Cultural Books

This book is one of the best I've read since college on American "culture" and the so-called "culture wars". Clausen defines what he means by culture and post-culture, then shows that America no longer has a culture. What is called "multiculturalism" is racial/racist/victimology pandering manufactured for political use. America today, and increasingly the rest of the civilized world, are monocultural.

Post-cultural society is one without authority, either as persons or ideals. But it is also a society of conformist, pseudo-individualists, dominated by narcissism: rejection of fact and rational thought, historically illiterate. What's left of real historical cultures in America has been cannibalized for commercial, political, or academic purposes. Clausen takes an especially fascinating and decisive look at the anthropological concept of "culture", why it applies only to isolated primitive societies, and why cultural "relativism" never made any sense.

Our state, outlined by Clausen, was prophesied over a century ago by Tocqueville and Nietzsche, as the "tyranny of the majority" or the mentally enfeebled "last man". It's here, and it's the way we live now, like it or not. It does not bode well for individual freedom or democratic self-government.

This is a great book, almost a respite from the culture war histrionics that dominate media and academic discourse. In it Clausen talks about "post-culturalism," yet another insipid term for which he apologizes at the book's beginning. It's just gotta be like that, I guess. As a good explanation of his thesis, I'll describe the cover:

People are going about their business outside a small restaurant, everything's normal. The restaurant is called "Log Cabin Pizza" and specializes in burgers, tacos, and italian beef. The specials are corned beef sandwiches and Cantonese stirfry. Next to the Log Cabin is a store specializing in religious artifacts and trinkets, of "all religions." Heterogeneity and homogeneity have become the same thing.

Clausen has an excellent critique of multiculturalism's theoretical permutations, and its significance for our society. He sort of downplays the idea of any sort of genuine "culture war," however, saying that cultures --and the very term culture-- are just methods to conveniently construct the present, and genuinely signify little in America. He is rather scathing talking about some of the Indian (he insists on calling them Indians) reconstructions of the past to "preserve their culture." All in all a great book for people interested in understanding the paths of American social development, and for those looking for a critique of the culture-vulture flame wars.

Another nice thing is that the book is short. It is not some plodding monstrosity of an author's effort to demonstrate he is well read. Instead, Clausen has written a clear and concise book that does not fall into the short book trap of polemics.

This book will change the way you think about contemporary American society. With acid wit and one arresting phrase after another, Christopher Clausen shows that the ferocious debate over multiculturalism misses the point. Culture is disappearing in America. Far from being multicultural, America has been a "graveyard of cultures." Ethnic studies programs in American universities "dot the academic world like grave markers after a plague." In what Clausen calls "post-cultural" America, the very word culture has lost its meaning and multiculturalism is little more than a code word for racial identity politics. After reading Clausen's analysis of how modern American usage has emptied culture of its meaning, I have tried to eliminate the word from my vocabulary. But culture babble is so pervasive in our society that it isn't easy. Globalization, pop culture (there's that word again!), and especially mass individualism have caused the death of culture in America. If each individual is free to create himself on whatever model he chooses, culture has lost its function. Clausen is ambivalent about post-cultural America. Although he is pained by the narcissism of modern individualism, the blandness of "McWorld," and the moral paralysis of relativism, he is completely free of nostalgia for imagined pasts. Rather he sees the death of culture in America as a consequence of the struggle for freedom that has been the theme of American history. In any case, there is no going back. Clausen's book, full of insight and wisdom, will help us find our way in post-cultural America.

Faded Mosaic considers modern American culture, presented by the author as the first post-cultural society existing after the death of culture: after defining the state of post-culturalism, Clausen argues that its effects are transforming American life and creating conformist individuals who don't believe in outer authority figures. Both causes and effects of these culture wars receive intimate analysis in a title recommended for college-level students of sociology.

Fear and Envy is a wonderful book. Dr. Ransohoff draws on a wealth of past traditions and practices in every day life today in West Africa, India, the U.S. and elsewhere to describe the many obvious and far more subtle ways in which men have wanted and felt they needed to control women. She writes in a very easy, readable way, using examples from ancient myths to modern movies. And this is not an angry, "anti-man" book. Far from it. In times of uncertainty-like the one we face post September 11-deep-seated needs can re-assert themselves, making this book even more relevant and important for us all.

