Robot Trilogy: The Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun, The Robots of Dawn
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Robot Trilogy: The Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun, The Robots of Dawn
    Isaac Asimov
    Manufacturer: Del Rey
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    United StatesUnited States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
    GeneralGeneral | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Asimov, Isaac | ( A ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
    PaperbackPaperback | Asimov, Isaac | ( A ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. The Complete Robot (Robot Series) The Complete Robot (Robot Series)
    2. Robots and Empire Robots and Empire
    3. I, Robot I, Robot
    4. Foundation (Foundation Novels) Foundation (Foundation Novels)
    5. The Door into Summer The Door into Summer

    ASIN: 0345331192
    Release Date: 1988-08-12
    The Robots of Dawn
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Tedious and Flat... Wish I had those 400+ pages back...
    • Disappointing conclusion to the trilogy
    • Elijah & Daneel's Last Adventure!
    • essential reading for Asimov fans
    • it doesn't end here
    		 The Robots of Dawn
    Isaac Asimov
    Manufacturer: Spectra
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Mass Market Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Asimov, Isaac | ( A ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
    PaperbackPaperback | Asimov, Isaac | ( A ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
    ( A )( A ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books | Anthony, Piers | Asprin, Robert | Asprin, Robert Lynn
    GeneralGeneral | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
    All 4-for-3 DealsAll 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. The Naked Sun The Naked Sun
    2. Caves of Steel (Robot City) Caves of Steel (Robot City)
    3. I, Robot I, Robot
    4. Robots and Empire Robots and Empire
    5. Foundation and Earth Foundation and Earth

    ASIN: 0553299492
    Release Date: 1994-03-01

    Book Description

    A puzzling case of roboticide sends New York Detective Elijah Baley on an intense search for a murderer. Armed with his own instincts, his quirky logic, and the immutable Three Laws of Robotics, Baley is determined to solve the case. But can anything prepare a simple Earthman for the psychological complexities of a world where a beautiful woman can easily have fallen in love with an all-too-human robot...?

    A LITERARY GUILD DUAL SELECTION

    Customer Reviews:

    1 out of 5 stars Tedious and Flat... Wish I had those 400+ pages back..........2007-10-05

    I had to write a review somewhere after reading this book. After reading the Caves of Steel, I thought it would be an enjoyable read. However, it was not. This was the most tedious, long-winded, horribly written piece of snot that I have ever laid my eyes on. Asimov spends way too much time saying the exact same thing over and over as if the reader were completely illiterate. The plot is horribly stupid, and non of the interactions seem 'real' at all. save your time and reread the Foundation series... This book sucked.

    3 out of 5 stars Disappointing conclusion to the trilogy.......2007-09-30

    Robots of Dawn is the third entry in the Robot series and was written quite a few years after the second volume saw print. The story follows Elijah Bailey once again as he tries to solve a murder but this time it is not a human who has been killed but a robot. The leading suspect is a character from the first novel, the leading roboticist on the planet Aurora. Bailey travels off world and goes through his usual routine of interviewing the interested parties and accusing most of them of committing the crime in the process. His old robot partner, R Daneel Olivaw, aids Bailey in his investigation.

    Perhaps due to the long delay in writing Robots of Dawn, there are some rather glaring errors in story continuity from the prior novel, The Naked Sun. Early in the story, Olivaw tells Bailey that no robot could impersonate a human on the Spacer worlds and get away with it for even a moment. They have a lengthy conversation on this point and the point is considered proven by the time they are done. Yet, in The Naked Sun, Olivaw himself impersonated a human on the Spacer world of Solaris and no one even suspected him. Bailey witnessed this, yet both characters seem to have forgotten the entire affair.

    Robots of Dawn is by far the longest of the Robot novel in the series and does not benefit from the extra pages. Bailey's interviews often drag out as he puts forward exceedingly unlikely theories and forces the suspects to deny and disprove them. This has the unfortunate side effect of making Bailey seem almost stupid as he constantly asserts false solutions to the case. When he finally does come up with a solution, it is very unsatisfying. It actually feels like Asimov had written himself into a corner and didn't know how to get out so he threw together a half-baked solution and called it a day. I expected better from such an accomplished writer.

    I enjoyed the earlier novels in this series considerably but was disappointed with Robots of Dawn. Asimov waited many years to write it because he didn't feel that he had a strong concept to move forward with. Having read this, I would have to say that he still didn't have a fully developed foundation for this book even when he did finally write it. He definitely needed to put more thought into the mystery, the characters, and how to keep the story interesting. This book was not lousy but it didn't live up to the earlier entries either. I would recommend it for readers who loved the earlier Robot novels and simply must read one more entry. Just don't expect it to be as strong as what you've already seen.

