Coffee Books

I love this book. I wish I could afford the prints, but the book itself is a treasure.

I bought this book because I read all the wonderful reviews and frankly I was extremely disappointed. I am a real dog lover and melt at the sight of any dog but these photos lack life. They look like mannequins and very few of them show the wonderful expressions we so often see in dogs and which make dogs so utterly lovable. For a book that is trying to tug at your heart on the subject of shelter dogs, it has failed spectacularly.
Give this book a miss.

This was a very good book. The descriptions were great. The pictures were beautiful. I really enjoyed reading it. There was alot of information. Shelter Dogs

I'm an aspiring photographer/shelter owner...and this book just confirmed why I want to do each of those things. I cried when I read some of the stories in the back, and each picture was so darn cute. I love this book, and (when I get one) will sit on my coffee table for all my guests to look at!

This book gives us details on shelter dogs, who the author Traer Scott, has met in her travels. So touching, uplifting and heartbreaking, especially when we learn so much about them and are told at the end which dogs lived and were adopted...and which ones were not (sniffle)...If this book doesn't convince you to adopt from an animal shelter, then I don't know what will! A portion of the proceeds from this book and Scott's other book, Street Dogs, are donated to animal charities. Worth it to buy both! Thanks for this great, insightful look at America's animal shelters.

"What to Drink with What You Eat" is a comprehensive resource to guide anyone interested in pairing the right beverage with whatever you may be serving. It is a must have reference for the serious host or hostess.[...]

Everyone knows how to spot a wine snob, high class, arrogant, sips a little wine, smells it. Well now you can be that person w/o having to be arrogant. This book will explain what wines go with what foods, why you sniff a wine, how to taste it, what to look for in a wine and many other fun facts.

Everyone knows that red meat and red wine go well together but what goes well with a roast,or short ribs, heck even meatloaf? This book will help you.It goes beyond just main ingredients, it teaches you to also look at the other aspects of it as well such as different herbs, spices, the marinade you use, and how your going to cook it. Even mashed potatoes have more than just potatoes.

I have worked in restaurants and even have a degree in culinary and I must say, this is a good point to start with and even to look back as a reference point. I own all three reference books Culinary Artistry, The Flavor Bible and this one and I read them almost every day. Great series of books by the authors, I trust these books like I trust my chefs at school.

I have been "into" wine for a long time (before it became mainstream to
be "into" wine). I have tasted many different varieties of wines from all over the world, have many books on wine and love finding that perfect match between food and wine. I love having wine with my meals and when you can get that perfect match -- it can be heaven.

This wine book is amazing!!! In one section they go through every wine imaginable and tell you what foods will go with it -- HIGHLIGHTING those foods which will go VERY good with it. Then they have another section in which they do the complete opposite (I.E. given a food, what wine will go with it).

There are lots of comments by great chefs, recipes and a section where
each chef lists his favorite wines and what he likes to pair with it.

I love this book and highly recommend it.

I may run out of superlatives in the course of this review, so I'm just warning you now. What to Drink with What You Eat is absolutely the most spectacular book ever written about pairing food with wine. It will turn you instantly into a world-class sommelier, confidently able to pair virtually any cuisine with a compatible choice. What's more, the recommendations extend far beyond wine to include beer, sake, spirits coffee, tea and different types of water, so even a teetotaler can derive some value. There isn't a food- or wine-lover on the planet who wouldn't benefit from having the book always on hand as a resource.

The secret sauce here is that the authors, who have great credentials themselves, have also enlisted the input of dozens of top sommeliers and other authorities to create an uber-reference, one that gains considerably from its generous tendency to be more rather than less inclusive in offering up suggestions. Think of the principle of "the wisdom of crowds," but here the crowd are all experts and have the chops to back up their opinions. The list of foods, cuisines and beverages that are explored is truly encyclopedic, so odds are pretty good whatever you want advice on will be covered. For example, speaking of secret sauce, you'll even get suggested pairings with a Big Mac.

The crowning glories of the book are chapters 5 and 6, which really should be turned into a searchable database online and made available via PDA. These chapters are mirror images, one that starts with the beverage and suggests foods, and the other that starts with the food and matches the drinks. I'm telling it to you straight: if you've ever had a moment's hesitation about what to bring to a dinner party or just flat out what might go best with your frozen pizza, the answer is at hand. Wanna build the meal around a special bottle of wine? No problem. In fact, I'm not sure this book isn't subversive in the sense that it does such a great job of simplifying a complicated subject and making it accessible that it renders real-life sommeliers unnecessary.

