy (but not erotic) history of Stay More, Arkansas.

Although much more approachable than James Joyce, some of the word play in the book reminds me of some of the erudite puns in Joyce's works. His discourse on the word, arc, is worth the price of the book. It also enriches the title of the book immensely.

It is clear that Harington expects his readers to be bright and literate. But there are no obscure allusions or latin puns, only clear exposition, wonderful (really wonderful) characters, and a series of engaging, funny, and sad stories. And absolutely great sentences. The man can write.

Ozarkian epic.......2005-11-20

As an Arkansas native and as one who has spent decades living and working in the Ozarks I felt qualified to add a few comments. The area he describes as "Stay More" is an area I have covered on foot doing research and recreation. Some of my best friends are from that region, Murray, Swain, Edwards Junction, and Deer, so it really "hits home".
When Harrington writes about ,"Stay More" he is inspired but when he strays from this less than idylic community the inspiration thins. Regardless, I would reccommend this book to anyone and am proud that an Arkansas author has picked up the torch that was once carried by Vance Randolph. Oustanding!

A touch of magical realism in the Ozarks.......2004-05-08

If you are a fan of Isabel Allende or even Gabriel Garcia Marquez and have been looking for a talented American Southern writer to enjoy, then look no futher. This book was recommended to me by the author as good place to dive into the wonderful "world" of Stay More. It provides a history of Stay More, Arkansas centered on the Ingledew family. This book is written with a friendly love of the characters and conveys the author's joy in sharing this love with the reader. Please read this and help spread the word about the talent of Donald Harrington.

A G-Damn Masterpiece!.......2002-06-26

I picked this book up randomly at the library, because the title was a bit odd for a novel- and boy am I ever glad of my penchant for quirky titles right about now! It led me to what is sure to be one of my favourite authors... that is, if this book is any gauge of Donald Harington's talents.

With colourful characters, humour from bawdy to book-learned, and an understanding of humanity and history I've rarely seen in a modern author, Harington's 'The Architecture of the Arkansas Ozarks' definitely is a masterpiece. In this book he traces the saga of the Stay Morons, focusing on the Ingledew family in particular. He uses architecture as a conceit to show how 'the great world spins forever round the ringing grooves of change' (paraphrasing Tennyson).

Just remember "the base is heavier, the upper part lighter, and... the roof is pitched."

Classic Work of Regional Fiction.......2002-03-16

When I first read this book in the early seventies, I was in my late teens. I have since re-read it a number of times, and each time it reveals more of the nuance of character inherent to the individual hill-williams Mr. Harrington profiles in this classic novel. Having lived in Arkansas since the age of 11 I felt as if I'd grown up with many of the characters he portrays. If you enjoy ludicrous situations and quirky characters read this book NOW! It should be listed on the Norman Cousins health plan...

Ozark Vernacular Houses: A Study of Rural Homeplaces in the Arkansas Ozarks 1830-1930

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A VERY INFORMATIVE AND INTERESTING WORK - PRICELESS!

Ozark Vernacular Houses: A Study of Rural Homeplaces in the Arkansas Ozarks 1830-1930
Jean Sizemore
Manufacturer: University of Arkansas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1557283109

Customer Reviews:

A VERY INFORMATIVE AND INTERESTING WORK - PRICELESS!.......2007-08-04

First, I must admit to a certain amount of biasness concerning this subject. I have been traveling and photographing old houses and barns in this area, the Ozarks, for over fifty years now. I wish I would have had access to this book in the late 50s and early 60s.

That being said, I can pretty well assure you that this is the best work that I have encountered addressing this subject, i.e. rural home places in the Ozarks of Arkansas. The information contained in this book is quite relevant to the homes found in Southern Missouri also. This work contains over 160 photographs, drawings and locations of home sites located primarily in the Boston Mountain region of N. Arkansas. Some of the photographs are old, some new, all in black and white, which, I feel, make them much more effective than had they been shot in color. Most of the photographs are quite detailed and not only include the subject dwelling, but give a wonderful feeling of setting and cultural impact.

The chapters in the book include an Overview, Ozarks as a Geographical and Cultural Region, State and local history, house types in the Arkansas Ozarks, barns and outbuildings, the house and the Ozark landscape, construction methods and materials, and living in the Ozark house. The text is quite well done and is extremely readable, even the technical portions. The text is very detailed and the footnotes are great, something I personally appreciate. I found not one page in the entire book that was not informative and absolutely fascinating! Of equal importance to the photographs and information on each dwelling featured, the author has stressed, over and over gain, the absolute isolation of many of these homes. One who has not travel the Boston Mountain Region cannot fully understand this, but must realize the fact of this isolation. While this is one of the regions in the U.S. that is not as well know as some other, it is, never-the-less, one of the most beautiful areas in our country, but, my goodness, some of the places are hard to get to. I have spent many hours, indeed days, wondering around, completely clueless as to where I was going and where I had been.

