If Monks Had Macs

"Not long ago only Macintosh cognoscenti and HyperCard freaks knew this astonishing electronic library of interactive essays, books, games, and art even existed. Upgraded, expanded, and containing three whole new sections, If Monks Had Macs . . . is now available on CD-ROM. What is it? A collection of idiosyncratic and profoundly involving 'volumes' unified by a near-tangible intellectual energy, a down-to-earth sensibility, and some highly inventive tools. What are they about? An interactive look at the world of H. D. Thoreau and the complete Walden in the 'American Renaissance' section; unedited Warren Commission testimony and images paired with sophisticated search tools in the 'JFK Archives;' eclectic bites out of Western Civ in 'Art and Ideas,' including a vigorous look at Bruegel's famous Tower of Babel painting, the story of a Nazi resistance group called the White Rose, Thomas á Kempis's medieval bestseller, Imitatio Christi, and great political cartoons by Thomas Nast; and an introduction to the hypertext journal as a creative tool in 'Get An Inner Life!' What do monks have to do with it? Don't worry, Monks is anything but pious. Housed in a peaceful cloister, this library of tools and ideas proposes that we too have faith: in the pursuit of truth and beauty, and in the value of thinking for ourselves. Not that If Monks Had Macs . . . takes itself too seriously. Full of games and puzzles (because monks goofed off too), Monks is eminently browseable, utterly original food for the mind and soul." -- from Voyager