Life Bliss Magazine Oct 2009

James Atwood contends that the thirty thousand gun deaths America suffers every year cannot be understood apart from our national myth that God has appointed America as "the trustee of the civilization of the world" and even "Christ's light to the nations." Because these purposes are noble, and we are supposedly a good and trustworthy people, violence is sometimes "required" and gives license to individuals to carry open or concealed weapons, which "save lives" and can even be "redemptive." Atwood, an avid hunter, cautions that an absolute trust in guns and violence morphs easily into idolatry. Having spent thirty-six years as a Presbyterian pastor fighting against the easy access to firearms, one of which took the life of a friend, he uses his unique experience and his biblical and theological understanding to graphically portray the impact guns have on our society. He documents how Americans have been deceived into believing that the tools of violence, whether they take the form of advanced military technology or a handgun in the bedside stand, will provide security. He closes with a wake-up call to the faith community, which he says is America's best hope to unmask the extremism of the Gun Empire.

Designed to appeal to visual thinkers, 25 Concepts in Modern Architecture explores the fundamental ideas behind architectural design, through easy-to-follow sketches, drawings and succinct explanations. Twenty-five concepts – each of which are key to architectural design thinking – are accessibly explained by examining twenty-five different masterworks of modern architecture. For example, the concept of 'movement' in architectural design is explained through a close look at a Le Corbusier building; 'transparency' is examined in Philip Johnson's seminal Glass House; 'asymmetry' is understood through the work of Zaha Hadid – and so on, through twenty-five core concepts and twenty-five of the most significant buildings of the modern era. Taking a highly-visual approach, this simple yet visually-powerful guide is an essential companion in the design studio and to introductory courses in modern architecture, interior architecture, and interior design. Understanding these concepts will provide a key to demystifying the greatest works in modern architectural history, inspire new ways to think about new design projects, and reveal how drawing and sketching are used as tools for the visual analysis of architecture.