Fear and Envy by Dr. Rita Ransohoff is a most fascinating and illuminating book. It is a transcultural study of men's attitudes toward women, of conflicts and their resolution as incorporated in folklore. Dr. Ransohoff's psychological background, worldwide travels, and appreciation of myths and legends makes this book exceptionally enjoyable reading. I highly recommend it!

Dr. Ransohoff has a lot to say about the experience of being a woman in our society, in Asia, and in Africa. In presenting what she has to say simply and without stridence, she makes her considerable knowledge of the global feminine condition accessible to both readers with limited knowledge of her subject as well as to those among us who are well acquainted with it. Her descriptions of how gender roles are played out in the Muslim world are, of course, particularly timely; the chapter entitled "Instrumental Women" is hopeful and inspiring. Professors of Women's Studies would be well-advised to list "Fear & Envy" as an assigned reading selection on their course syllabi.

An unexpected book. Fear and Envy attempts to explain the need of males to dominate females - a topic of substantial interest in the light of the practice of fundamentalists in several religions to continue to subjugate women. Dr. Ransohoff writes relaxed and literate prose. She laces her exposition with utterly fascinating anectdotes she has collected over years of travel in Asia and Africa. Through these stories she demonstrates the universality of much of the practice of male domination. She also presents information about life as a female in our own and other societies that is simply unknown and unavailable to men. It can't be found anywhere else. She is convincing, while quite charming, in her text, and neatly avoids the dust of academia. It is an engaging and edifying read.

FROM COVER TO COVER I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. I THOUGHT I KNEW WHAT COURAGE WAS BUT AUNT DOLLIE AND GRANNY < TWO OF THE INCREDIBLE CHARACTERS IN "FEAR NO EVIL" > SHOWED ME WHAT REAL, RAW COURAGE IS ALL ABOUT. I CAN'T WAIT TO BEGIN READING IT AGAIN! WHAT A POWERFUL, INSPIRING STORY.

"FEAR NO EVIL" WAS OUTSTANDING! I PREDICT IT WILL BE A BEST SELLER AND BE AROUND FOR A LONG TIME TO COME AS A GUIDE TO LIVE BY FOR ALL WHO READ IT. SIMPLY STATED, "FEAR NO EVIL" DELIVERS BIG TIME. IT IS THOUGHT PROVOKING AND GAVE ME A LOT TO THINK ABOUT. I THOUGHT THE AUTHOR'S < VERNON STEVE WEAKLEY > PREVIOUS BOOK "STANDING AT THE EDGE OF MADNESS" WAS INCREDIBLE. BUT THIS BOOK "FEAR NO EVIL" EVEN SURPASSED IT. WOW!!!!

*BEING FROM NEW YORK, I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE AUTHOR'S EXTREMELY POSITIVE, PATRIOTIC THOUGHTS ABOUT 911 AND HIS CONSTRUCTIVE CORRECTIVE APPROACHES TO SOLVING THE LINGERING PROBLEMS OF RACISM IN AMERICA. VERNON STEVE WEAKLEY IS TRULY AMERICA'S CONSCIENCE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR ALL.

I found myself totally enthralled by this outstanding book. I recommend it highly for all. QUITE Often i buy books to read with the thought that they will help me fall asleep at night as I read. But, this was definitely no the case with this exciting book. Once I opened "FEAR NO EVIL" and began the incredible journey through its pages, i simply could not stop! It opened my eyes and had me sky high with anticpation. ... I've even called friends late at night and read portions of it to them to get them pumped up as well. What an amazing story line. MR. WEAKLEY knows how to tell a story and seduce his readers with his consuming emotions, great sense of humor and soothing passion. Even though i have now finished "FEAR NO EVIL" BY VERNON STEVE WEAKLEY, I FIND MYSELF while AT WORK, or on MY BREAKS, SNEAKING A PEEK BACK THROUGH ITS interesting PAGES just to revisit a premise or get a good laugh from one of the author's funny stories. I have also turned my co-workers and church members on to this excellent book due to its positive and uplifting religious insight. I also liked the author's views on racism past and present day. I can't wait to read the next book by this outstanding author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I found myself reading the book on my way to work, during my lunch break, and as soon as I got home from work. It was definitely a page-turner & one that I will read again. I give it 5 stars & highly recommend it.

