Product Description

Revolutionize your iPhone and iPad game development with Unity iOS, a fully integrated professional application and powerful game engine, which is quickly becoming the best solution for creating visually stunning games for Apple's iDevices easier, and more fun for artists.  From concept to completion you'll learn to create and animate using modo and Blender as well as creating a full level utilizing the powerful toolset in Unity iOS as it specifically relates to iPhone and iPad game development.

Customer Reviews (1)

If you are an artist working on iOS devices this is required reading
Let me first start off by saying that this author knows his stuff. As you read the book you learn that he has an intimate understanding of both Unity as well as the iOS platform.

If you're not a game developer - you will still get something from this as you will know what to look for from the art assets that you get in your workflow and you can then "gift" this for your artists so they create art assets that are more acceptable for Unity. However, much of what the author discusses is very art platform centric so if you are not artistic or speak that language you won't get much from this particular book as its not going to get into the basics of actual game development - this is a good thing!

The book also comes with access to some online materials that will follow the book and help you visualize what's going on, but if you're not a Blender or Modo person you may have some trouble as the book is clearly using these platforms as the workflow for development.

I would absolutely recommend this if you're an artist using Unity. I'd actually require that anyone working on my projects be aware of the concepts covered in this book and fortunately the author provides enough detail to not just be effective but to excel in this resoruce constrained environment with discussions about beast lightmapping, uv seams, vertex computation, minimizing ram use, etc. In all he covers the most crucial topics.

If you're an artist using Unity and you haven't read through this book - you're making a terrible terrible mistake. ... Read more

Product Description
Facets of Unity presents the Enneagram of Holy Ideas as a crystal clear window on the true reality experienced in enlightened consciousness. Here we are not directed toward the psychological types but the higher spiritual realities they reflect. We discover how the disconnection from each Holy Idea leads to the development of its corresponding fixation, thus recognizing each types deeper psychological core. Understanding this core brings each Holy Idea within reach, so its spiritual perspective can serve as a key for unlocking the fixation and freeing us from its limitations.Amazon.com Review
A.H. Almaas presents "the holy ideas" that are the spiritualrealities of the nine personality types that the Enneagramreflects. For those unfamiliar with the Enneagram, he includes anintroduction to the structure of psychological typecastingrediscovered by Oscar Ichazo,founder of the Arica School, who gives this book its high credentialsby having written the Foreword. While other books on the subjectexplain the different characteristics and behaviors of each of thenine fixations or types, Almaas expounds here on how the disconnectionfrom each holy idea leads to the development of its correspondingfixation. Then he provides keys to unlock them. For example, the"seven" type's holy idea is "holy wisdom," which Ichazo defines as"The awareness that reality exists as a succession of moments, eachexperienced as the present, and that it is only by existing in thepresent that the constant unfolding of the Cosmos can be experienced... can real work be done, and results achieved." --RandallCohan ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Strong Cup of Coffee Required to Read this Abstract Marathon of Words
Dense abstract language and complicated sentences and grammar.

I really wanted to like this book, but wow, what a slog! There are some great ideas in here, if you can find them under all that obfuscating language.

I like the author's premise of replacing fixations with holy Ideas, but seriously, where was the editor? The book is also not well laid out, it buries the holy ideas and does not make use of good section headings or a logical layout.

Really, was the author attempting to make this a difficult read, to keep the knowledge "secret?" I don't know, but despite many people's affection for this book, my strongest emotion reading it was frustration.

Here is an example of the kind of paragraphs that makes up most of this book, "When we say that Holy Love is the "nonconceptual positivity" of reality, we don't mean that it is positive because our subjective minds respond to it positively. We mean that it is how reality is, regardless of how we feel about it. What we normally describe as positive is something that we like, and what we describe as negative is something that we don't like. However, the point about Holy Love is that when you objectively apprehend reality, when you experience and see the Holy Truth, you cannot help but feel positive toward it. In this experience, there are no positive or negative categories that your mind has divided things into. There is no polarity here; this nonconceptual positivity is beyond all polarities. The nature of reality, then, is such that the more it touches your heart, the more your heart feels happy and full, regardless of your mental judgments of good or bad."

Firs of all, I'm not sure you can have a nonconceptual positivity. Any judgment carries some conceptualization. Nor do I think you can say that there is a reality beyond positive and negative and it is positive. You might say that there is a reality beyond dualistic thinking, beyond both positive and negative labels, but whatever that reality is, it can not be one of the labels in the duality!

And why the word "positivity?" Why could you not say that Holy Love is a "positive reality beyond concepts?" Throughout the book I was struck by the massive amounts of these awkward phrases and concepts.

Critics will say I didn't get it because I was trying to make it conceptual. That is, I'm afraid, a circuitous argument, because any book written about anything will have lots of concepts. We think in concepts. If you are trying to encourage non-conceptual apprehension of reality, that is fine, but say that.

I agree that there is much of interest in this book, but be warned that the language is heavy and the style is academic.

Awesome
This book is a beautiful alternative to the more personality-based books on the Enneagram. This book provides a Diamond Heart - based path for using the Enneagram to understand deeper spiritual hooks our ego has and illuminates a way to work on them rather that simply feeling trapped by our usual disappointments that the Enneagram can sometimes feel are inevitable. A beautiful book.

I eventually warmed to it
It took awhile to warm up to this book, as in this author's other works. But this is more a matter of my personality fluctuating between wanting to digest deep, abstract material, then later wanting to go through only down to earth and more rational material.
I recommend studying this alongside books on the Enneagram that come from a more psychological approach.

I have to also add a comment about the author in general: A.H. Almaas is too good to be grouped into the new age section!

Give yourself a real pure invaluable diamond
Facets of Unity is a book I return to again and again.Almass describes with brilliant precision and delight the different aspects of Beingness we all are, and in doing so, evokes those Holy Ideas to come forward.Incredibly powerful to experience.He also describes the means of our separation from these aspects, how we become deluded, unable to see or experience them and the structures that develop as a compensation for their loss.This becomes our identity as selves separate from our True Nature.Part of the beauty of this is in not getting typed, but to recognize these are all facets of the One we are, and all express through us at one time or another.Part of the gift in this spiritual unfolding given in this book is to be able to discriminate and recognize what is happening in our process.It's a book to support the serious and mature pilgrim in consciousness providing profound assistance in finding the way Home and living here in pure multidimensional awareness.Incredible work, really among the best things available.

In the tradition of "Power of Now"
Reading "Facets of Unity" was a transformational experience for me. I experienced my foundamental connection to all that is as I read it. Love and light became more real than the bed I was sitting on. My ego seemed transparent. I highlighted several key parts, and I regularly go back and read those when I need to reground myself and get perspective beyond my story. ... Read more

Product Description

In 2001's critically acclaimed Avatar novels, author S.D. Perry set the tone and the course for the continuation of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine®, a controversial television phenomenon hailed by TV Guide as "the best acted, written, produced, and altogether finest" incarnation of Star Trek®. Since then, the DS9 saga has grown in complexity and momentum, attracting an ever-growing audience to novels about which one reviewer raved, "In these pages, DS9 truly lives again." Now, following her triumphs with Avatar and Rising Son, S. D. Perry returns for a landmark tale celebrating DS9's tenth anniversary year.

On the eve of Bajor's formal entry into the Federation, First Minister Shakaar was assassinated, derailing the induction and plunging the planet and station Deep Space 9™ into chaos. Investigation into the murder revealed the presence of a parasitic conspiracy threatening not only Bajor's future with the Federation, but the very survival of both. At the same time, the fracturing of Bajor's theology has put its people on the threshold of a startling transformation -- and the consequences now rest on the shoulders of Colonel Kira Nerys, who months ago defied the religious authority of her planet by making public an ancient heretical text that challenged the very foundation of the Bajoran faith.

Now, after a harrowing and historic voyage of exploration in the Gamma Quadrant, the weary, wounded crew of Starship Defiant is at last coming home. But the joy of their return is short-lived as the crew becomes swept up in the crisis aboard the station, with many of them confronting personal issues that force them to make life-altering choices. Among those is a grief-stricken Commander Elias Vaughn, who reaches a crossroads in his life's journey and learns the true purpose for which he was Touched by the Prophets...as well as the ultimate fate of Captain Benjamin Sisko.

And...somewhere on Bajor...a child long awaited is about to be born. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

DS9 Continuing Story
There isn't much I can really talk about without spoiling it for others so without talking about the plot of the book I will just tell you to go out and buy it. There have been about 10 or so books that have continued the DS9 story since it ended after season 7 and this book is about the 10th or so. I recommend you read the others b4 reading this one because this one is what we like to call in the Star Trek universe as a Nexus.

Read the other books first then this one. It is truly worth the wait. You will not be disappointed.

Extraordinary - Perry Does It Again
With Unity, S.D. Perry - the best of all Star Trek novelists - brings the story she set up in Avatar to fruition. Not only is it the culmination of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine relaunch novels thus far, but it is another high point in the series as a whole. If Deep Space Nine had had an eighth season, this would have been its finale, and it's a stunner.

S.D. Perry has an understanding of the characters that elevates these stories beyond simple adventures. She understands how each character views the world as well as their relationships with each other. I got almost embarrassingly emotional during the last 75 pages of this book, actual goosebumps on my skin at one point.

