Customer Reviews:
Depressing.......2007-08-05
I admire this woman for the undertaking, kayaking around Lake Superior. But the descriptions of downpours, thick fog and cold water 24/7 was as depressing as her thoughts of her lost friend. Beautifully written, this book is not for the joyful-at-heart as it touches on a subject we all must face with time: the passing of a loved one and mid-life doubts.
The book worked because as the journey moved on around the lake, Ann described the boulders, the lichen, the flora and the immediate surroundings, all which were backdrops to her thoughts.
There was a distinctive difference in the wilderness between the Canadian and American sides of Lake Superior that she detailed along the way. Fewer but more interesting people were found on the Canadian side and some of the shore descriptions were so detailed I could smell the water and trees.
But there were times I fast-forwarded to get away from the depressing parts (when she talked about old times with her dead friend) and read more of the adventure of the trip, as she and her partner amassed miles, met up with friends or strangers along the shore, built a campsite for the night, etc. That she was able to finish the entire circumference is in itself amazing, not because she did it (she is afterall an endurance athlete) but because of the strong demons she had to fight inside.
I recommend this for people who love the seas, lakes, kayaking and pushing oneself to ones physical limits.
This book took me out on the water with the author!.......2004-09-19
I couldn't put this book down! I was there with every storm, every breathless moment of this incredible journey! I was exhausted when I finished this page-turner strictly from the adventure standpoint, but the emotional journey which parallels the physical is equally compelling and I found the author's honesty to be refreshing and comforting. This is a beautiful book to read and re-read when your own life's journey makes you wonder if you're on the right path and it makes a wonderful gift as well!
big thoughts on a big lake.......2004-09-05
Linnea's book is one of only a handful of kayaking books really worth dipping into. Her prose and purpose are conveyed perfectly to the reader. Both kayakers and students of water will enjoy this work. Only Chris Duff's book comes close to matching it for creating lingering memories. Both works figure strongly in my book which reviews outdoor water recreation - Deep Immersion: The Experience of Water. Linnea writes with passion and enjoys getting wet and immersing herself in Lake Superior's coasts. As Thoreau wrote " That part of you that is wettest is fullest of life" (quoted from Profitably Soaked: Thoreau's Engagement With Water; Green Frigate Books, 2003).
Spirtual: Yes; Kayaking: Maybe.......2003-09-01
I picked up this book expecting it to be a book about not only a woman finding herself and understanding the place where she was in her life better but also a book about kayaking around Lake Superior (a trip I'm about to embark on next spring). I was not disappointed by the Spiritual nature of the book (even if it was a bit too New Agey for me) but I was disappointed by the lack of good kayaking stories (other than the obligatory toughness of the trip type stories). I was also surprised by how "unexpectedly harsh" the author found Lake Superior and the lack of real knowledge of the lake she possessed (especially since she lived on the shores of the lake in Duluth, MN). Anyone preparing to make this trip should have been better prepared for the fickleness of Lake Superior and anyone who actually lives on the lake should have known this wasn't going to be your summer camp paddling trip. Like many other reviewers, I did find her whinning a bit much at times. BUT overall I found this book enjoyable, touching at many points and made me anxious to start my trip at Sault Ste. Marie in June. (Picky-Nicky note here: This town is called "The Soo" by us native Michiganders and not "The Sioux" as the author spells it in the book..it is a local shortening of Sault Ste. Marie pronounced "Soo Saint Marie", not named after the Indian tribe)
A Spiritual Awakening.......2003-07-04
The day after her 43rd birthday Ann Linnea (and her brother-friend, Paul) begin circumnavigating Lake Superior by kayak, a 1200-mile spiritual and physical journey of 65 days. In order to complete this passage, and move onto the next phase of her life (which includes leaving her husband of 21 years), the author struggles to overcome physical and emotional limits while battling raging seas, bitter winds and freezing temperatures. Her desire to understand the changes she needs to make lead her on a search for life-affirming answers, and ultimately allow her to find purpose and meaning in her life. The insights she shares enable the reader to bear witness to her transformation as she faces self-doubt, life-threatening danger and exercises her choice to live. A marathon runner and cross country skier, Linnea is no stranger to the elements, no idle pursuer of physical challenges. Her life lessons are learned through her body. In the summer of 1992, Ann Linnea became the first woman to circumnavigate Lake Superior. Her experience with "She-Who-Is-The-Biggest" changed her life. The telling of that experience is both moving and meaningful.