    5 out of 5 stars Elijah & Daneel's Last Adventure!.......2007-07-19

    The late Isaac Asimov (1920 - 1992) is one of my all-time favorite sci-fi writers. He pertains to the old "hard sci-fi" school that populated the `50s and a successful member of that community by the way.

    This story is the third and last step in the long friendship between the earthling New York detective Elijah Baley and the robot detective R. Daneel Olivaw. You don't need to read "The Caves of Steel" or "The Naked Sun" to understand this book; it is almost a stand alone book.

    Situated in a far future Earth, Humankind has divided into Spacers who dwell scattered in fifty worlds (and are the rich & advanced society) and Earthlings that remain in the Mother World, inhabiting overcrowded underground cities. Both groups distrust and despise each other.
    A roboticide occurs in Aurora an Outer World. Elijah is put in charge of the investigation due to his success in the previous investigations.
    Once again he will team with R. Daneel.
    Here a new backdrop is constructed by Asimov; a complete alien society is presented to the reader, with its codes, ecology and history.
    Bailey still suffers from his agoraphobia but he is in his way to control it.
    As usual Asimov built his novel step by step, proposing and discarding suspects of committing the roboticide, conforming bit by bit the final picture and solution of the quest.

    One more detail about this novel, the author reassumes writing sci-fi novels after almost fifteen years. The second book he releases is this one, showing a soft spot in Asimov's preferences.

    Enjoy Asimov's second disembarkment on sci-fi shores!
    Reviewed by Max Yofre.

    4 out of 5 stars essential reading for Asimov fans.......2007-05-30

    I don't give it five stars even though it is that good simply because it takes two hundred pages(in my opinion, it doesn't start getting really exciting till Bailey interviews the daughter Vasilia) before things get really intrigueing.

    I find Asimov is usually good with the first book of his trilogies, and then maybe the third, maybe the fourth book of a series is really good after some so-so second sequels. Foundation is good, Caves of Steel is good, and I forget which empire novels go in which sequence(it's been awhile for me with those; and besides, I must admit I liked the two that I read; the currents of space is the one I havn't read). Well, Foundation's Edge and Robots of Dawn I found are pretty good. I didn't like the mule in the foundation series because it was more about some magical ability instead of some scientific outcome, but he puts the whole mule thing in a good light in Foundations edge.

    I kind of find Robots of Dawn kind of a prelude to "Prelude to Foundation." And, like i've already said, it took two hundred pages for anything interesting to start happening; before then, it is a lot of sex I guess. I thought he did a masterfull job with the whole daughter of the master robotist thing and then he concluded things pretty well even though I grew impatient to get back to doing some real mathematics. I liked how he managed to put the future of the galaxy to the whims of human chance and issues. That was what I was expecting as well, but, I was starting to wonder.

    This is definitelly not the first Asimov book to read for those who havn't read one book by him! This is a book you read if you've already read some robot, empire, and foundation books(preferably the first of each series for sure . . . and, yes, there's some others, but like I said, I generally don't like the second of each series except maybe the empire series).

    Once again, the second half is worth getting through the first half; it all does have a reason!

    5 out of 5 stars it doesn't end here.......2007-03-12

    Having read the first two books as a teenager, I came back to the good doctor and certainly I wasn't dissapointed. Some of the other comments here critizes badly the novel, but look, first it is a lot of fun to read; maybe is a little better if you know all the guys from the other novels so you can really identify their pasts and stories in a broader perspective; certainly after Spielberg's AI and then the own I Robot and the Bicentennial Man as movies, you are expecting something with the mind of us modern inhabitants of the first decade of the 21st century. But precisely for that in the light of transhumanism and the things expected with the role of robots and artificial personas in the coming years -just like now how it is with real life and avatars- you realize that the way they do lived in Solaria, were nobody sees each other in the flesh but just as a hologram, the things here about love between human and machine -by the way I just love my powerbook!!!- you see not only Asimov is aging quite well, but he is very well doing his duty of forecast as Verne did.
    Very surprising for me was to go to Wikipedia and learn at the Daneel R Olivaw enter, that it doesn't end here, the character lives way beyond until foundation, becoming the longest living character of the Asimov's universe covering well into his 20, 000 birthday.
    Give yourself the time to have a glimpse of your own teenage years, and if you are a young reader, or planning to give to one just have in mind that very surprisingly the book has some mild intense erotic scenes, a surprise in Asimov, and much more since I am molded to have the same erotic interest than the legendary Susan Calvin, but nothing at all to be an indecent book, just a little spicy.
    The Robots of Dawn
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		The Robots of Dawn

