Journals Books

ONE OF THE BEST COMBINATION DAILY DEVOTION, BIBLE STUDY AND JOURNALS I HAVE EVER USED. IT GOES BEYOND SURFACE STUFF BUT GIVES YOU ENOUGH DEPTH FOR A DAILY TIME WITH GOD. IT'S WELL WRITTEN AND CHALLENGES YOU TO TAKE ACTION EVERYDAY TO LIVE AS A JEWEL IN GOD'S CROWN. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!

Let's face it most women have issues that often stem from a lack of self-esteem. In her first book, Priscilla Evans Shirer, does a wonderful job of reminding women they are "precious jewels" in the eyes of God. She shares stories of well-known Christian women as well as her own personal experiences. Priscilla's personal stories really touch you. While she is the daughter of noted author and speaker, Dr. Tony Evans, she lets the reader know she has a style of her own and she too has been where they have been.

There is no psychology mumbo-jumbo - just straight talk! At the end of each chapter, Priscilla provides questions to consider and a prayer that addresses the subject matter of that particular chapter. This is a must-read for women of all ages, whether married or single.

Reviewed by The GOOD GIRL Reviewers for www.goodgirlbookclubonline.com

Let's face it most women have issues that often stem from a lack of self-esteem. In her first book, Priscilla Evans Shirer, does a wonderful job of reminding women they are "precious jewels" in the eyes of God. She shares stories of well-known Christian women as well as her own personal experiences. Priscilla's personal stories really touch you. While she is the daughter of noted author and speaker, Dr. Tony Evans, she lets the reader know she has a style of her own and she too has been where they have been.

There is no psychology mumbo-jumbo - just straight talk! At the end of each chapter, Priscilla provides questions to consider and a prayer that addresses the subject matter of that particular chapter. This is a must-read for women of all ages, whether married or single.

A JEWEL IN HIS CROWN is a delightful study into a woman's life and her place in the royal court of God. Both the book and workbook provide an in-depth exploration of issues relevant to a woman's life at all stages and her relationships with all people.

Shirer points out that women are Royalty, and they need to look for their place in God's Court. As daughters of the King, women should put on their own crown and at once take upon the qualities of one in a royal court.

It is vital for women to claim their inheritance. If they don't' they block God's purpose for their life and insult Him by trying to be someone they are not.

Though the book or workbook can easily be used separately, together they provide a more complete tool.

The book(s) are filled with topics, which encourage women to be women, to glory in their likeness to God, and to embrace the fact they were specially fashioned by Him.

The book version includes in each chapter: a study, a prayer and a list of things to consider.

The Journal is unique. Chapter by chapter, it accompanies A JEWEL IN HIS CROWN perfectly. Questions, quotes and scriptures are designed to bring a woman's gem-like qualities to the surface, where they belong.

Shirer relates her own difficulties in relationships and then later, candidly shares the important lessons she learned from overcoming the trials.

Both books are rich with tools to bring all women into the glory of their womanhood.

Audience: A JEWELL IN HIS CROWN, the book and journal, is suitable for teens and young adult women. Older women will benefit as well, as the knowledge extracted from these books will teach women about their value as a woman, and prepare their spirits, mind and bodies for the man God has chosen for them. By doing so, and applying the principles in the book and journal, unmarried women can then enter into a married union with the fullness of grace God has provided, with the man God has selected to be their groom.

Either book, or both as a set, would be an appropriate gift to a young woman in her teens and can aid all women in their journey as God's woman.

Married and older women as well will enjoy the set and be able to deepen their understanding of their place in God's Kingdom, their place on the earth, and their place in other people's lives.

I am at an age to have the privilege of mentoring many young women. Almost every woman I've met has dealt with low self image (very few exceptions). Shirer's book is THE BOOK I recommend. Priscilla speaks to ALL women, not to only a select group. This book challenges women to see themselves as their heavenly Father sees them. The book offers insight, hope, challenge, and makes one rethink the lie believed about SELF. If I had the power, I'd place "A Jewel in His Crown" into the hands of every woman. It's THAT life changing!

This book was almost impossible to put down, with such compelling content that I actually forgot I was having lunch in a restaurant while reading it! This book takes little time to read but should provoke considerable reflection in the reader. We ALL need this reminder of the impact of our words and that we CAN CONTROL our reactions to events and to others and that we MUST consider the consequences of our word choices on others.

