A true account of a turning point in medieval history that shaped the modern world, from “a superb storyteller” and the author of When Jesus Became God (Los Angeles Times).
Europe was in the long slumber of the Middle Ages, the Roman Empire was in tatters, and the Greek language was all but forgotten—until a group of twelfth-century scholars rediscovered and translated the works of Aristotle.
The philosopher’s ideas spread like wildfire across Europe, offering the scientific view that the natural world, including the soul of man, was a proper subject of study. The rediscovery of these ancient ideas would spark riots and heresy trials, cause major upheavals in the Catholic Church—and also set the stage for today’s rift between reason and religion.
Aristotle’s Children transports us back to this pivotal moment in world history, rendering the controversies of the Middle Ages lively and accessible, and allowing us to understand the philosophical ideas that are fundamental to modern thought.
“A superb storyteller who breathes new life into such fascinating figures as Peter Abelard, Albertus Magnus, St. Thomas Aquinas, Roger Bacon, William of Ockham and Aristotle himself.” —Los Angeles Times
“Rubenstein’s lively prose, his lucid insights and his crystal-clear historical analyses make this a first-rate study in the history of ideas.” —Publishers Weekly
**From Publishers Weekly
In 12th-century Toledo, in Spain, a group of Christian monks, Jewish sages and Muslim teachers gathered to study a new translation of Aristotle's De Anima (On the Soul). In Rubenstein's dazzling historical narrative, this moment represents both the tremendous influence of Aristotle on these three religions and the culmination of the medieval rediscovery of his writings. In the fourth century B.C., Aristotle fashioned a new system of philosophy, focusing on the material world, whose operations he explained by a series of causes. As Rubenstein (When Jesus Became God) explains, in the second and third centuries A.D., Western Christian scholars suppressed Aristotle's teachings, believing that his emphasis on reason and the physical world challenged their doctrines of faith and God's supernatural power. By the seventh century, Muslims had begun to discover Aristotle's writings. Islamic thinkers such as Avicenna and Averroes, in the 11th and 12 centuries, embraced Aristotle's rationalist philosophy and principles of logic. Christian theologians rediscovered Aristotle through the commentaries of the monk Boethius, who argued in the sixth century that reason and understanding were essential elements of faith. There resulted a tremendous ferment in the study of Aristotle in the Middle Ages and early Renaissance, culminating in the work of Thomas Aquinas, who used Aristotle's notion of an Unmoved Mover and First Cause to construct his arguments for God's existence. Aquinas, too, argued that reason was a necessary component of faith's ability to understand God and the world. Although the book purports to trace Aristotle's influence on Christianity, Islam and Judaism, it devotes more attention to Christianity. Even so, Rubenstein's lively prose, his lucid insights and his crystal-clear historical analyses make this a first-rate study in the history of ideas.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Adult/High School--This is a challenging, intricate book for mature students who are fascinated by the paradox of the Middle Ages: How was the knowledge of Greece and Rome lost, and how was it found again? To set the scene, Rubenstein provides an introduction to the lives and works of Plato and Aristotle, and to the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West. He then shifts his focus to the year 1136, when a group of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian scholars working together in Toledo began translating the philosopher's forgotten works. The dissemination of those translations sent shock waves through Europe as religious leaders tried to reconcile Aristotle's scientific theories with Church doctrine. The struggles between secular rulers and the Church hierarchy, and the development of the medieval universities, are presented with rich detail and feeling. The author shows readers the similarities between those conflicts and the Darwinist/creationist clashes. Students researching topics on the Middle Ages will find this title a useful reference source. Multiple pages are devoted to the lives and works of important figures, such as Abelard, Aquinas, and Innocent II, but the author does not neglect the less well known, such as William of Ockham or Siger de Brambant. Religious orders, heretical movements, and philosophical works are equally well covered. This is a compelling account of how the rediscovery of the writings of Aristotle changed the way the Western world looked at humans, God, and nature.--Kathy Tewell, Chantilly Regional Library, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Views: 63
Jonathan Tabith and his crew of 5000 challenge the elements of the universe and discover that we haven't even begun to scratch the surface of what lies right outside our doorstep. Views: 63