I picked up this book thinking it would be a dry treatise about lighting and camera direction etc. But having not attended film school I thought it'd be good information to lay under my practical film Production experience.

...and it certainly opened my eyes.

This is a book for filmmakers, film critics, and those with a deep interest in film.

It does NOT tell you HOW to make a movie. It provides food for thought about the major production decisions that the Producer and/or Director considers when making a motion picture.

It is an extremely "thinky" book. Moored in the French New Wave, American Zoetrope and to a lesser extent Spanish and Italian cinema. It praises experimentation and asks the reader to consider the effect of everything that they will put into the film. Likewise, the author derides "Hollywood" for sacrificing the potential of the motion picture as art form in order to accumulate as much money as can be made. While this feeling is prevelant throughout the text, it is refreshingly not overbearing.

The book reads like a series of lectures about film theory on such topics as Film School, Writing, Directing, Framing, Lighting, Sound and Editing. In this format it is digestible in small chunks and allows the reader to process what they have read before taking on the next topic.

As an Independent Producer, I found the points in this book to be worthy of consideration as I develop, plan, shoot, and finish my projects. I don't agree with everything he says, but he says it in such a way as to help me understand the impact of my decisions (e.g. to shoot on location vs. on a soundstage). I could easily see myself skimming through this text before any project to help me frame my approach. This is as much a testament to its depth and density as it is to its worth.

It is a new century, a new reality... Hail the new art form! one that will only 100 years of life awaits to be fully and beautifully exploited by new kinds of filmmakers, artists, philosophers, dreamers and siners!

This is the one book you need to read to fully understand the capabilities of Cinema as a true art form, not an obscene business.

Thank you Mr. Geuens, blessings to your creatively anarchic mind.

BUY THIS BOOK!!!

First I thought what could this book tell me what I didn't know already. But then I realized this is not just about filmmaking, this book is about you and me and what we call life. It's a story of looking behind the curtain and seeing the wizzard but not giving up your dream. Deeply inspiring and ultimatly insightful, this is the one text everybody who cares about movies should read. I read this book in a day and I hope Mr. Geuens will continue to write. So fasten your seatbelt and be prepared to see your preconceived ignorance shatter into a thousand little pieces and out of it will rise a new outlook on life and the movies.

Film Production Theory is an exciting and important book. Most importantly, the book outlines what is at stake aesthetically and philosophically in what appear to be merely technical considerations that enter into the making of film. Unlike many other works that focus upon the finished product, or, upon the personalities behind the product, Geuen's book focuses upon the techniques of cinema, with an eye to clarify what are the assumptions about the nature of cinema that are implicit in those techniques. For example, with respect to screenwriting Geuens points out that the standardized approach to screenwriting, in which dialogue is the most prominent feature and camera movement and angles are for the most part deliberately left out, implies that film is about story first and image second and also implies a less than fully collaborative relationship between writers and directors. Of course some writers and directors do collaborate very effectively -- but in doing so they are going against a trend that is implicit in the mainstream traditions of filmmaking, traditions that make it difficult for filmmakers to, say, let images and settings be the impetus for a creative and improvisational approach to telling stories. In addition to screenwriting, Geuens gives very helpful and detailed analyses of the nature of film school, the techniques of directing and lighting and cinematography and sound and editing. In all this, he is not simply aiming to criticize the way films usually get made, or the techniques that get applied to filmmaking, but primarily to show that such techniques pretend to be the best and only professional way to do things when in fact there have been remarkable films made differently and with far different results. In fact, the first few chapters of the book are attempts to understand why and how the "Hollywood system" came to be what it has become, what impact it has had culturally, and along the way to consider and highlight paths that were never or rarely taken. Sometimes Geuens can get a bit heavy handed and he is certainly not without his own strong views, but the book as a whole works to open up and clarify and illuminate the process of filmmaking. He is extremely well read in philosophy and critical theory and film theory, and draws upon ideas from people like Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty and Deleuze and many others, but never simply in the form of obscure name dropping. His references to such thinkers almost never fail to be both extremely helpful on the nature of film and quite clear in its summary of the often obscure thoughts of difficulty philosophers. The book is both an exceptional guide for the aspiring filmmaker and a powerful complement to works of film theory that focus on the product rather than the process. I consider the book the most important book on film I have read in a very long time, and can't recommend it highly enough.

