Black Books

The book was nice and short, easy to read.

This book is an engaging reference tool. It is more than information on how to pay for college. It is a beginning step to understanding financial literacy and preparing for your financial future.

Chapter One sets the framework for the book and begins expanding the readers world view on money in general. Understanding the basic difference between income and wealth is the first step towards financial literacy.

The insight that is given in terms of how you negotiate and relate for preparing for college and working with financial aid officer can easily be transferred to relating to the bank or any other financial institution.

There is more to this book than is obvious to naked eye.

Dr. LaVeist is using college entrance preparation as an opportunity to introduce his reader to wider concepts on money and basic finances.

I enjoyed this book. The authors are two brothers who weaved a story about getting their sons ready for college into a book about college financial aid, which is usually a very boring topic. Very creative! They managed to entertain AND educate.

I am so thankful to these two brothers. Who have work hard in bring all of this information together. Look forward to here about more in the near future. Again, thank you, my son will benefit from this greally.

This is just the type of book on financial aid that I was looking for. It makes the whole confusing process easy to understand. It's a quick read, intelligent and entertaining. It speaks to black folks. After reading it, I have a better understanding of how the whole thing works.

John Rushkin originally published this little volume in the winter of 1856/57. It promptly sold out and went into multiple printings. It is surprisingly still relevant today. Rushkin gives the reader many exercises beginning with a dip pen and ink and later moving to pencil and then watercolor (which in the 19th century was classified under drawing). I was so intrigued I actually bought a speedball dip pen and some india ink and began to practice the many exercises he gives. They work. By the time I finished the ink exercises I noticed a definite improvement from my early attempts compared to the later ones. And I am continuing the exercises.

Another fascinating aspect of this book is the snapshot it gives into the mind of a prominant 19th century art critic. Rushkin not only was a master draughtsman and painter but a widely respected art critic in his day. Monet was quoted by a British journalist to have said, "90% of the theory of Impressionist painting is in Rushkin's Elements of Drawing." A young George Seurat obtained a copy and admitted to having read it carefully. Now I'm no Monet or Seurat but I figure if these guys valued Rushkin's instruction I should certainly pay attention to what he had to say.

Rushkin explains exactly what the goal of each exercise is. He also recommends specific paintings or drawings to examine along with critiques of why this or that area in the drawing/painting is superior or lacking. He strongly believed it more profitable to study in-depth a few highly superior drawings/paintings to a wider assortment of middling/average execution. And he believed this even of famous artist's work - famous or not he advises to ignore for the moment their less masterful work and focus on the truly great ones. Rushkin pulled no punches. The entire treatise is full of his opinions right along side the exercises - yet I would say they are not opinions without merit. He gives you something to think about when looking at works of the art masters and something to strive for in your drawings and paintings so that you can become more than just technically competent. He addresses the heart and soul of drawing and painting. It made me think of why this or that particular line, shading or painting technique in an art master's drawing/painting touches me the way it does.

This is the best marriage between technical competence and artistry. And you grow in understanding that all the exercises he gives are only in service to the spirit of art. It is an emphasis that most modern how-to books don't touch. Analysis this deep in modern art books are left for books that are advertised as art critiques. Since almost all my art books fall under the "how-to" category (as anyone who's read my other book reviews will see) I found this critique aspect rather refreshing and wanting to read more such types of books.

I strongly recommend this book. Despite the lack of photos or modern step-by-step illustrations (the illustrations are line art - the most up-to-date technology for book illustration then available in an affordably priced book) I think it is very worth getting and reading. Perhaps artists who have been formally trained in universities or art academies will find this kind of instruction typical. But for someone like me who is entirely self-taught from the books he/she buys it is a great investment into expanding boundaries and knowledge of art in general.

I am enjoying this book. I'm an experienced draftsman, but feel that following the exercises Ruskin outlines in his book are greatly improving my drawing skills. The Watson-Guptill Illustrated Edition, with Notes by Bernard Dunstan, has added a number of illustrations of the work of Ruskin and his contemporaries, which are very helpful. They have also added additional notes to the margins from Ruskin's other writings that offer additional explanations, also very valuable. However, the modern illustrations done especially for this edition seem to me to miss Ruskin's points and may confuse a novice draftsman. Most obviously, early exercises that Ruskin emphasizes are to be done with careful precision in pen and ink are illustrated with quick, loosely executed, pencil sketches. The patience, sensitivity, and craftsmanship that the exercises are designed to develop I find largely missing from the new illustrations created for the book. I still would highly recommend this edition, advising the reader to study the modern illustrations for content but cast a critical eye on their technique.

