Philosophy Books

This book is a well-written beginner's introduction to logic. If you are already familiar with the foundations of logic or ethical reasoning I doubt you'll find anything new in the book. I stopped reading it about halfway through because it was so simple, but it would be a good book for someone new to the subject.

This is a decent refresher on formal (and not so formal) logic, for anyone who took a logic class so many years ago. Or for those who didn't, it's a good introduction. It's modeled more or less on Strunk and White, so it's concise (maybe a bit too much), and it's not very technical. It doesn't cover all the bases, e.g. there's nothing on truth trees, but it does a good job with the fundamentals, including the more common fallacies.

Someone (maybe this author) said something to the effect that logic is the most neglected subject in US schools today and the most in need of being returned to a central place in the curriculum. If that's not precisely true, it must be pretty close. Just look at what passes for political debate these days, and the fact that almost no one cares that candidates don't actually use premises, don't bother with valid arguments, don't make rational connections, and draw conclusions that can't possibly be supported. Sheesh .... Copies should be handed out with all birth certificates.

I found this book to very helpful. I discuss logic with a close circle of friends now and my rhetoric as well as my thinking process has gotten a lot better. This book is very helpful from start to finish with intuitive examples and provides a solid foundation.

I do wish that there was a section in the back for further reading, but I found my way through regardless.

Highly recommended!

The book is too simple to the point that the author makes u feel like an idiot. Poor examples and wash down prose.

there are much better book in the topic than this

Buy A Rulebook for Arguments by Anthony Weston instead of this book. Reasons are below.

Both Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking by D.Q. Mcinerny (this book), and A Rulebook for Arguments, by Anthony Weston site the same exact book as their inspiration. Both books are of similar structure, focused on the topic of logic. They both reference The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. (and E. B. White) as their source of inspiration.

As a result, both books attempt to be a short book, easy to read, with the goal of explaining the basic rules of logic to anyone. This book only meets two of the three goals. The other meets all three.

This book is short, and does review the basic rules of logic and critical thinking. However, while someone can breeze through A Rulebook for Arguments with almost no effort, this book (Being Logical) is a bit tough to read at times by comparison.

For example, there is a passage in Negative Statements section of the Language of Logic chapter where the author spends a paragraph or two concluding that it is always clearer to your audience to use the positive phrasing of a statement whenever possible. The very next paragraph begins with an unnecessary use of a negative statement (middle of page 54). Not only does it dawn on the reader that the author violated their own rule, but the book is full of language that is slightly more complex than it needs to be.

Some of the examples that use science can bother someone with a science background. The author occasionally trys to emphasize how concrete something can be by using a "hard science" as an example. When doing so it became even more mixed up. In one passage the author used molecules and elements as though they were interchangeable terms with identical meaning. If you don't know, maybe it doesn't bother you that molecules are composed of the elements, in a higher more ordered complex structure, and the terms don't have the same meaning. The point of logic trying to be made was still there, but it just got muddied a bit when you get bogged down in "huh? but..."

A professor of mine in college assigned this book for a class, and it quickly became my favorite book of all time and remains so a decade later. I have what I would consider a sizable passion for philosophy, but I found taking a survey of the great philosophers rather difficult. Reading the primary, original texts are often opaque and dense at best (and there is no way one can read everything, even by a single philosopher), but many books that claim to be "introductions" to the greats are often very terse and rarely get too deep into the material.

This book is just-right. It introduces you to the the major philosophers neither by overly simplifying them or batting you over the head with their details.

Finally, as the title of the book suggests, Melchert wonderfully connects these philosophers together showing how they influenced each other and how different philosophers attempt to answer the same fundamental questions.

If you are interested in digging into classical philosophy, this is a good start. Some of the earlier chapters are very dry, but it is helpful to understand who came before Socrates. If you only want to take "intro to philosophy" this book is not for you.

CONS:

I like to teach philosophy in one of two ways. Sometimes I like to approach the subject topically. This allows the student to grasp the overall concepts. This is "seeing the forest". Sometimes I like to teach historically, moving slowly through the different philosophers, and allowing the student to enter into the stream of thought. This is "seeing the trees". But I don't like combining these methods into a topical/historical approach. This text combines the approaches in a way I feel can become confusing.

