Bell Books

I stumbled across Helene Hanff in a place no devout reader should ever be--a video store. After watching '84 Charing Cross Road' I was enchanted with Miss Hanff's wit and humor, and needed more. After an arduous search, I found a used copy of 'Underfoot...' and read it in less than 2 days. I even found myself laughing aloud at parts, which greatly disturbed the people sitting next to me. Hanff's ability to laugh at herself and to extract the humor from any situation is addictive. The book begins with a note to the reader: 'Each year, hundreds of stagestruck kids arrive in New York determined to crash the theatre, firmly convinced they're destined to be famous Broadway stars or playwrights. One in a thousand turns out to be Noel Coward. This book is about life among the other 999. By one of them.' From there, Miss Hanff takes the reader on a tour of her adventures and experiences as a struggling playwright in an honest and spirited manner. I was left wishing that my life was as unpredictable and ironic as Miss Hanff's struggle to live her dreams.

Helene Hanff published this, her first book, in 1961. She shares stories from her years as a struggling playwright in New York City; her good friend Maxine was a struggling actress. Practically penniless, they still managed to see first-run shows and movies regularly. How they did it is one of many memorable and funny tales.

I couldn't help laughing at the merry-go-round of a Broadway agent shopping a play all over town. Ms. Hanff tells how 'Oklahoma!' was named (she was there). One of her many jobs involved speed-reading long novels; her take on Tolkein is slightly different than Peter Jackson's.

I echo a previous reviewer's thought: this book would make a terrific film. 'Underfoot in Show Business' is a gem, a memoir full of magic and wit. Highly recommended.

This witty, touching memoir tells the story of Helene Hanff's attempt to "crash the theater". It is as entertaining and charming as her great book, 84 Charing Cross Road

I first heard of this book 20 years ago, in a letter to the editor in Seventeen Magazine. The letterwriter was distantly related to Helene Hanff and was recommending the book. At the time, I was deeply involved in my high school drama program and the title of the book appealed to me. I tried for years to find the book, but it was out of print for a time. When I did finally find it, it was worth the wait. It is laugh-out-loud funny and touching to anyone who has ever been bitten by the drama bug. I was sold on the book the minute I read the preface, which reads in part, "Each year hundreds of of stage-struck kids arrive in New York determined to crash the theatre...one in a thousand turns out to be Noel Coward. This book is about life among the other 999, by one of them." This book turned me on to all of Helene Hanff's other books, each of which is worthwhile in its own right. However, the best of the bunch is right here. This book should be on every booklover's must have list!

I once had to read a bit of this book out to some strangers on a plane who wanted to know why I was laughing out loud and then we had champagne and it was a great flight and Miss Hanff had even more fans. The tears were running down our faces. [ For those of you who have read it already it was the bit about the funeral parlour].

This book, like all of Miss Hanff's works, makes you feel great to be alive.

I've come to love my native city more and more by seeing it through Miss Hanff's eyes.

One of the most painful elements of dealing with illness in a family member, especially a parent, is the feeling that no one else understands, no one else knows or cares what you're going through. For that reason alone, Sherry Bell's book is worth reading, as she provides her touching, often funny, often painful story of her mother's struggle with Alzheimers. Even more valuable, however, are Bell's generalized comments on pain and loss, which will move and inspire anyone who is watching a loved one slip away.

Sherry Bell's Visiting Mom is a practical guide to caring for a person with Alzheimer's, including coping with the difficult decision to institutionalize a parent. Sherry's concern for her mother's well-being and happiness is evident throughout the book, and she offers some very specific suggestions for making the visit more productive and more pleasant for all members of the family. Her agonizing over the ultimate decision to put her mother in a nursing home is a reminder that this action induces guilt in everyone, no matter how hard they have worked to maintain a good quality of life and to look out for the parent's best interests.

The suggestion to create a Memory Book was a particularly strong one, one that would give the patient something to focus on, and would help the caregiver direct the conversation toward topics that give the patient pleasure. I also liked the suggestion that tapes of music be used to calm the patient and help them reminisce about happy times in their life.

I wish this book had been available when one of my family was first diagnosed with Alzheimer's several years ago. This disease was new to us, and we expected some general confusion and slowing down, but did not know other symptoms that characterized the disease - the paranoia, the sense that people are stealing from them, the hiding of objects. This book is a fully realistic look at the progression of the disease, and would be extremely helpful for people caring for newly diagnosed patients. I recommend it highly.

Wow, what a book now written! No only are practical suggestions given but the heart of a daughter's love is woven throughout this book. Obviously this mother/daughter relationship is close, as is ours. I read, with tears falling, some of the observations of her mother changing. I related it to what my dear grandma is now going thru. Soon, our family will know what the Drs. have in their files about my grandma. I want to share this book with my mom yet I'm waiting for just the right time...there will be one. I have been taken on a journey as I absorbed this book. I now have a better understanding of what may come, of what I should expect. The appendix in the back is a wealth of information to pursue over time. The service Ms. Bell has provided is too great for words! For families watching a loved one failing mentally...this is a must read. It shows compassion and practicality. Obviously, written by a loving daughter. The glimpse of "Visiting Mom" is indeed a gift. Thank you!

I am a psychiatrist who has referred this book to many families to help provide examples and insights regarding the care of parents with dementia. This is not a "perfect" book with cookbook instructions of what to do and when to do it. This is initially a painfully frank discussion of the author's experiences with her mother's illness and the author's ambivalence regarding the illness.

The latter portions of the book offer examples of strategies in dealing with parents with dementias, with dealing with emotional reactions to parents, and with dealing with the institutional resources often encountered. As Rosethorn notes in her excellent 4star review, it is a quick read and isn't universal in approach or application to the plight of parents with dementia and their children's reactions. Yet the examples can be a good starting place to formulate more appropriate and specific strategies in individual situations.

