Black Books

Roy G. Williams and Terrence E. Deal are an incredible duo to describe the intricacies of effective management and leadership in all organizations. Their insight and experience is particularly helpful in the leadership realm of public education. "Discovering your opposite" is a unique perception to reflect on one's own view of leadership. As a public school administrator, we seldom take the time to reflect on our lenses of leadership. The need to identify a balance in our manager/leader role is essential as pointed through their examples of current leaders among us: Rudy Giuliani, Donald Burr and Hillary Clinton. Their case studies were not only interesting, but relevant to the four leadership styles of a Rationalist, Politicist, Humanist and Culturist. What a wonderfully positive way to imagine the flow of effective school leadership! Williams and Deal allow me to define my current leadership tendencies and discover where I wish to develop into my "dance of school leadership".

In over 40 years of leadership and management covering manufacturing, textiles, furniture, municipalities and hospitals, this book is the clearest, most effective management/leadership book ever. Takes Dr. Deals' book to new and exciting directions. Predict great things for this effort. What is next?

This book should be mandatory reading for every MBA candidate. Boards of directors across the country are wondering why their best and brightest can't get the job done. The answer, in many cases, is that there are too many managers and not enough leaders. Dr. Williams and Dr. Deal provide an interesting and insightful examination of that issue.

Expert educators Roy Williams (Adjunct Professor of Leadership, Vanderbilt's Peabody College) and Terrence Deal (University of Southern California) combine their considerable expertise and experience in When Opposites Dance: Balancing The Manager And The Leader Within, to knowledgeably examine the four natural styles of managing and leading (rational, political, humanist, and culturist) and explore how to balance managerial tendencies against the needs of workers within the context of current and volatile situations for optimum productivity. An exceptionally well written, personality examining, and goal-oriented self-help aid, When Opposites Dance is very highly recommended reading for corporate managers and executive policy makers.

The path to the publisher's door is crowded with authors anxious to reveal "the way" to develop strong leaders and effective managers. Most offer guides that are unreadable beyond page 50 because they reveal nothing more than a reshuffled list of the habits of successful CEO's or a new George Patton story. A generic title could be: "I Am Publishing This So I Won't Perish".

Professors Williams and Deal have broken out of the pack with "When Opposites Dance". What is new is the combination of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Deal's "Cognitive Frames" - with a bit of Jungian psychology - to explain the importance of a manager achieving a balance between the Adam and Eve in his life. The clear logic of the premise will allow the most combat-hardened military leader to begin to look for his feminine side without cringing.

What really sets this book apart is its readability. The use of twelve well-known Americans as illustrative examples (college freshmen will recognize most of the names) will hold the reader's interest. If you are seeking to develop your own management/leadership style, and particularly if you are training others in the art, buy this book.

Military Leadership Instructor

Great Exercises, in some cases they were challenging. This book really helped me to heal. I'll still refer to it in years to come.

Sometimes all it takes is someone saying something very simple like this to get you to wake up and realize. Dr. Grace is one of the best at what she does. I read the book years ago but forgot to do the review. I wish I still had the book now to reread it, but you know what happens when you let people borrow good stuff. They never want to give it back and you lose touch with them...... GO get this book! ALL WOMEN!

This book hit the nail right on the head. It let me see into my own relationships and I found out what I was doing wrong or what my partner was doing wrong. It was refreshing to find out I wasn't the only one bumping my head in relationships. I INHALED this book within a day and learned so much to make me a better person in life and in my relationships. THIS BOOK OPENED MY EYES. I shared this book with my best friend and within a few pages she was crying seeing the "TRUTH" in her own relationship. Dr. Cornish is a blessing to women that need to hear the truth be told without making us feel less than for making less than perfect decisions in relationships and the pursuit of happiness. GET THIS BOOK!!!!!

I brought this book and read it in two days! Thank God for smart black women like Dr. Cornish, who have dedicated their lives to educating and informing black women on sexuality and healthy relationships. I was just about to make one of the biggest mistakes in my life until I read this book. This should be requried reading in college classes on gender and sex.
Thanks Dr. Cornish.