A lot of ground is covered in these 300 pages, but it's clear from the very beginning, in which a helpful summary of the post-finale novels reminds us of where we are, that Unity will address all the story-lines we've been following. A great deal is resolved by the end of the novel, but not everything - which is great news, as it means there is more to come. With authors like S.D. Perry and the others who have (for the most part) done a great job in the relaunch novels, the DS9 franchise is in great hands.

I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!!!
I received this book on Saturday, November 14, 2009 and started reading it IMMEDIATELY!(I had been trying to find this book for almost a full year and it was worth the wait!)

I don't want to give away any plot spoilers but suffice it to say, the story had me keep turning the pages to find out what's going to happen next!!!!I finished reading the book in 24 hours and have started re-reading it!!!!This is one of the BEST Deep Space Nine stories yet!

Awesome
I really enjoyed this book, every last word of it.I loved the Gamma Mission Series, but didn't care very much for "Rising Son". So i was a little worried this would dissapoint as well, but I was soooo wrong. Great Great Great!!!

Superb conclusion to an extended storyarc:
One of the finest Star Trek books I've ever read; this one finishes the first storyarc continuing the Deep Space 9 saga beyond the end of the series. It ties up all of the subplots that had been ongoing throughout the "Mission: Gamma" series and before: Shar's problems with his bondmates, Bejor's admission to the Federation, Ro's and Quark's uncertainty about their places in a Bejor within the Federation, Vaughn's relationship with his daughter, the attack of the alien parasites, Jake's return, Kai Opaka's return, Ben Sisko's return, and many others are all brought to a head and sewn up into a nice, neat package. Granted, there is still room to continue the story, but this particular storyline is concluded very smoothly. ... Read more

Product Description
It's No SecretServing on a church board can be a tough assignment.Marathon business meetings and petty squabbling can quickly take a toll.But lay leaders aren't the only ones who find board meetings to be a harrowing experience.So do many pastors.Larry Osborne was no exception.Six months into a new pastorate, he found himself embroiled in controversy.Old members left as fast as new ones could be added.He and the board seldom saw eye to eye on anything.Troubled and confused, he set out to find some answers.What were the secrets of an effective leadership team?Could a pastor lead without becoming a dictator?What would it take to develop and maintain a unified board?Could it even be done?Now, many years, board meetings and hours of research later, Pastor Osborne applies tested, no-nonsense wisdom to these and other questions.Whatever your situation...whether your church is in a start-up phase, is small and struggling, or is one of a growing number of so-called mega churches, Larry has been there. As the senior pastor of North Coast Church, he's walked his congregation and board through each stage.Now, in The Unity Factor, he shows us what it takes to develop a healthy leadership team with sensible strategies and warm encouragement.Now with an additional bonus chapter "What Game Are We Playing?" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

everyone on your board should read it
One of the few books that I've ever sat down and read cover to cover in the same day. Well written; great examples.Left me with a good idea of what we were doing right and what we needed to change.This is the nitty gritty how-to's of leading a church.We're going to be using it alongside Getz's "Elders and Leaders" in our elder preparation program. I only wish I knew about it 10 years ago when I first started as a pastor.

Wondeful Book for Chruch Leaders
This book is a must for church leaders.It gives great insights to lay leaders and pastors alike.I will definitely be reading this book again!

Your Church Board Needs This Book: Right Now!
The best book in print about how to work together in harmony, whether you are helping to lead a church, growing a business, or simply trying to understand the relationships around you on the job or at home. Extremely well written, wonderfully clear --- Larry Osborne gets to the point and shows you how Biblical, positive, spiritual leadership is meant to function. Backing it up is the author's personal experience as one of the brightest and most sought-after pastors and leaders of today's church. A must-read for key lay leaders, elder boards, pastoral staff --- and more.

Dr. David Frisbie, The Center for Marriage & Family Studies
Author of 8 books, including Making a Marriage: 7 Essentials for a Strong Relationship

A Valuable Read
Sometimes one reads a book to realize part-way into it that they sure wish they'd read this sooner.The Unity Factor is such a book.Had this reviewer read this years ago, many of the mistakes and misconceptions he's experienced in a church leadership position might have been avoidable.This is a very valuable book for Pastors, Chairmen of the Board, Elders and other church leaders.I found it so valuable, that I bought a copy for each of my deacons.

Excellent read!
This book is a great resource to pastors and elders as well as any member of the congregation. As a lay-person myself, I found the book insightful and applicable. I recommend this book to anyone involved in a church. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Wrong Book Sent.
Ordered one ISBN a different ISBN was sent.No refund.It appears the problem was on Amazon's end.Unable to find anyone at amazon to discuss resolution.

Biology Book
I needed this book for an on-line course. It was just what I wanted. Very good purchase. The book was in excellent condition.

Biology
This book was in new condition,as promised. It was a replacement for a damaged school book and was gladly accepted by the school library. It was also far cheaper than the $127 library replacement price.

Very satisfied
Very happy that it came exactly as it was described.The book is brand new and at a great price.Thanks!

Exactly as promised
I don't like the book, I am only using it for school but it was in great condition.It was sent as planned and I received without any complications.Exactly as stated.Would definetly buy from again. ... Read more

Product Description
With Saladin, students engage in the story of anatomy and physiology.

Memorable stories must be effective in multiple ways. The story must paint a strong visual picture. The story must weave in tools to make the reader remember important events and understand their impact. Ken Saladin weaves graceful descriptions of human anatomy and physiology processes together with carefully selected clinical applications and fascinating stories from the history of medicine and evolutionary medicine to create a multi-layered story about the human body.A consistent set of chapter learning tools helps students identify and retain key concepts while the stunning visual program provides a realistic view of body structures and processes. The fifth edition is further improved by a complete integration of the text with extensive digital teaching and learning tools.

Saladin's text requires no prior knowledge of college chemistry or cell biology, and is designed for a two-semester A&P course. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Compare and save!
This is a required text for A&P 1&2. The campus bookstore sells it at $213.35. Buying this book from Amazon I saved $53.61, 25%! I also didn't have to sacrifice quaility since the book is new.

A great book for class or personal study!
I bought this book on Amazon for my college classes, because they had the cheapest "new book" price that I could find. This book is great. The pictures and diagrams throughout the book are superior! I haven't even started my class yet, and I can't help but flip through this book looking at what all it has to offer. I am very excited to be using it this year.

If you are a college student and need this particular book for class, the only thing I recommend is making sure you get the right book listed for your class. This one is the Fifth Edition, Copyright 10 of Saladin's books and it is the US Version (not international). I didn't know that there were different versions until my husband pointed it out to me.

Love Love Love
This book is a requirement for my A&P 1 and A&P 2 classes. I rented it for A&P 1 and realized that I had to own it for future reference. It is not too hard to understand and easy to study from!

Excellent A&P textbook
This book is extremely clear and concise. The reading is easy and the diagrams are extremely easy to interpret. I found this book to be a great introduction to Anatomy and Physiology. It is is no way too complicated and actually makes understanding the material less complicated. It's a great textbook and I'd recommend it for sure!

A&P Book
Fast shipper and book was exactly as stated...brand new! Great seller, would do business with again. Thanks! ... Read more

Product Description
Recovering the Unity of the Bible helps readers grasp the Bible's progressive witness on various theological concepts. Walter C. Kaiser challenges the common scholarly posture that sees mostly diversity throughout the biblical canon, pointing instead to the way several Biblical themes substantially support the case for unity, including:- Messianic Promises- The People of God- The Law of God- The Doctrine of Salvation- The Mission of the Old TestamentRecovering the Unity of the Bible exhibits sound techniques for students, pastors, and Bible teachers who seek to make sense of the Bible's many and different texts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wow.
Dr. Kaiser deserves a huge pat on the back for this work.His attempt to unify the Scriptures is, unfortunately, fairly rare in these days.Not only does he make a compelling case, he also witnesses to parts of the Scripture that are often neglected and perhaps even unfamiliar with people.As can be deduced from the title, there is a need for Christians to learn the unified story of God, which in the end is ultimately our story, too.Kaiser does this, and, he does this well.

Excellence as usual from Kaiser
This book is very well done and will be especially helpful to Bible students seeking an informative book that is not so scholarly it cannot be read by everybody. ... Read more

Product Description
By using an issues-oriented approach, the new edition of this respected text grabs student interest with real-life issues that hit home. This text includes new coverage and pedagogy that encourages students to think critically about hot-button issues and includes outstanding new features that take students beyond memorization and encourage them to ask questions in new ways as they learn to interpret data. Show students how biology matters ? Biology's connections to real life are reflected in every chapter of this new edition, beginning with opening Impacts,Issues essays?a brief case study on a biology-related issue or research finding and is revisited throughout the chapter, reminding students of the real-world significance of basic concepts. Additional, online exercises promote critical thinking about issues students will face as consumers, parents, and citizens. Link concepts from chapter to chapter ? Links to Earlier Concepts appear near the Key Concepts, to help students remember what they've learned in earlier chapters and apply it to the new material to come. At the beginning of each section, students are reminded of the earlier link that is most appropriate for their current study. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wonderful!!!
Glad I got this book online! This was the EXACT book I needed for almost $200 less than the school was asking for it. And I got to sell it back to the school and got back $20 more than I bought it for! I would definitely buy from this website again!

Biology text
Great experience.On time as promised. Could not ask for more.