      Manufacturer: Doubleday
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover
      Similar Items:
      1. Robots and Empire Robots and Empire
      2. The Robot Novels: Caves of Steel, Naked Sun The Robot Novels: Caves of Steel, Naked Sun
      3. Foundation and Earth Foundation and Earth
      4. I, Robot I, Robot
      5. Foundation and Empire (Foundation Novels) Foundation and Empire (Foundation Novels)

      ASIN: 038547086X
      The Robots of Dawn
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		The Robots of Dawn
        Isaac Asimov
        Manufacturer: Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, 1983
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover
        ASIN: B000NXMFKC
        Los Robots Del Amanecer/ The Robots of Dawn (Best Seller)
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • The Third & Last Adventure of Elijah & Daneel!
        		 Los Robots Del Amanecer/ The Robots of Dawn (Best Seller)
        Isaac Asimov
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        GeneralGeneral | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Asimov, Isaac | ( A ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
        PaperbackPaperback | Asimov, Isaac | ( A ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
        SpanishSpanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
        Literatura y ficciónLiteratura 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
        ( A )( A ) | Autores, A-Z | Adolescentes | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Asimov, Isaac | ( A ) | Autores, A-Z | Ciencia ficción y fantasía | Libros en español | Formats | Books
        Pasta BlandaPasta Blanda | Asimov, Isaac | ( A ) | Autores, A-Z | Ciencia ficción y fantasía | Libros en español | Formats | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Ciencia Ficción | Ciencia ficción y fantasía | Libros en español | Formats | Books
        ASIN: 8497599551

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars The Third & Last Adventure of Elijah & Daneel!.......2007-07-19

        The late Isaac Asimov (1920 - 1992) is one of my all-time favorite sci-fi writers. He pertains to the old "hard sci-fi" school that populated the `50s and a successful member of that community by the way.

        This story is the third and last step in the long friendship between the earthling New York detective Elijah Baley and the robot detective R. Daneel Olivaw. You don't need to read "The Caves of Steel" or "The Naked Sun" to understand this book; it is almost a stand alone book.

        Situated in a far future Earth, Humankind has divided into Spacers who dwell scattered in fifty worlds (and are the rich & advanced society) and Earthlings that remain in the Mother World, inhabiting overcrowded underground cities. Both groups distrust and despise each other.
        A roboticide occurs in Aurora an Outer World. Elijah is put in charge of the investigation due to his success in the previous investigations.
        Once again he will team with R. Daneel.
        Here a new backdrop is constructed by Asimov; a complete alien society is presented to the reader, with its codes, ecology and history.
        Bailey still suffers from his agoraphobia but he is in his way to control it.
        As usual Asimov built his novel step by step, proposing and discarding suspects of committing the roboticide, conforming bit by bit the final picture and solution of the quest.

        One more detail about this novel, the author reassumes writing sci-fi novels after almost fifteen years. The second book he releases is this one, showing a soft spot in Asimov's preferences.

        Enjoy Asimov's second disembarkment on sci-fi shores!
        Reviewed by Max Yofre.
        4 Titles in Lije Baley and R. Daneel Olivaw Novels : I, Robot - The Caves of Steel - The Naked Sun - The Robots of Dawn
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          		4 Titles in Lije Baley and R. Daneel Olivaw Novels : I, Robot - The Caves of Steel - The Naked Sun - The Robots of Dawn
          Isaac Asimov
          Manufacturer: various
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Mass Market Paperback
          ASIN: B000PEHN38

