Book Description
Unlike many books of meditations on icons, this book presents a unique opportunity for readers to visit an imaginary church and see icons "in action" throughout the year---to stand alongside worshipers for whom the use of icons is a natural part of their devotional lives. Reproductions of icons on the book jacket and in the inside text allow the reader to view the icons that would be found in a typical contemporary Orthodox church, as Frederica Mathewes-Green explains their history and theology. Stories of saints and texts of the prayers appointed for the day enhance the devotional quality of the book. Anyone interested in understanding and "praying with" icons will benefit from this warmhearted, practical guide.
Customer Reviews:
So Great a Cloud of Witnesses.......2006-07-01
Perhaps the most unnerving thing for Western Christians in approaching the Eastern Orthodox tradition is their use of icons. Even for Catholics and Anglicans who are familiar with religious images, the Orthodox practice (and even the icons themselves) can strike one as completely alien and even frightening. Frederica Mathewes-Green, a Western convert to Orthodoxy, understands these reservations and confronts the iconoclastic impulse head on in The Open Door by allowing the reader to gain an understanding of this ancient practice through the eyes of faith.
Dividing her exposition into two sections, Mathewes-Green writes first on the major icons of the iconostasis (the wood before the altar) and then on other icons of feasts and saints that appear elsewhere in the church. The first section is fittingly the larger and she gives a wonderful description of the history and theological perspective behind four of the most famous icons used in Orthodoxy. Rather that giving a dry technical survey, she approaches each icon from a perspective of prayerful reflection and belief steeped in her Church's ancient tradition.
In explaining the meaning behind each icon, Mathewes-Green introduces us to the language of iconography so the reader may appreciate how each icon illustrates the Gospel of Jesus Christ and speaks through the lens of faith things that only the devout could apprehend. From the very first chapter on the Christ of the Sinai to the last on the Old Testament Trinity, we are invited to share a wondrous devotional life with so great a cloud of witnesses.
In the renewal of Christianity through the recovery of the faith and practice of the ancient Church, the use of religious images is often overlooked. Frederica Mathewes-Green demonstrates the shortsightedness of such an approach. For those curious either of ancient Christian practice or Eastern Christianity in general or just those looking for a rewarding devotion, The Open Door is essential reading.
excellent contemplative reading for Orthodox Christians.......2005-12-05
Frederica Mathewes-Green, in this gem of a book, avoids the typical problem of much Orthodox literature written by converts: it's too often for potential converts and therefore in its tone and approach is unsuitable for those who have long been Orthodox. I would recommend this book as a useful and even inspirational text, on the nightstand, for reflection during Advent or another of the periods set aside by the Church for contemplation. FMG has a way of taking timeless truths and crystallizing them, often in a unique way. I especially liked her description of the Sinai icon of our Lord--I had never thought about it before in the way she describes.
The only jarring note occurs in her description of the Lamentations service on Holy Friday. She says the faithful are "acting out" the events of Christ's death and burial, processing around the Church "as if it were a funeral procession." As Frederica must surely know, we are not "acting out" anything, but really participating, through faith, in the events of our Lord's Passion, so it really IS a funeral procession. A minor mistake (because we know what she meant to say) that does not overshadow the book's great strengths.
Prayer in visual form.......2005-09-02
Praying with icons has a long (and not always untroubled) history in Christian practice; even the Western Protestant tradition that has come to eschew iconographic elements in worship to varying degrees still recognises the history and artistic value of images in some contexts. Author Frederica Mathewes-Green is writing primarily to this group in her text, with careful explanations and good descriptions that show the spiritual value of icons in a worshipful and prayerful setting.
