A.J. Ayer

Advantages: A great resource
Disadvantages: Not strong on Modern Philosophy

...Bertrand Russell’s ‘The History of Western Philosophy’ is an admirably clear and accessible introduction to the subject. It is a hefty 842 pages long. It was first published in 1946 and remains a vital resource for those embarking on a study of philosophy. My well-thumbed copy has served me well for four years now and has become almost a friend to me, albeit a friend whose faults are there for all to see. Russell belonged to the golden age of modern English philosophy, centred around Oxford University, that also threw up such famous figures as Wittgenstein and A. J. Ayer. He belonged to a school of thought that believed that the best method for tackling philosophical questions was the scientific method, and particularly, logic. This ‘logical positivism’ is still hugely influential, especially... Read review

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Advantages: Interesting ideas and new translation
Disadvantages: A bit controversial, but then, that's not necessarily a disadvantage

...Harold Bloom's 'The Book of J' caused quite a stir when it first was published. The book contains both introductory essays on authorship, a discussion of the theory of different texts being used to make up the books of the Bible (the Documentary Hypothesis), some historical context, and translation notes. The bulk of the book consists of David Rosenberg's new translation of the J text, that text having been separated and isolated from the other source texts of the Torah (first five books of the Bible). The concluding section contains essays by Bloom on different characters and themes in the text, as well as some modern theoretical analysis of the text, isolated as it is in this volume from the greater mass of material in the Bible. There is a brief appendix by Rosenberg with notes specifically geared toward translation issues... Read review

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..."Gideon's Day" by J.J. Marric is sold as part of the Gideon Omnibus, a collection of fictional stories about a Scotland Yard senior superintendent of enormous stature and presence, from the mid-fifties. The tales are skilfully written with an effortlessly readable metre. If you are after a gritty, police detective novel then I would advise you to look elsewhere. The appeal of "Gideon's Day" lies in its ability to be so unpretentious. It is not poetry, nor a political statement, nor an exposé on all that is 'wrong with the police', nor an attempt to shock the reader. No! It is simply a fast paced, entertaining, but believable novel, by an author who realises that in writing, as in any business, you only succeed by giving the public what they want.... Read review

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