Month: June 2025

Here is a selection of the new print and ebooks recently added to our catalogue.

 The liberating arts : why we need liberal arts education /edited by Jeffrey Bilbro, Jessica Hooten Wilson, and David Henreckson. A new generation of teachers envisions a liberal arts education that is good for everyone. Why would anyone study the liberal arts? It’s no secret that the liberal arts have fallen out of favor and are struggling to prove their relevance. The cost of college pushes students to majors and degrees with more obvious career outcomes. A new cohort of educators isn’t taking this lying down. They realize they need to reimagine and rearticulate what a liberal arts education is for, and what it might look like in today’s world. In this book, they make an honest reckoning with the history and current state of the liberal arts. You may have heard – or asked – some of these questions yourself: Aren’t the liberal arts a waste of time? How will reading old books and discussing abstract ideas help us feed the hungry, liberate the oppressed and reverse climate change? Actually, we first need to understand what we mean by truth, the good life, and justice. Aren’t the liberal arts racist? The “great books” are mostly by privileged dead white males. Despite these objections, for centuries the liberal arts have been a resource for those working for a better world. Here’s how we can benefit from ancient voices while expanding the conversation. Aren’t the liberal arts liberal? Aren’t humanities professors mostly progressive ideologues who indoctrinate students? In fact, the liberal arts are an age-old tradition of moral formation, teaching people to think for themselves and learn from other perspectives. Aren’t the liberal arts elitist? Hasn’t humanities education too often excluded poor people and minorities? While that has sometime been the case, these educators map out well-proven ways to include people of all social and educational backgrounds. Aren’t the liberal arts a bad career investment? I really just want to get a well-paying job and not end up as an overeducated barista. The numbers – and the people hiring – tell a different story.In this book, educators mount a vigorous defense of the humanist tradition, but also chart a path forward, building on their tradition’s strengths and addressing its failures. In each chapter, dispatches from innovators describe concrete ways this is being put into practice, showing that the liberal arts are not only viable today, but vital to our future.

 The manager’s handbook : five simple steps to build a team, stay focused, make better decisions, and crush your competition /David M. Dodson. An actionable strategy guide for busy professionals who want to level up their management game. In The Manager’s Handbook, Dodson delivers an insightful work that describes, in highly practical detail, five skills every great manager needs to know if they want to get things done. Managers desperately want a crisp, how-to book that will show them–in one single title–the way to master the most important skills necessary to run an organization. The Manager’s Handbook organizes the five essential skills of effective implementation into one, simple-to-read, easy-to-use, book. The Manager’s Handbook is an essential playbook for managers, executives, board members, and other business leaders interested in dramatically improving their ability to lead people and inspire loyalty. In the book, you’ll learn how to get better at running any kind of organization by breaking down each essential skill into bite-sized sub-skills you can easily and quickly learn.

 The new leadership challenge : creating the future of nursing /Abby E. Garlock, Nicole P. Waters. This book has been written as a reference book and textbook for undergraduate students in nursing, as well as for nurses in any practice role. The book also is helpful for nurses pursuing graduate study, including those preparing as clinical nurse leaders, nurse educators, or those pursuing Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees. It provides an overview of significant ideas related to the multidimensional concept of “leadership” and explores the relevance of those ideas at various points throughout one’s career development: beginning, intermediate, and advanced. This book takes on the challenge of exploring the elements of authentic leadership, particularly in the “new world” context we face continually. It explores various definitions and conceptualizations of leadership, examines extant theories of leadership, analyzes the notion of vision and visionary leadership, tackles the intricacies of leader-follower relationships, and explains contemporary models of leadership that have evolved regarding the leader, follower, and context of health-care situations. The importance of followership, the facilitation of change, the management of conflict, the use and abuse of power, and the development of oneself and of others as leaders all are discussed. In essence, then, this book takes a broad look at the complex phenomenon of leadership and examines multiple dimensions of it.

 The Oxford handbook of methods for public scholarship /edited by Patricia Leavy.Public scholarship, which has been on the rise over the past 25 years, produces knowledge that is available outside of the academy, is useful to relevant stakeholders, and addresses publicly identified needs. By involving stakeholders in the entire process, and making the findings accessible, public scholars contribute to the democratisation of research. The Oxford Handbook of Methods for Public Scholarship provides methodological instruction for engaging in public scholarship.