The best book around on this subject. Intelligently written without being scholarly and academic. Get copies for yourself and all of your friends. The Bible and Jewish tradition have much to say about speech and that muscle in our mouths that causes so much trouble. Applying the wisdom in this book can change one's life. Be quick to listen, slow to speak. Heed the words of Proverbs and James 3:5-6. Speak like you want others to speak to you. Speak words that build up--not those that tear down.

Wonderful, thought provoking, life changing book. Really caused me to examine my speech habits and to consider the great power of my spoken words. This would be a great book for a club or even a study group. Jew or Gentile could gain much from reading and applying this book.

This book's awesome! Powerful messages that change the way one looks at the words. Loved it. Received as described!

I have owned this book for many years, both my son and daughter have a copy. This is an absolute must read not just for those of the us who are Jewish; but for anyone who struggles with the truth or is incapable of telling it. I have given this particular book many, many times. Only recently I thought of a business arrangement involving a particular couple who would benefit from this book. I have ordered this book for them and hope this reading sets them free.

I am one of the many artists that appear in this beautiful book. I will always appreciate the fact that my own offerigns appear with so many that are clearly a continuing inspiration to myself and many others.

I have to admit, I wasn't all that excited at first about the release of 1000 Artist Journal Pages. Somewhere in my mind, I had decided it's kinda silly to write a book, showcasing these pages, when people could just simply look online -at no cost, for inspiration.

I'm now, totally eating those words -- err thought.

(Can you even eat a thought? Much less words? Hmmm....)
Sidenote for those who know me well: SEE- I really CAN admit when I'm wrong.

All silliness aside, it was yet another lesson for me in passing judgement on something before fully experiencing it. Had I not been in the book, I probably wouldn't have bought it -- and I truly would have been missing out. I say this not to upset anyone, but beacuse I'm sure others have thought it too.

I now know that there really is something to be said for having those amazing journal entries all wrapped up in the handy form of a book. Unlike my computer, I can curl up in my favorite chair and get lost in the diversity and wide range of artistic skills & styles found between the pretty covers.

I was exposed to artists I may have never otherwise never heard of; styles I may never have otherwise seen; and ideas i may not have had have been rushing through my mind as a result. The first day I picked it up - I was inside my studio within an hour for the first time in weeks. It has become my go-to resource for a quick flash of creative caffeine. My love and admiration of this book, really shocked me; as did the effect it has had on me.

I actually, surpringisly, kinda like that there's not alot of text. Really, that is part of it's charm - the accessibility of it, and how even if I only have seconds to spare, I can get something out of it. That - my friends - is priceless.

So Thank You Dawn, for asking me to be a part of this fabulous collaboration ( you'll find 6 of my pages in the book on pages 97 and 98 ) and reminding me the value of showcasing art in this form!

I sent a copy of this to my parents, and they in turned ahowed my uncle -- who used to sketch quite a bit; but hasn't in years. After looking through this book & Mixed-Media Self-Portraits: Inspiration & Techniques He began creating again! Inspiration really is a powerful tool isn't it?

I bought this book because a specific artist I find inspiring was featured in the book and I wanted to see more of her work. I also thought it would be interesting to see how other artists interpreted their journal pages, and it was. On the down side, I felt the editors tried to fit too many journal pages onto one page of their book, resulting in smaller images of each artist's work and thus making it harder to appreciate the details of the artwork.

I wasn't an art journaler... at least I wasn't until I stumbled onto this book. I picked it up in a bookstore, and was instantly enthralled. This is what a book about art journalling should be -- lots and lots of great illustrations. These are clear, and colorful, and detailed enough that you can read the writing on the most detailed pages. Best is the wonderful assortment of styles of journalling reflected in this collection. Collage, sketching, watercolor painting... there is something to inspire the most amateur of journallers, as well as the most advanced of artists. This is definitely a book I'll be looking at over and over again. It'd make a great gift along with a blank book for someone, too!

If you haven't seen this book already I think it is one of those Must-own-book because there is so much to look at that you'll never be finished with it! It's filled to the brim with many talented artist and it holds a big range of diverse visual journaling styles! There are collages, doodles, sketches, writing and photos on page after page with views inside the private Art Journals from people all over the world!

This book has +300 pages and almost no text - but very many (1000!) pages (though some are photos of the whole spread and those counts as two pages). You can read what the artist has written and journaled about on the pages and you understand that you are not alone in you angst and artistic fears!

It's an art book that probably will inspire anyone to do a little art journaling (but probably a lot). If you're experienced in the mixed media field you will totally want to keep this book as a reference guide and inspiration tool for different styles, artists and prompts. If you're new to Art Journals and collage I think you will be curious about starting after just a few minutes!

