Temple of the Winds (Sword of Truth, Book 4)

Book Description

On the red moon will come the firestorm....Wielding the Sword of Truth, Richard Rahl has battled death itself and come to the defense of the D'Haran people. But now the power-mad Emperor Jagang confronts Richard with a swift and inexorable foe: a mystical plague cutting a deadly swath across the land and slaying thousands of innocent victims.To quench the inferno, he must seek remedy in the wind....To fight it Richard and his beloved Kahlan Amnell will risk everything to uncover the source of the terrible plague-the magic sealed away for three millennia in the Temple of the Winds.Lightning will find him on that path....But when prophecy throws the shadow of betrayal across their mission and threatens to destroy them, Richard must accept the Truth and find a way to pay the price the winds demand....or he and his world will perish.

Customer Reviews:

Last stop on this ride for me.......2007-08-01

First, you need to know what you're dealing with in this series. Goodkind is an Objectivist (hence, the Sword of Truth), which means he's a disciple of Ayn Rand and the Objectivist movement she started. There's nothing right or wrong with that in and of itself, but his politics suffuses his writing more than any other fantasist writing in the 700+ volume/multivolume series aspect of the genre. The political backdrop is mild in book one, a little stronger in book two and really gets brought to the fore in book three.

Temple of the Winds was the stop point for me with the Goodkind series and not because of his politics. The first two books were solid adventures, the third added intrigue with the rise of the Imperial Order and the war against a foe only Richard could truly see. But this one was interminable: lengthy dialogues more appropriate for a therapy session with a tough psychiatrist, a maudlin self-flagellating relationship between Richard and Kahlan, a protagonist whose self-pity reaches preposterous proportions, and revelations at the end that were basically obvious throughout the book. Once it became obvious to me that Goodkind was not advancing the story and was merely writing a bunch of morality tales before the finale of the series (which now runs more than 10 books long), I decided to cut my losses.

No regrets.

Just Could Not Finish It.......2007-07-27

I read the first three novels in the series and they were entertaining. But, I just could not get through this book and about halfway through I put it down to read something else. Will I ever finish it? Probably not. I just do not care about the neverending soap opera of Richard and his friends anymore. Maybe you can finish it, others surely like it, but I think at least for the foreseeable future I am done with the series.

A Little Too Weird.......2007-06-09

Goodkind seems to be in more of a killing mood with each subsequent book. Death, death, death seems to be the theme. There is plague killing thousands, Richards 1/2 brother torturing and raping women to death, plus all of the slashing Richard, Kahlan, and Cara do. Not only is there more killing, Goodkind goes into detail to describe the suffering deaths of children, and women. OK we know the Imperial Order is Evil now, can we get on with the story.

Unfortunately, the same theme of Richard and Kahlan being pulled apart and then questioning their love for each other really gets tiresome in this one. When they end up making love to each other with Kahlan believing that she is making love to Richard's evil brother it is just too unbelievable (not to mention kinky)! Give me a break.

Nadine has to be the most annoying character ever. Richard should have sliced and diced her after about a minute of meeting her again. Richard's 1/2 brother did us all a favor by killing her......he is the hero of this book IMO.

It is also a little tiresome to always have Richard suddenly realize the answer to the puzzle at the end of the book and then miraculously pull his tail out of the fire at the last second.

For me this was the worst book so far in the series.

Goodness........2007-04-28

I am well versed in all things fantasy. You name it - rare or popular - I have probably read and/or watched it. I will let nothing get in the way of my search for the most entertaining, enlightening, life-complimenting reads... not even biased readers whose only goal in life seems to be nitpicking instead of enjoying the things they read. (You can find a few of their reviews here. Look for the reviews with 1-3 stars.)

An overwhelming number of readers criticize Goodkind's writing in the Sword of Truth series, using the phrases "cliche" and "cookie-cutter" all too often. How funny. "Cookie-cutter" is itself a painfully cliche phrase. This hypocrisy, to me, is grounds enough to mistrust the opinions of those naysayers...

