Book Description
What, in evolutionary terms, propelled us to become human? The answer lies not in our forebears" big brains or their facility with language but in their ability to walk on two feet. That remarkable fact standing and walking seem so mundane -- only starts the drama that Craig Stanford, codirector of the Jane Goodall Research Center, tells of our origins. Today scientists are finding far more evidence than ever before about our beginnings. The discoveries are prompting dramatic reappraisals of common beliefs about our past. Throw out the simple idea that millions of years ago some apes moved to the African savanna, where they evolved into runty hominids who eventually metamorphosed into us. Dump that textbook image of an ape transforming into a human in five stages. Newly found remnants of two-legged "proto-humans" show that our ancestry is much richer and more convoluted. In no way can we still think of ourselves as standing on the top rung of an evolutionary ladder of excellence. But what about our tremendous thinking powers? Our brains could have started to grow because, as our ancestors adapted to standing and walking upright, they became more successful at hunting ever larger animals. The meatier diet could have fueled the increase in brain size. And the switch to standing and walking tall may have allowed our forebears to develop language, let alone take over the entire world as their home. Describing his - and others' - latest research and interpretations, Stanford offers a fresh, galvanizing take on what made us human.
Customer Reviews:
Foot fetish.......2004-10-12
Craig Stanford has studied chimpanzees for many years. He's seen them in groups and as individuals. He's watched them parading along tree limbs seeking fruit, or reaching up to pull branches close for harvest. He once saw one enter, then leave, a stream, "looking for all the world like a swimmer emerging from the surf". These studies have given him some insights to how our ancestors likely went from a four-legged posture to a bipedal lifestyle. It was a step of profound legacy for us. Bipedalism ultimately allowed humans to traverse the planet.
Stanford's studies have resulted in a work that relies strongly on changes in hominin anatomy. Bipedalism requires immense changes in skeletal structure, muscle placement and use, the formation of the pelvis, and, of course, the formation of the foot. These changes must be incremental, he reminds us. Bipedal walking wasn't an overnight transition. It took a great deal of experimentation by natural selection to achieve it. The question of balance loomed large throughout the process. Our modern bodies have a centre of gravity straight up from between our feet - the chimpanzee's is well forward in its midsection. It took many evolutionary trade-offs to change from one type of body structure to another. As the modifications occurred over many generations, the creature carrying them must survive and reproduce to pass these traits on. Was each step suitably sufficient in its own right?
In answering that question, Stanford takes us not only through the likely progression, but also reviews the scholarship attempting to explain them. He presents the views and counter arguments of the major thinkers explaining the human lineage. He makes clear that it took many years of study to recognise that bipedalism was the key to becoming human. To infer what slow, gradual steps were required to bring us upright from the paucity of fossils imparting information leaves many points unresolved. That gives researchers a broad spectrum of interpretations to offer, but few absolute answers. Stanford picks through the evidence and the viewpoints, then pronounces his verdict on the most viable scenario. He's clear on what he favours and why.
Some of his judgments are severe, and no few of them are open to question. Although he offers little of the early hominin social scene, he's quick to dispose of those who have. His assessment of Owen Lovejoy's scenario of sex playing a major role in leading us to an upright stance is grossly misleading. He accuses Lovejoy of positing a single cause for this change, when Lovejoy's analysis is anything but limited in scope. One can almost sense Adrienne Zihlman at his shoulder as he wrote the passage. Zihlman, a fanatical opponent of "women's roles" in paleoanthropology, is also a sharp critic of Lovejoy. Among chimpanzees, the gift of love is meat. Although Stanford recognises the role of meat protein in aiding in the building of brains, it most certainly played a greater role in our social development than he assigns to it. This brevity is surprising in view of his earlier books.
These shortcomings may be considered as no more than another academic dispute. That's only true in part. Bipedalism may be the significant foundation leading to modern humans, but there are other aspects of our lives today with roots in those ancestral changes. Why did we tend to pair off as mates when most other primates are male-dominated groups? Why did language evolve to give us enhanced communicative skills? What led us to use our bipedal skills to migrate so far, so rapidly? Stanford almost teases us with his sketchy explanations. Although this is an excellent summary of the issues and the personalities who have addressed them, it will take someone with a wider grasp and deeper insight to provide the most reasonable answers to how we became human. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
An interesting, thoughtful review.......2004-09-14
Craig Stanford's "Upright: The Evolutionary Key to Becoming Human" is a brief, easy and informative read. I've enjoyed Stanford's previous efforts, and this volume was no disappointment. He approaches the subject of human evolution from the perspective of a researcher studying living great apes, particularly chimpanzees. As such, he takes a distinctly different tack than students of bones and artifacts might. Stanford's discussions of anatomy involve comparisons of the differences between ape and human anatomy, followed by brief presentations of how the hominid fossil record tracks these shifts. His presentation is relaxed but thorough, and his data are quite up-to-date. But it's his deep knowledge of chimpanzee and bonobo behavior, and the application of this information to ancient human ancestry, where this book shines.