Mathewes-Green writes, 'Unelss you're a member of an Orthodox church, you probably haven't encountered icons in their natural setting.' In this text, she constructs an imaginary church for the reader to visit, with various icons in their typical Orthodox positions. The first part, Iconostasis, looks at the icons that would been on the screen at the altar area. Pictures of the icons are included as colour plates at the centre of the book - these include The Christ of Sinai, The Virgin of Vladimir, The Resurrection, and St. John the Baptist. The second part of the book looks at other icons that might be present in a church, including images of saints, images from scriptural stories of both Old and New Testaments, and other gospel/traditional images of Christ. These are included as black-and-white images in the centre of the book.
Mathewes-Green describes the images both in terms of artistry as well as spiritual connection. Some icons are stylised to a high degree, and others are more realistic. By realistic, however, icons are not meant to be portrayals of people in natural settings - icons are meant to connect the one pondering and meditating upon them with the object of worship, that is, with God, in ways that reach the soul beyond what mere words could achieve. Icons often have a 'penetrating effect', with a play at elements of perspective, colour, materials, size and other aspects that draw the eye in particular directions, and place the viewer in otherworldly positions.
Icons are meant to be more than interesting pictures. As Mathewes-Green concedes, some icons aren't even 'good art' in many technical senses. 'Icons have their fullest impact on those who are saturated in prayer and Scripture, and who participate in the full life of the Church, with all her mysteries, hymns and worship.'
Mathewes-Green describes liturgies and services as well as times of private prayer and devotion during her trips to the imaginary Orthodox church. Her book ends with one of my favourite images, the Old Testament Trinity done by Rublev in 1411. (Archbishop Rowan Williams writes about this in one of his books on icons, too.) The icon is known to me more frequently by the name The Hospitality of Abraham, and this feature is made more prominent by the fact that in some versions of this icon, the figures of Abraham and Sarah are not present, even in the background.
Mathewes-Green invites the reader on a dozen imaginative trips to gaze upon the 'windows into heaven', to meditate upon their stories and be enriched. There is a glossary of terms that might be unfamiliar, particularly to those whose background is not from a liturgical tradition, but such terminology is kept to a minimum throughout the text. Mathewes-Green concludes with some suggestions for further readings, and some website resources for finding out more about icons, including where to purchase them.
This is a wonderful, spirit-filled book.
A Nice Little Pocket Book on Orthodox Icons and Prayer.......2003-12-31
Frederica Mathewes-Green's little book is a quick and easy read that is reflective and revealing. She does a magnificent job in describing the layout of Orthodox Church buildings, the use and place of icons, and "feasts and icons" (a section I found particularily helpful). This book is intended, I think, for non-orthodox and Orthodox Christians alike who want an introductory type book, either as material to learn more about the place icons and sancuaries have in Orthodox worship or for just a nice quick refreshing read.
Book Description
You won’t need luggage for this hypothetical and hilarious trip into the hearts and minds of Beppe Severgnini’s fellow Italians. In fact, Beppe would prefer if you left behind the baggage his crafty and elegant countrymen have smuggled into your subconscious. To get to his Italia, you’ll need to forget about your idealized notions of Italy. Although La Bella Figura will take you to legendary cities and scenic regions, your real destinations are the places where Italians are at their best, worst, and most authentic:
The highway: in America, a red light has only one possible interpretation—Stop! An Italian red light doesn’t warn or order you as much as provide an invitation for reflection.
The airport: where Italians prove that one of their virtues (an appreciation for beauty) is really a vice. Who cares if the beautiful girls hawking cell phones in airport kiosks stick you with an outdated model? That’s the price of gazing upon perfection.
The small town: which demonstrates the Italian genius for pleasant living: “a congenial barber . . . a well-stocked newsstand . . . professionally made coffee and a proper pizza; bell towers we can recognize in the distance, and people with a kind word and a smile for everyone.”
The chaos of the roads, the anarchy of the office, the theatrical spirit of the hypermarkets, and garrulous train journeys; the sensory reassurance of a church and the importance of the beach; the solitude of the soccer stadium and the crowded Italian bedroom; the vertical fixations of the apartment building and the horizontal democracy of the eat-in kitchen. As you venture to these and many other locations rooted in the Italian psyche, you realize that Beppe has become your Dante and shown you a country that “has too much style to be hell” but is “too disorderly to be heaven.”