As I said, I know a thing or two about fantasy. Few books have affected me as deeply as the Sword of Truth series. Heck, I haven't written an Amazon review in years; I'm only here now because I'm offended at the negative reviews. I took it personally. That's how much I love this series.

The Sword of Truth books are a celebration of life. Beauty. Progress. Emotions. Pessimistic readers seeking a cookie-cutter pattern will surely find one, because Goodkind DOES have a trademark approach to building tension that he uses often. But I know better than to call that "cliche." In each book, Goodkind explores different facets of the concepts of life, beauty, progress, and emotions. He NEVER explores the same facet; he always throws in a twist.

Reading each of these books is like cheese tasting. A cheese-lover with a refined sense of taste will delight in the worlds of difference between blue cheese and brie and baby swiss. They will compare; they will savor every bite.

But someone who is not accustomed to cheese... will, upon trying blue cheese, think "this smells like feet." Then they will try swiss cheese, hoping it doesn't smell like feet. Then feta. Alas, cheese usually smells like feet. The pessimists will then proceed to the donut and snack food aisles, looking for just the right junk food to ease their craving; nothing more, nothing fulfulling in the long run.

Fantasy connoisseurs adore Goodkind. Yet average readers find numerous things to complain about. Contemplate this for a bit.

I'm sorry for not going into detail about this book, but in one sentence I will help you decide if this series is right for you:

If you *adore* any of the concepts of life, beauty, progress, and emotions... you will love the Sword of Truth books. I promise you.

good sequel.......2007-04-04

The series continues to be enjoyable to read, with great characters and well-paced, although I am finding the prophecy plot convention a little tired by book 4.

Barbara Jordan: Speaking the Truth with Eloquent Thunder (Louann Atkins Temple Women & Culture Series)

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Barbara Jordan: Speaking the Truth with Eloquent Thunder (Louann Atkins Temple Women & Culture Series)

Manufacturer: University of Texas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0292716370

Book Description

Revered by Americans across the political spectrum, Barbara Jordan was "the most outspoken moral voice of the American political system," in the words of former President Bill Clinton, who awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994. Throughout her career as a Texas senator, U.S. congresswoman, and distinguished professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, Barbara Jordan lived by a simple creed: "Ethical behavior means being honest, telling the truth, and doing what you said you were going to do." Her strong stand for ethics in government, civil liberties, and democratic values still provides a standard around which the nation can unite in the twenty-first century.

This volume brings together several major political speeches that articulate Barbara Jordan's most deeply held values. They include:

"Erosion of Civil Liberties," a commencement address delivered at Howard University on May 12, 1974, in which Jordan warned that "tyranny in America is possible"
"The Constitutional Basis for Impeachment," Jordan's ringing defense of the U.S. Constitution before the House Judiciary Committee investigating the Watergate break-in
Keynote addresses to the Democratic National Conventions of 1976 and 1992, in which Jordan set forth her vision of the Democratic Party as an advocate for the common good and a catalyst of change
Testimony in the U.S. Congress on the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork and on immigration reform
Meditations on faith and politics from two National Prayer Breakfasts
Acceptance speech for the 1995 Sylvanus Thayer Award presented by the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy, in which Jordan challenged the military to uphold the values of "duty, honor, country"

Accompanying the speeches, some of which readers can also watch on an enclosed DVD, are context-setting introductions by volume editor Max Sherman. The book concludes with the eloquent eulogy that Bill Moyers delivered at Barbara Jordan's memorial service in 1996, in which he summed up Jordan's remarkable life and career by saying, "Just when we despaired of finding a hero, she showed up, to give the sign of democracy.... This is no small thing. This, my friends, this is grace. And for it we are thankful."

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Wild Truth Journal--Pictures of God
Mark Oestreicher , and Todd Temple
Manufacturer: Zondervan/Youth Specialties
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0310223504

Book Description

This journal features 50 two-page devotionals that introduce junior highers to the many pictures of God in Scripture, helping them discover the character of God and challenging them to practice those traits in their own lives.