I was intrigued by Stanford's surmise that the initial impetus towards full erect bipedality may have been simply standing erect for brief moments while feeding and foraging. This seems awfully simplistic, yet not remotely inconceivable. (Leave it to evolution to take the boring way to get somewhere ...) Readers may wish to compare this view with that presented by Jonathan Kingdon in his book "Lowly Origin". I would observe, however, that Stanford's insistence that behavioral change precedes and drives anatomical change seems to leave the whole concept of mutations out of the loop.
What follows is a minor point, but I must confess to having been annoyed by the occasional obvious mistakes encountered throughout portions of the book. Whether these can be placed on Stanford's own doorstep, or that of his editor(s), remains to be determined. But to encounter so many simple errors -- not only typos, but actual factual mistakes -- does make one wonder whether there are other errata that one might be missing. In any event, these mistakes led me to conclude that this book was generated somewhat hastily; that's unfortunate. [For the record: it's Giganotosaurus, not "Gigantosaurus" (p. 64); it's Hadrosaurus, not "Hadrosaurs" (p. 64); the hind limbs of Eudibarmus are longer than the animal's forelimbs, not shorter (p. 65); the first species of paranthropine (= "robust" australopithecine) discovered was Paranthropus robustus, not "Zinj" (p. 74); people were living in Siberia very near Alaska by ~19,000 years ago (the book states that this was not true until 16,000 years after 25,000 years ago, or 9,000 years ago) (p. 170).]
Be that as it may, the book remains thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless. One could wish for a little more editorial time and care to have been taken, and perhaps for a few more pictures of actual fossils. But these are minor quibbles. Students of human evolution will have much to look forward to from this volume.
Standing led the way.......2004-02-23
Anthropologist and co-director of the Jane Goodall Primate Research Center, Craig Stanford argues that the first step in the march to humanity was upright posture.
Apes stand when it's advantageous, Stanford points out, taking examples from his field experience. They stand on branches as well as on the ground, the better to reach fruit in the trees. For our earliest ancestors, living in areas of mixed trees and grass, shuffling between trees would have been more efficient than dropping to all fours.
Stanford reminds us that evolution is not a straightforward progression towards something better, but rather a natural product of what works best for the animal's ability to reproduce. Where upright posture favored feeding and energy conservation, it persisted, with a gradual shift to greater bipedalism.
Bipedalism led to everything else. He theorizes that walking, by increasing efficiency over distance and freeing the hands, created better hunters, and the high caloric, protein diet helped fuel the expansion of the brain. He outlines the hunting strategies of the modern ape and how these may have evolved in early hominids.
Again and again he returns to the modern ape to compare behavior and anatomy, similarity and divergence, throughout the hominid fossil record. Bipedalism is an anatomical trade off. Our broad pelvis, backbone shape and large gluteal muscles give us stability and forward efficiency, and free the lungs from coordination with stride (eventually permitting speech), but decrease climbing ability, make childbirth difficult, and deliver a baggage of back problems.
The history of hominid research is one of many stories and few bones. Stanford traces this history, showing how new finds give rise to new, frequently opposing, theories, how the same scrap of bone can be described in starkly different terms by equally eminent and adamant scientists, how psychology, imagination, ambition, and graduate schools have as much (or more) to do with evolutionary views as hard evidence does. Stanford also looks at bipedalism in the big picture - dinosaurs - which had a wide range of bipedal habits without developing speech or big brains.
The writing is clear and well organized. Stanford ("Significant Others," "The Hunting Apes") paints a picture of an Africa teeming with variously bipedal hominids, most of which went extinct comparatively quickly. Others, made powerful by their two sturdy legs, spread out into the world, leaving fossilized remains to prove it. Then there's us, the last wave out of Africa, and the only ones left (according to mitochondrial DNA evidence). Are we the best? Or just the last ones left standing? A fascinating, concise and intelligent book.
Average customer rating:
- Not as good as the first book, but still a worthy sequel
- Very good writing
- Second in trilogy.......delivers!
- Brian Farren
- Murky and confusing
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The Upright Man
Michael Marshall
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Blood of Angels
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One of Us
ASIN: 0515136387
Release Date: 2004-03-30 |
Book Description
Ward Hopkins is afraid. He's seen something dreadful in the high plains of the Columbia River. It's sent him fleeing cross country, forever running. And in his wake, one by one, people are dying. Something's following Ward Hopkins.
Customer Reviews:
Not as good as the first book, but still a worthy sequel.......2006-10-12
I don't know if I call it a sequel but it is a continuation. The Upright Man who we met in the first book is back and casuing all kinds of terror again. After finding out that he is the main character's brother, they didn't really push this as far as they could have I thought. Overall the book does sort of drag but it did have two LOL moments. One in particular was when they were in a trendy type of coffee bar or something and all of a sudden the main character just starts ripping on everybody. I am not good at explaining these things, you will just have read it. Obviously if you read the first one you have to read this and I don't think you will be dissapointed. This book certainly brings things to a closure.
