a fine scholar and person
594778
Stuart Robson is described on this page as 1)  Professor Emeritus of History at Trent University, Ontario, Canada and 2) Australian linguist, University  of Melbourne.

"The First World War" is by the Canadian.  This Professor Robson was the most inspiring and motivating teacher in my education,  a fine scholar and person.  The two different Stuart Robsons deserve proper "disambiguation".

  http://www.trentu.ca/teaching/robson_stuart.php
1055106
I find this a very meticulously and carefully study of the medieval monk John of Rupecissa by one the key scholars working on this author. Rupecissa was a best seller in Europe in the middle ages and had a great deal to say about the expected apocalypse, drawing on The Book of Revelations. I am personally no historian, but I believe this will be a key work on Rupecissa for many years to come. There is another work on the topic written about the same time but independently. However, I have read only the present volume. It includes the Latin text with English translation and detailed commentary, analysis and answers many of the difficult questions of scholarship. The author drew on all the available original manuscripts in European archives and gives detailed comparisons of the different versions. From this he draws conclusions on the scribes, inserted or deleted texts, the copyists' accuracy, and many other issues. Certainly this is a work that extended over hundreds of hours or perhaps thousands and was done with great attention to detail and love of scholarship. It is a book especially for specialists in medieval church history and manuscripts. It would probably be of less interest to readers of popular texts on the apocalypse, of which there are many that would be suitable for non-scholars. One will presumably not discuss it on popular radio shows that interpret current history as heading toward an imminent end time. But for serious scholars, professors and doctoral candidates, this will be a valuable addition to the secondary literature. I highly recommend this work.
3328702
Dr. E.O. Wilson is one of the most ethical, intelligent and pioneering scientists alive today. The range of his expertise, insights and writing is without parallel in academia and the public sphere. Dr. Wilson has campaigned tirelessly on behalf of respect for the life of the earth, and for humans to follow the course of angels rather than devils.
His writing is cogent, interesting and compelling. My only regret is that i was not able to have him as my PhD advisor. He is a hero and a wonderful human being and scholar.
1165613
Karen Armstrongs ST. PAUL: THE APOSTLE WE LOVE TO HATE is a fairly brief scholarly biography of the apostle Paul, the man to whom many of the Epistles in the Bible are attributed.  Armstrongs work is quite frank.  She informs readers that some of the letters once thought to be Pauls very likely are not; she points out that those letters that are more certainly Pauls encourage equality and agape love, not the misogyny, anti-Semitism, and social elitism many see in some instances.  Also, when something about Paul is unknown, Armstrong frankly says so. Back matter lists seventeen pages of resources  the Bible and strong Bible scholarship  to support Armstrongs claims.

Even with all the scholarship, readers don't have to be seminary students to read and understand this book.  Laypeople with some knowledge of Paul can read this and understand it, particularly if they're willing to read it at a "study" pace (my reason for four stars instead of five -- don't try to gulp this book down too quickly).  This work will help readers see the man said to be the first Christian writer in a new light, and thus see his writings in a new light.