Thanks ... Read more

Product Description
This book is a primer on doing biblical theology through the "arching" principle, or taking the Bible as a coherent and unified whole, in order to understand the unified teachings of the Bible. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Dan Fuller unconditionally against John Calvin
I quote from Unity (p181): "In commenting on Genesis 2:17 -do not eat from that tree-Calvin said, `These words are so far from establishing faith that they do nothing but shake it.' I argue, however, that there is much reason for regarding these words as well suited to strengthen Adam and Eve's faith...In Calvin's thinking, the promise made in Genesis 2:17 could never encourage faith, for its conditionality could encourage only meritorious works. `Faith seeks life that is not found in commandments.' Consequently, the gospel by which we are saved is an unconditional covenant of grace, made such by Christ having merited it for us by his perfect fulfillment of the covenant of works. Dan Fuller comments: "I have yet to find anywhere in Scripture a gospel promise that is unconditional."

More from Unity (p310): "If Abraham was not declared forgiven until ten years later, was he still a guilty sinner when he responded positively to God's promises in Genesis 12:2-3 and also during the following years up until 15:6?" "Calvin gave a meaning to James's use of the word justification which is not supported by the text...He argued that for James, `justify' meant the `declaration' rather than the `imputation' of righteousness."

Calvin (3:17:12): "Either James inverted faith and obedience-unlawful even to imagine-or he did not mean to call him justified, as if Abraham deserved to be reckoned righteous. What then? Surely, it is clear that he himself is speaking of the declaration, not the imputation, of righteousness."

Back to Fuller (p313): "Paul would have agreed with James that Abraham's work of preparing to sacrifice Isaac was an obedience of faith. He would have disagreed strongly with Calvin, who saw obedience and works as only accompanying genuine faith...James' s concern in 2:14-26 was to urge a faith that saves a person, not simply to tell a person how they could demonstrate their saving faith...Calvin should have taught that justification depends on a persevering faith, since he regarded Abraham as already justified before Genesis 15:6."

And then Fuller quotes Edwards: "We are really saved by perseverance...the perseverance which belongs to faith is one thing that is really a fundamental ground of the congruity that faith gives to salvation...For, though a sinner is justified in his first act of faith, yet even then, in that act of justification, God has respect to perseverance as being implied in the first act." For more from Edwards, see Schreiner's new little book (p20, 70, 92).

Since Dan Fuller has no gospel in which only the sins of the elect are imputed to Christ, he makes the righteousness revealed in the gospel to be faith (not only beginning but continuing.) See the appendix by John Piper in The Future of Justification about the danger of an overlap between works and faith.

Unity of the Bible
Book is a good book for my reference libraty.I will be using it in an upcoming Bible Overview class this spring in my church.

Pretty Good!
As a result of many criticisms from Protestant and evangelical scholars regarding Fuller's theological points on the Mosaic Law, faith, justification, and redemptive-history I was very weary to read this book. However, after reading this book I found much exegetical and practical insights regarding the Christian faith. I also enjoyed the way he speaks to the reader in a frank and easy to understand way so that even the average layperson can gain much information from the work. Also, the work can help many people gain insights into God's character and works, Christ's redemption, and man's responsibility. For Christians, there are many valuable reflections to scan over in order to gain a much more stronger faith and walk with God. Fuller's discussion on the unity of the Bible can help see through our own theological grids and challenge our own interpretive viewpoints (as a progressive dispensationalists I was very challenged by some of the arguments made by Fuller). He makes a pretty good case why the Bible must be seen as a unity rather than as a dichotomy (Marcionism?). The second part of the book dealing with God's nature and His work throughout salvation-history is an excellent argument for Calvinism. Many non-Calvinists always ask why a good and loving God would allow sin to permeate creation and only select a remnant from mankind for His blessings. Fuller answers these hypothetical questions by focusing on God's nature and work as a Trinity. His nature demands that He work in creation to increase His glory even if it means bringing sin and suffering into the world. Without the fall God's glory and mercy cannot be shown. The third section is about Israel's experiences throughout the OT as an example of what happens to people who receive God's mercy or reject Him. Those who receive His mercy are saved; those who reject His mercy are damned. Also, God is not a client that He needs humanity to work for Him--He is a patron willing to bestow grace upon sinful humans when they come to him in faith. This strikes a blow against any "church" that preaches a legalistic Gospel from self-made regulations. The last section deals with how Christ's first coming is the start of God's Kingdom program predicted in the OT. Fuller makes a good case why God's Kingdom has already come even though it still has a future element. Also, his argument for the mass conversion of Israel before the Parousia is outstanding. However, I must say that there are some negatives in this book. Fuller believes that the OT Law and NT Gospel are a continuum rather than a contrast. Critics of Fuller are right to argue that the Law has no place when it comes to receiving God's salvation through faith. To say that the Law must go alongside the Gospel is to wander into the path of Romanism, Arminianism, nomism, and works-salvation. His whole argument on the nature of the Mosaic Law is not persuasive. For most Christians, practically speaking, there is no difference between the "law of faith" and the "law of works." A Christian who is told to see the Law as a means of receiving the promises will fall into a works-salvation mentality. This can be very dangerous to those who are just "babes" in Christ. Works are the result of saving faith; not saving faith itself. This is where Fuller fails in his theology. Overall, though, I would recommend this book to those who want to understand how and why God works with humanity.

Catching On To What the Bible Is Up To
Building on his path-breaking study Gospel & Law: Contrast or Continuum?, the former Dean of the School of Theology and Professor of Hermeneutics at Fuller Theological Seminary offers the Church anon-technical, highly accessible exposition of God's redemptive plan forhumanity.The fruit of his 40+ years of study, reflection and interactionwith generations of students, The Unity of the Bible is organized intorelatively short chapters, each having review questions to help the readercatch on to what Fuller is up to.Thus the book is very well-suited foruse in adult Sunday School classes, provided that both facilitator andstudents are willing to do the close, careful reading Fuller's bookdeserves and requires.

Unity of the Bible provides a thoroughly biblicalpresentation of God's controlling purpose in human history.Introductorychapters set forth Fuller's inductive, presuppositionless approach to theBible, an approach he believes mirrors the practice of the early Church,and which best positions Christians today to persuasively communicate themessage of the Bible in a diverse, multi-cultural context.Fuller thenproceeds to an inductive study of Genesis 1-3 in order to discover God'spurpose in creation.As the middle sections of Unity unfold, Fuller deftlyargues that in all of the redemptive history set forth in the OldTestament, God is unerringly working out this single purpose, a purposefinally fulfilled in Jesus' life, ministry and death.In the final sectionFuller shows how the Church now fits into God's redemptive plan to bringHis single purpose to its consummation.

Along the way the attentivereader will be rewarded with challenging and life-transforming insightsinto the Law as a law of faith, how saving faith necessarily entails theobedience of faith, and that God is our Patron Lord and not a client lord. These "aha" experiences are more than worth the effort required to followhis exegesis and arguments.Though Fuller critiques the reigningtheological paradigm of Reformed Protestantism at places, he is alwayscareful in his analysis of theologians with whom he disagrees.Throughouthis writing evinces a docility of spirit before the biblical text whichought to serve as a model for any who wish to understand and alignthemselves with the "whole purpose of God."

Thus, those who claim thatFuller sees no discontinuity between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant(cf. the review posted 12/13/99 by a reader in Minneapolis), or who detect"cynicism and error" in this book (cf. the review posted 12/8/99 by anotherreader in Minneapolis) have in my opinion not read Fuller carefully.SinceFuller forthrightly challenges some of the theological formulations of theProtestant paradigm, it is understandable that those fully committed tothat paradigm might balk at some of his judgments and conclusions.Butdisagreement with an author does not justify such a gross mis-reading ofhis work.Unity of the Bible may be "dangerous," but the peril is onlythat it will shake us out of our settled religious traditions.The promiseis that God may use this book to awaken the reader's thirst for the livingwater Who alone will satisfy.

Controversial positions, but solid Scriptural support.
Fuller's well-established purpose in writing was to present the Bible as a whole and express its coherency in theme.Throughout the book, the author comes back to this point and reminds the reader of how the current chapter or section fits in with that overall context.His approach, as stated inthe preface follows an inductive method of reasoning, challenging readersto emulate the Bereans of Acts 17.In an attempt to make aninterpretational decision, the Bereans based their conclusions on solidevidence.In his opinion, "In today's churches time and energy mustbe given to train promising people to do likewise" (p. 105).Where heemploys this inductive method to focus on specific sections of Scripture-specifically chapters 7, 12, 15, and fragmented parts of a few otherchapters- constitute the highlight of his work.These chapters form a baseupon which the majority of his theological interpretations are built. Consequently, the farther he reaches from the source of his information,the less coherency he retains in supporting these positions.To hisdefense, he seems to use an extraordinary amount of scriptural referencesin support of his ideas, and for the majority of the book, these ideas wereunderstandable and well organized.

Toward the latter half of thebook, primarily in the last 8-10 chapters, Fuller's ideas began to straytoward the speculative side and became more unintelligible. Whereas in thefirst half he described his theology on the plan and purpose of God, in thesecond half he turned his attention to explaining that plan as seenthroughout the history of Man.Thus therein lies Fuller's strength ofinterpretation.These arguments that are harder to understand because theyseem to have less scriptural support, center around the theory that Israelis a textbook example to Man for how God deals with disobedience andunbelief.Yet even within this somewhat less impressive section, there isa shining gem which is the descriptions on the "Ten specific attitudesof unbelief" (p. 279-296).