As a student of the civil rights movement, this is a must read. The book explores the life and times of a great man who made it possible for Rev. King and others to make the changes that were made in Birmingham. Andrew Manis has written a great history book that covers not only Rev. Shuttlesworth's life but you get a sense of what people felt during this horrible time in U.S. history. You will see how Rev. Shuttlesworth had "set the table" so that Rev. King was able "serve the dinner" in Birmingham. Without Rev. Shuttleworth's persistence, President Kennedy would never be able to have said, Eugene Connor was the best thing that happened to the civil rights movement.

A compelling portrait of a real unsung hero. Emerge Magazine says it well: "The greatest battles of the civil rights movement come alive in this biography of the man Martin Luther King Jr. called "one of the nation's most courage freedom fighters." Manis is to be congratulated for bringing us this powerful story.

This is a real page turner of a biography--a book you can't put down. The contest between Fred Shuttlesworth and "Bull" Connor is classic, full of violence and poignancy. Manis has done the nation a service by putting his magnifying glass on Fred Shuttlesworth's heroics, and rightly explained them from the context of black religion. This book should be made into a movie!

The story of Fred Shuttlesworth is a powerful, dramatic story that everyone interested in the black freedom movement should read. Manis' compelling portrayal captures the spirit and spirituality of a great unsung hero. The book has been honored by the Lillian Smith Book Award, the South's oldest literary prize, and deserves a wide reading.

It's not often that a book can challenge some ideas you hold near and dear while at the same time leaving you in stiches. A friend of mine insisted I read "Flight Maps"--I'm a confirmed environmentalist/tree-hugger etc., but Price has held up an ideological mirror to me and exposed some of my most treasured assumptions about "pristine nature" along with the contradiction of my consumerist lifestyle (yes, I own an SUV--to drive to the mountains!) coupled with my ecological sensibility. Maybe all that humor made it easier to swallow. In any event, I'm glad I read it. One of those books that really changes your perspective on life.

I found this book on a closeout table at a local bookstore. When I went back to buy more copies for friends, they were all gone! It's really great...Look at some of the chapter headings:"When Women were Women, Men Were Men, and Birds Were Hats", "A Brief Natural History of the Pink Flamingo". "Roadrunners Can't Read". Scoff this up ASAP or you'll regret it! P.Smith, Texas.

Price's book (also her dissertation) starts strong, with a formidably researched essay on the extinction of the passenger pigeon that does none of the usual things: it doesn't dwell on man's brutality, it doesn't eulogize the pigeon. Instead, she very thoughtfully considers the ways in which people USE nature, and why, and explores the mystery (it remains a mystery) of exactly why the passenger pigeons disappeared.

Human uses of (and, maybe more importantly, imitations of) nature are the focus of the book. The plastic pink flamingo becomes Price's symbol for our strangely consumerist attitude toward nature. WHY do we have plastic pink flamingos? To Price, they're the most obvious example of "artificial" nature, and they've gone through an amazing range of cultural significance -- from bourgeois lawn ornament to embarrassingly loud "low-income" decoration to hipster accessory.

Price dwells on the symbolism of the flamingo more than is strictly necessary. The themes are a little worn by the time we get to her analysis of the the "nature store" phenomenon, all the Natural Wonders and Nature Companies that sprang up in the nineties. Very interesting, but again, her questions have been asked and answered so thoroughly by this time that I, for one, was TOO aware, by the time I finished, that this was a doctoral dissertation and not a book.

If you think The Nature Company is an oxymoron, Price articulates exactly why that is. If you feel a sense of discomfort in today's society, yet feel vaguely guilty about that discomfort, Price explains that as well. This truly is a fabulous book that will have you thinking (and perhaps even shopping) differently immediately.