 The Palgrave handbook of survey research /David L. Vannette, Jon A. Krosnick, editors.This handbook is a comprehensive reference guide for researchers, funding agencies and organizations engaged in survey research. Drawing on research from a world-class team of experts, this collection addresses the challenges facing survey-based data collection today as well as the potential opportunities presented by new approaches to survey research, including in the development of policy. It examines innovations in survey methodology and how survey scholars and practitioners should think about survey data in the context of the explosion of new digital sources of data. The Handbook is divided into four key sections: the challenges faced in conventional survey research; opportunities to expand data collection; methods of linking survey data with external sources; and, improving research transparency and data dissemination, with a focus on data curation, evaluating the usability of survey project websites, and the credibility of survey-based social science.

The pattern of New Testament truth /by George Eldon Ladd.  This book addresses the problem of differences and similarities in the theologies of the New Testament writers, and seeks to show in this examination what he calls “the pattern of New Testament truth.”  The author argues against an overemphasis on Gnosticism in the study of the background of the New Testament. Ladd then goes on to consider a philosophical movement, prevalent during the first century, about which much more is known — Greek dualism, especially as expressed by Plato, Plutarch, and Philo. He points out the differences between Greek and New Testament thought, and goes on to contrast the Greek view of reality with that of the Hebrews, which he concludes to be essentially that of the New Testament. / The unity of the New Testament, Ladd believes, is to be found in the Heilgeschichte, the record of the historical dealings of God with man. The diversity between the Synoptics (Mathew, Mark, and Luke), John, and Paul is a result of different perspectives from which this redemptive event of God is interpreted. A chapter is devoted to each of these viewpoints, giving a detailed analysis of the unity and diversity that manifests itself, and demonstrating that differences are a matter of separate strata or levels of theology rather than of conflicting suppositions.

The philosophy of person-centred healthcare /by Derek Mitchell and Michael Loughlin. This book sets out a philosophical basis for person-centred healthcare, primarily using work by Heidegger and Gadamer, but drawing on ideas derived from Aristotle and process philosophy, in order to show how practice can be improved and how examples of person-centred practice can be transferred between individuals and institutions involved in the commissioning and provision of healthcare. By providing an underlying architectonic, this work will help to enable practitioners to understand the benefits of person-centred healthcare practice in promoting autonomy in those who are suffering.

 The planting and development of missionary churches /by John L. Nevius. Writing from over three decades of experience serving God in the mission fields of China, John Nevius provides a critical and vitally important look at missionary methods still commonly used in the 21st century that are crippling indigenous churches and hindering the real spread of the Gospel. This book outlines what later became known as “The Nevius Plan” and seeks to counteract the popular idea that rapidly hiring and supporting large numbers of native evangelists to proclaim the Gospel message is Biblical, helpful and the best way to reach a people group. Nevius proves both from the pages of Scripture, and years of his own difficult experiences in China, that this is not the case. The path to patiently planting and developing healthy, missionary churches lies in the age-old methods of the Bible, and not in the schemes and plans of men that promise rapid growth and fast results. This is recommended reading for anyone involved in foreign missions, supporting foreign missionaries, or involved in some way with church planting projects.

The prophecy of Daniel : a commentary /by Edward J. Young. This commentary on Daniel by Dr. Edward J. Young, late Professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, is the serious, painstaking work of one of the foremost of contemporary Old Testament scholars. It is designed to meet the needs of the minister and the trained Bible student as well as the average educated reader of Holy Scripture.  The author has aimed above all else to present a clear, positive exposition of prophecy coupled with an accurate explanation of historical fact based on recent research and the accumulated authority of other outstanding Biblical scholars. In addition, he has endeavored to bring out the exact meaning of the Hebrew and Aramaic languages in the new translation which accompanies the commentary.  The reader will find adequate reference to the divergent interpretations of others, with satisfying, scholarly explanation of differences. Those unacquainted with the ancient languages can nevertheless read this volume with great profit