Wild Truth Bible Lessons--Pictures of God

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My favorite Mid-Hi Curriculum
The kids love it...
Not that good

Wild Truth Bible Lessons--Pictures of God
Mark Oestreicher , and Todd Temple
Manufacturer: Zondervan/Youth Specialties
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0310223652

Book Description

12 active Bible lessons based on the scriptural metaphors are collected here for junior high Sunday school or youth groups. It will rivet young teens' interest while getting them into the Bible and biblical behavior into their lives. 12 lessons.

Customer Reviews:

My favorite Mid-Hi Curriculum.......2006-09-06

This resource is big-picture stuff. Mark uses incredible metaphors and paints big pictures for your students with these lessons. Our kids are growing up in a different world than we did. It's filled with stories and images that we never seemed to notice in our day. Mark pulls out the images scripture uses to describe God to us and makes them tangible and accessible to the mid-high student.

Your students will understand so much more about the God who loves them because of this teaching series. It's interactive and will have them learning from each other as much as they do from you. The dynamic way Mark sets up the curriculum allows for each part of the lesson to build upon the next. It's never heavy-handed and really respects the students and their ability to grasp big concepts.

It's really been my favorite curriculum I've ever had the opportunity to use.

The kids love it..........2005-12-05

I was disappointed to see the negative review of this resource. It was coming from a person who has not used the book, however. I used Mark's "Wild Truth" books on several occasions, and I found them to be engaging with my preteens while still getting across the point. It is an excellent resource.

Not that good.......2004-10-14

I read through this book from cover to cover and decided it wasn't going to work with my group. Since the book has little content, it tries to compensate with fun activities which aren't really that fun. This book probably isn't going to be an effective resource for anyone.

The Secrets of Solomon's Temple: Discover the Hidden Truth that Lies at the Heart of Freemasonry

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A Masonic Book For The Contemplative Mason!

The Secrets of Solomon's Temple: Discover the Hidden Truth that Lies at the Heart of Freemasonry
Kevin L Gest
Manufacturer: Fair Winds Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1592332544

Book Description

Discover the hidden secret that lies at the heart of Freemasonry

The Secrets of Solomon's Temple explores the background of Freemasonry and presents it in a new and fascinating context as it relates to our modern world. It also reveals the true identity of King Solomon and shows his Temple in a way it's never been explored before.

Customer Reviews:

A Masonic Book For The Contemplative Mason!.......2007-06-15

This is a great book for the Analytical Masonic Student. Written in a rather technical stlye, it conveys the thought processes the author used to arrive at his conclusions and invites the reader to develop his own along similar or more challenging lines. Subjects include Masonic Travel, Symbolism, Masonic History, Religious Concepts, Biblical truth and lies, Early Church History, King Solomon's True Name, The nature and purpose of Solomon's Temple, etc... Very encompassing in subject matter and well researched, it is purposely written to challenge preconceived notions about Freemasonry held by Masons and Non-Masons alike. A very good read!

Temple Of The Winds - Book Four Of The Sword Of Truth

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Temple Of The Winds - Book Four Of The Sword Of Truth
Terry Goodkind
Manufacturer: Tom Doherty Associates
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: B000LEXW6E

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The Way of Truth Eternal, Book I
Michael Edward Owens
Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1419636766
Release Date: 2006-10-09

Book Description

The Way of Truth Eternal, Book I, is based on the universal principles of this physical universe. This book is released for the purpose of opening the doors of heaven to those Souls who seek to experience Self-Realization and God-Realization in their lifetime. The Way of Truth Eternal, Book I, is one in a series of twelve holy books, which will be made available to humanity. Read this book and you will discover the principles of daily living through studying the laws of existence.

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Underestimated in its own time
Underestimated in its own time

Charlotte Temple: A Tale of Truth
Susanna Kirk, Clara and Rudolf Rowson
Manufacturer: NCUP
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0808400738

Customer Reviews:

Underestimated in its own time.......2004-02-07

This book wasn't given much attention by literary critics until more recently, when voices from outside the standard canon were finally reviewed. Charlotte Temple is more complex than at first meets the eye, and yet the reader breezes through the reading. It is a great book for a discussion group, as there are many aspects of this book that can be discussed just as deeply as Hemingway or Steinbeck. I recommend giving Susanna Rowson a try.

