Average customer rating:
- How Alternate History Should Be Written!
- Accurate alternate history, compelling fiction
- Fascinating read
- A Superb Novel of Operation Olympic
- What might have been
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Death Is Lighter Than a Feather
David Westheimer
Manufacturer: University of North Texas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0929398904 |
Customer Reviews:
How Alternate History Should Be Written!.......2004-12-15
What if the Atomic Bombs were not ready in 1945? The simple answer is Operation Downfall. This novel is about this epic battle that never was.
I wont belabor what has already been said. The writing is excellent. The weaving of grand strategy and the fate of individual Americans and Japanese is flawless. The analysis is solid. Enough said.
Two things I really like about this book that people havent really touched on are the use of characters in an alternate history novel and the authors' angle on the invasion v. A-Bomb debate.
The characters in most AH stories I have read have the dimensions of my grade school stick figure drawings. Theyre basically just there to make the move that would change history the way the author desires. Westheimer's characters are very deep and thought provoking. You become intrigued by them and want to know more and more.
There are a few books on the market that discuss potential invasions of Japan. Those that are not hyper technical treatises tend to be critiques of Truman's decision to nuke Japan. The normal theme is that US conspired to overplay the costs of invading Japan as an excuse to use atomic weapons. Mr. Westheimer does make a compelling case for the invasion to be relatively low cost (once the main defenses are breached there's little left but militia units made up of old men and schoolgirls armed with knives and pitchforks). However, he stays away from the conspiracy issue. This enhances the book by keeping the focus on the invasion (and people caught up in it).
I strongly urge Alternate History fans to read this novel. It is by far the best AH book Ive come across.
Accurate alternate history, compelling fiction.......2003-06-30
In the alternate history genre, David Westheimer's "Death is Lighter than a Feather" is relatively obscure, which is a shame because it is among the most accurate, well-written offerings available. In detailing the events of an American invasion of Japan in the absence of the use of nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Westheimer shows a firm grasp of strategy, tactics, weapons and geography. However, unlike many alternate histories that focus on the military to the exclusion of all else, Westheimer has simultaneously produced a rich novel full of fascinating characters that truly captures the fundamental essences of the Japanese and Americans, as well as war in general.
Westheimer begins with a prologue that deftly weaves actual events into a world in which nuclear bombs are never brought to bear. Written in the manner of a history text, it quite effectively conveys the events and players that dictated the course of events without bogging down the fiction reader in historical minutia. At the same time, the matter of fact transition from reality to fiction sets the stage quite nicely for the heart of the novel.
Rather than attempting to follow a primary cast of characters through the entirety of the novel, Westheimer has instead strung together snapshots of the lives of average people on both sides of the fighting; an American frogman, a Japanese colonel, a young Japanese girl, an American Marine, etc. The only link between chapters is the occasional return to the history book approach of the prologue in order to detail the larger course of events, and set the tone for the next chapter. In less capable hands, this approach could make for a disjointed reading experience but Westheimer effectively carries through common thematic elements that allow him to cover an array of experiences and concepts without destroying the flow of the novel.
First and foremost among these elements is Westheimer's focus on the common man or woman. By and large, the big power brokers are completely absent. Neither MacArthur nor the Emperor (nor any of his generals) makes an appearance after the prologue. Instead, Westheimer focuses on low ranking officers, and even more so, on enlisted personal. The overall effect of this approach is a ground level view of the fighting that compliments the big picture portions of the text. At the same time, this close-in approach allows Westheimer to consider issues that would be discordant with a book focused on grand strategy. For example, the author considers a Marine who becomes convinced that he is killing the same Japanese soldier over and over again. Westheimer forces the reader to consider whether this is due to shellshock, or if it is a way of rationalizing the horror of killing one's fellow man.
Which brings me to another fascinating element of this novel: Westheimer's intuitive understanding of the causes of war, and particularly, the mindset of the American soldier. His ability to capture what unremitting hatred does to the Japanese, and the consequences that it has on the American soldier is remarkable. His writing is made even more profound in the light of 9/11 and our recent war against Iraq as he eloquently captures the motivation for fanatical, even suicidal, resistance, and the conflict that resistance causes in American soldiers who are at heart disinclined to kill unless it is absolutely necessary.
