1990 Books

The book has very clean design. Large format. Each print is illustrated on single page, following with artists info, concept behind and the method of each piece. It is a fancinating journey into the Chinese printmaking as well as the culture testing. Overall a great book to buy if you are really into woodcut, and wanna study some Chinese traditional wood carving methods.

A Xilogravura chinesa é uma tradição muito antiga que foi bruscamente interrompida por questões políticas. "Chinese Printmaking Today (...)" é parte do esforço para documentar a retomada da produção dos artistas xilogravadores chineses e trazer à tona um pedaço de uma das culturas mais refinadas da humanidade. As gravuras expostas são, quando pouco, maravilhosas, e as informações, riquíssimas. Não só vale a compra mas, sem sombra de dúvida, é um dever do artista xilogravador conhecer esses trabalhos.

In his recent Apostolic Exhortation The Sacrament of Charity: Sacramentum Caritatis His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI exhorts all Catholics in this way:

"We cannot remain passive before certain processes of globalization which not infrequently increase the gap between the rich and the poor worldwide. We must denounce those who squander the earth's riches, provoking inequalities that cry out to heaven (cf Jas 5:4)."

"The Lord Jesus, the bread of eternal life spurs us to be mindful of the situations of extreme poverty in which a great part of humanity still lives: these are situations for which human beings bear a clear and disquieting responsibility."

" . . .less than half of the huge sums spent worldwide on armaments would be more than sufficient to liberate the immense masses of the poor from destitution. This challenges the human conscience."

"The food of truth demands that we denounce inhumane situations in which people starve to death because of injustice and exploitation, and it gives us renewed strength and courage to work tirelessly in the service of the civilization of love. From the beginnings, Christians were concerned to share their goods (cf. Acts 4:32) and to help the poor (cf. Rom. 15:26)."

The present Pope furthers urges us:

"In the memorial of his sacrifice, the Lord strengthens our fraternal communion and in a particular way urges those in conflict to hasten their reconciliation by opening themselves to dialogue and a commitment to justice. Certainly the restoration of justice, reconciliation and forgiveness are the conditions for building true peace. The recognition of this fact leads to a determination to transform unjust structures and to restore respect for the dignity of all men and women, created in God's image and likeness. Through the concrete fulfillment of this responsiblity, the Eucharist becomes in life what it signifies in its celebration."

"the Church . . . cannot and must not remain in the sidelines in the struggle for justice."

"the sacrifice of Christ is a mystery of Liberation that constantly and insistently challenges us. I therefore urge all the faithful to be true promoters of peace and justice: 'All who partake of the Eucharist must commit themselves to peacemaking in our world scarred by violence and war ( . . .)'"

He concludes:

"the Eucharist compels all who believe in him to become 'bread that is broken' for others, and to work for the building of a more just and fraternal world. Keeping in mind the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, we need to realize that Christ continues today to exhort his disciples to become personally engaged: 'You yourselves, give them something to eat' (Mt 14:16). Each of us is truly called, together with Jesus, to be bread broken for the life of the world."

Let us look carefully therefore at a time twenty years ago when Catholics truly worked at all costs for the establishment of "a more just and fraternal world" which "promotes peace and justice" with a firm "determination to transform unjust structures and to restore respect for the dignity of all men and women, created in God's image and likeness." in order to discover how we may follow this exhortation of Our Holy father, compelled as he writes by our participation in the Holy Eucharist.

I met Tomas Borge many times, including in his office but mostly at Mass. This excellent book from twenty yeares ago, when I knew him, collects various writings and discourses by Minister Borge, from forty years ago until nearer the time of publication. He is a prolific writer and political philosopher, and many of his books may be acquired here upon the amazon, including Carlos, the dawn is no longer beyond our reach: The prison journals of Tomas Borge remembering Carlos Fonseca, founder of the FSLN, Have You Seen a Red Curtain in My Weary Chamber?: Poems, Stories and Essays, The Patient Impatience: From Boyhood to Guerilla : A Personal Narrative of Nicaragua's Struggle for Liberation, as well as this present collection. As well as being a writer and the rest he is a dedicated and conscientious Catholic; thus this book collects those writings and speeches which most reveal his Faith and its Call to Action.

