Option

Good basic information explained very clearly with well chosen examples. I think this book would make for an interesting audio tape.

no marketing plan, promotional plan should be developed prior to referencing this book. Well, it could be done, but at alot of extra work.

This is an excellent book which covers many great ideas and potential methodologies applied to derivative pricing. It should have been published much earlier.

MG Yasargil is the father of miconeurosurgery and, in my opinion still one of the leading sources from whom to learn, not just "the tricks", but equally, "the trade" itself. His trans-sulcus approach to intra-parenchymatous tumors provides for good exposure with less surgical trauma. Dr. Yasargils experience and his passion for the field comes through in his writing. Though this may not be the first book a young and aspiring neurosurgeon should aquire, the book is a must for the libraries of neurosurgical groups and hospital departments. Having worked in this field for more than 20 years, I still consult this book, because of its illustrations and the transparent description of preparing for surgery, of the notes on complication avoidance and, equally importantly, on complication management.

Part One of the book provides evidence about the growing threat of violent criminals. Part Three offers the authors'suggestions for an effective firearms policy. (They make a good argument for a "smart card" to be used as identification for gun purchases.) But the most important (and the longest) part of the book is the middle part, titled "Moral and Religious Grounds for Self-Defense." The authors start with the Old Testament, work their way through the New Testament, and into modern theological ethics. Carefully considering all contrary arguments, the authors come to the solidly-argued conclusion that (within the Judeo-Christian framework) there is no valid basis for denying the right to use deadly force against a violent predator. The "moral" assertion of the gun prohibitionists that use of deadly force against criminals is always wrong is intellectually unsupportable. It has no genuine basis in Judeo-Christian ethics. Furnish and Small treat the anti-force argument respectfully, and their arguments may prove convincing to pacifists who are willing to read the book with an open mind. The Mounting Threat of Home Intruders, besides being a good analysis of a particular ethical issue, also serves as an introduction to modern academic theology, including the work of the great theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. Review by Dave Kopel, Independence Institute, http://i2i.org.

Unlike Arthur Johnson's lopsided approach in "Faith Misguided: Exposing the Dangers of Mysticism" (Moody Press, 1988), Corduan offers a balanced, modest approach to the topic. He is aware of the complex, multi-dimensional nature of the subject and carefully looks at the various positions within the literary field. In his personal introduction (Chapter One), he states his theological and methodological presuppositions which include his commitment to Evangelical Christianity and biblical inerrancy. He states: "Ultimately, a mystical experience may not be the standard for evaluating truth in the Bible, but the Bible must remain the standard by which personal realities and experiences are tested" (pg. 17). Corduan also wisely points out the need to presuppose that the best authority on the phenomena of mysticism are mystics themselves and any critical analysis of mystical experience has to be based on interpretations because "the pure phenomenality of the experienced has to go unassailed" (pg. 19). Chapter Two addresses the question "What is Mysticism?" He acknowledges that this is no easy task because "many definitions will tend to be so specific as to say too much or so general as to say too little" (pg. 22). After critiquing various definitions, he settles for an understanding of mysticism as "an unmediated link to an absolute." Chapter Two answers the question of "Does Mysticism Have a Common Core?" by siding with neither the advocates of unanimity (The Perennial Philosophy) nor the advocates of an extreme pluralism. Instead, he takes a Thomistic approach which holds that some mystical experiences across various religious and philosophical backgrounds can be similar. (One is reminded of Aquinas' distinction between univocal, equivocal, and analogical language.)

Chapter Four asks, "Does Mysticism Have an Objective Referent?". Within this chapter, Corduan basically explores the subjective and objective aspects of mysticism and points out that the question of truth can't be settled within a given experience without looking at the whole frame of reference (the world view). Because Corduan is a committed Christian, he admits, for example, that his rejection of Hinduism as a religion leads him to reject the experience contained therein (pg. 75). This, again, takes us back to the distinction between an experience and its interpretation. Because one can experience deception, tests for truth are important and contradictory world views cannot all be true. Having made this point, Corduan adds his theory of a natural mystical faculty within humans that can be activated either purely subjectively or by objective causes.

Chapter Five asks, "Can Language Describe Mytical Experience?" Because William James and others posit ineffability as a key characteristic of mystical experience, Corduan looks at this factor in relation to apophatic language. He analyzes the reasons (theories) given by advocates of ineffability such as the Insider Theory (the nonmystic can't understand what the mystic is saying), the Limits-of-Language Theory, the Lack-of Concept Theory, and the Limits-of-Logic Theory. Each is shown as coming up short. Again, insights from Thomas Aquinas are utilized and the solution of analogical language is posited. "Analogy always implies a similarity and a difference, and this is also true of language about finite things compared to language about God." For those who want further analysis of apophatic and cataphatic language, see Corduan's and Geisler's "Philosophy of Religion". Another important contemporary book that looks at the nature of apophatic language as used by the mystics is "Mystical Languages of Unsaying" by Michael Sells (April 1994).

Chapter Six, Mysticism in Christendom, looks at Eastern Orthodoxy as defended by Lossky (The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church). Corduan carefully points out positive and negative aspects. One positive aspect is the emphasis on God's grace; one negative aspect is that it seems to minimize sin and reconciliation. But Corduan quickly admits that as a Westerner, he may not be able to see all of the ramifications of "theosis" (the "deification" of the human being). Theosis is not to be confused with pantheism. The trinitarian personal God who is both transcendent and immanent is foundational to Eastern Orthodoxy. Within Western Mysticism, Corduan looks at Augustine, Meister Eckhart, Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross and, again, looks at pros and cons. Regarding Eckhart, there is conflict of interpretation which can put Eckhart within or outside of Orthodoxy. Corduan looks at both. Regarding Teresa and John, he points out that both do not equate the mystical experience of union with salvation and that some protestants may think that both mystics have usurped God's grace by a notion of reward. Finally, a summary is provided that separates certain ideas within mysticism in general from biblical Christianity.

