Interviews Books

Okay, perhaps I'm a bit biased because I'm in the book. But I spent 3 hours on the phone with Zsa Zsa being interviewed, and I never got the sense that she was "injecting her own opinions into the interview." I thought it was one of the most affirming conversations I'd ever had. I felt that her expressions of sentiment were merely a way of drawing me further out of myself. I found the interview such a positive experience that I referred her to several friends of mine who are also featured in the book, including the incognito "Major Maureen" (who, incidentally, has since retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel). After "Major Maureen's" interview, "Maureen's" partner actually thanked Zsa Zsa for making it such a positive experience for her. They must have spent 4 hours on the phone, and it was clear that "Maureen," a naturally very taciturn individual, had a lot bottled up inside that needed to come out. All of us who were in the book, that I know of, were very happy with the final version and felt that we had been treated very well and fairly.

This book is well written and very informative into the world of gay people in the military. What they go through to hide their true selves is extraodinary. Heterosexuals could never do it!
These are people just like you and I that love the job that they do, yet are forced to hide their personal lives for fear of persecution and job termination if "found out". Interesting how in the private sector this is called discrimination and there are tough laws to back it up, but not in the military?!
Read this book!

This book is very insightful. Even though I was never in the military, the author presented the interviews in a way that I could really relate to. Anyone that is interested in the issues around the military's policy of "don't ask, don't tell" should read this book. We should send a copy to everyone in the House and Senate.

You won't be disappointed in this book. It's an entertaining read that I couldn't put down.

Come along for a journey with the gifted author Zsa Zsa as she humbly and respectively provides the space and gentle nudge with just the right questions to open a world not often seen or heard from. In this book Zsa Zsa guides us into the lives of many Lesbian military servicemembers (both currently active duty and veterans) who reveal stories that stir the soul, bring tears to your eyes, laughter and tugs on the heart. These stories leave no emotion or sense untouched as you live a life in the moment of what it was like for these Lesbian women in the U.S. Military. As a U.S. Air Force veteran I found these stories to be compelling, thought provoking and emotionally engaging. Zsa Zsa has a brilliant talent for interviewing that allows the participants' stories to shine. A phenomenal journey that you will enjoy immensely!

"Secret Service: Untold Stories of Lesbians in the Military," by Zsa Zsa Gershick, is a compilation of interviews with lesbians who have served (and, in some cases, were still serving when interviewed) in the armed forces of the United States. The book features a foreword by Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer, the lesbian Army nurse who challenged the military's policy on homosexuality. Gershick presents chapters on 31 additional military women. Some do not use their real names, and some of the interviews feature photos of the women. The chapters alternate between two formats: (1) full-length interviews that consist of exchanges between Gershick and the women, and (2) short, one-or-two page first-person narratives from the women.

Gershick has brought together the voices of a very diverse group of military women. Both officers and enlisted women are featured. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are all represented. The women's service spans many decades. Gershick includes women who have made successful careers and retired with at least 20 years of service, as well as women who spent only a short time in uniform. There are women who successfully navigated the military's restrictions on homosexuals, as well as women who faced investigation and discharge.

The women featured in the book address many significant issues: survival tactics used by lesbians in the military; the question as to how the military's policy on gays affects officers and enlisted personnel differently; paranoia and the psychological toll taken on closeted military lesbians; the danger of surveillance and anti-lesbian "witch hunts"; facing sexual harassment from male military personnel; the challenges involved in maintaining a romantic relationship while in the military; facing interrogation; the public "coming out" of prominent gay military personnel; and former President Clinton's controversial attempt to change the military policy on homosexuality.

The women featured in the book really put compelling human faces on the very controversial gays-in-the-military issue. I especially enjoyed the interview with retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Shirley Geiling--it's a funny, sassy exchange that is often interrupted by Geiling's laughter. Also noteworthy are the comments of Air Force nurse Caroline Riso, who recalls service in Japan during the Vietnam era. Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Brenda Vosbein recalls being part of a 1994 case, _Jane Able et al v. United States of America_, that challenged the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. In another powerful exchange, an Army officer discusses her concerns that her partner has access to neither the military health care system nor the officer's military retirement benefits.