          Product Description

          4 massmarket paperback Titles in Lije Baley and R. Daneel Olivaw Novels : I, Robot - The Caves of Steel - The Naked Sun - The Robots of Dawn
          FOUNDATION SERIES: Prelude to Foundation; The Foundation Trilogy: Foundation; Foundation and Empire; Second Foundation; Foundation's Edge; Robots and Empire; The Robots of Dawn; Foundation and Earth; Forward the Foundation
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            		FOUNDATION SERIES: Prelude to Foundation; The Foundation Trilogy: Foundation; Foundation and Empire; Second Foundation; Foundation's Edge; Robots and Empire; The Robots of Dawn; Foundation and Earth; Forward the Foundation
            Isaac Asimov
            Manufacturer: Doubleday
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Hardcover
            ASIN: B000GVZ2SI
            I, ROBOT + THE CAVES OF STEEL + THE NAKED SUN + THE ROBOTS OF DAWN (ISAAC ASIMOV'S ROBOT SERIES, 4 Volume Matched Set)
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              		I, ROBOT + THE CAVES OF STEEL + THE NAKED SUN + THE ROBOTS OF DAWN (ISAAC ASIMOV'S ROBOT SERIES, 4 Volume Matched Set)

              Manufacturer: Easton Press
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Leather Bound
              ASIN: B000CRNFFI

              Product Description

              One of the greatest science-fiction series ever written by one of the greatest science fiction authors in the history of the genre.
              Isaac Asimov Reads His the Robots of Dawn
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                		Isaac Asimov Reads His the Robots of Dawn
                Isaac Asimov
                Manufacturer: Caedmon Audio Cassette
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Audio Cassette

                GeneralGeneral | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
                ASIN: 0898451426
                Komikwerks Presents: Rockets & Robots
                Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                • WoW!
                		 Komikwerks Presents: Rockets & Robots
                Patrick Coyle , Shannon Denton , Keith Giffen , Eric Canete , Aaron Sowd , Vinton Heuck , and Dawn Brown
                Manufacturer: Komikwerks
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Paperback
                ASIN: 097428033X

                Book Description

                Action, humor, horror, suspense, detectives, spies, devils, creatures, monsters, deities, and oh yeah - rockets and robots! In this new collection of comic shorts, there's a story, style and genre for every type of comics fan.

                Keith Giffen, Wildstorm artist Eric Canete, Image Comics' Dawn Brown, Batman and JLA inker Aaron Sowd, Spider-Man penciller and X-Men animated producer Will Meugniot, The Batman storyboard artist Vinton Heuck, Kubert School grads Chris Chua and Matt Jacobs, Image and Marvel artist (and Komikwerks co-founder) Shannon Denton, as well as talented newcomers like Armand Villavert Jr., Eddie Trigueros, Damion Hendricks, and Tim Chupka contribute to this collection of 14 new stories.

                Customer Reviews:

                5 out of 5 stars WoW!.......2005-04-20

                This book was super cool. I liked the funny stories the best but the action stuff was way cool too.

                Pride (Seven Deadly Sins)
                Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
                • Pride
                • .:.Surprise Ending.:.
                • Delicious Scandal
                		 Pride (Seven Deadly Sins)
                Robin Wasserman
                Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Paperback

                FictionFiction | Friendship | Social Situations | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
                FictionFiction | Dating & Intimacy | Social Issues | Teens | Subjects | Books
                Being a TeenBeing a Teen | Social Issues | Teens | Subjects | Books
                FictionFiction | Friendship | Social Situations | People & Places | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Literature & Fiction | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                Being a TeenBeing a Teen | Social Issues | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                FictionFiction | Dating & Intimacy | Social Issues | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                All 4-for-3 DealsAll 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                Similar Items:
                1. Wrath (Seven Deadly Sins) Wrath (Seven Deadly Sins)
                2. Envy (Seven Deadly Sins) Envy (Seven Deadly Sins)
                3. Sloth (Seven Deadly Sins) Sloth (Seven Deadly Sins)
                4. Lust (Seven Deadly Sins) Lust (Seven Deadly Sins)
                5. Gluttony (Seven Deadly Sins) Gluttony (Seven Deadly Sins)

                ASIN: 0689877846

                Book Description

                Everyone's got something to brag about:

                Kaia's getting it on with bachelor #1, though scruffball Reed's gotten to be quite an interesting distraction.

                Kane and Harper got exactly what they planned:

                Namely, Beth and Adam. (Though to keep gettin' it, their secrets -- and pasts -- best stay forgotten.)

                Miranda got her heart broken, but now she's all decked with a new look and strategy.

                Sometimes, though, you only think you've got everything....