Underestimated in its own time.......2004-02-07

This book wasn't given much attention by literary critics until more recently, when voices from outside the standard canon were finally reviewed. Charlotte Temple is more complex than at first meets the idea, and yet the reader breezes through the reading. It is a great book for a discussion group, as there are many aspects of this book that can be discussed just as deeply as Hemingway or Steinbeck. I recommend giving Susanna Rowson a try.

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Charlotte Temple (A Tale of Truth)

Manufacturer: Henry Altemus
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000FGZC5C

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Charlotte Temple : A Tale of Truth
Mrs. Rowson
Manufacturer: Hurst & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OYM11I

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Concise Statement on Christian Physicalism

One perspective

Exciting new development in Christian anthropology

Bodies and Souls, or Spirited Bodies? (Current Issues in Theology)
Nancey Murphy
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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In Search Of The Soul: Four Views Of The Mind-body Problem

Whatever Happened to the Soul? Scientific and Theological Portraits of Human Nature

From Cells to Souls - And Beyond: Changing Portraits of Human Nature

Most Moved Mover: A Theology of Gods Openness (The Didsbury Lectures)

Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism: How Modern and Postmodern Philosophy Set the Theological Agenda (Rockwell Lecture Series)

ASIN: 0521676762

Book Description

Are humans composed of a body and a nonmaterial mind or soul, or are we purely physical beings? Opinion is sharply divided over this issue. In this clear and concise book, Nancey Murphy argues for a physicalist account, but one that does not diminish traditional views of humans as rational, moral, and capable of relating to God. This position is motivated not only by developments in science and philosophy, but also by biblical studies and Christian theology. The reader is invited to appreciate the ways in which organisms are more than the sum of their parts. That higher human capacities such as morality, free will, and religious awareness emerge from our neurobiological complexity and develop through our relation to others, to our cultural inheritance, and, most importantly, to God. Murphy addresses the questions of human uniqueness, religious experience, and personal identity before and after bodily resurrection.

Customer Reviews:

Concise Statement on Christian Physicalism .......2007-09-17

In this book Murphy provides an excellent concise statement of the Christian Physicalist position. In fact I would say it is one of the clearest statements on the subject that I have read. Her arguments are strong and clear for the most part. There are only a few down sides that I can find with this book.

1) I found her Biblical arguments to be very thin. Part of that is due to the length of this book. It would be hard to give an exhaustive survey of Biblical anthropology in such a limited space.

2) Her account of Nonreductive Physicalism ultimately fails. She notes in the introduction that she herself is not satisfied with her arguments for this position.

3) If you have read her other works then you will not find many new things here. There is a lot of repeat material taken from some of her other writings which she also admits in several footnotes.

I am not convinced that dualism is false after reading this book, but I will admit that I became convinced of the defensibility of the Christian Physicalist position. Murphy's clarity and fairness in her arguments make this book worth reading.

One perspective.......2007-08-27

This book is written for graduate students of theology. It is therefore a very slow and difficult read for the average seeker of knowledge.

Exciting new development in Christian anthropology.......2006-06-24

What conception should Christians hold about human nature? It is safe to say that most Christians think of the human person in terms of a body 'animated' by a soul which detaches from the body at death. There are a variety of theological and scriptural reasons for thinking this, but then again it is not the only option consistent with Christian belief. In her book Bodies and Souls, or Spirited Bodies? Nancey Murphy makes a compelling case for a nonreductive physicalist account of human nature, which in her words is the thesis that "first, that we are our bodies-there is no additional metaphysical element such as a mind or soul or spirit. But, second, this 'physicalist' position need not deny that we are intelligent, moral, and spiritual" (p. ix). There are a variety of reasons for adopting this position, including the fact that there is no specific Biblical stance on the subject anyway, recent advances in cognitive neuroscience and the importance in Christian spirituality of recognizing our embodied, social and relational aspects. With regard to this last reason, theologian John Garvey pointed out recently that:

"We find it hard, especially in a culture that stresses individualism, to accept the idea that the self exists only in relationship. In fact, who we are is formed by the family we are born into, the language we learn, the culture we are immersed in. Finally, we are, we exist, because we are loved by God, who wills us to be. Even within the Trinity, the persons exist separately only in relation to one another. The moment we think that our being is in any way independent of relationship, we fall into the trap Genesis warned us about: We want to be like Gods."