Overall this book is wellstructured, and presents the basic theology of the unity of Scripture in anuncommon yet important format: the Bible studied as a whole.The vastScriptural support throughout leads the reader to feel the ideas presentedare thoroughly researched and in line with Biblical teaching. ... Read more

Product Description
Includes 30 photos and index. Almost without exception, the histories of the Church available in print are, in fact, histories of Western Christianity, with only brief and superficial mentions of the East. This volume - the second in a planned series of six - attempts to achieve a more balanced approach. Filling the needs of students, but also of a wider readership, it describes the expansion of Christianity in the East and the West in the fifth, sixth, and seventh centuries - from Ireland and the Indian Ocean and from Germany to Nubia. It exposes the tensions which arose between the inevitable cultural pluralism and the needs of Church unity - an issue which stands at the center of modern ecclesiological concerns. It discusses the debates on the identity of Christ, formally solved by the decrees of the great ecumenical councils, but which left Christendom divided. It defines the problems raised by the arbitrariness of Eastern Roman emperors and by the gradual development of Roman primacy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions
The late John Meyendorff wrote perhaps the best general history of late Christian antiquity in "Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions." Reading it will help readers to understand the present Christian world, and dispel the myth that the Christian church was a unified institution, or that the union of church and state was solely the work of Constantine.

The title of the book implies Meyendorff's themes quite well. He talks about imperial unity and Christian divisions. The imperial unity he explores is the idea, present in Christian thought at least since the 2nd century, that the Roman empire had a providential role in the spread of Christianity. "Jesus was born during the reign of Augustus, the one who reduced to uniformity, so to speak, the many kingdoms on earth so that he had a single empire. It would have hindered Jesus' teaching from being spread through the whole world if there had been many kingdoms...everyone would have been compelled to fight in defense of their own country."(Origen- Contra Celsum) In other words, before Constantine's conversion, the emperor was regarded as the providential manager of earthly affairs. After Constantine's conversion, the Roman emperor was looked on as bringing the kingdom of God about. The bishops were then granted imperial posts, and the church in general started to develop a structure mirroring that of the imperial government. The church in general was granted privileged status until Theodosius banned Pagan cults; Justinian stamped out the last vestiges of Paganism in the Roman empire.

The Christian divisions were many. Meyendorff explores the many doctrinal disputes that took place in late antiquity, and in particular those of Eastern Christendom, an area that until his work had largely been neglected in church histories written in English. The sects included arians, monophysites, monothelites, apolloninarian, etc. He details these groups as well as the numerous schisms that took place. The divisiveness was particularly striking in the "three chapters" controversy. Justinian, in order to heal the schism with the monophysites and unite the empire, asked Pope Vigilius to condemn the works of 3 theologians. When he did so, virtually the entire west protested; the North African church excommunicated him, and even the Roman deacons refused to concelebrate with him. So Vigilius retracted his condemnation, and Justinian convoked the Second Council of Constantinople, which excommunicated Vigilius, who then changed his mind again. Justinian then repressed dissent against the council by force, and Constantinople II was not widely recognized as a council in the west until the Middle Ages. Two lessons can be learned from this: many sects claimed to represent true Christology, and no one had the foggiest idea of who was right and who was wrong; the only way that the unity of the empire could be maintained was through the emperor's force.

Another interesting aspect of this book is the history of the development of the papacy. Briefly, the papacy in late antiquity was not what the Vatican (and modern Catholic apologists like Steve Ray) says it was. The popes did not exercise any kind of jurisdiction outside of the Italian suburban dioceses, and even then it was largely to confirm episcopal elections. The turning point was in the 7th and 8th centuries, which in addition to the Islamic invasions in the middle east, saw the iconoclastic controversy in the Byzantine empire and the Lombard invasion of Italy. The Byzantine empire, its hands full with the iconoclast controversy, refused to help Rome against the Lombards. The Pope looked for a new protector, and found one in Charlemagne. "He was now called to save the See of Peter abandoned by its legitimate protectors in Constantinople. But in doing so, he also gradually assumed the imperial legacy itself, in opposition to Byzantium, with the pope becoming a crucial factor in this new version of Romanitas. None of the main actors of this fundamental change of political geography realized the future consequence for the fate of Christendom: the religious and cultural polarization between East and West." (p. 327)

Things you never knew...
Fr. John Meyendorff, professor of church history and patristics, has produced in Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions, the second volume in a series on church history published by the Seminary Press of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, a unique and sweeping view of the early development of the Christian church, which gives insight into the nature of later Christendom, as well as new perspectives on why our history of Christendom came to be so Western-Euro-centric, despite the fact that much of early Christendom was independent of (and in some ways opposed to) the western/Nicea/Romish orthodoxy that has dominated the church historically, politically, and theologically for the past thousand years.

Of course, early Christianity grew up in the Mediterranean basin, based on missionary activity out of Palestine through the Roman imperial world largely via trade routes. This part of history is well known, and it is no surprise to us -- the history of Christian development from Jerusalem to Rome to the rest of Western Europe is the best-documented and most-often-repeated form of history. And, as Rome was the centre of the 'civilised world' at the time of the New Testamentary developments, this makes sense from a political point of view. However, while people were heading toward Rome and other points west, there were simultaneous missionary and expeditionary activities to the north, east, and south.

Meyendorff recounts the early and continuing development of the church in Africa, Asia, and non-Roman Europe in addition to the developments within the Roman Empire. Additionally, Meyendorff recounts in great detail the lesser-studied divisions within the Roman Empire, the struggles for dominance between senior sees (Rome struggling for dominance; Constantinople arising as a power when the political centre of gravity shifts to the East; Alexandria striving to maintain at least second priority worldwide and unhappy at being relegated minority status). The impact of geography, the dissemination of theology, hymnody, and scripture along trade routes, the development of independent structures of the church outside the Roman/Byzantine Empires -- these are parts of the grand diversity of Christian history which is often neglected by both Catholic and Protestant historians, who, due to language barriers (few scholars read Syriac, Coptic, etc., today, languages required for careful study and understanding of these other Christian branches; even fewer scholars knew these prior to the last few generations of researchers), the unavailability of texts, and simple cultural and geographical ignorance, were unaware of the foundation and continuation of Christian communities beyond the Roman imperial borders. Also, in the intellectual prejudice against the East, all non-Roman Catholic or Protestant groups in Africa, Asia, and Northern Europe were lumped together as 'Orthodox' or 'Eastern Orthodox', as if this were one uniform, monolithic group for whom this description would be adequate.

This is a part of history that is of vital importance for study today, as it helps clarify the issues that were at the heart of so many things taken for granted today, but which beg further study and understanding. Early creedal understanding cannot be gained unless the controversies, many of them Eastern in origin (both intellectually and geographically), are understood in the context in which they arose, and not simply in the polemical exposition laid out by the more-victorious Western scholars. Canonical development likewise cannot be understood without an examination of the world in which the canon was formed, and without an understanding of what was left out of the canon. (I would argue, as I did in a previous review, that what was left out of the canon is important to study to help put the canonical scriptures in greater perspective.)

Meyendorff writes with care toward developing a comprehensive view of the church universal. Despite claims to universality given by creeds of Western churches, or mandates and charges given to particular sees or scriptures, there is in fact no universality of Christianity without the inclusion of the study of these divers and unique forms of Christian worship and belief. In conjunction with Meyendorff's other writings, a broader view of the church can be gained than is generally available in most popular or scholarly texts on church history.

This is a fairly dense text. For long stretches of the narrative, new characters are introduced with each paragraph, and the narrative flow can become confusing without keeping the various missionaries, bishops, church-planters, emperors and kings straight. Likewise, the geography becomes very confusing, as the text introduces lands and polities generally unfamiliar to Western readers, and Meyendorff strives to maintain historically-contemporary consistency, which means, if a kingdom comes to have a new name during a new period, Meyendorff will then use the new name, but not always with a reference back to the old kingdom, etc.

Plan to read this book twice for true understanding, but much can be gained from one reading, too.

Roman Imperial government and the church
The late Father John Meyendorff was a deeply knowledgeable historian of Christianity, who, unlike most of his peers was Orthodox, but also of the west. Church history has lost a major scholar and writer.
The material in this volume covers a period during which the Roman government at Constantinople sought to unify the church. Unfortunately, many regions (Egypt and Syria, as well as those areas which had never been part of the empire) were hostile to theological developments championed by by the government and to the position - second in the pentarchy of patriarchs, after the pope - that the councils decreed belonged to the Patriarch of Constantinople. This estrangement was a major factor in the spread of Islam.
There is also an excellent summary of Christianity in areas that had never been in the empire. (Persian, Caucassian, Armenian, etc.)
It is very unfortunate that volumes 2 and 4 are the only ones to appear of a projected six volume history.
I have been informed that a new editor has been hired and the first part of volume one is to be out in Fall, 2007, with the rest to follow (date not set).Also volumes two (this one) and four The Christian East and the Rise of the Papacy: The Church 1071-1453 A.D (Church History, Vol 4) are scheduled to be reprinted in Winter, 2007.

