This book is by David Bumbaugh.
First, the book is strange in how it is laid out. The chapters or sections are more or less all run together. It would have been easier to read if these had been better offset from each other. This and other font and editorial issues made the book appear as made by amatuers.
That being said, the writing was better than the appearance, but did leave something to be desired in places. It did "breeze along" in many spots giving it a very superficial feel. Of course, it was covering a lot of territiory in a short space.
I would have prefered more information on the philosophy of the individuals mentioned, although, here and there some was offered. I did gain new respect for Emerson and Parker given what was quoted from them.
One thing that remains a mystery to me after reading this book is how the humanists managed their "take-over" in Unitarianism. This is really glossed over.
As the book moved along, and especially in the section on Univeralism, there seemed to be merely a list of dates, conventions and social concerns with not a lot of substance. An exception to this was the situation surrounding the UU involvement in civil rights; it turned into kind of a disaster which was a surprise to me. I must say that I did have to respect the UU board for trying to avoid some hypocrisy in this instance at the cost of loss of political correctness.
All in all, it is worth a read if you want an overview of the subject and are not bothered by what it lacks. It is not overly dense, so one can read it quickly.
Let me know what you think.
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