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. His 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 sparked riots and heresy trials; caused major upheavals in the Catholic Church; and also set the stage for today's rift between reason and religion. In Aristotle's Children; Richard Rubenstein transports us back in 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.
#436771 in Books 2001-09-10 2001-09-10Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .88 x 5.31l; .90 #File Name: 0156013363384 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Intriguing; well written; gripping story and really engaging narrative style.By S. OppenheimI truly thought this could be a dry anthropologic treatment of the clash of cultures; but instead the journalist-narrative really strives to bring humanity dripping with details and candor in every page. It made me want to stay up late reading more about his journey into the partly-closed-off hasidic community and interviewing with friendly locals who eye the jews with a mixture of curiosity; racism; acceptance; and gratitude for rejuvenating the local economy. Highly recommended!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great historical drama with insight into the world of ultra ...By Carol PolkGreat historical drama with insight into the world of ultra conservative Jewish people in Iowa. Going to visit Postville in September.2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Pre-ICE Raid PostvilleBy Glenn S. LeachPostville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland AmericaThis book describes the author's family move from the sophistication of life in San Francisco to Iowa in 1993. The author's acceptance of a position as professor of journalism at the University of Iowa necessitated not only a change of location; but also of world view and life style; as witnessed by his shock in reading a newspaper review of the better sea food retaurants in the Cedar Rapids area and finding Red Lobster and Long John Silver listed.I purchased the book because like so many; I was horrified at the multi-million dollar raid performed by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) at the Postville Agriprocessor's meat packing plant in May 2008. The raid netted some 400 workers; principally of Guatemalan and Mexican descent; working at the plant that day. I wanted to know the history of the town and the plant that brought these people to this small Iowa town; to a factory operated by Hasidic (ultra-orthodox) Jews. At the time of the raid; the plant provided nearly 60% of the kosher beef; lamb and poultry in the US.In an often humorous; but always serious and evenhanded way; Bloom tells the tale of the dying town that was ressurected by the opening of the kosher operations at the abandoned meat packing plant there. The creation of more than 400 jobs; even though the jobs did not attract workers from Iowa; was still an economic miracle for Postville; but as Bloom explains; the blessing was also a curse; as it meant the the Hasidic Jews had accomlished that which the town and state had not. It also meant that the Jews were the wealthy people in town who effectively called the shots on much of town life. Finally; there were the cultural and religious differences that had never quite been over come.Bloom's tells this story of culture clash from several perspectives; and the people; real people (although some are re-named from their actual names) are living; breathing people; not stereotypes. One one level; Bloomn's book is a history of ecomic and culture clash in a small; rural town. On another level; possibly not intended; the book is a tale of globalization; and the shifting role of the US in a global economy. The tensions and clashes in the book seem to parallel or foretell the rise of globalism and and its clashes with rising nationalism and nativism.The book is a valuable and comfortable read on its own. As we learn more and more of the social and economic paralysis now besetting Postville (not to mention the cost to tax payers for the raid itself); I believe Bloom's book will be a valuable tool in defining a basline and illuminaitng the very intangible sociological elements of the town's existence.