That said, Westheimer doesn't limit himself to consideration of combatants. His chapter covering a day in the life of a chaplain's assistant perfectly illustrates the contradictory nature of war in general, and the almost perverse naiveté with which America sometimes goes to war. At the same time, his descriptions of ordinary Japanese citizens, particularly women, and the dichotomy of what they see versus what they are told is superbly handled. Westheimer considers what it would be like to live in a world where the "divine" word of the Emperor is at direct odds with what one sees in their everyday life.
Ultimately, Westheimer has produced in "Death is Lighter Than a Feather" the rare alternate history that is historically accurate even as it is good fiction. From his descriptions of the ferocity of hand-to-hand combat, to the serenity of two lovers in a bamboo grove, the author displays a talent that is rare in authors of any genre. At the same time, he successfully ties these fascinating snapshots into a larger picture. Westheimer writes with authority on the invasion that never was, but he also considers war in general, and given the world in which we live, where kamikaze attacks have once again become the norm, it is perhaps more pertinent today then ever.
Jake Mohlman
Fascinating read.......2002-06-16
A very compelling book that reads much like a series of interconnected short stories. The author sets up the "big picture" nicely then zooms down to describe the experiences of individual soldiers. Using this device, we see the invasion of Japan from both sides. The Japanese outlook is perhaps the most interesting as their belief in their eventual victory, despite the obvious evidence to the contrary, is alien to the Western mindset - as is their blind devotion to their superiors and their total dedication to a type of honor that requires death over surrender. Ironically, books such as this tends to make one think that atom bombs probably saved Japan as a nation for the death and destruction caused by an invasion would have killed millions of the Japanese population.
A Superb Novel of Operation Olympic.......2001-05-02
David Westheimer has written a superb, fact-based novel that covers the first six weeks of Operation "Olympic", the intended invasion of Kyushu in October 1945. Of course in actuality, the invasion did not occur because the atomic bomb raids precipitated a Japanese collapse. Westheimer invites the reader into a very-possible world where the atomic bombs have not been dropped either for political or technical reasons. Given the continuing debate over the morality of the a-bomb attacks, this alternate world is well worth examining. The book begins with a prologue (in earlier versions of the book, this was actually the epilogue) that provides the historical detail behind "Olympic". Eighteen chapters follow, each detailing the experiences of one or more Japanese or American characters in the invasion.
The title is taken from the Japanese expression that, "while duty is heavier than a mountain, death is lighter than a feather." The real strength of this novel lies in the depictions of combat from the Japanese point of view, which is atypical for American readers. Having lived and gone to college in Japan, I can attest that Westheimer strikes many a true note in these depictions. Characters include resolute warriors, including a veteran fighter pilot, a determined corporal in a bunker and a fanatical battalion commander, but also cover Japanese civilians as well. One Japanese sergeant complains about some of the new recruits called up to face the invasion: "in his own regiment there was a private who had been a teacher in the middle school but it was known that he entertained subversive ideas and was not to be trusted with authority. It was a measure of the Army's desperate need that he had been permitted to serve at all. His proper place was prison, with other traitors and weaklings."
The combat scenes are very well done and these scenes evoke a sense of hopeless futility at times. The writing style is rich and detailed, but without irrelevant diversions. Westheimer also has a knack for focusing on interesting characters and situations, which is particularly true of his American characters. There is the UDT (underwater demolition team) frogman who bets that he will be the first American on Japanese soil and a B-29 pilot who affects a heroic attitude while concealing his cowardice. There is even a Japanese-American college girl who was visiting relatives in Japan when the war broke out and desperately wants to be "liberated" by the invading GIs. My particular favorite is the combat-happy US marine who believes that the Japanese are "playing a game on him" and that every Japanese soldier he kills is the same one.
The main point of the novel is to flesh out what most people with common sense could anticipate: the Americans will win but at great cost. Again and again, the fanaticism of the Japanese defense astounds the Americans. The novel ends by anticipating a Japanese surrender in January 1946, after many thousands have died on both sides. This novel should be read by anyone interested in the Pacific War or the atomic bomb controversy.
