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Italian Studies on Food and Quality of Life (Social Indicators Research Series #85)
by Paolo Corvo Carolina Facioni Gabriele Di FrancescoThe book explores, through a reflection on food, the complexity of the concept of well-being. It starts from the consideration that food is a fundamental element for human well-being, and for well-being of the planet as a whole. Not only does food guarantee the survival of human beings, it is also a cultural expression. With regard to the Italian socio-cultural context, the contributors explore how food relates to aspects such as history, tradition, new food styles, health, and the old and new technologies used to produce food. The studies in the book do not simply analyse indicators to illustrate the Italian situation in the "here and now". As part of the tradition of studies on social indicators, they provide valid and well-founded indications to contribute to an improvement in the quality of life for years to come.This work on the theme of food represents a very useful contribution to the general reflection on well-being and its statistical, sociological, and multidisciplinary study, due to the importance historically given to food in Italy and the socio-cultural implications of food in various life contexts.
Italianamerican: The Scorsese Family Cookbook
by Katherine Scorsese and Georgia DownardCatherine Scorsese's tomato-and meat sauce was probably the only recipe ever to receive full billing in the credits of a movie when Martin Scorsese starred the sauce and his parents in Italianamerican, his favorite of all his films. Now, for the first time, all the recipes from the family have been written down for this cookbook, with photos and anecdotes that tell the story of three generations of Scorseses.
Italians and Food (Consumption and Public Life)
by Roberta SassatelliThis book is a novel and original collection of essays on Italians and food. Food culture is central both to the way Italians perceive their national identity and to the consolidation of Italianicity in global context. More broadly, being so heavily symbolically charged, Italian foodways are an excellent vantage point from which to explore consumption and identity in the context of the commodity chain, and the global/local dialectic. The contributions from distinguished experts cover a range of topics including food and consumer practices in Italy, cultural intermediators and foodstuff narratives, traditions of production and regional variation in Italian foodways, and representation of Italianicity through food in old and new media. Although rooted in sociology, Italians and Food draws on literature from history, anthropology, semiotics and media studies, and will be of great interest to students and scholars of food studies, consumer culture, cultural sociology, and contemporary Italian studies.
Italy's Jews from Emancipation to Fascism
by Shira KleinHow did Italy treat Jews during World War II? Historians have shown beyond doubt that many Italians were complicit in the Holocaust, yet Italy is still known as the Axis state that helped Jews. Shira Klein uncovers how Italian Jews, though victims of Italian persecution, promoted the view that Fascist Italy was categorically good to them. She shows how the Jews' experience in the decades before World War II - during which they became fervent Italian patriots while maintaining their distinctive Jewish culture - led them later to bolster the myth of Italy's wartime innocence in the Fascist racial campaign. Italy's Jews experienced a century of dramatic changes, from emancipation in 1848, to the 1938 Racial Laws, wartime refuge in America and Palestine, and the rehabilitation of Holocaust survivors. This cultural and social history draws on a wealth of unexplored sources, including original interviews and unpublished memoirs.
Italy, Land of Searching Hearts: The Story of Arthur and Emma Wiens, and the Need for the Gospel in Italy
by Evelyn Stenbock-DittyA True Story from the forgotten mission field of Europe. "Italy is one of the most neglected mission fields in all Europe. Art Wiens has had a lifetime of service there and he is one of my heroes." George Verwer, Operation Mobilisation. "Art and Erma Wiens are the true prototype of those who have led the way in missionary work in Europe... will help in the understanding of the challenge of Europe as a mission field."
