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- Universals Need Not Apply
- Bold admirable attempt worth reading
- A valiant try
- A Lesson for the Extremists
- Judaism, Globalization, and the Clash of Civilizations
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Dignity of Difference: How to Avoid the Clash of Civilizations
Jonathan Sacks
Manufacturer: Continuum International Publishing Group
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ASIN: 0826468500 |
Book Description
The year 2001 began as the United Nations Year of Dialogue between Civilizations. By its end, the phrase that came most readily to mind was 'the clash of civilizations.' The tragedy of September 11 intensified the danger caused by religious differences around the world. As the politics of identity begin to replace the politics of ideology, can religion become a force for peace?
The Dignity of Difference is Rabbi Jonathan Sacks's radical proposal for reconciling hatreds. The first major statement by a Jewish leader on the ethics of globalization, it also marks a paradigm shift in the approach to religious coexistence. Sacks argues that we must do more than search for values common to all faiths; we must also reframe the way we see our differences.
Customer Reviews:
Universals Need Not Apply.......2007-06-05
There's a lot to like about Sacks' book. For example, its appreciation/critique of globalization is persuasive. "Morality," Sacks reminds us, "belongs no less in the boardroom than the bedroom, in the market-place as much as in a house of prayer." No argument there.
The book discusses theology as much as economics. And in doing so it does not capitulate to relativism (as a cheese-ball title like "Dignity of Difference" might lead one to believe). How could one call the book "relativist" when for Sacks, "the human project is inescapably a moral project"? How could the book be dismissed as another vacuous plea for ambivalence masked as "tolerance," when Sacks insists "something far stronger than toleration is required" in order for us to survive?
Here is Sacks' recipe for the postmodern world: "Absent religious faith, add the failure of the 'Enlightenment project' to create a universal ethic, and the result is moral relativism - a way of thinking (or rather, refusing to think) about life choices that may be suited to a consumer culture, but one that is wholly inadequate... to the challenge of assertive ethnicities and exclusive belief systems."
Rather than accepting the recipe, Sacks insists on the missing ingredient of religious faith. Though the Enlightenment predicted that religion's "public roles was at an end... The strange fact was, however, that religion refused to die. What has emerged is, in George Weigel's phrase, the "desecularization of the world."
In other words, the lunar eclipse is over, and what do you know, the sun was there all along. Contrary to the claims of generations of European intelligentsia, God is not going away. Religion is back (even though it never really left). And therefore, as Sacks puts it, the book is a "a theological basis for respect for difference, based not on relativism but on the concept of covenant."
And so, deeply respectful of religion, Sacks then sets out to give us religious folks a lesson in successful twenty-first century planetary cohabitation. But he does so by establishing a, shall we say, "New Covenant" with all world beliefs.
"The paths to salvation are many," Sacks explains. "There are multiple universes of wisdom, each capturing something of the radiance of being and drefracting it into the lives of its followers, not refuting or excluding the others, each as it were the native language of its followers, but combining in a hymn of glory to the creator." If the religions of the world therefore can just accept this idea (an idea which is arguably itself a religion) then there is hope.
Sacks' motivations are of course laudable. He doesn't want us to kill each other. Good for him. But here is his means of avoidance: God, Sacks writes, "has given us the means to save us from ourselves... we are not wrong to dream, wish and work for a better world." At such points the book, in my estimation, tends to degenerate into a well documented and sophisticated version of Can't we all just get along?
Despite my disagreements however I still can call Sacks' argument successful, because he is Jewish. He writes, "The God of the Israelites is the God of all mankind, but the demands made of the Israelites are not asked of all mankind." This is true enough. He concludes, "There is no equivalent in Judaism to the doctrine that extra ecclesiam non est salus, outside the Church there is no salvation."
But what if one is, while respecting the faith deeply, not "in Judaism"? What happens when the religion you profess is founded upon the fact that it is for everyone, as Christianity certainly is. In fact, one could make the case that the universal character of the Christian faith is the point of the New Testament (or at least of Luke, Acts, Galatians and Romans). Scholars often refer to the "sociological miracle" of the first century that resulted when the tribalized Roman world found unity in diversity in one new social body - the Church. The diversity that Sacks is seeking on a global scale may be contained by design within the Christian faith.