 The science of the sacred : bridging global indigenous medicine systems and modern scientific principles /Nicole Redvers, ND.   Based on current medical research, Native American and naturopathic doctor Nicole Redvers identifies traditional healing methods developed centuries ago that address modern ailments and medical processes. Fascinating and full of research, this book explains how modern medical science has finally caught up to what traditional healing systems have known for centuries. Many traditional healing techniques and medicines are often assumed to be archaic, outdated, or unscientific compared to modern Western medicine. Dr. Nicole Redvers, a naturopathic physician and Native American from the Deninu K’ue First Nation, describes modern Western medical practices with comparisons to the evidence-informed approach of Indigenous healing practices and traditions from around the world, such as sweat lodges, fermented foods, Ayurvedic doshas, and meditation. Organized around different sciences, such as physics, genetics, and microbiology, Dr. Redvers points out the connection between traditional medicine and current research around epigenetics and quantum physics, for example, including over 600 citations. Redvers, who has traveled and worked with Indigenous groups around the world, shares the knowledge and teachings of health and wellness that have been passed down through the generations, while at the same time tying this knowledge with current scientific advances. Knowing that the science backs up the traditional practice allows us to have earlier and more specific interventions that integrate age-old techniques with the advances in modern medicine and technology.

 The serviceberry: abundance and reciprocity in the natural world /Robin Wall Kimmerer ; with illustrations by John Burgoyne. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer reflects on the practice of harvesting serviceberries and the concept of reciprocity central to Indigenous wisdom. She contrasts this with the dominant economic system rooted in scarcity, competition, and resource hoarding. Kimmerer highlights how the serviceberry tree, by sharing its abundance with its ecosystem, embodies a model of interdependence and mutual support. This ethic of reciprocity, she argues, shows us that true wealth arises from relationships, not self-sufficiency, and encourages us to reimagine our values in a way that nurtures both people and the planet.

 The teaching of instrumental music /Richard J. Colwell, and Michael P. Hewitt. The Teaching of Instrumental Music, Sixth Edition introduces music education majors to basic instrumental pedagogy for the instruments and ensembles commonly found in the elementary and secondary curricula. It focuses on the core competencies required for teacher certification in instrumental music, with the pervasive philosophy to assist teachers as they develop an instrumental music program based on understanding and respecting all types of music. Parts I and II focus on essential issues for a successful instrumental program, presenting first the history and foundations, followed by effective strategies in administrative tasks and classroom teaching. Parts III, IV, and V are devoted to the skills and techniques of woodwind, brass and percussion, and string instruments. In all, The Teaching of Instrumental Music is the complete reference for the beginning instrumental teacher, commonly retained in a student’s professional library for its unique and comprehensive coverage. This Sixth Edition includes: Streamlined language and improved layout throughout, making this edition more concise and accessible to students Updated content throughout, including insights from current research for curriculum development, coverage of current law and policy changes that impact the classroom, contemporary motivational strategies, more information on the history of African-American and all-female music ensembles. Updated references, photos, lists of artists, and online resources.

 The text of the New Testament /by K. Lake.  Delve into the history of biblical texts with The Text of the New Testament by K. Lake, a crucial work for scholars and enthusiasts alike. This meticulously crafted book, now proudly republished by Leopold Classic Library, offers an unparalleled exploration into the origins, transmission, and variations of the New Testament text. K. Lake, with his profound expertise, guides readers through the complex journey of the New Testament’s textual evolution, presenting a rich tapestry of historical and critical analysis.  Through Lake’s insightful examination, discover the methodologies of textual criticism, the significance of ancient manuscripts, and the pivotal role of translation in the dissemination of the New Testament. This work not only serves as an educational resource but also illuminates the intricate process of preserving sacred texts across centuries.

 The women are up to something : how Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch revolutionized ethics /Benjamin J.B. Lipscomb. The story of four remarkable women who shaped the intellectual history of the 20th century: Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch. On the cusp of the Second World War, four women went to Oxford to begin their studies: a fiercely brilliant Catholic convert; a daughter of privilege longing to escape her stifling upbringing; an ardent Communist and aspiring novelist; and a quiet, messy lover of newts and mice who would become a great public intellectual of our time. They became lifelong friends. At the time, only a handful of women had ever made lives in philosophy. But when Oxford’s men were drafted in the war, everything changed. As Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch labored to make a place for themselves in a male-dominated world, as they made friendships and families, and as they drifted toward and away from each other, they never stopped insisting that some lives are better than others. They argued that courage and discernment and justice-and love-are the heart of a good life. This book presents the first sustained engagement with these women’s contributions: with the critique and the alternative they framed. Drawing on a cluster of recently opened archives and extensive correspondence and interviews with those who knew them best,  Lipscomb traces the lives and ideas of four friends who gave us a better way to think about ethics, and ourselves.