I'm glad I bought it and it will be taken down from my book shelf many many times in the future.

This daily devotional is a mighty little book in learning how to praise our Lord and in understanding our identity in Christ. It must be read from beginning to end, not just the daily devotions in the middle, or you will miss the gems in part 3.

I received this book as a gift and have since purchased 5 for family members and friends. It is my daily inspiration. No matter what we are facing, we can praise God that He is with us in and through it all. This book focuses your mind, heart and spirit on God in the most difficult of times and most blessed of times. It has changed the way I look at challenges and victories and I can praise God for both. I mostly highly recommend this book for everyone.

We used this book for our Bible Study for new Christians and have seen an immediate appreciation for God's character and authority over their lives.

Even though I viewed this product on line before ordering, it was not what I wanted. The 1994 edition I have of this book includes journaling space each day following the day's scriptures. I didn't realize this was not included until the books came. In giving this to members of my mission team, I wanted them to journal their praises to God for the 31 days. I think the journaling space makes the book so much more effective as a tool with which to praise God. The book is still very good . . . just not what I really wanted the way I wanted to use it.

This book was a gift from a friend. It is one of the best gifts I've ever received and I will read it over and over again through the years. Great spiritual insight. This is a good devotional for someone who is grieving the loss of a spouse too.

I got this planner today at a bookstore ,on sale for [...], but the amazon price is great too! and I love it! It makes planning things really fun and it is so cute! I love the stickers and how it's not dated. Sometimes I don't need to use use it so if I skip one week , I don't waste a whole page unlike dated planners. This is a planner with style! Don't waste your time with cheap and ugly planners , this is cute , a great price , and good qualty. I would reccomend this to any sassy girl!

This product arrived as pictured and described. I bought it thinking it would put a little fun into my day, but it's just too much for me. I felt kind of silly taking it out of my purse around the professionals I work with. However, this is still a good product for anybody who doesn't mind looking a little.. er.. young at heart. Just think about whether it is something you would actually use, because I ended up not using it. =[

At first i kinda had my doubts about this planner cuz i wanted something different but this seemed way too out there for me. But i bought it figuring if i dont like it i can send it back. This planner is great!!! i agree with the other reviews that it doesnt have enough pages, but for the bargain price i bought 3 and just transferred the pages over....this is a great gift for yourself or ur girlfriends.

I bought one of these for each of my daughters (19 and 30)- this is just too funny... it is a great organizer- for school or work. And it has attitude!

i have had at least 4 of this and i have bough at least one as a gift , i love it , only wish you could get refills i always by a new book , but other than that i will continue to purchase this item

In these by times highly emotional essays written in the 1930s and 1940s George Orwell gives us with in depth analyses his personal viewpoint on the literary, political and socio-economic scene.

In literature, he sees the novel as `a Protestant form of art, a product of the free mind, of the autonomous individual.' Orwell's aim was to `push the world in a certain direction: a battle against totalitarianism and for democratic Socialism.'
In his criticism he searches for the essential (hidden) message of the author.
Dickens's rather naïve creed is: `If man would behave decently, the world would be decent.' His ideal is `a hundred thousand pounds, a quaint old house, a sweetly womanly wife, a horde of children and no work.'
Henry Miller's books are `a passive acceptance of decay and evil.'
H.G. Wells dreams of a utopian World State.
R. Kipling is a jingo imperialist, but he didn't understand that `an empire is primarily a money-making concern'.
W.B. Yeats is in essence a defender of feudalism, `a great hater of democracy and of human equality, of the modern world, science, technology and the concept of progress.'
A. Koestler's main theme is `the decadence of revolutions owing to corrupting effects of power.'
P.G. Wodehouse's real sin is to present the English upper classes as much nicer than they are.
In `Gulliver's Travels', J. Swift delivers a frontal attack on totalitarianism and shows that he is a disbeliever in the possibility of happiness.

Orwell's view on world matters is rightly `no Law, only Power'.
Nationalism is inseparable from the desire for power.
The concentration of the media in the hands of a few rich men puts the freedom of the press and intellectual liberty under attack. The `very concept of objective truth' is lost.
The Spanish war showed him the essential horror of army life.
He is extremely severe for the British establishment: `The British ruling class thought that Fascism was on their side.' For them, `it is better to inherit, than to work.' `In an England ruled by stupidity, to be `clever' was to be suspect.'