I have had the pleasure of viewing many of the locations, and indeed, many of the homes in this book. These dwellings are quickly vanishing from our landscape, more are gone each year. Many are being replaced by developments and even more by trailers and the like. Much of our heritage is simply either gone, or will be gone within a few years. We are lucky to have works such as Ms. Sizemore's which accurately record how it was, what we had and what we have lost. I cannot recommend this one highly enough. It is one you will want to purchase for your library, if you can find it.

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The Architecture of the Arkansas Ozarks
Donald Harington
Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJYRXS

Book Description

"Once again, the incomparable Quick has whipped up a delectable Regency romance" (Booklist) about an ice-cold business agreement that turns into something far more heated.

Customer Reviews:

Mistery and romance in this well-written Regency.......2007-06-26

Arthur, the Earl of St Merrin, after his fiancee eloped with another man, decided to hire a paid companion through an agency to pose as his bethroted to ward off the hopeful mamas so he can engage his energy in more important things - like hunting down the murderer of his Great-Granduncle. Impoverished Elenore proves herself to be just the perfect partner, a sensible and educated woman who can not only pose as his affianced but also help in his investigations. But as the number of corpses increases, it is clear that the murderer is not only a clever member of the ton, but crazy as well. The evidences point to a long dead member of a Society dedicated to the study of Alchemy and the very deadly Jove's Thunderbolt, a destructive machine.

Margareth, the impoverished aunt and romance writer and Bennet, the reliable old friend, provide the secondary if not very well-developed relationship. I would have liked to read more about them.

The characters of Arthur and Elenore are quite consistent, and you can really sympathize with them. The plot, even the mystery about the murderers, is well written and interesting, which is quite rare for Romance writers.

I haven't read anything half as good in a time and highly recommend this one for those who are fond of Romance with a touch of Agatha Christie.

What's the big deal?.......2007-04-08

The Paid Companion was the first book I've read by Amanda Quick and I was rather disappointed since I picked it up for the raving reviews its gotten, but it left me throughly unsatisfied. The love scenes are nice, not too raunchy or tame and the main characters are believable--to a point. But I don't understand how the heroine starts the book off saying that shes just been landed with the best luck ever compared to her peers--she gets to have guilt-free liasons and open a business of her own and basically make a new life for herself unlike other gentile women who must play the marriage game. Then the rest of the book she can't think, whine, sob or get over the fact that her employer/lover Arthur won't be marrying her! I get that she doesn't want to be parted from him, but does marriage have to be the end all be all?

The Paid Companion.......2007-02-12

Amanda Quick is always a good read. I keep track when a new book will be publishes and order it.

Not like her earlier books.......2006-11-20

Elenora Lodge is in need of a job. Arthur Lancaster,the Earl of St.Merryn is in need of a fiancee. So the two strike a bargin. Elenora will get all of the perks of being St. Merryn's wife to be and Arthur will not have to worry about mama's with weddings on thier minds hunting him. Arthur is killer and even though he does not plan it Elenora will be the middle of it.
"The Paid Companion" is the first book I have read by Amanda Quick in a very long and I have a notice a big change in the writing. Like many other writer Ms. Quick has made the mystery the main part of her story. In Ms.Quick earlier books, the romance was the main story and the mystery was the second part. To be honest, her earlier works were better.

Stimulating read.......2006-10-28

Amanda Quick is one of my favorite. But "The Paid Companion" is not as what I was hoping for. There is more suspence than romance here. I enjoyed it... Yet, I was left unsatisfied. I did not get the usual happy fix in the end. Great story telling, not enought romance!

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Not the best but OK

The Paid Companion
Amanda Quick
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000C4SUTC

Customer Reviews:

Not the best but OK.......2006-05-16

Amanda Quick used to hold my imagination while I read her work but I admit this one left me feeling a little burned out. The story line is decent, paid companion to masquerade as wife...but I see Quick leaving out some details that I wanted. This book is surface level as romances/mysteries go. Not enough description of people and places but lots of quick conversation. It did hold me enough to want to finish it and find out 'who done it' but I wasn't impressed overall.