I love this book. It's takes a no frills, 'no mercy' approach to teaching drawing. Surprisingly it has very few images but I find the text to be very readable. Written in the 1700's using the language of the time, it is at times very entertaining. It gives you instructions on the bare facts (including the pains required) on how to draw; in stark contrast to most current books which advocate the 'learn-to-draw-in-2-hours' approach. Indeed, Rusking is straight to the point enough to indicate the amount of time required to draw effectively - 160 hours! Ruskin was clearly a genius in the simple and effective approach on how he teaches drawing.

Written in the 1700's I found it to be a very fresh account and framework on how to draw in 2007!

Andrew Borg
[...].

As a long time admirer of art and a first time beginner of actually tapping my artistic well, this text is like having a private mentor guiding you through specific progressive exercises. It's language is quaint and cozy to modern ears, having first been written in 1856. But it is practical, clear and encouraging. It dispells the idea that only certain people can draw. And by focussing on drawing with pencil, it provides the foundation for using any other media. A wonderful find.

There is nothing new under the sun and this book originally written in 1850's is a gem. As an artist I found the book and descriptive language immensly readable (I guess that had to write well as diagrams were incredibly difficult/expensive to include). A gresat buy at the price!

Michael Healy has basically laid it all out for us here. Our education system and its downfalls, should be this countries first priority. I found this book to be quite interesting as well as educational.

Along with giving an intelligent, detailed analysis of our current educational system's measurable failure to provide services necessary to level the playing field for minority and developmentally disabled children, this book provides crucial inside perspectives of such children and their families, thus giving the reader both logical and compassionate arguments to inspire change in their own communities and in national policy. It's a thought-provoking, eye-opening read for anyone who complacently believes our educational system is serving all children equally well, or well enough.

Before reading this book I had only just become aware of the problems with todays school systems. Living in Texas, the school systems here only reenforce the issues brought up in this book. It is masterfully written, well thought out, and makes one want to do more about what happens in our childrens educational lives. This book, I believe should be a book read by all teachers, and those students who aspire to become teachers. It attcks the issues head on, and tells it how it is. As a parent, this book has opened my eyes. Though my daughter is not yet in school, this book has given me some insight as to what I should axpect out of her education.

This book is an excellent combination of stories of real children disregarded by the school system and the politics of how our government and society dictate how some will excel while others struggle. Not only is this a great book to read for enjoyment, but a great book for educational purposes. If you are a student looking for research material this is an excellent source. You feel for the children in the book as well are amazed at how one man so un-selflessly took them into his tutoring program when no one else would go the extra mile. The only reason these children are succeeding in life is because someone said that enough is enough; and not only went the extra mile but was willing to help out for as long as it took to make sure they got the fair start that everyone in life deserves.

Every once in awhile, one encounters a book which is profoundly insightful. One such book is "Eleven Black Kids and an Old White Man." As books go, it is not long, only 185 pages, but packed
within those pages are human stories that capture the imagination and renew one's sense of personal struggle, loss and ultimate triumph.

This book is a really great read for young black women who've just graduated college. I'm usually pretty skeptical about self-help books (they usually tell you what you already know), but this is very informative and a good read. What I like most is the fact that it has practical advice, e.g. job interview questions, a sample budget, etc., but also advice regarding the emotional position of recent grads. I would seriously recommend it to any black woman who's just out of college.

Going to college does not mean that you know everything...or know how to do everything. Embracing the Real World assists in the psychological, financial, social, and professional development in practical terms that truly enhances what it means to be educated. It is a collection of what your girlfriends don't know to tell you and what your competitors won't. Buy this book, read it, live it, and share it!
Dr. Stephanie Y. Evans, Assistant Professor, University of Florida. Author, Black Women in the Ivory Tower, 1850-1954: An Intellectual History

this book had the information every young black woman needs to understand the world around her. thank you chaz for your insight and courage to voice how the real world operates for women of color.