Book Description
This riveting book offers 20 harrowing, real-life tales of sea kayaking accidents that will not only keep readers on the edge of their seats, but also instruct them with potentially life-saving lessons.
Customer Reviews:
Great stories with detailed analysis of what went wrong.......2007-09-13
This book is loaded with well told, detailed stories of paddling gone awry. Each story is followed by an instructive analysis of the situation--how the paddlers misjudged the conditions, how they might have avoided equipment failure, what training might have helped the situation, etc. It's all laid out in very practical terms that you could put to use yourself. Amongst the stories are numerous sidebars with more information on techniques and equipment that are also useful, but much drier. My only criticism is that the book has not been updated. Most of the stories are from the mid-eighties and while the principles of kayaking haven't changed, available equipment continues to evolve. In summary, a fun book to read full of useful information for any sea kayaker.
Good Information, Out of date stories. .......2007-03-17
The stories in this book had some real value to them and any beginner would see the value in reading about the unfortunate disasters of others. However, I was disappointed that most of the recent events talked about happened between 1984 thru 1994, almost 13-23 years ago. Sea Kayaking has come a long way since then, but none the less, the events the book talks about are important valuable lessons to those beginners just starting out in the sport.
Lessons are not hard to learn.......2006-08-08
Deep trouble recounts the stories and reports of 20 kayaking incidents which range from death (often with sketchy information as you would imagine) to mild hypothermia to extraordinary feats of endurance and survival.
Unfortunately I found a majority of the incidents were the result of either total novices `in over their heads' or total stupidity. Kayaking in shorts and a tee shirt in 10degrees water and 20knot winds with no pfd; the lessons are not hard to learn. Also many of the lessons from each incident were the same, how many times should we read to dress for immersion and wear a pfd?
However, of the 20 cases presented, one or two were noteworthy, others included elements of interest, and some of the comments from the `pros' was useful.
The formatting - which includes simultaneous commentary with the incident report - didn't work for me at all (others report here that they like it, go figure).
I expected more from this book (I have always wanted to read 'Total Loss' the equivalent book about sailing) but it just wasn't aimed at me. The target audience must be novice kayakers who don't wear a pfd; if you are in that audience buy this book.
A guide of what not to do........2006-08-05
If you are new to this sport or an experienced paddler, this book can provide valuable insight on how to stay out of trouble and what to do, or not do if you find yourself in trouble.
excellent information.......2006-06-20
As a newby kayaker, I find this book to be highly
useful, if a bit intimidating. Hopefully, by reviewing
these incidents, I can be less of a potential danger
to myself and burden to others.
One negative: the quality of the binding of this book is
truly abysmal. It literally disintegrated in my hands
as I was reading it.
Customer Reviews:
Yo ho ho.......2006-05-14
I loved this book. I approached it with some trepidation, since it was obviously about sailboating, not a subject that much interests me. But this is a book about sailboating in the same sense that Gone With the Wind is about cotton farming. What it is, is a love story, the love of Gene and Kevin, and their love for sailing; and yes, the author makes both loves so vivid that you find yourself utterly caught up in them, sharing both the sweet moments and the bad between the two protagonists, and sharing the thrill of adventure as they take to the seas and battle storms and their own fears. A beautiful piece of writing, first rate on every count. Victor J. Banis, author of Tales From C.A.M.P., JACKIE'S BACK
Average customer rating:
- A wonderful and moving memoir.
- A Beautiful Story
- An outstanding history of one man's nautical pursuit of his two most deep passions: sailing
- A love story and sailing adventure in one book
- DEEP WATER: A New Writer's Passage into Fine Literature
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Deep Water: A Sailor's Passage
E. M. Kahn
Manufacturer: Haworth Press
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1560235179 |
Book Description
Take an incredible journey along the Big Apple's historic waterfronts that few people have ever seen
Gene is a successful woodworker in New York with two passions in his life. One is sailing, from the abandoned islands that dot Long Island Sound to the fathomless depths of the Caribbean. His other passion is Kevin—the young man who was his friend, sailing buddy, and lover.