What might have been.......2000-11-06
An excellent, gripping novel of the invasion of Kyushu. With perspectives of both GIs hitting the beaches as well as Japanese soldiers waiting for them inland, this book provides a taut, well-paced view of what the war's last, great invasion would have been like.
Richard Frank's Downfall and John Skates' The Invasion of Japan provide an excellent framework of how the Japanese were planning on defending the Home Islands and how the Americans were planning on invading them. But Westheimer's book gives the reader the human touch. The fanatical Japanese training, so that surrender and retreat were not just disallowed, but unthinkable is especially brought home. But these are not cardboard cut-outs. You can understand WHY the average Japanese soldier comes to believe that "Duty is heavier than a mountain, while death is lighter than a feather."
If you want to know how "Olympic" would have been far, far worse in human terms than "Overlord," read this book.
Customer Reviews:
Nice Perspective on Henrietta Maria.......2006-12-01
I got on an English Civil War kick a little while ago, and when I started to look around for some novels to read, one of the first I came across was Myself My Enemy, Jean Plaidy's 1983 novel about Henrietta Maria, wife to Charles I.
Myself My Enemy is written in the first person, and traces Henrietta Maria's growth from a headstrong young girl to a more reflective older woman, one with many regrets.
This isn't the best novel about the English Civil War I've ever read. Plaidy's prose isn't particularly memorable, and she always tends to tell more than to show. Nonetheless, Plaidy has a gift for getting inside her characters' heads and making the reader care for them, and I thought she did that well with Henrietta. Fiercely loyal to her husband, deeply committed to her Catholic faith, suffering myriad tragedies, and just as often doing the wrong thing as the right one, Henrietta is an interesting heroine, and Plaidy succeeds in making her an appealing one despite her manifest flaws, of which Henrietta is all too aware despite her best efforts to rationalize her actions to herself. Her wavering between self-knowledge and self-justification is depicted particularly well in the scene where Henrietta mourns her son Henry, whom she had alienated before his untimely death by attempting to convert to Catholicism.
Plaidy depicts Charles I sympathetically, without idealizing him, and the relationship between him and Henrietta is moving. Charles II, blithely ignoring his mother's advice, and not without good reason, is also well drawn.
Judging from the reading I've done since about Henrietta Maria, Plaidy seems to have researched Henrietta's life thoroughly and stuck to historical fact, a refreshing contrast to some more recent novels I've read about other historical figures.
All in all, an interesting introduction to a beleaguered queen, and one that got me scouring the library to learn more about Henrietta.
Disappointing.......2006-07-11
I've really enjoyed Jean Plaidy's books over the years, but hadn't read one in quite a while. Since they've begun to be re-published I decided to see what the library had to offer. I picked this up because I knew very little about the English Civil War and its principal players.
Jean Plaidy usually excels at drawing the reader into a specific historical period through excellent research and detailed description, but I found this book lacking. It felt like a first draft. Written in the first person, Henrietta Marie's voice is repetitious. All of the historical events presented feel shallow due to a lack of detail. King Charles' presence is barely felt as are her feelings toward him. The relationship--supposedly a great love match--never feels fully fleshed out. There's a lack of physical description that makes it hard to feel part of the scene. None of the other characters register as real people either.
Overall, it was a rather boring read. I did finish the book, because I was actually interested in the subject. This is the only fictional account of Henrietta Marie I've been able to find. I give it two stars for that alone.
Read this if you're curious, but I'd recommend any other of Jean Plaidy's books especially The Queen's Confession about Marie Antoinette (written under her Victoria Holt nom de plume) or The Lady in the Tower about Anne Boleyn.
THE ROAD THAT LED TO REGICIDE..........2002-08-27
This is the first volume in the Queens of England series of books by Jean Plaidy, who is also known to her legion of fans as Victoria Holt. It is a well written work of historical fiction that tells the story of the daughter of King Henry IV of France, Henrietta Maria, who went on to marry King Charles I of England.
Henrietta Maria, a Catholic, found herself married to Charles, a Protestant, living in a Protestant country, among a Protestant people. The English, at the time, viewed Catholics with deep suspicion, as the excesses of the Catholic Queen Mary, "Bloody Mary", the daughter of Henry VIII, were still not forgotten. A fervent Catholic, however, Henrietta would not put aside her religion, nor was she particularly discreet about her devotion to Catholicism, and, as such, was never fully accepted by the English people.