Itineraries in Conflict: Israelis, Palestinians, and the Political Lives of Tourism
by Rebecca L. SteinIn Itineraries in Conflict, Rebecca L. Stein argues that through tourist practices--acts of cultural consumption, routes and imaginary voyages to neighboring Arab countries, culinary desires--Israeli citizens are negotiating Israel's changing place in the contemporary Middle East. Drawing on ethnographic and archival research conducted throughout the last decade, Stein analyzes the divergent meanings that Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel have attached to tourist cultures, and she considers their resonance with histories of travel in Israel, its Occupied Territories, and pre-1948 Palestine. Stein argues that tourism's cultural performances, spaces, souvenirs, and maps have provided Israelis in varying social locations with a set of malleable tools to contend with the political changes of the last decade: the rise and fall of a Middle East Peace Process (the Oslo Process), globalization and neoliberal reform, and a second Palestinian uprising in 2000. Combining vivid ethnographic detail, postcolonial theory, and readings of Israeli and Palestinian popular texts, Stein considers a broad range of Israeli leisure cultures of the Oslo period with a focus on the Jewish desires for Arab things, landscapes, and people that regional diplomacy catalyzed. Moving beyond conventional accounts, she situates tourism within a broader field of "discrepant mobility," foregrounding the relationship between histories of mobility and immobility, leisure and exile, consumption and militarism. She contends that the study of Israeli tourism must open into broader interrogations of the Israeli occupation, the history of Palestinian dispossession, and Israel's future in the Arab Middle East. Itineraries in Conflict is both a cultural history of the Oslo process and a call to fellow scholars to rethink the contours of the Arab-Israeli conflict by considering the politics of popular culture in everyday Israeli and Palestinian lives.
Itsy Bitsy Christmas: A Reimagined Nativity Story for Advent and Christmas
by Max LucadoNew York Times bestselling author Max Lucado brings the Christmas message of Jesus&’ birth to young children in this Christmas story of God&’s love for everyone, even the littlest of His creation. Itsy Bitsy Christmas is a true nativity story reimagined in a fictional narrative through the eyes of two mice. When Itsy and Bitsy, two charming little mice, hear that a King is coming to Bethlehem, they set off with great enthusiasm to find Him. Along the way, others discourage them saying they are too little and unimportant for any king. Just when Itsy and Bitsy begin to believe they really aren't big enough for the new King, they learn that Christ the King has indeed come for everyone.With this Advent picture book, 4 to 7-year-olds willunderstand God's great loveknow that He sent His Son for all of us, little or big, young or oldlearn that faith is believing before seeingsee that Jesus is found in the most unlikely places Itsy Bitsy Christmas featuresa beautiful jacketed hardcovercolorful illustrations that children will adoreThis encouraging book is a great faith-building Advent gift or Christmas morning surprise. Reading Max Lucado&’s Itsy Bitsy will become a treasured memory your family shares every Advent season.
It’s Never Too Late: Make the Next Act of Your Life the Best Act of Your Life
by Kathie Lee GiffordFormer Today show host Kathie Lee Gifford draws on stories from her remarkable life to weave together a beautiful reminder that whatever circumstances we face, God is still dreaming big for our years ahead. When Kathie Lee Gifford stepped down as cohost of the fourth hour of the Today show with Hoda Kotb, you might have thought her best days were behind her. It turns out, she was just getting started. As Kathie Lee says, &“I&’m not retiring; I&’m refiring!&” Taking us from her Chesapeake Bay childhood when she first heard God&’s calling, to her skyrocketing fame with Regis, to her decision to leave television for Nashville, Kathie Lee inspires us to pursue what really matters. Because it&’s never too late to forgive, to dance the cha-cha, or to make a difference in the world. God placed His dreams in your heart for a reason. And like Kathie Lee, you might just discover that the best is yet to come. Whether you&’re an empty nester, newly single, navigating a career change, or just eager for any change, Kathie Lee helps you hear God&’s loving calling because It&’s Never Too Late to . . .Begin AgainMake Sparks FlyLeave a Good ThingHave a PartyChange the Ending, Then Change It AgainIs it time for you to rewrite your story, unearth your hidden passions, and live with a renewed purpose? It&’s never too late.
It’s Never Wrong to Do the Right Thing: Courageous Stories to Inspire Godly Decisions
by Nicole C. MullenRich with Nicole C. Mullen’s deeply personal lessons from her own journey of overcoming abuse and betrayal, this book provides biblical insights and practical encouragement.Nicole C. Mullen is known for her success as an artist, winning nine Dove Awards including Female Vocalist of the Year for her hit songs “Redeemer” and “On My Knees.” However, what most don’t know is that Nicole, like everyone else, has suffered from brokenness, pain, and fear of the future. It was during these trying moments that Nicole drew strength from courageous men and women, who in difficult times trusted God to help them make the right decisions in their darkest seasons. In her new book It’s Never Wrong to Do the Right Thing, Nicole shares the stories of people from the Bible, history, and her life who have inspired her to make changes for the better. Through her reflective storytelling and rich Bible teaching, you will discover:Guidance in knowing when to wait or act (Abigail)The value of life and why it’s worth fighting for (Jochebed)How rewards will come when we fear God more than man (Rahab)The urgency to obey God when He speaks (Mary and Joseph)The importance of initiating change (Elizabeth Freeman) You don’t have to stay stuck in the shadows of despair and shame. Godly decisions will help restore your heart and direct you to a life of abundant blessings in Christ.