This text is broken into 4 parts. Part 1 is "Metaphysics and Epistemology". Part 3 is "Philosophy of Religion, Reason and Faith". I like to add the discussion of God into the section on metaphysics. They just seem to go together.

Section 2 is "Moral and Political Philosophy". In this section ethics and political philosophy are interwoven in a complex manner. I like to keep these two apart and handle them one at a time.

PROS:

Now that I've stated what I don't like, let me comment on what I do like. Section 4 is a miscellaneous section containing various other subjects. This contains an excellent section on Feminist philosophy. In this section the topical/historical approach works. This section also introduces the student to Eastern philosophies and postcolonial ideas, such as liberation theology. Section 4 was my favorite section.

I also appreciated the depth of the text. This text introduces more philosophers and ideas than most texts of comparable size. The instructor may not highlight them all, but it is nice to have them at hand.

CONCL:

I agree with those who purchase the book to read at their own speed. This is an excellent self-study primer on philosophy. I also agree with those who do not care for this text in the classroom. It doesn't lend itself as well to a 15 week - class structure.

I teach and look for books that are readable, concise, accurate, and engaging. I think this book covers those areas except in its ignorance or perversion of historical Judaism and Christianity. I have an MA in history/philosphy so I know a bit about those areas. The authors have a lot of uninformed, extremely left, and malicious views about religion--esp. Christianity. They are too quick to run with some of the bad moments or possibilites of religion and never point out the overwhelming good. If their blindness and falacious statements and attacks were expunged from this work, then they'd have a solid work worth teaching to kids. Instead, they have historical revisionism and lies. If you read or teach this, purchase Nash's "Life's Ultimate Questions" or Peter Kreefts lectures/books for more honesty and balance.

I used an earlier edition of this textbook to study for my comprehensive final exams for the completion of my M.A. in Philosophy. Everything I needed to know was in this textbook. This is an excellent comprehensive textbook, covering all of the major areas of philosophy.

This book is the Cadillac of introductory textbooks, the finest text of its kind. The depth and breadth of the authors' approach is unparalled.
No better textbook for "intro. to phil." courses can be found in the English language. I can't wait until the next ed. comes out. Even if I did not use this book, I would read it myself, for fun.
Superb.

I'm a trained scientist who has dabbled in philosophical readings all my life. I picked this book up some years ago to aid me in my own philosophical study. FROM A STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE, it is the best general introduction to philosophy I've ever come across (and I've looked at dozens). It is well organized, which is always desired by the introductory student, and is very readable, which is desired by anyone. The writing also has a touch of irony and wit, which I enjoy greatly. I must say that the several chapters on Metaphysics certainly demystified that topic for me. (Though I HEAVILY 'felt' much favored toward the Russell Analytical camp from the "get-go". Continental philosophy seems just akin to refuse.)

I strongly recommend this book.

takes your brain on a trip if you're not pressured into reading it...helps to have some interest in god and morals.

If you are like me and want a short, easy-to-read introduction to the whole discipline of philosophy, you can't do much better than "What Does It All Mean?" by Thomas Nagel. No esoteric language here, or a long complicated historical discussion. Instead, Nagel introduces philosophy by a simple but thought-provoking discussion of some of the main problems of philosophy: How do we know there's anything outside of our minds; how do we know that other people exist; what is the basis of the mind; is there an afterlife; what's the basis for morality; and more. Nagel's primary aim is to encourage curious readers to think about these questions and to read other thinkers who have grappled with them. In this, he has succeeded admirably.

During that first week of the first semester of the freshman year, before the social fraternities might have planned and executed their first parties, before the sports tryouts, play auditions, talent shows, and football games can begin in earnest, for those very few days, the meaning of college and a scholarly endeavor can still be shaped by a teacher. In those two or three class meetings, while others are still defining the field, deriving the Greek origin of the course title, explaining his/her own teaching approach, reading the syllabus, updating roll books, and breaking the ice, in those few days I try to capture students' attention. I will need it for the rest of the semester and I see it as an important part of my job to win it. But I have only a few days to hook them. Those who I can not ensnare are usually lost to the hard stuff, hookah, and hormones. So it's vital that I catch them, and fast. Luckily, I teach Philosophy and History.