My only quarrel with the book is that Gershick inserts her own opinions into her exchanges with the interviewees too often. I found some of Gershick's statements to be a distraction from the interviewees' compelling stories. Still, Gershick's instincts as an interviewer are mostly on target; consequently, the exchanges between Gershick and the interviewees are, on the whole, illuminating and powerful. "Secret Service" is an excellent contribution to American military history, and an essential resource for all those interested in the gays-in-the-military issue. As a military veteran myself, I thank and commend Gershick and all the women who contributed to this important project.

This is a great book for SP rookie fans. Loaded with info. Become a bigger fan than me. :) (the cd is great too.)

This book Rocked ! This book answered all of my misterious questions of the band. This book was really worth the money. I respect the pumpkins way more than what I did before. They are my favorite band.( beacuse of the book !) If You're a pumpkins fan, and you didn't read this book. YOU SHOULD, YOU WILL LOVE THEM, ALSO YOU WILL RESPECT THEM AS WELL AS i DO ! ROCK ON MY FELLOW PUMPKIN FANS - - - -

I loved this book it told in detail everything to the lives of the samshing pumpkins provign they are a very well organized band and work very hard

I think this is a great interview with the Pumpkins (well, only half of them) and the book is pretty rocking, too. Two thumbs up.. :)~

great Cd and book! It covers all the things that you want to know about the smashing pumpkins. listen up, want to know more about the smashing pumpkins? buy this cd/book. ;-)

I read this book and it was one of the best books I have ever read. And I don't really read that much but I couldn't put this book down. I was born and raised in Chalmette and finally there is a book about my people and what they went through. My family and I did evacuate and later my Dad passed away in the hotel. I lost a home and a Dad. I did eventually move away after 6 months of trying to live there again. Every time I went to my house I got disgusted. But anyway, I think it was a fantastic book and recommend anyone who is interested in it to buy it immediately. I will cherish this book the same way I cherish the few items I saved from my home. Everyone who was involved with helping people that day will forever be Heroes to me.

A must read for anyone who lived or has lived in St. Bernard Parish. I read this book in one day. Could not put it down. Brings back memories like it happend yesterday.

Michelle Buuck did an unbelievable job captivating The St. Bernard Fire Departments heroic actions. I started to read the book and 2 days later I was finished. It was very hard to put down once I began to read about the men who were responsible for saving an entire Parish of people; especially without any State or Federal assistance. The personal day by day trials & tribulations of each St. Bernard Fireman is a must read by all. Hurricane Katrina, the World's largest natural disaster, made History along with the Fireman in this book. All are & always will be Heros that will never be forgottten.

MS Buuck has captured the events of this untold story in riveting detail through interviews with the men who were there. These stories of dedication, unselfish acts and heroism, while faced with the greatest natural disaster to hit our nation are a must read. While St Bernard, just minutes from downtown New Orleans, was basically ignored by the press, federal, and state government these men did what firefighters do - get the job done under the most adverse of conditions. Thank you SBFD for doing what you've done and Ms. Buuck for capturing and telling the story.

I read this book a while back and I still have images from it burned in my mind. I decided to reread it and it's still mind blowing. The story of what happened in St. Bernard Parish Louisiana is one that didn't get much coverage in the national news media. That's what makes this book so important - because it's the only one out there that tells the story every American should know.

If you think Katrina damage in Louisiana was limited only to the poor neighborhoods, you haven't heard about St. Bernard. The Parish - which is equivalent to an entire county in any other state - was a middle-class, predominantly white community. And it was completely flooded, worse than much of New Orleans was. Think about the damage you saw in the Lower 9th Ward and that's what happened in St. Bernard. The main difference - The Lower 9th Ward fills 2 square miles, St. Bernard Parish is over 500 square miles and all of it flooded. Another big difference - help went to the 9th Ward long before it went to St. Bernard Parish. And the firefighters and sheriff's department were left stranded to handle it on their own for days and days. Their entire community became a lake, so all rescues had to be conducted by boat. Not only were they the rescuers, they were also the survivors who lost their own homes and property and some even lost family members. They are the true heroes of Katrina.

As a volunteer, I've seen the Parish for myself. You may find the descriptions of the extent of the damage hard to believe. But this reader has seen with her own eyes that it's all true.