It’s Not Just Academic!: Essays on Sufism and Islamic Studies
by Carl W ErnstThis collection of articles by Carl W Ernst summarizes over 30 years of research, recovering and illuminating remarkable examples of Islamic culture that have been largely overlooked, if not forgotten. It opens with reflections on teaching Islam, focusing on major themes such as Sufism, the Qur’an, the Prophet Muhammad, and Arabic literature. The importance of public scholarship and the questionable opposition between Islam and the West are also addressed. The articles that follow explore multiple facets of Sufism, the ethical and spiritual tradition that has flourished in Muslim societies for over a thousand years. The cumulative effect is to move away from static Orientalist depictions of Sufism and Islam through a series of vivid and creative case studies.
Iustitia Dei: A History of the Christian Doctrine of Justification
by Alister E. McGrathThe Christian doctrine of justification is of immense interest to historians and theologians ,and continues to be of major importance in modern ecumenical discussions. The present work appeared in its first edition in 1986, and rapidly became the leading reference work on the subject. Its many acclaimed features include a detailed assessment of the semantic background of the concept in the Ancient Near East, a thorough examination of the doctrine of the medieval period, and an especially careful analysis of its development during the critical years of the sixteenth century. The substantially rewritten fourth edition thoroughly updates the work, responding to the latest developments in scholarly literature and user feedback. It will remain an essential resource for all concerned with the development of Christian doctrine, the history of the Reformation debates on the identity of Christianity, and modern discussions between Protestants and Roman Catholics over the nature of salvation.
Ivan Illich: An Intellectual Journey (Ivan Illich #2)
by David CayleyIn the eighteen years since Ivan Illich’s death, David Cayley has been reflecting on the meaning of his friend and teacher’s life and work. Now, in Ivan Illich: An Intellectual Journey, he presents Illich’s body of thought, locating it in its own time and retrieving its relevance for ours.Ivan Illich (1926–2002) was a revolutionary figure in the Roman Catholic Church and in the wider field of cultural criticism that began to take shape in the 1960s. His advocacy of a new, de-clericalized church and his opposition to American missionary programs in Latin America, which he saw as reactionary and imperialist, brought him into conflict with the Vatican and led him to withdraw from direct service to the church in 1969. His institutional critiques of the 1970s, from Deschooling Society to Medical Nemesis, promoted what he called institutional or cultural revolution. The last twenty years of his life were occupied with developing his theory of modernity as an extension of church history. Ranging over every phase of Illich’s career and meditating on each of his books, Cayley finds Illich to be as relevant today as ever and more likely to be understood, now that the many convergent crises he foresaw are in full public view and the church that rejected him is paralyzed in its “folkloric” shell.Not a conventional biography, though attentive to how Illich lived, Cayley’s book is “continuing a conversation” with Illich that will engage anyone who is interested in theology, philosophy, history, and the Catholic Church.
Ivan Illich: An Intellectual Journey (Ivan Illich: 21st-Century Perspectives #2)
by David CayleyIn the eighteen years since Ivan Illich’s death, David Cayley has been reflecting on the meaning of his friend and teacher’s life and work. Now, in Ivan Illich: An Intellectual Journey, he presents Illich’s body of thought, locating it in its own time and retrieving its relevance for ours.Ivan Illich (1926–2002) was a revolutionary figure in the Roman Catholic Church and in the wider field of cultural criticism that began to take shape in the 1960s. His advocacy of a new, de-clericalized church and his opposition to American missionary programs in Latin America, which he saw as reactionary and imperialist, brought him into conflict with the Vatican and led him to withdraw from direct service to the church in 1969. His institutional critiques of the 1970s, from Deschooling Society to Medical Nemesis, promoted what he called institutional or cultural revolution. The last twenty years of his life were occupied with developing his theory of modernity as an extension of church history. Ranging over every phase of Illich’s career and meditating on each of his books, Cayley finds Illich to be as relevant today as ever and more likely to be understood, now that the many convergent crises he foresaw are in full public view and the church that rejected him is paralyzed in its "folkloric" shell.Not a conventional biography, though attentive to how Illich lived, Cayley’s book is "continuing a conversation" with Illich that will engage anyone who is interested in theology, philosophy, history, and the Catholic Church.