This wonderful cookbook is part history book ( of Zarela Martinez' family and experiences in Mexico) as well as being a great book full of wonderful recipes. These recipes are "authenically Mexican" as opposed to being an Americanized version of Mexican food (which is what you are liable to find here in America.) Her subsequent books on Oaxaca and Veracruz are also worth checking out.

I purchased this book after having checked it out of the library and finding I could not let it go -- paid a heavy fine to the library, too! This book is now the most often used in my kitchen. I love to read the author's childhood memories and the background she sets up for the recipes. The recipes are not too complicated, and I have not tried one that has not been a winner! I understand it is now out of print, but I would highly recommend it to anyone who can aquire it!

I borrowed the book to learn more about tamales/ but found myself actually reading the book. Excellent. I now want to own it.

If you love Mexico, it's cuisine, and it's traditions, you will love this book. The recipes are all superb and Zarela's warmth and love of her family, culture, and food, take center stage. This book captured my heart and took me on a nostalgic journey through the foods and holidays of my childhood! It is a pleasure to recommend this book.

This is a wonderfully touching book that really touched my heart and soul. Lena used Bible passages along with her life experience to bring the book to life. It is one of the few books which talks in depth about a couple's struggle to have a child. This book will make a great gift for couples that are having trouble having kids and will inspire them to keep trying. If you only buy one book this is definitely the one to own!

When reading this book (For This Child We Prayed) by Lena Marie Fields-Arnold I was totally blown away on how she openly spoke about so many things in life that we so take for granted. I loved the fact that she used biblical verses when relaying her message. She had me laughing so hard one time I had to run to the bath room for relief. This is the second time I've purchased a copy of this book, I gave one copy to a co-worker who is going through what Mrs. Arnold and her family went through. I just wanted her to know that she's not alone and to keep the faith. I must also say that I was so impressed with the writing of this book that I sent a letter and e-mail to the Oprah Winfrey Show asking her and/or her staff to take a look at it and maybe make it a part of her book club. Mrs. Arnold I wish you and your family the best as I await more of your books. Thanks for helping me any many like me keep the faith. God Bless.

This book is absolutely outstanding! It is poignant, and details the struggle of an African American couple's multiple attempts at starting a family. Author Lena Arnold thoroughly documents her many thoughts and experiences in preparation to becoming a mother. Her letters to her children will move you. This book is a necessity for EVERY church bookstore, family ministry program/workshop, and infertility clinics across the country. It inspires you to remain faithful, and to continue to stand upon the Word of God no matter what a situation looks like.

The assumption often is that if a woman or man cannot have children; it must not only be God's will, but true evidence of God's wrath in action. In For This Child We Prayed: Living with the Secret Shame of Infertility, Lena Arnold dispels this horrendous misconception through personal insight, and reflection. In her struggle to have children, she invites us to journey with her. It is a tremendous journey, which takes us through the heartache of a crying, barren womb to sitting with Hannah in the scriptures as she bargains with God for a child...to the man at the pool of Bethesda who experienced the miracle of Christ's healing...to her own personal thoughts as she writes to her future children like Celie wrote to Nettie in Alice Walker's book "The Color Purple." Anyone who has a promise or a dream can benefit from For This Child We Prayed, it teaches you that faith can help you wait as you believe, no matter how long it takes.

I think the reviewer below summed it well in his subject line saying "McLuhan for the coffee table." Essentially this book is a list of one-liners and ideas of McLuhans. Snippets and paragraphs from books and articles. Could very well be for the beginner, but without explanitory notes (but with pictures); while it could also be for the person already well versed in McLuhans thoughts. Either way, I found it a great book as I find his thinking fascinating, curious and many times humerous. Well presented in large paperback format with slick paper and color photos, this book is a quick and easy McLuhan treat.

Forward through the Rearview Mirror: Reflections on and by Marshall McLuhan can be considered one of the greatest tributes McLuhan could have ever received. By preserving the particular organization, writing style, and design McLuhan used in The Medium is the Massage and Global Village, editors Paul Benedetti and Nancy DeHart are able to keep his soul and ideology alive. Insights not only from McLuhan himself, but also from many other media theorists who react and share their experiences about the readings, are the editor's elements to explain what was going on deeply inside McLuhan's mind.