As this is the month of Saint Francis of Assisi and this my review already grows long, permit me please to cite merely one brief passage frmo so many excellent thoughts of this great man, from a talk given during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at my parish in Managua, in poor old Barrio Riguero, at the beautiful Church of San Francisco de los Angeles ministered by the great Padre Uriel Molina (please see as well his El padre Uriel Molina habla sobre la Teología de la Liberación.(Entrevista): An article from: Revista de Ciencias Sociales and Uriel Molina and the Sandinista Popular Movement in Nicaragua).

Drawn out of the context of a Faith discussion, kindly let me share with you this brief passage which seems especially relevant today, and to Our Holy Father's new notice in exhortation that " . . .less than half of the huge sums spent worldwide on armaments would be more than sufficient to liberate the immense masses of the poor from destitution. This challenges the human conscience." Minister Borge spoke at Mass on the 800th birthday of Saint Francis of Assisi, October 3, 1982:

(as on many other occassions in human history, religion was used as a cover for the dealings of unscrupulous merchants who enriched themselves by the blood and destruction of warfare. In our time, the use of war to promote business has led to the fabulous profits made by international weapons manufacturers and brokers, with their vested interests in fomenting war in order to sell the wares of destruction and death. The Vietnam War, to cite but one example, represented an enormous stream of wealth - dollars stained with blood - for US transnational corporations (p. 110)."

Borge at that time could not imagine the horrors of corruption and trillion dollar greed of Cheney's Halliburton, etc. Our situation now draws us to hear the prophetic words of the Holy Father with the courageous application of Minister Borge. AS Pope Paul said: If you want peace, work for justice. See also Encyclical Letter (Pacem in Terris) of His Holiness John XXIII ... On Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity and Liberty.

Once again this represents only one brief citation out of context but interesting for our brave new age of the same old same old. Please read the rest of the book, and contemplate Minister Borge's beautiful meditations on the Gospel and his Faith.

The Nicaraguan revolution (1979) marks the first time in history that Christians and Marxists have joined together to carry out an ambitious program of political, social, and economic transformation. The outcome has been unprecedented: a revolution that has banned capital punishment, torture, and tear gas: that has entrusted key ministries -- Education, Culture, and Foreign Relations -- to Catholic priests; that has sought to give practical meaning to the "preferential option for the poor." No one has played a more pivotal role in bringing this about than Tomas Borge, Minister of the Interior of the revolutionary government and sole surviving founder of the Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional (FSLN). In this anthology, Borge expounds on his Christian thought, drawing on Biblical sources to elaborate a "theology of life" and on his revolutionary experience to describe how the incaration of Christian principles entails confronting the opposing "theology of death." With deep roots in both Sandinism and liberation theology, he sets forth a provocative and compelling witness that challenges Christians everywhere. == from the back cover of the book

These quotes are from a review by Paul Hurley:

"...chock full of fascinating information from cover to cover."

"Mr. Tosone has the knack for asking just the right question."

"...anyone with an interest in [new repertoire for the guitar] is likely to find the book a veritable gold mine of information."

"Mr. Tosone...brings out the special qualities of each [interviewee] with shrewdly conducted interviews."

"The book contains several attractive features, including and generous selection of photographs...[and]...a large number of concert and CD reviews."

These quotes are from a review by Colin Cooper, Editor of Classical Guitar Magazine, published in the August 2001 issue.

"For those who love the guitar and have more than a passing interest in knowing what motivates a small handful of leading exponents, the book is an excellent read."

"The many insights in the book make it compulsive reading, perhaps even essential..."

"Jim Tosone asks very good questions, and gets very good answers..."

"...the true value of the book...lies in the revelation of character, intellect and philosophy among some of our leading guitarists..."

"I wish this book could be made compulsory reading..."