In all the sailing we did together over the years, I always knew I could rely upon him, trust him, know that the safety of the boat always came first, no matter what bitchy domestic stuff might be going on between us. By our second trip to Block Island in 1984, I realized how much I had grown to need him.
Deep Water: A Sailor's Passage is the compelling memoir of a modern-day gay sailor and his adventures with Kevin and many other friends. It delivers a true sense of the realities—both harsh and sublime—of life under sail, whether navigating through Hell Gate in the East River or through dense fog in Cape Cod. More importantly, this book illustrates the special bond between two men committed to one another as they sail together, live together, and care for each other through the best and worst of times.
I look at Kevin's profile as he watches the road ahead, and I think how beautiful he is now at 34. He has filled out from the boy who moved into my life 11 years before. I have watched him become a man; I have seen him grow thicker and more confident. I look over at him once again. He is silhouetted by a headlight glare from the left and all his features are blanked out for an instant. Suddenly, I know, with a wisdom that I never asked to be given, that I shall outlive him.
In Deep Water: A Sailor's Passage, you'll find a unique voice—honest, direct, and filled with optimism. The author lived these events; he was involved in the building trades of New York City, handled rusty anchor chain in boat yards on City Island, and held his companion as he died. Through fond memories, good humor, and a touch of the supernatural, Gene learns how to continue with life after Kevin is gone, finding meaning, beauty, and strength through friends and new relationships. Reviews: "This is ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORIES I HAVE EVER READ. Eugene Kahn allows us to share two achingly deep and profound passions—the love of wind filling sails, and of one man for another. And remarkably, almost as an afterthought, Kahn helps us make some sense of the inane horror of AIDS. I love this book."
Laurie Garrett, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Coming Plague
"In this memoir, Gene Kahn offers a fascinating study of small-boat sailing adventures in sight of Manhattan's domineering skyline. Staged around voyages taking place over a fifteen-year period between 1978 and 1993, the book is both a valuable collection of adventures on Long Island Sound, the East River, and New York Bay (with an occasional slice of Caribbean warmth for good measure), and a beautifully written love story. Deep Water should prove popular among the gay community as well as being a valuable resource for boaters in, or visiting, the waters off New York City."
Anthony Dalton, Author of Wayward Sailor: In Search of the Real Tristan Jones and Co-author of The Best of Nautical Quarterly, Vol 1, The Lure of Sail
Customer Reviews:
A wonderful and moving memoir........2007-06-08
This is my second favorite memoire in a years time. I loved THE TENDER BAR, and I loved this book. I love sailing and it visits many places out of my past, and it's a wonderful love story.
A Beautiful Story.......2007-05-31
This is a wonderful piece of writing. Ostensibly about boating and about the loss of the author's lover to AIDS, it is in fact a powerful and evocative love song to both. I am not a boating person, but I felt as if I were on the sea with that beautiful young boy, savoring the wind and the salt spray and those fleeting but unforgettable moments of profound happiness, shared. It brought tears to my eyes, but not the maudlin, grieving tears that so many of these memoirs inspire. These were tears of joy, for the love these two young men had together, and gratitude to the author for sharing it with me.
Victor J. Banis, author of COME THIS WAY
An outstanding history of one man's nautical pursuit of his two most deep passions: sailing.......2006-03-07
Deep Water: A Sailor's Passage, a memoir by E.M. Kahn, is an outstanding history of one man's nautical pursuit of his two most deep passions: sailing, and his life-mate Kevin. E.M. Kahn's autobiographical depiction of his adventures at sea face the reader with the chilling eyes of reality as the author and Kevin must sail through Hell Gate in the East river, blindingly dense fog in Cape Cod, and many more thrilling tales. Deep Water is highly recommended reading for those with an interest in boating, gay lifestyles, and unique biographical memoirs.