This book contains interviews with a lot of the emcees out there. There's oldschool and newschool reprezentin. You'll find Schoolly D telling about his musical influences, ICE-T, Canibus and so on and so on. There's also an interview with George Clinton, remember this: without George Clinton there wouldn't be any rap. Don't wait order it now.

I have always believed that hip hop, is America's only TRUE culture. Originated in the U.S., and flourishing all over the globe, hip-hop has become a subject of great interest over the last decade. This book gives much insight as to the origins of hip-hop with interviews and ideas from legends like Grandmaster Flash, Doug E. Fresh and LL Cool J. At the other end of the spectrum, some of hip-hops newer and most intriguing artists are covered from Method Man to Busta Rhymes and even including some of the hottest local and underground rap groups to show the evolution of hip-hop in America. You will see that this virtual encyclopedia of hip-hop facts and philosophy doesn't miss a beat, as you find yourself continuosly nodding your head in awe of the detailed content as you turn each page. Anyone who has a thirst to learn more about the thoughts of their favorite rap artist, or to better understand the culture, philosophy and art of hip-hop, should purchase this book.

This book travels aboveground and underground to intelligently paint hip-hop through candid interviews with an exciting roster of artists. The knowledge that artists will impart in personal settings is truly amazing...the type of sincerety you won't catch on MTV or BET. Street Conscious Rap brought me to another level of understanding for rap and its surrounding culture. I strongly recommend this masterpiece.

Poet Ezra Pound once told literary critic Hugh Kenner that Kenner had an obligation to visit the great people of his time. In "Street Conscious Rap", H. Samy Alim takes this counsel to heart and hand, as he, with James G. Spady, records the words and ideas of hip-hop's innovators and creators. The resulting rarity--the makers of hip-hop speaking, without interpretation, of what they, themselves, think and do--is a resource for study and insight; a document with archival muscle; a testimony for all time.

The interviews in this book are so detailed and in-depth that it made me think differently about some hip hop artists and hip hop as a whole. For instance, Method Man, Common, and Xzibit provide some real insight into the creative processes and abilities involved in hip hop. And Grandmaster Flash provides a first-hand historical account that makes you feel like you were there when hip hop was just getting started. All of the artists tell such amazing stories about their lives and experiences that we don't really read about anywhere else. The book also shows how important hip hop is culturally, historically, and socially -- and the impact it's had on the world. If you're serious about hip hop, this is the book you need to get. It's off tha hook, y'all!

What can I say? Lots of Pérez art, lots of information, lots of behind-the-stage information about various Titans series throughout the years. Recommended for all fans.
I'm eagerly waiting for Volume 2!!

Top notch retrospective of the early Titans eras. Not quite as good as the All-Star Companion, but enjoyable nonetheless. It's definitely a must-own for Titans fans!

I stumbled on this book almost by accident. It contains numerous interviews of the Titans creators, allowing the reader to get an inside look at the group from the 60s to the mid 90s. The emphasis is naturally on the most successful run of their history-the Wolfman/Perez years of the 80s. Anyone looking for a synoposis of each issue will be disappointed, as this is not the book's focus.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the popular New Teen Titans DC comic book series, Titans Companion is an engaging survey of the history of the series through interviews with creators Marv Wolfman, George Perez, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Len Wein, Eduardo Barreto, and other fan favorites. A comprehensive Silver Age section also has interviews with Neal Adams, Nick Cardy, Dick Giordano, among others. Illustrated with black-and-white comic panels and rare character sketches, Titans Companion is a "must-have" for fans of the series, or anyone interested in a behind-the-scenes look at creative decisions in the comic book industry (such as choosing to dress Nightwing, formerly Robin, in dark colors to make him less of a target but exposing some of his chest to appeal to female fans, now that his legs are covered). Very highly recommended reading for all Teen Titan fans.

The Titans Companion is a great source of information for fans of the world's greatest teen super-group. It's formatted with dozens of interviews with just about everybody who's ever worked on Teen Titans, The New Teen Titans, Tales of the Teen Titans, New Titans, Team Titans, and whatever other incarnation the teams had. Cadigan has taken the liberty of breaking up certain interviews (Wolfman and Perez come to mind) chronologically, which allows you take in the Titans one era at a time. Reading from start to finish, it's amazing to witness the transformation from a team of four sidekicks trying to bridge the generation gaps to a horde of dysfunctional, de-aged, gritty warriors.