But his solution is also naïve: `common ownership of the means of production. The State, representing the whole nation, owns everything, and everyone is a State employee.' In other words, he pleads for a massive bureaucracy.
But he contradicts himself when he complains that `everything in our age conspires to turn the writer into a minor official!'

These essays contain also vivid memories of his public school life (`irrational terror') and of his Indian life ('Shooting an elephant'). He comments on sports (`war without shooting), detective stories (J.H. Chase), poetry (`the most hated art form'), mildly pornographic comic postcards (`a harmless rebellion against virtue') and ends with a superb portrait of Ghandi.

These remarkable essays, written by a fearless superb free mind, a fighter for justice and a true `révolté' (A. Camus), are a must read.

I believe the other reviews of this book to be quite accurate; rightfully noting its annoyingly bad layout(lacking index, missing page headings of what you're reading, etc). Disregarding these shortfalls, Orwell's writing itself easily makes up for--and surpasses--were the publishers have blundered. I read these essays with child-like Christmas morning joy; finding pleasure in them as if peeling away the wrapping paper from the presents, leaving me engulfed with intrigue over Orwell's subjects, prose and opinions. This book is a real treasure trove for all those who enjoyed Orwell's most famous, if not cliche, works of 1984 and Animal Farm.

What distinguishes George Orwell from every other political writer in history is his pitiless intellectual honesty. It is true that Orwell hated imperialism, fascism and capitalism, and that he spent the majority of his career stumping and scrapping for democratic socialism, but no political ideology ever swallowed more abuse from one of its own. For every positive word Orwell scribbled or spoke about socialism he threw in at least a paragraph of denunciation, insult and mockery; indeed, in THE ROAD TO WIGAN PIER he so ridiculed the pimply, sniggering, ivory-tower intellectuals who were the public face of the movement that the Left Book Club, which had commissioned the book, added an introduction that basically disowned it. Orwell was quite simply something that doesn't exist nowadays: a man who didn't let his political opinions interfere with his observations. He spoke the truth, or what he saw as the truth, without any respect for the party line, and if he brassed off his own side in so doing, that was just too damn bad.

ESSAYS is not like the other Orwell books on the market, which featured pieces selected by an editor - THE ORWELL READER, A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS, etc. It is a massive, hardbacked, dumbell-heavy compendium of every single essay he penned in his entire career, spanning the period 1928 - 1949: letters to newspapers (some of them unpublished), BBC broadcasts, the innumerable "As I Please" columns, famous works like "Such, Such Were The Joys" and "The Lion and the Unicorn", innumerable book reviews...in other words, 1,360-plus pages of acid observation, scourging honesty and gallows humor, delivered by a master at the top of his form.

Obviously, you have to be a pretty hardcore fan of G.O. to lug this miniature telephone book out of the store, but it's a bargain at any price. Orwell's special genius was that he could tackle something completely ordinary - a ponderous scholarly work on political trends, a second-rate gangster novel, American comic books, magazines devoted to young boys, a government White Paper, even ordinary British postcards - and unmask the hidden, inner motivations which lurked behind them. His ability to see through dishonest arguments, expose hypocrisy, trace twisted motives to their roots, and draw timeless conclusions from seemingly trivial political and pop-culture events is rivaled only by his willingness to say the unsayable. Who but Orwell could get away with a such a brutally frank discussion of the motivations behind everything from anti-Semitism to pro-Communism, the allowance for the possibility that British Imperialism was worse than Nazism, or the statement that the root of Hitler's appeal was that Fascism was psychologically more sound than its alternatives, because it played into the fact that humans want struggle and sacrifice as much as pleasure and saftey? The answer is nobody; nobody else would have dared. Or would dare, now, when nearly every sentence written by politcos Left, Right and Center is either intellectually dishonest, partisan hackwork, or so filled with political, racial, and sexual correctness, with platitudes, with clichés and buzzwords, with stupidity and cowardice, that they essentially have no meaning?

In "1984", Orwell coined the term "duckspeak" to describe those who chatter unconsciously, unaware of the meaning of their own words but certain of their conformity to the party line. Well, you can love Orwell, you can hate him, or you can disagree with him to the middle of your bones, but one thing is absolutely certain: nowhere in the wrist-straining tome that is ESSAYS will you hear a single quack.

George Orwell: 1984 and beyond


The futurist novels 1984 and Animal Farm are George Orwell's primary literary legacy. He contributed the phrase "Big Brother" to the language, and is remembered... if at all...as a novelist and social commentator.