A love story and sailing adventure in one book.......2005-10-08
Deep Water: A Sailor's Passage, by E.M. Kahn, is a memoir of sailing adventures with a loved one, now deceased. After a less than hoped for career in journalism, New Yorker Gene Kahn became a successful ships' carpenter. He caught the sailing bug after he and a friend took sailing lessons at City Island (Bronx, NY) during the summer of 1978. Kahn tells his story in a series of logically unfolding remembrances, which eventually form a cohesive story, full of love that leaves the reader wishing for the story to continue...as does the brokenhearted author.
The story, while well written, nonetheless got off to a rather slow start. At first, I didn't know what course the author was taking, no pun intended. I continued to read Deep Water, at first because of its setting, the familiar (to me) navigable waters surrounding Long Island. Before I realized it, I couldn't put the book down. I was totally taken in by the strong bond of love that existed between Gene Kahn and his late lover, Kevin.
Kahn began his story with the start of his sailing adventures, learning the ropes in a 14 foot Blue Jay. Over the course of years, Kahn stepped up to larger boats, while at the same time expanding his sailing explorations of all the harbors in and around Long Island Sound, Block Island Sound, Nantucket Island, as well as vacation trips to the beautiful Caribbean islands. Always by Gene's side, at home, at work, and for all the sailing adventures, was Kevin.
Kevin first rode, literally, into Gene's life looking for employment at his downtown Manhattan carpentry shop. Kevin and his dog, Kasha, had been living in a crime ridden neighborhood some distance from the shop. Preferring not to have to worry about the very real possibility of Kevin getting mugged, or something untoward happening to Kasha, Gene suggested the two move into his not much larger but, better situated apartment. Needless to say, the arrangement worked out.
While Deep Water: A Sailor's Passage, is a story of many exciting sailing adventures, it is far more than just that: It is a deeply felt love story. Deep Water is E. M. Kahn's tribute to Kevin, who at first was his employee and friend, then later became his lover and partner in life. Kevin is sorely missed and his loss is deeply felt.
Kahn's Deep Water: A Sailor's Passage is a solid read, and especially enjoyable if you're fond of sailing adventures.
DEEP WATER: A New Writer's Passage into Fine Literature.......2005-04-03
EM Kahn. Mark the name. With this 'first novel' we are introduced to a writer who shows the gifts to join the ranks of those writers who tell stories about people who happen to be gay but whose sexuality is incidental to the overall aspect of the novel. Think for a moment about the way the following works affected us: Jamie O'Neill AT SWIM, TWO BOYS, Michael Cunningham A HOME AT THE END OF THE WORLD, Brian Malloy THE YEAR OF ICE, Andrew Holleran THE BEAUTY OF MEN, Alan Hollingsworth THE LINE OF BEAUTY. Though Kahn is not yet in that special realm in which these authors create, given the beauty of DEEP WATER: A SAILOR'S PASSAGE he certainly has the promise of joining them.
Though written as a memoir about a young man's experiences in Manhattan, Gene (our narrator) is a committed sailor, spending his spare time from his occupation as a woodworker learning the ins and outs of sail boats and the spectrum of guiding all manner of small craft along the waterfront of New York, Long Island, East River, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and all the myriad odd islands that are the cores of mystery and history the sea breeds so well.
Gene hires a young lad Kevin to work in his shop. The two are committed to their work and gradually to each other as a tender relationship develops between them. Kevin is emotionally needy, being the progeny of distant parents beleaguered by alcohol and wanderlust, and subsequently adopted by a loving couple when he was a teenager. Gene is ten years older and wiser, and not the blond beauty that Kevin is, yet he sees his good fortune in finding Kevin and commits to this relationship wholeheartedly.
The experience they share, one that solidifies their bonding, is the sea and sailing. Gene teaches Kevin the ropes and they both set out on many watery diversions that, though terrifying at times (in keeping with the challenge of the sport), bring them together as one. They include friends on excursions to Florida and the Caribbean, sharing their lives with those whose lives run parallel in many ways. The memoir takes place from 1978 to 1995 - the era of the pestilence of AIDS - and Kevin contracts the disease, lives through it for four years, and finally succumbs, dying in the arms of his lover Gene. The manner in which this journey proceeds is some of the more sensitive writing about loss in the time of AIDS that has been written. After Kevin's death Gene carries on with the sturdy help of his friends and extended family and shows us how tragedy is part of the comedy of life: it is all in how we cope and proceed.