Eyvind Earle's work, like that of the other true masters before him, transcends generations and particular tastes. You will marvel at these breathtaking images and even be deeply moved. Do not miss an opportunity to discover this amazing man. The world has lost a brilliant talent, but his works will remain forever.

The works in this book are filled with magic and beauty. Mostly colorful stylized landscapes that, although not photo-realistic, nevertheless express a mystical feeling about nature . I wish I could see the originals.

Rae's Conservative Reformers does a wonderful job of taking an objective look at the 104th Congress and the Republican Freshmen involved. Not only does Rae look at this one Congress, but at one hundred years of Congress and their decline in power that made a reform group necessary. Rae does an excellent job of analyzing the budget crisis of 1995-1996 and what implications this had among the freshmen in Congress. For anyone interested in politics, this book is a "must read."

A comprehensive and scholarly treatment of the new majority has been long awaited. To the citizen desiring political knowledge, as well as to the academic, Conservative Reformers provides the most thorough discussion of the freshmen, their political motivations, and the institutional constraints they faced. Additionally, Rae weaves his observations, data, and interviews into a solid theoretical framework that beckons the philosophical. Particularly useful were the initial chapters, which provide an historical overview of the themes addressed throughout. For example, the author demonstrates that public disaffection with Congress is not a new addition to the political landscape in the U.S. Most humorous are the pages addressing the rise of the Republican candidates in the 1980's, as one can only imagine such antics in Congress. Finally, the chapter on the budget impasse was by far the most entertaining and engaging consideration of the topic that I have yet to see. Long after the Republican takeover ceases to be a current event, Conservative Reformers will continue to interest readers due to its analytical and theoretical richness.

The author doesn't go into great depth about any particular work, but a few pages here, a few pages there, he shows the value of several books that I had too hastily passed by, and so I am now revisiting Louise Erdrich's TALES OF BURNING LOVE and Barry Hannah's HIGH LONESOME with new insight. I have ordered David Antrim's novels discussed in here, and am looking forward to reading them.

Recommended.

I can't imagine a better introduction to the subject than this. Millard is the best reader of contemporary American fiction I've come across, and here he gives lucid and invigorating readings of more than 30 works of fiction. The books are grouped together in sections - the family, sport, the West, Language and Power, etc - to bring out different aspects of themes common to related novels, which makes the book ideal for anyone studying the subject. But anyone with a liking for the works of a wonderfully varied range of contemporary American authors (Updike, Roth, DeLillo, Doctorow, Donald Antrim, Sherman Alexie, Gish Jen, etc., etc.) will have their enjoyment of the books enhanced and their appetite for more sharpened. Enthusiastically recommended.

Terrific! If you do want to be a winner in the net age,do not hesitate to read it!

I am doing Masters in Business Admnistration. I read this book and found it the best book written on the subject of Marketing. Mr. Boone is simply the best, so is the book. The problem is that this book is too expensive for me to purchase. I issued this book from library. Being a student i can't afford this book.

In the pages of Contemporary World Architecture, London-based writer, lecturer and architectural expert Hugh Pearman presents an immense and wonderfully illustrated study of architecture drawn from nations around the globe. Filled cover to cover with gorgeous color photography and erudite commentary on thirteen separate categories of buildings, Contemporary World Architecture is as much an architectural art appreciation reference as it is a practical study of the design, sturdiness, and aesthetics of architectural construction styles transcending cultures. An amazing, eye-catching, 511 page volume that incorporates shelter, history, building mechanics and more into a studious whole, Contemporary World Architecture is strongly recommended for professional and academic architectural reference collections as being an impressive and seminal work of detailed architectural information and enduring appreciation.

very nic

Richard Band's books on contrary investing are a must for anyone who understands that trading agasint the crowd is what leads to winning trades. I highly recommend this book! Mitchell Holland, Author "The Master Trader" http://www.trillions.com/

This book offers great investing advice as well as a historic recap of past events. I never realized I was a contrarian myself until I read this book.

Reading it in 1999 I can only wish I had read it in 1990 as it predicted many of the decade's economic events: low inflation and budget surpluses.