Ten days, thirty places. From north to south. From food to politics. From saintliness to sexuality. This ironic, methodical, and sentimental examination will help you understand why Italy—as Beppe says—“can have you fuming and then purring in the space of a hundred meters or ten minutes.”
Customer Reviews:
Such a tremendous disappointment!.......2007-09-22
La Bella Figura: A Field Guide to the Italian Mind
I, for one, love everything Italian. So it's easy to see why I picked up this book with its very engaging, colorful cover. In the past I have read many funny books and articles on everything from Italian driving to trying to get a phone installed in your new Italian apartment.(Forget it!) So when I picked up this book I was ready for a humorous read. Well, what a tremendous disappointment. The writing is flat and uninteresting. One finds themselves reading along and reading along waitng to get to the good part, but hey, there is none! Skip this book completely and everything written by this author, Beppe Severgnini. Sorry he's just way too boring and NOT FUNNY!!
A Poor Book.......2007-09-01
I wish I had read more reviews before purchasing this truly dreadful book. I can only assume that the various newspaper critics that are quoted on the back cover were personal friends. He states correctly in his appalling offering that it appears to have become a pass time of uninspired anglo saxon authors to write about Italy. He should have known better than adding to the marass of garbage himself. I would recommend Matt FreiItaly - the Unfinished Revolution, Tobias JonesThe Dark Side of Italy. Travels Through Time and Space Across Italy or for entertainment Bill Bryson Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe or Tim Moore's Continental Drifter.
Another useless generalization.......2007-08-03
Another useless generalization, and a series of stereotypes, for the Anglo-Saxon audience that, however, seems to love this type of literature. The usual trivialities written by somebody who seems to understand it all (good for him). As usual, realities are different, more complicated, and moreover more varied. The South is once more treated with superficiality, lack of real understanding, and a subtle prejudice, as it is usually the case in this type of books written by northerners. It can make an amusing reading, for sure, but do not assume anything written in it is what you will actually see in Italy. It is just like somebody wanting to explain you as Americans really are in a few hundred pages with the only authority of being American (and maybe just from New York), and still pretending to understand it all.
Empty babble.......2007-06-26
Severgnini's writing is more about being "clever" in style and phrases than actually saying anything. What he writes about Italy could apply to almost any western country; the book is empty and without insight.
Not so mindful.......2007-01-05
There is so much about the Italian culture that is humorous... I think because, unlike people in most other Western cultures, Italians know that humor, even about themselves, is not inconsistent with intelligence or sexiness. In my estimation, La Bella Figura fell short in the humor arena. I did not laugh much, or find it very interesting. Having been to Italy several times, and studied with Italians, experiencing their wonderful senses of humor, I really expected to find it much more fun, or have much more depth. I would have preferred both.
Book Description
Colors and Shapes
Introduce children to the concepts of color and shape with wonderfully charming illustrations of multicultural children holding up oversized shapes in different colors. The last page depicts a busy classroom scene and encourages readers to identify the shapes and colors they've just learned. 20 pages, 4.75" x 5.875"
Los colores y las figuras
Presente a sus hijos los conceptos de color y forma con ilustraciones encantadoras de niños de diversas culturas que sostienen figuras enormes en distintos colores. En la última página aparece la escena de un activo salón de clase, estimulando a los lectores a identificar las figuras y los colores que acaban de aprender. 20 páginas, 4.75" x 5.875"
The Benefits and Features of the English • Spanish Foundations series include:
• Helps teach vocabulary and other oral language concepts
• Summary page at the end to recap and instruct
• Helps kids get ready to read
• Helps develop phonemic, print, and numeric awareness
• Large bright colorful pictures to keep kids engaged
• Rounded corners for children's safety
• Laminated to protect from spills
• Board book so they can last
• Great size for little hands
• Simple but engaging text
• Useful for beginning Spanish at any level
• Useful for beginning English at any level
Customer Reviews:
Colors and Shapes.......2006-08-11
The Colors and Shapes book is a very useful tool for learning the basics of Spanish. If you want something that is easy to read and understand, this is your book. From reading this book, I think anyone would be able to learn the basic colors and shapes in both English and Spanish. My favorite part was the last page which was a picture of a colorful room full of shapes. This was a good exercise to wrap up the book and apply the words that I learned. A child would be able to use this book, and others like it in the series, to learn and then apply knowledge in every day life when seeing colors and shapes of any kind. This book doesn't just stick to simple shapes such as circle and square, but also includes words for diamond, sphere, and cone.
