Being sent by my employer again to France, I looked for a guide book different from the Lonely Planet Guide to France I'd used last time. In fairness Being sent by my employer again to France, I looked for a guide book different from the Lonely Planet Guide to France I'd used last time. In fairness to this book, I should have looked more closely at it. I expected a general guide book to France when this is more a compendium of Rick Steves' favorite locales and venues in France.
So I was disappointed, going to Marseille, one of France's largest cities, looking in it for what's good and interesting to see there, only to find it's not even mentioned there. Even though, I did find from my own explorations that Marseille does have much to do and see there.
I think that the book needed to better cover the French train system and how it works as a means to seeing some of these sites in France. There's regional trains --- which work well generally for getting you closer to many of the sites to see --- but have more stops and take longer. Then there's the high speed train, the TGV, that's often very fast --- but in many locales may have its stops miles away from the sites. Kind of good to know, but the book is rather vague in many places about that, whereas other guide books like Lonely Planet do better in my opinion.
As far as giving me ideas for places to see in southern France --- like in Avignon and Arles, for example --- it was sufficient enough
It's not a bad book, but not a great one either for travel in France. It's useful for finding what's good that the author thinks as the best of France, but I think if you're looking for something more comprehensive, there are better guide books on France....more
An excellent work by Toll, covering the change in the Pacific War's momentum from Guadalcanal when the outcome was in the balance t0 1944 when it was An excellent work by Toll, covering the change in the Pacific War's momentum from Guadalcanal when the outcome was in the balance t0 1944 when it was swinging decisively against Japan.
Toll does a great job describing these events from the level of the trenches and the deckplates to the strategic level of the US President and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I like that it gives much credit to an oft overlooked figure in World War 2 history, Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, who was crucial as the first JCS Chairman in coordinating with the service branches a coherent strategy for prosecuting the two theater war against the Axis Powers.
Unlike other accounts of the Pacific War, to his credit, he also includes the history of the US submarine fleet in crippling the Japanese war effort.
I also like that Toll does a great job in enaging manner in describing the process by which US commanders developed the strategy for defeating Japan --- as well as their various disagreements and rivalries.
Overall, an outstanding work --- I highly recommend it for anyone desiring to know more about the Pacific War during WW2....more
An excellent book by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen about the evil forces within the world, how to recognize them, and how to combat them. Archbishop didnAn excellent book by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen about the evil forces within the world, how to recognize them, and how to combat them. Archbishop didn't actually write this book as a whole, but, rather, it is a posthumous amalgam of his observations and teachings on this topic from his decades of writing, teachings, and sermons --- assembled and edited capably by Fr. Dave Tomaszycki.
In general, Sheen observes that, in these times, the most prominent evidences of demonic activity are the love of nudity, violence, and a schizophrenic mentality. With respect to the latter, he is not so much referring to a psychiatric condition as a way of thinking blinded by pride, insecurity in personal identity, avoidance of difficulty and pain, and situational thinking such that it can no longer functionally know right and wrong, nor even call things what they clearly are.
As weapons against the demonic realm, Archbishop Sheen identifies and elaborates on their utility the following: the name of Jesus Christ, the blood of Jesus Christ, and the role of Mary, the Mother of Christ. He does so with the clarity and eloquency that characterized his televised sermons during his life.
I recommend this for all Christians desiring to learn more on this topic; however, some Protestants may not agree with Sheen's emphasis on the role of an institutional catholic and apostolic church, Mary, and the saints in doing battle with the demonic. ...more
An absolutely fascinating book --- this was recommended to me by one of my fellow believers at my parish. I am glad that I got this one.
It's fascinatAn absolutely fascinating book --- this was recommended to me by one of my fellow believers at my parish. I am glad that I got this one.
It's fascinating because it examines the teachings of Chinese sage, Lao Tzu, founder of Taoism, against the teachings of Orthodox Christianity, and an astonishing parallel evolution of the many of the tenets between the two is found.
Orthodox Christianity is neither religious fundamentalist (believing that all teachings outside one's own traditions are automatically wrong) nor religious syncretistic (believing that all teachings and traditions are equal). Nevertheless, as this book shows, while many pagan philosophers and thinkers wandered in ignorance of a knowledge of God, yet they earnestly sought the Truth beloved of God, and, in such pursuit, achieved a partial knowledge of spiritual truths and principles touching on knowing the nature of God.
In such a way, this book shows this parallel agreement on the Truth both arrived at in Christianity and by Lao Tzu. Many of the teachings of Lao Tzu are uncannily close, if not identical, to Christianity.
The first portion of the book is a series of aphorisms, developed by the author, a Chinese Orthodox monk, relating the teachings of Christianity with those of Lao Tzu --- accompanying them, in the back of the book is a commentary further expounding on these in greater detail. I found both the aphoristic poems and commentary very interesting and profound.
The second portion is more analytical, discussing in further how Christ is the personification of the Tao (the Way), yearned especially for in the East. Indeed, while the Chinese were seeking the Tao, early Christians self-described themselves as followers of The Way.
The next portion is a relation of teachings of the asceticism of Orthodox Christianity with practices of Taoism towards the same end --- achieving a knowledge of The Way, building spiritual strength, and growing closer to God --- there are a number of interesting parallelisms between "The Philokalia", that great Orthodox work on how to live the Christian life --- and sayings of Lao Tzu and Taoist sages who followed him.
Finally, there is an Appendix detailing the history of Orthodox Christianity in China that I found very interesting.
Adding to the book's presentation are, throughout it, are lovely prints of Chinese art and calligraphy that complement the text.
Overall, an amazing book --- I recommend this book for Christians of all traditions interested in learning commonalities between Christianity and Chinese philosophy as well as how to apply this to growing closer to God. ...more
As part of my effort to read the writings of Popes who are saints in both the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, I decided to read this from St. PoAs part of my effort to read the writings of Popes who are saints in both the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, I decided to read this from St. Pope Gregory the Great.
It's not bad. It is a dialogue between Gregory and a subordinate, Peter, about men and women who persevered in their faith, resulting in miraculous outcomes.
If this had been a few chapters, that would have been fine. However, for every instance of a saint in tribulation resulting in a miracle, I found this harder and harder to digest. For the Christian journey for most of us is not one of miracles, but one of persisting in faith without any evidence of direct supernatural intervention, yet Christ being with us through these dark valleys of the soul.
I think that a text like this showing a miracle for nearly every test of faith is on that could cause many a Christian to stumble. If miracles were commonplace, they would not be miracles. If God parted the heavens every time, we Christians were in a tight pinch, we'd be more like storybook wizards, then like those who labor under the same physical laws and burdens that the rest of humanity bears with.
As I age and continue on my journey as an Orthodox Christian, I see things from a different perspective. Is raising the dead, or a miraculous healing, or lightning coming from above to smite a foe the greatest miracles? Maybe for some, but, to me, the greatest miracle is the Christian who remains faithful to Christ when all seems lost, yet makes it through it, trusting in God to the end --- despite no miracles, no supernatural phenomena --- and becomes stronger than before as a saint, his or her will increasingly in accord with God's.
So not a bad book. I did appreciate many of St. Gregory's observations on these stories of great men and women of God, but I think more from him on how to persevere on the virtuous path in the absence of miracles would have made this of more value to Christian readers. ...more