Ivan and the Star of David
by Myrna GrantThe summary of the book is taken from the Back Cover: "Ivan Nazaroff meets a beautiful young girl whose family is being closely watched and sometimes questioned by the police. Julia Devenko confides to Ivan that they are believers in God. Yet none of the other Christians know them. Ivan soon finds himself deeply involved in a dangerous battle of wits with the police. Once again Ivan's faith is put to the test as he takes great risks to help his new friend."
Izzy's Pop Star Plan: The Album
by Alex MarestaingIn this second book of the Izzy's Pop Star Plan series, the final voting tallies on International Pop Star Challenge are finally revealed, and a media firestorm begins to rage. Though a heavy audience favorite, Izzy Baxter loses by a mere 112 votes. Rumors have it that the sixteen-year-old was robbed of the title because of her faith. Everyone seems to be offering the teen legal advice, and many begin pressuring Izzy to demand a recount. After trying hard to hear God's voice in all the noise, she decides to leave the loss behind and focus on her fledgling music career.Izzy is flooded with contract offers, but after agonizing over the myriad of choices, she finally decides to sign with Pop Star judge Giuseppe Rossi's Megatone Records. The talented teen is then whisked away to London to begin recording her first album. But even songs produced by a genius British producer feel empty for Izzy without incorporating her faith.Needing to clear her head, Izzy takes a break from recording and heads to Uganda for a two-week mission trip with her youth group. While working at the Kisugu orphanage, Izzy's heart is broken and forever changed. On top of a lonely African hill, the young songwriter begins working on a new set of songs, and a new Pop Star Plan is born.
Izzy's Popstar Plan
by Alex MarestaingIzzy Baxter has big plans—popstar plans. Ever since she was six, she’s dreamed of becoming the world’s next singing sensation. Now sixteen, her singing career is on the rise, and she’s been selected to compete on the hit TV show International Popstar Challenge. As Izzy performs in far off locations such as Tokyo and Paris, it seems as if her plans are coming off without a hitch. But God has plans of His own, and Izzy will soon discover that living for Him is “way cooler” than megastar fame.Presented like a daily blog, set up like a devotional, and read like a novel—this book will be an instant hit with tween girls. This cutting edge new product will meet girls where they are, and girls will love following Izzy on her incredible adventure. Plus, they’ll get daily spiritual food to equip them on their own incredible adventure with God.
I’m Going to Have a Good Day!: Daily Affirmations with Scarlett
by Tiania HanelineI am beautiful. I am kind. I am loved.In this uplifting picture book, young readers will discover how they can use daily affirmations to remind them of who they are and what makes them special. Join TikTok sensation Scarlett Gray and Tiania Haneline as they repeat exuberant affirmations that empower Scarlett throughout the day and inspire those around her to create their own uplifting self-talk.Every morning as her mom brushes her hair, Scarlett recites her daily affirmations. Those powerful words travel with her throughout her day, helping her replace negative thoughts with positive ones and live out the truth that she is beautiful, strong, brave, kind, and worthy of love. This fun-filled and inspiring kids&’ book also includes a list of uplifting and child-friendly statements your child can use to create their own daily affirmation routine. With fun illustrations from Stephanie Dehennin that make the story come alive, you and your young reader will discover how much words matter in your own lives.I'm Going to Have a Good Day! teaches children 4-8:how to incorporate positive affirmations into their livesthat self-esteem is fun and empoweringthe benefits of passing on love and encouragement to othershow to overcome negative thoughts in their everyday liveshow to build confidence and see their self-worth I'm Going to Have a Good Day! is ideal for:birthday, Christmas, and holiday giftsbedtime and story time readingencouraging kindness and self-confidencesharing God's loves Build up your loved ones with encouraging words of affirmation, and they'll be saying, "I'm going to have a good day!"
I’m Still Standing
by Jeanette BradleyThis is a book written to give hope and inspiration to those who don't have any. It was written to glorify God for his power to save, heal, and restore from the damage of abuse and trauma.