                Customer Reviews:

                5 out of 5 stars Pride.......2006-07-28

                Okay so the last book Kane and Harper succeeded in breaking up Beth and Adam. Now you get to see how that all plays out. Beth feels like her and Kane have nothing in common. Kane's responce "we're both really hot!" Adam and Harper try to have sex, but he cant (if you know what I mean)
                Meanwhile, Kaia learns the teacher she's been with has found a ski bunny on the school field trip so she decides to go after Reed (or Weed as she likes to call him). He doesn't like that so they agree to be exclusive. But can she drop Reed?
                Harpers best friend (why cant i remember her name?) tried dating online, and the guy ended up to be Greg!
                The one thing I dont understand is what this book has to do with Pride.

                4 out of 5 stars .:.Surprise Ending.:........2006-07-17

                Well I have only recently finished reading this book, and as always I found the book quite interesting, and my dislike towards Kaia and Harper only grew (which may surprise people seeing as most comments have stated that they like these, in my opinion, mean characters), but I must say their characters are really well written just like all the others. And the ending really threw me off (SPOILLER!) thinking that Kaia wouldn't be that mean to tell Beth enough for her to know that Kaia and Adam had slept together. Can't wait for the next book!!

                4 out of 5 stars Delicious Scandal.......2006-06-17

                The characters turned out to be pathetic in some of their own ways but the storyline was delicious and i liked the way the whole plot played out. My favorite characters are Kaia(i used to hate her in the 1st book), Kane and Jack Powel. Sometimes I have a thing or two for Adam and Harper but they tend to disappoint me most of the times.
                I found it a little annoying when (SPOILER) adam and beth found out the mischievous play kane and harper pulled on them and decided to restart, but ended up breaking no sooner than 5 seconds after Kaia spilled the beans about her little affair with Adam.
                Even though in my opinion, it was a little low for Kaia to play her moves on someone like Reed, her confidence and never losing attitude was appealing. Somewhat the same for Jack Powel. And he IS hot afterall. And by far, the most non-desperate character.
                I finished the book in a few hours(just like Envy). The polt gets juicer with every release, much better than the first book, Lust. Its a must-read for chic-lit lovers. If you liked Gossip Girl/A-list/Insiders/It Girl series, you'd find this one an entertaining read too.
                Pride: The Seven Deadly Sins
                Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
                • Astounding Lack of Critical Reflection
                • The evil sin that does good...
                • Pride: The Virtuous Vice
                • Misleading
                		 Pride: The Seven Deadly Sins
                Michael Eric Dyson
                Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Hardcover

                Ethics & MoralityEthics & Morality | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                History & SurveysHistory & Surveys | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                ReligiousReligious | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                Discrimination & RacismDiscrimination & Racism | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                NationalismNationalism | Movements | Political Science | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                NationalismNationalism | Political Doctrines | Political Science | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                New AgeNew Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books | Astrology | Chakras | Channeling | Divination | Dreams | General | Goddesses | Meditation | Mental & Spiritual Healing | Mysticism | New Thought | Reference | Reincarnation | Self-Help | Theosophy | Urantia | Visionary Fiction
                Church & StateChurch & State | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                Pastoral TheologyPastoral Theology | Theology | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                Similar Items:
                1. Greed: The Seven Deadly Sins Greed: The Seven Deadly Sins
                2. Anger: The Seven Deadly Sins Anger: The Seven Deadly Sins
                3. Gluttony: The Seven Deadly Sins Gluttony: The Seven Deadly Sins
                4. Sloth: The Seven Deadly Sins Sloth: The Seven Deadly Sins
                5. Lust: The Seven Deadly Sins Lust: The Seven Deadly Sins

                ASIN: 0195160924

                Book Description

                Of the seven deadly sins, pride is the only one with a virtuous side. It is certainly a good thing to have pride in one's country, in one's community, in oneself. But when taken too far, as Michael Eric Dyson shows in Pride, these virtues become deadly sins. Dyson, named by Ebony magazine as one of the 100 most influential African Americans, here looks at the many dimensions of pride. Ranging from Augustine and Aquinas, MacIntyre and Hauerwas, to Niebuhr and King, Dyson offers a thoughtful, multifaceted look at this "virtuous vice." He probes the philosophical and theological roots of pride in examining its transformation in Western culture. Dyson discusses how black pride keeps blacks from being degraded and excluded by white pride, which can be invisible, unspoken, but nonetheless very powerful. Dyson also offers a moving glimpse into the teachers and books that shaped his personal pride and vocation. Dyson also looks at less savory aspects of national pride. Since 9/11, he notes, we have had to close ranks. But the collective embrace of all things American, to the exclusion of anything else, has taken the place of a much richer, much more enduring, much more profound version of love of country. This unchecked pride asserts the supremacy of America above all others--elevating our national beliefs above any moral court in the world--and attacking critics of American foreign policy as unpatriotic and even traitorous. Hubris, temerity, arrogance--the unquestioned presumption that one's way of life defines how everyone else should live--pride has many destructive manifestations. In this engaging and energetic volume, Michael Eric Dyson, one of the nation's foremost public intellectuals, illuminates this many-sided human emotion, one that can be an indispensable virtue or a deadly sin.