I would recommend this for Bible study classes or church libraries.
2991575
I have been one of numerous people influenced by the teaching ministry of Dr. Ronald Youngblood, a man whom I call both a gentleman and a scholar. This book is comprised of 21 essays that were dedicated to Dr. Youngblood's honor. Personally I have been taught by several of the contributors(James Smith, Mark Strauss, Walter Wessel). Thus, for me, reading through this compilation was a delight because of my familiarity with these people during my time in the mid-1980s/early 1990s at Bethel Seminary San Diego. Dr. Youngblood's mastery in the classroom as well as his style (nobody has a more dry sense of humor, as any student of his can attest) and scholarship are duly noted in these pages.
As far as this book's collection of essays goes, most of the topics are only going to interest the biblical scholars. If you're not familiar with the ancient languages and other technical writing, the vast majority of this book will have little impact. Personally, I did not bother reading a quarter of the essays from their beginning to end because the individual content of these particular chapters just did not interest me.
However, this is not to say that there are not some jewels here. In fact, let me briefly mention four of my favorite essays. First, chapter 3 by D.A. Carson ("The limits of functional equivalence in Bible translation--and other limits, too") gives a good history of the gender-neutral debate, especially as the Today's New International Version (TNIV) is concerned. This is an informative chapter for those not very familiar with the background of the TNIV controversy, and thus I recommend it.
A second essay was the book's next chapter by Mark Strauss ("Current issues in the gender-language debate: A response to Vern Plythress and Wayne Grudem"). I liked it because: a) it was cutting edge and not just a rehash of previous work, which a number of these essays were; b) it deals with the current TNIV controversy from the perspective of Dr. Strauss, who does a good job answering his (and the TNIV) critics. Even if you disagree with Dr. Strauss, one must admit that his points are worthy of consideration.
Third, I liked Dick France's chapter 7 ("The Bible in English: An Overview"). Of course, general overviews of the translation of the Bible are a dime a dozen, and some may criticize its inclusion. However, I think that this was one of the most interesting and informative overviews on Bible translation I have ever read.
Finally, I appreciated John Stek's chapter 10 ("The New International Version: How it Came to Be"). This is one of the most detailed histories of the NIV in a short-order format. Based on the faithfulness of God and those (including Dr. Youngblood) who responded to His calling, I believe the process of the NIV translation was quite ethical and completed in a godly fashion. Perhaps this is why God has blessed its use throughout the world.
Each person is different and may find other chapters to be of more interest, but for me, these four essays made the purchase of this book worthwhile. May God continue to bless the work of Dr. Youngblood, and may we continue to work through the texts of scripture provided to us by God Himself.
4357893
Having previously read Chesterton's The Dumb Ox in a large battered tome of Chesterton's collected works, I much appreciated reading it again in this slim, sturdy, attractive, modestly-priced edition, one of the first offerings of Angelico Press. Chesterton wrote a similar small study on St. Francis of Assisi ten years before the publication of St. Thomas Aquinas. Taken together, Chesterton's short books on the two most remarkable Italian friars in history give an unparalleled insight into the high Middle Ages. For those who might be intimidated by a book on the world's premier Catholic philosopher and theologian, there is no reason to fear. As I found to my great relief (being a bit philosophically challenged myself) St. Thomas Aquinas is not a technical treatise but rather a highly accessible overview of Thomistic philosophy and its historical significance. Above all, it is an animated and perceptive reflection on the stolid Schoolman, that "huge, heavy bull of a man" whose efforts to reconcile Aristotle and Christianity resulted in his definitive masterpiece, the Summa Theologica,  As Chesterton explains throughout the book with his characteristically colorful metaphors and illustrations, Thomism was a system of "colossal common sense," "a working and even a fighting system; full of common sense and constructive confidence, and therefore normally full of hope and promise."  It is fitting that Chesterton, "the Apostle of Common Sense," as Dale Ahlquist called him, celebrated for his eminently practical, rational conclusions, should have given St. Thomas Aquinas such a spirited and affectionate introduction to the modern age. The reader suspects early on that Chesterton who, like Aquinas, was a man of considerable girth and intellectual aptitude, had a great affinity for the Dumb Ox of Sicily. Chesterton's short work on Aquinas was criticized by some for its lack of philosophical analysis and detail, but his intuitive understanding of the saint, his keen commentary on the well-known and not so well-known events in Aquinas' life and his clearly demonstrated fondness for the Angelic Doctor are the most valuable aspects of the book. Being far more inclined towards poetry than philosophy, I was delighted with Chesterton's whimsical details and masterful reflections. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote the Church's most beautiful Latin poetry, reknowned for its elegance, potency and profundity, and perhaps this was the link between the medieaval Italian scholar and the modern English man of letters----that Chesterton, an accomplished poet himself, could recognize a kindred soul in the inscrutable churchman with the "Napoleonic head and a dark bulk of a body" and labored in his book to paint a fully dimensional and sensitive portrait of the noble Thomas of Aquino.
4587008
One of the premier scholars of the 20th century, Sister Madeleva Wolff deserves to be re-discovered by a new generation of scholars and amateurs -- anyone, in fact, who loves the English language! She should be on every syllabus for English at the college and graduate levels! Her style is a writer's vade mecum - elegance without pretension! A first introduction will leave the reader wanting more!
1810651
Zweig writes an intellectual biography of Erasmus. He does not focus on tracing the everyday life, or the personal encounters of Erasmus. Instead he is interested in Erasmus' overall view of life and civilization, his historical role and contribution. He shows how Erasmus was the first true European with a vision which transcended national boundaries and focused on a world living in peace. He portrays Erasmus as a balanced, cautious person who fought all his life for, and maintained his intellectual independence and freedom. He writes of how for Erasmus the one great source of happiness was his Work. Erasmus was the champion of Learning, and had according to Zweig a tremendously broad book- knowledge. Erasmus loved books and gave his life to studying them and writing them. Erasmus wanted Reform of the Church but a reform which would be done without violence. He above all was an opponent of Fanaticism,and in his masterpiece 'In Praise of Folly' Fanaticism is the number one enemy. Zweig tells of how Erasmus came to be the overwhelming intellectual figure of his age. He writes with beauty and skill about the tremendous excitement of the Age of Exploration, the Renaissance which Erasmus played an important part in. He too tells the story of the conflict between Luther and Erasmus, how the violent, emotional passionate Luther led to the split in Western Christendom , and how the rational, balanced Erasmus was no counter to him. This work is not only the portrait of a man but the portrait of a Civilization through vital phases of its development. It is written beautifully by Zweig. Of course the great tragic element here is that Zweig who espoused Erasmus- like values of tolerance, moderation, reason wrote this just as his own world was being swept up in the fanaticism and hatred which would be Nazi Germany.
Zweig movingly describes Erasmus in old age, disappointed and rejected, a foreshadowing of his own tragic exile and death.
1450420
Adding The Emperor of Nature to your "must read" list will be one resolution that you will find a joy to keep. The author's graceful style in this scholarly, yet never pedantic, biography of the complex, heretofore little recognized naturalist and ornithologist, Charles-Lucien Bonaparte, is sparked by insightful and witty asides. Players in this intellectual and political history--the contraversial Bonaparte family, both its men and women, James Audubon, Thomas Say and other natural historians--emerge as distinct personalities as we read Bonaparte's lively--often impassioned--correspondence. The drama of Bonaparte's life, marked by his lifelong dedication to the science of natural history, is deftly enhanced by rich descriptive detail as each "scene is set". Equal attention is given to the underbrush of family and scientific disputes and jealousies, to the complications of early 19th century travel and the preservation of specimens, and to physical and psychological health issues. The abundant illustrations throughout, including many from the author's own collection, (it is always so disappointing when the illustrations in a biography, no matter how erudite, are limited to a tiny center folio of tired old photographs!) were a delight to this fascinated reader.
2745136
A fascinating account of a scholar's life experience and the effect of the work on his personal life, beliefs and values as well as an example of how the most creative minds can remain open to "that which should not exist."
4368961
Andrew Louth is a fine scholar, and this is an example of his work. If for no other reason that this, I have to weigh in to give it more stars.
1299154
It is sometimes argued that higher education fails to define and defend itself, that it endlessly asks for resources but neglects to explain the need for those resources and the uses (proper uses, one hopes) that will be made of them.