But Orwell was much more than that - during the Second World War he worked for the BBC as a commentator, essayist and writer. He was a consummate professional, a brilliant satirist, and an indefatigable correspondent. He volunteered in the Spanish Civil War and wrote "Homage to Catalonia" from his experiences.

What is more surprising is that Orwell ...who died at 46... left voluminous essays, letters and reportage which have been compiled in four thick volumes by Sonia Orwell and Ian Angus. * (George Orwell: Collected Essays, Journalism and Letters; Volumes 1-IV, Nonpareil Books, 2000), and in his Collected Essays.

. He lived as a tramp for a while, got arrested for being drunk, worked low-level jobs and wrote "Down and out in London and Paris" from his experience. Orwell struggled personally and financially; his first marriage ended with h is wife's death, his second was short, and he was usually broke. That changed with the publication of l984 and Animal Farm...the latter a satire on the Russian Revolution. Ray Bradbury's classic "Fahrenheit 451" owes a debt to Orwell. His BBC broadcasts during the War were classics.

In his short life, Orwell produced a huge body of work: his Collected Writings run to 20 volumes, and his essays fill four books. He is one of the major figures of 20th Century English writing.
Major Works

Down and Out in Paris and London
The Road to Wigan Pier
Nineteen Eighty-Four
The Orwell Reader: Fiction, Essays, and Reportage
Homage to Catalonia
Burmese Days

As a lit major very interested in politics, I find this collection to be fascinating and instructive. Mr. Orwell's views on what corporations would do to the news media and the stifling effects of politically correct speech are vital today, and should be required in civics and political science classes.

Mr. Orwell managed to anger and inform both liberals and conservatives by exposing hypocrisy and dull-minded dogma. His writing style is sharp and free of tiresome twists and turns. In fact, "Politics and the English Language" (954) targets academic writing that is puffed up for no reason other than to hide the fact that the writer has little to say. (And this article should be required reading in graduate literature classes!)

The power of his insights and imagery can be seen in "How the Poor Die," a sad, upsetting essay that made me want a shower and a drink when I finished reading it. (Again, this is current today with the horribly neglected and virtually unregulated "assited living facilities"--and even the Walter Reed outpatient scandal.)

So few writers have had such vision that it is worth repeating the cliche: George Orwell was a social prophet--a genuine one.

Because of Mr. Orwell's deep understanding of political systems and human nature, his excellent style, and the breadth of his subject matter, I think it would not be over-praising him to say that this volume ranks with Montaigne's collected essays.

This volume is lovely, both in binding and text size; however, as other reviewers have pointed out, the publisher should have taken the trouble to include an index at the end of 1363 pages of essays! (Write to Knopf/Random House to complain!)

I'm going to contact my county library to arrange donating a copy of this; it is a shame this book isn't on the shelves!

This is a great book and I recommend it to all who wishes to understand Jesus and what he really means in this Life that is filled with many trials and tribulations.

This is my first foray into N.T. Wright's literary discipleship. This is good written stimulus that will lead you to a deeper understanding of who Jesus is. This collection of Eucharistic sermons expands from the passion of Christ to the revelation of the Father's plan for true discipleship. The language is easy to read and Dean Wright uses great words and pharases to lead us further along. N.T. Wright has become one of my must read theologians.

This book, though brief, contains a treasure chest of Wright's knowledge on the life and significance of Jesus. In "Following Jesus", Wright seeks to answer the question, "Who exactly is this Jesus that we claim to follow?"

With the thought that many Christians might not know exactly who Jesus is, due to years of watered down religion, Wright uses different books of the Bible, along with personal scholarship, to extract who Jesus was and what that means to those who follow him.

A phenomenal read. Extremely enlightening and refreshing.

This is my first time reading N.T. Wright's books, though I've read an essay and heard him speak. This is an unbelievable book. The first half of the book walks through the New Testament and describes each author's view of Jesus and what it looks like to follow Him. The second half seems to walk through some of the major issues of discipleship and what it actually looks like to follow Jesus. I loved it and will go back to it again and again.

For years I'd scoffed at Bishop N.T. Wright thinking him a backward-looking, anti-intellectual Christian with nothing to say to the contemporary world. I was wrong. And I'm glad to say this book started it all.

After reading several books on revisionist views of Jesus, I've concluded (very, very reluctantly) that the Jesus presented in "Following Jesus" is the only Jesus really worth following. Here Wright gives us a glimpse of the Jesus of the gospels, a Jesus who is the Savior of the World, a Jesus who makes huge demands on our lives and calls us to follow Him to Calvary. This Jesus tells us disturbing things about ourselves, the world, and how both are in need of repair. The good news, as Wright points out, is that G-d has begun to recreate the world through Jesus of Nazareth. In this short book of sermons, Wright shows the new creation appearing by looking at Jesus' teaching, his healings and, perhaps most of all, his resurrection. The new creation has already begun, yet it will fully arrive in the Age to Come.