Embracing the Real World not only assists me as a Student Affairs administrator but also as a person. I not only recommend it for my upperclassman but for my family members. Kyser prepares the reader for the sobering realities of adulthood. She tackles the tough questions of addressing naysayers and rethinking a career choice. The book offers so much in the form of practical tips to testimonials. This a book that prepares one not only for a career but for life's challenges!

There are thousands of college students with questions and disillusionment after graduation. Kyser has carefully closed every door of insecurity and crossed every 'T' of what to do now in this must read guide. If you have any questions about life, getting and keeping a job, how to deal with that crazy boss or co-worker, how to quit gracefully, or just how to survive in the world - this book was written just for you.

Part 1: Preparing for the Real World walks you through setting goals, job search tools, better interviewing and finding a mentor. Part 2: Succeeding in the Real World debunks myths, shows you how to evaluate job offers, understand benefits, networking, and maintaining a positive image. Part 3: Real World Questions examines the hard topics that come up while working - when to quit, relocate, going back to school and paying dues on the job. Part 4: Handling Real World Barriers gives you background information and resources on racial discrimination and sexual harassment while handling self-doubt and fear of failure. Part 5: Banking in the Real World informs you on how to handle your money and reducing your debt. Part 6: Real World Stories offers real life issues that happened to sisters in the workforce. The book is completed with the ABC's of Embracing the Real World and a Resource Guide featuring books, websites and organizations to assist African American women in the workforce.

Embracing the Real World: The Black Woman's Guide to Life After College is a first-rate manual full of valuable resources. The wealth of information and strategies suggested by Kyser are needed for all young professionals (even a few old ones). The simple language, easy to read format, and relatable examples will allow readers to examine their careers and shed light on those tough decisions. If you know someone graduating or a young professional struggling with their new career, hook them up with this book.

I love this stationery set and so does my receivers. Emily is great fun and it all comes in handy: sticking the paper together to send it away as an envelope. It's worth your value!

No matter how big technology gets, it will never replace the art and charm of a handwritten note.
So, you open your Amazon goodie box and out falls what looks like a notepad; half the size of A4 (it's the equivalent of writing 2 standard sized postcards), narrow ruled-Emily style of course: The lined side is white with some artwork on the periphery-a cat here, a scratch there, Emily's head, Emily's logo etc., The reverse side is red and black with space for addresses. There are 40 pages in total with 5 different designs (so 8 pages of each design).
So, you write on it (really small writing if you're like me and tend to write letters that can rival the War & Peace novel) tear out the page-which, btw, is conveniently scored in the right place so you don't have to guess where you should fold it; next, there are 3 gummed flaps to moisten (or glue, if you're again like me and have a licking issue), seal, then off to your local post office for stamp-age. The paper's very lightweight so it's inexpensive to post.
These are kind of novel and stylish looking and a pleasure to write on. So far I've used a gel pen and a ball pen on them with equal ease and I think they would take any kind of pen really (not a marker though or anything that might bleed through the other side...)
A radical idea! Other stationery please take note!

Three different cool designs for you to chose from! Send these dark messages to freinds and foe alike....

Emily's products are always awesome and this just adds to her glorious line of stuff.

I love this black mail stationary set, all you need to do is write, lick, fold, stamp and nap! INstructions are on the back with cat showing you how to do it. Very cute, very simple instructions, just get your pen and stamp set, then do the instructions, me and my friend Ashley write Emily's morose code with this!
Now get strange or get lost!
Emily the Strange, the stranger!

Purchased for our grandson, who is absolutely jumping for joy in learning so much history.

This is the first book that I have read with so many African-Americans described in it. I showed it to my son and he was amazed that so many African-American contributions were listed. He had not heard of most of the people in the book and was confused. My godfather leafed through the book and asked where I had gotten it from. I ordered him one for himself so he could read it at his leisure. He was so happy to receive the book that he started reading it immediately. This is an excellent book for everyone.

This 2nd edition is a good African-American history/cultural reference for anyone, regardless of ethnic/racial heritage. The book met almost all of my expectations. Only a few subjects/persons I sought information on were omitted.

This tome is fine for any home, school, or public library. A useful compendium and summary of black USA history. Not perfect, but highly recommended.