That argument is often made by people who have forgotten the explanations offered in the past.  For those who would like to hear the case made both eloquently and authoritatively, I can recommend this book.

When Giamatti was made president of Yale he was very young (the youngest president in the university's history) and he had virtually no administrative experience.  Nevertheless, he served with great distinction and went on, as most remember, to serve as Commissioner of baseball, prior to his premature death.

This book is a collection of his speeches.  As such, they carry a certain formality.  One can hear the public address system and see the presidential robes in place as he addresses his audiences (many of them student audiences).  They are organized around three topics: 1) the nature and purpose of the university; 2) the `earthly use' of a liberal education; and 3) the private university and the public interest.  All three are worth the reader's attention; the second is probably the best.

While his historic audience is usually some group of Yale stakeholders or students, the actual audience for his thoughts is the educated reader who cares about the state of higher education.  He draws on literary materials (his field was renaissance literature) but on many other materials as well.  In his talks one senses his impatience with some aspects of the world of the administrator--with the pressures of interest groups, the irrationality of government regulations (his discussion of circular A-21 is a classic) and the need to address such complex issues as the university's multiple relations with industry.

His voice is one of moderation.  There are predictable bows to liberal shibboleths and a tendency to criticize the positions of Secretary Bennett and professors Hirsch and Bloom (lumping them together unfairly, in my judgment).  At the same time there are persuasive criticisms of ideologues of all stripes and a healthy regard for the thought of such thinkers as Edmund Burke.