This ideal has of course often failed to be realized. But I don't see how anyone could convincingly argue that it's not in the charter. A Christian cannot follow suit [with Sacks' book], unless of course the charge to 'baptize all nations' actually reads 'baptize some nations' or the promise that 'every tongue shall confess and every knee shall bow' actually reads 'some tongues and some knees' or the assurance that 'Christ shall be all in all' actually reads 'Christ shall be some in some."
I can therefore read Sacks' book, learn from it, and strongly recommend it as a thoughtful perspective on globalization from a man both deeply intelligent and religious. But the very universal insistence that there can be no universal is a part I can't sign on to. Nor can a good Muslim. Nor can a good Marxist. And Christianity names itself among these as a universal religion with a truth to be offered to everyone.
Sacks says that "Unity in heaven creates diversity on earth." But a Christian does not believe in mere unity in heaven, but a diversity in heaven (the Trinty) that, strangely, can creates a unity on earth.
Sacks is concerned that we make space for one another in our dialogue, and this is of course a genuine concern. So much so that even God has followed Sacks' advice. If within the Trinity itself God has already permitted a diversity amidst Father, Son and Spirit - then there is no risk in humanity losing our distinctions (individually or even nationally) by participating in the life of this kind of God. To put it otherwise, if the "Absolute" is in itself diversified, then the postmodern prejudice against "Absolute Truth" has no beef with the Trinity.
The Trinitarian understanding of God is not that God is so "free" that he has to flex his infinite, absolute freedom leading to a Jean Paul Sartre's infuriated protest. God's freedom is well beyond the kind of smothering "divine" liberty that the existentialists abhorred. God is so free in fact that he can even give the different persons within his Godhead freedom - so free that he can even give his own creatures freedom to rebel against him. He is free enough to give them the choice to accept, or not accept his reconciling love.
Similarly, the Trinitarian understanding of God is not that God is so "powerful" that he has to flex his infinite, absolute power so mightily that it would threaten Nietzsche enough to have to compete - God is well more powerful than that. God has no need to be "macho" (which usually a sign of weakness anyway). Instead God is so powerful that he can become a creature among his creatures, allowing himself to be tried and condemned as a criminal before in a gesture of suffering love.
Such is the "freedom" and "power" of the Trinity. So free and powerful it can be bound helplessly to a cross. One might suggest a concept of God like that can afford to be universal.
I only wish there was room for such universality in Sacks' book.
Bold admirable attempt worth reading.......2007-03-19
Making world harmony a reality is a tall order and alliterated principles: control, contribution, compassion, creativity, co-operation, conservation, and conciliation are perhaps a bit `forced". But the deep and sincere thinking is much better than this might suggest. The title is more to the point; accepting the "dignity of difference" is entirely possible but for politicized extremists of every stripe (Faith) who ignore not only common principles but exclude any room at all for legitimate differences thereby proclaiming only they know divine will (the sin of `shirk' in Islam) and therefore there is no room for negotiation or compromise. This exclusivity is not unique to any faith or civilization except in the most delusional and arrogant self perception.
Perhaps empathy (compassion), a real sense of justice, and the space for what is essential to each faith are most important. The spirituality and morality of men of all faiths usually can provide toleration and conciliation - it is the politicians, ethnics, opportunists - and usually less spiritual individuals - who stop such developments.
This is a wonderful, even inspirational, book for people of good faith. But reactions, most of all from within the Rabbi's own faith so far, show the difficulty. Maybe psychology (as studied by books like "Blind Trust") needs to be integrated for a more actionable effective plan.
Now, a comment on limitations is required. Sacks remains idealistic and sometimes a bit superficial. He has not even reasonable agreement within his own community. There is little indicating real understanding of Islam in particular (perhaps this is much to ask in a short book). The discussion of education is lively but inadequate regarding quality versus quantity and the difficulty of opening minds. (The largely uncritical reading of "Clash" is itself an indication of limits of education.) It begs questions about why the oldest of the three faiths remains by far that with fewest adherents, and why a persecuted people now persecute others. The moral case for a market economy perhaps avoids too many of the negatives and how democracy evolves towards oligarchy without economic democracy. The critique of elements of globalism identifies but does not explain the role of that same capitalist "Washington Consensus". Greed and materialism more than empathy and generosity are characteristic of the present market economy. In general analysis is better than resolution of problems. Good will is not alone enough.
