Columnists Books

I have a pet peeve. Well, I suppose truth be told, I have several pet peeves. But the one most relevant to this book review is the trend of "how-to" and "you-can-do" books, often written by people with dubious credentials, or occasionally - no credentials at all.

"The Art of Column Writing" is NOT one of those publications. Suzette Martinez Standring approaches her topic with ample credentials, and innumerable anecdotes on the craft of column writing, collected from her own first-hand experiences, and contributed to from an A-list assortment of the nation's best-read columnists.

Peppered throughout with her own rise throughout the ranks of a Boston newspaper, to national syndication of her own column, Standring has collected nuggets of wisdom from the likes of Dave Barry, Art Buchwald, and Arianna Huffington to name a mere handful of the book's contributors. Practical, honest, and in some instances outright spellbinding- "The Art Of Column Writing" is a blueprint for anyone hoping to either enter or improve their skills in the ever-changing landscape of the newspaper column.

Standring has also picked up tips and tricks from her many years of association with the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, The Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop, and any newspaper columnist she met with, that was willing to give her a few moments of their time. Like picking an overflowing basket of fresh strawberries, Standring has gathered journalistic gems and anecdotes in abundance. The end result is a frank, comprehensive and entertaining overview of what it takes to be successful as a columnist, right from the source.

Or sources, in this case...

Dan St.Yves
Columnist/Author

This book is a valuable resource for any aspiring columnist. It is concise and well organized and would help anyone aspiring to become a columnist anticipate and overcome hurdles. Ms Martinez is sensitive and yet humorous and entertaining. She addresses all potential issues including online rules for today's high tech world. Get those insider secrets!

The reviewing trade has a law that a critic doesn't write up works created by friends. Also, a critic cannot fairly consider a book in which he's quoted or has contributed to, even a tiny bit. Excellent rules, designed to provide objectivity to a deliberately subjective practice. An exception, to both counts, follows.

This is not the usual writing-instruction book, and few have been published on columns. Standring's focus is on teaching, not being The Authority: She knows that lots of examples and guests in the class are effective. Standring covers the main categories of columns, their construction and idea generation, as well as blogs and ethics 101. She reprints a number of columns, by others and herself -- even one to show where she messed up -- as well as quoting at length the best columnists explaining themselves. By her own experiences and learning from others, she has figured out not only how to create and market good work but to explain it to people already in newspapers and aspiring columnists.

Her from-scratch views on principles, research and structure refresh longtime journalists. The Art of Column Writing is valuable to budding columnists. Reader reviews in Amazon already demonstrate this. What journalists do, what the branch called columnists do, is by design transparent, but that can be confusing. Columns with facts have to be absolutely certain. Commentary must be bolstered by reporting and ethical uses of rhetoric. Humor must be grounded. It's tempting to drop a star in this review because this is a tough endeavor and Standring is so upbeat -- but when thumbing back through it, this book does not shirk from the realities of writing columns in the 21st century. At just 200 pages, it's a how-to that explains how-to.

I am a novice at column writing, and this book inspires me and provides me with so much good advice and information. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the author, Suzette Standring, and she not only is an amazingly great writer, but ditto as a person. She is my inspiration, and her book is well deserving of major kudos. Her columns are also well worth reading. She's a wonderful addition to the world of writing.

As a columnist, it's embarrassing to tell you that I didn't know too much of what Suzette Standring reveals in this light volume. It has so much heavy information tamped down on each page, it's amazing her book doesn't plunge right through the table.

An easy, smiling read the first time; second time, get out your yellow highlighter.

That so many popular writers willingly contributed their secrets is a tribute to Ms. Standring's ability to ask the right questions. Her own secrets of successful column writing are simple: Velcro your butt to the chair; A fresh angle is a sharp foot in the door; and Assigned to cover county news was like being plunked into a pilot's seat and told "Land this thing!"

Many different writing styles are given, some by writers who use words that sashay across a page, some use words that slither or stride. Sandring's strut.

A must read for journalism students and homemakers who want to communicate on a larger scale than husband and kids. After all, Erma Bombeck had to start somewhere. Standring tells you how.

This book is informative, amusing and easy to read. I enjoyed it very much.