The book offers an educated sensibility.  That sensibility is wise, iconoclastic and measured.  In many passages it is quite brave.  It is good to hear his voice again.
2193445
Written like a scholar to impress other scholars. Some parts are real and readable. In the words of Peter Griffin " It insists upon itself."
2874974
Niall Ferguson is an outstanding scholar and writer. His scholarship does not intrude on his writing, and he is lucid in setting forth his thesis in any book he writes. His insights and clear concise writing style make for fascinating ideas well put.
1122640
I had the privilege of knowing Professor Pelikan personally, and once overheard him joke about "dying without an unpublished thought" while discussing his monumental book on creeds. (Professor Pelikan passed away in May 2006 after a great life of service and scholarship. As they sing in the funeral liturgy of his Eastern Orthodox Church, "May his memory be eternal.") I think this book may reflect that goal, to whatever degree the professor took it seriously--the greatest historian of Christian theology in the 20th century certainly deserves a hearing on this important matter.

As always, Pelikan writes very carefully and demands careful reading: he often means more than he appears to say. You would actually be able to glean a fair knowledge of the history of the scriptures from this book, if you read it very carefully.

But again as always, Pelikan essentially assumes that his audience has some familiarity with the topic, though not as much familiarity as he has. That is a fair assumption most of the time, but if you really don't know what the Septuagint is, or if you don't have any familiarity with Eastern Orthodox teachings about scripture and tradition, in addition to Catholic and Protestant doctrines on the same subject, then you will simply have to read this book very carefully. I had this experience with other writings of Pelikan, so I can sympathize with you; but I know from experience that you can get a lot out of it if you devote your best attention to it.

I said that this is Pelikan's reflections on (the history of) the scriptures; and given Pelikan's reputation you might think it would therefore be very deep and inaccessible. But this is not the deepest thought on the scriptures out there, and it is totally free of jargon. It's not a coverage of academic and philosophical hermaneutical topics, although it has implications and Pelikan is aware of them; but it's rather kind of Pelikan's introduction to the scriptures' history for the interested layperson.

One of the best features of Pelikan's work is that he himself is a believer--certainly no fundamentalist, but nevertheless genuinely an orthodox (Orthodox, in fact) believer. He digs into the historical and philosophical issues unblinkingly, and comes out with his own faith intact, though changed, and invites us to follow. He has the confidence of mature faith, so he is able to face questions without wincing that leave less confident believers uncertain. I myself am no believer, but I respect this aspect of his thought, and I think many Christians would relish it if he were more famous popularly. Within academia of course, especially among theologians, he is the best in his field (the history of Christian theology).

All in all, I heartily recommend this book to anyone interested, with the reservation that you might find that it demands a good bit of effort. I do not mean that he writes in a totally academic post-modern style; I mean only that he makes his points only once and moves on, and if you don't notice each point and follow his line of thought carefully, you'll soon find yourself needing to go back and read pages over. That's how most of his writing is. But it really is worthwhile, first-rate stuff, brilliant and incomparably erudite, well worth the effort.
1971310
Peter Spufford is an Emeritus Professor in Cambridge, and has been the leading authority on medieval monetary history for a generation; but this book is a labour of love as well as of scholarship.  It has a wealth of beautiful illustrations and the text is full of information, much of it new to me.

The Preface is different from most.  Instead of merely paying tribute to those who helped, it tells us about the author's trials and tribulations, experienced during the many journeys he made by way of research, during a period of some 30 years.  This introductory section is written in a delightfully engaging and personal way, which makes it clear that Spufford sacrificed many family holidays, except that for him it was clearly no sacrifice at all.

The journeys were his library; and during that time, Spufford learned to `read' all over again, not just by looking at places, but by studying the background detail in paintings, to discover the economic realities behind what the artist was commissioned to paint.  It is this deep understanding which gives the book such power and authority.

It may even cause the reader to alter his view of medieval Europe.  Traditionally, we were taught that England and France became the most powerful and progressive countries of the early modern age because they were politically united in the High Middle Ages.  By comparison, Italy and Germany were `late developers'; but if we switch the focus of attention from politics to economics and commerce, as this book does, Italy and Germany emerge as the dominant powers of the Late Middle Ages, long before they were politically united.
3595827
Reflections of a scholar who observed and studied the teaching techniques and learning habits of students around the world.