If you're hoping for a comic-by-comic guide of what happened with the team, stick to the internet. I was able to piece most of it together, but there were bits and pieces I needed some more help on.

The book has TONS of b&w artwork, either reproduced panels or convention sketches--they're fantastic!

As somebody who's never read much DC at all, let alone Titans, I learned that Wondergirl was originally just Wonderwoman at a younger age (ie, not Wonderwoman's sidekick). When she showed up in Teen Titans, all of a sudden an origin had to follow, and it's followed poor Donna Troy ever since! Deathstroke the Terminator, and Vigilante both sprung from the pages of New Teen Titans. Speedy's little heroin addiction apparently never came up in the Titans! And that there were a lot of character's I'd never heard of who've joined the Titans over the years, including the Joker's daughter, who was actually Two-Face's daughter, who called herself Duella Dent and fought as Harlequin (not the Batman:The Animated Series one), and who according to Len Wein in a lettercol of DC's Who's Who #15 "show's up at Donna Troy's wedding and Dick Grayson accusing (sic) her of lying. She admitted to the deception and points to her recent addition of 50 pounds, keeping her out of crime-fighting. Since she was never a major character, nor did she ever have her own series or origin, it was decided to omit her reference (from Who's Who) since she will not be seen again."

Suffice it to say, I'm now dying to find a Titans issue with Duella as an active crimefighter in it, to see how the writer's played it. There's a lot of examples like this, where I felt like I was at a a MENSA party or something. I was mingling, meeting people, and listening to fascinating conversations, the whole time thinking "man, I've *got* to find out more about this!"

-Tom

I was one of the men mentioned in the book, I thought it was an excellent book and very factual...it really did bring me back to a time so long ago. The best part was that Frank Grzyb wrote about everyone...if you were there it will bring you back. If you were not there it will give you a true insight into how it really was there at that time. Thank you Frank!

In reading these stories, you can feel what these young men and woman felt,how scared they must have felt yet their friends and loved ones didn't know. I felt like I was there with them, they will never forget what they went thru nor should we !

I found the simple style a compelling and true account of the memories and feelings of ordinary american boys, who served at one of the most difficult times in american history. Very little BS or false glory, just a real account of real Americans, when less sacrificing refused to serve.

I am not usually a "military book reader", however I am very glad I had the opportunity to read Touched as it is so well compiled. I felt like I finally understood, in part, some of what our Vietnam Vets experienced. I have shared this book with other Marine friends of mine, and the feelings are mutual. Well done!!!

For Christmas, I sent a copy to my old First Sergeant in Alabama. His wife couldn't believe that he hardly put the book down until he had finished reading it. He wants another copy so he can donate it to the local library. I also sent a copy to a cousin of mine in Illinois, who is a Nam Vet. His e-mail comment was, "MANY THANKS FOR THE BOOK!!!! SUPERB !!!!"

Anne Rice has reached the ultimate boundary of thrills with the vampire chronicles. I felt I was one with the characters. Each page brought forth Anne Rice's imagination on paper. One of the best series of the decade. Diana.J

The first three books of the vampire chronicles are the most exciting books that I've read in a long time. There's action, adventure, love, betrayal, and even a few lessons to be learned if you can read between the lines. Other books in the vampire chronicles don't compare to these three.

Had never read anything by Ann Rice until Interview with a Vampire. Could not wait to start the second book and then the third. When I had finished the Vampire Chronicals I started looking for other books by Ann Rice. Each book leaves you hanging on for the sequel.

It was great! These books were so wonderfully emotional and dark, I could practically see in my mind's eye Lestat and Louis, and I could feel the strength of the old ones.

These 3 books were amazing... a friend on-line pushed me into reading the first, and I eventually borrowed the second and third from my English teacher... I couldn't stop! Lestat, Louis.. they're wonderful characters. Marius, Pandora, the same. But Armand has always been my favourite. Always has, always will. I am absolutely AMAZED at the way Anne Rice writes, and I am drawn to her books like a pencil to paper!