As a student of the economy and financial markets, I've long been an avid reader of Caroline Baum's columns. This book is a wonderful compilation of her best writing on the macroeconomy, bond market, interest rates, government policies, and related topics, about which only she would write.

Many of her columns are both timeless and timely. For instance, those wondering about the economic impact of Hurricane Katrina should read her column from Sep 16, 1999 on Pg. 40 titled, "Hurricane Sweeps Coast; Nonsense Sure to Follow." For those seeking a greater understanding of oil's economic impact, including why higher oil prices are really not like a tax, read her column on Pg. 80 and her chapter beginning on Pg. 201 titled, "Oil Things to Oil People."

Couple her plain speaking, common sense and didactic writing approach with her access to and relationships with many of the finest minds in economics and finance and the result is a very educational read for the economics student to the finance professional. She is the rare writer who is capable of explaining the complicated in a simple, interesting and often entertaining way.

By Caroline Baum, the Emily Dickenson of markets.

Every now and then you read a book like this that makes you want to stand up and cheer, and tell all your friends that this is the real McCoy, that Emerson or Emily Dickinson or Samuel Johnson is alive. That's the feeling I have while reading "Just What I Said" again. To see what I mean, consider this. The middle-of-the-road, mediocre, eponymous tennis player and economist Robert Samuelson says in a sap-filled sendup to his kids: "You've got to care more about the election, because it goes to the heart of who we are as a nation. The greatness of the United States is not McDonald's or Microsoft. It's our basic beliefs how how we should govern ourselves."

From long experience reading her columns I shudder when she quotes someone like this, especially the fake Dr. and poseur at the head of the Fed. She never lets them off easy and writes, " The greatness of the US, Mr. Samuelson is precisely
McDonald's and Microsoft. They are the product of how we govern ourselves They are symbols of liberty and democracy. If you tell that to your kids, they actually might come around. These companies identify a consumer need, conceive a product or service to satisfy it, and compete with other producers to deliver the best qualtiy at the lowest price."

My goodness, she sounds like ... one of my favorite personages.

The book is replete with poetic and poignant ways of looking at such important things as the yield curve, the Fed influence, the doomsdayist take on the stock market, first principles of economics, bureaucratic snafus in business and government and homely analogies of the kind that you'd expect a sagacious
all-knowing columnist to make. Some of my favorites in this regard are the lessons she learns from birds at her bird feeder about crowding and mobbing, the chapter that could have been entitled "I, Mop" about the nitty-gritty of what a mop
should do, the unhelpful help desks of the technology firms (never sell her a bad product if you dont want to be pantsed in front of the most knowing audience in the world).

One of my favorite examples of her insights is her use of the word McMuffin to hold up to ridicule "Dr." Greenspan's attempt to make Congress think he's much smarter than they are by trotting out one new indicator after another that one of his boys has developed and or researched for him recently.

The list of the great things she illuminates and the insights that you can get from this book is endless. Its a masterpiece that belongs in everyone's library. I have bought dozens of copies for my friends, and plan to buy more.

As an investment professional I have been reading Caroline Baum's articles for more than 15 years. Frequently, when one comes out I will receive a call or email from a friend telling me to read it! The reason is her insight, written in a pithy way makes you think. That is what we get paid for and how we make money for clients.
The way the book is laid out...by topic, chronologically...makes it a good reference to keep at hand when some topic comes up or just to read...if only one article.
It is particularly impressive to reread these articles years later and find they still make sense, a major accomplishment.
Think of it as economics without all those troublesome graphs.

"Just What I Said" will appeal to anyone who wants to learn how the real economy works, in easy to understand lessons cleverly disguised as light hearted articles. The book (broken out into 19 distinct recurring themes) is a collection of the best columns that she has written for Bloomberg over the past seven years, some 1300+ columns in total. The amazing thing is her columns are as pertinent today as when she originally wrote them. I give two thumbs up to the book.

Sassy and witty is the plot formula for this totally enjoyable "who-done-it". Intrigue, deception, betrayal, lust, passion, sex are coupled with sarcasim, cynicism, and biting commentary to produce a novel worth of an award itself. The story line is written with such clarity that the book is a very easy read, and THEREIN, lies the trap for the reader. READ CAREFULLY, and you just might be able to figure out who the "bad" guy/gal is. The clues are there, but they are so nicely hidden that a casual reader (which most of us are) will skim past the clues that would, if one was more judicious in one's reading, bite them in the proverbial butt. Have fun with this one.