Color and Shapes?Los Colores Y Las Figuras.......2002-10-22
I want to continue learning the Spanish language and found that this children's book helped me and my family alot. I was intimidated by the language, and by starting at this basic level, it opened a new door for me to want to build upon and continue to learn more. By getting down the fundamentals, I am able to go on to more things. My kids are constantly speaking the words out loud and are actually teaching each other and myself Spanish. I am glad that there are books out there like this that I can use, no matter how young the age group, and actually learn.
Great foundations book.......2002-10-18
I recently became interested in toddler and primary age children's books because I am a grandmother. Looking for starter books, it was great to discover this title, and the companion English-Spanish Foundations co-volumes. My grandkids enjoyed the color and layout and definitely learned!
Colors and Shapes.......2002-10-18
Several members of my family have small children who are just learning to read. I was looking for an english/spanish book that would be fun for them to go through, but would also present information in an easy and understandable way for them. This book was just what I was looking for. If anyone is looking for a great educational gift for little kids be sure to take a look at this!
Average customer rating:
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Genius and Figure: Genio y Figura
Manuel Outumuro ,
Amalia Descalzo , and
Eugenia De La Torre
Manufacturer: Disparo Editorial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 European
| Regional
| History & Criticism
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Fashion
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Spanish
| Foreign Language Nonfiction
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
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Europeo
| Regional
| Historia del Arte
| Arte
| Arte, arquitectura y fotografía
| Libros en español
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General
| Arte
| Arte, arquitectura y fotografía
| Libros en español
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La Moda
| Arte, arquitectura y fotografía
| Libros en español
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No-Ficción
| Libros en español
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| Automotriz
| Ciencias Sociales
| Crimen y Criminales
| Educación
| Estudios de la Mujer
| Feriados
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| Gobierno
| Hechos Verídicos
| Planeamiento Urbano y Desarrollo
| Política
| Sucesos de Actualidad
| Transportación
ASIN: 8481813125
Release Date: 2006-12-01 |
Product Description
Spanish art enters into a dialogue with international fashion. In this catalogue of photos, the "genius" is Spanish painting (Goya, Velázquez, Miró, Picasso, etc), and the "figure" is the design of outstanding creators of the fashion world (Balenciaga, Chanel, Dior, Lacroix, etc). Genius and figure is a popular expression in Castilian Spanish that sums up the combination of creative temperament and innate elegance, and is also the title given by the Spanish Ministry of Culture to a major exhibition in which Spanish art enters into a dialogue with international fashion. In this catalogue, the genius is popular culture and the great painters (Goya, Velázquez, Miró, Picasso, etc), and the figure is the designs of those outstanding creators of the fashion world (Balenciaga, Coco Chanel, Dior, Lacroix, etc) that have on some occasion been inspired by the Spanish style in designing their collections. All of the pieces on show in the exhibition, both the clothes and the artworks, are featured in this book in reproductions of the highest photographic quality, and complemented by texts by leading specialists that offer a variety of perspectives on the influence that the Spanish style exercised on the great fashion designers.