With Diplomatic Immunity, Grant Sutherland exploded onto the literary scene as one of the most original new authors of international suspense. Now, in his new novel of conspiracy, conscience, and terrifying deception--a novel stretching from the upheaval of the Gulf War to the inner secrets of the current Pentagon--a desperate man struggles to survive a battle for the truth...a battle without any rules except one: win or die. It wasn’t just a war we were fighting out there in the Gulf; the truth is we were joined in battle against the weapons of every major arms manufacturing country on earth--including our own. Captain Ned Rourke of the U.S. Rangers always expected war to be hell, but he never imagined that his men would be cut down in the Gulf War with weapons created by his own country. Disillusioned, betrayed, and looking for justice, he’s determined to find those responsible and make them pay the price. But to do so, he’ll have to work undercover as a marketing manager for Haplon Systems, an arms trader skirting the decrees of international law. Forced to live a double life, Rourke knows he is risking something more important than justice: the trust of his wife and son. And when his friend Dimitri Spandos, a former West Point classmate now working for Haplon’s biggest competitor, is discovered shot to death at an arms fair, Rourke knows that he’s entered a world as dangerous as any battlefield. Haplon’s latest deal--to ship a massive quantity of arms to an unnamed African country--is clearly worth killing for, but can Rourke discover who’s really behind it before his marriage is destroyed...and he ends up with a bullet in the head? The more Rourke learns, the closer he gets to a conspiracy reaching from the killing fields of West Africa to the upper echelons of the Pentagon, and a deadly cover-up that someone intended Dimitri Spandos to take to his grave. But Rourke is now fighting in a war where an ally can become an enemy in the blink of an eye, where no flags or uniforms mark sides--and where knowing the truth could be a sentence of death. If he and his family are going to survive, he’s going to have to throw away the rule book, put his principles aside, and prepare to get blood on his hands once again. From the Hardcover edition.From Publishers WeeklyA strong, cunning writer, Sutherland knows how to plant his characters in complex, threatening situations and then turn them loose as the action escalates. The United Nations was his backdrop in 2001's Diplomatic Immunity, and now he achieves similar results with a political thriller set in the world of arms trading. U.S. Ranger Capt. Ned Rourke was a career soldier through the Gulf War, until he received a serious wound in the Mogadishu debacle. His first civilian job was as an instructor at West Point (which he loathed); the next as sales director for a small, somewhat disreputable arms manufacturer called Haplon. Rourke's wife, Fiona, a geologist who hated his dangerous military life, isn't thrilled by this latest career move, and their son, Brad-a budding geologist-shares her distaste. But Rourke isn't really dealing weapons to developing nations: he and his former army buddy Dimitri are doing deep undercover work for the Defense Intelligence Agency, trying to stop the illegal traffic that caused some of their men in the Gulf to be killed by U.S.-made arms. When an operation called "Hawkeye" starts to go bad and Dimitri is killed, Rourke's double life becomes increasingly perilous. Trapped on a Ukrainian freighter ferrying Haplon arms to the very same war-torn African country where his son has just taken a job, Rourke and a tough female U.S. Customs agent are up to their ears in angst and high-level treachery. Sutherland's narrative engine is definitely a thing of beauty, though it drives some seriously melodramatic action. When the drama threatens to become overwrought, Rourke's touchy, touching relationship with his wife and son provides a needed anchor. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. From BooklistSutherland follows up his debut, Diplomatic Immunity (2001), with an equally absorbing thriller. It's the story of a U.S. Ranger captain, Ned Rourke, whose men were killed in the Gulf War by weapons manufactured in the U.S. but sold to the enemy. He vows revenge on the people who trade arms to the adversaries of the U.S., a decision that takes him into the darker regions of his country and into the darker side of himself. The novel begins with the familiar, Rambo-like premise--a single man takes on a multitude of villains and risks everything in the bargain--but Sutherland works enough variations on the theme to keep things interesting. Rourke, both hero and narrator, is a strong, likable fellow with a contradiction at the heart of his character: it is his deep moral center that compels him to contemplate committing some deeply immoral acts. Around that conflict, Sutherland explores the very thin line separating justice and vengeance. A solid, engaging thriller. David PittCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Views: 63