This surprising "inside" Hollywood mystery is a delightful romp through the seedy world of Hollywood. It is delightfully satirical of Hollywood and its ways and waywardness. Though very funny, it is also suspenseful and engaging. Perhaps the most delightful gay comedy/mystery since the wonderful Aldyne series and the Grant Michaels masterpieces.

Pushes close to the edge of heavyhandedness, but does not cross it. A good, fast read! Recommended!

For the seventh year, Hollywood gossip columnist Rick Domino hosts a live pre-show broadcast of the Academy Awards. Rick has mixed feelings about this year's show because his lover actor Shane Kirk is up for a Best Actor award. He is proud that Shane received the nomination, but disappointed that his beloved refuses to come out of the closet and acknowledge that he is gay let alone in a relationship with Rick. Adding to that insult is the fact that Shane is keeping a straight image by escorting best actress nominee Tara Perez to the ceremony.

Though Rick has to share the spotlight with predator Mitzie McGuire, their show goes over relatively smoothly though Rick does less clothing dissing of the attendees than usual as he mopes over Shane. Afterward Rick looks for Shane only to find his beloved near the corpse of Tara. The police arrive as Shane shouts his innocence and Rick is nearer to the corpse and holding the murder weapon that he picked off the ground. Though the police arrest Rick, homicide detective Terry Zane thinks things are too pat. He and Rick investigate the Hollywood scene as only a veteran police officer and a catty gossip columnist could do.

The who-done-it is fun to follow as the obviously gay Rick and his new partner the straight Terry make a humorous team who uncover a lot of Hollywood secrets during their investigation. However what makes THE BEST MURDER OF THE YEAR so enjoyable is not the homicide or the inquiries, but the satirical look at Hollywood at its most pompous and even more subtly strips the invincibility of the mystery genre fictional superstars. The movies that the nominees star in are hilarious and worth the read by themselves. Fans of a tongue in cheek (not saying which one) will want to read the adventures of Rick Domino in the world of make believe.

Harriet Klausner

This surprising "inside" Hollywood mystery is a delightful romp through the seedy world of Hollywood. It is delightfully satirical of Hollywood and its ways and waywardness. Though very funny, it is also suspenseful and engaging. Perhaps the most delightful gay comedy/mystery since the wonderful Aldyne series and the Grant Michaels masterpieces.

Pushes close to the edge of heavyhandedness, but does not cross it. A good, fast read! Recommended!

When the beautiful winner of the best actress Oscar is murdered outside the theater, all the evidence points to Rick Domino, gay movie gossip columnist. After all, Tara Perez just stole Rick's boyfriend, his fingerprints are on the gun whose bullets are inside Tara, and he was found standing over the body. The only problem is, Rick knows he didn't do it. Now he has one week to find out who did--and find a way to keep himself alive while he does it. Fortunately, one of the arresting cops decides to take some time off to help Rick look--or is he simply trying to get more evidence for the State? Rick sets off to investigate Hollywood and finds that there were plenty of other people with motive and opportunity to kill Tara. She cheated, lied, and slept her way to the top, and Hollywood doesn't forget. But motive isn't enough when the prosecution has all the physical evidence it needs to convict Rick.

Author Jon P. Bloch writes convincingly of a Hollywood where sexual roles are blurred by secrets and fear of being 'outed' can cause almost any crime. Rick manages to meet the standard stereotypes but in a believable and sympathetic way.

Although Rick's investigations are entertaining and believable, the wrapup to BEST MURDER OF THE YEAR was not. Frequent mystery readers might guess the killer's identity, but Bloch didn't really deliver the clues to give us a sense of satisfaction in figuring it out. The resolution of the sexual tension between the gay Rick and his straight cop-sidekick also seemed a little forced--less clever than the rest of the novel led me to hope for.

Overall, BEST MURDER OF THE YEAR is enjoyable reading--but maybe not the best mystery of the year.