A valiant try .......2004-11-23
Rabbi Sachs is an intelligent and astute political thinker. His moral values his concern for the dignity of every human being his desire for peace in the world are felt strongly in the text.His overall prescription and hope is that the major civilizations of the world can through tolerant recognition and acceptance of each other bring great benefit to mankind as a whole. As an ideal prescription and formulation ' The Dignity of Differences' makes great sense.
But as a realistic assessment of where Mankind is and what precisely is going on within these Civilizations there is something lacking here. Any consideration of the present world situation which aims at providing some new and better direction has to look realistically at the character and goals of the major civilizations. The value of recognizing and tolerating others which Rabbi Sachs so rightly promotes is at this historical moment not the note which Islamic Civilization is ready to hear. In Huntington's Clash of Civilizations he spoke about an arc of confrontation in the world in which Muslim countries in thirty some odd places are engaged in aggressive violent behavior against neighbors. Islamic fundamentalist terrorism denies the fundamental premise of all that Rabbi Sachs is trying to teach. There is an assymetry between the Civilization which has to be recognized if there is going to be real progress toward a better world. Rabbi Sachs has made a valiant and admirable try here in offering a better way for the world. Unfortunately this does not address the ' threats' of the moment , threats of terror and violence, also by states which can bring disaster to Mankind. Let us hope and pray that Mankind will get in some years time into the position where all civilizations will recognize and tolerate the legitimate place of others.
A Lesson for the Extremists.......2004-10-26
I am an American who teaches overseas, and I think that this book clearly illustrates the problem facing our various countries today: as the author states, we "narrowcast," meaning that we seek out those who are like us, communicate with those individuals, and then pronounce ourselves correct without ever truly seeking a diverse opinion.
The political faultlines we walk today are a perfect example of what happens when we stop talking to each other and only desire positive feedback. This book, however, is not for any standard reader: it appeals, I believe, more to moderates than someone of a strident ideological background. If you blindly follow an extremist path in a political party or religion, I think this book could radically change your mind about said path, but you need to approach the book with as open a mind as possible.
I write this only a few days before the next U.S. presidential election, which has been the ugliest since I came of voting age in '92. I wish both candidates and their quislings would read this fine book.
Judaism, Globalization, and the Clash of Civilizations.......2003-01-24
As an International Relations major in college, I spent four years debating and writing about Samuel Huffington's warning of a "clash of civilizations." Then, it seemed that globalization and the United States' increasing role as the hegemonic superpower of the world were discussions limited to academia. In the years since, our world has become much smaller, we have been introduced to the "axis of evil," terrorism has penetrated our own borders, and a vocal anti-globalization effort has gone mainstream. Now, the chief rabbi of the British Commonwealth has proposed that we borrow values from Judaism to avoid the clash of civilizations, seeking an alternative to religious coexistence through his notion of the ethics of globalization.
Much of the Jewish media's coverage of Sacks' book has focused on his criticism of Israel's stance in the current conflict with the Palestinians. However, looking past this critique (only a short section of the book treats this subject), one finds a novel argument about how people of different nationalities and faiths can coexist in the new world. Sacks argues that religion does not have to lead to a clash between rival civilizations, but rather can be used to generate tolerance. In our politically correct society, we often look for ways to put our differences aside and search out our commonalities, and we feel the need to be all-inclusive in our dialogue efforts. Sacks challenges us by asking whether this "dialogue" is doing any good, or if we would be better served to embrace our differences. Monotheism doesn't mean there's only one way to God, he argues, rather, it's the belief that the unity of God creates diversity.
Our global borders have clearly shrunk, as evidenced by African children eating McDonalds and sipping Coke while wearing Nike shoes and watching MTV; and, we must now ask what the implications of globalization are to us as Jews. Sacks ingeniously looks to the Torah for insight into the great debates about globalization, the clash of civilizations, and the campaign against terror. He divides his book into seven moral principles (all beginning with the letter C) needed to make world harmony a reality: control, contribution, compassion, creativity, co-operation, conservation, and conciliation. We, in the Jewish community, have a long history of striving to attain these core moral imperatives, labeling them as acts of tikkun olam, repairing the world.