Kudos and 5 stars to Dr. Grace for writing another spectacular book. No matter what stage you're at in life, you will be able to relate to a least one of the stories in this book. Buy the book and buy it now if you're ready to find and meet your soul mate. Dr. Grace gives a great prescription in her seven steps to healthy love. This book is amazingly uplifting, inspirational and optimistic. Although she includes Christian principals and addresses some of the issues that Black women and men face specifically, don't think for a moment that this book can't be applicable to your life if you happen not to be a Christian or African American. Her message is universal, easy to understand, and practical. Having met Dr. Grace in person she truly practices what she preaches. If your ready to make some lasting and positive changes in your love life this book is for you, go ahead buy it because you deserve healthy love Sis!

When I leave San Quentin's death row, and I feel I am not qualified to carry the lessons I've learned, the truth I have seen, I read Asha's words and find strength. Her words are a gift to all of us, words I find myself reading again and again. Thank you, Asha. May you find continued courage to speak.

one line in the title poem for Audre Lorde: " "you left me there with / your head raised and still dreadlocked walking/ toward the beginnings of your death"

one poem: 4:15 a.m./ a jailhouse luv story: "in this institution that is rank with the bizarre & vicious oder of/ annihilation,/ we have only ourselves to hold up as light and possibility/ and i hold you up & i hold you in as/people tell me i am crazy,/loving you across barbed wire & time/ but i believe in our love because you struggle with me"

OK next poem your turn to pick.... as you can tell I love this poet.

I stumbled across Bendele during an Amazon.com search for new poets and ordered this book as a gift based only on the reviews. I feel SO lucky to have found it. Bendele writes raw, powerful, honest poetry that causes the reader to draw in a deep, sudden breath time and time again as each poem surprises and enlightens. Bendele says the things that need to be said, and she does it so well that her message is unforgettable and undeniable.

And the best thing? You may be reading her poetry silently to yourself, but it reads like it's being spoken aloud to a packed auditorium. As a reader you get the sense that you're on the edge of something big and brilliant - the end of denial, and the acknowledgment of survival and hope in a painful and unjust world.

Please, Ms. Bendele, more, more, more!

Asha Bandele is the Maya Angelou of my generation. I have read this book over a hundred times and have bought numerous copies for my friends (both men and women). Asha blesses each page with her truth and ability to express it so fluently. She gives back to all that are reaching out for a positive yet realistic voice.

Asha Bandele has a way with words. As always she calls us to dissect ourselves. To dig away at the surface in order to reach the core. Her words of poetry float over each page, and is able to attack the mind and force us to think. She is able to deliver and articulate what we think but so often afraid to say. She is the voice of my generation. A voice demanding to be heard.

This is a great book. I notice I'm not forgetting things as readily as I did. I can now tell you my safe deposit box number, my drivers license number, my car plates, and various phone numbers. It's also helped me to remember people's names. Great buy. Other programs want hundred(s) of bucks to improve your memory and prevent altzimer's. This does the same thing.

Leah Levitt

I had read a Harry Lorayne book as a teenager many many years ago and found the techniques useful then.

This book allowed me to revisit his lessons as an elder retired physician and is helping me to cope with the usual senior moments that we all encounter.

Highly recommended.

a marvelous and fun book by Harry Lorayne. I would recommend it for everone. All ages will take something good and beneficial from this book and in many cases it is potentially life changing.
Thanks Harry

I have many of Harry's books, and love him! He is such a sincere person and gives his all to us the reader.
Naturally if you have ordered this book, you are in a situation that you may be feeling concerned that your mind is feeling fuzzy, or that you want to keep your brain young and vibrant. You will not be dissapointed in this book at all.
I especially liked how positive the books overall feeling is. That our brains shouldn't be deteriorating and actually should be sharper than ever. I have tried the techniques in the book, and as long as I apply them, I have noticed an improvement! I now know my Bible books forwards, and backwards. Have memorized several scriptures, and am partially thru the Sermon on The Mount.
Our brains are wonderfully made, and we should take care of it. So go ahead, whatever you decide to memorize, it will help you in middle age and beyond. Thanks Harry for the encouragment and help to sharpen up!

I typically have difficulty remembering three things: names, faces
and the third thing . . . geez, I can never remember that third thing.

So that is why I was excited to come across AGELESS MEMORY
by Harry Lorayne . . . long
recognized as the world's foremost memory-training expert, I've
been following his career for some 40 years and have read
just about all his other books.