J. Anthony Froude: The Last Undiscovered Great Victorian
by Julia MarkusAcclaimed biographer Julia Markus has written an unprecedented and illuminating portrait of the brilliant, tortured, and controversial James Anthony Froude -- the quintessential Victorian, father of modern biography, historian, diplomat, and prodigal son. J. Anthony Froude expertly captures the roiling cultural history of a century through one man's dynamic life. From his birth in 1818 to his death in 1894, J. Anthony Froude embodied the issues and complexities of his time. Through the story of his life, Markus elucidates the major ideological issues of the nineteenth century -- sexuality, colonialism, and the widespread challenges to religion's long-held cultural primacy. In beautifully crafted prose, Markus reveals the compelling life of one of the most important thinkers of the Victorian age -- the brutality of his early education, his troubled relationship with his father, his expulsion from Oxford, his dramatic and dazzling literary career, his delicious political incorrectness, his two marriages, his relationships with his children, his friendships with such disparate luminaries as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Cardinal Newman, his diplomatic work for Prime Minister Disraeli, and his complex relationship with Thomas Carlyle, his spiritual father and the subject of his most famous biography. A. L. Rowse, historian and author, called Froude the "last great Victorian awaiting revival." No life of the period is more poignant, no destiny more fascinating, than that of this man who in his books and his actions reflected the triumphs and the errors of his society.
J. I. Packer: His Life and Thought
by Alister McGrathJ. I. Packer was one of the most influential evangelical theological and spiritual writers of the twentieth century, best known for his classic work Knowing God. In the 1990s Christianity Today readers named him one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century, second only to C. S. Lewis. But who was Jim Packer, and what is the story of the man behind the writings? Alister McGrath, a bestselling author and friend of Packer, tells the story of Packer's faith and how it sustained him during his time in England and Canada. Along the way he explores Packer's many contributions to theology and spirituality, alternating narrative with reflection. By engagingly setting out Packer's ideas and the central themes of his work, McGrath helps to explain why Packer and his writing continue to be so helpful to millions on the journey of encountering God. This beautiful recollection of a giant of the Christian faith is both a celebration of his life and the perfect introduction to his thought and writings for a new generation of readers.
J. Krishnamurti: Self-Inquiry, Awakening, and Transformation (Elements in New Religious Movements)
by Constance A. JonesThis Element explores the life, teaching, and legacy of philosopher and spiritual teacher Jiddu Krishnamurti. From an obscure childhood in south India, he was 'discovered' at age fourteen by the Theosophical Society as the vehicle for the prophesied World Teacher of this cosmic age. At age 34, he disaffiliated from the Society, became an independent teacher, and, for sixty years, traveled widely and addressed thousands of audiences on the need to develop awareness and attention for transformation of consciousness. His teaching defines the human condition as perilous, dominated almost completely by cultural and personal conditioning, fear, and negative emotions. Freedom from these perils, his teaching states, occurs through rigorous self-observation and inquiry in the search for truth. While extremely popular, Krishnamurti rejected the mantle of authority invariably attributed to spiritual masters and teachers. He created schools in his name to implement his pedagogy of non-authoritarianism and freedom from conditioning.
J. Oswald Sanders: Spiritual Leadership, Spiritual Maturity, Spiritual Discipleship
by J Oswald SandersThree classics for every Christian&’s library. Over 1 million copies sold!The influence of J. Oswald Sanders is known far and wide across the globe. In this new edition, readers engage with Sanders most essential and influential work: Spiritual Leadership, Spiritual Maturity, and Spiritual Discipleship. Spiritual Leadership is a proven classic, presenting the key principles of leadership in both the temporal and spiritual realms. Sanders illustrates his points with examples from Scripture and biographies of eminent men of God, such as Moses, Nehemiah, the apostle Paul, David Livingstone, Charles Spurgeon, and others. Featured topics include: the cost of leadership, the responsibility of leadership, the qualities and criteria of leadership, the art of reproducing leaders, and the one indispensable requirement of leadership.Sanders holds that even natural leadership qualities are God-given, and their true effectiveness can only be reached when they are used to the glory of God. Let this classic be your guide for leadership and watch how God works through you to do great things for His glory.Spiritual Maturity: Spiritual maturity is not a level of growth Christians achieve, but the passion to press on in Christ. In these chapters, J. Oswald Sanders explores the primary source of continual growth. In three parts, structured around the persons of the Trinity, Sanders explores matters like: how we should view God, why our weakness is God&’s strength, what it means that Christ prays for us, how to live like an heir of the King, and the role of the Spirit in a Christian&’s life. Spiritual Maturity provides clear direction for those desiring to grow strong spiritually.Spiritual Discipleship: True disciples pursue their Master. They know that God is watching over their faith, but they also take Scripture&’s command seriously: &“work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you.&” They take pains, by His power, to look more and more like Jesus.This book will help you to be such a disciple. It examines Jesus&’ teaching on what it means to follow Him, helping you become the kind of Christian Jesus wants you to be—not one devised by man or even other Christians. You&’ll learn conditions for discipleship, the tests that disciples endure, how disciples pray and grow, the posture and practices of a disciple, and more.