Understanding this challenge, the first assignment should both engage and prepare the student for the next readings. Getting through the initial chapters should be an encouraging experience. If an advanced high school student could complete the readings for the second class meeting, spending about three hours to do so, and then successfully use the material in the next class discussion, then that reading is a perfect first selection.

And a broad description of philosophical thinking, in language that provides a freshman with better than even chances to succeed, can still be found in Thomas Nagel's _What Does It All Mean? A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy_. Nine chapters of about ten pages each make this readable little book ideal for the first week of an introductory course in Philosophy. Here, the ideas and major questions are presented in clear language, and in a rational, topical order. Supplemented by a week of rambunctious yet demanding classroom discussions, this small introduction will help open eyes and prepare your students for a more conventional reader, chronologically arranged by Philosopher. This next reader will be attacked, beginning in the second week, by students with some recent experience with the various topics, and in a mood to be critical. Handled correctly, the first week of Philosophy 100 will alert students that reading will count, that doing the reading before class will make you (the student) seem smarter to your classmates, that the text can be understood, and that the subject can be interesting, because it can be applied to life.

I can highly recommend Nagel's small book for that first week, while you still have their attention.

I wish I had time to write more at this time...this is an excellent small intro. It does what it claims to do. It is not comprehensive, but it neither claims to be nor attemtps to be so. Even so, I have read lots and lots of philosophy books and Nagel says more and does so more effectively than many many (too many) philosophy books that are four, five, six times the size of this little intro of his. I have probably bought a half a dozen or more copies of it when I see it at used bookstores and have handed them out to friends and even acquaintances who could benefit from knowing something about philosophy but aren't going to dedicate their lives to it. If you only have time for a hundred pages of philosophy but want to get a taste for the discipline, this is the one you want. I've said more than my time allows...but would write much more praise if I could.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? was forwarded to me by my daughter while she was attending college. She read it as part of her philosophy course syllabus. At first I thought it too slim of a volume to have substantial philosophical merit. How can the meaning of existence be even broached in one hundred pages? But Thomas Nagel has done just that. Be it read as introductory or review, one can satisfactorily cover the basics of philosophy in about an hour. That in itself is quite an accomplishment.

This book examines and acquaints the reader with the major questions of philosophy. As many other reviewers have pointed out, Nagel is remiss where it comes to giving answers, but I don't believe that was ever his intention with this short work. This is not a tract on "how to live," rather a primer for "what to think about?"

As a supplementary text for an introductory survey course in philosophy, this is potentially a very nice volume. Students could read it the first week of class, before moving on to primary sources. In the introduction to the text, however, Nagel states that he hopes the book would also be useful as an invitation to philosophy for inquisitive readers outside a classroom context. Unfortunately, the absence of "suggestions for further reading" at the end of chapters, or even of the names of philosophers who have examined the questions being addressed in the text, is fatal for this hope. After reading this book an inquisitive reader might have some superficial familiarity with some important questions with which philosophers have grappled, but no idea who those philosophers were, and no idea where to turn to pursue the issues in greater depth. For this information, he or she would need to turn to a longer survey of the literature (like Roger Scruton's "Modern Philosophy"). But in that case, why not save some money and go straight to the longer survey, bypassing Nagel's book altogether? That's what I would do.

I read this for fun, and it wasn't a waste of time. It was a little a slow, but the passion for life Trugenev has is clear and beautiful. This is a classic as good as anything I've ever read.

It does have slow points, and some of the plot may seem cliché. But, at the time it was original, and even now the dialogue is never (NEVER) cliché.

I was shocked by how much I loved this book.
Read it. Use a library if you can't afford it.

I took a Russian Literature course a year ago, and out of all the assigned readings, Ivan Turgenev's "Fathers and Sons" was the only one I read all the way through. The story kept me reading, but although it was probably the easiest read out of the list, it is not as simple as one would think. The story isn't actually as important as the message/opinion Turgenev was trying to send out, through the interactions of his characters. If at all interested in Russian historical/cultural issues, this book offers a nifty way to think about it as it might have affected individuals living it.