Very good writing.......2005-11-07
It is an unusual sequel that is actually better than the first book in the series. While I note that other reviewers may not agree, I thought this sequel excellent and much better than the first book. The descriptions were just great. Very fine noir writing. This story takes up where the first book ends. Once again, the writer tells parallel stories of the different characters, with all of them on trajectories that eventually collide. Once again, the hero Ward is searching for his evil twin, Paul (and it says a lot for this book that it didn't seem like a cliche , even with an evil twin). Meanwhile, Paul is in danger of being killed by the straw men (an ancient group that believes social behavior is a virus and men who are free from it may commit all sorts of mayhem) because he has been too overt and has drawn the attention of the authorities. Paul thinks that capturing or killing (or maybe sacrificing?) bigfood (yes, and can you believe it is STILL a good book?) will get him back in their graces. What an adventure this all makes! So I enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would!
Second in trilogy.......delivers!.......2005-09-11
There have been quite a few negative things written about The Upright Man, the sequel of course to The Straw Men.
I would consider The Straw Men to be one of the best serial killer novels ever written so it was always going to be tough to write a sequel that delivers the same impact. Well, The Upright Man is probably not as good as The Straw Men (there, I've said it!), however it is still a compelling, suspenseful and at times brilliant book.
The book starts off in fine style with a first chapter that defines the cliché "page turner". The only other introduction to a book that has grabbed me in such a way was Jeff Long's "The Descent".
After this the plot spins off in different directions. We have Ward Hopkins trying to find out more about the Upright Man, a
character who has connections to Wards own past. FBI agent Nina Baynam is investigating the death of a woman killed and left
to be discovered sitting up in her bed while John Zandt has gone off the radar completely in his search for his daughters
killers.
Things get really weird with the introduction of a sub plot apparently involving the sighting of Big Foot.
All I can say is just go with the flow on this one as it all makes (kind of) sense at the end.
The key to the success of this book is that Marshall is such a good writer. He has the great knack of generating lots of
suspense from any given scene and handles dialogue and action scenes with aplomb.
I'm really looking forward now to reading Blood of Angels, apparently the last in the trilogy, but surely it would be a shame for Marshall never to revisit the story of that group of psycho's known as the Straw Men again.
Brian Farren.......2005-07-13
This was a worthy successor to "The straw men". If you like his style - witty, jaded, humanistic - you'll like this book and order the third (I did).
Murky and confusing.......2005-02-16
The first thing about "The Upright Man" that any prospective buyer should know is that it's a SEQUEL! This is not mentioned anywhere on the book cover; I had absolutely no idea about that when I picked up this book on a whim. The author makes almost no allowances for this; he simply assumes that you've read the first book. It becomes very confusing when characters make cryptic, fragmentary references to the events in the earlier volume.
Marshall is undoubtedly a talented writer; he has a good ear for dialogue and his social observations are interesting. However, that's the best I can say about this novel. There are too many characters and the point of view is constantly shifting. Marshall also includes some digressions that seem to go nowhere, such as a lengthy subplot about Bigfoot (!). By the time I slogged through to the big finale, in which characters are staggering around a dark forest shooting at each other, I didn't know (or care) who the "bad guys" were anymore.
Book Description
Winner of the History of Science Society's Watson Davis Prize for the Public Understanding of Science. In this moving and eloquent portrait, John Heilbron describes how the founder of quantum theory rose to the pinnacle of German science. With great understanding, he shows how Max Planck suffered morally and intellectually as his lifelong habit of service to his country and to physics was confronted by the realities of World War I and the brutalities of the Third Reich. In an afterword written for this edition, he weighs the recurring questions among historians and scientists about the costs to others, and to Planck himself, of the painful choices he faced in attempting to build an "ark" to carry science and scientists through the storms of Nazism.
Customer Reviews:
A bit dry, but very informative........2006-04-16
This book is a reasonable account of the problems that Max Planck faced in trying to disseminate his worldview. The first chapter, Establishing the World Picture, is the shortest and mostly biographical. The second chapter, Defending the World Picture, is about many of his problems and the resistance that he met. In the middle is a photographic section, not useful but still very nice. The last two chapters deal mostly with his problems during the Third Reich and his work during that time. One warning: this book assumes you have an elementary knowledge of theoretical physics. There are no helpful explanations about thermodynamics, black-body radiation, or quantum physics; the most one can hope for is a cursory review of the phenomena involved. This book does help one understand Max Planck the man, the things which caused him to do what he did and his motivating factors. I think the author intended mostly for this book to be read by college-age or graduate students who were already interested in quantum physics and related topics; it's very dry, with little humor and a lot of highly advanced physics topics. At times, it seems a bit disjointed, and since it's not in chronological order by any stretch of the imagination, the dates sprinkled liberally throughout are the only way to keep it straight in your head.That said, it's a good read if you really want to know about Max Planck: not his theories or his work, but his situation and his life.