J. S. Bach: The Complete Cantatas
by Richard Stokes Martin NearyIn Lutheran Germany in the 17th and 18th centuries, Sunday church services were five hours long. There would be prayers, liturgy, communion, an hour-long sermon, congregational hymn singing and a 15- to 25-minute "cantata" composed of chorus, vocal solos, and a hymn. These are sometimes referred to as "sermons in music." For a period of five years from 1723 to 1728 Johann Sebastian Bach wrote one of these cantatas almost every week. Sadly, almost 100 of these are lost. Bach's roughly 210 surviving cantatas are a major component of the western musical canon. This book contains their texts and English translations along with those for the Christmas and Easter oratorios. These surviving cantatas contain approximately 245 soprano arias, 223 alto arias, 249 tenor arias, 259 bass arias, many duets, a few trios and a couple of quartets. And all of them are inspired and inspiring. For this Bookshare edition, DAISY markup is provided so that each cantata title is at level 1 and each cantata movement is at level 2. To search for a particular cantata, type BWV, a space, its number, and another space. Each movement is presented fully in its original language (usually German) and then in English translation. To search for a particular movement (Sheep May Safely Graze, for example) which is the ninth movement of Cantata 208, type 208.9. Or to find the text of Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring which is the sixth movement of Cantata 147, type 147.6. To quote Bach about music, its only purpose "is the praise of God and the recreation of the soul." Using a music service to which you subscribe or YouTube, ask it to play Bach Cantata 1 or Bach Cantata 51 or Bach Cantata 140 and see if you feel these works of music accomplish their composer's objective for you. For a sense of Bach's humor, ask your music service or YouTube to play Bach Cantata 211 (the Coffee Cantata) or Bach Cantata 212 (the Peasant Cantata). For instrumentation of all the cantatas and their individual movements, see the web site bach-cantatas.com because instrumentation is not included in this book. That site also provides commentary and translations into several other languages as these works continue to have worldwide interest.
J. Vernon McGee on Prayer
by Vernon McgeeIn this complete treasury of his best sermons on prayer, the world's most beloved Bible teacher--Dr. J. Vernon McGee--reveals the truth about communicating with God. In his own warm, inimitable style, Dr. McGee examines the role of prayer in the life of every believer. Dr. McGee uses biblical exposition to explore:why he considers prayer the Christian's "greatest neglected resource."the prayer styles of great men of faith including: Daniel, Abraham, Nehemiah.the "real" Lord's Prayer and its meaning for believers today.times when prayer does not seem to have an effect.the secret to prayers of power.the proper posture of prayer.how Jesus intended that His followers pray.
J.R.R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth: Understanding Middle Earth
by Bradley J. BirzerWith a new introduction by the authorPeter Jackson's film version of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy - and the accompanying Rings-related paraphernalia and publicity - has played a unique role in the disemmination of Tolkien's imaginative creation to the masses. Yet, for most readers and viewers, the underlying meaning of Middle-earth has remained obscure. Bradley Birzer has remedied that with this fresh study. In J.R.R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth: Understanding Middle-earth, Birzer reveals the surprisingly specific religious symbolism that permeates Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He also explores the social and political views that motivated the Oxford don, ultimately situating Tolkien within the Christian humanist tradition represented by Thomas More and T.S. Eliot, Dante and C.S. Lewis. Birzer argues that through the genre of myth Tolkien created a world that is essentially truer than the one we think we see around us everyday, a world that transcends the colorless disenchantment of our postmodern age.