Shirley Povich, the late sportswriter of The Washington Post, has provided us with a review of eight decades of some of his best articles. If you enjoy sports history, you will enjoy the anecdotes he has to tell you regarding the heavyweights of the sports world over eight decades of writing. Other writers are equally authoratative, but Povich was on the scene for a much longer period of time. He would often agonize over how to open with a column, but on October 8, 1956, he came up with a gem that read "The million-to-one shot came in. Hell froze over. A month of Sundays hit the calendar. Don Larsen today pitched a no-hit, no-run, no-man-reach-first game in a World Series." Mr. Povich was at Yankee Stadium during Gehrig's Farewell Address on July 4, 1939, and was in Baltimore when Cal Ripken broke Gehrig's record. I did find some annoying errors by the editors of the book. Page 131 lists the date of Larsen's perfecto as October 9, 1956. Page 220 has a bold-faced headline entitled "Facing Kofax" which has Sandy's name misspelled. Page 350 has Gehrig's consecutive game streak listed at 2,132. Also, Mr. Povich has an error on Page 366 when he lists Bobo Hollomon as a member of the Cardinals rather than the Browns when he tossed is no-hitter in his first major league start. I don't mean to pick on the errors, they are there, but the book rates five stars and is authored by a man who is honored in the writers' wing in the Baseball Hall of Fame. If you enjoy baseball history this book belongs on your shelf.

An interesting conversation took place the other day. I mentioned to my grandfather, now in his early 80s, that I had just bought the new book entitled "All those Mornings...at the Post." And he responded with, "I grew up reading Shirley Povich."

My response: "So did I, and I am 25." And so did my father. That's the amazing thing about Povich - he linked generations. He wrote about stars from Walter Johnson to Michael Jordan and everyone in between.

As a freelance sports writer, and former sports editor of my college newspaper, the Towerlight in Towson, Md., Povich was my biggest inspiration growing up and I would be willing to bet that most other sportswriters or aspiring sportswriters feel the same way.

I tried to put in perspective to my wife how influential he was. I said he is the Humphrey Bogart of sports writing. He is the epitome of what newspapermen should be and he was just as good in 1994 as he was in 1924.

The amazing thing is he never retired and wrote his final column the day before he died in 1998. This book brings his most important columns to life and for people of my generation we get to live events such as the Senators' only World Series title in 1924 for the first time.

This book is a treasure and is highly recommended to anyone who has ever read a sports column. Chances are the person who wrote the column did so because Shirley L. Povich inspired him.

I grew up in Washington reading Shirley Povich regularly. I read him for about 20 years in the Post. The interesting footnote to that is that he had "retired" before I ever started reading his columns!

The scope of this work is breathtaking. How many journalists coverd the 1924 Senators World Series as well as their last game in 1971. Oh and for good measure he covered the start of the Tiger Woods era as well. Did I mention he caddied for President Harding?

In an age when sports writers spend more time getting ready to be witty for ESPN shows, this book offers a wonderful insight into an era when sports writers worked a beat and REPORTED as well as offered commentary (and were actually writers). And Povich did both in a simple, straightforward style that was easy to digest with the morning coffee.

His opinions were straighforward too and he tackled tough issues like racisim in sports, long before other sribes in the press box dared take a side on a controversial subject.

The book is well edited with some nice historical context given to many of the works. Can't wait for Vol. 2, after all he wrote about 20,000 columns during his 74 year career at the post

For almost 75 years Shirley Povich was a fixture on the sports desk of the Washington Post. He didn't exactly invent sports reporting, but he certainly help define it in a unique way. His style of reporting, his style of writing created a respect that went beyond sports. He used the sports world as a window on the broader world of America. Sports reflected the dramatic changes in American society over the course of the twentieth century from the depression, to war, to race, to everything else.

The problem with newspaper columns is that they get recycled with the rest of the paper. Only once in a while are a lifetime of columns lovingly collected by people who care (his children and a sports editor) and are published as a book.

If you are familar with the original columns, here is a visit with old friends. If you have not read the originals, here is the way that sports (and maybe everything else) should be reported.

This book is an absolute delight.

Rarely does a book take me very long to read, especially when its composed of a series of short pieces such as newspaper columns. Journalism isn't supposed to be literature, and sports writing particularly is mainly to give the doggone scores.

Then again, calling Mr. Povich a sportswriter is about as accurate as calling the Pope a good man.