As the MTV programming, this book has a continuous flow in which each chapter looks like a new video clip, which is totally related with the preceding, and flows directly into the following. However, instead of creating these connections with complete paragraphs and nice connectors, the editors choose to throw isolated pieces of pictures, paragraphs and quotations. It is the inner most meaning of every written and visual piece what makes a unified theory out of this book. A new way of communication which McLuhan would define as "Any new structure for codifying experience and moving information, be it alphabet or photography, has the power of imposing its structural character and assumptions upon all levels of our private and social lives" (106). Therefore, a chapter named "Violence and Identity" will start with a two-page-black and white picture of a Ku Klux Klan's ritual followed by a quotation: "Violence, whether spiritual or physical, is a quest for identity and the meaningful. The less identity, the more violence." On the next page, a picture of a ten-year-old child wearing latex gloves and a gun in each hand; then, McLuhan's theory is introduced with big blue letters: "IT'S WHY THEY HAVE TO KILL," and so forth. This continuous fluidity of meaningful images and writings, involves the audience in an exciting rhythm, making it interact and experience what McLuhan was trying to say by "The Medium is the Message."

Instead of having a defined introduction, body and conclusion, Forward through a Rearview Mirror is composed of three different types of writing: biographical information, writings by McLuhan, and writings on McLuhan. Each one of them is placed by the editors to ease the reader's understanding of McLuhan's speech. Information about his background, life, and surroundings is provided by a timeline that covers his most important years: his experiences at different stages of his career, the birth of his own family, and his social life. All these factors influenced his way of analyzing our culture. From interviews, speeches, and books, Benedetti and DeHart quote McLuhan to provide objective information about his insights. Because most of his citations are abstract aphorisms, the audience can read his words either superficially or deeply, stimulated by the adventure of discovering his hidden insights, always present in his works. However, the reader is not alone in this adventure. Other media theorists such as John Fraser or Lewis Laphom share their experiences when reading the philosopher. Moreover, as the biographical information, these media producers also help to guide the reader by providing him/her with different analysis and points of view towards McLuhan. Although the book doesn't follow the conventional three-part linearity, it seems custom made for the rushing reader of the nineties. It doesn't matter on which page we open Forward through the Rearview Mirror. It can always provide an interesting analysis of our own society.

However, Paul Benedetti and Nancy DeHart do not only keep McLuhan's organization and writing style, but also preserve his idea of convey insights using the visual medium. Therefore, Forward Through the Rearview Mirror is designed to the image of McLuhan's major works The Medium is the Massage and Global Village. These two books submerge the reader into a multidimensional medium of meaningful abstract and figurative visuals. For instance, the editors create the same type of metaphors that McLuhan employed in his publications, by explaining the world's current globalization with ten bottles of Coca-Cola all written in different languages. Moreover, as Marshall McLuhan's last works, the unconventional format of this book also stands out in the reader's library. While both the medium is the massage and Global Village are smaller than any standard size book, Forward through the Rearview Mirror is wider and shorter than any conventional book.

Forward through the Rearview Mirror shows the complete involvement of Paul Benedetti and Nancy DeHart in McLuhan's life and ideas. Following Marshall McLuhan's guidelines, they carefully place each element in their book to create an outstanding piece. From its outside cover to its inner most meaning, this book breaks all standards, thus, draws the attention from an audience willing to find a new and high-quality product. Guided by McLuhan's print media by juxtaposing significant images and phrases to create movement and rhythm. When experiencing this book, the reader combines the sound of his reading and the meaningful visuals inside his mind, creating an audio-visual medium out of Forward the through the Rearview Mirror. If this phenomenon is achieved, McLuhan's theory is confirmed: "It is man who is content of the message of the media, which are extensions of himself" DeHart and Benedetti understand McLuhan, preserving his thoughts alive, and honor him in their piece of art.

