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This guide covers the Republic and Northern Ireland and includes: 13 car tours, 22 walks, 30 picnic suggestions; walking maps; timetables for public transport; pull-out touring maps; many short walks and picnic suggestions - suitable for hot summer days and for those with young children; and a unique update service with specific route-change information, free on-line. ... Read more

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Great series
This series has never let us down, great walks, accurate, well researched and off the beaten path. ... Read more

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A collection celebrating some of the best essays from the Blackwell journals, Bioethics and Developing World Bioethics.

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Including 22 long and short walks and 14 car tours in the Irish Republic and in Northern Ireland, this countryside guide focuses on the mountainous coastal regions. Ireland is a country of unmatchable landscapes that never fail to give you a satisfying sense of discovery - from the magnificently wooded Killarney lakeland to the stark moonscapes of the Burren, from the sheer cliffs, exposed headlands and sand-fringed coves of the indented west coast to the wild misty hills in Donegal, from the dazzling Giant's Causeway to secluded loughs hidden in turf-laden mountains.Steeped in legend and history, Ireland has cairns, stone circles, standing stones, ring-forts and countless burial sites, all testifying to diverse Neolithic cultures. These exciting archaeological finds will be special attractions on all your excursions. The book features large-scale topo walking maps (1:50,000), fold-out touring maps and timetables for local transport. Unique free on-line update service with specific route change information. ... Read more

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This volume brings together all the travel diaries of Sir Peter Pears (1910-1986), principal interpreter of Britten's works. Pears accompanied Britten on many of his trips and the record of their tour of the Far East in 1955 is of special interest. Here the sound of the gamelan orchestras enchanted Britten and deeply influenced his musical development. A valuable source of material on the musical development of both Pears and Benjamin Britten...a `must' for those interested in either. OPERA JOURNAL (US)Amazon.com Review
At the height of their careers, tenor Peter Pears and composer Benjamin Britten traveled the globe, both to give performances and for pleasure. Pears, not a diarist in his daily life, had the habit of keeping journals while he was away--though even those were irregular. His diaries, most from the mid-1950s to the late '70s, are sometimes sketchy, even cryptic, but have been supplemented by Philip Reed's excellent editing and by letters and other material. The sections that were previously published (often in the Aldeburgh Festival's annual program book) have the virtue of a full narrative flow, and Pears reveals himself as an alert if unremarkable observer of food, art, flora, fauna, and people.

The couple's Asian tour in 1955-56 was deeply significant for Britten's subsequent output, especially his Church Parables. Pears describes their attendance at a performance (by a Japanese school group) of the Noh play Sumidagawa--the basis, eight years later, of Britten's first parable, Curlew River. The experience was thrilling to them both. Pears's comments are less worthwhile for their insight into the composer's thinking than for the sensation they give of being in the room at a moment of inspiration. The diaries are filled with celebrated friends and the aura that attended two famous musicians (traveling from Moscow to Armenia, a planeload of people bursts into applause when it is announced that Britten and Pears are among the passengers). The final segments were written when Pears made his Metropolitan Opera debut (at 64) in Death in Venice, and when he returned four years later, after Britten's death, to appear in Billy Budd.

This volume, essentially a footnote to studies on Britten and Pears, is one of the Aldeburgh Studies in Music series, which comprises a usefully broad range of titles examining Britten's techniques and influences. --David Olivenbaum ... Read more

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Focusing on the application of ethics to difficult and controversial social questions, this second edition of a classic introduction to applied ethics has been completely revised, updated and expanded since its original publication in 1979. ... Read more

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Peter Singer's examination of Bush's ethics asks whether they are anything more than self-serving - an important question, since the actions which follow the rhetoric affect the lives of everyone on the planet. ... Read more

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In this timely collection, some of the world's leading ethicists grapple with the variety of issues posed by human embryonic stem cell research.

• Investigates the moral status of the embryo including the creation of chimeras and paying for gametes (eggs and sperm) and embryos for research purposes


• Provides a thorough evaluation of the ethics and politics of regulating hESC research, and the privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent in the conduct of research and clinical investigations


• Essential reading for scientists, philosophers, policy makers, and all who are interested in the ethical conduct of science


• Contributors include David DeGrazia, Lori Gruen, Elizabeth Harman, John Harris, Jeff McMahan, Don Marquis and Peter Singer

Product Description
Applied ethics, a subdiscipline of philosophy, lends itself to an encyclopedia format because of the many industries and intellectual fields that it encompasses. The Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics is based on twelve major categories, such as Biomedical Ethics and Environmental Ethics. Religious traditions that embody normative beliefs, as well as classical theories of ethics, are explored in a non-judgmental manner. Each of the twelve categories is divided into discrete areas that are covered by 5,000-6,000 word articles. Each of the 281 articles begins with a definition of the subject and includes a table of contents, glossary of key terms, and bibliography. Second- and third- level headings, boxes, sidebars, and the like emphasize the reference-oriented nature of the material. The four volumes are arranged in an A-Z format, with a complete subject index at the end of the last volume. Articles are written by international experts, arranged alphabetically by title, not by subject, and cross-referenced so the reader can locate relevant information in other articles.