Of course, that's a ridiculous notion; I'm just stating it for effect. You still need a sommelier to put together a wine list, add a personal perspective, precisely match the cuisine of a restaurant to its wines and gauge the "readiness" of any particular client to explore new territory. But if you live in New Jersey, where the only advantage of archaic, Prohibition-based liquor laws is the plethora of BYO restaurants and thus there are very few sommeliers period, this book is like manna from heaven.

I don't mean to imply that What to Eat is prescriptive to the point where you aren't allowed to express yourself and exercise free will. Quite the contrary. The book does a splendid job in the first few chapters of breaking down various pairing conventions developed over the past 20 years (plus of course the most classic matches) and providing guidelines that anyone can build on, and the authors encourage imagination and experimentation.

Let's go with a real life example, my first since I bought the book, and quite an "acid" test at that. I was asked by a hostess to suggest something that might go with roasted sea bass served with a Mediterranean ragout of red peppers, tomatoes, olives, and capers. My first instinct when approaching anything Mediterranean is to go with the "territory," which means for me clinging to the coastline from Provence to Sicily. Here I would have gravitated toward a white because a tannic red wouldn't go anyway and it's summer now and a chill is definitely welcome. Besides, I'm not sophisticated enough to figure out what to do with capers to begin with, so why not let a thousand years of local experience do the hard work for me? Then, I turned to chapter 5 and looked up sea bass. There were 16 suggestions, but nothing related to a Mediterranean ragout, which would clearly provide the dominant flavors to the dish. So with a little trepidation (are they going to whiff on my first challenge?), I looked for "Mediterranean" and sure enough found the following entry: "Mediterranean Cuisine (eg anchovies, olives, peppers, etc) Champagne, rose; Chateauneuf-du-pape, white; Pinot blanc; red wine, esp. tart Old World; rose; verdicchio, esp with onion-based dishes." Not feeling wholly comfortable yet, I cross-referenced the pesky caper and found: "Beaujolais, high acid; beer; Muscadet; Pinot Grigio/ Pinot gris, esp. dry; Pinot Noir, esp from Russian River Valley." That's enough breadth for anyone to find an appealing option.

The genius of the book is the exhaustive number of dishes and international cuisines covered. I'm sure there are some things you can eat that aren't paired here, but I'm not sure why you would want to! Also, while it wasn't true for my sea bass, many if not most of the listings actually go a step further and provide recommendations specific to the actual method of preparation. It's not just one size fits all. Pasta with artichokes? Check. Pasta with sardines? Check. You get the idea.


I haven't been this excited about a wine book in a couple of years, maybe since reading Andrew Jefford's The New France The New France: A Complete Guide to Contemporary French Wine (Mitchell Beazley Wine Guides). If you have even a passing interest in drinking wine with your meals you'd be crazy not to buy this book. It has the potential to enrich every dinner (and the occasional lunch/brunch/breakfast?/snack) you eat for the rest of your life, and if that isn't enough hyperbole, I don't know what is.

(3 1/2 stars)

After reading the slew of five-star reviews for this volume, today I drove to Barnes & Noble fully ready to purchase it. After spending a fair amount of time in the aisle surveying its contents, I ended up not getting it, and thought I would explain why not for the sake of those Amazon readers whose considerations might be similar to my own.

I think the issues of relevance are 'who you are' and what you're looking for in a book like this. I certainly understand why great wine aficionados (presumably with money and time), critics, sommeliers, restaurateurs, and the like would desire and benefit from a work of such sophistication and scope. But for the hobbyist (like myself), it was just too much. A little 'highbrow' for me -- and I suspect I'm not alone. I didn't find it nearly as accessible as, for example, Karen MacNeil's Wine, Food, and Friends (which I bought). MacNeil's book has a seasonal presentation, and, while evidencing an expert's range of knowledge, seeks not to lose sight of practical concerns (such as $$). In a nutshell, What To Drink . . . has a more encyclopedic approach (and does include beverages beyond wine), while MacNeil's is user-friendly and more what I was looking for. I wish it were possible to buy chapters 5 & 6 of Dornenburg & Page's book separately, because they comprise a tremendous resource for ongoing reference. The one surprise regarding Dornenburg & Page was that in a product of such erudition, it lacked an index.