His life as a education tsar.......2001-11-13
It is not a biography but rather as the title says, his dilemmas in life and decisions he had to make during his life. I wonder how he found the time to be everywhere for everybody. It starts quickly with quanta idea and that goes into the administrative acts, institutions, academies he established and became a director. His dilemmas during the Nazi regime and his hopes that eventually people will come to right way and considerations that these are transitional times. Meanwhile it looks like he was willing to separate people into groups valuable and worthless, interesting, no wonder Einstein never forgave him. I did not find the book fluent. It was jumping all over with a lot of institution names and dates and persons, sort of broken in pieces.
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The Character of an Upright Man
Richard Steele
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Dead Man Upright
Derek Raymond
Manufacturer: Time Warner Books UK
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The Dilemmas of An Upright Man: Max Planck as Spokesman for German Science
J. L. Heilbron
Manufacturer: University of California Press
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Book Description
Ancient Egyptian art is often exclusively regarded as historical evidence of a former culture. A new viewpoint is presented in this book: the sculptures and bas-images of this culture (which lasted for 3000 years) are examined with respect to posture and body structure.
Through examples and by comparison with other advanced civilizations, the author illustrates how ancient Egyptian portrayals of man demonstrate well integrated body structure which also imply economic movement patterns.
The artists and craftsmen in ancient Egypt were not only inspired by examples from everyday life but especially by this old culture's conception of life and of man.
It is made apparent that these two aspects of ancient Egyptian art, exemplary movement and a specific spiritual view of life, can be of value for present day man.
Customer Reviews:
A magnificent book.......2003-04-10
It is hard to describe this book with a few sentences, because it covers a lot of themes: the role of art in Ancient Egypt, the reasons for the special style of representing humans in this old culture, the bodyuse in Egypt's daily life, the religious background of fine art and so forth.
Apparently the author, a longtime practitioner of the Rolfing-method of Structural Integration of the human body, started his research with one discovery and a question emerging out of this discovery. The discovery is: The represented postures of humans in Ancient Egyptian art are in congruence with the vision of structural balance and free movement which Rolfing (and other forms of modern somatic therapy/education) holds. The question is: Did the Egyptians had these values too (4000 years ago!)? The author says "yes" and proves this statement by covering all areas which I mentioned above.
Comparing the art of Ancient Egypt with the art of Ancient Greece (and other cultures) the author makes clear, that the self-understanding of the bodily being is different in different cultures and leads to different ways of representing the human body in fine art.
This book is not only fascinating for people interested in history (of art) or in Ancient Egypt but also for people who see art as one way to understand oneself. Bridging the old days of Egypt with our modern times the author reveals the meaning of a balanced body structure for the human being consisting of body-soul-spirit. From this point of view the reception of Ancient Egyptian art can be a surprisingly modern self-experience if one is able to feel the somatic qualities of the represented people in oneself.
Seldomly enough, authors - being engaged in a specialized field - are able bo connect various aspects of life and science. Hans Georg Brecklinghaus mastered this difficult task in an excellent way.
Book Description
To avoid marriage, Merry Vance has concocted a sinfully scandalous scheme: to pose for Nicolas Craven, London's most sought-after artist. No man in his right mind would marry a woman who posed nude for this notorious rogue.
But Nicolas has his own plans for the fiesty young woman. And Merry has no idea how hot it can get in an artist's studio.
Customer Reviews:
A sensual treat.......2007-06-12
If you like steamy, erotic novels, don't let the tag "historical romance" turn you off. I'm not a fan of Victorian erotica, but happy that I purchased Beyond Seduction. Emma Holly hooked me with the plot of a young woman who rebelliously poses nude for the renowned, yet womanizing, painter in order to sabotage a marriage proposal. I did not have high expectations for this novel, but the luscious narrative was so engrossing that I could not put it down until I finished it. The relationship between Merry and Nicolas, initially a cat-and-mouse chase, becomes a deeply loving, passionate relationship between a well-matched pair who understands what the other desires. The sensual and intense sex scenes are mutually satisfying and transforming for both characters. Emma Holly's voluptuous writing style draws you into the moment to make you feel as though you are there. My only minor grievance is that there could have been additional, or lengthier, scenes of Nicolas painting Merry. Overall, this sexy, romantic novel is definitely worth reading--and sharing with good friends.
It was okay.......2007-06-06
I really wanted to like this book but I thought it was just okay. I thought it was too short. I liked the hero and the heroine but their story could have been a lot longer. I wanted to read more about their lives.
Solid Strong Female Character - what a nice change...........2007-03-12
Merry does want to marry and wants some freedom that she has never had as a Duke's daughter. She decides to run away with an artist with hopes that her family will be so upset that she won't have to Marry. Lots of twists and turns - strong characters and over all a nice day read.