The period of ecumenical counclis
The late Father John Meyendorff was a deeply knowledgeable historian of Christianity, who, unlike most of his peers was Orthodox, but also of the west. Church history has lost a major scholar and writer.
The material in this volume covers a period during which the Roman government at Constantinople sought to unify the church.Unfortunately, many regions (Egypt and Syria, as well as those areas which had never been part of the empire) were hostile to theological developments championed by by the government and to the position - second in the pentarchy of patriarchs, after the pope - that the councils decreed.This estrangement was a major factor in the spread of Islam.
There is also an excellent summary of Christianity in areas that had never been in the empire. (Persian, Caucasian, Armenian, etc.)
This is volume 2 of a series of 6.Volume 1, part 1 Formation And Struggles: The Church Ad 33-450: the Birth of the Church Ad 33-200 (The Church in History) and volume 3, Greek East And Latin West: The Church AD 681-1071 (The Church in History) appeared in late 2007.Volume 4 The Christian East and the Rise of the Papacy: The Church 1071-1453 A.D (Church History, Vol 4) appeared earlier.Volumes 5 and 6 are yet to appear.

Christian division survived the vanished Empire


History of Church Dogma
To write a record of these schismatic and tiring years of the Church, when thousands of Egyptians and Syrians paid their life in defense of their miaphysite belief of the hypostatic union of Christ's incarnate nature, the ecclesiastic history writer needs to master Christology. Fr. john, revised and published his other gem "Christ in Eastern Christian Thought", qualifies what he wrote about Christological developments during these centuries.

Setup of the empire and Churches
A systematic account of Church-state developments are narrated masterfully in chapters I,II,and III. In chapters IV you will enjoy understanding the cultural variety of the Greek east and its founding Churches, and their robust theological traditions. Chapter V will give you a glimpse of the Latin west.

Chalcedony and its aftermath
chapter VI recounts in a relatively unbiased tone this critical time of the Church and Empire.The age of Justinian is a pleasure even if of a sour epoch, the modus operandi of Justinian and his ingenuous wife Theodora left their imprint, not only in Ravenna's St. Vitale glorious mosaic, but in the memory of Christianity.
chapter VII explains how Constans II tried to establish Ravenna as the center of Imperial Christianity.

Byzantine Emperor and Pope Gregory
Here you will see the first pontiff Maximus, the Byzantine Emperor striving to keep unity of an empire, in disintegration by applying a "Standard Orthodox" faith from the Henoticon to the three chapters, condemning writings of long parted Church thiologians and Chrismatics and the great 'monophysite Orthodox' contra the diophysite orthodox.

New Vocabulary, Ancient personalities?
Yes, indeed, entertaining and confusing. What about monothelites and Monoenergism, and all the other monos, theopaschites, akoimetai, hesycasts, iconoclasm, and all the other ism's.
Can you distinguish Severus of Antioch from that of Asmonien? Or,all the Al's; Al-Harith, Al-Mundhir,and Al-Noman ;Arab kings who influenced the Christian East?

400 pages of ecclesiastics
This is the most honest concise Eastern Church record that is available at hand, since 'History of Eastern Christianity by the late eminent coptologist Aziz Atiya is out of print. For this critical period, in the life of the Empire and the Orthodox Church doctrine. Meyendorff historical mastery with enlightening analysis of the Holy Church of the East as Neil calls it, its Emperial politics to keep its unity throug an enforced Doctrinal belief. .

Jean Meyendorff
Fr. john, of blessed memory, a master of patristic and dogmatic theology is qualified to give us a skillful tour through the maze of these schismatic centuries. A fellow of the Guggenheim Memorial foundation, Fr. John had an opportunity to perfect his in depth study on the history of the Church during its critical years 450-680.
Dr. Jaroslav Pelikan wrote "There are very few scholars in the East or the West who would be in a position to undertake this assignment. And that is, of course, precisely what John Meyendorff is."

History of Eastern Christianity
The First Seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787): Their History and Theology (Theology and Life Series 21) ... Read more

Product Description
In "Collaboration", author Morten Hansen takes aim at what many leaders inherently know: in today's competitive environment, companywide collaboration is an imperative for successful strategy execution, yet the sought-after synergies are rarely, if ever, realized. In fact, most cross-unit collaborative efforts end up wasting time, money, and resources. How can managers avoid the costly traps of collaboration and instead start getting the results they need? In this book, Hansen shows managers how to get collaboration right through 'disciplined collaboration'. Based on the author's long-running research, in-depth case studies, and company interviews, "Collaboration" delivers practical advice and tools to help your organization collaborate for real results. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Good, but not great book on Collaboration
I learned some things from this book and it certainly was worth the read. However, a lot of the anecdotes left me a little flat and wondering if the collaboration was so great in those cases why were the results so shabby.

how to profit from Disciplined collaboration

This book actually tackles a very important but often neglected, since unpopular, facet: the need for discipline, here as applied to a collaboration context.It clearly outlines why collaborating for the sake of it, in inadequate intensity, can by times parallize a firm, create a fashion spree for an unending meeting jamboree, and in general destroy creativity and efficiency.

The many examples drawn from the public and private sectors speak for themselves and are worth a read alone, however, Morten Hansen put a lot of structural and analyical rigour to the analysis. Amunitioned with his concise pattern recognition, many corporations and NGOs can hopefully improve on their impactfulness by reviewing their own collaboration culture. a very recommended and enjoyable read!

the essentials for collaboration
This book resonates with a powerful and meaningful theme in our globalized and networked world.Collaboration, both internally and externally, is the engine that will drive success in the coming years.Diverse regions, perspectives and sources of information have become a major challenge for any leader.Creating effective collaborative relationships is key to managing and leveraging that complex diversity.This book brings that message in clear and concise terms while also pointing out the key factors that are essential to creating and maintaining collaborative relationships.Hansen not only presents a compelling case for collaboration but also provides some very practical and useful tools for establishing and working in collaborative relationships.

Just Great! and crystal clear
Collaboration is a great book and highlights so practical principles for quantitative results. Morten Hansen analyzes a few significant cases and provides applicable tips. The T-Shape concept detailed in Chapter 5 is of particular interest for leaders. It is so difficult to develop pro-active, sustainable and profitable collaboration between teams in every facet of industrial life! Especially when different geographies - and therefore various cultures - have to be involved, it becomes a cumbersome challenge.
But when you are a leader in the turmoil of a collaborative large initiative, you better maintain this book on top of the pile to read again and again the excellent principles recommended by Morten Hansen and experienced by other successful Groups.
The best Management title I have read over the last three years!Collaboration: How Leaders Avoid the Traps, Create Unity, and Reap Big Results

When and why collaboration is important
Simplifying somewhat, management books fall into two categories: to the left are the academic ones, perhaps a tad heavy on the research and surely too heavy on the footnotes; to the right are the fluffier ones, where qualitative theories often rest on questionable facts.

Once in a while along comes a book that manages the fine balancing act. Collaboration is such an equilibrist. Why? Because author Morten Hansen contributes the proper ingredients for a thorough management book:
* 15 years of research on the topic in top companies,
* a strong analytical approach such as one would expect from a Boston Consulting Group alumnus,
* the academic touch in teaching readers and transferring knowledge,
* a dose of spiciness, with anecdotes and examples taken from private and public sectors.

What does the book cover? The focus is on how (large) companies can productively use collaboration among their `silos' in order to become more productive. After identifying the possible obstacles to collaboration, the book proposes a framework to develop a disciplined collaborative approach. The author is quick to point out that collaboration is no panacea. In fact in certain cases, it can prove counterproductive. For a synopsis of some of the relevant lessons, you can go to (...) and read five instalments on the book. ... Read more

Product Description
Demonstrates how the repetitions of ideas and formal structures function both to reinforce concepts and to achieve ideological progression. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Narrative Unity
Good commentary on Acts although at times the grouping of subjects makes it hard to use when researching pericopes.Provides good background and some solid ideas.Weak on connectimg Acts with the Lukan Gospel. ... Read more

Product Description
A study of exoteric and esoteric aspects of religions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Essential reading
Schuon has an ability to write from that rare place--in comparison to which most people writing on religious diversity simply do not have the requisite tools--to give the sacred its due. Schuon writes about religion as such in its profound depth and breadth, and this leaves the reader feeling as though they have made a journey to a place from where they can breathe something of the expansive mountain air which we all have a yearning for. Essential reading!

A book forever
This book is just fundamental. It is the kind of work which lasts forever, because what it teaches us is something which does not change with time. The reader who usually reads modern philosophy or scholarly works on religions will enter a different world when he takes the decisive step of reading Schuon.

transcendent..dont forget the transcendent in the title
This book was schuons first full literary venture and is often misunderstood,being lumped alongside the pseudo perennialism of Aldous Huxley etal.
The basic premise of this book is that unity exist only on a transcendental level,not on a socio-cultural level.
The religons are different and serve diferent purposes at the worldly level,it is only when their esoteric reality is realised does the unity become apparent.
What Schuon is saying is that reality is multi level and some things contradict each other like religion at a certain level,but when a person comprehends a higher level of reality the contradictions become re-conciled.The pieces of the Jigsaw fit.
A with all Schuons books their are too many spiritual assumptions taken for granted. For those without a deep understanding of religon,this book will be incomprehensible.It is a guidebook for the religous scholar or esoteric practitioner,not the layman.
For example the bahai faith is excatly the opposite of what schuon is talking about,people who mix religions only create a false one.
To reach the transcendent unity one has by neccesity to practise one religon fully.The various authentic tradtions are like straight paths (sirat-al-mustaqim) taking the traveller to the centre of the wheel(god,nirvana,fanah)as represented by the dharmachakra (buddhistt wheel of transformation).The centre can only be accessed by the spokes leading to it which represent the different religous dharmas. The mix and matching of what suits ones religous fancy only leads to traversing endlessly the periphery of the wheel and samsara.(A similiar symbol is used in Sufism)
Schuon does not pander to the liberal mind set,so those looking for some kind of light hearted,`we are all the same' apologist agenda will be dissapointed.