Amanda Quick CD Collection: The Paid Companion, Wait Until Midnight, Lie by Moonlight

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Amanda Quick CD Collection: The Paid Companion, Wait Until Midnight, Lie by Moonlight
Amanda Quick
Manufacturer: Brilliance Audio on CD
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books

Romance | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
ASIN: 1423334264
Release Date: 2007-11-29

Book Description

The Paid Companion:
The Earl of St. Merryn needs a woman. His intentions are purely practical - he simply wants someone sensible and suitably lovely to pose as his betrothed. The easiest solution is to hire a paid companion. However, finding the right candidate proves more of a challenge than he expected - until he encounters Miss Elenora Lodge. But Elenora is unsure what this masquerade might entail. For St. Merryn is clearly hiding a secret or two.

Wait Until Midnight:
The sins of Adam Hardesty's past have been discovered. And if he does not hunt down his blackmailer quickly, his secrets will be revealed to all... But there is an obstacle in his way: sensation novelist Caroline Fordyce. She knows that Adam's quest for justice could shatter her own reputation - and mire her family in lethal scandal. Together, they will navigate the shadow side of London, guarding not only their secrets but their lives...

Lie by Moonlight:
Hired to tutor four orphaned girls at remote, ramshackle Aldwick Castle, Miss Concordia Glade is pleased to find her pupils both eager and bright. Provided for by an unseen benefactor, they are surrounded at all times by hard-eyed guards in the guise of gardeners. Concordia sees at once what must be done. During an investigation into a woman's death, private inquiry agent Ambrose Wells finds himself on the castle grounds - and in the middle of chaos.

Amanda Quick, Collection II (The Paid Companion, Wait Until Midnight, Don't Look Back, I Thee Wed, Slightly Shady, With This Ring, Wicked Window)

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Amanda Quick, Collection II (The Paid Companion, Wait Until Midnight, Don't Look Back, I Thee Wed, Slightly Shady, With This Ring, Wicked Window)
Jayne Ann Krentz Amanda Quick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000R1150Q

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utterly reprehensible
A fascinating read!
WESTERN CLIPPINGS REVIEW!!!
Intriguing Intrigue
Here we go again

The Paid Companion of J. Wilkes Booth
Jan Merlin , and William Russo
Manufacturer: Xlibris Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1413410278

Customer Reviews:

utterly reprehensible.......2006-06-25

shamefully bad, voyeuristic in the worst imaginable way, and without the slightest respect or attention to known historical detail.

it's not only bad if you're a student of the lincoln conspiracy, it's bad as a piece of fiction, period. i'm embarrased for the writers of this book.

A fascinating read!.......2005-12-08

One of the most significant moments in American history gets a fresh look in this fascinating mythology from authors Jan Merlin and William Russo.

'Paid Companion' turns the tables from the onset, reducing Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth to supporting characters as the book focuses on Lewis (Paine) Powell, an individual many historians agree is the most compelling of the Lincoln conspirators.

As a mythology, the authors are able to take liberties with the many unknowns surrounding Powell, and this freedom allows them to weave an interesting (and quite plausible) tale. And while some of the liberties are controversial, the authors present them with such skill that the story itself is not overshadowed.

Merlin and Russo effortlessly fill in the blanks between large and small historical facts, but in the end, it was the subtleties that won me over. Case in point - historical documents cite a simple straw hat Powell wears to his own execution. This minor fact of history seems inconsequential. In 'Paid Companion,' a small yet poignant vignette details how Powell comes upon and ultimately uses the headwear to dramatic and symbolic ends.

Whether you are a history buff or not, Paid Companion is a fascinating read and highly recommended.

WESTERN CLIPPINGS REVIEW!!!.......2004-01-18

(Review by Terry Harris) Jan Merlin, the excellent character actor who appeared in numerous western movies and TV series, usually in villianous roles, is also an author who has written several books. His latest, with co-author William Russo, THE PAID COMPANION of J.Wilkes Booth, focuses on the life of Lewis Paine, the man who conspired with John Wilkes Booth to overthrow the Federal Government at the end of the Civil War. The novel deals with the events leading up to Paine's attempted assassination of Secretary of State William Seward, Paine's capture, trial, and execution by Federal authorities. What Merlin and Russo do so well is to take a potentially repugnant character, Lewis Paine, and present him in such a way the reader is rendered sympathetic to him. The Civil War and its effects on the teenage Paine make him an object of compassion. As Merlin says, "Slavery made him immoral, war made him a murderer, and necessity, revenge and delusion made him an assassin." In many ways, Paine is like us, except he was taught to believe things we know to be wrong, were right. The novel's searing indictment of the dehumanizing evil effects of a vicious Civil War onma a young man's psyche is compelling and sticks in your mind long after finishing the book. Highly recommended, deserves to be ranked among the best of Civil War novels.