So, bearing in mind the two questions I started with, I hope some of these thoughts will be helpful in informing your purchasing decision.

This is a warm, entertaining, and surprisingly spiritual book.

The author recounts the many wonderful and spiritually educational stories his Catholic Grandmother told him as a young boy growing up during WWII. Her stories are all designed to help her young grandson live the Catholic faith more fully, to better understand the teachings of Jesus Christ, and to be a better Christian.

The stories will serve that purpose for all of us. I found the stories uniquely instructive and full of spiritual wisdom - yet entertaining, at times funny, at times sad, but always interesting.

This book had me by turns laughing out loud and crying - but always being urged closer to Christ.

Unlike other reviewers, I don't think you need to be Italian or of Italian descent to love this book - I am neither and I found it truly a wonderful read. My 10 year old daughter loved it as well, so it will appeal to a broad range of readers, adult and young adult alike.

If you are looking for an easy, entertaining read that will encourage the practical day to day living of your faith, this is the book for you!

The concept was good. Definitely for those who grew up in the Catholic/ Italian mind set. Nonna was always so clever. I enjoyed the book.
I'm not sure that a non Catholic could identify with the meaning of the stories or appreciate them completely.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!! I ADORED THE LESSONS THAT WERE TAUGHT THROUGHOUT, SOME OF WHICH I COULD IDENTIFY WITH THRU MY OWN FAMILY. THE LIGHT SENSE OF HUMOR WAS VERY REFRESHING. IT TOUCHED MY HEART TO BE ABLE TO FEEL THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE AUTHOR AND HIS NONNA AND HOW SPECIAL SHE WAS TO HIM, EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A SPECIAL PERSON IN THEIR LIVES LIKE HER. I WILL BE GETTING THE NEXT ONE ALSO.

This book is full of delightfully heartwarming stories that take us back to a warmer, simpler time of love, humor and faith. It's a feel-good book!

This book is a pleasure to read. I've been reading the stories to my 9-year old son, who could read the book to myself, but prefers to sit with me and hear me read it to him, like as if he was Vinzee and I was Nonna. Right before I bought this book I traveled to Portugal with my family. It was Christmas and we were touring an ancient Cathedral when we noticed a very modest Naviity scene next to the Cathedral wall. A stray dog was laying in the hay right next to the Baby Jesus. We all laughed and commented that we didn't know that Baby Jesus had a pet dog. Well, I come home and start reading "Coffee With Nonna" just to discover that wise Nonna knew about the dog and the other four animals at the birth of Jesus, and what the significance is of the loyal dog. I shared this with my family who all agreed that the Portuguese stray dog truly had the last laugh.

BOOK OFFERS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION. PUT THEORY INTO PRACTICE AND OVERALL HEALTH DRAMATICALLY IMPROVES. FLIPPING COIN, IF YOU'RE FIT, YOU OWE IT TO OTHERS TO SHARE BOOK AS IT'S USER FRIENDLY AND AN ENJOYABLE READ.

Great book...learned lots of new and interesting things about tea that I never knew - I highly recommend it!

Within a few days of starting this diet, my appetite was shrinking! The tea really works well as an appetite suppressant. I'd reccommend this to anyone who likes tea and wants to lose weight. It's great that the book includes a meal plan for people who like structure and food suggestions for people who want to be more flexible.
You don't absolutely have to eat the foods "Dr. Tea" mentions in the book, you can eat other low calorie dishes from the basic suggestions (you can even eat lean steak, it's on the list of protiens!) provided that you drink enough tea. And it's not too terribly hard to get the amount of tea it specifies: just brew a bunch in the evening, cool it down, and put it in water bottles in the fridge for the next day. Or make a thermos of hot tea before you go to work. Take tea with you wherever you go, and you'll have no problem drinking enough.
You're supposed to drink tea when you're hungry between meals instead of snacks. What I've been doing is drinking tea when I'm hungry, then if I'm still hungry after that, I eat something small and heatlhy, like a piece of fruit. That works better for me.
"Dr. Tea" even has suggestions for what tea to drink when a craving hits. Granted, many of the teas he suggests are his own blends which he sells at [...], but then again he's the only one who's come up with teas specifically designed to satisfy cravings.
All in all, this is the best weight loss plan I've ever tried!