Book Description
Crowley's life and thought are inexorably linked with 'The Book of the Law.' He received this visionary work by direct-voice dictation in Cairo in 1904. As an intelligent sceptic, he first found this improbable means of communication difficult to accept. Yet he could not ignore it or its message. He worked for decades to interpret its meaning for initiates and the general public. Eventually he entrusted the task to his best friend, Louis Wilkinson who possessed impressive literary qualifications. The result of his work, completed and augmented by Frater Superior Hymenaeus Beta of the O.T.O., is this long-awaited authorized popular edition of Crowley's "new commentary" on 'The Book of the Law' and its first appearance as Crowley wished it.
Customer Reviews:
Three stars are not enough.......2007-08-05
This is it. The One that puts it All together. Every religion is One who is distinctly sepparately apart. The Bees Knees to the subjective fart.
In More Plain Terms.......2005-11-12
This book is simply a collection of commentaries by Crowley himself on the meanings of each line to The Book of the Law. This proves useful to newbies when you are first taking the steps necessary to become a Thelemite, namely accepting The Book of the Law as your way of life. At first I got the basics that it was occult oriented and possibly a satanic philosophy as told through eloquent prose. You have to decide if this is right for you and that you want to do this.
Oh for the Old Days!.......2005-08-14
This book is one of the better commentaries on the Book of the Law. Unfortunately it lacks much of the material found in the long out of print Magical and Philosophical Commenetaries on the Book of the Law ed Symonds and Grant 1975 and this new edition lacks the charm of the previous publication by New Falcon Press edited by Dr Israel Regardie. Unfortunately this is to be expected as we have fewer people who actually knew Crowley around to edit his books for us. However the new attempt by Mr Gary Breeze (frater ha) is a good jobbing introduction for the beginner.
Must have along with The Book of the Law.......2004-04-28
This is a must have to understand The Book of the Law. This book has given me a new outlook on life. It has helped me change my thinking for the better and has helped me find my path. I highly reccommend reading this over and over again if you have read The Book of the Law. Something is sure to appeal to you. I am sure if you open yourself to the words in this book that it will do you a great deal of good. I only wish this was as popular as the bible is today. Maybe if it was more well known the world would truely be heaven on earth.
Be Careful: but still lots of enlightening fun ..........2003-12-12
When I first read the Israel Regardie edition of THE LAW IS FOR ALL, my mind was essentially exploding in every direction. I was relatively inexperienced with reading (what were to me) such exciting pyrotechnics.
However, this stuff can be a little TOO exciting. One can't guarantee what such things do to an average mind -and life- like mine was (is ?) Just like one can have initial disasters from playing around with Tarot cards, or magick and occultism in general, read Aleister Crowley with caution! (I.e., W E Butler writes in his book 'The Magician,' that those interested in studying magic read rather alot of other books first (he gives a list.) Then he asserts, one may be able to "deal selectively" with Crowley's writings.
Take it from one who has been reading Crowley for 20-plus years: Butler's is good advice !!! Israel Regardie, Dion Fortune, Franz Hartmann and others are to be recommended before soaking oneself in too much Crowley, too quickly.
In any event, I suspect this volume to be rather sanitized, if it is as edited as people say. Fortunately, much of it can be read online, from another edition. And it is still useful and convenient to have some of the Commentary in this bound form.
What I personally did, was get a hold of a copy of a larger edition of the same material, edited by Kenneth Grant and John Symonds. I photocopied this rare (hardcover)edition from a friend, and added the missing pages from my Regardie edition of 'Law is for All', as published by Falcon Press in the early 80s. I might recommend that those interested, do the same, if they can, to make sure they get as much of the Commentary as might be authentic.