* One of Library Journal's Best Reference Sources for 1997!
* One of the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Books for 1998!
* Cross-references appear in each article to refer readers to related information
* A glossary and bibliography in each article provide readers with tools for learning and creative thinking ... Read more

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In America today, opera has never been more popular, and one reason for this is, no doubt, that American opera singers are fixtures on every leading opera stage throughout the world.In this lively and engrossing account, Peter G. Davis, music critic for New York magazine and a leading opera authority, tells the story of how these plucky, resilient and supremely talented American singers have transformed this venerable European-born art form and made it their own.

Starting with opera's arrival in America in the early nineteenth century, Davis shows how American singers grew in sophistication and stature along with the country.From the nineteenth-century pioneers who crashed the gates of Europe's elite opera circles, to the glamorous singers of the early twentieth century who were also Hollywood stars and publicity magnets, to the highly professional singers since World War II who not only have gained European acceptance but now dominate the industry, this lively and highly readable account chronicles the extraordinary lives and adventures of these larger-than-life personalities.Included are Maria Callas, Beverly Sills, Richard Tucker, Leontyne Price, Marilyn Horne, Lawrence Tibbett, and a galaxy of others whose stories are as dramatic and compelling as the roles they sang on stage.

Full of prima-donna antics, hilarious backstage anecdotes, and performance lore, The American Opera Singer will delight anyone who has felt the magic of opera, and will provide a new canon of American singing sure to provoke spirited debate among aficionados.

Trained as a musician and composer, Peter G. Davis has been writing about music for over thirty years in such publications as the New York Times, The Times of London, High Fidelity, and Opera News.He is currently music critic for New York magazine and lives in New York City.

Experience the artistry of America's supremely talented singers on RCA Victor Red Seal's The American Opera Singer, a companion 2-CD set to this book, now available in record stores.Amazon.com Review
According to Peter Davis, music critic for New York magazine and author of The American Opera Singer, American opera singers have always faced somewhat of an uphill battle in their quest for artistic recognition. Opera has never been an art form that Americans considered their own, and thus a repertory of pieces written and performed in English are few and far between; add to this the problems early opera pioneers had in finding appropriate vocal coaching, familiarizing themselves with a wide variety of languages and musical styles, and overcoming a peculiarly American aversion to stage performers, and you can see that--for aspiring opera stars--singing in America has truly been a challenge.

The American Opera Singer is a combination history and critique: Davis first traces the evolution of opera in North America and then comments on its practice today. Throughout the book he artfully limns the larger-than-life personalities of such stars as Beverly Sills, Frederica Von Stade, Leontyne Price, and Richard Tucker inentertaining, perceptive prose. For opera lovers of any nationality,The American Opera Singer makes for a stimulating reading experience. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Excellent Collection of Stories/Opinions of Opera Singers
I really appreciated the quality of this book.Mr. Davis presents American singers in such a way that encouraged me to stick with the book and read the passages carefully.I carried it with me everywhere for three weeks, genuinely excited to read story after story.

What I like the best is that I did not feel for a moment that he was insulting my intelligence as a reader (like lots of popular books on opera do) but rather pastes together a collage of stories that fit into a bigger picture that is the tradition of Opera in America and the singers who shaped it.

I also love that he humanized the singers in such a way that most authors do not. I find most books simply glorify their divas deserving of praise.Yes, divas deserve praise for their pursuit of their art, but so do students and fans of opera at present deserve to have other points of view than endless idealistic praise of their favorite singers.

This book has become my hands down favorite on the subject.

Comprehensive and opinionated
Peter G. Davis' definition of "American" in this volume is quite broad, encompassing singers born abroad who made a significant contribution to the American operatic scene, as well as native-born artists who, for one reason or another, spent much of their artistic lives overseas. Thus, he discusses singers as diverse as Callas and Sills, Astrid Varnay and Helen Traubel, Claire Watson and Roland Hayes. With singers whose most significant career contributions took place outside the U.S., such as Callas and Varnay, Mr. Davis takes pains to show what role their American years and appearances played in their artistic lives.

The scope and detail of the book is its strength, particularly the early chapters, which deal with many singers about whom detailed information would be difficult to obtain elsewhere. I particularly appreciated the chapter detailing the tortuous progress of the African-American opera singer in the American musical landscape.

Mr. Davis is forthright and uncompromising in his opinions, which is the cause of the low ratings this book has received from reviewers on this site whose favorite singers have been singled out for rough treatment. What these fans seem not to have noticed is his even-handedness, even with those he criticizes. I happen to agree, for example, that Leontyne Price probably made a more significant contribution to the operatic art on recordings than in live performance. If one can get beyond knee-jerk reactions to this or that assessment, however, there is much of value here. His writing style is polished without being pretentious. This is a book that should be read in tandem with John Dizikes' Opera in America for a full portrait of this art form since its inception in the United States.

A hard-nosed look at singing and singers
This book is not for the faint-hearted, nor is it for those who cannot abide anything other than unadulterated praise for their pet singers.Peter G. Davis has long been one of most brutal, but often insightful, ofAmerican critics, as those who read "New York" magazine willknow.Both the brutality and the insight are on display here.