Intriguing Intrigue.......2004-01-07

THE PAID COMPANION OF J. WILKES BOOTH weaves page-turning narrative from speculative history. Motion picture actor Jan Merlin adds dramatic spin to the dark facts of events surrounding the Lincoln assassination conspiracy provided by scholar and collaborator William Russo. It's a hair-raising account that, not unsurprisingly, moves like an action film.

Here we go again.......2003-11-28

I wonder if Mr. Russo just likes slandering the names of people who have been dead for years, or if he actually thinks he is anywhere near the mark. I, however, am a professional historian who has spent years researching the Lincoln assassination, and to anyone considering buying this book I warn you not to waste your money. The writing is choppy, the scenarios unbelieveable and the historial data way off the mark. As for the charge that Booth hired a bunch of 'losers' to help him kidnap the president, here are the facts. First of all, David Herold was a pharmacist's assistant and had easy access to drugs that could be used to knock Lincoln out when the time came to kidnap him. Second, Paine (whose real name was Powell, by the way), was the perfect muscle for the job, a man who could easily have overpowered Lincoln, something that neither Booth, Herold, Atzerodt or Surratt could have done on their own. John Surratt had contacts in the Confederacy and in the Union, so not only could he find a friendly place to stash Lincoln, he could act as a middleman during negotiations to reacquire Lincoln. Mr. Russo, the line between historical fiction and slander is a thin one, and you have crossed it. I reccommend a new career.

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UC SAM The Paid Companion
Amanda Quick
Manufacturer: Jove
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 051514455X

Book Description

Two hundred thousand feet up, things go horribly wrong. An experimental low-orbit spaceplane breaks up on reentry, falling to earth over a trail hundreds of miles long. And it its wake is the beginning of the most important mission in the history of space.

America needs energy, and Dan Randolph is determined to give it to them. He dreams of an array of geosynchronous powersats, satellites which gather solar energy and beam it to generators on Earth, freeing America from its addiction to fossil fuels and breaking the power of the oil cartels forever. But the wreck of the spaceplane has left his company, Astro Manufacturing, on the edge of bankruptcy.

Worse, Dan discovers that the plane worked perfectly right up until the moment that saboteurs knocked it out of the sky. And whoever brought it down is willing and able to kill again to keep Astro grounded.

Now Dan has to thread a dangerous maze. The visible threats are bad enough: Rival firms want to buy him out and take control of his dreams. His former lover wants to co-opt his unlimited-energy idea as a campaign plank for the candidate she’s grooming for the presidency. NASA and the FAA want to shut down his maverick firm. And his creditors are breathing down his neck.

Making matters even more dangerous, an international organization of terrorists sees the powersat as a threat to their own oil-based power. And they’ve figured out how to use it as a weapon in their war against the West.

A sweeping mix of space, murder, romance, politics, secrets, and betrayal, Powersat will take you to the edge of space and the dawning of a new world.

3 PBs, Ben Bova: Powersat, Mercury, Ether Ore

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3 PBs, Ben Bova: Powersat, Mercury, Ether Ore
Ben Bova & H.C. Turk
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VLV42G

Product Description

Paperbacks, Ben Bova's Discoveries Ether Ore by H.C. Turk

PowerSat: a technology demonstration of a solar power satellite (SuDoc NAS 1.26:197210)

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PowerSat: a technology demonstration of a solar power satellite (SuDoc NAS 1.26:197210)
NASA
Manufacturer: University of Alaska, School of Engineering, National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Technical Information Service, distributor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00010MR8W