Surprisingly readable.......2006-10-03
I will admit, I am hard to please when it comes to romance novels. In fact, if a novel becomes bogged down by the conventional plot, hero, setting, etc, I won't even finish it, and will usually throw it across the room before moving onto something else.
While "Beyond Seduction" had its most definite flaws and "roll-your-eyes" kind of moments, it wasn't so awful that I had to quit reading (although at one point I thought if I read the word "chit" one more time I would gag. Fortunately about halfway through the book, Holly laid off the word.) It kept me engaged and stuck to relative realism, as far as your traditional romance plots allow. There weren't any crazy rapes or kidnappings or evil plots, just a pretty straightfoward plot of your typical "headstrong" heroine setting out to ruin her reputation by mingling (literally and figuratively) with a known (typical) rake, "true love" ensuing. There was nothing wonderful or unforgettable about either the hero or the heroine, but for the time I was in the book, they did their job.
I was expecting more in the erotica department, however. All things considering, the love scenes were pretty standard, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, the book was sexy, just not as "hot" as I had been lead to believe. Was it good enough to read another Emma Holly book? Yes, probably. Would I run out and recommend it to all my friends? Probably not.
a rare find.......2006-04-27
I like erotica, but sadly I find that most of it so so poorly written and/or plotted that it's almost unbearable to read. Emma Holly is a skilled writer whose characters really come alive without the usual cliches--she writes her sex scenes as if she really enjoys them, and makes you care about the characters, which is rare in romance, let alone erotic romance. I am making my way through many of her books now--if this is your cup of tea, and your idea of sex isn't limited to vanilla, you'll love these.
Average customer rating:
- Disappointing...and wordy beyond belief
- Will the real Stephanie Laurens please stand up?
- Not the best Bastion Club, but still part of the series.
- Laurens Bastion Club Latest is winner!
- Pleasing Enough and Fun
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Beyond Seduction (Bastion Club)
Stephanie Laurens
Manufacturer: Avon
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ASIN: 0060839252
Release Date: 2007-08-28 |
Book Description
In a moment of recklessness, Gervase Tregarth, 6th Earl of Crowhurst, swears he'll marry the next eligible lady to cross his path. Cloistered at his ancestral castle in Cornwall, with nary a suitable woman for miles, he never expects he'll have to fulfill his pledge, at least not until the London Season begins. But then he meets his neighbor, the very appealing Madeline Gascoigne.
Years of secret service to the Crown have taught Gervase the value of always having a loophole—there will be no wedding if he and Madeline are incompatible in any way. So he sets out to prove that they would make a most dreadful match . . . by luring her into his arms and, ultimately, his bed.
From their very first kiss, Gervase discovers that the headstrong and independent Madeline is no meek country miss . . . and that the fire between them will burn long beyond that first seduction.
Customer Reviews:
Disappointing...and wordy beyond belief.......2007-10-08
I've been a fan of Stephanie Laurens for a long time and have read all her books. However, this one was way too long, way too wordy and had the main characters examining their own thoughts for far too many pages. It read as if Ms. Laurens was being paid by the word, like Dickens, and needed to drag the book out. Speaking of dragging, it took so long to get to the elements of the plot that I'd almost forgotten the well-laid pointers and red herrings.
p.s. Are other readers also getting tired of the gentleman traitor always getting away at the end? And, if it weren't impossible, have others wondered if Dalziel is playing a double role? Hmmmm....guess we'll have to wait for Christopher's story. I'm enough of a fan that I'll read it and can only hope that there will be so many loose ends to tie up in the final Bastion Club series that the book will move along much more quickly than this one.
Will the real Stephanie Laurens please stand up?.......2007-09-29
"Beyond Seduction" was certainly beyond my liking!
My first Stephanie Laurens novel was Captain Jack's Woman. I fell in love with that story and from then on continued with her novels. Devil's story, Scandal's story, and all the Cynster Novels. By the time I finished her last Cynster novel I stopped reading her books.
This is the first one I picked up in 2 years and it is no better than I remember!
What happened to the real Stephanie Laurens of "old"? She has disappeared.
Her Bastions series is dull and since the twins Cynster novels, her newer books fall flat. What I remember of the queen of seduction scenes and love stories has disappeared somewhere out there.
I hope she returns!
Never have I read a better book than Captain Jack's Woman and I fear
..... never will again!
Not the best Bastion Club, but still part of the series. .......2007-09-27
Strong and powerful Gervase is looking for a wife, but his sisters don't want him looking in London. Independant and willfull Madeline is raising her brothers and running the estate until the oldest can take over. At first they only see each other as local landowners with common interests. Stuck in the country for the summer, his sisters convince Gervase to look at Madeline differently and then it begins. It only took a short time for him to convince her to let him seduce her. And once he did, she was a goner, as was he. Danger and a kidnapping bring them to London where the Bastion Club serves it's secondary purpose(solving crimes apparently). Then racing back to save their village from the evil "traitor" from previous books. I was a little annoyed towards the end when both were acknowledging their love for the other, but didn't believe they could be loved. Any idiot could see they loved each other, the other characters even say so. They get married and live happily ever after (of course).