Neat book and have enjoyed reading and learning and think much of the information is true and good to follow.

This book recommends that you drink at least 8 cups of tea per day. If you're making hot tea, this is really inconvenient, especially if you're a busy person. I bought some of his teas and I was disappointed -they weren't as good as I hoped.

"Firmin" is Sam Savage's debut novel, and was first published in 2006. It's also one of the very few books I've ever read where the lead character has been a rodent.

Unusually for a rat, Firmin is a very well-read character - one with the soul of an artist and an eye for the ladies. He was born in the basement of Pembroke Books, a bookshop on Scollay Square in Boston in the early 1960s. The location was something of a last resort for his mother, Flo - a fat, twitchy drunk who didn't cry over spilt beer, but drank it instead. Flo made her bedding from "Finnegan's Wake" - and that proved to be the making of our hero. Firmin was the runt of the litter - the thirteenth child of a mother with twelve teats. (He picked up whatever leftovers he could, lapping up just about enough to survive). Eventually, he started eating his bedding - an act of desperation that, for a while at least, subsequently became an addiction. Few can have devoured "Finnegan's Wake" in the manner Firmin did and he believes his early diet led to his "unusual mental development". When, as a young rat, he decided to add a little variety in his diet, it involved finding - and eating - other books. Soon, he notices that each book tastes slightly differently and, before long, that there's a correlation between the taste and the flavour of the pages and the quality of the writing. (Interestingly, "Jane Eyre" tastes like cabbage). As he grows older, he spends more time and more reading the books and scavenging his meals from around the Square.

In time, his siblings grow up and move on - much like Flo, who is the first to disappear. Firmin is the only member of his family to stay on in the bookshop. He loves being able to watch the comings and goings from his vantage points - "The Balloon" (a crack in the roof) and "The Balcony" (a hole in the wall) - and the conversations he overhears keeps him up-to-date with the outside world. How Firmin views himself, however, is in a constant state of flux...possibly because he seems to feel more human than rat. While he has no real problem with his intellect, he detests his appearance and longs to be able to speak. At various points, he refers to himself as a dreamer and a hopeless romantic...and, yet, he'll still shudder at the thought of the "monster" in the mirror. On his first trip outside, he'd fallen head-over-heels in love with the women in the poster on the Rialto's wall. (The Rialto is the Square's cinema - it shows classic, old-style movies during the day, and porn all night. Firmin loves it there - he often dines on discarded popcorn and chocolate bars, and he spends many happy hours drooling over his 'Lovelies'. Unfortunately, he shows no subsequent interest in ogling any lady rats - and, since the only female rat he'd ever ogled up until that point had been his sister - he also views himself as a pervert and a freak). Given his devotion to the female form, then, it's maybe a little odd that the two most important people to Firmin are male. One is Norman Shine - the owner of Pembroke Books - and the other is Jerry Magoon - an author who rents an apartment upstairs.

The Square is the world to Firmin, with the bookshop and the Rialto between them catering for his head, his heart and his belly. Naturally, though, disaster is on the horizon : Boston's Mayor sees the area as a rat-infested blot on the landscape, which is badly in need of a bulldozer.

A very enjoyable, very easily read book - Fermin, despite his appearance and his low self-opinion, is a hugely likeable character. Comfortably the best book I've read this year, totally recommended !

Sam Savage is a genious. There are few books that can be with you for your hole life, and Firmin is ONE OF THOSE books. A read with diferent levels, a masterpiece for all ages. A great fable, a good fun, an outstanding tragedy. Read.

An engrossing tale about, of all things, a sweetly cynical and most sympathetic rat who is a cross between Frodo Baggins and Holden Caulfield. He is befriended by a writer, Jerry Magoon, who is surely an autobiographical rendition of the author, and reminds one of Charles Bukoswki. A wonderful urban fantasy, even for those who hate the Boston Red Sox!

This is a concise and touching story about a rat in Boston who can read. Really, the book is a tightly written allegory about human life and struggle. Absolutely enchanting and creative.