Mr. Povich was the genuine soul of the almighty Washington Post, perhaps the most principled writer ever to grace the pages of any newspaper's sports section. He belongs in the very rare and esteemed company of great journalists such as Cronkite, Mencken, Twain and pehaps a few others.

Yeah, these pieces give you the story. What's more, you get the story behind the story. And it's done in language a 13-year-old can read and understand.

Knowing perfectly well how special this collection is, I read it as slowly as possible. Why rush a good thing? I'm sure Mr. Povich had to fight the daily deadline pressures to produce the work. The least we can do is savor his command of language and keen insight into human character.

oh man, i've read all the classics, all the weird modern new-age books, all the firsts, the lasts, and every published harry potter book, and let me tell you, this book right here, as of right now, because of where i am in my life, and because of my excessive comma use and run-on sentences, this book is my favorite. The gangster is so incredibly wise. I wish he had a real column where i could write to him every week, and trouble him with my troubles. If he didn't yell at me for not sending a photo or writing on the back of a menu, then he would probably bestow a full page of wisdom. He might even relate to me one of his own experiences, or give me all the answers i need in a single word, but he might not.

GODBLESS

-Nicholas

This is not only the funniest book I can remember reading, it's also the most honest and true-to-life. I can't believe there hasn't been a sequel. Dave Barry (author of the introduction) should definitely tell the Gangster to write a whole 'nother volume.

I read this book a couple of years ago, and absolutely adored it. Like all books I love, I foolishly loaned it to someone, and now cannot track it down. If you have it, treasure it. If you have it and hate it, give it away! I can't remember a book that ever made me laugh like this one. At the end, I turned back to page one. A first! Cheyenne in Toronto

I bought this book right after I got dumped last summer. I was looking for something to cheer myself up. The first time I read it, It made me laugh and I stopped crying. The second time through, I started saying "wow, so true!" at least once every three pages. The third time I read it, I had everything in perspective and didnt feel so bad anymore. It still makes me laugh, I reccomend it to everyone. Its the only "advice" book that ever gave me really good advice, or made me feel any better. Even if you arent "lonelyhearted" you WILL laugh your head off

Hey, buy this book. I can't make it any simpler than that, ya chowderheads.

But to elaborate...the Gangster of Love provides us with the kind of advice we really need in the 20th century wars of romance. But will we listen to his wise counsel? He is a prophet without honor in his own country, a lonely voice crying out in the wilderness. Also, he has a strange fascination with the Harvey Keitel movie, "The Bad Lieutenant". He does sympathize with the wounded, the outcast, and the lonely. Burned once too often, he understands your pain and wants to tell you, "It's too late for me, save yourself." But you won't listen, will you? And so you're gonna take the fall.

His material sorta reminds me of Hunter S. Thompson, but maybe that's just me.

Sadly, other than this one book, I've never found any other evidence of the Gangster, though I've searched and searched. In these troubled times, we could use his insight.

I'll just quote from the end of one of his replies to a reader inquiry to give you a taste of his work:

'And crying's just not good enough anymore, is it? Not if no one hears it. Not if someone doesn't say, "Please stop crying, I'm sorry I made you cry, I never want to see you cry again."

And months and years really do matter now. Somebody's counting. And who's gonna kiss you on New Year's Eve? Because at midnight your time is up, and baby, it's cold outside.

It was supposed to be warm.'

Just go buy this book.

This book explores the relationship that people have with animals, both their pets and the creatures of the wild. The collection of stories contained in it underscores the intelligence and sensitivity of the animals that share the planet with us. It gives great advice on how to help animals and what to do in many situations involving animal rescue, pet care, ect. It is very well-written and enjoyable to read, full of humor and sincerity. I highly recommend it to any animal lover.

In a Q & A format, Carla Bennet addresses issues that include coexisting with our animal "neighbours", cruelty free shopping, how to stop animal testing, uncovering the so called "sport" hunting myths and so much more. You'll find practical ideas about how you can help in ways that don't require a lot of time or money. No matter where you live, you can help animals in so many ways.

There are so many things to love about this fact-filled animal companion's guide! As a mother, teacher and lifetime animal lover, I feel Bennett's "Living in Harmony With Animals" is a goldmine of indispensible information relating to the comfort and well-being of all creatures great and small. Bennett covers the gamut, from making your yard animal-friendly to keeping animal rights issues alive in the media.

