Value and Virtue in a Godless Universe by Erik J. Wielenberg

Value and Virtue in a Godless Universe by Erik J. Wielenberg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

***1/2

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Suppose there is no God. This supposition implies that human life is meaningless, that there are no moral obligations and hence people can do whatever they want, and that the notions of virtue and vice, right and wrong, and good and evil have no place in the universe. Erik J. Wielenberg believes this view to be utterly erroneous and, in this thought-provoking book, he explains the reasons why. He argues that, even if God does not exist, human life can still have meaning, humans do have moral obligations, and human virtue is still possible. Wielenberg offers readers a cognent [sic] explanation of the ethical implications of naturalism--a view that denies the existence of the supernatural in human life. In his view virtue exists in a godless universe but it is significantly different from virtue in a Christian universe, and he develops naturalistic accounts of humility, charity, and hope. The overarching theme of Virtue and Value in a Godless Universe is what ethics might look like without God. Erik Wielenberg takes readers on an extraordinary tour of some of the central landmarks of this under-explored territory.

MY REVIEW: A very thought-provoking book and a robust attempt to develop a framework for ethics on the assumption that God does not exist. The author presents some interesting, fresh arguments. In the first part of the book, the he critiques common arguments for the existence of God. In the second part of the book, arguments are presented for a moral framework from a naturalistic perspective. I wasn't entirely convinced by some of them but, as a whole, this book is worth reading for those who already have some background in philosophical thinking - it could be a difficult read for some as it is quite scholarly. It certainly demonstrates that it is possible for atheists to develop grounds for ethics without the need for a god as the foundational starting point. It is good to see rigorous thinking being done around this topic. A good contribution to the conversation around humanist ethics.

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The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate by John H. Walton

The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate by John H. Walton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION: In this astute mix of cultural critique and biblical studies, John H. Walton presents and defends twenty propositions supporting a literary and theological understanding of Genesis 1 within the context of the ancient Near Eastern world and unpacks its implications for our modern scientific understanding of origins.
Ideal for students, professors, pastors and lay readers with an interest in the intelligent design controversy and creation-evolution debates, Walton's thoughtful analysis unpacks seldom appreciated aspects of the biblical text and sets Bible-believing scientists free to investigate the question of origins.

MY REVIEW: A brilliant book for anyone interested in the relationship between science and the Genesis 1 creation story in the Hebrew Bible. The idea that the first chapter of the Bible must line up with science is completely undermined once this ancient text is read on its own terms in its historical and cultural context. The author works through a series of propositions solidly based in scholarship about the ancient world and its cosmology. Written with clarity and rigorous logic. Highly recommended for those interested in the subject.

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RED FLAGS: HOW TO SPOT FRENEMIES, UNDERMINERS, AND TOXIC PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE by Wendy L Patrick

Red Flags: How to Spot Frenemies, Underminers, and Toxic People in Your Life by Wendy L. Patrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Are you a good judge of character? Can you identify a manipulative or dangerous person when they cross your path? What if they are charming, successful and good-looking? Can you recognise a wolf in sheep's clothing? In Red Flags, Dr Wendy L. Patrick draws on her extensive professional experience to demonstrate that these people rarely look or seem as we expect. She offers simple strategies for identifying and guarding yourself against deceptive or potentially damaging relationships.  With Red Flags, learn empowerment, exercise assertion, and cultivate the defences you need to protect yourself and others from being undermined, manipulated or victimized.

MY REVIEW: An excellent, practical book on a very important subject. I give this one 5 stars for the following reasons: 1) Well written, easy to read, and engaging; 2) Great examples from the author's professional career which gives it a credibility; 3) There's a lot of books written on communication - all mostly saying the same things. This one has something fresh to say. 4) The FLAG framework (Focus Lifestyle Associations Goals) is easy to remember. 5) The framework is not only useful for thinking about others. It is also an interesting framework for thinking about one's own life and the effect is may have on others; 6) The author draws on an incredible range of research literature in support of her assertions. A important book for everyone.

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BEYOND THE MYTH OF SELF-ESTEEM: FINDING FULFILMENT by John Smith

Beyond the Myth of Self-Esteem: Finding Fulfilment by John Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Enticing yet potentially damaging ‘myths’ about self-esteem have become so deeply entrenched in pop culture that many accept them as truth. They have infiltrated parenting, teaching, the media, celebrity culture, advertising and even religion. Drawing on a wide range of resources and insights from his extraordinary experiences, John Smith uncovers common myths about self-esteem and explores their effects on individuals and society. To those who have come under the influence of these myths, he offers a fresh perspective on self-esteem and personal identity and the possibility of a more meaningful and fulfilling life. Beyond the Myth of Self-Esteem is essential reading if you are looking for a deeper understanding of your world. It will be of particular interest to those who have encountered unexpected obstacles along the path to living their dreams or have a lurking suspicion that there must be more to life than chasing success and spending money.