If you've read the other Bastion Club novels, you will enjoy this book. A little bit of Bastion Club excitement, with Dalziel appearing in the second half of the book. This time, only one previous member makes an appearance and the others are barely mentioned. The elusive "traitor" is seen and named to the reader, but unbelievably gets away yet again without being identified.
The antics of Gervases' sisters in this book made me laugh. You just know they are being set up as strong independant future heroines. And Madeline's brothers are normal little boys growing into strong domineering men. Maybe once the Bastion club members are all married, the younger siblings will spin-off into their own series?
All in all I really enjoy reading the books in this series. Even if the current book isn't the greatest, you've become a part of the world in which they live. Their friends and family are your friends and family. You keep reading the not so great books just to be a part of it all one more time. So buy the book and get caught up with your friends from the Bastion Club. And get a quick little peek into Christians' and Dalziels' futures.
Laurens Bastion Club Latest is winner!.......2007-09-24
LOVED this book! Of course I like the whole series too. Stephanie Laurens hasn't lost her touch. If you've enjoyed the Bastion Club and/or the Cynster series, make sure to pick this one up!
Pleasing Enough and Fun.......2007-09-21
Beyond Seduction starts hilariously with an interesting and fun hook. Very playful in the beginning, the romance does take some time to really build. Teasing us into just glimpses of the individualistic nuances of her characters, Laurens livens up a rather insipid meeting of her romantic leads. Once compatibility plays into the picture, the usual possessiveness most Lauren heros exhibit masterfully comes into play.
Gervase Tregarth, may be the fifth Earl of Crowhurst, a former spy for the British government and a force to reckon with all the matchmaking mammas in London, England, however, these skills are of no use to him when he cannot ever spend longer than a week in London before being summoned home to clean up some mess or another unknown vandals in his home town keep causing. After discovering it's not worth running back and forth, Gervase just gives up and decides to combine his Earldom duties and wife hunting into one. Looking around the community, he stumbles upon Madeline Gascoigne, someone he has known for years but never really assessed as a woman. Once he does, the idea sticks with him so much so that he becomes obsessed with determining their compatibility.
Madeline, on the other hand, quite at ease with her spinster role and guardianship of three young brothers doesn't really look upon Gervase's interst with much enthusiasm. Of course, most romance readers know how much this turns off the high and mighty Earl. Not a wit, of course. Soon the entanglements of two strong, stubborn individuals has the whole town keeping mum about their future as earl and countess. The final decision will be Madeline's to make and with her brothers' lives at stake, how can she refuse?
This book does borrow characters from the former Bastion Club books as well as hinting at the futures for Dalziel and Christian and the ever present traitor that always pops up in these books to cause trouble. In fact, it sounds like both these men will get their own books and readers are finally close to discovering the true identity of the enigmatic Dalziel. My bets on the traitor and Dalziel are relations of some sort... cousins, brothers even. Also, one of the other readers mentioned a tin mine scam. The details of this character and the result of his misdeeds are continued in the Cynster novel, "A Taste of Innocence."
A fun, romantic read, "Beyond Seduction" delivers where it should. Granted there are times when it dragged with a bit too much character development, but overall the plot, conversation, characters and humor flowed easily and entertainingly for anyone just coming into the series. However, it is a must read for those who have been following the Bastion Club series because it offers new insights and future intrigues for the upcoming books.
Customer Reviews:
A well researched book on false doctrine.......1999-10-27
In Beyond Seduction[Dave Hunt's sequel to The Seduction Of Christianity] teachings that have corrupted the body of Christ inside such as; meditation, self-esteem, faith, divine revelations, prayer, healing and psychological teachings are all discussed. In this book as all the other books that Hunt writes are non-biased, well researched, and very biblical. As Hunt says in the book and I quote[pg.6] "Moreover it should be clearly understood that hearts,motives,and ministries are not being judged but doctrines only, that there are varying degrees of error". The material in the book discusses how the church is today.2 Timothy 4:3 describes it [KJV]; "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears."
Don't let false teachers deceive you!.......1997-04-01
Hunt is a Jude-3 champion, "...earnestly contending for the faith...." He identifies pseudo-"Christian" heresies that are infiltrating the church and proposes a simple solution: a return to *Biblical* Christianity. By regular study of and submission to the Bible, Christians will be able to withstand the incessant onslaught of heretical teachings window-dressed in "Christian" terminology
Book Description
Despite the success of her sultry Red Choo sex blog, it would take serious buzz to put Mercedes Brooks's first book of erotic fantasies on the bestseller list. And that meant agreeing to another showdown with her nemesis, the super-sexy TV pundit Sam Porter.