Davisprovides a fascinating and comprehensive review of the "American"singer - which is limited not just to native-born Americans and Canadians,but also to foreign-born singers like Caruso and Pons whose careers werecentered in the U.S. and who in some way had a major impact on the Americanoperatic consciousness.In these pages, I encountered many singers of whomI had previously been unaware, particularly from years past.For theopen-minded reader, there is a great deal to learn here.

There is also agreat deal to infuriate fans of certain singers of the recent past. Beverly Sills, for example, comes in for some pretty rough treatment.Butin this reader's opinion, Davis is right on the mark with his assessment ofSills' voice and career.Davis is absolutely right in his assertion thatSills was, by nature, a light lyric soprano and that she sang at her bestin this repertoire.Only the most gushy, stars-in-the-eyes fan would denythat Sills' voice began to take a crash-dive after she started singing theheavy bel canto repertoire in the early 70's, or that many of her laterrecordings are marred by excessive vibrato and shrill, wobbly high notes -it's all there to hear.Indeed, the whole of Davis' book takes Sills totask for her ridiculous,self-serving assertions that before her career,American singers "didn't get no respect" or that she was somekind of trail-blazer.Dozens of great American singers had done it allbefore her. Similarly, Davis' unflattering remarks on Leontyne Price'slater singing may not be particularly gallant, but they areaccurate.

Davis is generous with praise, where he thinks it is deserved,which is often.But like any good - or honest - critic, he considers thebad along with the good.I found this book continually fascinating and asource of much information.I recommend it highly to inquiring minds.

Livin' in the Past
Davis isn't bad with the earlier section of the book (dealing with singers he personally couldn't have heard live).When dealing with the recent past/contemporary singers, he tends to be unfair in his judgements.Heseems to care more for singers of yore than any of his contemporaries. Youcome away wondering why he bothered to write a book about this subject.

Cheap Sots
I purchased this book because of some things I'd heard about it on an opera related chat site.I guess I wanted to see if they were true.Davis unfairly blasts some of the more popular singers.I thought his commentsabout Beverly Sills were pretty low.Unlike Davis, she gave me a greatdeal of pleasure and I don't care to see her career tarnished.I'm surepeople will be listening to her recordings and watching her videos longafter Davis book is forgotten.Buy at your own risk ... and forget it ifyou are a Sills fan. ... Read more

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Peter Singer has been described as one of the world's most influential philosophers, as well as one of the most dangerous. This collection, selected by Singer's close colleague and collaborator Helga Kuhse, provides readers with a one-volume account of his underlying philosophy, as well as its practical implications upon everyday living.

Unsanctifying Human Life brings together some of Singer's best and most challenging articles from 1971 to the present. The book includes early critiques of various approaches to philosophy and the role of philosophers, followed by controversial works on the moral status of animals, infanticide, euthanasia, the allocation of scarce health care resources, embryo experimentation, environmental responsibility, and reflections on how we should live. ... Read more

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Does animal welfare have a place in sustainable farming, or do the demands of a rising human population and the threat of climate change mean that the interests of animals must be put aside? Can we improve the way we keep animals and still feed the world – or is it a choice between ethics and economics?

The aim of this book is to challenge the “them-and-us” thinking that sets the interests of humans and farm animals against each other and to show that to be really “sustainable,” farming needs to include, not ignore, animal welfare. The authors of this remarkable book come from a diversity of backgrounds: industry, animal welfare organizations, academic institutions, and practical farming. They are united in arguing that farm animals matter and that sustainable farming must have animal welfare at its ethical core, along with the production of healthy, affordable food and care for the environment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The beginning of the end of agricultural abuses
It seems like at least once a month we read of a huge beef recall due to E. coli 0157, lettuce or tomato recalls due to Salmonella or other problems with our food supply. Initiatives to prohibit the use of gestation crates are raising the consciousness of the unknowing public to issues of animal welfare. Less often, but still way too common, we read of gross abuses of animals in the care of processing plants by ignorant employees and farming procedures that are, by most standards, cruel to animals.

This book is the beginning of the end of such totally unnecessary and appalling activities which are examples of the modern abrogation of the Ancient Contract captioned in the title.

Dawkins and Bonney have gathered together a most impressive list of experts in their fields relating to the issues of animal welfare in today's agriculture. Most are from the UK where the best work is being done currently to renew the Ancient Contract. A notable exception however is Temple Grandin, truly an American treasure, whose outstanding work with farm animals has set new and better standards for the world.

This team elaborates on the issues of the Ancient Contract and provides practical and economical solutions to the problems created by the "bean counters" that are destroying agriculture by ignoring the Ancient Contract.

In recent years we have been deluged with books by "animal rights" supporters who only write about the mistreatment of animals and who ignore the realities of the human animal and the non-human animal equation. The Future of Animal Farming; Renewing the Ancient Contract deals with those realities and offers much hope for the future. Hopefully, this is the first of many to come that will begin to bring rationality and compassion to these important issues of morality, public health and agricultural economics.
... Read more