The writing revolution 2.0: a guide to advancing thinking through writing in all subjects and grades /Judith C. Hochman, Natalie Wexler with Kathleen Maloney ; foreword by Doug Lemov.The Hochman Method enables students to master the skills that are essential if they are to become competent writers. In turn, those skills equip students to become better readers, to communicate more effectively in writing and speaking, and most importantly, to elevate their thinking. The Writing Revolution, 2e builds on the success of the first edition by staying true to the principles and research that ground the Hochman Method, but providing even more student facing examples that will help teachers incorporate the method into the classroom. The new edition will also incorporate more workbook-based content that is used during the in-person courses. Teachers at all grade levels are expected to have students write narratives and informative and argumentative essays. However, there’s been little reliable research-backed guidance on how to teach students those writing skills. The writing standards in the Common Core or similar state standards tell teachers where their students should end up, but what teachers really need is a road map that tells them how to get there.

*TWU Author* Theological education: principles and practices of a competency-based approach /Kenton C. Anderson, Gregory J. Henson. Theological Education demonstrates how churches and seminaries can cooperate through a competency-based learning approach to ministry preparation–that is, competency-based theological education (CBTE). CBTE focuses on the mutual mission of the church and theological education: developing followers of Christ who flourish in their vocations. This first book-length treatment of CBTE lays the groundwork for expansion and refinement as theological schools and churches move together in partnership, exploring: – Principles that ground successful CBTE cooperation, such as collaborative mission, contextualized discipleship, and holistic assessment; and – Practices that a CBTE approach requires, such as affordable programs, flexible technology, and continuous improvement Using the CBTE model means seminaries can provide practical ministry training together with churches who invest in the theological education of those who minister among them. This book introduces a provocative new view of personhood that philosophers Jecker and Atuire call Emergent Personhood. It builds on philosophies from Africa and the West to argue that individuals’ moral worth emerges through social relational processes with other human beings. The authors show the implications of Emergent Personhood for human beings across the lifespan, animals, nature, and non-living lands, soil, and rocks on earth and in.

What is a person?: untapped insights from Africa /Nancy S. Jecker and Caesar A. Atuire. What makes us ‘persons’ in the moral sense, beings with a certain dignity and worth? Philosophers Jecker and  Atuire explore this question by bringing African and Western philosophies into conversation. They start by characterizing the differences in the contemporary scene in Africa and the West, proposing that these differences were not always present, are hardly inevitable, and can and should be bridged. They then introduce the concept of Emergent Personhood, a new philosophy of personhood that combines insights from Africa and the West. It holds that beings with superlative worth emerge through social relational processes involving human beings, yet they are more than the sum of these relationships. Persons have an identity of their own and exhibit superlative moral worth, a remarkable feature not present at the base. Emergent Personhood justifies personhood for all human beings from birth to death. It also gives strong support to personhood for a wide range of animals, soils, rocks, and ecosystems. Focusing on human personhood, Jecker and Atuire argue that high moral status is stable across the lifespan and reaches a terminus with death’s declaration, which ends the human-human associations that enable personhood to arise. They conclude with a turn to nonhuman personhood, considering personhood for artificial intelligence, animals, non-living nature, and extra-terrestrial life and lands.

 Why play works: big changes start small /Jill Vialet. Why Play Works provides a road map for schools in leveraging play as a tool for ensuring that access to social connection is prioritized in this process of adaptation. Aimed at educators, school administrators and parents, Why Play Work’s aspiration is to promote the idea that play’s future is deeply rooted in its past: a risky behavior that has nonetheless survived eons of evolution precisely because it teaches us to navigate the demands of social connection. Supported by interviews with experts on play and school design, Why Play Works will stand out as a concrete guide for supporting the learning and well-being of our students in each context by leveraging the power of play.