Some readers my overlook this book at first encounter, finding it simply too full of sailing terms and lingo, but Kahn knows exactly what he is doing in his writing style. He invites us into the realm of passion for the sea and for sailors buy teaching us the basics of getting out on the water, and by the mid portion of this immaculate novel, even the most landlocked reader will feel at ease with the mechanics that form the foundation of this tale. It is at that point that the majesty of nature at its most raw underlines the threads of the happenings in Kahn's story.
Books of this sort, books that deal with gay relationships and the presence of AIDS, can in the wrong hands become mawkish and tedious. EM Kahn is a natural writer and he knows well the limits of his and our psyches, knowing how to insert a small paragraph here and there in the narrative, paragraphs that give us the spirit of the people we are getting to know, and the gradual insertion of the ugly tragedy of AIDS. This is the work of a sensitive writer and is the reason why Kahn could progress to the ranks of the above mentioned fine writers - a gay writer who wholly understands perspective an is brave enough to talk to us about matters that just happen to be affecting the lives of gay people. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, April 05
Average customer rating:
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Passage Through Deep Waters
David Finnern
Manufacturer: Pearl Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0965120414 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Alaska Business Monthly, published by Alaska Business Publishing Company, Inc. on April 1, 2003. The length of the article is 1488 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: The magnificent Inside Passage: cruise ship passengers flock to the beautiful and unique communities that make up Southeast Alaska.
Author: Gerry Watkins
Publication:
Alaska Business Monthly (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 1, 2003
Publisher: Alaska Business Publishing Company, Inc.
Volume: 19
Issue: 4
Page: 74(4)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
A library of Western literature in two volumes, this new edition offers more than 40 works in their entirety—from Homer's Odyssey to Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart—as well as dozens of excerpted works and over 200 lyric poems.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful Textbook or Addition to Personal Library.......2007-04-09
I purchased this book for my Literature class. Unfortunately we did not get to read all of the works. I have fallen in love with this book and I hope to keep it for many many years. Some of the works can be boring but if you keep an open mind and concentrate on the ideas, language, and meaning you will understand even the most boring of works.
An absolutely delicious anthology..........2006-02-18
I purchased this book for a class, but was delighted to discover that I will definitely want to hang onto it afterwards. The translations chosen for the 'Ancient World' portion are, for the most part, delightfully vivid and capture the spirit of the original language. I also like the layout - the margin size is just perfect for taking notes.
Book Description
This chronologically organized introduction to the Western humanities (art, music, history, literature, and drama) establishes the historical context of each era before the arts are discussed. Hundreds of illustrations appear throughout the text, "Personal Perspectives" boxes bring to life the events of the day, and brief sections at the end of each chapter describe the cultural legacy of the era discussed. Volume I of The Western Humanities covers prehistory through the Renaissance.
Customer Reviews:
IT NEVER GOT HERE!!!.......2007-09-14
I would like my money back, because I have been waiting for this book over a month now, and had to go buy one from the bookstore after having had a quiz and still no book. I am sadly disappointed in my affiliations with Amazon and this seller. I have had no complaints up until this point and now would definitely reconsider before buying anything else!
Great if you like that sortof thing!.......2005-10-04
Great if you like that sort of thing to read. I have to read it for my req'd college class, so I'm not in love with it, but it's good if you have to read it.
The essential elements of the Western tradition (Volume 1).......2004-01-13
I have been laying the groundwork for putting together a two-semester Humanities course, which has meant checking out potential textbooks. What attracted me to "The Western Humanities" by Roy T. Matthews and F. DeWitt Platt was that in addition to the two textbooks, there were not only a pair of additional books with readings from literature and philosophy, but also a pair of CDs with music. So, for example, when students are studying the High Middle Ages, students learn all about feudalism, medieval Christianity and the church, and the equilibrium between the spiritual and the secular in the text of the chapter, which includes looks at the art and architecture of the period. The corresponding readings for this chapter would include "The Song of Roland," Chretien de Troyes' "Lancelot," Marie de France's "Lais" (Lays), Thomas Aquinas' "Summa Theologica," and Dante's "The Divine Comedy." Then on the CD there is the hymn "O Pastor Animarum" by Hildegard of Bingen (obviously, music selections are rarer when you are dealing with the Renaissance and earlier periods).
