A very brief and quirky little oddity of a story from Sanderson's early days. I enjoyed it as something of a 1920s noir detective operating in a Year A very brief and quirky little oddity of a story from Sanderson's early days. I enjoyed it as something of a 1920s noir detective operating in a Year 2100 environment....more
Not a whole lot that is substantially different from the previous books but I really love how they challenge conventional ways (ideological or emotionNot a whole lot that is substantially different from the previous books but I really love how they challenge conventional ways (ideological or emotional ways) of thinking. I thoroughly enjoyed myself listening to this on my morning runs....more
This book was an epic conclusion to the saga and in many ways it was a significant departure, theme-wise, from the previous books. It was much darker,This book was an epic conclusion to the saga and in many ways it was a significant departure, theme-wise, from the previous books. It was much darker, much more epic (with large battles and many deaths), and told from multiple locations and perspectives simultaneously. The stakes were high and the reveal of the evil Gnag the Nameless was horrifying.
My primary complaint with the series as a whole is that I felt it was too meandering and had no real direction. Everything took a long time to develop and I think that is because it was more character-driven than plot-driven. Even the plot of the this final book seemed...messy. Real, but messy.
Clearly it has a ton of very happy fans though and I'm definitely willing to concede that something that doesn't quite make sense to one person thrills another.
I very much appreciated the cleanness of the book and the Christian influence. I hope more books like this are written for kids....more
I very much appreciate the preservation of the history in these books. These were very labor-intensive and time-consuming ways of making things, but tI very much appreciate the preservation of the history in these books. These were very labor-intensive and time-consuming ways of making things, but the people who did it cared. I kept thinking how difficult it must have been to survive back then. It's a wonderful skill to be able to weave your own blanket, going from sheep to finished product, but you could spend weeks or months on that one task. Or building a single wagon wheel could take days of labor, during which time you couldn't do anything else. Or washing in an iron pot that took an entire day once a week. Those certainly were hard times but it resulted in a very hardy and clever people....more
There is a lot of very valuable information in here but really only if you are interested in the naval aspect of 1915. More specifically if you are obThere is a lot of very valuable information in here but really only if you are interested in the naval aspect of 1915. More specifically if you are obsessed with the Dardanelles campaign, which took up almost the entirety of the book.
And it's understandable. This was something Churchill pushed for and it is something that leadership dragged their feet on and eventually took too long and then Churchill got the blame so I can understand why he would want to justify himself. He manages to do so without sounding bitter, even though it did cost him his position as First Lord of the Admiralty (the new "unified" government, particularly the Conservative party, wanted him out of the cabinet as part of their deal). Ultimately I think Churchill manages to exonerate himself and show that had they proceeded with the Dardanelles campaign, it would have greatly helped the war.
It seems that leadership at the time was focused on the Front. In retrospect we can see what a huge waste of human life that was. Churchill saw that and was proposing new ways of getting around the lines and increasing pressure on the Germans from other sides but everyone else wanted to spend their resources at the Front. To be fair, he could have been wrong and it is only hindsight that verified he was right....more
This was an excellent, thoughtful collection of essays aimed primarily at Christian apologists who use statistics about the New Testament manuscripts This was an excellent, thoughtful collection of essays aimed primarily at Christian apologists who use statistics about the New Testament manuscripts as part of their arguments. The essays plead with the readers to be fair in their evaluation and not simply to repeat numbers or phrases that have been heard before. For example, "over 6,000 manuscripts" can be misleading because that simply means anything that has been catalogued, including fragments of a single verse! There is ample evidence for the accurate transmission of the Greek New Testament without stretching the facts to fit the case.
The essays deal with issues such as claims of "Orthodox corruption", how much of the text can be reconstructed from the quotations in the patristics, and a host of other topics. I found it very enlightening and edifying.