Yet this one had particular interest to me, in large part because of
its appealing subtitle: SIMPLE SECRTS FOR KEEPING YOUR
BRAIN YOUNG . . . and who wouldn't be interested in that premise?

I certainly was, but soon realized that I had to change my thinking
around so as to not fall into this common trap:

* A man called and said he had "the worst memory in the world." He
desperately needed my help. The first thing I told him was that he'd
have to get in line behind all the other people who've told me that they
have the worst memories. (What a great excuse "bad memory" is: Don't
depend on me for anything 'cause I'll forget." The fact of the matter is
that every time you say, "I have a bad memory, " you put another hole
in that sieve of your memory--and give people past fifty a bad name!
My goal here is to get you to brag about your great memory; and each
time you do, you'll plug up one of those holes and tell the world that older
can be better.)

All you need to do is follow this key suggestion:
* Sure, what we refer to as "memory" may get less and less reliable
as we age. I know that when I'm not applying my systems, I sometimes
fumble over words and familiar things may fall into that "senior moment"
abyss. But that never happens with any information, any word, any name,
any number, and anything that I'm interested in. That's my point.

Lorayne even relates his ideas to organizing your desk:
* It's a cliche rule, but one that surely works. The rule is DO IT NOW.
My sub-rule is, try not to let a paper go through your hands more than
once. Because if you do, what too often happens is, you drop the paper
somewhere on your desk with the thought, "I'll take care of it later." It gets
covered up with other papers and you never see it again! It's forgotten. Take
care of it now; then you can't forget it.

Lastly, I liked how the author got me thinking throughout the book with
some intriguing exercises at the end of each chapter . . . perhaps my
favorite was this one:

* A rich Arab dies and leaves his seventeen camels to his three sons.
The camels are to be divided as follows:

Half to the first son, one-third to the second son, and one-ninth
to the third son.

The three sons can't seem to work it out without chopping up
some of the camels!

A wise old Arab happens by on his camel and solves the problem
immediately--without cutting up any camels.

Do some mental exercise; try to figure out how the wise old Arab did it.

Answer:

The wise old Arab simply adds his own camel to the 17, bringing the total
number of camels to 18. Then, the camels are divided as follows:

½ of 18 is 9 camels for number one son.
1/3 of 18 is 6 camels for number two son.
1/9 of 18 is 2 camels for number three son.

After each son takes his allotted camels (9+6+2=17), the wise old Arab's
camel remains. He mounts it and rides off into the sandstorm.

My five stars are for the performance and the book. All opera recordings should come in this format. But the cd copies are bad and will be short-lived, they easily loose their coating.

I bought this as my first piece from the Black Dog Library in preparation for seeing the Vancouver BC Operas production in 2002. Black Dog Library is a must for everyone going to see an opera. Get this, listen to it, fall in love with the music and then see this opera live if you ever get the chance. This is opera at its best. After seeing the production live, I can't wait to see it again. And by listening to the cd's I can bring it right back to my mind and my heart.

Bravo Giuseppe, Bravo......

Wow!! Wow!! O my God! I just heard this album and my jaw dropped. Why it so many critic snub this recording ? It's the best Aida on record. I think it has to do with the fact it's very rare and more of a collector's piece as well overshadowed by more popular editions- i.e. Placido Domingo/Leontine Price, Jon Vickers..Pavoratti..Montserrat Caballe etc. But the cast in this album can not be more perfect. Birgit Nilsson was a grand lady of the opera- with a voice that cut through great orchestras, with dramatic integrity in her stage performances (she was as much as an actress as she was a singer and in this way she was like Maria Callas). It is true that she is far more recognized for her Wagner heroines- she is the best Isolde and Brunhilde, but her Wagnerian voice, so high, so powerful, is perfect for such diva roles as Aida. Verdi wrote the role for soprano di forzas which Birgit Nillson delivers with electrifying prowess. She was trained in Italian as well, which people seem to forget. Her Italian voice is rich, powerful, with a high top and generous bottom. She gets into characters with passionate intensity as well. Has anyone ever heard Turandot ? It's the best! So intense and powerful. And her Tosca is breathtaking. She also sang in Mozart's Don Giovanni starred opposite Leontine Price and the famous bass Cesare Siepi in that one. She can do the Italian roles as good as the rest of them!! There is also her powerful interpretation of Turandot and Tosca. So there you have it. Her Italian was as dynamic as her German. Franco Corelli is an awesome Radames, with hot-blooded, masculine energy and lyrical moments of love and grief. He can be a tough guy and a sensitive lover. "Celeste Aida" is superbly done, even if not sung as written. His Tomb Scene at the end is incredible. Grace Bumbry is the best Amneris, and she sang the role numerous times which made her an expert on it. She has a dignity of her own in the role and she is not as scary or bitchy as Rita Gorr's interpretation. Bumbry's perfect. You can also hear her as Amneris in the Leontine Price/Placido Domingo version conducted by Erich Leinsdorf. This is truly a great recording and will have you wanting to get other recordings of its amazing lead singers. Certainly Franco Corelli is a magnet of opera lovers with his excellent artistry. He sang with Birgit Nilsson in the greatest operas of their careers- Puccini's Turandot and Tosca which are also available at Amazon.com and I strongly urge you seek them out. Their Aida is mind-blowing.