This book set my heart aflame for the Christian hope. Although the world suffers and humans fail in love (again and again), there is a G-d who raises the dead, a fact that--when it's internalized--gives life its proper focus.

Thank you, Bishop Wright, for this powerful little book.

My mother gave me Heirloom Baking with the Brass Sisters for Christmas last year and I just loved it, loved the lay out, love the recipes (a note here, I'm a five day a week dieter and healthy eater, but on Saturday and Sunday I throw caution out the window and eat what I want and I've gone to the Brass sisters several weekends in a row during the last year).

Because I loved their last cookbook so much, I was really looking forward to this one and I have to say I was not disappointed, but then I knew I was just going to love it and I surely do. As with their last book, everything in this one is perfect and perfectly presented, from the well laid out recipes to the photos of the delicious food. You can't go wrong with the Brass Sisters, you really can't.

Regretfully, I do not own a copy of this book because it's the library copy but as soon as I can, I will be buying a copy of this cookbook. Till then, I will be making copies of numerous recipes out of this book.

My paternal great-grandma and my maternal grandma were both great cooks. I am very fortunate to have a copies of my great-grandma's recipes formatted in a lovely binder. I wish I could say the same of my grandma's. There is a recipe in this cookbook, on page 115 that may be the recipe that my mom has been looking for, called Canadian Sugar Pie. We lost my grandma's pie recipe which was handed down to her by her mother-in-law. It leads me to wonder just how many bakers have lost treasured recipes throughout the years ...

This book is just wonderful. It is full of tidbits, photos and recipes. There are photos of antique cake pans that my husband would love to have in our kitchen and the tidbits are wonderful. It is a glimpse into the not-so-distant past where women did not have all the ingredients readily available like we do today. It is a nostagalic look into the past. It doesn't look as hard to make as it sounds and I can only imagine the smells coming out of those two sisters' kitchens as they tested every recipe in there.

This is a collector's item as well as a practical baker's item. In short, it really is a must-have in kitchens because who knows? Someday you might be looking for a lost recipe only to find it in this book.

8/23/08

Heirloom Baking with the Brass Sisters: More than 100 Years of Recipes Discovered from Family Cookbooks, Original Journals, Scraps of Paper & Grandmother's Kitchen lovingly collects those intriguing bits of family history in the form of recipes scribbled on the backs of bridge tallies, grocery sacks, and yellowed bits of paper. Collected from used bookstores, flea markets, yard sales, and from friends, the dozens of vintage recipes ranging from the 1800s to the 1960s and today are snapshots in time, from the frugality of war rationing (Miss Emma Smith's War Cake) to bridge snacks (Graham Cracker Fudge, Mah Jong Candy) to Jewish comfort foods such as mandelbrot, hamantaschen, and challah.

Sheila and Marilynn Brass have tested, tweaked, and updated these long-lost gems to the modern kitchen, an all-important step to ensuring success. Why is this important? In the good old days, measurements could be imprecise, the texture and type of flour depended on the mill it was ground at, and sugar came in the form of hard cones of loaf sugar that had to be broken and pulverized. Often, oven temperatures were omitted. In addition, they have chosen to use commonly available ingredients (and they include a handy primer on essential ingredients and tips on what was used in the test recipe), making these heirloom baked goods accessible to everyone.

The recipes are grouped loosely by occasion, from breakfast (Pineapple Walnut Breakfast Bars, Helen's Coffee Bans, Cranberry-Orange Cream Scones) to immigrant recipes (Hazelnut Cake, Libby's Coconut Linzer Bars, Canadian Sugar Pie, Mrs. Mattie James' Jamaica Caramel Ice Cream), church recipes (Christian Service Cookies, Reverend Brown's Cake, Black Pepper Hush Puppies), bridge snacks, holiday recipes , and a chapter on chocolate (French Chocolate Cake with Mocha Frosting, Mocha Ricotta Cake with Ganache Topping, Chocolate Coconut Bread Pudding).

The authors make heirloom baking accessible to the modern cook, and add insightful notes on the original bakers along with kitchen tips on substitutions and variations. This is a wonderful gift for anyone who's longing to recreate the smells and tastes of grandmother's kitchen and a joyous ode to simpler times.

