|
|
|
The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil
What makes good people do bad things? How can moral people be seduced to act immorally? Where is the line separating good from evil, and who is in danger of crossing it? Renowned social psychologist Philip Zimbardo has the answers, and in The Lucifer Effect he explains how–and the myriad reasons why–we are all susceptible to the lure of “the dark side.” Drawing on examples from history as well as his own trailblazing research, Zimbardo details how situational forces and group dynamics can work in concert to make monsters out of decent men and women. Zimbardo is perhaps best known as the creator of the Stanford Prison Experiment. Here, for the first time and in detail, he tells the full story of this landmark study, in which a group of college-student volunteers was randomly divided into “guards” and “inmates” and then placed in a mock prison environment. Within a week the study was abandoned, as ordinary college students were transformed into either brutal, sadistic guards or emotionally broken prisoners. By illuminating the psychological causes behind such disturbing metamorphoses, Zimbardo enables us to better understand a variety of harrowing phenomena, from corporate malfeasance to organized genocide to how once upstanding American soldiers came to abuse and torture Iraqi detainees in Abu Ghraib. He replaces the long-held notion of the “bad apple” with that of the “bad barrel”–the idea that the social setting and the system contaminate the individual, rather than the other way around. This is a book that dares to hold a mirror up to mankind, showing us that we might not be who we think we are. While forcing us to reexamine what we are capable of doing when caught up in the crucible of behavioral dynamics, though, Zimbardo also offers hope. We are capable of resisting evil, he argues, and can even teach ourselves to act heroically. Like Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem and Steven Pinker’s The Blank Slate, The Lucifer Effect is a shocking, engrossing study that will change the way we view human behavior. From the Hardcover edition..
Price: $10.14
[ Notify me when price goes down.]
|
|
Lucifer's Hammer
The gigantic comet had slammed into Earth, forging earthquakes a thousand times too powerful to measure on the Richter scale, tidal waves thousands of feet high. Cities were turned into oceans; oceans turned into steam. It was the beginning of a new Ice Age and the end of civilization. But for the terrified men and women chance had saved, it was also the dawn of a new struggle for survival--a struggle more dangerous and challenging than any they had ever known.... "Massively entertaining." CLEVELAND PLAIN-DEALER.
Price: $4.33
[ Notify me when price goes down.]
|
|
Soldier Boy : The War Between Michael and Lucifer
On the eve of his confrontation with Lucifer and his demons, Michael, Commander-in-Chief of Heaven's legions, finds himself hesitant to act against the angel who befriended him and taught him to believe in himself even though he turned out to be a false friend who used Michael to further his rebellion against God. Michael's mentor, Uriel, leads him to see that Lucifer's purpose in befriending him was to confuse him about his divinely appointed mission by gradually replacing his trust in God with dependence on him. Having regained his sense of mission and confidence in himself as Commander-in-Chief of the legions, thanks to Uriel's tutelage, Michael drives Lucifer and his followers from heaven. After his defeat, Lucifer and Michael continue their struggle as Lucifer seeks to undermine God's plan for humanity. He protests that God committed an injustice in creating him as an autonomous agent but not allowing him to test the full range of freedom. Michael counters by arguing that freedom separated from truth is an illusion. Lucifer replies that truth is nothing but the power of God to impose his will on others. Not even killing innocent people is objectively wrong; in fact, he rhapsodizes, it can be a work of art. As the drama of their war unfolds, the real object of Lucifer's quest for self-realization becomes increasingly clear, as Michael slowly understands that what Lucifer wanted was not freedom, but something he himself was not ready to accept..
Price: $16.00
[ Notify me when price goes down.]
|
|
The Fall of Lucifer (Chronicles of Brothers)
What was he thinking? by Margaret Becker (Review of Wendy Alec's The Fall of Lucifer) Fiction: imaginary, pretend My favorite type of fiction usually falls within the realm of Reed Arvin's Blood of Angels and Patricia Cornwell's Predator --mystery, murder, law, real-life situations made up. I'm not generally a huge sci-fi fan (too many vivid nightmares after the fact). That's why Wendy Alec's book The Fall of Lucifer sat on my desk for longer than it deserved. Alec's "quasi-fictional" story is a behind-the-scenes look at Lucifer and his role in our history. (Amazon.com offers this background statement on the author: "Wendy Alec's call to the body of Christ to work in the area of creative evangelism in the media, has been integral in the pioneering and establishing of Europe's first Christian television network--God Digital.) Evil--and the depths it will go to--has always been a mystery to me. And right up there along with that, is the ultimate questions: Why would a being that dwelt with God, as one of His beloved, turn against Him? The Fall of Lucifer addresses those two conundrums eloquently, in almost poetic terms. The transformation of Lucifer from devoted lover of God to evil destroyer of all things good, is presented in vivid, passionate terms that manage to bring you to the cusp of empathy for Lucifer--for a moment at least. Along with the cataloging of Lucifer's catharsis is the imagined story of his relationship with other angels, specifically Michael and Gabriel, who, in this version, are his brothers. Their brotherly tension is written soulfully right down to their parting of ways, with descriptions that could be superimposes on any of our own worst family gatherings. Wendy Alec has covered many biblical milestones in the book, including a beautifully chronicled fall of Eve, and Christ's sacrifice. It is emotional and elegant, written with fresh insight into what could have transpired in unseen realms throughout eternity. If you enjoy rich, fast-paced science fiction or even if you're curious about a different perspective on the "could'ves" of our Christian history, this exciting book will keep you engaged and leave you with food for thought..
Price: $8.19
[Notify me when price goes down.]
|
|
I, Lucifer: Finally, the Other Side of the Story
Glen Duncan has been hailed by the Times Literary Supplement (London) as one of Britain's twenty best young novelists, alongside such writers as Hari Kunzru and Zadie Smith. His new novel, I, Lucifer -- shortlisted for the Geoffrey Faber Award -- is a satirical tour de force fueled by a scorching, hyper-intelligent wit that burns up the pages. The End is nigh, and the Prince of Darkness has been given one last shot at redemption, if he can manage to live out a reasonably blameless life on earth. As a trial run, he negotiates a month of "trying without buying" in the body of struggling writer Declan Gunn. ("Incarnation, the angelic drug of choice. Unlike cocaine, not to be sniffed at.") Luce seizes the opportunity to binge on earthly delights, to straighten the biblical record (Adam, it's hinted, was a misguided variation on the Eve design), to celebrate his favorite achievements (Elton John, for one), and to try to get his screenplay sold, but the experience of walking among us isn't what His Majesty expected: instead of teaching us what it's like to be him, Lucifer finds himself understanding what it's like to be human. .
Price: $7.91
[ Notify me when price goes down.]
|
|
Lucifer Vol. 8: The Wolf Beneath the Tree
The eighth volume of writer Mike Careys beguiling LUCIFER series continues the saga of the Lightbringer, who now faces a deadly new threat to both his Creation and our own. Fenris, the acme of ruin and destruction, has awoken into Gods absence, and he stalks the World-Tree Yggdrasil where he is destined to end of the world. Only Elaine Belloc, the Archangel Michael and Lucifer stand in his wayand their efforts may only hasten the end of all things. THE WOLF BENEATH THE TREE also showcases the special stories Lilith and Neutral Ground..
Price: $7.67
[ Notify me when price goes down.]
|
|
|
|
|