                Customer Reviews:

                1 out of 5 stars Astounding Lack of Critical Reflection.......2006-07-15

                I was drawn to the New York Public Library's series on the seven deadly sins for its stated aim of examining the ways in which faith, belief, ideology, and politics shape our contemporary world. I read this last book in the series first and was left bitterly disappointed.

                Dyson pays lip service to the long and intriguing history of pride as a sin (pp. 7-26); in truth, he is a poor chronicler of the theological and philosophical roots of the notion of pride, or self-regard. It's tempting to suggest that Dyson composed this short chapter based on only a cursory reading of a handful of books that address the topic more substantively. His analysis of pride from Pope Gregory I to Stanley Hauerwas rings hollow and reads like a middle-school book report.

                But the lack of "critical reflection" to which I refer in my review title stems from Dyson's mobilization of his own self-regard in the rest of this unfortunate book. Aside from the brief chapter mentioned above, Dyson offers blustering criticism of contemporary errata -- almost every example of which does not illuminate the complexities of pride as both concept and practice.

                If anything, Dyson's examples shore up his own rhetorical self-worth and display an astounding lack of concern for broader social, political, and cultural views on pride. A chapter devoted to "Personal Pride" (pp. 27-42) is an insincere reflection on the ups and downs of Dyson's childhood and career, while his later discourses on versions of white and black pride are so simplistic (e.g., the KKK espouses a "bad" form of pride; Halle Berry's winning the Academy Award in 2002 evinces a "good" form of pride) as to insult the reader's intelligence. Finally, Dyson's profound ignorance of the posturing of his own critical voice is exemplified in two moments of particular resonance: when he defends himself against critics of his biography of Martin Luther King Jr. and, in a scene of unintended humor (for the reader) and false modesty (on Dyson's part), when he takes two black female students to task for being disruptive in a class he taught at the University of Pennsylvania.

                These are just some of Dyson's prideful follies; the book as a whole replaces meaningful consideration of this purpoted "deadliest" of sins with Dyson's all-too-familiar -- indeed tiresome -- hobby horses and sound bytes. This book is about him, then, and I suppose to that extent it is a book about pride.

                On a parting note, let me offer this retroactive disclaimer. As someone who identifies with progressive political and social causes, I am dismayed by a book like this because it displaces genuine critical reflection for brash but ultimately hollow showmanship. The series of which this book is a part offers up the possibility of doing some real *thinking* about important issues in our contemporary world. Progressive politics, in my view, should flow from the primary act of thought, reflection, critique -- whatever you want to call it. Dyson, although nominally a progressive, is in the business of repeating political ideologies that have become old hat. This book could have been written, and imagined, otherwise.

                4 out of 5 stars The evil sin that does good..........2006-05-28

                Some deadly sins are better than others. Take gluttony. By definition it seethes with excess and over indulgence. And greed, with its inherently selfish motivations, carries no positive overtones whatsoever. How would one depict gluttony or greed in a positive light? Not easily. Twenty first century people, in line with their medieval ancestors, would probably still classify these behaviors as "sins" or at least as "darn bad things". But the other "sins" remain different, and people today would probably only call them "sins" when taken to extreme. Truly, too much anger, sloth, lust, or envy can result in behavior destructive to self and others. But in small quantities they can provide motivation to action or emotional release. Unlike gluttony or greed, each of these remaining sins can be depicted in a positive light when not taken to excess. Pride shares this characteristic. Fatuous overzealous pride makes for a rather unpleasant and potentially self-destructive person. But the right dose of pride can inspire and provide self-worth. Modern pride then swings more to the "less deadly" side of the deadly sin continuum.

                Michael Eric Dyson thoroughly explores this "better" deadly sin in five short chapters. He draws on his direct experiences of both racial pride and what he has seen of overwrought nationalism. The former represents a potentially good form of pride (again, if not taken to extreme), the latter demonstrates pride's ugly side spilling over into myopic vanity. Dyson sees both forms at work in today's world.