In this post-September 11 world of great uncertainty, we must not be too quick to label globalization, which Sacks argues has compromised human dignity, as wholly positive or negative. For every story of a Jew living in a remote part of the world once removed from Jewish existence and now able to participate fully in Jewish life due to vast technological advances, there is a story of how globalization has infused a community with American/Western values to the point that its own identity and cultural differences are forgotten.
As American Jews, there are many issues that drive our feelings about globalization and anti-globalization (most notably Israel), but we must not fall prey to oversimplifying the arguments of those in either camp. At a time when religious values seem to be dividing us, this book is a fresh perspective that charges us to use those values for good. With the current state of world affairs, the very least we could do is try.
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Reconnecting With People: A Strategy for Organization Success (Crisp Management Library)
Nancy Burzon , and
Jean Moore
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ASIN: 1560524901 |
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This book looks at the strategies of transformation that companies have used to create a vision that has energized people and to attract, motivate and retain the best and the brightest in their field.
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Plant Breeding Reviews, Plant Breeding Reviews, Volume 26 (Plant Breeding Reviews)
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ASIN: 047173215X |
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This helpful book presents state-of-the-art reviews on plant genetics and the breeding of all types of crops by both traditional means and molecular methods. Understanding and preserving crop genetic resources is vital to the security of food systems worldwide. The emphasis of the series is on methodology, a fundamental understanding of crop genetics, and applications to major crops.
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Nuclear Physics at Storage Rings: Fourth International Conference: STORI99. Bloomington, Indiana, 12-16 September 1999 (AIP Conference Proceedings / High Energy Physics)
Manufacturer: American Institute of Physics
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ASIN: 1563969289 |
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The aim of the STORI99 Conference was to bring together physicists from a diverse international research community connected by the common technology of storage rings and review the topics of current interest in nuclear physics research with stored, cooled ion beams and electron beams. Specifically, the scientific program of STORI99 focused on recent results from a wide variety of experimental programs at existing stored-beam facilities, on progress in associated theoretical issues, and on discussion of new facilities and experimental techniques. In addition to the traditional physics topics covered by the series of STORI conferences (nucleon physics and meson production, physics with stored heavy-ion beams, polarized beams and targets), new physics topics introduced at STORI99 included strangeness production with high-energy stored proton beams and physics with stored electron beams.
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Plants and Animals in the Life of the Kuna (ILAS Translations from Latin America Series)
Jorge Ventocilla ,
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ASIN: 0292787251 |
Book Description
"Plants and Animals . . . documents Kuna culture, subsistence strategies, and traditional ecological knowledge while warning of the dangers of increased involvement in market economies. It does what many advocate but few accomplish by presenting indigenous views of ecology and culture. Written in large part by the Kuna for the Kuna, this book is one of the first comprehensive publications on ethnobiology that represents indigenous voices, giving ousiders a rare opportunity 'to eavesdrop, to listen as they exhort each other, to wake up, and to change.'" --Cultural Survival Quarterly "The earth is the mother of all things"; thus begins this original and accessible book on how the Kuna of Panama relate to the natural world. An integrative project involving Kuna traditional leaders and trained scholars, and fully illustrated by a Kuna artist, this translation of Plantas y animales en la vida del pueblo Kuna focuses on Kuna plant and animal life, social life, and social change as a means of saving traditional ecological knowledge and "returning" it to the community. The authors hope to preserve the Kuna environment not only by reviving traditional technologies but also by educating the Kuna as to what needs protection. While the Kuna have a tradition of living in harmony with the land, the intrusion of the market economy is eroding the very basis of their sustainable way of life. As a response to this crisis, this book seeks to develop native self-awareness and provide a model for collaboration. It will appeal to Latin Americanists, anthropologists, and ethnobotanists, as well as to a general readership in environmental issues.
Customer Reviews:
Highly recommended.......2000-04-23
What should books about indigenous peoples strive for - acceptance among academics or the native peoples themselves? If there is a way to strike a compromise, the authors of Plants and Animals in the Life of the Kuna, have found a way to bridge the gap.
This book focuses on Panama's indigenous Kuna people. The work, an environmental and artistic mosaic, is a collaboration among two Kuna biologists and a Panamanian colleague. Illustrations by Kuna artists Ologuagdi and Enrique Tejada provide a clear portal for curious outsiders.
The authors document a variety of factors that contribute to environmental degradation, including abuses of the market economy, population growth, and careless practices. Being native to a region does not imply omnipotence.