This time, though, the on-air innuendos were just a dress rehearsal. What happened later between the sheets was actually the main event. If the tabloids got wind of their night together, Sam's career would self-destruct. But the real shocker was that even with a prime-time scandal hanging over their heads, one night was not enough!
Customer Reviews:
LOVED it!! Hated to say goodbye to these awesome characters!!.......2007-05-07
The third and last installment of the Red Choo Diaries rounds out this amazing trilogy that leaves a reader breathless. Mercedes was a heroine to identify with and love. Kathleen O'Reilly has a great gift for creating heroes and heroines that readers will surely love and remember. Mercedes was such a character whose wounds needed to heal, she needed to find herself and live her own dreams. Sam Porter is just the man for her. Though many a hurdle stood in their way, his own blossoming into realizing what he wanted in life, the future he needed to grab onto, was a sight to behold. Their chemistry smolders off the page and their connection is instantaneous.
Beyond Seduction made me laugh, cry and I dreaded having to say good-bye to these characters. Each one - from all three books - were like friends that were so identifiable, so realistic, it was easy to see their hopes and dreams through the heart of the writing by this greatly talented author.
Ms. O'Reilly delivers a delightful, energetic and heartfelt story in Beyond Seduction, and the series itself is a powerful example of romance at its best.
Book 3.......2007-04-29
Mercedes Brooks writes eroticas. She is most famous for her online blog, "The Red Choo Diaries". Mercedes writes about people she, and most of New York, knows well; however, Mercedes never tells names. Two of the people Mercedes previously wrote about were her own brothers. The blog has caused more than one big splash with the public, especially on Wall Street. But this time around Mercedes is writing about herself!
Since the time she was on the "Sam Porter Show" one year ago, Mercedes has had her first book of erotica published. Sam Porter, the talk show host, calls for a second interview. Neither Mercedes, nor Sam, has been able to forget the other. This time, however, Mercedes makes sure that neither of her brothers are around to punch Sam out on live television. After the segment is complete, Mercedes and Sam spend a memorable night with each other.
Mercedes begins using Sam's likeness as the model for all the heroes in her blog entries. She did not realize it though. The truth hit home after a furious Sam phones about it. In her defense, Sam's pair of "green (not hazel) eyes" melt way too many of Mercedes's brain cells for her to think clearly while writing. Mercedes stresses that her work is only "fiction" and makes sure not to repeat the error. Thus the REAL story of the main couple begins!
Sam Porter is asked to step in, at the last minute, to run for a seat in the House. If he wins, Sam will become New Jersey's Fifteenth District congressman. Finally, Sam would no longer simply TALK about political problems on his show. Sam would be able to DO something; to make a difference. Mercedes is happy for Sam, but fears her writing would ruin his chance of winning. Sam insists that he did not care to win if it means losing her. Yet Mercedes cannot help but think that Sam would be better off if she was not around to spoil his chances.
***** This is the third in a trilogy. In the first book, readers read about Mercedes's oldest (and rich) brother, Andrew. In the second novel, readers watched as Mercedes's other older brother, Jeff (who works in public relations), went about taming a wild socialite. Now this trilogy comes to a close with the baby sister's tale. It seems to me that the author has saved the best for last! I warn you, this Harlequin series is called BLAZE for a reason, and this novel has even more hot romance scenes than the previous titles in the trilogy. Avoid the entire BLAZE line if you do not want most, if not all, of the juicy details. If you DO want those details, or do not care either way, then pick up this title! All the characters are well developed and seem to have their own personalities. I came to understand the characters so well that I could predict what each would do (in certain situations) before the author revealed it. It was like watching people I knew in reality. This is a stand-alone novel, so you do not HAVE to read the first two titles to enjoy it; however, the main characters from the two previous titles are seen often as secondary characters in this one. I found it delightful to see how the two other couples were doing. Excellent and highly recommended reading! *****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
Customer Reviews:
christianity is in danger!.......2007-06-07
>So if nothing else is understood, let it be clear that this book is primarily a call for each reader to get back to the Bible for himself.
< (123)
>Before seeking for experiences of God or communion with God through the practice of certain guaranteed techniques, however, we ought to give our attention first of all to the written Word of God that He has gone to such lengths to provide for all of mankind. Jeremiah's attitude toward God's Word should be our own: Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart (Jeremiah 15:16). For anyone setting out on a spiritual quest to seek and know God, the most logical place to start is with His Word, the Bible.