This book is written by a courageous author with her own distinctive voice. It is unabashedly strong and assured as she unfolds a narrative of the lives of Muslims that are rarely ever told. Yet despite Moezzi's fiery commitment to her mission, she is also humble, quirky, funny, and endearingly flawed, making her storytelling more human and her dedication to activism more admirable. The stories she unravels so delicately all remain close to our hearts as the people she has interviewed each have unique stories of struggles, reconciliations, and battles. This book is a fantastic read and I can't recommend it enough.

War On Error, what an excellent and clever title. The book opens eyes to the reality that people are first of all human beings, and religion does not and should not contradict with their abilities, interests, qualifications, relationships, and culture. To me, the book stems from the author's heart. The misconceptions that she, and many other Muslims living in Western societies, have sought to speak out and disprove for years. I believe it is a very intelligent idea to write a book on true stories of twelve special and incredible Muslims. People who are American in many ways, but could be stigmatized by the society because of their religion. I see this book as a thesis that promotes inclusion in the multicultural society of America.

I'm generally wary of books dealing with religion as I find the writing too obtuse or the books themselves nothing more than thinly-veiled polemics. Yet I was drawn to Ms. Moezzi's book by the clever title and beautiful cover art and I'm glad I took the time to read it.

War on Error is a collection of 12 interviews with a variety of Muslims - from the non-practicing "cultural" Muslim to the hijab-wearing convert. The premise is simple - Islam is not a monolith - but yet unfortunately it's one that garners very little attention. As a Muslim myself, it saddens me that there exists a vast majority of people that need Ms. Moezzi's book to realize what to me is self-evident : Muslim-Americans are just like any other Americans. We do not think uniformly, we have varied experiences, sometimes we are nothing if not banal but ultimately (like the reviewer below me pointed out) we all share the same essential humanity and wish to lead peaceful lives. Ms. Moezzi elucidates this idea beautifully in her book. Her writing draws you in immediately - it's clear, engaging, and often witty. War on Error was a pleasure to read and I cannot recommend this book enough.

I can only speak for non-Muslims, but speak to you I will: you need to read this book. Although I like to keep abreast of current affairs, I tend to shy away from lengthy, dry nonfiction titles crammed with facts, which is why i loved this read.

The premise of this book is simple: it is a series of short, biographical vignettes that showcase an incredibly diverse and interesting collection of Muslim-Americans. The purpose? The vignettes show us that the vast majority of Muslim-Americans are not terrorists but normal people, normal Americans, just like the vast majority of Christians are not snake-handlers (and I am not equating snake handlers to terrorists). The author does it, however, in a much more effective manner than the preaching I have seen before on this issue: through example, she shows us. She makes us feel. The purpose of the book is also to remind everyone that no matter what race, group, religion, gender, culture or ethnicity to which one belongs, we are all possessed of the same elemental humanity, and should be treated as such -- and should treat others as such.

I can't say enough to recommend this book. The writing is simple yet elegant, easy to read yet resonant. It moved me. Read it.

I don't think I was able to breathe the whole time I read this book, which was okay, because I was able to read it all in almost just one sitting. The book was very involving and interesting, but I was nervous about reading another book claiming it was breaking stereotypes of American Muslims. Quite often, books of this sort only manage to hold onto the accepted "norm" of what both "typical" Muslims and non-Muslims think Islam should be and never begin to approach "outside of the box" writing. War on Error went inside, outside and around the proverbial box.

Melody Moezzi takes the reader on an unapologetic journey into an amalgamation of individual Muslims' spiritual and personal journeys and the author's experiences with those individuals. The result easily moves into the readers' conscious and drives one to consider how each story connects to one's own reality.

At the end, I kept having fantasies of War on Error as just Volume I of a series of profiles I could keep on reading for days. I expect this book to be just the beginning of a longer journey both for the author and the reader.

Norman Yetman has done every researcher of African American history a great service by his splendid compilation in "When I Was a Slave." Yetman used a precise formula for inclusion and/or exclusion in order to compile these narratives out of more than 3,000 interviews performed by the WPA in the 1930s. They are clearly representative of the entire 3,000, while at the same time of greater length and providing more detail than the 2,900 others.

Here the reader hears first-hand the voices of the ex-enslaved African American--telling his or her story with startling imagery and amazing detail. This is a one-of-a-kind collection well worth buying, reading, and re-reading.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction , Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care And Spiritual Direction, and Soul Physicians.