                The first chapter deals with pride from a historical perspective. Pride once held a notorious spot in the litany of sins. The Greeks, until Aristotle, termed it "hubris" and found it a menace. Much later, Pope Gregory I called it "the root of all evil" and Augustine and Aquinas held equally disparaging views. Pride kept people from God, so went the argument, and opened the door to other sins. Thus, humility became the state in which one fell into grace with the Lord by becoming truly subject (or subordinate). In great contrast to this long tradition, Aristotle held pride in some esteem. Dyson points out the Aristotelian notion of "the proud man... who thinks himself worthy of great things". But this proudness shouldn't stretch too far. Examples of overstretching in the forms of religious fundamentalism, nationalistic arrogance, power, and wealth get discussed.

                Dyson then turns autobiographical as he discusses his experience with pride. He is proud of his reading and writing skills, and books helped strenghten his will in hard times. The writings of Melville, Dostoyevsky, Morrison, Solzhenitsyn, Ellison, Baldwin, and Martin Luther King, Jr., and countless others helped lead him to his position today of social critic and ordained Baptist Minister. So Dyson has had some very positive experiences with pride.

                The next two chapters juxtapose white and black pride, in that "white pride is often the vice that makes black pride necessary." White pride, often taken for granted and infrequently up for discussion, can lead to self-loathing for blacks. Dyson quotes terms like "whitewishing" and "white water is wetter" as symptoms of white pride successfully squashing out black pride. Other signs include the long struggle between light and dark skinned blacks. Though historically the prejudice fell in favor of lighter skin, Dyson notes that today darker skin has come into vogue. He then discusses his conflicting emotions at the appointments of blacks high up in the Bush administration, feeling proud to have blacks so high up, but simultaneously feeling repulsed by their political views. He has some very nasty words in particular for Condoleezza Rice. With equal venom, he attacks what he calls the "black elite" (e.g., Jack and Jill and the Links), condemning their disdain for lower class blacks while attempting to better the interests of their own kind exclusively. The discussion ends on a happier note with the Oscar victory speeches of Halle Berry and Denzel Washington in 2002, and the rise of Kweisi Mfume (a US Congressman from Maryland now running for the Senate). One of the challenges going forward, Dyson claims, is to not allow white pride to distort or squelch black pride.

                In the final chapter, Dyson deals with national pride. Here he attacks those that have disfigured a healthy love of country into narrow minded nationalism in post 911 America. A new form of PC, "Patriotic Correctness", has swept the nation following the fall of the twin towers. This chapter in particular deals with what Dyson sees as "pride gone bad".

                This majority of this short book deals with pride mainly from a racial and political perspective. Dyson uses his own experiences of racism and nationalism to frame his arguments. Some of his observations and opinions may jar readers. In particular, supporters of the Bush administration may fulminate while reading the final chapter. But Dyson supports what he calls "critical patriotism", which he thinks needs to thrive for democracy to work. But sometimes relentless pride gets in the way and bats it down as heretical. His final chapter stands as a dire warning of what can happen when national pride runs amok. And it also demonstrates the dual nature of the prickly "sin" of pride. It has the strange power to make the healthy into a destructive force almost without notice.

                "Pride" is thick with argument, stories, and criticism. Though not everyone will agree with Dyson's conclusions, he constructs an interesting ride through the subject of pride from certain perspectives. And though the discussion wanders and digresses in places, it always returns to its subject: that bizarre "sin" that no longer seems like a sin, pride.

                5 out of 5 stars Pride: The Virtuous Vice.......2006-02-19

                Pride has often been viewed as being the worst of the seven sins, yet it is the only sin known to also be a virtue as well as a vice. The first part of this book looks at historical views of Pride, from Plato to Aquinas, who clearly labeled it as a terrible vice, to Aristotle, who not only did not condemn it but also encouraged it. The tone then shifts to racial pride, and the author's take on the damaging affects of identity politics and the negative influences of white pride upon black pride.

                Though all that is probably a must for those interested in race issues, the gem of this book is the chapter on national pride (My Country, Right or Wrong?). In it, the author examines the differences between patriotism, a love of country and its values, and nationalism, an uncritical support of a country's national and international interests and affairs. He also brings to light religious extremism and the injustice of the American government upon its own people during times of war or crisis. I strongly urge anyone interested in issues of patriotism, racial prejudice, and the war on terrorism to read this chapter.

                1 out of 5 stars Misleading.......2006-02-01

                I was very disappointed by this book from page number one. The author is not focusing on a discussion on Pride as a goal, but mainly using Pride as a vehicle for the disgruntled preachings on racism and religion that characterize his late works.