The sound to this recording been digitally remastered from the old LP and sound fresh, powerful and moving. The Black Dog Opera Library series offers the best in opera to a beginner who takes interest in the world of opera or to fans who are already converted. It does more for the novice, however. My first of these "cd-books" was Verdi's La Traviata starring Beverly Sills and Nicolai Gedda. This was indeed a perfect performance. This was followed by Bizet's Carmen starring Jon Vickers and Grace Bumbry..another winner! Then came Mozart's Magic Flute starring Peter Schreir, Anneliese Rothenberger, Kurt Moll, Walter Berry and Edda Moser. This is the best Magic Flute out there. Indeed, all the recordings on this series are of the highest calibre. This book comes with the libretto, pictures of Aidas in the past, and bios on Corelli, Nilsson and Bumbry. Go out and get it today!!!

The historical account and the story help the person new to opera appreciate the opera. The sound is of high quality. I only wish Amazon carried the full series of The Black Dog Opera Library.

Brilliant voices of Birgit Nilsson, Franco Corelli with Orchestra e Coro Del Teatro dell' Opera di Roma under Zubin Mehta. A marvelous studio recording without audience noises. A number of stage photos of major performances and introduction of Verdi and the writing of AIDA. Two CD's with the complete opera with complete libretto in Italian and English. A great value. A must-have.

This book was given to me by a friend; I had her search everywhere for it. Upon a few days after receiving it, I knew her search had not been in vain. This is a marvelous book of poetry with some interesting aspects on life, love and the like.

The poetry in "Ain't I A Woman" presents a wide range of experience and emotion. This is not a book of pretty poems. It is a series of moans, cries and hurrahs from the heart. Jenny Joseph's wonderful "Warning" ("When I am an old woman I shall wear purple")suggests from page one that here will be poems with attitude. They do not disappoint. I like this book very much.

This is one of the best anthologies of poetry I've ever found. The purpose: Bring together words from women of all cultures, all ages, all corners of the world. Here are young women, old women, fat women, starving women, lives touched by peace, war, spiritual joy, physical abuse, passion, motherhood, loss. There are beautiful, haunting words here. There are cold, hard, brutal images here. If you're a woman who complains about feminists, please read this book and try to understand what women have had to go through so that you could be where you are today: free to complain. If only to have a copy of Sojourner Truth's immortal "Ain't I a Woman?" speech from 1852, this book would be worth the price. Read this book for the incredible messages here. You will be moved.

Ain't I a Woman was not a surprise to me. It is full of beautiful works of art. This book is full of voices of many different women, with different lives, different backgrounds but from their voices you can feel their strength and each voice in that book can add to your self-esteem and make you feel stronger about yourself as a women with every poem. Although some poems are not as powerful as others, their messages are still there: "I lived, I saw, I loved, I struggled, I died, but most importantly I felt, felt what life was like and from my words you might learn how it really is to be a woman". This book should be read by anyone who has time get lost in its poetry. I personally read a piece of the book everyday at work and I am glad that I made the time. There are many different writers in this book and I recommend reading different works from those authors as well.