A tragic accident claims his wife's life, leaving Blake to deal with Erin, the surrogate mother who bears his unborn child. Duty demands that Blake marry Erin to build a life for his child, but that's all. The meddling ghost of his ex-wife, her sister, her son, and his closest friend have other plans. Sizzling chemistry, hot sex, and some heavenly intervention help them both overcome their grief and find Another Love. Publisher's Note: Another Love is a heavily revised and updated version of Heaven Above, the Haunting Hearts romance Ann Jacobs wrote as Sara Jarrod. It introduces some of the characters in Ann's Black Gold series from Ellora's Cave. Views: 63
A chilling ghost story from award-winning novelist, Ann Pilling.Sam, Floss, and their foster brother, Magnus, spend their holidays with cousin M. at The Abbey. On their first night, Magnus hears a woman crying and when he goes to investigate he discovers that the sixteenth-century portrait of Lady Alice Neale, hung in the Great Hall, is now just an empty frame. Magnus shares his secret with the others and soon they are drawn into a web of family mystery and murder.Ann Pilling has written a mystery novel of subtle twist and movement; fascinating historical detail entwined with a familial story which will tug at the heart-strings. Views: 63
ADDICTION. DECEPTION.PRETTY PICTURES HIDE UGLY SECRETS.THE PERFECT MARRIAGEDenise and Derrek Shaw are the perfect American couple. Happily married for fifteen years, they have a wonderful daughter, Mackenzie, successful careers, and a beautiful house in a posh Chicago suburb. They are attractive, respected . . . and hiding a shocking secret: a dangerous addiction to drugs. It started innocently enough. Denise occasionally used prescription drugs to help her deal with the long hours and demanding nature of her job. Derrek, also under pressure at work, began using cocaine socially with some of his colleagues. They can quit whenever they want to. At least, that's what Denise would like to believe . . . As her job becomes more stressful, Denise can no longer get through the day without a fix. Derrek realizes his harmless habit has become anything but, and desperately wants to get clean. However, his attempts are derailed when there... Views: 63
The Royal Engineers, affectionately known as The Sappers, are renowned for being brave, resourceful and always on the front line in combat. However, the world at large is often oblivious to the key role they have played in war and in peace. This new children's adventure story brings The Sappers to life for kids aged 8-12. Blending fact and fiction we are introduced to the world of the Sappers and the key job that they do. This is shown through the activities of the six children who learn about The Royal Enginees, together in their group and at school. With the help of parents and teachers they become engaged in finding out all they can about this Army Corps. This gentle story draws the reader into the world of the children and The Sappers, about whom they are so eager to find out. Beautifully illustrated by Anne Moorse, whose fine paintings are much admired in Dorset, the book is a wonderful introduction for youngsters to the work of the British Army. Views: 63
Hilary Wentworth finds her employer at Carisbrooke Abbey, Marcus, Lord Carisbrooke, as enigmatic as one of the heroes in her favourite Gothic romances. Yet behind his gruff manner she senses a deep and abiding pain. As Marcus's crusty exterior vanishes, Hilary catches a glimpse of the man beneath. But when she discovers the secret that haunts the abbey, it puts them both in terrible danger. Regency Gothic by Amanda Grange; originally published by Robert Hale [UK] Views: 63
Two British travellers, Donald Kemp and Margaret Duncan, have disappeared in the wild mountainous region of northern Afghanistan; a terrain into which western Europeans seldom penetrate. The authorities in Kabul say that they have been murdered by the inhabitants of a small and primitive village and that retribution has already been exacted in the form of wholesale reprisals. John McLeod, a friend of the missing couple who has spent some years in Afghanistan as a diplomat, is deeply suspicious of these explanations. He returns to Kabul and starts his own enquiries, but everywhere he is met with obstruction and evasion, though McLeod is deterred neither by the devious courtesies of local officials nor by the discreet negations of his own embassy. The quest becomes an obsession in which physical pursuit is linked with a personal desire to discover the truth of Donald and Margaret's whole strange relationship. Views: 63
Song Lee is as nice as Harry is horrible! She may seem shy, but beneath her sweet smile is a brave, spunky girl with a great sense of humor. Views: 63
After being cheated on yet again, full-figured Alice O'Brien resolves to enjoy men sexually, refusing to involve her heart. When she tumbles down a rabbit hole, she lands in a beautiful, erotic world, surrounded by gorgeous men who relish her voluptuous curves… Men who want to tie her up and play sex games-talk about a dream come true! Only King Jarronn deliberately lured Alice to his kingdom to be his mate. He has every intention of capturing her for himself and making her his Queen of Hearts. Views: 63