Sam Savage has come up with a very unique and enjoyable premise for his debut novel, with one of the most creative uses of fantasy to probably come along in ages. Firmin, a big-thinking rat who you'll totally love, grows up in a used bookstore in a run-down Boston neighborhood. Forced to eat old books after losing the battle for real food to his bigger siblings, runty Firmin somehow learns to read and absorbs a world of human knowledge. In a classic exercise of the "outside observer" literary device, we learn of Firmin's unique emotional longings and rat-like views of human society. With a human intelligence stuck in the body of a rat, Firmin lives a life of the imagination, based on scenes from his favorite books, and befriends a non-conformist struggling writer who is a real comrade in arms. This masterful book is full of whimsical humor, a true appreciation for classic literature, winning insights into humanity, and momentous sadness, as Firmin watches his human friends and his beloved neighborhood slip away. This is an outstandingly well-written story and is recommended for fans of insightful and empathetic literature, and offbeat new directions in fantasy. [~doomsdayer520~]

I have the hardcover edition. I collect Robert Crumb's works and this is a favorite of everyone looking at my collection. It you are an art student this along with his Gotta Have'Em Portraits of Women by R.Crumb is good resource material. I'd give The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book in (hardcover) ten stars if I could. I have not had the opportunity to look at the soft cover version but I would bet it is well done.

I just picked up the hardcover edition yesterday at the bargain section of my local bookstore. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. It's in chronological order of R. Crumb's work broken into chapters. Each chapter starts with a write up by him telling about what was going on in his life at that time, and how some of the drawings came to be. I find him to be a fascinating artist. He bares his soul in his work, not really caring how he appears or what people think.

This book is the ultimate Crumb. You won't be disappointed if you love his work.

Just about every huge page (this book is big!) is filled with inspired color drawings from the legendary underground artist. Crumb gets very personal in this book, it's incredibly honest and, at times, deep. He takes the reader on a nostalgic journey through his childhood, life, and career. It's about growing up, finding the artist within, and adjusting to the insanity of the world. Or, you can simply read it for the edgy, often sexual comics. Either way, this is a big heavy book that is hard to pick up, but harder to put down.

A generation ago, American poets such as Sylvia Plath, Robert Lowell, John Berryman, and Anne Sexton gave birth to a genre that's come to be known as "confessional poetry." Their verse revealed intimate facts about their lives that simply weren't spoken of in polite company: fears, phobias, sexual hang-ups, pettiness, depression, suicidal tendencies. Some of their work wound up being rather pathetic, more confessional than poetic. But when it was good, it invited readers to face their own demons.

Robert Crumb, whom the art critic Robert Hughes has called the "Breughel of the 20th century," is a confessional artist whose chosen genre is comics. For 50-odd years (with the emphasis on "odd"!), R. Crumb has explored his many identities and personae in thousands of sketches, drawings, and paintings. The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book is actually an autobiography put together from a handful of the work Crumb has produced over the years. It's interspersed with essays by Crumb on his childhood, school days, the hippie scene in San Francisco, his marriages, his "personal obsession with big women," his spiritual yearnings, and his love of old music. Taken together, it's a fascinating portrait of a man who's dared to explore some of his deepest and darkest places, and to do so (at least sometimes) publicly.

Crumb believes that the pivotal moment in his personal and artistic life was the period in the mid-60s to the early 70s when he dropped acid on a regular basis. Although he sometimes worries that he might've fried his brain, he also thinks that the LSD trips liberated his psyche and helped him break through to new and deeper levels of creativity. The LSD was, he tells us, his "road to Damascus."

Perhaps. It's true that Crumb's work has changed over the years--it's become more brutally honest, more introspective, darker and at the same time funnier. Perhaps the LSD had something to do with it (although, personally, I quite dislike some of the work that comes from that period, finding it rather flat and silly). But I suspect that the single greatest influence on Crumb was his childhood and his family, especially his brother Charlie, who seems to have been just as much a genius as Robert. Crumb the man really is the child of Crumb the boy. The LSD may've helped Crumb get in touch with the raw energy generated from those days.

Crumb has become notorious for the sexuality of some of his comics, and has taken his share of political correct knocks. But The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book makes clear that the bottom line of much of his art is his existential need to explore and expose the shallowness and absurdity of much of modern life. Above all, as he tells us (p. 247), he wants to tell the truth, not only about himself but about us as well. Whether it's in the pages of "Zap" or "Weirdo" comics, or in panels featuring Shuman the Human or Mr. Natural, Crumb continuously questions racial, sexual, cultural, and artistic conventions, pushing the envelope as far as it can go and frequently causing readers discomfort. There's also a longing on Crumb's part for deep meaning in a universe that appears crazy. This most often reveals itself as nostalgia for bygone days (his love of "old" music, for example), but also more explicitly as a yearning for a god that he can no longer fully believe in and frequently mocks.