Turgenev's novel is a poignant portrayal of life's transition: of young men and women entering adulthood, and parents entering old age and possible obscurity. The parents, like Nickolai and Vassily, seem to venerate their children like paupers to princes, seeing them as heirs to the world. The old Romantics seem lost in the new Nihilist world that Bazarov, Arcady, and even Sitnikov are preaching. The generations are at a crossroads: while the older generation tries to understand and leave the reigns for its descendants, the younger people feel invincibly wise and superior, and yet unknowing of what to do with their lives.

Bazarov assumes too much. His arrogance is overwhelming and irritating. He talks to his hosts, including parents, like they are children, and yet takes every luxury and resource they offer him. He never fails to take all that is given. His father showers him with love and kindness, shelter and money, and yet Bazarov will not even allow his father to hold a conversation with him, and stops him each time his father wishes to express himself to his son in his own way. Even more aggravating is Bazarov's action toward Fenichka. Nickolai offers him a roof and room, food, comfort - all for a virtual stranger - without complaint, and yet Bazarov sees fit to seduce the mother of his child. His regret is short-lived, and pride follows.

At this point most would tend to like the aristocratic character of Paul, who defends his brother's honor without anything to gain himself. While a duel is a rather foolish affair it nevertheless let Bazarov know that there are consequences to his unremorseful actions. And in the end, the reader can see the sincere kindness that Arcady had tried to convince Bazarov that Paul had, but that his mentor did not believe. Bazarov is certainly a force in the book, but Paul seems to be the most effective catalyst to the rest of the characters. I did not quite understand the reference in the book to Paul being a corpse at first, but I supposed it meant that he had changed forever, that he would never again see his aristocratic pretenses in the same way again.

Arcady is another likable character in the book, although his maturation and break with Bazarov seemed frustratingly slow at times. He keeps to a truer degree an idea of equality among classes, while Bazarov says it but doesn't seem to really believe it, and talks to them more as an aristocrat at times than an equal. Yet at the same time, Arcady retains his father's Romantic nature, and is thus able to function more effectively throughout the book. Bazarov, in contrast, seems to feel the need to move on to a different place each time his strict belief system is compromised. It is no coincidence, I'm sure, that most of the Romantics seem to go on living extraordinary lives in the end while Bazarov does not and Sitnikov is miserable, and even Madame Odintzov, who was infatuated with and much like Bazarov, does not find true love or happiness. Indeed, it is the end of the novel, being Bazarov's fate, which gives the story its true emotional weight. It is a well-written tale of generations that is certainly worth the journey.

Isn't it so true! -- and it always will be so, as it has in the past. Perhaps Baby Boomers reading this review will recall what their parents thought of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, etc. ... and what many of us, at the same time thought about the Nixonian "Establishment" *.* Who was right? I'll encourage you to answer this one.

But, as to this book, it's one of the finest Russian Classics I've ever read (and I've read many -- see my listmania lists on Russian works). It's a MYTH that all Russian novels are dreary -- you can even find humor stowed away here and there in Dostoyevsky if you actually read him. You'll find this book especially upbeat, for the most part. It has its serious moments but it also conveys notable hilarity and absurdity as well, ergo, "the duel"!

Two young educated men: 1) come into philosophical conflict with their respective elders, and, 2) fall in love with their respective female fancies. "It's as simple as that," as Tolstoy would say!

The ending is one of the most compelling closings I've ever encountered. It's quite moving and the Hallmark of a shrewd novelist. I think that the ending, in particular, makes this work as savoury for women as it is for men, perhaps even moreso. At 157 pages, it's a pretty fast read.

Michael Katz, (Professor of Slavic Languages, University of Texas), did a fine job on this particular translation -- very fluid and smooth reading. There are also some very informative, but brief, footnotes in this edition which are imperative for the reader who is not much apprised of Russian culture of this period (it takes place just prior to the elimination of Russian serfdom which happened in the early 1860s).

This work is also a good warm up prequel, as some have mentioned, to the Russian Mother of All Novels: "War and Peace" (Tolstoy). However, I will point out one chief difference between the writing styles of Tolstoy and Turgenev... Tolstoy is DEEP, psychologically speaking and exudes tons of sub-plots. Turgenev is straightforward and he writes directly that to which he has witnessed in life... nothing more. It's infinitely readable to all.

This is a fine novel for anyone who enjoys peeking into the daily inner-workings and inevitable peccadillos of the average family. If I have a complaint with this edition, I confess to finding myself squinting at the notably small fonts.