One small caveat: according to their website, there is a misprint in the recipe for Mrs. Marasi's Butterballs, on page 252. Change the amount to 1 cup of butter, not 2 cups of butter.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book which was written in an easy to understand conversational tone. I love the history of the recipes and the clear instructions. I also liked that the authors tested store-brand ingredients against brand-name ingredients in order to be able to advise readers that we do not need to pay more to produce quality baked goods.

I liked that the recipes are for baked goods that I want to eat but do not duplicate recipes I have seen in other cookbooks (since I have more than 250 cookbooks, this is worth noting).

The book is published on sturdy pages and contains many photos of the finished products as well as of hand-written recipes and cooking tools of years gone by. My only complaint is a very minor one - I found the first page of each chapter a little hard to read as the text was superimposed over a decorative pattern.

I am grateful to the Brass sisters for "rescuing" these recipes from flea markets and antique stores in order to share them with the next generation of bakers. I encourage them to continue their search for lost recipes and to publish those, too.

This book would be an excellent gift, if you can bear to part with it!

I am giving this book five stars because every recipe I have tried has been, if not outrageously good, then at least delicious. Plus, the text is interesting and the pictures of antique kitchenware are great, making this my favorite cookbook to bake from right now. I am starting to notice a trend though, after making the chocolate peanut butter cake. It did not fit in the pan size that was recommended and ran out all over my oven. I then recalled when I made the lemon cheesecake it didn't fit in my smallish 9" springform pan either. I'll be paying more attention now; the recipes are worth this inconvenience.

One of the funniest books I've read, even for a bit of a hypochondriac like myself. FULL of the most fear-inducing information that one shouldn't take on board- like the chapter on ordinary body quirks that could meant the most catastrophic of illnesses. Particularly amusing (for me) was the chapter where the author interviews a Proctologist. Hilarious, with insane little footnotes, and illustrations. Be prepared for a rather sobering finale. Great book.

Despite the macabre subject matter, this is a hilarious book. I laughed out loud many, many times. And while it may, indeed, feed a true hypochondriac's neurosis, it can also show just how obnoxiously far you can take it. I will admit that even I (not so much a hypochondriac) took a few of the `tests' presented in the book. I evidently have about a half-dozen serious medical conditions...

If you like Dave Barry, you'll like this book.

Warning... this is not for the paranoid, for those that read every bad bio-terrorisim book out there then wonder if they've contracted Ebola, or for those who call emergency when they've stubbed their toe thinking it's fleah eating cancer....
Great book full of witty looks at all the medical disasters that can kill ya...
It is well written, funny, well organised and lends itself to reading to friends and relatives who enjoy combining a lack of medical background with pure paranoia. Keep a copy around for flu season...

Several laugh out loud moments. Weingarten's newspaper column is funnier than this book. I love the column. The book isn't bad.

If you truly want to sample Weingarten at his best read his column.

Gene Weingarten used to be Dave Barry's editor at The Miami Herald. Enough said.

Michelle Feynman has provided an important service in collecting the letters of her father in "Perfectly Reasonable Deviations." I was especially interested in the letters concerning his award of the Nobel prize. Despite receiving the most prestigious award in science, Feynman refused to take himself (or anything else) too seriously. My favorite exchange (pp. 163-164) begins with a letter from Sandra Chester who writes "Hail the Nobel Prize Committee for its recognition of your unsurpassed achievement in the field of bongo artistry." True to form, Feynman responded "I was delighted too when I heard about the Nobel Prize, thinking as you did that my bongo playing was at last recognized. Imagine my chagrin when I realized that there had been some mistake-they cited some marks I made on paper some 15 years ago-and not one word about percussion technique. I know you share in my disappointment." His fans even extended to students who had failed his courses: one named his female Siamese cat "Richard P." in his honor, to which Feynman responded "Some measure fame by just a Nobel Prize but I have had a cat named after me! Thank you for such a distinguished and subtle honor." (He even agreed to become "a knight of the Order of the ever Smiling and Jumping Frogs" to celebrate his status as a Nobel Laureate.)

A character trait I greatly admire about Feynman is his utter intolerance of pomposity and his demand of clarity in communication (perhaps best explained in a discussion of "new math" textbooks in Appendix V), as well as a general disdain for self-importance. My favorite example appears on p. 323. Mr R. Wayne Oler had written Feynman a letter deriding the practice of teachers selling unsolicited desk copies of textbooks sent to them for personal profit. I cannot imagine a better reply than the last line from Feynman's response: "Previously I have always returned, unopened, unsolicited books from publishers (I dislike advertising). But now you have given me a better idea."