< (8-9)
That really is the theme throughout this entire book: the need for our very lives to be based upon the Word of God, not experiences, not psychology, not mysticism. Beyond Seduction is the sequel to The Seduction of Christianity, and the two books really go together well as a critique of what passes for christianity on the popular level. You can take Hinduism and dress it up in Christian terminology, you can do the same with humanist psychology, and with the ancient occult practices, and this confusion, or seduction as Hunt would call it, is the biggest plague facing the church today. This book was written in 1987, but I found its message especially timely given current trends in christianity. I guess the message "The Bible is all we need!" is a timeless truth that needs to be shouted from the rooftops in every age, but especially now when it seems that false prophets are out there to "seduce, if possible, even the elect."
One topic of particular interest to me this past year has been the emergent church. Though I've now lost my fascination with that movement, I do realize that many of my peers are being pulled in that direction; the blend of mystic spirituality with social activism is a powerful and alluring blend that continues to pull many into its snare. The truths in the two Seduction books by Hunt lay out a clear case against the emergent church, as it lays out the case against its predecessors. In fact, it may just be that the emergent church is just one of the current faces of that many figured creature that has existed since Christ: apostasy. Whether its gnosticism, or positive thinking/confession, the core issue is always "Yea, hath God said...?" and the antidote is to be found in The Bible.
He also chimes in (twenty years early) on the "missional" movement, and our desperate need to "contextualize" the gospel.
>As Oswald Chambers pointed out, "We must never confuse our desire for people to accept the gospel with creating a gospel that is acceptable to people." But modernism does exactly that - it takes the latest ideas from the world, dresses them up in biblical language, and passes them off as gospel truth. Much that masquerades today as Christianity on radio, on television, in many evangelical books, and in large, "successful" churches is in this category.
< (20)
>What Herbert Schlossberg has said of evangelical colleges seems to be true of vast numbers of Christians: Instead of challenging the world with the godliness and purity of their lives, they seem "to have a vision, rather, for assimilating what they think is the best of the world into the Christian life."
< (25)
Here's a quote he took from Andrew Murray that really convicted me personally, and actually has caused me to pray regularly for one of the fruits of the spirit I usually neglect: meekness.
>"In striving after the higher experiences of the Christian life, the believer is often in danger of aiming at and rejoicing in what one might call the more human virtues. Such virtues are boldness, joy, contempt of the world, zeal, self-sacrifice - even the old Stoics taught and practiced these. While the deeper and gentler, the more divine and heavenly graces are scarcely thought of or valued. These virtues are those which Jesus first taught upon earth - because He brought them from heaven - poverty of spirit, meekness, humility, lowliness...."
< (42)
One final note: we're placing all this emphasis on God's Word as the source for truth, but what are we to do with the HUNDREDS of different versions available to us? At one point there were 2 new versions coming out a year, and the rate has likely increased. It is interesting to note that there are major differences in the underlying greek manuscripts and that English translations of the Bible can be sorted into two categories based on which greek texts they use: the Authorized Version (KJV) vs. RSV, NRSV, ASV, NASV, UPDATED NASV, NIV, TNIV, ESV, etc. I would highly recommend Edward Hills' "The King James Version Defended" as an excellent starting point to understanding this crucial issue.
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Mas Alla De La Seduccion / beyond Seduction
Emma Holly , and
Alberto Magnet
Manufacturer: Titania
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literatura y ficción | Libros en español | Formats | Books | Autores, A-Z | Cartas y Correspondencia | Clásicos | Cuentos Cortos | Drama | Ensayos | Ficción de La Mujer | General | Género Ficción | Historia y Crítica | Libros y Lectura | Literatura Mundial | Poesía
General | Romance | Libros en español | Formats | Books
ASIN: 8495752670 |
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Beyond Scrambled Eggs: A Man\'s Guide to Culinary Seduction
Tim King
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Quick & Easy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Cooking, Food & Wine | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1412007321
Release Date: 2006-07-06 |
Book Description
This book is intended for the "wannabe" cook who wants an inexpensive, one source collection of ethnically varied (American, French, Italian, Asian, Mexican, etc) superb recipes. It comes with an introductory section containing suggestions on how and why to get started with a wonderful hobby in which you eat well, reduce your stress and save money all at the same time.
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Beyond Seduction
Manufacturer: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Apologetics | Theology | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0890815623 |
Product Description
one of the best erotic romance writers today!indulge your passion for the forbidden.surrender to your most sinful desires.discover what lies...beyond seduction!she wanted to cause a scandal;he just wanted her!merry vance has no interest in marriage,but that hasn't stopped her long-suffering suitor from proposing-and her parents get more furious each time she refuses.merry's scandalous solution is to pose for nicholas craven.no man in his right mind would marry a woman who posed nude for this notorious rogue...but nicholas has his own plans for the feisty young woman he has convinced to move into his home.in merry's plain face,he sees uncommon beauty.in her soft eyes,he sees sparks ready to burst into flame.and,best of all,he's sure her sweet demeanor will tantalize the ton-and provide the perfect foil for his dark and dangerous charm...
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- A Blood-Dimmed Tide
- A Sparrow Falls
- After Glow (Ghost Hunters, Book 2)
- Air: Or, Have Not Have
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