But then, I am getting on in life and I can't see as good as I used to *.*

I think the thing I enjoyed most about "Fathers and Sons" was that it was short. The great Russian classics we generally think of are "War and Peace", "Crime and Punishment", etc. These are all long, drawn out books. "Fathers and Sons", thankfully, is short(er), with fewer characters and less confusion as to which person is which, especially since few have similar last names. Confusion does arise between Nicholas Petrovich and Paul Petrovich, his brother. There it is important to remember who is who, but luckily, their personalities are very different and it becomes clear very soon.

Another thing that is nice about "Fathers and Sons" is that it's different. It is not a book of great dramatic fighting (though there is one). It feels human and realistic. All the characters have both virtues and flaws that are easy to relate to. The ending is sad, but at the same time it is happy. It doesn't feel over-done, and I especially liked how the romance stuck in was sweet and not too out-there.

The book also reflects the difficulties Russia had during that period of time. Things were changing and some didn't welcome the change as much as others. Things that had once been acceptable became strange, and the people who believed in the old things became outdated. This book shows the concept of a generation gap beautifully while maintaining an interesting plot and characters.

I recommend it, partially because it's simply a good book, and partially because it shows that not all Russian classics must be long, drawn-out, and with lots of complicated names. Turgenev, who came before Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, will hopefully remain with them on the literary level for a long time to come.

I saved at least $40 and the book i purchased was new and come with a CD and the one i was going to get didnt have one and was way more expencive. I would purchace from here again.

Using this book for a course in Community College. Have to say they have kept the content interesting and relevant and I highly recommend it for basic explanations for PSY 101.

IF YOU NEED TO KNOW JUST ABOUT ANYTHING OR ANYONE IN PSYCHOLOGY IT PRETTY MUCH HAS IT.

David Swensen has written a commendable book. Perhaps most commendable is his focus on ethical money management with a focus on fiduciary responsibility to the investor--a Birkshirean theme worth reiterating over and over.

The principal value of this book derives from its discussion on the use of alternative investments--such as private equity, market neutral strategies, and venture capital. Indeed, in the first paragraph of the books cover it is noted that "Largely focusing on nonconventional strategies, including a heavy allocation to private equity, Swensen has achieved an annualized return of 17.4%." Ironically, however, within the book Swensen writes in detail how and why private equity investing provides inferior risk adjusted returns vs. investment in plain vanilla marketable securities (e.g. S and P 500 index). This information is especially interesting given the recent investment by the Chinese government (purported disciples of David Swensen) in the Blackstone group IPO!!!!

Swenson's discussion about inferior risk adjusted returns provided by venture capital funds, his discussion about market neutral strategy returns, and his discussion about the importance of long term treasuries vs. other bond alternatives are equally interesting.

Overall, this book is good and differentiated, but somewhat inferior to other classics (e.g. One up on wall street by Peter Lynch, A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Malkiel, etc.). I would suggest waiting for the new edition of Pioneering Portfolio Management to come out instead of buying this older edition (2000)

I have recommended this book to numerous colleagues at work. We use it as a great summary of our investment philosophy and as a touchstone for investment values and sanity checks. We have purchased mutiple copies which we give to stakeholders to spread the word and bring them up to speed with these investment truths.

I've been a professional f.m. for 25 years and I wish I'd read this book closer to year 1 than year 25.

BTW we got far less incremental value out of Swensen's second book

This is an excellent book about the workings of an institutional portfolio and the various influences pulling at investment decisions.

Lots of good anecdotal stories of mis-steps by *other* institutions. I would love to hear about some mistakes that DS has made during his tenure.

He deals implicitly w/ agency issues that exist in most money management situations. For a more detailed explication of agency conflicts, read, "Unconventional Success".

He attributes a lot of manager success to luck. However, how much of DS's and Yale's success is due to luck? He does not subject his own performance (that of managing the managers) to any sort of benchmark.

Finally, he gives very short shrift to the back-office and operational issues (1 page at the end of the book). This is the achilles heel of 80% of management firms. They cannot scale, control, and maintain quality as they grow. This is the same, "Its all in the front office" mentality that presages so many other stumbles into mediocrity (not blow ups - just a benign drift downwards in rankings). I hope this same fate does not befall DS and Yale.