Without trying to undermine the insights of McLuhan himself, I think that this book represents just another episode in the `everybody loves Marshall' series. Similar to `Digital McLuhan' by Levinson, this book is crawling with remarks stating how great and wonderful McLuhan was and that it is such a big loss for the world as we know that he's dead. I sincerely wish that - as McLuhan put it himself - the comments would engage more in a dynamic discours on his insights and thoughts and would try to make something out of it. But no, I find myself flipping through oodles of pages for the simple reason that it just contains one of those trival McLuhan-anecdotes/memorabilia. Supposedly McLuhan made it to the top ten of all-time thinkers - such as Nietzsche, Kant, Plato etc. Sure, the insights provided by him are pretty slick, but one has to look for them since most of the books concern the opinions of others that would also like to say a thing or two. It's like a bunch of groupies standing at the far end of a stage thinking that they now too are famous. As far the rest of the book is concerned, there are some nice quotes from McLuhan himself that could very well change your perspective on things happening in our world today. It provides some interesting insights and line of thought for further study. Respect goes out to the extensive bibliography that make it easier to trace back his work. It is truly `McLuhan for the coffee-table', but mind you, there might be a lot of uninvited guests.

If McLuhan is new to you, and/or if you have a short attention span, this is the one to pick up. McLuhan's timeless insights into the evolution of man's synthesized environment are juxtaposed with in-your-face photographs and artwork that serve as indisputable evidence of the truth of his analysis. Reading this book at 30,000 feet, I was struck at just how clearly McLuhan is able to penetrate the distraction, distortion, and pre- conceptions endemic to modern technical civilization. The book is indeed like a high altitude surveillance flight over the electomagnetic infrastructure of our age. The combination of images and text have a synergy imploring the reader to understand the accelerating importance of man's media in shaping his behavior. Serve with "Propaganda", by Jacques Ellul, and "Manufacturing Consent", by Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman.

I am very touched by the events that the author of this book had to share. She is indeed a very strong person. The average person could not survive the various pitfalls and bouts of discouragement that she had to suffer. She was placed in foster care at very young age. Although she felt bitter, she later discovered that it was better then being with her real mother. This young lady searched and found her mother, by way of the grapevine network within the black community. To her disappointment she did not find a loving mother. She found a discouraging woman living in confusion and poverty.

This was not the stopping point for the young lady in the book. She pushed herself. She even worked and saved her money. With the help of a kind social worker, she was able to go to college. I'm so proud of her.
The foster care system, is often one void of real love. As a parent and one who loves children, I take the care of children personally. Any child placed in my home for whatever reason is my child. I feel like it's up to me to love and protect that child. The elements of life are harsh enough. Children have day to day challanges just like adults. Foster parents your young charges need you. You are their guardians. LOVE THEM, PROTECT THEM, TREAT THEM LIKE YOUR OWN CHILDREN.

I was a bit surprised to find out how racially bias Buffalo, New York was. But the wonderful, wonderful thing is the good and positive life that the writer of this book is reaping. Hats Off to her. Keep On Pushing!

This book reveals the emotional impact of life in the foster care system for a black girl who was bounced from one foster home to another from birth until the age of 18. Except for the nationally publicized case of Baby Jessica, who was forcibly removed from her adoptive family at the age of two to be reunited with her birth mother and father, it is rare that the public gets a glimpse of the emotional damage done to the child. This book should be MUST reading for everyone involved in foster care.

Theresa Cameron's difficult odyssey began when her biological mother did not make decisions with her daughter's best interests in mind. As difficult as it might have been for the mother to admit that adoption was the best route for her to follow, she simply abandoned a beautiful child and left her at the mercy of an inadequate system. As strong as Ms Cameron obviously is, as an unwilling participant in the foster care system, her childhood was unnecessarily harsh and often cruel. Rarely can we says such a story has meaning in all our lives. I recommend this book for all who face the irreversible decision of creating a child.

This is a heartfelt, painfully true story of how one child can be forgotten in the "system". Even the cover itself is revealing...the only photograph the author has from her childhood and it does not even show her face.

By far my favorite book of alltime. I recommend it to all socialworkers, teachers, counselors, mothers, fathers, ministers, politicians, EVERYONE! It is well-written and easy to read, although it caused me to lose sleep at night knowing children are out there--alone, forgotten by their caseworkers, and lacking the basic needs such as touch, hugs, encouragement, or even a smile from those whose care they are in.

How Ms.Cameron did what she did all alone is beyond me. She is simply amazing.

After reading this book I wanted to reach out and hug Ms. Cameron.
She has made me a better mother.