If you only read one book this year, this should be it
In my opinion, this is one of the most important books published in the 20th century, and there has never been a time when reading it is a must for every intelligent person out there than our present time .

I can not recommend this book more , nor could I agree more with what T.S. Eliot wrote about it: "I have met with no more impressive work in the comparative study of Oriental and Occidental religion"

Huston Smith, probably the most eminent scholar of comparative religion studies in the US today and who wrote the introduction to this book, described Frithjof Schuon as: "The man is a living wonder; intellectually à propos religion, equally in depth and breadth, the paragon of our time. I know of no living thinker who begins to rival him..."

If you only read one book this year, this should be it

To find out more about Frithjof Schuon, visit URL: ...

peace through understanding
This book clearly demonstrates the unity of all religions, although being different in their forms,from a metaphysical point of view.As such it helps to understand all religions, and their extrinsic orthodoxy, putting an end to the quarrels among some exponents of these religions, who feel to prove the validity of their religion, they must disprove the other religions. ... Read more

Product Description
Approach page design in a revolutionary new way! Unlike other graphic design books, The Elements of Graphic Design reveals the secrets of successful graphic design from the unique perspective of the page’s "white space." With the help of carefully selected examples from art, design, and architecture, the role of white space as a connection between page elements is thoroughly explored. Clear, insightful comments are presented in a dynamic page design, and interactive design elements, thought-provoking captions, and scores of illustrations challenge designers to "think out of the box." This unique resource is guaranteed to inspire more creative and thorough thinking. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

Essential reading for budding graphic designers
The book itself is a powerful illustration of the principles contained within. Concise, clear, and absolutely relevant. Has had a major influence on my design work.

Space, Unity, Page Architecture, And Type?????????
Not sure where the author came up with book title but it is not accurate at all! Space, unity, page architecture, and type are NOT the elements of graphic design. Anyone who has studied graphic design in college knows this. First off, there are actually 5 elements to graphic design, not 4. The elements of graphic design are: line, shape, texture, color and space. As there are the elements of graphic design, there are also the principles of graphic design. The principles of graphic design are: balance, proximity, hierarchy, alignment, repetition, contrast, and dominance.

I did buy this book however. Despite the fact that the author is not aware of the elements of graphic design (ouch!), the book does have its moments.

Helpful tool for learning a few basics
This book reinforces the basics of graphic design. I found it helpful and informative. The book itself has some fun design elements that I found inspirational. I would recommend it to someone interested in the subject matter as a straight-forward overview.

Concise, well designed primer on typography
This is one of the most valuable print design books a novice or professional without much formal design training could own. This well written, concise little book shows as well as it tells what makes for good print design. It introduces all the basic concepts and terminology of typography and page layout with page after page of quotable axioms and unique perspectives on design by notable designers and artists as well as White himself. It also includes a succinct glossary, designer's checklist, and bibliography.

It's especially important for design books to associate through proximity the graphic examples referred to in text, and this book does an excellent job of that. Most discussions are limited to one spread, with graphic examples on the left, discussion on the right, captions in the middle (margin to the left of the text)--a demonstration of well designed layout. And what examples. White assembles fascinating, sometimes vintage, advertising and publication covers to illustrate his points.

If there is one theme that drives the book it's White's emphasis that the message should always drive the design. And if there's one concept that's exhaustively addressed and illustrated it's the deliberate control of white space and activation of negative space, interests that no doubt stem from his extensive work in advertising.

One minor criticism I have of this otherwise thoroughly enjoyable read and exceedingly practical guide relates to the scope of its title: it primarily concerns itself with typography and printed page layout, not "graphic design" more generally. The bibliography, overwhelmingly in favor or books of typography, bears this out.

My review of The Elements of Graphic Design
I picked up this book from my local bookstore. From reading it, my assessment is that it's a somewhat mature look into the basics of graphic design. Alex draws upon several analogies, some of nature and people, and others of architecture, to explain broad aspects of design, particularly with respect to print media.

The style of writing is occasionaly obtuse, but I think there are good intentions throughout, to concisely document some sound principles and good thought processes for graphic design.

Alex details how design evolved from ancient times, giving us example design pieces, which have clear and descriptive captions, and are referred to from the main text, all of which are on the same page, so there's no page hunting to find which piece or picture relates to what information. Modern designs are critiqued with an interesting selection of pieces, and the basic framework for assessing design is also explored.
Quotes from other designers are frequently used in the text, to good effect I think, as they relate to the concepts under discussion.

My favourite chapters were the one on space and the last one on type. There were a few errors in the text, but mostly minor things.

If you're looking for a technical book then this book probably won't be for you.

I think this book would certainly appeal to designers who wish to acquire a broad insight into graphic design. ... Read more

Product Description
Unity and Diversity in the New Testament is a thorough investigation into the canon of the New Testament, and Christianity's origins. It assumes the reader is familiar with the basic question of who wrote the books, when, why etc and it moves on to look in detail at what were the various emphases in the gospel proclaimed by Jesus, Luke, Paul and John. It also examines primitive Christianity's preaching and teaching, confessional formulae, oral traditions, organisation and worship, concepts of ministry and community, and ritual acts. In the second half of the book, the author maps out the scope of the diversity he found in the fist half's investigation. Here he identifies and traces the major currents within the stream of first and second generation Christianity which includes a study of Jewish Christianity, Hellenistic Christianity, Apocalyptic Christianity and Early Catholicism. The book concludes with a consideration of the repercussions of such findings, for how Christians understand the New Testament, and what it means to be Christian, today. This new edition is further enhanced with the author's consideration of these same themes, 25 years after he first wrote about them.The final chapter is the authors "critical refinement" of the ideas and issues that remain relevant and important for any realistic theology of canon to be considered today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Review of Unity and Diversity 3rd edition
I thought the first edition of Unity and Diversity was a great addition to the literature out on early Christianity so was eager to buy the third edition to see how it differed. I was not disappointed. Dunn has continued his original themes only expanded and updated the information and his thinking. It is full of very good information, makes its points well, and is easy to read. I highly, highly recommend it to anyone interested in earliest Christianity; i.e., the days before Christianity began to narrow itself and close ranks. This book is a good complement to Bart Ehrman's work in Lost Christianities and Misquoting Jesus. So I would encourage readers to look at the work of both scholars, who by the way are top notch and highly respected.

Quite a challenge
This was one of the most challenging books on the Christian faith that I've ever read. Dunn explores the charactaristics of the early church to explore what the prevailing theology of the time period was. His findings are at times shocking with the diversity of lines of thought and the quite shattered church that he discovers.
This book's writing style is quite boring and the amount of footnotes is distracting at times. Unless you love the subject it has a high chance of lull you to sleep quite quickly. Its implications however, are both challenging and compelling.

Great Book!
James Dunn's book, Unity and Diversity in the New Testament, is his endeavor to demonstrate the unity and diversity of first-century Christianity. He extends back into the New Testament to inquire whether we can speak of orthodoxy and heresy in early Christianity. He attempts to answer the question, "Was there a unifying strand in earliest Christianity which identifies it as Christian?" (page 6).

The book is divided into to main sections. In the first part, Dunn attempts to find the unifying strand in earliest Christianity, locating it in the " affirmation of the identity of the man Jesus with the risen Lord" (page 227). In this first part, Dunn examines the major kerygmata of the New Testament (of Jesus, Paul, Acts, John, Dunn seems to favor John), the primitive confessional formula (Dunn feels that early faith could be reduced to slogans), the role of tradition, the use of the Old Testament, the ideas of ministry, patterns of worship, sacraments, Spirit and experience, and Christology. Dunn shows a unity, Jesus, in each area he examined, while simultaneously illustrating the diversity of belief and practice.

In second part of the book investigates the diversity in early Christianity, withemphases on Jewish, Hellenistic, Apocalyptic Christianity, and Early Catholicism. Dunn shows that the center of unity here also exists in Jesus, "The unifying element was the unity between the historical Jesus and the exalted Christ" (page 369). He demonstrates that the early Christians accepted a wide range of beliefs and practices provided only that a connection to the human and exalted Jesus was established. This was all that orthodoxy embodied for early Christians, "there is no single normative form of Christianity in the first century" (page 373).

Dunn concludes the book with a chapter on "The Authority of the New Testament."Here he examines the diverse New Testament canon's role for Christians today.He makes a good suggestion that the canon limits the acceptable diversity of Christianity.

What first impressed me about this book was the breadth and at times depth of the material covered. Dunn has selected a wide range of topics to cover, it is a good collection of important issues with very good bibliographical references. Examples of sections that I found helpful are 16.1 "The role of tradition within Judaism," and 22 "Jewish Exegesis in the Time of Jesus," (page 82). These two sections contain good definitions and comparisons of Midrash, Halakah, Haggadah, Targum, and Pesher. The data presented in Section Two on the early sects was also excellent, I like the case for pre-gnostic thought existing in the first century.

In 9,"Jesus is the Son of Man," (page 35) Dunn argues that the Son of Man title grew out of a conviction of the early church, and was a distinctive theology in early Christianity. The expression also occurs in three Jewish apocalyptic works, Daniel, 2 Esdras, and 1 Enoch, although there it is applied to non-human or superhuman figures. The term also appears in some Qumran texts. There is much more debate on the titular use of Son of Man then Dunn gives credit. It's lack of use by Paul is may have been due to its awkwardness in Greek (it works better in Aramaic), and not necessarily a divergent Christology.