Henrietta Maria was an impetuous and pretty, young woman, fond of musical revels, fashionable clothes, and gossip. Her husband, Charles, a family man of principle and integrity, was devoted to her, and together they would go on to have a number of children. Their marriage of state, made for the purpose of maintaining a Franco-English alliance, turned out to be a true love match.
Henrietta Maria was also, however, a puppet of Rome, charged with leading Protestant England back to Catholicism. This was to cloud her judgment, at times, and cause much trouble down the road, and, ultimately, serve to pave the way for the rise of Cromwell and his Puritans. They would make her devotion to her religion and her influence over her husband a focal point for turbulence and civil war. Her loyalty and love for her husband was legendary, but not even she could keep him from the road that led to regicide.
Written in the first person, this is a wonderfully told tale of an enigmatic, little known Queen, who wielded great influence over her beloved husband. Rich with historical detail, it is an enormously entertaining novel that is rife with the political intrigues of the day. All those who love reading well written, historical fiction should enjoy it.
Product Description
This is a novel about the only woman who ever challenged Elizabeth I, the only woman who became the great Queen's rival in love. This fascinating novel tells the story of their great rivalry-in love and in power.
Customer Reviews:
Historical Fiction Lovers will Love it!.......2006-11-29
This novel (so aptly named) illustrates the life of Lettice, a cousin to Queen Elizabeth I, from the Queen's mother Anne Boleyn's side. At first the Queen dotes on Lettice, due largely in part because Elizabeth loves showering attention on relatives of her mother. However, Lettice soon finds herself in exhile from court after she secretly marries Elizabeth's favorite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Rochester.
This book navigates through the intricate and dramatic relationship between the Queen and Lettice. While Lettice possessed the strong, independent nature of the Boleyns, the Queen possessed the one thing that Robert Dudley coveted the most...the crown. A lifetime of a battle of wills took place, and it is not entirely clear who won. While the writing style and lexicon are at the same time advanced and old-fashioned, I feel it was meant to be that way in order to help accurately illustrate the time period in which the story takes place.
Historical fiction lovers will enjoy this novel, especially those who enjoy reading about the Tudor Dynasty of England. This book presents a unique view on the personality of Queen Elizabeth I, and her relationship with Robert Dudley.
The author makes it easy to sympathize with Lettice, and not so easy to sympathize with Elizabeth, although you are still left wanting to. It is a delicate balance, and one that is explored with equal care.
This book is not for everyone, and those who are just starting out in the Historical Fiction genre, should possibly begin with something less involved. This novel is a diamond in the rough for Tudor fans.
Bottom line, I enjoyed this simple treasure, and hope many will be able to do the same.
Interesting at first...but really drags on........2006-09-23
I enjoy Victoria Holt's mysteries--they remind me of Mary Stewart and Mary Roberts Rinehart in that they're charming and romantic. However, this historical novel is neither. The protagonist, Elizabeth I's cousin and adversary, is annoying. She also repeats herself--over and over and over and over again. The book could be half as long if the repetitive bits were edited! I actually couldn't finish the book, which is rare for me, because I got so fed up with the totally unlikable characters.
Try Holt's mysteries--they're fun. But this novel is just a bunch of drivel.
Average customer rating:
- The court of Elizabeth I from another viewpoint
- Two is company, three is a crowd, but when one is the virgin queen? Oh boy.
- Spectacular Book!
- One good book
- Fabulous page-turner
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My Enemy, The Queen
Victoria Holt
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
Holt, Victoria | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0449202399
Release Date: 1982-12-12 |
Book Description
Is Queen Elizabeth I too wily or too afraid to marry? Or is there a spoiler -- Lettice Devereaux -- in the royal romances? The marriage between this beautiful and tempestuous widow and Elizabeth's longtime favorite, the Earl of Leicester, can't have endeared Lettice to the queen.
Some years later, on Leicester's death, another courtier wins the queen's heart -- only to break it by secretly marrying someone else and then by plotting against the Crown. This soldier-poet, the Earl of Essex, is the son of Lettice and her first husband, Walter Devereaux.