MY REVIEW: I'm giving this book four stars for its critique of self-esteem "mythology". However, in my view, the positive case for finding fulfilment is not strong enough. Smith clearly comes from a Christian perspective. His answer to the problems he raises about self-esteem is self-surrender to a higher power. This book needed to have as in-depth a treatment of how to find identity and meaning as that of the critique of self-esteem. A slightly longer book that drew on the research literature around identity and meaning and extended the discussion beyond the Christian perspective would have made this book more valuable. However, if one is looking for a critical view of the concept of self-esteem and its application, this is a good place to start.

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A LIFE TEACHING THINKING: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY by Matthew Lipman

A Life Teaching Thinking: An Autobiography by Matthew Lipman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION: This is a book for both believers and skeptics. True believers in the idea of philosophy for children will certainly want to learn the life story of Matthew Lipman, who is the modern father of that revolutionary idea. True skeptics may be curious to learn how a conventionally trained philosopher could leave a tenured professorship at Columbia to establish the Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children. Both believers and skeptics are in for a good read. - Gareth B. Matthews, Professor of Philosophy, University of Massachusetts Amherst

MY REVIEW: I was disappointed with this book. As an autobiography, it is average (at least for me). It is probably not until two-thirds of the way through that the author begins to develop a specific interest in philosophy and philosophy for children. Most of this period of his life story describes the various formalising strategies for the approach (eg, institutes, writing some books, media appearances, conference presentations, and academic work) with little in-depth discussion of the philosophy and his own personal engagement with the children that his approach was designed for (I'm not sure whether he taught children philosophy himself or merely developed the approach that others implemented). There's no doubt that this educational movement is important. I was just hoping for more narrative about Lipman himself worked with children in teaching philosophy himself.

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EYES OF THE DEAD by Adam Netherlund

Eyes of the Dead: A Crime and Suspense Thriller by Adam Netherlund
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Detective Joseph Berlin’s life is a mess. He drinks too much, he dreams of his dead wife, and he’s been off the job for the last three months. After receiving a transfer to the Gardens Police Department, they waste no time in assigning his first case: the murder of one of their own, Undercover officer Tim Scott.

There's just one problem. No one in the department is talking. Not even Tim Scott's so-called "buddies" in the department are willing to help out. When Berlin and his new partner are nearly run off the road, and a number of strange occurrences start developing, he knows he's getting closer to the truth.

But how far can one man go before he breaks? Before he loses control and begins to lose sight of what he was meant to do?

Someone is desperately trying to keep their secret buried and Berlin is a man with nothing to lose.

The clock is ticking and time is running out...

In a city fueled by greed, corruption and deceit, Berlin will come to face face with his greatest fear in this exhilarating first book in the police procedural series, The Gardens. -- GOODREADS

MY REVIEW: This is the first book in a crime series by Adam Netherlund which I probably won't continue to read. The writing is uneven. In some places I felt a degree of tension and the ending is a great cliffhanger. But, overall, it feels rather amateurish with the attempt at stream of conscious writing (every so often, we have italicised thoughts from the characters) is distracting and redundant. I found the occasional colloquialisms of language (eg, nothin', what yah doing?) to be unnecessary and inconsistent (not sure why they were used in some places and not others). It may be that a good editor is required to do something with this book (and subsequent books in the series) to meet its/their potential. The plot is pretty basic and, when compared to the best crime writing available, falls short in my opinion.

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Innovations in NLP for Challenging Times by L Michael Hall & Shelle Rose Carvet (eds)

Innovations in NLP for Challenging Times by L. Michael Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION: This long awaited book brings together some of the most recent innovations and applications of the traditional NLP model. Each chapter describes a new model or application and contains step by step instructions or a case study on how and when to apply it. For NLP practitioners it provides an outstanding collection of new tools and ideas to take their practice forward.


The book also includes chapters on some of the most innovative IT projects and communities where developments and advances continue to be made, including the Clean Language community and the NLP Research and Recognition Project. More than anything, this book represents a collaboration of some of the best innovators in the field of NLP to push the boundaries of the traditional NLP model and create some solutions for the problems created by the increasingly troubled world in which we live.

MY REVIEW: Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) has been around since the '70s and has had its fair share of critics and supporters. One of its weaknesses has been the lack of peer reviewed research supporting its claims along with increasing factions developing (which is ironic given how focused the approach is on understanding others' maps of reality). This book is a welcome addition to the literature on NLP with its call to the NLP community to genuinely collaborate, more robust research and the description of some of the contemporary adaptations and applications of NLP to today's global problems. It is probably not suitable for those who are not familiar with NLP. But for those with a reasonable knowledge of the approach, it will be of great interest.

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