This is the fifth edition of "The Western Humanities, Volume I: Beginnings Through the Renaissance," which places the achievements of Western culture within their historical contexts, emphasizing the linkages between cultural expression and historical conditions. Previous editions had expanded coverage of the contributions of women and other artists outside the traditional canon and added a multicultural dimension that looked at what was happening outside the Western tradition. This fifth edition expands coverage of Islamic civilization, obviously in response to current events.
"The Western Humanities" is organized chronologically into twenty-one chapters, the first 12 of which are in this first volume, with the two Renaissance chapters reprinted in the second volume to adjust for where it comes in the curriculum of various institutions. The first six chapters in the first volume includes the civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome and constitute the initial "ancient" period of Western civilization (3000 B.C. to A.D. 500). The next two chapters constitute a transitional period, with the end of the Roman Empire and the rise of Islam. The second period (500 to 1500) looks at when the West became centered in Europe and was largely dominated by the Christian church. The third period (1400 to present) is the story of the birth of the modern world.
Each chapter begins by establishing the material conditions of the era (historical, political, economic, and social) and then presenting the crucial points that defined the culture during that period (major themes, issues, and problems of the period). The second half of each chapter focuses on the cultural expression of the period, including not only ideas in philosophy, history, religion, and science, but also the cultural artifacts of art, music, drama, literature, and (eventually) film. This shows the attempt to balance the historical background with the cultural and artistic achievements, and each chapter concludes with a brief section covering the cultural legacy of that period.
Among the special features are "Windows on the World," a series of two-page timelines that outline the most important historical events and cultural achievements in Africa, the Americas, and Asia, which appear between most of the chapters. "Personal Perspectives" are excerpts from primary sources and original documents that allow students to hear the voices of participants and witnesses in the historical and cultural events described in the text. At the start of the book there is "A Humanities Primer: How to Understand the Arts," that introduces readers to the understanding and appreciation of cultural works (defining and explaining terms and concepts). The back of the book includes an "Appendix, Writing for the Humanities: Research Papers and Essay Examinations," an eleven-page Glossary, and an Index.
I was surprised that the main part of this textbook is only 351 pages long, even with all the photographs, most of which are in color (and most of which are big enough that you can pick out some of the important details). The focus here is on the essential elements and works of the Western tradition, which I see as being less information translating into more understanding and retention, which is certainly something I can appreciate. But as I indicated earlier, what I especially like is how students will get to read extended excerpts from the literature of these times and listen to the music. Now, if I can just get these classes scheduled...
Book Description
An anthology for use with
The Western Humanities, Fourth Edition, by Roy T. Matthews and F. DeWitt Platt, this Volume I covers literature from the Epic of Gilgamesh through The Prince. The readings are accompanied by extensive contextual headnotes.
Customer Reviews:
Readings in the Western Humanities through the Renaissance.......2004-01-13
This is the fifth edition of "Readings in the Western Humanities, Volume I: Beginnings Through the Renaissance," which complements the first volume of the fifth edition of the textbook "The Western Humanities" by Roy T. Matthews and F. Dewitt Platt, which covers ancient Mesopotamia through the Renaissance (with Volume II doing the Renaissance through the 20th century, leaving it up to professors and institutions to decide whether the Renaissance gets covered first semester or second). When I took history classes in school I always thought it would be nice to read some of the great works of literature and famous speeches from history, because those are primary documents representing the times. Now I find out that in Humanities you can combine history and literature and have been looking at textbooks for a two-semester Humanities course. What attracted me to the Matthews and Platt volumes were these supplemental reading texts (and the CDs with representative music).