                There is, however, a different tone that accompanies the painstaking details about the historical background of the sin of Pride. That tone is boredom. When Mr. Dyson is not trying to make your head explode with statements like "black pride is good but white pride is evil", he will instead try to conquer you by providing you with too much information written in a monotone style that would be more suited as a sleep aid.

                Michael Eric Dyson has abused the Seven Deadly Sins series for his own personal agenda, by pushing his writing to readers who would otherwise refuse to buy anything with his name on.
                Pride: New Wisdom and Help for Overcoming the First Deadly Sin (Series of Unexpected Reflections on the Seven Deadly Sins)
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  		Pride: New Wisdom and Help for Overcoming the First Deadly Sin (Series of Unexpected Reflections on the Seven Deadly Sins)
                  John Blackwell
                  Manufacturer: Crossroad
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  EthicsEthics | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                  Pastoral TheologyPastoral Theology | Theology | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                  EthicsEthics | Theology | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                  Similar Items:
                  1. The Noonday Demon: Recognizing and Conquering the Deadly Sin of Sloth The Noonday Demon: Recognizing and Conquering the Deadly Sin of Sloth
                  2. Reading the Old Testament: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (with CD-ROM and InfoTrac®) Reading the Old Testament: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (with CD-ROM and InfoTrac®)

                  ASIN: 0824523911

                  Book Description

                  What happens when we start playing God? If Pride is the problem, what is the solution? The answer is humility, which Rev. Blackwell shows to be a truthful assessment of ourselves in relation to God and one another.
                  The Seven Deadly Sins Set: Consisting of Greed, Gluttony, Envy, Lust, Sloth, Anger, and Pride
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    		The Seven Deadly Sins Set: Consisting of Greed, Gluttony, Envy, Lust, Sloth, Anger, and Pride
                    Phyllis A. Tickle , Francine Prose , Joseph Epstein , Simon Blackburn , Wendy Wasserstein , Robert A. F. Thurman , and Michael Eric Dyson
                    Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover

                    GeneralGeneral | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                    Thurman, RobertThurman, Robert | ( T ) | Authors, A-Z | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                    All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
                    ASIN: 0195308654
                    Pride: Seven Deadly Sins Series
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      		Pride: Seven Deadly Sins Series
                      J, A Gray
                      Manufacturer: Tyborne Hill Publishers LLC
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Digital

                      GeneralGeneral | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
                      GeneralGeneral | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                      Literature & FictionLiterature & Fiction | Adobe | Formats | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                      ASIN: B000ARS8KW
                      The chief sources of sin;: Seven discourses on pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, sloth,
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        		The chief sources of sin;: Seven discourses on pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, sloth,
                        Michael Vincent McDonough
                        Manufacturer: Metropolitan Press, John Murphy Co
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Unknown Binding

                        SermonsSermons | Ministry & Church Leadership | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                        ASIN: B00086O6D8
                        Pride : The Seven Deadly Sins
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          		Pride : The Seven Deadly Sins
                          Michael Eric Dyson
                          Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Paperback
                          ASIN: B000OKOF0C

                          Books:

                          1. Schaum's Outline of Linear Algebra
                          2. Schismatrix Plus (Complete Shapers-Mechanists Universe)
                          3. Shadow Puppets
                          4. Showdown at Centerpoint (Star Wars: The Corellian Trilogy)
                          5. Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections: The Spacecraft and Vehicles of the Entire Star Wars Saga
                          6. Star Wars, Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (The Original Radio Drama)
                          7. Startide Rising (The Uplift Saga, Book 2)
                          8. Stone and Anvil (Star Trek: New Frontier)
                          9. Sundiver (The Uplift Saga, Book 1)
                          10. Survivor's Quest (Star Wars)

                          Books Index

                          Books Home

                          Recommended Books

                          1. Prints Of Rufino Tamayo, The
                          2. History: Fiction or Science
                          3. An Invisible Sign of My Own: A Novel
                          4. Best Thing I Ever Tasted: The Secret of Food
                          5. Business and Legal Forms for Photographers
                          6. History: Fiction or Science
                          7. Evolutionary Psychology: The Ultimate Origins of Human Behavior
                          8. Idle Days in Patagonia
                          9. Burghley: William Cecil, Lord Burghley
                          10. B-G: Fighter of Goliaths. The Story of David Ben-Gurion