This book obtains its title from Sojourner Truth's incomparable speech in 1851, and for the most part is brilliant and moving. My main complaint is that it focuses on the physical (sex, childbirth, etc.) so much that it could be classified as erotic poetry instead of a full exploration of womanhood. However, look for amazing cultural and chronological diversity in authors, and refreshing humor in poems like "Sho nuff." The development of the book is thematic, according to stages of life by also by subject. Series show different visions of famous women such as Jezebel, Cleopatra, and Medusa, which ends with a hilarious conversation between Medusa and Eve. The poems in this collection really strike - not everyone will like everything, but I'm sure everyone will find SOMETHING in here that really gets their attention. My personal favorite is "Witch." There are dozens of poems in here, enough to make the book seem very long, but since no poem is longer than two pages, I garantee you won't get bored.

As a professor who teaches courses in African and African American Studies, I found George Farrell's book insightful in terms of the experiences of many Black men. It offers a number of valuable lessons for Black men struggling to succeed in a society that traditionally has not afforded them the same opportunities, and more often takes away opportunities. A prime example is the section on the credit scoring system and how it works against Blacks. I often tell my students that everyone views the world through a lens that reflects his/her background, upbringing, race, social class, etc. Those who have not had the experiences of the angry Black man as described in Farrell's book may find it hard to identify with his reflections on the lessons for success. However, for those who have become angry, his book is an eye-opener.

A book that addresses the frustrations that man men feel when the top of their head is bruised by the marble ceiling and an avenue on how to toughen their afro so the marble ceiling can be broken. Purchase this for every man that you know!!

Nita Field

George Farrell gives you the truth and the truth shall free you to succeed. His books is not just a wake up call; it provides you with a way to channel your anger to succeed. These are well supported arguments most of us can identify with and accept.

The stories about Nolan Richardson and Bill Cosby realy hit home for me. George Farrell did a masterfull job of relating ways to turn anger into motivation. I passed over five other success books prior to picking this one and I am glad I did. Instead of the usual rah rah smile all day and be happy success book, this guide gives real strategies for African-American men to use to achieve success. Wheather you are a trapped by the criminal justice system or a PhD, you need this book to open your eyes. I bought copies for all of my relatives.The Angry Black Man's Guide to Success: And the Women that Help Them I cannot wait to speak to this man in person and share my gratitude.

I applaude George Farrell for writing this guide to success for men and for acknowledging that women are partners in men's lives. This book is invaluable in giving step-by-step information told in a very straight-forward manner. In this book, George Farrell uses his personal experiences and those of other men to explain how not to get trapped by life's roadblocks. After reading this book, men will be better equipped to achieve success in their professional and personal lives. Also, women readers will gain understanding regarding the obstacles many men encounter as they work toward their goals. The Angry Man's Guide to Success is an important book and should be on everyone's must read list!!

This book tells you all you need to know BEFORE your very first lesson. This is an excellent first textbook on paragliding. I received it after my first lesson (ground handling) and was amazed that it correlated 99% my instructor's approach. This is the definitive guide to paragliding. The standard warning always applies. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FLY A PARAGLIDER WITHOUT TRAINING FROM AN INSTRUCTOR.

This is a very well written book that covers all of the topics of interest to beginner and intermediate pilots. The pick of the books on the subject.

In short: Dennis Pagen has written THE book on paragliding for beginners to intermediate pilots. This book covers it all. Clearly illustrated, easy to read. I use this book as a 'refresher' each season before I begin flying. He covers all the nuts and bolts of the various topics that make up paragliding, from how to hook your risers to your harness to how to ridge soar. I have read most of the books out there on paragliding, and this one covers more than all the others combined. If you are a serious paraglider pilot who wants a good manual for refreshing, or prospective pilot who wants to learn all you can before you begin lessons, this is THE book to buy.

I have read all the books available here on Amazon on that were published in the last ten years (and a few older ones) and this is clearly the best. If I could own only one book this is the one. It clearly explains the nuts and bolts of paragliding with excellent text and illustrations. All the details are covered. These are typically glossed over by most of the other authors. A good example of this is the explanation on how to attach the risers to the harness for a reverse launch. I have never seen a clearer explanation.

By far the best book covering beginning and intermediate paragliding on the market today. An execelent reference and review of what your instructor covered(or should have covered).

I like the text because it gives many aspects of the Black-Scholes model that I have not found elsewhere. One may feel that Black-Scholes is an "old" model, but it is the genesis of option pricing and understanding its intuition is the key to understanding more complex models. In addition, the text is very readable, but I think even more satisfying if the reader already has some options background.