Chapter Seven is entitled "New Testament-Based Mysticism". It concludes that there is a mystical reality in the believer's relationship to the triune God through adoption as God's child, a position "in Christ," and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but the chapter ends with a paradox that I'll leave for future readers to discover. Overall, I enjoyed Corduan's analysis which gave me some food for thought. I also appreciate his sympathetic, although cautious, approach to the topic. Too bad this book is, as of this review, out of print. For those who want another critical evangelical analysis of mysticism of a pantheistic variety, I recommend David Clark's and Norman Geisler's "Apologetics in the New Age".

Greg Pahl's book organizes everything you need to know about heating with alternative fuels in a very "non-techy, quick to find salient facts" manner.I used his book to help me make choices in buying and installing a new wood stove to heat my dome house in Maine.With all of the alternatives out there, this book helped me intelligently sort through a myriad of choices and get a stove just right for my needs.

A good introduction to neural nets and their applicability tothe futures markets. Provides mathematical/theoretical basis fortechniques involved in neural net training, testing, chaos and touches on nonlinear systems in general. Also provides interesting benchmarks of several nets against several time series. Great bibliography. Includes Fortran source code for running trained nets but not for training a net.

This is an excellent book and one which receives my highest recommendation for military spouses. It is absolutely packed with information, and contains hundreds of valuable references. It is an outstanding resource, one you shouldn't be without! It gives full importance and attention to the spouse's career. Although it was published 5 years ago, it is more current than many others published since in terms of its assessment of the job market, and coverage of innovative strategies for career development (not just jobs.)

People gravitate towards rhetoric, forming their opinions based on snippets of information rather than after having a more exhaustive study of the issues. Luckily, Dr. Heribert Adam and Dr. Kogila Moodley don't fall under this category and offer us a well research perspective on the issues. The first three chapters "The Opening of the Apartheid Mind" sets the stage for what will be a more rational and composed examination of the issues in South Africa of the recent past. To be brutally honest, rhetoric is sexy. Rhetoric moves us and unfortunately that limits the scope of our examination and removes agency from the Other - the stereotyped. Leaving one's examination of South Africa on the level of biographies written by self serving individuals leaves one with a one sided view of the issues.

In conjunction with the issues I laid out above, I just want to reflect, for a moment on Nelson Mandela's rhetoric that what occurred in South Africa was a miracle. The common belief is that there is an ontological predisposition to violence in Africa in general and South Africa in particular - that is a very dangerous oversimplification. In as much as there is a propensity to violence anywhere, why should we privilege Africa as the hotbed of violence. Can we see things another way and formulate policies accordingly.

There was an interesting note made in the introduction that: "Reluctant reconciliation is taking shape in South Africa. The ambivalent alliance between the two major contenders for power, the National Party (NP) and the African national Congress (ANC), results from a balance of forces where neither side can defeat the other. It is their mutual weakness, rather than their equal strength, that makes both longtime adversaries embrace negotiations for power-sharing. Like a forced marriage, the working arrangement lacked love but nonetheless is consummated because any alternative course would lead to a worse fate for both sides."

Already this sets the tone that the myth of the South African miracle is false and that the rhetoric surrounding the violence as set up by Mandela is false. A deeper examination of the issues leads us to believe that is will be the realistic self assessments as opposed to slogans and threats of violence that will lead South Africa to a stable transition and to effect a sustained stability - to whatever extent that can be achieved. People, unfortunately, en masse, do not like to hear this, it detracts from the rhetoric that fills the empty chambers of their hearts - therein lies the problem. In this context, it is very difficult to make a distinction between what we can be done and what ought to be done.

It is also interesting to note that whites will be in control for along time to come. The "emancipation" rhetoric want to see the toppling of tyrannical regime and see black freedom. Unfortunately, it is this very type to drum beating that results in violence: "Though strong in symbolic support, the ANC is weak in bureaucratic resources, military capacity, and economic leverage. Real power will therefore remain in the hands of the present establishment; even if Nelson Mandela becomes president of South Africa, the economy, the civil service, and the army will have to rely on white skills, capital, and goodwill for along time to come."

Having outline this, it is clear that a more reasoned and negotiated approach would be prudent. A statement like this one certainly does not bode well for the activists or the communist. Both of their projects will not be eliminated by this realization. However, realpolitik is for the engineers, rhetoric is the fodder for the activist.

The problem of the unassailability was already laid out early in the book, what is now important to do is to deconstruct the notion of Nelson Mandela as messiah and that his political apparatus is beyond criticism. One of the possible cautions for doing so can be construed as paternalistic. An argument could be made that it might be well enough that the ANC has achieved what it has. In this light, it will be making baby steps and will need time to iron out its kinks and be allowed to make mistakes. However, more sinister is the notion that because of his charisma, Mandela and the ANC are beyond any form of criticism - as if to imply "you are either part of the problem or part of the solution."

This merely confirms empirically that a less than critical approach can lead to a less than accurate prediction. Dr. Adam and Dr. Moodley bring to light several angles that ignored by the press and public who wish to see South Africa in terms of black and white rather than shades of gray.