In terms of the selections included in this first reading the strategy is clearly to cover the basic texts. If you are only going to do one Greek tragedy it should be "Oedipus the King" by Sophocles and that is what is here, as is the section on Aristotle's "Poetics" that talks about the key elements of tragedy. Instead of choosing between Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey," they provide selections from both. The book begins with the beginnings of Western literature, with selections from "The Code of Hammurabi" and "The Epic of Gilgamesh." The Romans are covered in a bit more depth than the ancient Greeks but the section on the World of Islam is comparable to that of Judaism and the Rise of Christianity, which is certainly relevant in these times. You will find selections from St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Dantes's "Inferno," Petrarch, Giovanni Boccaccio, Geoffrey Chaucer, Baldassare Castiglione, and Niccolo Machiavelli. The result is a solid coverage of the West's literary and philosophical heritage, from "Beowulf" to the "Song of Roland." Apparently some of changes were in response to the requests of reviewers and those additions noted in the preface are certainly welcome, even at the expense of "Lysistrata."
Matthews and Platt note that the most substantive change in these readings are the footnotes that provide annotations for identifying difficult proper names, place names, titles, terms, ideas, quotations, and allusions in each selection that are either vital to a work's meaning or useful to know. Having taken considerable pride in doing this for the collection of great speeches that I co-edited many years ago, I certainly applaud this effort (although half the fun of teaching is standing up in front of your students and explaining all about Tiresias the blind prophet of Thebes and how Dante organized the circles of Hell. Now all I have to do is get these classes on the schedule so I can actually use these books.
Book Description
CULTURE AND VALUES, Fifth Edition continues to combine balanced coverage of literature, art, music, and philosophy with sociological insight into the daily life of the characters in the unfolding drama of Western civilization. Available in two volumes, or as an alternate single volume without readings, this text remains the most readable and reliable textbook for college and university students in the integrated humanities.
Customer Reviews:
great buy.......2007-02-15
book was in excellent condition, small, minor markings that werent really noticeable...came quickly...super affordable!
Average customer rating:
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Perspectives on History - Perspectives on Western Civilization: Volume 1 (paperback edition) (Perspectives on History)
Manufacturer: Greenhaven Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book
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Ancient
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ASIN: 1565109880 |
Book Description
The first volume of Perspectives on Western Civilization, covering the Neolithic Revolution through the early modern era, explores the major values which have come to define the civilization of the West. This innovative collection, using extensive selections from both primary and secondary literature, concentrates on the forms of everyday life and the various ways in which the good or righteous life has come to be defined in the course of this complex and multilayered civilization. Part 1covers ancient Sumeria, Egypt, and Israel and the formation of basic symbols and myths which underlay the civilization, followed by a discussion of the highly political world of the Greeks and Romans -- and the rise of Christianity within this world. Part 2 shows how a distinctive Christian civilization of the European Middle Ages developed out of the values of other-worldliness and ascetic ideals. In Part 3, the conflicts and continuities in late medieval civilization are traced through the early modern period, from the Renaissance to the development of the absolutist state.
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- Don't Know Much About History: Everything You Need to Know About American History but Never Learned (Don't Know Much About...)
- Everyday Life in the 1800s: A Guide for Writers, Students & Historians (Writer's Guides to Everyday Life)
- Exchanging Our Country Marks: The Transformation of African Identities in the Colonial and Antebellum South
- Famous First Flights That Changed History: Sixteen Dramatic Adventures (Explorers Club Classic)
- Forbidden Fruit: Love Stories from the Underground Railroad
- Four Volume Set: UXL Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes
- Frederick Douglass : Autobiographies : Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave / My Bondage and My Freedom / Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (Library of America)
- Frederick Douglass : Autobiographies : Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave / My Bondage and My Freedom / Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (Library of America)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
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- Antidumping Laws and the U.S. Economy
- The Pinnacle Principle: How to Maximise Your Potential
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Canyon Solitude: A Woman's Solo River Journey Through the Grand Canyon (Adventura Books)
Southern Exposure: A Solo Sea Kayaking Journey Around New Zealand's South Island
The Seven Whispers: A Spiritual Practice for Times Like These
We're in the Mountains, Not over the Hill: Tales and Tips from Seasoned Women Backpackers
Going Alone: Women's Adventures in the Wild (Adventura Books)
