Richard Pratt – författare

Hawai'i is of special interest as a state because its history differs so greatly from that of the other United States and because its social and political institutions are unique. It is, for example, the only state that has no incorporated villages, towns, or cities, and it has the most centralized system of governance of any U. S. state.This book addresses policy topics of importance to Hawai'i and other communities facing rapid growth, unsettling change, and a new economic environment. The authors describe the policy formation process characteristic of the island state, the formal institutional environment, and significant policy issues. The latter include social and ethnic dynamics, land use, housing, crime, natural resources, budgetary politics, and the situation of contemporary Hawai'ians. The chapters are tied together by the comparative, historical, and prospective approach that characterize each analysis, and by the interpretive comments of editors Smith and Pratt.

The book of Chronicles (1&2) is one of the most neglected portions of Scripture. Many find its complex history unfamiliar and assume that it is irrelevant for contemporary life.  To grasp the significance of Chronicles for our times, we must first understand its original meaning. It was written to encourage the Jews to be faithful to God (and not focus on material prosperity) on their return from Babylon. Pratt looks skilfully at the big picture in each section and presents the detail in an absorbing way.  The Mentor commentary series maintains a conservative theological tradition whilst interacting with modern theologians from other backgrounds.