  Why we teach science (and why we should) /John L. Rudolph. Why We Teach Science (and Why We Should) provides a historical overview of the reasons science has been included as a school subject in the United States and examines them in light of research on how people use science in their daily lives and future occupations. The book argues that all the various reasons can be broken down into two primary purposes: teaching science to prepare future scientific and technical workers and teaching science for general public understanding. Data on educational attainment and career outcomes show that only a small fraction of school students end up in technical occupations. Yet, schools routinely teach science for content mastery with the assumption that this will prepare students for technical careers. This suggests that the primary goal of science education should focus on public understanding instead. However, research from the fields of cognitive psychology, science education, and science communication reveals that the primary general-education goals of teaching science for everyday personal use, better thinking skills, or democratic decision-making (what are sometimes referred to as scientific-literacy skills) are poorly served by the prevailing content-mastery approach. The book suggests that, given the current social challenges society faces, science education should instead focus on building public trust in science. Such an approach would require a radical departure from both the traditional science teaching we have grown accustomed to and the current recommendations being made by policymakers.

Here is a selection of the new print and ebooks recently added to our catalogue.

 Price paid : the fight for First Nations survival /Bev Sellars. Price Paid untangles truth from some of the myths about First Nations and addresses misconceptions still widely believed today. This book is based on a popular presentation Sellars often told to treaty-makers, politicians, policymakers, and educators. The book begins with glimpses of foods, medicines, and cultural practices North America’s indigenous peoples have contributed to the rest of the world. It documents the dark period of regulation by racist laws during the twentieth century, and then discusses new emergence in the twenty-first century into a re-establishment of Indigenous land and resource rights. The result is a candidly told personal take on the history of Aboriginal rights in Canada and Canadian history told from a First Nations point of view.

 Rescuing science: restoring trust in an age of doubt /Paul M. Sutter. Examines the growing social distrust toward the scientific community, grounding its source in the academic scientific community itself, and offers solutions on how to solve it. Interweaving his own experiences as an astrophysicist with broader trends observed by himself and others, Sutter roots the current distrust of science within the academic scientific community itself. Throughout this book, Sutter reveals a community that has come to disregard the broader public, is obsessed with winning grants, ignores political landmines, limits the entrance of minorities, and permits fraud in the pursuit of notoriety.

Research methods in physical activity /Jerry R. Thomas, Philip E. Martin, Jenny L. Etnier, Stephen J. Silverman. Research Methods in Physical Activity, Eighth Edition, systematically guides students through the research process, introducing research methods, tools, and analysis techniques specifically for kinesiology and exercise science disciplines, including the subdisciplines of physical therapy, rehabilitation, and occupational therapy. The eighth edition continues its legacy with the authors’ trademark humor and is now enhanced with a new full-color layout.

 Scaling leadership : building organizational capability and capacity to create outcomes that matter most /Robert J. Anderson, William A. Adams ; foreword by Ed Catmull.   Scaling Leadership provides a proven framework for magnifying agile and scalable leadership in your organization. Scalable leadership drives forward-momentum by multiplying high-achieving leaders at scale so that growth, productivity and innovation increase exponentially. Creative leaders multiply their strengths beyond technical competence by leading in deep relationship, with radical humanity, passion and integrity.

 Sex in Canada :the who, why, when, and how of getting down up north /Tina Fetner. What do we do in the bedroom? Do other people do the same? How often? Who with? Movies and the internet seem saturated in sex, but it’s difficult to separate fact from fiction, and real talk about our own sexual lives can feel uncomfortable. Sex in Canada pulls the covers off, breaking through myths with frank talk and hard facts. Fetner delves into sex among singles and couples, marriage and monogamy, hooking up and committed relationships, guided by the results of her one-of-a-kind survey of adults aged eighteen to ninety. She shows us how the social forces that shape our lives also nudge our sexual behaviour into patterns that reflect the world around us. In applying the tools of social science to a formerly taboo topic, Sex in Canada offers the most accurate picture to date not just of Canadians’ sex lives but of why we act the way we do.

Six great ideas: truth, goodness, beauty : ideas we judge by ; liberty, equality, justice : ideas we act on /Mortimer J. Adler.  Truth, Goodness, and Beauty – the ideas we judge by; and Liberty, Equality and Justice – the ideas we act on. Discarding the out-worn and off-putting jargon of academia, Dr. Adler dispels the myth that philosophy is the exclusive province of the specialist. He argues that “philosophy is everybody’s business,” and that a better understanding of these fundamental concepts is essential if we are to cope with the political, moral, and social issues that confront us daily.

 Teaching high school science through inquiry and argumentation /Douglas Llewellyn.  Devoted to Grades 9-12, this new edition of Douglas Llewellyn’s ground-breaking text aligns the four key elements of effective science education: scientific literacy, inquiry, argumentation, and the nature of science. Fully revised, the second edition features: content that addresses the new direction of science standards; exceptional coverage of scientific argumentation; enhanced chapters on assessment and classroom management; questioning techniques that promote the most learning; activities that emphasize making claims and citing evidence; new examples of inquiry investigations; new approaches to traditional labs; and case studies and vignettes.