"The Kuna, like the indigenous peoples of North America who enthusiastically killed beaver so that Europeans could wear tall hats, have been drawn into a system vastly larger and more powerful than their own society," writes James Howe in the book's forward. "If they are to survive as a people into the next century, they must reconcile the subsistence and market economies as well as protect the borers of their small enclave."
Customer Reviews:
golf digest review.......2006-03-17
Very informative reference guide - with one exception. In previous editions the comments of golfers who played and rated the golf courses were printed in some detail. It appears that this latest edition has excerpted part of their comments and strung them together. The result - at least to me - lacked the "flavor" of your previous readers' comments.
Golfers Travel guide.......2005-09-15
One of the better books to review when traveling to play golf. I found it to be quite accurate and informative. Worth the $ if you travel and play!
Big dropoff in content!.......2005-07-23
The current 6th edition is nowhere near as good as the 2nd edition!there are 700 less courses and no bad reviews.The worst review I saw was 2 1/2 stars.Good thing I kepr my 2nd edition.
Indispensable when traveling.......2004-09-09
The same great content as in previous editions, but just the courses rated 3 stars and above in this edition. That's fine with me. I take this book with me on vacation, and I never pay attention to the lower rated courses anyway, so there's less material to wade through now. The 3 and 3 1/2 star courses may be nice, but I usually skip them too. The star ratings and the reader comments give you an excellent idea of what to expect. The other details are also very helpful: green fees, type of driving range, nearby large town, etc. When I'm on a golf trip, I'd be lost without this book.
What happened to all the courses?!.......2004-05-10
You will be quite surprised if you think the 6th Edition of this book will include even more courses than the 5th Edition. The 5th Edition included 6,500 courses and the new 6th Edition has only 3,500 courses. I thought more and more courses were being built all the time. In New Mexico the courses reviewed dropped from 50 to 21. How did this happen? Apparently, only courses with 3 stars or better were included this time. Not only are some courses with less than 3 stars worth playing, but much valuable information was included with those course listings(phone numbers, costs, architects, etc). Granted, the list price for the 6th Edition is $3 less that the 5th Edition, but I would much rather pay the extra cost of having the more complete and up-to-date listings. I would have given the 6th Edition 5 stars if it had the complete listings, but in its shortened version I can give it only 3 stars.
Book Description
How do some writers craft conversation so authentic, it feels like they've been eavesdropping? What's the secret behind getting characters to talk to each other? How can writers make their dialogue sing?
Answers to all of these questions and more can be found in Gloria Kempton's in-depth look at this crucial component of fiction. Readers will learn how to create dialogue that sizzles, with tips on:
* Creating dialogue for specific genres
* Bringing characters to life with revealing dialogue
* Identifying and fixing common dialogue problems
Each chapter features numerous examples of successful dialogue drawn from bestselling novels, and chapter-ending exercises help readers apply the lessons learned. This is one book that will get readers talking!
Customer Reviews:
Just What the Editor Ordered.......2007-09-23
When writing fiction stong dialogue is a must. Gloria Kempton's book is also a must those writers who find writing effective dialogue a challenge. She gives excellent instructions on how to use dialogue effectively to move the story forward and maintain the tension or the conflict. Any author who wants to become a better writer should have a copy of this book.
Not As Good As It Looks.......2007-08-25
This book attempts to be comprehensive. It breaks down dialogue based on genre type. It offers these categories to sort and understand dialogue: magical, cryptic, descriptive, shadowy, breathless, provocative, and uncensored.
While I think the attempt is admirable, and perhaps the exercises could be useful for some, it falls flat, and I'm going to try and show you why I feel this is so. It's the magical/fantasy dialogue section that is particularly worthless and the biggest reason I gave this book one star.
In her example of "magical" dialogue she uses a brief excerpt from Lord of the Rings, part of which goes like this: ""No, Sam!" said Frodo. "Do not kill him even now. For he has not hurt me."
Almost everyone has heard of Tolkien, and, wonderful as he was, *no one* cites Tolkien for his snappy, award-winning dialogue. It simply was not his strong point.
She claims the dialogue from that example is "eloquent" because it does not use contractions, and also "direct" which she supports by this further example from the same text, "But do not expect me to wish you health and long life. You will have neither."