Reading R. Crumb is an intense experience. Like all good art, his stuff can make one laugh with joy or send shivers down the spine. The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book is a good place to start if you're just discovering Crumb, and an equally good collection to help long-time admirers get some idea of the big picture of Crumb's work and to better appreciate its depth. It's also a good catalyst for getting in touch with one's own multiple identities.

We used this book on two recent trips to NYC as a guide book for planning 4 different afternoon teas. Excellent!

If you enjoy tea, why not take a tea trip in my hometown, New York? With this book, you can plan out everything. I have found the information provided by Ms. Knight to be accurate and have also learned a few interesting tidbits about tea culture. The excellent photos are worth noting as well. With more and more tea places popping up (and I've noticed a few recently), I hope they plan to put out updated editions. But this is by far the best tea guidebook I've seen, and a necessity for any tea lover who spends time in New York City.

What I really love about Tea in the City is the breadth and depth of Ms. Knight's profiles, especially when it comes to non-traditional tea rooms. This is the first guide I've seen that really makes an effort to incorporate the newer influx of modern East Asian tea destinations, rather than limiting itself to British and hotel teas (though these are here as well). Although I work in NYC, this guide may inspire me to try some new places in some neighborhoods I haven't visited in a while. I also find this guide more male-friendly than most tea books.

This is the perfect guide to tuck in your handbag or pocket when going to New York City. Color coded maps tell you the tea spots available in each area of NYC. Daily hours, phone numbers, subway stops nearby, websites, decor, approximate costs, and description of teas and food are included. This will be in my handbag anytime I take a train into New York City.

I had slight sticker shock and hesitated to buy this book. In fact, when it arrived, I was a bit unhappy with the small size. Having perused this small tome (with a cuppa in hand, of course), I've come to realize that my reservations were in vain. What a great book for the tea lover! This guide is not only informative, but well written. I'll be reading it again and again, and I'm sure that many a happy afternoon will be spent in the City (and here in Brooklyn, too) thanks to Ms. Knight. The only downside is that the fifth NYC borough is not mentioned... sounds like a great opportunity for someone in Staten Island to rise to the occasion for a possible (and hoped for by this reader) 2008 edition.

The Coffee Cup Bible Study Series by Sandra Glahn is presented in a convenient format. Since the Biblical text is included in each easy-to-carry book, it is a series ready for women on the go. There is ample room for recording your thoughts and conclusions. I like to work on mine in a local coffee shop. Both the scholarship that went into the study and the author's insights are thought provoking and inspirational. I have finished two of the studies so far and look forward to continuing the series. Espresso With Esther prompted me to look further into the commentaries available for this book of the Bible. Whether you tackle the book alone or with a group, I think it is worth your investment of time and money.

This 5-week study of the Book of Esther is just right for a summer Bible Study with a small group of ladies. Since it contains the scripture passages covered in each lesson, it is easy to take along during the week for study at breaks during one's day. The women find it interesting and stimulating for discussion and application. Not everyone will agree with all of the author's premises (ie. that Esther may have been a girl with a secular view point, and may have compromised some of her convictions) but even that adds to the liveliness of the discussions.

Last summer we used one of Sandra Glahn's other study guides, Java With the Judges, for a summer study. We enjoyed that study very much as well.

Sandra Glahn's "Espresso With Esther" is a delightful study that is truly portable! She has included all scripture referenced in the study, which makes it easy to carry your book with you and fill it out as you have time during the day. Her style of writing makes you feel as it you are sitting in the room with one of your best friends. Bravo for a great, in-depth, make-you-think study!

Sandra Glahn once again weaves theology and practicality together to give us a Bible study we can learn from and live out.

At the end of each session, I would record a Wow Factor, something that especially blew me away: (I'll share a few here)
God of great reversals. Glahn writes: "Only God can use our sins for good, and the Book of Esther is a book about such a reversal."
Choose the path of courage. Glahn writes: "When we walk in the Spirit...what's inside is so radiant that people see beyond us to Him. And if you feel weak, you're in the ideal situation for God to show His all-surpassing power through you."