The title Son of God (page 45) is found in Dead Sea Scrolls, 4QDanA, and is mentioned by Dunn. The siglum 4Q246 also contains Son of the Most High. Dunn states that the title "came to full flower within the widening mission of Hellenistic Jewish Christianity." If this titles appear in the Qumran texts, wouldn't they have closer ties with Palestinian Jewish Christianity?

Dunn presents his arguments well, and I coincide with him on most issues and with his conclusion. It is one of the better books I have read in New Testament studies, I found all of it interesting. I still feel that in the end I have been short changed with Dunn's findings. Intuitively, Ifeel there should have been more unifying the early Christians. By claiming Jesus alone to be the unifying force is a not far removed from claiming all early Christians believed in Christ, and therefore shared a common name.

How diverse was too diverse in the early Church?
James Dunn has done a masterful job of portraying the range of beliefs within first century Christianity.The earliest Christians were not a monolithic group who had an official doctrinal statement such as those we find in today's denominations.However, the one central characteristic which gave unity to the term "Christian" was the belief in the continuity between the earthly Jesus of Nazareth and the exalted Christ who was raised from the dead.

In regards to first century Christianity, Dunn examines the different confessions used in reference to Jesus (Son of Man, Messiah, Lord, Son of God).He examines the various ways in which the Old Testament was used or not used.He also covers diversity in worship, sacraments, religious experience, and christology.All of these areas and others demonstrate Dunn's thesis -which is that there was a tremendous amount of diversity accepted within the New Testament churches.

He then examines different segments of Christianity - Jewish, Hellenistic, Apocalyptic, and Early catholic.Within each of these categories he reviews what the dividing line was between acceptability and heresy.For example, Jewish Christianity became heretical if it "persisted in clinging to a limited view of Jesus and his role".The Ebionites were an example of this.As mentioned earlier, the dividing line in each area was in how Jesus was perceived.

One area of disagreement I have with Dunn is in how he overstates his case in some ways by being too simplistic.For example, he seems to treat each New Testament book as if it were a complete summary of the beliefs of the writer of that particular book.This often gives a skewed perspective on things.We know this by examining Paul's letters.If we only had 1 Thessalonians, then we would have a much different perspective on Paul than we do by comparing all seven (or more) of his letters.In the same way, I don't think we can claim as much as Dunn does in regards to the writers of such books as Hebrews, James, Matthew, and others.However, this doesn't detract from the fact that this is a highly informative book which accomplishes its task of showing how diverse Christianity was in the first century.

So, they lied to me in Sunday School!
For the pensive and discerning reader, struggling through Professor Dunn's compact and rich text can be as significant an event, as reading Luther's "Introduction to Romans" turned out to be for Wesley.Certainly for those of us who attended traditional, conservative and orthodox Christian seminaries, this text can be an eye-opener.Similarly, for the laity whose spiritual guides graduated from such seminaries, this book can be liberating.

Contrary to what many of us learned in seminary (and others have simply assumed through denominational hubris), Dr. Dunn goes to great lengths to demonstrate -- from the canon of the New Testament, itself -- that there is no historically-mandated, one, proper way to be a Christian.Bishops and Church Councils may declare what they wish to declare, but often those declarations are simply not supported by the experience of the earliest Christians, as recorded in the New Testament.In one, bold move Professor Dunn minimizes both the teaching magisterium of Rome, and the most confrontive claims of the Protestant traditions.

Quoting extensively from Scripture, Professor Dunn demonstrates that: (1) there was not one expression of the Gospel, but several within the earliest Christian communities; (2) the confessional formulae and their settings for proclamation varied; (3) that the concept and structure of ministry varied widely among the earliest Christians; (4) that the structure and practice of worship was not unified; (5) that different Christian communities experienced the Spirit of the living God in different ways; and (6) that while all of the early Christian communities were unified by centering their lives and proclamations around the risen Christ, all of the early Christian communities did not understand the risen Christ in the same way.In short, Professor Dunn shows us that the earliest Christians were unified in their devotion to the risen Christ, but greatly diverse in the way that they experienced his presence among them, and told his story to the world.

Living in an era when denominational antagonisms are too often glossed over by a thin veneer of polite ecumenicity, reading Professor Dunn's book can be a humbling experience.Buy two copies of this book: one for yourself, and one for your least favorite, pompous member of the clergy ... Read more

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Over the past decade, much attention has been given to examining the growing political influence of Latinos in the United States in order to define the so-called "Latino vote." The existence of a coherent, pan-ethnic Latino political agenda is, as this book shows, not only highly debatable, but democratically unviable.

Situated at the intersection of political theory and Latino studies, The Trouble with Unity is a nuanced critique of civic Latinidad and the Latino electoral and protest politics that work to erase diversity and debate in favor of images of commonality. Cristina Beltrán looks at key moments in U.S. Latino political history through the lens of political, feminist, and cultural thought to provide a theoretically driven account of the many ways in which Latinos lay claim to the public realm. In its innovative approach to the realities of Latino protest politics,The Trouble with Unity advances both social movement and democratic political theory. ... Read more

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From the completely new, exceptional art program, to the complete integration of the text with technology, Saladin has formed a teaching solution that will both motivate and enable your students to understand and appreciate the wonders of anatomy and physiology. This distinctive text was developed to stand apart from all other A&P texts with unparalleled art, a writing style that has been acclaimed by both users and reviewers and clinical coverage that offers the perfect balance without being too much. Saladin’s well-accepted organization of topics is based upon the most logical physiological ties between body systems. The text requires no prior knowledge of college chemistry or cell biology, and is designed for a two-semester A&P college course. ... Read more

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Pretty illustrations but...
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Anatomy and Physiology Saladin
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Exactly what I needed.
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"A dazzling journey across the sciences and humanities in search of deep laws to unite them." --The Wall Street Journal

One of our greatest living scientists--and the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes for On Human Nature and The Ants--gives us a work of visionary importance that may be the crowning achievement of his career. In Consilience(a word that originally meant "jumping together"), Edward O. Wilson renews the Enlightenment's search for a unified theory of knowledge in disciplines that range from physics to biology, the social sciences and the humanities.

Using the natural sciences as his model, Wilson forges dramatic links between fields. He explores the chemistry of the mind and the genetic bases of culture. He postulates the biological principles underlying works of art from cave-drawings to Lolita. Presenting the latest findings in prose of wonderful clarity and oratorical eloquence, and synthesizing it into a dazzling whole, Consilience is science in the path-clearing traditions of Newton, Einstein, and Richard Feynman. Amazon.com Review
The biologist Edward O. Wilson is a rare scientist: havingover a long career made signal contributions to population genetics,evolutionary biology, entomology, and ethology, he has also steepedhimself in philosophy, the humanities, and the social sciences. Theresult of his lifelong, wide-ranging investigations isConsilience (the word means "a jumping together," inthis case of the many branches of human knowledge), a wonderfullybroad study that encourages scholars to bridge the many gaps that yawnbetween and within the cultures of science and the arts. No such gapsshould exist, Wilson maintains, for the sciences, humanities, and artshave a common goal: to give understanding a purpose, to lend to us all"a conviction, far deeper than a mere working proposition, thatthe world is orderly and can be explained by a small number of naturallaws." In making his synthetic argument, Wilson examines the ways(rightly and wrongly) in which science is done, puzzles over thepostmodernist debates now sweeping academia, and proposesthought-provoking ideas about religion and human nature. He turns tothe great evolutionary biologists and the scholars of theEnlightenment for case studies of science properly conducted,considers the life cycles of ants and mountain lions, and presses,again and again, for rigor and vigor to be brought to bear on oursearch for meaning. The time is right, he suggests, for us tounderstand more fully that quest for knowledge, for "Homosapiens, the first truly free species, is about to decommissionnatural selection, the force that made us.... Soon we must look deepwithin ourselves and decide what we wish to become." Wilson'swisdom, eloquently expressed in the pages of this grand and livelysumming-up, will be of much help in that search. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (154)

Tilting at windmills
I've made the observation before that scientists - especially biologists - tend to make lousy philosophers, and it doesn't take long to see Professor E. O. Wilson - one of evolutionary biology's most prominent lights - places himself squarely in that camp. "No one should suppose," he asserts, "that objective truth is impossible to attain, even when the most committed philosophers urge us to acknowledge that incapacity. In particular it is too early for scientists, the foot soldiers of epistemology, to yield ground so vital to their mission. ... No intellectual vision is more important and daunting than that of objective truth based on scientific understanding."

On the other hand, and (as far as I can tell) without intending the irony with which the statement overflows, not long afterwards he says, "People are innate romantics, they desperately need myth and dogma."

None more so, it would seem, that philosophising evolutionary biologists. Wilson's Consilience is a long essay on objective truth that - per the above quotation, gratuitously misunderstands what epistemology even is, whilst at the same time failing to mention (except in passing) any of its most important contributors - the likes of Wittgenstein, Kuhn, Quine, Rorty or even dear old Popper. Instead, Wilson characterises objections to his extreme reductionism as "leftist" thought including - and I quote - "Afrocentrism, 'critical' (i.e., socialist) science, deep ecology, ecofeminism, Lacanian psychoanalysis, Latourian sociology of science and neo-Marxism." Horrified enough yet?