Direct, according to thefreedictionary, "Straightforward and candid; frank"
Let me show you direct: "Die." Or, "I hate you." Or, possibly, "Death comes quickly." And so on. If there is one thing such 'magical' dialogue is not, it would be direct. (Or advisable. It's usually just plain bad writing.)
Despite her claim that she does not read much Romance because romance authors often write dialogue which does not 'transcend' our modern culture which leaves their 'magical' dialogue sounding "hokey" (her word), she claims that if you want to be a successful fantasy or science fiction author, you must master the art of 'magical' dialogue which is all about this attempt at transcendence. So, romance and fantasy should have similar cheesy dialogue. The more cheese, the closer it is to real romance, or fantasy, or science fiction.
That is utter dreck. If you want to go back in time and become a writer then by all means follow her advice. If you'd like to become a successful author today you'd have an easier time of it if you never got this book - unless you buy it only to know What Not To Do. Instead, read widely both in and outside your usual preferences/genre to get a better understanding of what's being published today.
Dialogue is about the character's voice - Gloria Kempton gets this confused with style assumptions based on genre. And it's not just fantasy. Her opinions and examples in general were lacking. I'm not saying that an inventive person would find nothing of use - especially if writing is completely new - but I believe the damage to a new writer could be astonishing if they took everything she said to heart.
The magical dialogue is just a nice name for hokey dialogue, if that's something you aim for then follow her advice advice. If it isn't, you would be far happier, and receive far better advice, if you stick with the other books in the series and ignore this one. Nancy Kress's "Beginnings, Middles & Ends" is a great pick, so is Orson Scott Card's "Characters & Viewpoints". Stephen King's "On Writing" is another good pick.
All in all, I highly recommend you do not buy this book. It is a flat out waste of time and money and could even make your writing journey more difficult.
dialogue moves the story along.......2007-02-14
A relatively comprehensive guide to dialogue writing which highlights important aspects such as finding rhythm, identifying writing fears, and common mistakes. On the minus side, I found some of the advice to be rather obvious, while the chapter on mood is a litle thin and the one about dialogue quirks, over the top. Advice is ultimately aimed at mainstream writing, so if you fall outside of that you'll get less out of it.
Thecniques and Excercies for Effective Dialogue.......2007-01-04
Not very good book, worst exemples, Don't think will help anybody trying to write literature.
Not so Great.......2006-12-28
I read a lot of books on writing, and I felt that DIALOGUE: TECHNIQUES AND EXERCISES was definitely one of the weaker ones. This book imparts very little practical advice on how to write dialogue well. We instead get lots of pages devoted to irrelevant subjects (like a lengthy chapter on personality types) and a lot of other filler. If you're looking for a no-nonsense, get-to-the-point book on writing, this book isn't it.
There's some useful information in this book, but most of it could have been summarized in less than 50 pages. My advice is to skip this overpriced book and spend your money on better, more comprehensive guides (such as Stein on Writing, Orson Scott Card's Character & Viewpoint, and Self-Editing for Fiction Writers).
I felt like I wasted my money on this one.
Average customer rating:
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TAKING THE LEAD # 4 (Sweet Dreams Special, No 4)
Deborah Kent
Manufacturer: Starfire
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0553265288
Release Date: 1987-05-01 |
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- Praise for the NASCAR Racers Book Series
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Taking the Lead
Michael Teitelbaum
Manufacturer: Bt Bound
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Beyond The Limit...
Welcome to the NASCAR Unlimited Division, where the competition is intense and the racing is extreme. Unlimited racecars are the ultimate in high tech, built to reach unheardof speeds, perform incredible stunts, and take on impossible off-road courses! Are you ready for action? Because we're only getting started...
Team Rexcor's dirty driving has landed Megan Fassler in the hospital, and Tema Fastex is struggling without her. Then, Steve Sharp starts having problems, too. What's going on? Can Team Fastex take on Team Rexcor with two drivers down? And can Fastex handle the competition without stooping to Rexcor's brand of dirty tricks?
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Praise for the NASCAR Racers Book Series.......2000-05-17
You've seen the show, now read the books! NASCAR Racers #2: Taking the Lead comprises the episodes "Duck Out of the Way", "Co-Pilot", and "The Mission" -- faithful renditions, worthy of this great animated series. Both the show and the books are great for NASCAR fans of all ages.
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