Book Description
Baby Einstein: Asómate y ve las figuras takes children on an adventurous discovery of ovals, rectangles, diamonds, circles, triangles, stars and squares. Divided into seven sections, this Spanish-language board book contains a series of bold, colorful images that highlight an individual shape. The graphics and simple poems encourage children to find different shapes on each page: a bird asks where oval eggs and raindrops are; a cow lounges in a rectangular bathtub, surrounded by rectangular soap, mirror, and rug; a monkey plays with square toys while listening to a square radio. Discovering all of the shapes mentioned, plus hidden ones, makes learning a delightful game and will keep young ones returning to the book again and again.
Average customer rating:
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Figuras mágicas: Princesas encantadoras (Disney Princesses Magical Magnets, Spanish Edition)
Editors of Silver Dolphin en Espanol
Manufacturer: Silver Dolphin en Espanol
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book
Anthologies
| Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Popular Culture
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Royalty
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Infantil y juvenil
| Libros en español
| Formats
| Books
4 a 8 años
| Infantil y juvenil
| Libros en español
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| General
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Antologías
| Cuentos de Hadas, Cuentos Tradicionales y Mitos
| Literatura
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Cultura Popular
| Literatura
| Infantil y juvenil
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Realeza
| Gente y Lugares
| Infantil y juvenil
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ASIN: 9707182415 |
Book Description
The princesses of classic Disney movies lead enchanted lives: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs sing and dance in their cottage, Cinderella dances with the Prince underneath the stars, Aurora befriends animals in the forest, and Belle has a magical evening with the Beast. This fun-filled Spanish-language book featuring favorite Disney characters combines charming stories with over 20 magnetic figures that can be placed anywhere in the scenery — or any magnetic surface.
Average customer rating:
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Figuras De Lo Pensable (Fronesis)
Cornelius Castoriadis
Manufacturer: Ediciones Catedra S.A.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Philosophy
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Criticism
| Philosophy
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Spanish
| Foreign Language Nonfiction
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Crítica
| Filosofía
| No-Ficción
| Libros en español
| Formats
| Books
General
| Filosofía
| No-Ficción
| Libros en español
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ASIN: 8437617774 |
Average customer rating:
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Figuras magicas: Tonka, Camiones a la obra!: Magical Magnets: Tonka, Trucks at Work!, Spanish-Language Edition (Tonka Figuras Magicas)
Editors of Silver Dolphin en Espanol
Manufacturer: Silver Dolphin en Espanol
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book
Spanish
| Multilingual
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Infantil y juvenil
| Libros en español
| Formats
| Books
4 a 8 años
| Infantil y juvenil
| Libros en español
| Formats
| Books
| General
| Libros con Dibujos
General
| Literatura
| Infantil y juvenil
| Libros en español
| Formats
| Books
Gente y Lugares
| Infantil y juvenil
| Libros en español
| Formats
| Books
| Acción y Aventura
| Biografías
| Ciencias Sociales
| Donde Vivimos
| Explorar el Mundo
| Feriados y Festivales
| Los Hermanos
| Los Padres
| Niñas y Mujeres
| Niños y Hombres
| Profesiones
| Realeza
| Relatos Multiculturales
| Situaciones Sociales
| Temas Sociales
| Vida Familiar
ASIN: 9707183608 |
Book Description
It’s off to work with dump trucks, forklifts, cranes, fire trucks, and other mighty construction vehicles. Children can use the colorful magnets to make each action-packed scene come to life, moving them around to create their own exciting on-the-job adventures. The simple text is easy for beginning readers to follow.
Books:
- The Physics of Hockey
- The Strange Story of the Quantum: An Account for the General Reader of the Growth of the Ideas Underlying Our Present Atomic Knowledge
- The Tao of Physics
- The Theory of Polymer Dynamics (International Series of Monographs on Physics)
- Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics, 2nd Edition
- University Physics: Volume 1
- 200 Puzzling Physics Problems
- A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes
- A Quantum Approach to Condensed Matter Physics
- Approaching Quantum Computing
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The Illumined Heart: The Ancient Christian Path of Transformation
First Fruits of Prayer: A Forty-Day Journey Through the Canon of St. Andrew
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