Handbook

CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 89th Edition
$149.95
The CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics is the one indispensable handbook that any college level science library must have. In my own career in analytical chemistry research and development, this is the book that I most frequently consulted. While a CRC Handbook may be put to good use for many years, I recommend that larger science-oriented libraries update their current version with a new CRC Handbook periodically.

Halley's Bible Handbook
$24.99
I bought this book because it was free in the Kindle store for a spell. I'm glad I didn't pay anything for it.

Overall, my problem with this book is twofold: 1) it takes an unquestioning literalist view of the entire Bible, and 2) it demonstrates a severe lack of intellectual curiosity throughout.

I maintain that the result is worse than no study guide whatsoever.

The fact that Christianity is a broad tent, and that the Bible has been read in various ways over the century and today, is lost to Halley. I do not mind the presentation of the literalist view if it were combined with other credible viewpoints past and present. But to assert that this is the ONLY way to read the Bible is doing a terrible disservice to a religion, and misrepresents it in a egregious fashion. Christianity has had a brief literalist bubble, and there is much that the thinking Christian can question about such an interpretation, which is perhaps why it is dying off.

Let me provide a few choice quotes.

"Accept the Bible just as it is, for exactly what it claims to be. Don't worry about the theories of the critics. The ingenious efforts of modern criticism to undermine the historical reliability of the Bible will pass..." It is terribly bothersome to me that a purported study guide is encouraging people trying to intellectually engage the Bible to suspend their intellect. For whom shall find Christianity relevant today if we cannot understand it in the context of modern science? Christianity ought not fear science, nor science religion; the two ought to be embraced together, and the religious can learn about the Bible from science.

Regarding the creation story: "How did the writer know what happened before man appeared? No doubt God revealed the remote past, as later the distant future was made known to the prophets." No mention of other viewpoints -- that it has strong parallels to other ancient creation myths, what science and philosophy have to say, etc. Even Wikipedia's Creation_myth page reminds us that the Church was not literalist.

In the introduction, it advances the view that the Bible is "God's own record of His dealings with people in His unfolding revelation of Himself to the human race... Nor do we know just how God directed these authors to write. But we believe and know that God did rect them and that these books therefore must be exactly what God wanted them to be."

That is of course a rather controversial view, though it was perhaps widely held in some circles. But it boggles the mind, and ignores, for one thing, the multiple ancient sources that modern Bible assemblers must attempt to synthesize to make a coherent book.

The only value I see in this book is a glimpse at the viewpoint of an earlier age. At that it may excel. As a guide for someone alive today -- frankly I am surprised that it has garnered such high reviews here.

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook
$14.95
I personally have owned this book for a number of years. It is a fun, quirky coffee table book and a great conversation starter. I gave copies to all my groomsmen to ensure they get out of any sticky situations.

The Teen Vogue Handbook
$24.95
This book is an absolutely incredible resource for anyone already in the fashion industry--or trying to break into it. It has interviews and career tips from industry greats (Anna Wintour), the biggest designers (Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Alexander Wang, Tory Burch, Phillip Lim, Proenza Schouler, Thakoon), amazing photographers (Mario Testino, Bruce Weber, Patrick Demarchelier, Arthur Elgort), and even models like Chanel Iman. Seriously a MUST-HAVE.