I wish I had this book when I was in grammar school. It was just a huge relief to open the package. I'm reading this thing like it's the best novel in the world and I've never been a history fan. If it wasn't English, it wasn't me but I'm reading about a new person once a day everyday trying to learn all the things that I didn't get to learn in grammar school, high school,and the first college I went to.

Geared to the young and people wanting to know more about the black heritage. A fascinating survey of the contributions of blacks to American society.Excellent book for the kids and adults alike.

Portia da Costa's 'Entertaining Mr Stone' is dazzling. Written in a fun, funky style, it introduces us to a very appealing heroine and a lusty, sexy hero. The writing is lyrical and HOT. The author writes about yearning and women's desires in a modern, sympathetic way. I found the book utterly unputdownable.

I am having trouble writing this book review without gushing, because it was truly a wonderful read. There wasn't one thing in the book I would change. Characters are hot and steamy and, though somewhat larger than life, still are people one hopes might really exist. The sex is super and the experiences are different from situations I have read about before. Not the usual doms and subs, but people who are real enough to be comfortable in changing roles and evolving personalities. It will be very difficult to wait for the next adventure in "Stoneland". I want to see much more (!) of Clever Bobby, Maria, and the rest.

This book is worth buying by anyone who wants hot sex, unique situations, and characters who are great fun to know.

I almost didn't buy this book because while I thought the last book I read from her The Tutor (Black Lace) was alright when I buy erotica I like to buy hot, steamy, out of this world not just alright. But I was browsing threw a book store and decided to read a couple pages just to see what it was about and could not put it down so I bought it and oh man was this book what I love to buy.


This book is hot, hot, HOT! The book starts off with a powerful boss playing games with the new employee but when it ends these two are equals and you just know they are going to have loads of fun. I'm not one who typically likes books about dominates' and submissives' or the power games they play but thankfully this book had a good balance and I wouldn't have minded a boss like Mr. Stone. Damn he's hot.


Love this book!!!

Great book! Very hot and sexy without falling into cliché-land. Wonderful, realistic language and dialogue in a sexy, seductive setting. Good fun with a great ending!

A young 'hottie' stuck in the doldrums of trying to pay her mounting bills has a 'Monika Walinsky' moment when she inadvertently bumps into one of the chief honchos of the company who has an office so high in the tower of power girls like Maria get nosebleeds there.


Mr Stone, certainly takes note of Maria and lets her know, in no uncertain terms, that he is more than interested in playing those wonderfully naughty little office games that may be considered taboo, but hey what would life be like without a little naughtiness....


The author is a master of writing erotic scenes hot are so yummie you just have to read them over and over.Also in order for the book to be a true five star special both the characters and the encounters have to be REAL, and believable, and, now here's the trick there must be a STORY that fit into place rather than just gratuitous couplings.


All of these featrures and writing skills are in this book .... and then some ....

This book gives you the opportunity to get a feeling of what your life may have been like living in the Jim Crow era of Georgia. My name is Bullard and I am a white genealogist. Eugene Bullard was the son of ex-slaves that were owned by a family named Bullard.

It is fabulous to see a black person rise out of impossible circumstances to become an expatriate combat pilot in the French Air Force during World War I. Jazz and Blues is what I listen to every day and the Jazz story in this book is very interesting to me.

A must read for any aviation buff who's ever wondered if there was a black pilot in WWI, and how he lived that life is truly an extraordinary saga.

Eugene Bullard was an African American man who was born in 1895 in Columbus, Georgia, and lived a really fascinating live. After leaving the U.S. in 1912 to escape the existing suffocating racist oppression, he stayed first in Britain, and then settled in France where he lived as a boxer, entertainer, jazz drummer, was a war hero in the trenches in Verdun, and become the first African American combat pilot in 1917 (in French service: the U.S. would allow black combat pilots only in 1941...). After the war, like so many other African Americans, he remained in Europe. He become a well known entrepeneur in the Parisian night club life during the 20s and 30s. At the German invasion in 1940, and after a brief stint in the French army, he went back to the U.S. where he died in New York in 1961. Revered in France as a national hero during is life, and completely unknown in his country until more than twenty years after his death, the life of this extraordinary man has in this book a much deserved homage and, probably, its definitive biography.

