Book Description
"It is one of the merits of Max Black's Companion to the Tractatus that he emphasizes the continuity of Wittgenstein's philosophical development by frequent quotation from his later writings."—New York Review of Books "Black's book is, in effect, two books in one, and each of them is very good. First, there is the useful Companion to the Tractatus: the store of information that anyone who picked up the Tractatus would want to have. . . . Second, there are the interpretive essays: always judicious, frequently illuminating. It is hard to see how [this book] could have been more complete."—Philosophical Books ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Adds depth and richness to a most important book
Companion to Wittgenstein's Tractatus
by Max Black

This is an excellent source for exploring the Tractatus in depth. Black offers a wealth of insights as, for example, the following quotations and remarks:

p. 2 "Don't worry about what you have already written. Just keep on beginning to think afresh as if nothing at all had happened yet" (Notebooks, 30 (6)).

p. 3 "The baldest summary of Wittgenstein's conception might run as follows: Reality (`the world') is a mosaic of independent items - the `atomic facts'; each of these is like a chain in which `objects' (logical simples) `hang in one another'; the objects are connected in a network of logical possibilities (`logical space'); the simplest `elementary' propositions are pictures of atomic facts, themselves facts in which names are concatenated, and all other propositions are truth-functions of the elementary ones; language is the great mirror in which the logical network is reflected, `shown', manifested. If we add the notions of names deputizing for objects, of logical propositions as limiting cases of contingent propositions, and the pervasive notions of logical form and of essence, we shall have a serviceable list of Wittgenstein's chief leitmotifs."

p. 7 "It was one of Wittgenstein's distinctive innovations to consider thoughts only as embodied in what he calls the `significant proposition' and so to transform the question of the relation of thought to reality...into the more promising question of the relation of language to reality."

My thoughts on page 11 - would "logical space" be something very like Plato's world of ideas?

In short, this is a book that serves as a useful and constant companion to the Tractatus. It would certainly be best to read the Tractatus first, perhaps in conjunction with a reading of Monks' book on Wittgenstein, but then the companion certainly functions in magnificent ways to expand an understanding of the Tractatus. ... Read more

Book Description

Product Description
Ubergangster Nicky Cavella is back with a vengeance -- this time hitting Frank Castle where he least expects it -- right in the black pit of his hardened heart. With one unspeakable act, Nicky will go right to the top of Franks to-do list -- and theres nowhere hed rather be. Collects PUNISHER #19-24. 144 PGS./MAX-EXPLICIT CONTENT ... Read more

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"QBR's evolving canon is a splendid way to begin honoring black artists." —Charles Johnson, from the Foreword "From critiques of W. E. B. Du Bois's Black Reconstruction in America to Alex Haley's Roots to Langston Hughes's The Ways of White Folks, these short, trenchant essays stimulate and challenge."—Booklist "A celebration of black literature … insightful commentary."—Ebony "A rich and surprising assortment."—American Legacy "Delving into a book is an entertaining and edifying way to celebrate and reflect on the rich tapestry of African American history. A great way to start is with Sacred Fire: The QBR 100 Essential Black Books.' —Atlanta Journal-Constitution Capturing the full sweep of writing from the diaspora—from Africa tc the Caribbean to America—Sacred Fire is a soul-stirring collection of provocative analysis on 100 works of literature that have shaped and defined black culture for over 200 years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An informative but flawed list
Here's a handy rule: always be wary of any person or institution who claims to have produced a list of "essential" items in any field. A case in point: "Sacred Fire: The QBR 100 Essential Black Books," by Max Rodriguez, Angeli R. Rasbury, and Carol Taylor. The book is a list of 100 books from the African Diaspora, each with a brief descriptive commentary. The book features a foreword by Charles Johnson. While informative to a degree, this list is, in my opinion, seriously flawed.

In his foreword, Johnson mocks other recent attempts to create "essential" lists. He complains, for example, of the "nervous tokenism" of the "100 Best English-Language Novels" list from the Modern Library. Ironically, such criticisms could also be applied to this book! How did they come up with the list? Rodriguez is fuzzy on that point in his intro. He notes that the list stems from a request, addressed to individuals, to name 10 Black books that had the greatest impact on them. Rodriguez claims, "We asked everyone," then immediately admits that such an absurd statement is false. But he does note that he asked his sister!

Most of the books chosen are indeed essential classics. But I found the list as a whole too "safe," unimaginative, and narrow of vision. Johnson acknowledges the omission of such writers as Samuel Delany and Rita Dove in his foreword. Books with an experimental, cutting edge quality seem to be absent. I was also dismayed by the failure to include many historic literary milestones by African-American women. Books by Black gay men that deal directly with the black gay experience are also largely absent. Black lesbians are represented by a token appearance by Audre Lorde (with her book "Sister Outsider"). A number of groundbreaking anthologies also fail to appear. And where are the Afro-Hispanic writers? Even the remarkable science fiction author Octavia Butler is solely represented by "Kindred" -- an excellent book, but probably the "safest" and most conventional choice from her incredible personal canon.

Just a few books I would add to an expanded edition: Adrienne Kennedy's "In One Act," an anthology of plays by this award-winning, boldly experimental pioneer of drama; Phillis Wheatley's "Poems on Various Subjects," an 18th century landmark in poetry; Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl," perhaps the most important autobiography by a 19th-century Black woman; "Nine Plays by Black Women," a stunning anthology edited by Margaret Wilkerson; and Ann Allen Shockley's "Loving Her," a novel which broke new ground for the portrayal of sexuality in the Black novel.

Also try Audre Lorde's poetic, moving "Zami"; Alexis De Veaux's "Don't Explain: A Song of Billie Holiday," an amazing biography told in poetic form; "Brother to Brother: New Writings by Black Gay Men," the anthology edited by Essex Hemphill; "A Puerto Rican in New York and Other Sketches," by Jesus Colon, who proudly claimed a Black Latino identity decades before it was politically correct; Anna Julia Cooper's "A Voice from the South," a pioneering collection of essays; "Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology," edited by Barbara Smith; Pat Parker's "Movement in Black," the rich poetic testament of an outspoken Black lesbian; and Samuel Delany's "Dhalgren," an enigmatic epic which extends the boundaries of both science fiction and the African-American novel. I could go on, but I'll quit here.

An absolute must for lovers of African American literature
This book should be a part of the library of those who study black culture and history.It is an excellent guide to literature past and present. About ten years ago the Oakland Public Library published a list of the onehundred books that were classics.Supposedly by having read these booksyou would be considered well read. There were many I had read but peopleof color was sorely missing from this list. I am grateful that MaxRodrigues, who also puts out an excellent review of books by and aboutblack people- QBR: The Black Book Review, published this great resource. Of course one can think of more books to be added to the list and in thepublication last year readers were invited to add their own list offavorities.This book is a great referral tool and a timeless keepsake.

Wonderful guide to the best of black literature
If your knowledge of black lit doesn't go beyond the latest Oprah pick, this book is essential.Although some of the picks can be argued, the short, opinonated summaries are fun to read and the list itself is a greatguide to a year's worth of good reading. ... Read more

Book Description
These essays are intended to illustrate various ways in which ideas about language may be used to clarify philosophic problems. They contain careful interpretations and criticisms of theories of language. ... Read more