Tremendously valuable book for its selection and excellent treatment of many rarely addressed aspects of financial derivatives and the care with which intuition for these aspects is developed.

Financial mathematics exists at the intersection of many different fields, yielding many possible perspectives from which to teach and learn about this discipline. Many of these perspectives bog down in the rigor of their respective fields. Such approaches render it difficult to absorb and apply core concepts without spending a great deal of time in first learning topics such as advanced probability theory and stochastic calculus.

Dr. Crack's approach seems to be to develop the intuition as a framework for understanding further advanced study, should it be warranted by the reader. At the same time, he includes many aspects of the underlying science to help bridge the gap between the academic world and the world of trading.

For example, his derivation of the solution to the Black-Scholes equation and subsequent analysis of the components of the solution leaves the reader fully prepared to quickly and intelligently grasp the impact of changes in assumptions. This is in contrast to many treatments that seem to stop at the solution, leaving the reader feeling as though the Black-Scholes solution is simply a black-box with no intuitive connection to the real world.

Crack's two books, Basic Black-Scholes and Heard On The Street,
are masterpieces of condensed ,focused instruction for those who need to know. There is also an atmosphere of scintillating competence projected on the reader. Some of the anecdotes in Heard On The Street are hilarious; add to this the requirement that you must keep your wits about you at all times when reading
these primers and overall you get a feeling of a happy learning experience. Remarkable.

I was generally familiar with options pricing and read this book after the Hull's book on derivatives. I felt that this text definitely provided a lot of good intuition and different perspectives that I have not see anywhere else.

This text helped me systemize my knowledge of options and develop a more intuitive feel for their behavior. Definitely, a good addition to the classics on option pricing.

This is an excellent introduction to option pricing, with a great deal of both analytical and practical information. While there is a lot of mathematics (obviously), the logical progression of topics and easy to read text make it quite accessible. Intuition and reasoning are used in conjunction with the mathematics to help make somewhat abstract ideas more concrete. Although the focus of the text is on option pricing, several other facets of finance are explored to help illuminate general pricing/investment strategies. This is an easy to follow book with justifications at every step of the way - great for students as well as investors interested in option trading.

Lyn Lifshin, Before It's Light: New Poems (Black Sparrow, 1999)

Lyn Lifshin is one of those poets who just keeps getting better as she gets older. She spent years, it always seemed to me, trying to be a sort of imagist Bukowski; she outgrew that a ways back and rounded into her own style. Her work since has gained a rare and delicate power, and with every passing book, it gets more all-encompassing.

There are few words to say about Lifshin that have not already been said; I'll just let the images speak for themselves.

Now cliff swallows
nest in the mud
where the Sinaqua
lived
until water ran out

High in these white cliffs
weaving yucca and cotton
How many nights did they
listen for cougar
as they pressed the wet
rust clay
into bowls

that they walked
200 miles to trade in Phoenix
before it was time to leave
("Arizona Ruins")

Pure, simple image, with all the power vested inside, and no annoying blocks of message to dilute the power of the words. Lifshin reiterates her worth of being placed alongside Hayden Carruth, Ira Sadoff, and the rest of the modern poets who will someday make up the canon. An easy entry on this year's best-of list. **** ½

This will be your favorite book of sensual poetry on your bookshelf. Buy this book now!

Lyn Lifshin is an impressive talent whose poetry ranges from simple mood pieces to complex narrative imaging. Before It's Light: New Poems is an impressive anthology that clearly documents her as a major talent. At The Pond Early: night grass steams./Mourning doves in/the fog, a few feathers//on the lawn though no/gees for two days./Only the heron like//a slate candle, a drift/wood stick and my/17 year old cat, a//cloth mouse in her jaws muffing a shriek,/cuts the sleeve//of quiet

I love Lyn Lifshin's poetry -- I have for years and years. She's a genuine original and a true maverick. This book is special -- Lifshin at her finest. Definitely read this if you love sensual, edgy poetry.

After finishing Lifshin's latest book of poems, I felt as if I'd lived a thousand years and travelled a million miles. The gamut of human experience covered in "Before It's Light" runs from the innocence of childhood through the slings and arrows of maturity, and unveils almost everthing, divine or evil, that can possibly happen in a human life. Lifshin weaves an enchanted fabric from a stark realist's thread of narrative. A "Must Read."