If you're looking for material in the "Critical Text" vs the "Textus Receptus", this is not a book that deals with that at all, except for general knowledge about transmission and the state of manuscripts. But for that, I think both sides of the debate would do well to read this in order to know the facts more accurately to put to rest oft-repeated "myths"....more
I feel like the entire series started with an interesting premise (100 cupboard doors that lead to 100 different places/worlds) but it quickly became I feel like the entire series started with an interesting premise (100 cupboard doors that lead to 100 different places/worlds) but it quickly became too messy, so the author decided to go in a different direction and have this witch and some battles and some other characters that never truly felt cohesive to me. It was too focused to be epic, but too broad to be focused. Still, it was clean, enjoyable, and I would expect that there will be great improvements if the author continues to write....more
This book was excellent for what it was: a very conversational and personal look on what the Christian Sabbath looks like. Sometimes it's helpful to hThis book was excellent for what it was: a very conversational and personal look on what the Christian Sabbath looks like. Sometimes it's helpful to have something like this as a conversation starter rather than immediately doing a deep dive into exegesis and systematic/biblical theology.
I found Howe's comments on worship and feasting particularly helpful. The Sabbath is to be a delight (it was after all, made for man) and it is good for us to re-think what we really need. We think we need more recreation and leisure but God knows what we need best.
We should be engaged in mercy on the Sabbath and part of that includes hospitality. It's not a day for lethargy or for pure solemnity, but for rejoicing. I appreciated that....more
Yeah, I read this and found it enjoyable. Yeah I'm probably not normal.
It was a very succinct overview of Roberts Rules of Order used for conducting oYeah, I read this and found it enjoyable. Yeah I'm probably not normal.
It was a very succinct overview of Roberts Rules of Order used for conducting orderly meetings. It's primarily intended as a quick "get you up to speed" and reference guide since the actual Rules of Order is well over 600 pages. What I found remarkable about this book was the clarify: it is very succinct, clear, with small examples of how to make motions and run a meeting. Good stuff!...more
This was surprisingly enjoyable for me! It is a historical fiction account following a few individuals in the aftermath of Jesus's death and resurrectThis was surprisingly enjoyable for me! It is a historical fiction account following a few individuals in the aftermath of Jesus's death and resurrection. They are not part of Jesus' followers themselves but they meet various figures (Mary Magdelene, Martha, Joseph of Arimathea) and slowly come to believe the truth. The centurion works for Pilate so we get to see a little bit of the political wranglings between him and Herod as well.
It largely follows Leah, a young servant in Pilate's household who is being told she will marry Alban, a centurion whom she is certain she won't like. The story weaves in the various biblical accounts and characters quite well. There is no portrayal Jesus that appears and even the eleven disciples aren't really present so it is a nice cast of side characters....more
I'm really glad that this book exists in the Nero Wolfe series. Wolfe, who is typically an extremely sedentary man who never leaves his house, determiI'm really glad that this book exists in the Nero Wolfe series. Wolfe, who is typically an extremely sedentary man who never leaves his house, determines to find the murderer of his friend by traveling to the mountainous areas of Serbia/Croatia, sleeping in caves and hiking across country to find the gang responsible. It didn't showcase his intellect as much but it was great fun to see him out of his element.
I think this also must have been Rex Stout's "I'm not a communist" book back in the day, as Nero Wolfe roundly denounces communism, fights against the commies, and even quotes the Constitution!...more
I like a lot of Sowell's insight, but he has a tendency to repeat the same themes, just with different analogies. He also has a tendency to use languaI like a lot of Sowell's insight, but he has a tendency to repeat the same themes, just with different analogies. He also has a tendency to use language that appeals to a particular base and won't persuade those of another base (e.g., those "anointed ones" who think they know what is best for everyone).
In this book he points out that often people want some great "Cosmic Justice" or equalizer that will magically make everyone happy or have equal outcomes, while ignoring the fact that not everyone behaves equally or has the same motivations, desires, morals, work ethics, etc. So it is naive to expect equal outcomes and assuming some kind of injustice or nefarious nature when it doesn't happen. He again brings up the example of younger demographics typically having less income than older demographics with more experience, and that's a far more likely explanation for disparities than collusion or racism.