A very well documented biography on a genuine American and French hero. Unfortunately he was born during the Jim Crow era in the south (even though the constitution which was written over 100 years before his birth mentions "all men are created equal", this did not include any non-caucasian's or women, did it? Did not use the word minority since it denotes less than some majority, there are more non-caucasian's in the world anyway and what is really meant by that word is just that, non-caucasian. I find it odd that the USA was founded by European descendants like the English, French and even though the country prided itself on it's progresive nature, it did not include equality, even though Europe itself did not practice racial discrimination). He was born the seventh child of a large family and his father always had a premonition of a very distinguished future for him and let it be known to him when he was young. Talks about his travel through the south after he left home and was told early by his father of a country (France) where all men are truly free. This had a profound effect on him because he eventually made it to France via England first.

He began his livelyhood as a theatre performer and boxer; two opposing and similar avocations. He joined the military and became the first Black American and Black Frenchman aviator and was awarded medals for his bravery, dedication and skills. Very well liked, he had a contagious personality and started working at a famous Paris club later in life and eventually became a club owner himself. He met the famous of the day like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes, Bricktop and many others. This biography also got me interested in Jazz age Paris to request both autobiographies of Hughes and Bricktop.

Slowly (too slowly) more is being known about this man and his acomplishments and contributions to the human race.

You won't be able to put it down. Jack Johnson's autobiography "In the Ring and Out" is another good bio of that era too.

I had earlier learned of some of Eugene Bullard's exploits, but Craig Lloyd's book spotlights an endless list of amazing achievements that seem unbelievable for any man to accomplish in just one lifetime. It's a shame Bullard's life has been up to now unexplored and uncelebrated. Hopefully this extremely well-researched biography will fix that.

A young Miss Eve, recently married to the dashingly wealthy and powerfull Chapin soon discovers that perghaps she is no more and no less part of the required elegant furniture that her new husband has in his mansion.

Little Miss Eve was certainly more than surprised to follow her philandering husband and find that he has a very active second life that includes young girls that are not treated like furniture but more like excercise equipment ....

In comes her brother in law Dewel, considered to be the black sheep of the family and definitly not one to be consorting with. Miss Eve certainly doesn't consort, but, she does practically everything else including letting Dewel introduce Eve to her new ladies maid, Monique, a hot hot hot sexy sultering and spicy New Orleans Cajun from the hot bayou ....

OK so thats only the start of the bokk it's from here on it that it get HOT and complicated as we folow Miss Eve into pernition and a complex plot involving some rtaher yummie little maids and a school of young 'girls' wanting to work in the wealthy manisions of 1890's New Orleans ...

I would guess, knowing and loving that city and it's people, nothing much has changed .... A super book and it's going to be hard to get ..........

Once again Melissa MacNeil proves she is a master storyteller. 1890 New Orleans is vividly recreated in the background of this wild, suspenseful, and often truly humorous romp. Monique and the three maids are interesting fodder; the hero, sexy and attractive. The heroine although naive in the beginning...becomes a fulfilled woman through her erotic adventures. A great read and a fun escape.

This New Orleans-based sizzler kept me turning the pages. Man oh man what delicious scenes! I know what I'll be doing to my girlfriend tonight. :-D

What a fun concoction of raw sex, girl-girl sex, plus some
mild CP/bondage--and 3 pretty "maids" I'd love to spank myself!
All under the secret direction of Monique, the Cajun maid and bad-boy
hero Dewel Proffit. Seems Melissa MacNeal has written her best
tongue-in-cheek (and elsewhere!) book yet!

A young Miss Eve, recently married to the dashingly wealthy and powerfull Chapin soon discovers that perghaps she is no more and no less part of the required elegant furniture that her new husband has in his mansion.

Little Miss Eve was certainly more than surprised to follow her philandering husband and find that he has a very active second life that includes young girls that are not treated like she is, furniture that is, but more like excercise equipment ....

In comes her brother in law Dewel, considered to be the black sheep of the family and definitly not one to be consorting with. Miss Eve certainly doesn't consort, but, she does practically everything else including letting Dewel introduce Eve to her new ladies maid, Monique, a hot hot hot sexy sultering and spicy New Orleans Cajun from the hot bayou ....
OK so thats only the start of the bokk it's from here on it that it get HOT and complicated as we folow Miss Eve into pernition and a complex plot involving some rather delicious little maids and a school of young 'girls' wanting to work in
the wealthy mansions of 1890's New Orleans ...

