It is the reader’s responsibility to ponder and comprehend the sometimes contradictory-seeming assertions into a form which is individually useful and meaningful.
The Brothers Grimm: A Biography Review
Bringhurst and Zolbrod approach the discussion thoughtfully, and I’ve written in conversation with their thoughts on the matter; Schmiesing clearly has opinions on the matter, but they don’t come across in the text as fully formed, and she engages with the matter shallowly, passing slantwise judgements on the Grimms’ editorial decisions and their intersection with contemporary and modern mores, without engaging in a deeper analysis.
The Knight in the Panther’s Skin Review
These must be some of the most emotional, nay, emotive knights. To an even greater extent than Arthurian champions, the knights in The Knight in the Panther’s Skin are deeply and vocally emotional.
Instructions of Amenemope Review
Studying ancient Egypt is a little like studying astronomy: it is an exercise in understanding something on a completely different scale from normal human experience.
Deuteronomy Review
The style of its writing, the way its contents are presented, and the nature of those contents do not match the style of the preceding books, all ostensibly authored by Moses.
Uta-Matua and Other Tales of Kapingamarangi Review
Since, at least from this collection, we can gain only a sliver of insight into the associated culture, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions. Instead, I find myself asking more questions.
The Polymath Review
Burke is supposedly something of a specialist in the study of the history of knowledge, but his writing does not reflect it – it is detailed, but not thoughtful. Despite the prolific endnotes with which the text is populated, The Polymath suffers from the fate of many nonfiction books written with appeal to a general audience in mind, being rather dilute and shallow in its treatment and approach.
An Aristocracy of Critics Review
Much of the text reads as an almost blow-by-blow accounting of the committee’s work. It somehow contrives to be exceptionally focused on its topic, replete with specifics and thorough research, and simultaneously lacking in detail.
Numbers Review
After enumerating the numbers of the different tribes and their basic demographic features, Numbers turns to the employment of those numbers, and not just for the proper proportional sacrifices and offerings to God, or for determining how much food and water might be necessary. Rather, the major use of the census seems to be for the creation of an army.
The Consolation of Philosophy Review
Although it’s often described as being in the vein of one of Plato’s dialogues, the conversation between book-Boethius and Lady Philosophy reads like a cross between the style of Plato and the style of Dante.
IGC Publishing 