Tobacco Books

From the eleven articles by anthropologists and archaeologists connected with universities, one finds that the Indian "peace pipe" familiar from numerous Western movies was but a small aspect of pipes in Native American culture. For example, there was also a "war pipe.". But the place of pipes in pre-Columbian and later Native American culture goes far beyond this as well. ""First, it must be kept in mind that smoking pipes are essentially drug delivery devices and that smoking instills varying degrees of altered consciousness." In "no way utilitarian," pipes are thus distinguished from other aboriginal artifacts; and from this way they are distinguished, they uniquely shed light on dimensions of spirituality, shamanistic practices, tribal social activities, inter-tribal relationships, and the history and movement of tribes. As seen by some of the latter essays, these social and anthropological matters relating to pipes found their way into different ethnic and regional groups of Europeans settling in eastern North America who adopted pipe smoking. Native American pipes were made of stone or wood; had different shapes; and sometimes included effigies of animals. All of these differences concern different purposes and occasions, or tell something about the history of the group respective pipes were related to. Rafferty is an associate professor of anthropology at SUNY-Albany; Mann is an archaeologist in Louisiana. Photographs, maps, and tables go with the text in this fetching subject.

This is the most incredible bibliography on this subject that I have ever encountered in my 40 years of research. Dr. Abel is, simply put, amazing. His use of both dialogue and abstract philosophy renders his material exceptionally accesibly and makes an otherwise dry subject enjoyable. If you loved such books as "Watership Down", "Zen and the Art of Motor Cycle Maintenance", or "How to be an Amazing Lover" you'll truly love "Smoking and Reproduction".

Lesley Stern has written a smart, witty literary book about a million things important to us, using hybrid forms: short story, essay, meditation--all of which spin like smoke from the cultural conceit of the cigarette. This is a book about Africa, tobacco, orality, movies, sex, culture, desire and loss. The globe-trotting narrator takes us through the streets of Manhattan, o'er the freeways of LA, into hotel rooms in Tokyo, dinner parties in Scotland, as well as the tobacco farms and factories in Zimbabwe. Great fun--a winner.

Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Smoking Cigarettes: The Unfiltered Truth by residential treatment for youth addictions expert for Janet Benner, is a straightforward, fact-filled account of exactly how smoking cigarettes harms one's health, shortens one's life, and how to most effectively quit the addiction to tobacco. Smoking Cigarettes pulls no punches, informing readers of exactly what negative effects to expect if they do quit (withdrawal, craving, insomnia) or if they don't (cancer, organ failure, etc.) This edition is enhanced with a chapter which focuses on chewing tobacco. A detailed tour guide of the many different options and alternatives to those seeking to quit, Smoking Cigarettes should be in the Health and Medicine collections of every highschool and every community library in the country.

The Smoking life is a pleasure to read. It is more of a coffee-table gift book than anything else but I cannot remember learning and laughing as much from any other such book that I have seen. The book made me laugh but it is not fluff. Ilene Barth must have done an extraordinary amount of research on the history of tobacco use. She found everything from Sixteenth Century woodcuts to quotations and stills from our favorite classic movies. She has found a lot of wonderful art. All of these illustrate what is the extremely important social history of tobacco--a history that I had never considered. I don't smoke and I must say that I find the habit a bit foul, but I think anyone who is following the media stories about tobacco ought to read The Smoking Life. After all, we do need to put today's big story in to the context of our history and Ms. Barth shows the big role that smoking has had in that history. But most of all, we need a sense of humor about this all and The Smoking Life gives us just that.

This book examines both sides of the current debate on tobacco. Issues covered in the book include whether tobacco companies should be found liable, whether people should be free to smoke, and the motivations of the anti-smoking movement.

A friend of mine, Harley B., had a heart attack. His daughter bought this cassette for him thinking that it would help him
stop smoking. Unfortunately, Harley was too obstinate to be influenced by his daughter's assistance and never opened the package.
One day, after telling everyone about all of the various ways
that I tried to stop smoking, without success, Harley told
me about this cassette and agreed to bring it in to work for me to try.
Now, as a three pack-a-day smoker, having chewed enough of "the gum" that I looked like a chipmunk at times, had needles stuck in my face by a doctor, I was about to give up when, two weeks later, Harley brought in the cassette, still in the shrink-wrap.
We opened it in the office, read (and ignored the instructions to
not play while driving) and put it in my cassette player and began playing it on the way home.
I listened to it two times, front and back, on the first day
and, you may find it hard to believe, but I have never, ever
desired a cigarette again.
After finishing the program according to the instructions as to the time and frequency, I can tell you with absolute honesty and
sincerity, I have never (and will never) want or desire a cigarette again.
For the record, I started smoking when I was 10 years old. I stopped on May 10th, 1988 (at 4:30 in the afternoon), having smoked for over 30 years. Two years after I quit, I ran in the Indy Mini-marathon (13.2 miles) in 2 hours 19 minutes and change; quite an achievement for a man in his fourties. Part of the title is "forever" and it means just what is says. At the end of the marathon, photographers take pictures of the participants and my picture has me holding up the paper insert of the cassette as I crossed the finish line: a momentum that I will treasure "forever".

25 years after publication (in '78) this book offers a well-written and fresh (at times) look at the world of Pipe Smoking. A quick but captivating read, filled with plenty of information old and new (heh!).

Well-balanced information-wise. Topics such as breaking in a pipe are stripped of most of their mystique, and plenty of good and simple advice is offered in its place. Some of these tricks aren't found on A.S.P. or related sites, either, but apparently stem from older pipe lore -- books by Ehwa, Herment & Dunhill (older editions).

Nice references to literature (such as "In the Hall of Alastalo" a Finnish novel with a 70 page chapter devoted to selecting a pipe), pop culture, contemporary design and such add further value. Notes on tobaccos (while pretty short) are still useful today.

Information on pipe models, makes, materials adn manufacturers is brief (though useful). This book really has more to do with actually selecting a pipe, a tobacco blend, smoking and caring for your pipe than with makes, models and such.

All in all, a great, captivating read for all who can overcome the language barrier. Offers insights into Finland of 1977/78, as well. If you find one used, get it.

The book was in great condition just like it stated and it was delivered soon after i placed the order.-Ruth

This is the book my son uses in school health class.It was worth the money for him not to have to cart it back and forth to school since they share books and not always available when needed for home work.