I was captured by the frankness and brutal honesty depicted in these slave narratives. The stories are varied and I am reminded that yes, slavery was horrific and barbaric but these were people and as such all have different experiences. African Americans in this country are at a clear disadvantage in terms of understanding our heritage and reading these stories kept reminding me of that fact.

That's a good thing because this collection covers the gamut of slavery. Unimagineable cruelty to high society life, all led by slaves. Each story is kept short but in the end you have a better view of the people component of slavery not just a view of the "institution of slavery." There was one story about a family run plantation that was considered fairer than most in that they didn't beat, brand or mistreat their slaves. During the course of the Civil War slave families are torn apart and taken away. After the Civil War, these particular plantation owners went looking for all their former slaves as most were starving or being worked in worse conditions than pre Civil War. One former slave girl they found wanted to find her mother and siblings and they set about helping her to do that. In the end she actually finds her mother and a few siblings in another state but it would not have been possible without the assistance of her former owners. This story imparts that there were people who understood that skin color does not mean you lack feelings, that states like Texas were horrible slave raiding states and that the south after the Civil War wasn't a good place to be if you were a former slave.

This is a good book to read if you want that overview and being 149 pages it's not overly long. It's also great if you have to pick it up and put it down as each story is only a few pages long.

This is one of the most startling yet enlightening books I have ever read. Remembrances, recollections and memories of ex-slaves were gathered by Mr. Yetman and reproduced unedited (except for clarity) as a project developed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Written in the 1930's when a few very elderly slaves were still living and taken directly from them, the reader gets a true sense of the inhumanity of slavery.

Althugh some slaves were treated decently (I cannot say "kindly" - that word didn't exist when it came to slaves), most were simply a product or asset on a plantation or farm.

Families were ripped apart and sold at the owner's whim - never to see brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers again.

Husbands and wives suffered the same fate.

Many were starved and beaten. Many had no place to sleep at night.

It was forbidden for them to learn to read.

The treatment, tortures and torments these poor souls endured will break the hardest of hearts.

This was not just a "Southern" way of life. There were Northerners equally guilty of these crimes against humanity.

There is simply no way to describe the less-than-human conditions that slaves endured except to read their travails for yourself.

We owe a great debt of gratitude to Mr. Yetman for preserving these remembrances of "our eternal shame".

I feel that this should be required reading in schools. And included in some way in the test for citizenship.

The book is slim and the memoirs are short and quickly read.

Although it is revolting, slavery is part of our American heritage and
every American should know that slavery was our legacy of dishonor" and will foreveer remain our eternal regret.

This book gives a wonderful insight into what slavery was like. It's hard to believe that human beings can be so cruel to each other. I don't know how slaves were able to endure such horrible lifes. This book helped me to have even more respect for my ancestors and admire their strengh and wisdom.

This easily held small collection of slave narratives is exactly what its author describes as "a concise introduction to the Slave Narrative Collection... reprinting some of the most detailed, compelling, and engrossing life histories in it." For all of the rest of us it is a valuable collection as well as an introduction to other books on slave narratives by Norman Yetman. It also can easily be incorporated into any curriculum from middle school through post graduate work.

Judy and Kate show a true respect for the women interviewed as well as a personal honesty and a lightheartedness toward themselves. Although I am not a mother (except of a loving fur child), I can relate to so many of the women interviewed and to the authors' feelings and neuroses. Here's hoping Judy's boys love her as much as she loves her own mom.

This is a funny, big hearted, sensitive, intelligent, straightforward look at so much more than you might guess from the title. I think I just ran out of superlatives, so read the book and enjoy!

I am not even Jewish and I loved it. Everyone can appreciate this funny and heartwarming books about moms.

A very funny and well-written book. At times hilariously funny, endearing, complex, relevant for everyone and always touching. An insightful view of the mother/child relationship. - Pauline Sherman

From the minute I received this book in the mail, I could not put it down until I finished reading every hilarious chapter. Being a Jewish mother I did feel some guilt that I put my family on hold till I read the entire book. The anecdotes are poignant, touching and very entertaning all at the same time. I highly recommend this easy read to Jewish mothers and non Jewish mothers alike. In fact what a great Mothers Day gift, or Bat Mitzvah gift this would make!