Even though it predicts the Dow at 4000-5000 by New Years's Eve 2000, who would have thought the Dow would be at 11,000+?

The investing tips this book provides are timeless and once you start reading this book you can not stop. I wish this author would write a book about the next millennium, I'd be the first one to buy it.

Many recent books about Iraq address only the current conflict while earlier studies limit themselves to Iraq under sanctions or Operation Desert Storm, the military operation that ousted Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1991. In Cradle of Conflict, Knights, a risk consultant at Jane's Information Group, integrates all three eras to provide context to the current situation.

Knights' focus is on military decision-making. With so many of the same decision-makers serving during the first and second Iraq wars--Dick Cheney and Colin Powell, for example--why did policy toward Iraqi president Saddam Hussein change so dramatically? How did the intermediary years of sanctions and containment change both Iraqi and U.S. military tactics?

His narrative is detailed but flows well. He understands the policy process and military decision-making better than most journalists. With a rich array of textual sources and interviews with key U.S. officials, Cradle of Conflict serves well as a reference for now distant episodes such as the 1994 Iraqi deployment toward the Kuwait border and U.S. military planning spurred by Baghdad's obstruction of U.N. inspections in 1997 and 1998. His military analysis is astute. He shows, for example, how the Iraqi military adapted to U.S. tactics during the interwar years.

Knights also interweaves detailed knowledge of Iraqi politics. He explains with insight, for example, Saddam's oil-smuggling schemes with Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani. He examines the mutual decisions which led to the Kurdish leader betraying competitors and other Iraqi opposition figures by allowing Iraqi Republican Guards to attack Erbil in 1996, an episode that challenged the Clinton administration during a sensitive electoral season.

Cradle of Conflict's contribution to understanding the planning behind Operation Iraqi Freedom is especially valuable as the Iraq war continues in its fifth year. While many embedded journalists and military correspondents focus only on the U.S. Army and Marines' contribution to the war, Knights adds insight into the decisions surrounding the air war. He discusses, for example, the failed attempt to decapitate the Iraqi leadership on the first night of the conflict as well as the U.S. decision to dilute the "shock and awe" bombing campaign and to stage it at night rather than in the morning when it might have killed Iraqi intelligence and military planners. He astutely recognizes that Iraqis go passive in the face of crisis until they sense who will be the victor.

Still, Knights leaves some questions unanswered. While acknowledging the CIA's faulty analysis, he does not address the source of its identification of the bunker targeted by the decapitation strike. The bunker did not exist. While Iraqi National Congress leader Ahmad Chalabi is the usual scapegoat in such matters, he could not be in this case because Langley did not talk to him. Knights also accepts too readily the conventional wisdom about the impact of de-Baathification and exaggerates the numbers affected. He also overestimates the willingness of top-tier Saddam loyalists to reintegrate into a new Iraq. Here, greater attention to preexisting insurgency plans would be welcome.

While many journalists--George Packer, David Rieff, and others--skew analysis to fit politics in their accounts, Knights researches, fact-checks, and relies upon more than blogs and fellow journalists. Knights has constructed a superior account that deserves to be read by serious journalists and policy practitioners.

Michael Rubin
Middle East Quarterly
Spring 2008

More than just a study of how the modern American military goes to war, this book is a study of the conflict in Iraq since Gulf I.

It covers the impact of the Goldwater-Nichols defense department reorganization that has worked wonders in reducing inter-service rivalry and which was first put to the test in Gulf I.

It covers the changes in munitions, equipment, training, recon that comprise the present day forces.

It is also the most complete story I've seen on what Saddam was doing during the gaps between Gulf I and Gulf II. You get the feeling that a local, not well educated or travelled person, focused on his own issues just couldn't see what his statements were saying to the rest of the world.

My only complaint is that the book ends just a little bit too early. There's not much on hos we are to get out of the mess that exists over there now. This is a book on how the military fights wars, not on how we conduct the peace afterwards.

Highly recommended.