That's about the level of engagement you'll get, and the only concession - a self-styled "salute" to the postmodernists - is "their ideas are like sparks from firework explosions that travel away in all directions, devoid of following energy, soon to wink out in the dimensionless dark. Yet a few will endure long enough to cast light on unexpected subjects."

You could formulate a more patronising disposition, I suppose, but it would take some work.

What is extraordinary is that of all scientists, a biologist should be so insensitive to the contingency of knowledge, as this is the exact lesson evolutionary theory teaches: it's not the perfect solution that survives, but the most effective. There is no "ideal organism".

In support of his own case, Wilson refers at some length to the chimerical nature of consciousness (taking Daniel Dennett's not uncontroversial account more or less as read). But there is a direct analogy here: Dennett's model of "consciousness" stands in the same relation to the material brain as Wilson's "consilience" stands to the physical universe. Dennett says consciousness is an illusion - a trick of the mind, if you like (and rather wilfully double-parks the difficult question "a trick on whom?").

But by extension, could not consilience also be a trick of the mind? Things look like they're ordered, consistent, universal, *because that's how we're wired to see them*. Our evolutionary development (fully contingent and path-dependent, as even Wilson would agree) has built a sensory apparatus which filters the information in the world in a way which is ever-more effective (that's the clever trick of evolutionary development). If it is of adaptive benefit to apprehend "the world" as a consistent, coherent whole, then as long as that coherent whole accounts effectively for our physiologically meaningful experiences, then its relation to "the truth" is really beside the point.

When I run to catch a cricket ball on the boundary no part of my brain solves differential equations to catch it (I don't have nearly enough information to do that), and no immutable, unseen cosmic machine calculates those equations to plot its trajectory either. Our mathematical model is a clever proxy, and we shouldn't be blinded by its elegance or apparent accuracy (though, in point of fact, practically it isn't that accurate) into assuming it somehow reveals an ineffable truth.This isn't a new or especially controversial objection, by the way: this was one of David Hume's main insights - an Enlightenment piece of enlightenment, if you will. As a matter of logic, there must be alternate ways of describing the same phenomena, and if you allow yourself to implement different rules to solve the puzzle, the set of coherent alternative solutions is infinite.

So our self congratulation at the cleverness of the model we have arrived at (and, sure, it is very clever) shouldn't be overdone. It isn't the "truth" - it's an effective proxy, and there is a world of difference between the two. And there are uncomfortable consequences of taking the apparently harmless step of conflating them.

For one thing, "consilience" tends to dissuade inquiry: if we believe we have settled on an ineffable truth, then further discussion can only confuse and endanger our grip on it. It also gives us immutable grounds for arbitrating against those who hold an "incorrect" view. That is, to hold forth a theory which is inconsistent with the mainstream "consiliated" view is wasteful and given it has the potential to lead us *away* from the "true" path, may legitimately be suppressed.

You can see this style of reasoning being employed by two groups already: militant religious fundamentalists, and militant atheists. Neither is prepared to countenance the pluralistic, pragmatic (and blindingly obvious) view that there are not just many different *ways* of looking at the world but many different *reasons* for doing so, and each has its own satisfaction criteria. While these opposing fundamentalists go hammer and tongs against each other, their similarities are greater than their differences, and their greatest similarity is that neither fully comprehends, and as a consequence neither takes seriously, the challenge of the "postmodern" strands of thought against which they're aligned.

Hence, someone like Wilson can have the hubris to say things like: "Yet I think it is fair to say that enough is known to justify confidence in the principle of universal rational consilience across all the natural sciences"

Try telling that to Kurt Goedel or Bertrand Russell, let alone Richard Rorty or Jacques Derrida.

Olly Buxton

Brilliant, but misguided
E.O. Wilson's Consilience was certainly a massive undertaking, as this brilliant scholar (read Biophilia!) pulls together research and personal worldviews in order to bolster his claim that all knowledge can be ultimately reduced down to physics. However, many of Wilson's examples leave a bad taste in the figurative mouths of those professional philosophers and laypeople alike who believe in the power of human agency. Additionally, Wilson's idea of consilence is really the opposite of the common understanding of the term - which is actually the reverse of reductionism. I applaud his effort to think in a new way about how very different fields might come together in collaboration to benefit the greater good, but these utilitarian ideas are lost in the mire of many bizarre claims (for example, that broad institutions such as culture can be explained and understood purely by genetics and cell activity). There is certainly merit to the thought that uniting disparate fields can produce a positive outcome, but we already have this - it's called interdisciplinarity. If the reader is careful, he can find some truly innovative nuggets interspersed throughout the book. However, these do not save Consilience entirely, and one is left disenchanted with Wilson, who for many other reasons (his work on ants, conservation efforts, etc) should be considered a visionary of our time.

"Art, Meet Dr. Science."
In this seminal and ambitious book, professor EO Wilson works to show the need and lays the foundation for the integration of the sciences and the humanities -- a principle he calls consilience. Wilson sees the soloed nature of knowledge as an error of modern and postmodern academic institutions. Then this Harvard professor points the way toward a more holistic view. It is gratifying to see this vision come alive in books such as The Happiness Hypothesis and the works of Malcolm Gladwell, as well as many progressive organizations and insitutions.

Wilson sees four major areas of study that need to be integrated: (1) Environmental Policy; (2) Ethics; (3) Social Science; (4) Biology. He makes the case for a return to valuing empirical scientific research as a key to this integration, and he sees postmodern relativism as the primary threat. He defines science as " the organized systematic enterprise that gathers knowledge about the world and condense the knowledge into testable laws and principles."

He further says "the love of complexity without reductionism makes art; the love of complexity with reductionism makes science;" and additionally, Wilson says "science needs the intuition and metaphorical power of the arts, and the arts need the fresh blood of science." Despite his loathing of postmodern relativism he sees the need for criticism by stating that "new ideas are commonplace, and almost always wrong." Neither is Wilson a blind advocate for science, and he states clearly that new scientific discoveries lead to new challenges. Thus the need for an interplay between art and science.

Wilson sees original scientific discovery as a key to progress, and he celebrates researchers who venture out (for the chances of success are always slim). The qualities he sees as necessary for this journey include the possession of great knowledge and the courage to follow obsessive quests. Within this voyage of discovery, Wilson points to the study of complex systems as the most important focus and pressing need.

The social sciences are more complex than the physical sciences according to Wilson, and he laments the lack of interaction by these two camps. Then he goes on for a good bit to criticize sociologists, with good reason. Economists also draw his fire for arrogance and overly simplistic models that, for example, considers the natural environment as an "externality" to an economic system. What Wilson does see the need for models that are simple, widely applicable, congruent with other disciplines, and predictive.

This review just scratches the surface of the awesome book. Throughout the pages EO Wilson expounds on observations, hypotheses, theories and laws that cover both the sciences and the humanities. And he closes the book with an impassioned plea to work toward solutions to limit the destruction of our natural environment.

The principles of consilience are applicable across most organizations and disciplines. In my work as a marketing consultant I see soloed specialties separated by the competition for capital, budgets and status. I hear this familiar lament from colleagues in other disciplines and human endeavors. EO Wilson points the way toward a better, a more consilient, future.

Consilience is a watershed book and provocative read. A singular achievement.



Outliers: The Story of Success

The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

An amazing ride that pulls you in and doesn't let go
This may be one of the best popular science books I've ever read. Put simply, Prof. Wilson if trying to lay out the claim that all sciences: the social and the hard, at there base level, share some common epigenetic features.

His arguments span several disciplines: from biology to physics to religion to economics to ethics. His arguments are compelling, and he freely admits that he may be overreaching or that the the commonalities may be too reduced to be of much value, yet the problem, the idea, is worth pursuing.

I also applaud him for putting the nature/nurture (culture) argument that I personally profess to out there; namely that both play a role.

Prof Wilson wrote a book that is inspiring, that I believe will convince people to pursue his goal. And really, if they prove him right or wrong, the fact that they tried, that they added to our knowledge, is all that he would want.

Finally, the humor that Prof Wilson weaves throughout the book is both dry and hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud at several of his jokes. This was something I did not expect, but was happy to discover.

Eclectic, but a good read nonetheless.
I'll make mine short to keep you from slogging through a long review (there are plenty other long reviews out there on this book).

- He makes some pretty convincing cases for consilience of knowledge.Clearly, over ten years later, we can see that this book is continually becoming more applicable with astrobiology, astrochemistry, studies in star quakes on neutron stars, and other fields.The consilience of disparate fields of knowledge are quickly seeming to be the way to go, and this is just what E.O. Wilson proposes.

- His chapters don't really offer a continuous narrative or story--just some weakly-related examples.The book, for the most of it, can be read as an anthology rather than a narrative.It might be best to read front-to-back for continuity, but it's not entirely beyond possible to cherry-pick your topics.However, be sure to read the introduction first and chapter 12 last (logically).

- He might have bitten off more than he can chew.To say that everything can ultimately be reduced to physics may be a bit extreme.As a student in philosophy, we talk about this a lot--from classes on metaphysics and epistemology to the books (or non-books) of the French deconstructionists (particularly the work of Rorty, and American anti-foundationalist).While I won't rule out anything, I will say that Wilson seems to take a position that may be rather hard to achieve.

Read the book, by all means.He addresses some ecological concerns that are interesting to read about (but how, exactly, do they relate to consilience?It's not as relevant as other parts of this book, and thus he receives four stars) and is certainly creative in message.However, realize that this is a rather extreme position and one I would carefully investigate further. ... Read more