 Teaching honesty in a populist era: emphasizing truth in the education of citizens /Sarah M. Stitzlein Teaching Honesty in a Populist Era‘ asserts that honesty is an important component in a healthy democracy and yet very few schools overtly teach it. This book describes what honesty is, how it is connected to truth, why both are important to and at risk in democracies today, and how we should teach them in schools.

 The certainties of the gospel /by William Childs Robinson.  Certainty, the lost chord in modern Protestantism — The certainties of the Christian gospel. The certainty that God is the author of the gospel ; The certainty of Jesus Christ, the substance of the gospel ; The certainty of the A-B-Cs of the gospel ; The certainty of grace, the fundamental characteristic of the gospel ; The certainty of justification by faith, the gospel way of salvation ; The certainty of God’s love and care, the comfort of the gospel — Conclusion: For the Gospel! And unashamed!

 The elements of Marie Curie: how the glow of radium lit a path for women in science /Dava Sobel. Sobel crafts a luminous chronicle of the most famous woman in the history of science, and the untold story of the many remarkable young women trained in her laboratory who were launched into stellar scientific careers of their own. “Even now, nearly a century after her death, Marie Curie remains the only female scientist most people can name,” writes Sobel at the opening of her shining portrait of the sole Nobel laureate decorated in two separate fields of science-Physics in 1903 with her husband Pierre and Chemistry by herself in 1911. And yet, Sobel makes clear, as brilliant as she was in the laboratory, Marie Curie was equally memorable outside it. Grieving Pierre’s untimely death in 1906, she took his place as professor of physics at the Sorbonne; devotedly raised two brilliant daughters; drove a van she outfitted with X-ray equipment to the front lines of World War I; befriended Albert Einstein and other luminaries of twentieth-century physics; won support from two US presidents; and inspired generations of young women the world over to pursue science as a way of life. Sobel she approaches Marie Curie from a unique angle, narrating her remarkable life of discovery and fame alongside the women who became her legacy-from France’s Marguerite Perey, who discovered the element francium, and Norway’s Ellen Gleditsch, to Mme. Curie’s elder daughter, Irène, winner of the 1935 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. For decades the only woman in the room at international scientific gatherings that probed new theories about the interior of the atom, Marie Curie traveled far and wide, despite constant illness, to share the secrets of radioactivity, a term she coined. Her two triumphant tours of the United States won her admirers for her modesty even as she was mobbed at every stop; her daughters, in Ève’s later recollection, “discovered all at once what the retiring woman with whom they had always lived meant to the world.”

 The letters of J.R.R. Tolkien /a selection edited by Humphrey Carpenter, with the assistance of Christopher Tolkien. The comprehensive collection of letters spanning the adult life of one of the world’s greatest storytellers, now revised and expanded to include more than 150 previously unseen letters, with revealing new insights into The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. J.R.R. Tolkien, creator of the languages and history of Middle-earth as recorded in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, was one of the most prolific letter-writers of the last century. Over the years he wrote a mass of letters–to his publishers, to members of his family, to friends, and to ‘fans’ of his books–which often reveal the inner workings of his mind, and which record the history of composition of his works and his reaction to subsequent events. A selection from Tolkien’s correspondence, collected and edited by Tolkien’s official biographer, Humphrey Carpenter, and assisted by Christopher Tolkien, was published in 1981. It presented, in Tolkien’s own words, a highly detailed portrait of the man in his many aspects: storyteller, scholar, Catholic, parent, friend, and observer of the world around him. In this revised and expanded edition of The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, it has been possible to go back to the editors’ original typescripts and notes, restoring more than 150 letters that were excised purely to achieve what was then deemed a ‘publishable length,’ and present the book as originally intended. Enthusiasts for his writings will find much that is new, for the letters not only include fresh information about Middle-earth, such as Tolkien’s own plot summary of the entirety of The Lord of the Rings and a vision for publishing his ‘Tales of the Three Ages,’ but also many insights into the man and his world. In addition, this new selection will entertain anyone who appreciates the art of letter-writing, of which J.R.R. Tolkien was a master.