It's also entertaining to read about my favorite celebrities and how actively involved they are in protecting our four-legged friends! Many of these big names share heartwarming, personal experiences with us, as well as adorable photos from their private albums.

This book is an absolute "must-have" for anyone having a special place in their heart for animals!

I find Carla Bennett's "Living in Harmony with Animals" very inspirational and helpful. It speaks from the heart and will reach many hearts too as it did mine! It's the perfect book to give a friend who loves animals but often doesn't know where to turn for answers on many issues concerning them. It's right there in that book! I also like the various pictures of Animal Rights' activists, the vegetarian recipes and also the international resources available to help animals,in the last pages of the book. Bennett's book becomes my secret weapon to continue my Animal Rights activism. Claudine Erlandson Seattle, WA

I've been an animal rights activist more than ten years and a former intern for a wildlife rehabilitation center. Yet, I learned more from this little book than I ever thought possible. It's filled with useful data that can be helpful in writing letters to newspapers and in debating for animal protection/rights. Bennett writes in a Gandhi-like style -- never angry or agressive. But the facts she gives us are powerful. Example: Rodeos -- "C. G. Haber, a veterinarian who worked 30 years as a meat inspector in slaughterhouses, saw scores of animals discarded from rodeos and sent to slaughter. Toughened as he was to animal suffering, the condition of the rodeos' animals sickened him. He described them as 'so extensively bruised that the only areas in which the skin was attached to the flesh were the head, neck, legs, and belly.' 'I've seen animals, he said, 'with six to eight ribs broken from the spine and at times puncturing the lungs. I've seen as much as two to three gallons of free blood accumulated under the detached skin.'" (This should convince even the most calloused rodeo fan that rodeos ARE inhumane).

Bennett has facts and data EVERYONE can use. There's info on where to stay when travelling with your pets, charities that aren't charitable to animals, how students can refuse to dissect animals in school, what to do about unwelcome wildlife "guests" in your home, and so much more. I could go on and on. I can't say enough good about this book. This one is terrific!

We recently chose this great little self published book as our March Selection, It is written in a folksy, charmingly funny style, and contains plenty of wisdom. There are short chapters about all kinds of subjects; relationships with wives, kids, dogs, work, etc. It is great choice for book clubs that want to alternate their deep. dark, reads with something happy that everyone will relate to. We all enjoyed it.

As a Texas now living in North Carolina I had read Dave Lieber's column for years and still do online. In 1996 I had the privelege of meeting both him and Sadie the dog at the walkathon in Bedford, Tx where I took my beloved dog, Jake. (Like Sadie Jake is no longer with me but still in my heart. Last week I was in Texas and saw this book and had to buy it. It is well written and brought back many memories of thing from Dave's columns. My favorites were always when he wrote about Sadie. Great book!

This is a wonderful heartwarming book that I found hard to put down. The story of Dave's dog is especially funny and sad. I wouldn't want to give away any plot secrets but the dog sounds pretty sharp. You will feel like you've been transported to Texas and invited to be part of a special family when you read this book. I hope there is a sequel.

As a longtime reader of Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Dave Lieber's work, I was privileged to purchase an advance copy of his book off his new Internet web site before the actual publication date. It's thrilling to see his best stories from the past decade collected in one attractive volume. Dave writes laughers that remind me of Dave Barry at his best. He also writes stories about people that, well, you better darn well have a box of Kleenex nearby. The one about how Dave brought former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith to the classroom of a teacher who was dying of cancer (true story; it was her dying wish) is unbelievable! The book has almost 90 stories, each of them short and easy to read. They cover every conceivable subject -- from family, kids, love, education (Dave calls it 'Texas Edukation'), nutty politicians, quirky Texans, Sept. 11, a writer's life, becoming a cowboy, etc. There are probably about 50 photographs in the 288-page book, too. I guess what I like about this book is that it's full of surprises. You never know what is going to be on the next page. There's a story about Dave's relationship with a convicted murderer and then what happened when the guy got released from prison. It's surprising as heck. There's a story about Dave's first meeting with the Texas governor and the strange comment made by Gov. Perry. But the signature story of the book is about Dave's beloved Psycho Dog. Dave loved the dog, but the dog hated Dave. This opening chapter is a real tear jerker, reminiscient of My Dog Skip. I think it's wonderful that Dave is giving a portion of the proceeds of this book to the Humane Society in honor of his late dog. I promise you'll love this book. I'm already on my second reading. - M.W.