I would guess, knowing and loving that city and it's people, nothing much has changed .... A super book and it's going to be hard to get ..........

I found Mr. Lewis's approach to exploring multiracial issues down-to-earth and mindful of historical context, and this sets his book apart from some of the other works addressing the same subject matter. I used an entire pack of Post-Its marking pages containing uncommon insights and/or useful information. Thanks for a great read! -Louie Gong, MAVIN Foundation

This book covers the shared experiences, both historical and psychological, of multiracial individuals.

This book is about what every multiracial person knows. This book is also teaches the reader the things every teacher, parent and partner of a multiracial person needs to know.

This was a wonderful and lively work touching on a very timely topic in the ever shifting demographic make up of our country. Elliott provides fresh views in a personable way that helped me with discussions with my own children in accepting those that may come from bi-racial families. Wonderfully eye opening and very touching. It's a great read!

I found this to be a very illuminating read. Elliott Lewis looks at multiple facets of the lives of mixed-race persons in America, and the book will be an eye-opener especially for readers who have little exposure to the subject. This is no dry sociology text: the style is lively and loaded with anecdotes and interviews that bring the topic to life. Lewis' observations on the formation of racial identities in children - and the unique challenges for multiracial kids who find themselves forced to "choose" - are of particular interest. This is a timely subject and Lewis is an engaging writer - definitely give this one a try!

Elliott Lewis travels the country, but mostly the West Coast, and talks to biracial people about their experiences and activism. He gets the point across that mixed-race people are seen by different people differently in different settings. He also does a great job in showing how they want to be recognized in their wholeness.
Mr. Lewis has a unique positionality. Like Lisa Bonet's and Lenny Kravitz's daughter, he is mixed on both sides. His status as a second-generation biracial person is fascinating and fresh.
The late legal scholar Trina Grillo, who was also biracial and wrote on biracial persons, once stated, "It used to be that biracial issues never came up, now you can't turn on the TV without hearing about it." I was worried that this book would just rehash what other books have already stated. I was pleased to be proven incorrect. This had interesting topical chapters. I think both experts and novices can enjoy this book.
Near the end of the book, the author admits the text's most serious flaw: it almost entirely covers black-white mixed people like himself. He gives all this focus on black-white individuals, yet lists numbers that prove there are more white-Latino, white-Asian, and white-Native people than there are white-blacks. I think people from these groups will be gravely disappointed. This book shamelessly falls into "the black-white paradigm" that Latino and Asian-American scholars have lamented.
When he does mention others besides Eurafricans, he focuses on Eurasians. However, the most common interracial couple in the United States is made up of one Latino spouse and one white spouse. The children of couples like Ricky and Lucy make up the majority of mixed folks, yet they are virtually ignored. Lewis never mentions Bill Richardson, Christina Aguilera, Raquel Welch, Benjamin Bratt and numerous other Anglo-Latins. Latinos are now the most numerous group of color in the US, yet they get no attention here. Further, those mixed-race people who are fully of color, like Tiger Woods, get ignored just like they did in Rachel Moran's interracial text. The black and white colors on the front of the book signify the black-white focus here. "Fade" does not just refer to diminishing colors, but also a hairstyle popular among African-American men in the late 1980s.
While the author quotes many male biracial writers, most of his interviewees are female. My Spidey sense tells me that biracial issues may be more salient to women than men. This book seems to hint at that during its discussion on exoticization.
Mr. Lewis mentions that there are more biracials on the West Coast than in the East. Again, I think this can be explained by the heavy white-brown and white-yellow mixing over there compared to the rare black-white mixing east of the Mississippi River.
In a similar fashion that Spike Lee often creates characters in the arts like himself, Mr. Lewis paid especial attention to biracial people working in the media and from Washington State.
I think the author may have fudged a fact in the book. He says that the late NAACP head Walter White was only 1/64th Black. However, Wikipedia says Walter White had 5 great-grandparents and 17 white ones; that's about a quarter Black.
The author has a photo of himself on the back cover. This is similar to the photos in Maria Root's multiracial books. I guess visuality is important in this area. Whatever the cause, one gets to see that Mr. Lewis is incredibly cute.
This book would be good for people of all ages. It has good quotes for students writing papers in college or high school.