Book Description

"Where can we find what is ultimately meaningful? How can we discover what is truly worth knowing?" In one form or another Huston Smith has been posing these questions to himself--and the world--all his life. In the course of seeking answers, he has become one of the most interesting, enlightening, and celebrated voices on the subject of religion and spirituality throughout the world. The twenty-three interviews and essays in this volume, edited by cultural historian and filmmaker Phil Cousineau, offer a uniquely personal perspective on Smith's own personal journey, as well as wide-ranging reflection on the nature and importance of the religious quest.
In The Way Things Are, readers will find Smith in conversation with some of the world's most influential personalities and religious leaders, from journalist Bill Moyers to religion scholar Philip Novak, and recounting his personal experiences with such luminaries as Joseph Campbell, Aldous Huxley, Timothy Leary, Daisetz Suzuki, Ram Dass, and the Dalai Lama. Throughout these engaging exchanges Smith speaks with passion and humor of his upbringing as the son of missionary parents in China, of the inspiring and colorful individuals he has known, and of his impressions of the different religious and philosophical traditions he has encountered. A fascinating view of the state of world religion and religious leadership over the past fifty years, the book also looks to the future with a final interview on the vital importance of the transcendent message of religion for the post-9/11 world. Readers will find The Way Things Are to be Huston Smith's most and accessible book to date.

Download Description

"Where can we find what is ultimately meaningful? How can we discover what is truly worth knowing?" In one form or another Huston Smith has been posing these questions to himself--and the world--all his life. In the course of seeking answers, he has become one of the most interesting, enlightening, and celebrated voices on the subject of religion and spirituality throughout the world. The twenty-three interviews and essays in this volume, edited by cultural historian and filmmaker Phil Cousineau, offer a uniquely personal perspective on Smith's own personal journey, as well as wide-ranging reflection on the nature and importance of the religious quest. In The Way Things Are, readers will find Smith in conversation with some of the world's most influential personalities and religious leaders, from journalist Bill Moyers to religion scholar Philip Novak, and recounting his personal experiences with such luminaries as Joseph Campbell, Aldous Huxley, Timothy Leary, Daisetz Suzuki, Ram Dass, and the Dalai Lama. Throughout these engaging exchanges Smith speaks with passion and humor of his upbringing as the son of missionary parents in China, of the inspiring and colorful individuals he has known, and of his impressions of the different religious and philosophical traditions he has encountered. A fascinating view of the state of world religion and religious leadership over the past fifty years, the book also looks to the future with a final interview on the vital importance of the transcendent message of religion for the post-9/11 world.

Customer Reviews:

The Way Things Are: Conversations With Huston Smith on the Spiritual Life.......2005-12-10

Among the most sought after religious writers of this century, author of The World's Religions and Why Religion Matters, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Huston Smith is a reference library of the rites, rituals and beliefs of world religions.
In The Way Things Are Conversations with Huston Smith, author and editor Phil Cousineau records twenty three interviews in which Smith debates his thoughts and theories with renowned scholars, theologians and journalists. This new compilation encapsulates both his personal contemplation, and public conversations, regarding religion and spirituality in contemporary society.
Brought up in China by Christian missionary parents, Smith describes his first contact with religion as one of simple trust. "We are in good hands and in gratitude of that fact it would be good if we bore one another's burdens."
A frequent reference of Smith's is to his concept of a primordial tradition. By forming a list of the common elements within all religions, he has uncovered what he calls the spine of religion. Informing our similarities, while warning us to "Beware of the differences that blind us to the unity that binds us", he encourages readers to see beyond personal beliefs and acknowledge others relationship to divinity.
This unity, or single religious root, should not be confused with the modern trend of religious pluralism. He banks on the integrity of individual traditions, rather than the scotch-taped spiritual beliefs of pluralism, which have left people alienated from their traditional roots. "The moral is to find some tradition and to steep one's soul in it. To me it is immaterial which tradition; it is of maximum materiality that it be a tradition."
An area of concern for Smith is the ever-encroaching "Newtonian view.", in which all reality is relative. A reality of relativity provides no room for the existence of an Absolute, the foundational element of religion. Without an Absolute we are left floundering with what Smith describes as an unlivable philosophy, based on the technically competent but metaphysically impoverished methods of science. "Scientism", the religion of science, or oracle we now look to establish truth, leads us further into isolation, cynicism and despair.
Conversations with Huston Smith guide the reader, using both religious traditions and scientific discovery as signposts, on the quest toward the greater mysteries. Revered for his insight and wisdom, this book is a tribute to Smith's life work and a challenging read for any curious seeker. Though cynics may be adverse to the constant reverence and faith Huston Smith places in God, reading The Way Things Are may result in a basic trust that things are as they should be.

THE WAY THINGS ARE; CONVERSATIONS WITH HUSTON SMITH ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE. Edited & preface by Phil Cousineau.

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THE WAY THINGS ARE; CONVERSATIONS WITH HUSTON SMITH ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE. Edited & preface by Phil Cousineau.
Huston. Smith
Manufacturer: Univ. of California Press,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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