He did say one thing that I found striking, and that was that politicians are behaving as if blind Justice should just peek a bit at who she is dealing with and make her decisions accordingly. As a big fan of the necessity of the Rule of Law, that was deeply disturbing to think about and yet I think it is quite true....more
If I have a critique, I would say that Sowell does tend to fall into familiar patterns of thinking that fits into what conservatives want to think andIf I have a critique, I would say that Sowell does tend to fall into familiar patterns of thinking that fits into what conservatives want to think and we all like a little confirmation bias. But with that said, he does make a convincing argument that politicians (or anyone) simply do not having enough knowledge to make policy decisions to correct certain disparities or to try to achieve certain results. If we believe that certain people can't get loans because interest rates are too low, too high, or whatever, we should think really carefully before jumping to a solution (forcing interest rates lower or forcing banks to lend to people with bad credit) because the consequences of doing so are very real and when banks already have an incentive to make money, there is probably a good reason they aren't lending to certain individuals. Even if at a cursory glance it looks like discrimination that "needs to be corrected", it probably isn't. In other words, free markets work amazingly well and when we try to tweak them it usually ends up being disastrous because there are so many things we don't know and can't predict or react to that free markets can....more
It was a decent introduction to the topic but left me wishing there was more depth. Obviously a book cannot be everything to everyone and if the authoIt was a decent introduction to the topic but left me wishing there was more depth. Obviously a book cannot be everything to everyone and if the author's goal was to give a short introduction and cover a few questions without going into detail then that's what he accomplished.
Here are a few notes, I'm not saying that I agree with or disagree with him but these were my observations:
The sections about what the supper means and the brief historical overview of the different positions was pretty good, and although he seems to argue for the Calvinistic position, he also seems like he's trying to be broad.
He doesn't go into detail on what kind of bread though he notes that there have been deep divisions on that topic (perhaps that's one of the frustrating things about the book: he teases that there is a large discussion but doesn't go into it).
He argues for "fermented wine" as what was instituted by the phrase "fruit of the vine" and dismisses grape juice primarily as being a anti-alcohol position (and anti-alcohol is unscriptural).
He doesn't discuss any different types of "wine" or what would be most suitable.
He makes no mention of any practice of a single cup or multiple cups (just didn't seem to be an issue he considered).
All in all, pretty basic Reformed doctrine of the Lord's Supper for the most part. I was edified but not wowed. ...more
I love this little series of books and am planning on reading them with my kids. They are great, short little introductions to some very important topI love this little series of books and am planning on reading them with my kids. They are great, short little introductions to some very important topics. This one deals with the sinfulness (total depravity, or radical corruption) that affects every human being. We like to think of ourselves as good, but we all know that we violate even our own code of ethics, let alone God's. None of us is as good as we want to be, and that falls so far short of the perfection required. Truly grace and Christ's active obedience is our only hope....more
Much of what Sowell writes is not particularly new to me but he generally has a compelling way of telling it. He highlights one of the things that I kMuch of what Sowell writes is not particularly new to me but he generally has a compelling way of telling it. He highlights one of the things that I know I hadn't thought much about until about ten years ago and that I think is critically important: when you achieve equal opportunity you should not expect equal outcomes. There are so many factors that lead to disparities that blaming it on one pet peeve or cultural sin is extremely short-sighted. Those disparities are not necessarily bad but may reflect temporary things: for example he notes that often there is an appearance of a disparity in income between two groups of people and the natural assumption is that it is due to racial discrimination. Upon deeper investigation, the median age in the "oppressed" group is considerably younger than in the prosperous group, suggesting that this could be a far more likely explanation for the disparity.
Of course, sometimes it is genuinely due to oppression and the rule of law and fairness in justice is important in address that, but we shouldn't be so quick to assume that the political explanation is the only or even the primary factor....more
Another very interesting set up for the mystery: a nation-wide contest where it seems the finalists were leaked the answers. Wolfe has to figure out aAnother very interesting set up for the mystery: a nation-wide contest where it seems the finalists were leaked the answers. Wolfe has to figure out a way to solve the situation....more
It was okay. An interesting idea that I won't spoil, and it was executed well but as a plot I found the "quest" just a little thin.It was okay. An interesting idea that I won't spoil, and it was executed well but as a plot I found the "quest" just a little thin....more
One of the things I enjoy about Rex Stout's books is that he always has very interesting scenarios. Murder may be involved, yes, but the mystery is ofOne of the things I enjoy about Rex Stout's books is that he always has very interesting scenarios. Murder may be involved, yes, but the mystery is often more than just that. In this case there is a group of authors who have each been sued for plagiarism and manuscripts found at their homes which they purportedly plagiarized from. Such a unique backdrop!...more
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