The marketing/techno-speak of the investment management industry sometimes gets to be overwhelming, this book can be an antidote. Swensen focuses on policy objectives, manager incentives, relative market (in)efficiencies and fundamental asset class characteristics to write a valuable resource for anyone considering the plethora of modern-day investment vehicles. Practically every concept is explained in language that is intelligible to someone with a basic understanding of the current investment markets. Absolutely worth the purchase.

Swensen is certainly one of the brightest minds in institutional money management. In a world where there are ten million books on how to pick stocks, trade options, or some other get rich quick scheme, finally a great investor shows the methodology of how significant wealth should be managed. This book is a must read for anyone who manages or invests significant money, even if it isn't institutional assets.

It is great to have the bible on CD. I however would have wanted the readers to slow down. It would have made the experience of listening a little more interesting. I really enjoyed the Bible Experience CD's much better.

This is a great product - the Bible on CD. I listen and read along each morning. I remember better what I have both seen and heard at the same time. I am suddenly quoting scriptures because I remember them better. I also sometimes play the CDs in the car or when I work. It puts me into a better frame of mind. My only gripe: James Earl Jones did not bother to correct his reading errors, and there are quite a few. The other reader, Jon Sherberg, is great though.

I love James Earl Jones' voice, but after listening to an extensive sample, I did not like the pace of the reading. It is a bit fast for my taste. Enunciation was great, voice was great. If you prefer a rapid delivery, this might be for you. I did not hear the other reader, so no review on the Old Testament reading.

My advice for people looking at an audio version is to go to other sites and listen to samples. It would be highly beneficial for Amazon to have audio samples in the same manner that they do for music. It would save a lot of effort!

I WAS SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE BIBLE ON CD. I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE I NEEDED TO READ THE WORD EACH DAY. IT HAS BEEN A GOOD DECISION AND ONE THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT.

this is a great set to listen to in your car while driving. it puts you in a positive mood and makes driving more pleasant. i like to listen to the same cd as i am reading. ex. i am presently study the book of acts, it might take me a week to get through so i will listen to the book of acts on cd the whole week. next week will be romans,etc. i also have the bible on dvd that i watch 1x a week. this is a great way to study the bible. 1) you read the bible 2)you hear the bible 3) you see and hear the bible. by doing this you might read hear and see the bible chapter many times during the week. you will definately retain more.
the products i am presently working through and you can get all right here on amazon are
1) the new defenders study bible (extensive notes on key verses from a creationalist point of view) this alone will open your eyes and mind. get this first.
2) the holy bible king james version complete.the bible on cd with james earl jones(he reads the new testament) and jon sherberg (he reads the old testament) i find it great to have 2 different voices to listen to. get this second.
3) the holy bible complete king james version old and new testament on dvd. this is an awesome dvd set. with the whole bible right on your tv. great for people who have troubling reading and the whole bible takes only 70 hours to watch on tv. get this third.
4) the go bible. i do not presently have this but am going to get it. it is a mp player with just the whole bible on it. you can listen to it while you are walking. ( i walk 1/2 hour a day and this is a great time to study the word as you see GODS beauty all around. while you are driving or at home with the extra speakers and car adaptor.06-14-2008, just got the go bible. i also bought the car adapter and extra speakers. but i just use it for when i do my daily walk. it is awesome for that. but i would get the cds for the car. also sign up for netflix or blockbluster and rent dvds that tie in with the books of the bible you are reading and studying. example. i am reading matthew mark luke and john. i have rented a couple of dvds about jesus. doing this with the some or all of the above. it really is an awesome experience.
5) check out tomorrows world on the internet, every thing is free. take the bible study course either online or they will mail it to you. they have about 26 different booklets about the subects we all want to ask. they also have their 1/2 hour tv show on their website. you can read past magazine issues and all of their booklets right on their website. in the last 8 months i have learnt more from tomorrows world than any other source. because they teach right out of the bible. their saying is DONT TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT, READ YOUR BIBLE CHECK UP ON US. i dont know of any other organization that says that.
in the end you must read and study the bible. this is GODS inspired word.
i hope this helps, if you do the above you will be light years ahead of truly understading the bible. and you will feel GOD with you every step of the way. peace be with you and GOD bless......................