Nancey Murphy's critics at the Secular Web accuse her and her collaborators of trying to have their cake and eat it too with a 'nonreductive' as opposed to a 'reductive' physicalist account, but the moment you accept any sort of physicalist understanding you face the problem C.S. Lewis identified many years ago in his argument against naturalism:

"Unless our conclusion [about some proposition arrived at through logical argumentation] is the logical consequent from a ground it will be worthless and could be true only by a fluke. Unless it is the effect of a cause, it cannot occur at all. It looks therefore, as, in order for a train of thought to have any value, these two systems of connection must apply simultaneously to the same series of mental acts. But unfortunately the two systems are wholly distinct. To be caused is not to be proved."

If Nancey Murphy wants to have her cake and eat it too, her critics are trying to discredit their opponent by sawing off the epistemic branch they themselves are standing on when they argue that a nonreductive physicalist account is incoherent. As Murphy says at another point in her book, "In fact, if reductionism were true, no rational person could accept it because there would be no rational persons!" (p. 109).

To get around this difficulty Murphy develops a concept of 'top-down' causation, in which higher emergent processes have some causal efficacy over lower-level processes, without violating the laws of physics. I think that more work needs to be done to give a satisfying account of this concept, but very broadly I think something like this is required to account for the richness of human experience. We are not just biological machines, if we were we would never know it. This also opens up a way for God to act in the world, on the human nervous system in order to communicate to us His Will and also to perform miracles. Murphy also gives a satisfying account of how personal identity can be maintained in different bodies, before and after the resurrection, so this central Christian doctrine emerges unscathed from a physicalist treatment.

Even so, many Christians find the idea that there is no metaphysical 'soul' troubling and continue to hold to some form of body-soul dualism. John Garvey gives what I think is the main reason:

"Belief in the immortality of the soul attracts us because we hope that something about us is less contingent than the body, less creaturely, something that possesses an inherent immortality. For much of history, people believed the mind was somehow separate from the body, consciousness was somehow spiritual in a way that the meat soup of the brain was not."

Seen in this light, belief in the immortality of the soul is just wishful thinking. It is more in keeping with Christian faith to place all our hope for immortality in the faithfulness of a loving God. As Montaigne said centuries ago, "...it was truly for good reason that we were held to God alone and to the favor of his grace for the truth of so noble a belief, since we receive from his bounty alone the fruit of immortality...Let us confess ingenuously that God alone has said this, together with faith: for it is not a lesson of nature and our reason. And anyone who will investigate his own being and his powers, both internal and external, without that divine gift, will see in him neither efficacy nor any faculty that smells of anything but death and earth. The more we give and owe and render to God, the more we act with greater Christianity."

For me this is a very exciting development in Christian theological anthropology. There does not have to be any conflict between Christian belief and new neuroscientific discoveries, we regain an emphasis of the importance of the body, which we should offer as "living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God" and which is "the temple of the Holy Spirit". The risen Christ was no phantom. He ate with his disciples and communed with them by the sea. He invited the doubting Thomas to touch and see for himself. And as He is now, so shall we all be at the Last Day. A Christian can hope for no more. It is already much more than we deserve or can even imagine.

A Spirited Sip of Chicken Soup for the Soul: In Celebration of Women (Chicken Soup for the Soul (Mini))

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This is the BEST book I've ever read!

A Spirited Sip of Chicken Soup for the Soul: In Celebration of Women (Chicken Soup for the Soul (Mini))
Health Communications
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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This is the BEST book I've ever read!.......2000-04-24

This book is so good. It's a great Mother's day present!

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