Glahn reveals Esther beyond the whitewashed heroine we've come to accept her as. And we take the journey to God's great triumph over evil, as we see Esther's courage grow.

I can't wait to dig into Java with Judges!

My wife is doing this study with her women's group and she said the whole group agrees that the divisions of this book contain way too much content to cover in a week. The author is a very knowledgeable person, but the average women doesn't have the time read and dig through and research all that is required in the book each week. While the study is good, perhaps dividing each chapter in half or thirds might be better represented by a coffee cup series.

Richard Bondurant arranged a great trip to Moorea and Tahaa for my wife and I for our 10 year anniversary. This spectacular book is a great memory of our trip to Tahiti, and does an outstanding job of detailing all the exotic recipes that we jotted down on bar cocktail napkins while sipping fabulous drinks and sitting in the sun. I need to stock up on a few obscure ingredients before I can make all these wonderful drinks, but while it's snowing here for the winter, it's nice to just sit back, look at the amazing photos, read some of the trivia about Tahiti, and dream of going back someday soon. Thanks again Richard, for another great time!

The format of the book is very well done. Makes you want to go to Tahiti.

Wow! What a great book! We received it as a gift, which was perfect since my husband and I spent our honeymoon in Tahiti. Several things make this book great. First, the information about Tahiti is factual and entertaining to read. Second, the photos are amazing. Third, not only are the drinks easy to make, they are awesome! Kudos to Richard Bondurant.

Not only does this book have a wealth of information on a destination we long to travel to, but it offers a wide variety of fun and DELICIOUS drinks.
We love to entertain and it has been great having 'Cocktails in Tahiti' out at our parties...quite a conversation piece! Everyone loves the stunning photos of Tahiti, the scrumptious drinks, and the intriguing facts of the islands. Thank you!

Always looking for new and exciting cocktails to try, I purchased this book. Each page became more interesting, not only for the drinks presented but for the knowledge that Mr. Bondurant shares about Tahiti, it's culture, local accomodations, etc.

The photos are exceptional and each drink I have mixed has been better than the last. I have bought several as gifts for coworkers and friends. You won't be disappointed!

Sandra does a wonderful job taking each piece of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and covering it in depth, and showing us practical uses for daily application. Wonderful for the busy person's life, or for someone who may want a deeper look. Highly recommended! :)

This is an incredible bible study. I love the way it is laid out and the format of the book it's self...It is very easy to study because all the scriptures are right there but it also challenges you to dig a little deeper in the word of God...Marilyn

I delight in studying God's Word in a phrase-by-phrase, word-by-word setting. Mocha On the Mount, Sandra's study of the Sermon on the Mount, is a perfect example. I would recommend it for any ladies' Bible study...D.J.Martin, Ladies' Bible Study Teacher.

Do you cringe when you hear about yet another Bible study? Do you fear the shame of a strict school teacher reprimanding you from its pages? Sandra Glahn's Coffee Cup Bible studies are nothing like that. Her writing is like a teacher who walks from behind the desk and sits down in the back row with the rowdiest bunch. No condemnation. No gaggy preaching or lecturing. Just a shared need to learn what our heavenly Teacher is saying. But she is not without enough sense of humor to appreciate the value of a well-flung spitball toward our fellow students. So raise a mug of java to this Bible study series, which manages to keep us awake, learning, and focused on the real Author of Truth.

A rich blend of personal insight and theological training combine to make the Coffee Cup Bible series full of possibility for spiritual growth. Whether two or twenty people meet to interact with the weekly lesson and share their own answers to probing questions, everyone will appreciate the lovely format and original style.

A practical, friendly tone leads to personal application of biblical truth. From Mocha on the Mount, for example, "What are some ways people demonstrate that they're enslaved to money?" Then, "List evidences that you've been affected by materialism?" Sandra Glahn reveals vulnerability as she raises questions contemporary women confront.

Six lessons in each compact book contain the scripture, commentary and discussion questions (Espresso with Esther has five weeks of lessons). Planning a women's Bible study to correspond with the school year, this series lends itself to complete two studies before Christmas, then after the break, offer two more. If you do one study, you will want to complete them all.

As a former BSF Teaching Leader, it's great to be able to recommend a study I know God can bless.