The book also contains numerous letters between Feynman and the greats of twentieth century physics, as well as more personal glimpses into his character afforded by letters to his wives (particularly his first wife, Arline, who died of tuberculosis at a young age). The book also allows the reader to see changing of opinions or changed nuance of certain positions over time (I was especially interested in his appraisals of "new math" textbooks, which I generally loathe [in most cases Feynman agreed], the discussion of which is largely on pp. 218-220 and in Appendix V.)

Michelle Feynman has done a wonderful job organizing these letters, making just the right comments when needed for interpretation or comprehension. I highly recommend "Perfectly Reasonable Deviations" and thank Michelle Feynman for all the effort that went into producing this important volume.

If you are familiar with feynman this is just what you would expect from this great man. This is him uncut and uncensord. When ever i feel like smiling and gain some inspiration i pick this book up and flip to a random page, it works everytime.

If there was one intellect that dominated the latter half of the 20th century, it would be Dr. Richard Feynman. Yet, despite winning a Nobel prize and his early work on the Manhattan project and his years of original yet simple and creative approaches to complex problems, his humility and true affection for other people never waivered. He was one of those rare people who could touch our hearts as effectively, possibly even more, than he could touch our minds. He was one who gave new meaning to the idea of thinking outside the box and who never passed up a chance to remind us all of what is really important in life.

Some of his letters will make you cry with the emotion he could express to those he loved. Others will strike you for their humility displayed in teaching without condescending or apologies to those he feared he had offended. A truly great man with a great intellect and great ability to communicate his thoughts. This is the human side of one who had been named "the world's smartest man" by Omni magazine. And we are all fortunate to know him through this collection.

Having read "Surely you're joking, Mr Feynmann", I had wondered about his relationship with his first wife, because she was hardly mentioned.

This book sets that right, with some fascinating and personal letters. In particular, the letter he wrote a year after her death hit me very hard, and I don't consider myself sentimental.

And that's just the first part of the book...if you like Feynmann, this is a must have.

My main motivation for reading "Perfectly Reasonable Deviations" was to gain further insight into Feynman's personality and value system by the direct and reliable method of studying verbatim his interactions with other people. He has been so thoroughly enshrined (perhaps not unwillingly) as a brilliant, difficult, puckish character that I couldn't help being a bit puzzled about what he was "really" like.

In assembling this volume, Feynman's daughter Michelle has selected a variety of correspondence ranging from professional relations with colleagues to private exchanges with friends and, occasionally, complete strangers. I think it is in the latter case that we learn the most about Feynman. He was willing to pay close attention not only to people who admired him, but also to those who offered crazy ideas, or unfair criticism, or even ad-hominem invective. Well after becoming a Nobel prize winner, he continued to compose detailed explanations for, and invite replies from, people who could try anyone's patience. As an experienced debater-by-correspondence, he had a talent for cutting to the quick of a dispute and, while remaining perfectly courteous, nudging the contender into a corner from which escape was impossible short of offering something new or conceding the point. Whether arguing scientifically, graciously acknowledging praise, or simply trying to shake off a persistent bore, Feynman never failed to be insightful and thought-provoking.

The early part of the book covers Feynman's relationship with his first wife Arline, who died of tuberculosis in an Albuquerque sanatorium while he worked on the atomic bomb project at Los Alamos. His decision to marry Arline, regardless of her uncertain health and against the advice of friends and relatives, speaks to the strength and depth of his commitment. Many extremely personal letters are included which illuminate the couple's mutual devotion as well as his loving acceptance of the frustration and uncertainty forced on both of them by the relentlessly worsening disease.

Feynman's attitude toward religion is revealed in several places, particularly during a 1959 television interview. In addition to critiquing the widespread notion that morality is tied to piety, he says quite succinctly that "The religious theory of the world ...doesn't fit with what you see."

In a number of letters Feynman explains the prickly positions on academic conventions and courtesies that helped to make him a legendary outsider. A representative example was his refusal to provide evaluations of former students and colleagues when they were already at the requesting institution. He essentially said: Look here, this person is working right under your nose and you know more about him or her than I do, so decide for yourself!

There are a few instances where an alert editor could have caught misreadings, for example "Serbeis" for the [Robert] Serbers on page 76, and "1023" for ten to the 23rd power on page 174. All in all, this collection constitutes a fascinating and skillfully-produced window into one of the world's most intriguing minds.