"Holt skillfully weaves invention and suspense into the fabric of history." (B-O-T Editorial Review Board)
Customer Reviews:
The court of Elizabeth I from another viewpoint.......2006-10-10
Interesting read, I was fascinated to learn more about Lettice Knowles. From previous books I have read about the period, I had heard Lettice's name occasionally, and knew there was some speculation about whether or not Henry VIII fathered her mother during his affair with Mary Boleyn. We'll never know.
All in all an enjoyable read - not the greatest in the historical fiction genre, but worthwhile to learn more about the secondary players in the times of Elizabeth I.
Two is company, three is a crowd, but when one is the virgin queen? Oh boy........2005-11-26
I have to say, it's kind of sad that history has all but forgotten Lettice Knollys. She was, according to this book, one of the most vibrant and influential people of the day. But she also made a terrible enemy of her queen, perhaps explaining why more people don't know about her.
Everyone who knows something about Queen Elizabeth I knows that she loved a man named Robert Dudley, a man she gave great honors to and had known all her life. Some historians even believe that he killed her wife so he could marry the queen, and that they may have had a son together. But Elizabeth remained unmarried all her days (and supposedly a virgin) while Dudley had two wives in his life.
The second was Lettice. She was the Queen's cousin and possible her niece as her mother was popularly believed to be Henry VIII's daughter through Mary Boleyn. She came to court when Elizabeth came to the crown and soon fell in love with Robert Dudley. Later they would become lovers and eventually marry. But always it was a relationship of three people, the Queen, Robert and Lettice. Later on, the Queen would give her son from her a previous marriage great honors, and eventually was forced to behead him when he led an uprising against the crown. In that relationship too was the Queen, Lettice's son the earl of Essex, and Lettice.
This book is her story. It's a little dry at times, being a supposed memoir Lettice writes before her death at the age of ninety six, but overall not bad. I do like to think of Robert Dudley as an entirely different person as described in this book, but hey, this was the authors vision and if she saw him as grabbing for power (which he was, true) and not truly loving Elizabeth for herself not just for the crown, that's her choice.
The only bad thing about this book is the most annoying way Lettice constantly says how beautiful she is and how she's so much prettier than the queen and all men love her and bla bla bla. It gets old fast. But hey, a vain women would probably write her life story like that.
Other than that, I just like to view Elizabeth and Dudley in a more romantic way then this book does. Possibly I'm deluding myself. But if you're like me, then read this, because its not a story I was familiar with and I bet most people aren't either, and then read the secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, for the very sweet scenes between Elizabeth and Dudley (part of the book takes place right after Elizabeth becomes Queen).
Spectacular Book!.......2004-06-15
This is, by far, one of the best books, if not the best, I have ever, ever read. Victoria Holt really did her research on this book, and it is a pleasure to read both from the fiction-lover's viewpoint, and from the biographers. Be forewarned, however, that if you are not already in love with Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I, you will be no later than halfway through the book.
One good book.......2004-05-04
I loved this book. It was absorbing ( I couldn't put it down) and I felt that it was a pretty acurate depiction of the Virgin Queen's life. What better way to learn history than by reading a highly entertaining novel?
Fabulous page-turner.......2004-01-02
This is an intricately woven tale of a love triangle between Lettice Knollys, Robert Dudley, and Queen Elizabeth I. Not only does it include romance and betrayal, but it provides a different perspective of Tudor England and the inner circle of Queen Elizabeth's court. Mixing the talent of Holt and the interesting aspect of this particular time period makes this a wonderful book that you can't put down. I would recommend this to anybody who is looking for a quality read and is intrigued by shrewd Elizabeth and her elaborate court.
Product Description
Ambushed in the cold moonlight of an Arizona night, Captain John Carter is inexplicably teleported to Mars, called Barsoom by its inhabitants. Legendary Barsoomwhere hostile tribes of towering green warriors roam an arid landscape of dead cities and feuding city-states; where pilgrimages are made to a river of death that conceals a terrifying secret; where lifespans are measured in centuries; and where airships speed through the thinning atmosphere while duels are fought with swords below. Stranded and fighting for his life in a dying, savage world, John Carter embarks on one of the greatest adventures of all time as his destiny and Barsooms become one.