I have devoured each of Brody's books with enthusiasm! Her nutrition book is a treasure. In it Brody not only offers guidance on healthy eating for self and family, but debunks many of the prevalent false assumptions which persist in current society.

What a great book this is! It's definitely a reference guide, but if you're taken with the wonders of health and your body, this is the best book I've seen to help explain the details. It was referred to me by my doctor, who keeps one in his office.

In simple yet sufficiently detailed terms, it explains how your body processes fats, carbs, protein, vitamins, minerals, etc. and derives benefits from them. It also examine other things we eat like sugar, coffee, alcohol, etc. It brushes on infancy, women, and athletes as well. My roommates and I have read this book numerous times over the months whenever we have a question about what we're putting in our mouths and how our bodies will handle it. Since reading the book, I've modified my eating and have noticed a huge positive difference in my energy level and overall healthy feeling throughout the day. But it, and if you have other books that are similar, please let me know.

This classic, by The New York Times health columnist, is a well researched guide to better health and weight control, based on a diet of complex carbohydrates -- rice, potatoes, pasta and beans. Includes delicious recipes, special diets (for joggers, pregnant women, the elderly), as well as calorie and nutrition charts.

This is a really great reference book on Nutrition. I refer to it often. Easy to read and easy to understand. And, it is filled with basic nutrition information and none of the hype you find on things like aspartame and other artificial sweeteners, vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates/protein/fats, etc. There are many referrals to groups with more information on things that are not covered in detail, like La Leche League for breastfeeding support and information. Each of her 27 chapters ends with book referrals. It is a must for every household.

I care about the environment but I usually can't get through the books. What I like about Tracking the Charlatans is that it gave me a lot of information about the big environmental issues and the people who speak and write about them without making me feel like its assigned reading.

Mr. Flattau tears into the anti-environmentalists from page one and never lets up. He is to be commended for his non-mainstream appraisal of just why the issues of global warming and planetary degradation are still being denied by high-profile commentators and naysayers in the media. His love of aliteration in his writing style sometimes grates on the reader's nerves, but that aside, Tracking the Charlatans is a well written and worth while read for anyone interested in the politics of environmentalism and the survival of our world.

I've known Ed Flattau and his wife for over 20 years. This guy leaves no stones unturned, minces no words and doesn't care where the chips fall. As a reporter, he's after the truth and does not compromise his integrity to uncover it.

An excellent book for all ages--should be mandatory in the schools!

Edward Flattau provides a masterful compilation of valid environmental statisitics as well as a down-to-earth analysis of todays environmental problems. This book gave me tons of amunition for todays ongoing environmental wars, a must read for any environmentalist or concerned citizen.

This is a very readable autobiographical account of the writer's personal and professional alertness to the fluctuating political/environmental milieu during the last 40 years. In addition to observations on the passing scene (1960-2003) and numbers of his columns that provide context and direction to some of the most pressing contemporary environmental issues, there are strongly-written, almost novelistic, descriptions of the writer's on-the-scene experiences during the 1968 shootings in Mexico City and the civil disturbance in Washington, D.C. the same year.

Evolution Of A Columnist is an anthology the published columns, journal entries, poetry and more of Edward Flattau, and span some 40 years ranging from the 1970s down to the modern day. Short pieces (each only a few pages long) reflect the often biting insights of the only nationally syndicated environmental columnist who has been continually writing for newspaper op-ed pages over the past four decades. A strongly dedicated and passionate compilation that reflects the evolution of environmentalism in America despite severe opposition from business interests, Evolution Of A Columnist (also available in a hardcover edition - 1413403557, $34.99) will prove of especially interest for environmental activists and students of journalism.

A brilliant recounting of the national environmental movement's history and how a columnist came of age in his profession. I am
familiar with Mr. Flattau's columns over many years, and I have
always found him to be a thorough researcher and a very objective observer and reporter. Enjoyed his first book immensely (Tracking the Charlatans) but this is superior!