The first three books of Edgar Rice Burroughss brilliantly conceived Barsoom seriesA Princess of Mars, The Gods of Mars, and The Warlord of Marsare brought together here for the first time. The trilogy follows the saga of John Carter from his unexpected arrival on Barsoom through hair-raising adventures and startling discoveries from pole to pole of the planet.
Edgar Rice Burroughs (18761950) is one of the most influential American authors of science fiction and adventure. His novels include Tarzan of the Apes and, available in Bison Frontiers of Imagination editions, The Land That Time Forgot, At the Earths Core, Beyond Thirty, The Moon Maid, and Pirates of Venus. James P. Hogan is a respected science fiction writer and the author of such novels as Martian Knightlife, Bug Park, The Legend That Was Earth, and Realtime Interrupt.
Product Description
An anthology of the "scientific romance," featuring selections by Edgar Rice Burroughs, A. Merritt, Murray Leinstar, Charles B. Stilson, and J.U. Giesy. Following the stories is a history of this genre and pulp magazines.
Book Description
Ambushed in the cold moonlight of an Arizona night, Captain John Carter is inexplicably teleported to Mars, called Barsoom by its inhabitants. Legendary Barsoom—where hostile tribes of towering green warriors roam an arid landscape of dead cities and feuding city-states; where pilgrimages are made to a river of death that conceals a terrifying secret; where lifespans are measured in centuries; and where airships speed through the thinning atmosphere while duels are fought with swords below. Stranded and fighting for his life in a dying, savage world, John Carter embarks on one of the greatest adventures of all time as his destiny and Barsoom’s become one.
The first three books of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s brilliantly conceived Barsoom series—A Princess of Mars, The Gods of Mars, and The Warlord of Mars—are brought together here for the first time. The trilogy follows the saga of John Carter from his unexpected arrival on Barsoom through hair-raising adventures and startling discoveries from pole to pole of the planet.
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UNDER THE MOON OF MARS - A HISTORY AND ANTHOLOGY OF THE SCIENTIFIC ROMANCE IN THE MUNSEY MAGAZINES, 1912 - 1920
Sam (editor and introduction), Edgar Rice burroughs, George Allan England, Charles B. Stilson, J. U. Giesy, Francis Stevens, A. Merritt, Ray Cummings, Murray Leinster, Austin Hall & Homer Eon Flint; Essay on H. P. Lovecraft, The Argosy, et Moskowitz
Manufacturer: Holt, Rinehart & Winston
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000P0U9C4 |
Book Description
The perfect introductory textbook, this simplified study of logic prepares readers to reason thoughtfully and to spot illogic in an argument.
Customer Reviews:
Really thorough but accessible........2006-07-09
Geisler covers a good bit of ground in his intro to logic, but he's such a good logician AND good communicator, he makes it highly graspable (which may not be a word...no, it is, I checked.)
Of course, this is written from a Christian perspective, so it's not likely to appeal to some philosophy students, totally cynical and agnostic by the time they take their logic class. But anyone who's familiar with Geisler knows he's a dang walking-talking-debating-master of logic, so this really should work for anyone.
informative but not logical.......2006-02-03
After looking at the problems in the excersises of the 4th chapter, as well as the answer key in the back, it would seem as if the book assumes that the statement "-p or -q" is equivelant to "-(p or q)". It is not. Consequently the destructive syllogism is not true to form according to that chapter.
Also, if you look at problem number 4 in exercise 4.3, the conclusion is a tautology (always true), rendering the argument valid. However the answer key says it's invalid.
While some may be tempted to say that the authors work under a different (in this case, non-standard) logical system, it is unfathomable that the authors would not make aware of these issues.
Great Intro to Logical Thinking from Christian Perspective.......2004-09-22
This book is not meant for casual reading (you have to think to understand this one), but it can help enlighten the casual reader (who does not want to study) if he/she skims through the first 90 pages (which require some study of terms and differences)and then coasts through the rest. Geisler and Brooks are Christian thinkers who understand thinking and logic, and they present the major components of logical thinking in a Christian context.
The authors explain syllogisms and differentiate between a valid conclusion and an invalid conclusion. They also distinguish validity from actual truth (valid conclusions are not always actually true in reality; they are merely logically based on the premises presented). That's the stuff addressed in the first 90 pages.
But the best part (and most enjoyable for me)began with chapter 6, "Informal Fallacies." This section was lighter reading. Since this is an election year, it would be a study in itself to compare political commentaries and supposed answers to questions with the logic presented in this volume!
Since the authors are serious students of Scripture and Geisler is a celebrated Theologian, most of their examples come from familiar Bible texts or theological issues. Although I have stronger convictions about Sovereign Grace than do the authors, I really found their examples useful in the realm of hermenutics (Bible interpretation). They are solid defenders of an inerrant Bible and ethical interpretation.
If you want to brush up your thinking skills, this might be a good place to start. "Fit Bodies, Fat Minds" by Os Guiness persuades us that the use of the mind has been neglected in evangelical communities, and Geisler and Brooks have written a work to help properly activate those little grey cells. Not really an easy read, and not for everyone, but a meaningful mind stretcher.
One of Only Two.......2004-07-14
Truly philosophically minded introductions to Aristotelian logic (the other is Peter Kreeft's _Socratic Logic_). I now do work in advanced mathematical logic, but the good old syllogism is still the most useful logical tool on a daily basis. My favorite two parts of this book are the early parts on Logic and God. It should be required reading for modern Christians. Also, the chapter on Uncovering Logic in Literature is very very good. I have taught from this text in Classical High Schools and have found it ideally suited for that purpose. It also works very well for a self-taught course. There are answers to exercises in the back. I should add that the exercises are largely drawn from philosophy and theology which makes them much more interesting than conventional logic texts.
Good, but eventually move on to Copi and Cohen.......2004-04-15
For a person who has grown up in the television age and not used to rational thinking (90% of America), this book is pivotal for an understanding of logic. Upon first glance this book is hard to read because we are not used to thinking in terms of complex propositions. And, like any textbook, the more that you put into it, the more you will get out. An understanding of loigc is necessary for even a superficial reading of the Bible. St. Paul in every sentence is using logic to its deadly effect. To read Romans and Galatians without reasoning properly is...
For those of you who read the review of Mr. John M K and could not understand what you wrote, do not be alarmed. He deliberately spoke in incoherent sentences, which is what happens when you deny the validity of logic. The only time he did make sense was (for the sake of argument, I assume he did) when he was using logic to attack the use of logic. For example, thieves often reason this way, "This is not my wallet but it is not the case that it is not my wallet." We usually do not take them seriously. I will let the reviewer decide the validity of that. With all due respect to Mr. M K, this is not the first time that he has committed logical fallacies in reviews (see my review of *Christianity and Liberalism*).
The bright moments of this book is that the employment of logic opened up a new world for me. I fault Geisler with certain examples he used. Sometimes he did not go far enough. That aside, tis should give the student an understanding of the basic content and how to use it. After mastering this book I would recommend moving on to *Introduction to Logic" 11 ed. by Copi and Cohen. For a quick refreshment of logic see chapter two of *Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview* by Moreland and Craig (I do not entirely endorse other parts of that book, but chapter two is pivotal).
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- Dirt Music : A Novel
- Dorian Greyhound: A Novel
- Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp (Penguin Classics)
- El Reino del Dragon de Oro
- Eve's Prescription (Indigo: Sensuous Love Stories)
- For Kings and Planets: A Novel
- Gaudy Night: A Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane Mystery (Mystery Masters)
- Gone Fishin': Featuring an Original Easy Rawlins Short Story "Smoke" (Easy Rawlins Mysteries)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Home Before Morning: The Story of an Army Nurse in Vietnam
- While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West from Within
- The Collected Jack London: Thirty-Six Stories/Four Complete Novels/a Memoir
- The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium
- The Perfect Husband
- White Noise Distribution Theory
- Water and Power: The Conflict over Los Angeles' Water Supply in the Owens Valley
- The Princess Trilogy: Boxed Set
- Taxation, reimbursement : agreement between the United States of America and the Customs Cooperation
- Getting Your 15 Minutes of Fame and More!: A Guide to Guaranteeing Your Business Success