...but the book was a wee bit of a disappointment for me.

On one hand, it is an intimate and endearing record of one woman's experience with an Alzheimer's parent. Sherry was the kind of daughter every mother would be proud of and grateful for. She stood by her mother through the whole experience and provided support in every way. And that was my favorite part of this book - the story of how Sherry handled different problems and remained her mother's number one cheerleader and support.

But as far as the practical wisdom I could glean from the book - there was not enough of that for me. The book is a quick read - and I found the second part of the book a little slow and impractical. The treasure bag was a cute idea, but not one that would be useful in our circumstances.

Of this type of book, I'd more highly recommend "The Alzheimer's sourcebook for caregivers" by Frena Gray Davidson. That book was a little more polished and had more tidbits and details on getting through the day when the depression and exhaustion starts to swamp you.

"Visiting Mom" is an important book and has received glowing reviews from everyone here - so maybe it will be the book that speaks right to your heart. But other than a few lines here and there, it was not the book for me.

This is one of the first books I ever read on African hunting and it is still one of my all time favourites. Bell hunted when the hunting was unbelievable but he was also an expert rifle shot and bushman. If you enjoy hunting or Adrican hunting literature, this is a must have.

This being the first of Bell's three books it was also my first title on the subject of elephant hunting. A testament to it's quality would be that even today, twenty years after the purchase and roughly eighty years after it was written, I often revisit these pages. The chapters on hunting rifle, shooting angles, adventures in Uganda and previously undiscovered country in western and central Africa are classic Africana. I am not alone in my fascination as Walter Bell continues to be among the most recognizable names in big game hunting today a full one hundred years after his first safari. His accomplishments with the rifle continue to be the standard by which all others are compared. Considering the number of sportsman who visit the continent, this is quite an accomplishment. Unlike Karamojo Safari and Bell of Africa, this book is strictly a collection of articles that were written for a local outdoor magazine in Scotland. In them, Bell describes the equipment, hunting techniques and shooting angles he used to become the most successful elephant hunter of the era. Even though these chapters address a vast range of topics Bell never drifts far from the pure hunting experience he strives to describe. He lived the life of an elephant hunter during that brief point in history when it was still a feasible profession to take up. The sensations associated with leading a heavily ivory laden safari out of the deepest jungles of Africa must have been truly magnificent. Fortunate we are that Bell took the time to put down his rifles and pick up his pen.

Excellent book. Timeless, and very educational about not only elephant hunting but of many different tribes of Africa. I rate this book as highly as the Capstick books.

This is an excellent narration by the premiere elephant hunter of the early 20th Century. This extraordinary man presents adventures as simple matters of fact, as calmly as if he were recounting a normal day's work in some office. There is droll, and I believe "unintended" humor throughout the book. He gives a glimpse into the everyday life and perils of a short-lived profession that became a staple of early Hollywood adventure movies. Karamojo Bell was a master hunter who believed that the size of the bullet was not nearly as important as the placement of the shot. He hunted elephants with calibers that would only seem suitable for deer in today's hunting circles.

Walter Dalrymple Maitland (W.D.M.) Bell(1880-1951) roamed Africa for a quarter of a century between 1897 and 1922. His main interest there was to collect ivory, and it was much easier back then, as safaris and safari outfitters were uncommon. The elephants and other African animals had no cause to fear men, and shots from the rifles were rare except those made by slave raiders. The best part was that there were plenty of elephants with tusk weighing 100 lbs or more on each side. Bell took full advantage of the situation.

Armed with low calibre rifles, he ventured into the elephant country on foot, and knowing the vital spots of the elephants, he drove the bullets right into their brain, heart or lungs causing instant death to the animals. The bullets were cheap, perhaps a box of 20 for a shilling. But the ivory collected from one elephant brought a luxury life, and Bell collected virtually tons of ivory during his wanderings in Africa, especially an area known as Karamojo (see Bell's 2nd book 'Karamojo Bell' published in 1949)

According to a biographer, Bell was 'arguably the greatest ivory hunter: Certainly the last'. Wanderings of an Elephant Hunter was Bell's first book, originally published by Macmillan in 1923. It contained several sketches and paintings prepared by Bell 'on the spot'. This reprint by Safari Press also reproduced all the illustrations and art works from the original edition, and to me it is much superior in quality than the ones published by Neville Spearman, London.
**For additional reading: please consult BELL OF AFRICA

I read this book for a graduate course in Roman history. It is an indispensable primary source for students of Roman history.

On the first page of his Annals of Imperial Rome, Tacitus wrote that Octavian "seduced the army with bonuses, and his cheap food policy was successful bait for civilians." Tacitus' description of Augustus' transformation of Rome from a republic into an empire is most illuminating as well. "Upper-class survivors found that slavish obedience was the way to succeed, both politically and financially. They had profited from the revolution, and so now they liked the security of the existing arrangement better than the dangerous uncertainties of the old regime."

Sir Ronald Syme relied heavily on the work of Tacitus for his cogent narrative of Octavian's rise to power as Augustus. Syme's in-depth study of Tacitus' life and work was published in 1958. Tacitus' historical accuracy was doubted for centuries and Syme made a project of re-evaluating the accuracy of his historical writings. Syme believed that Tacitus was in a unique position to write about the birth and early political history of the Imperial period in Rome due to his very active political life. Tacitus had served as a senator, consul, and proconsul of Asia. In addition, he was known to be an excellent orator in his day. In his writings, Syme believed that Tacitus provided excellent accounts of Augustus' rise to power and his career as Rome's first Emperor.

Tacitus delved into the machinery of the new government, including Augustus' use of patronage as well as his many thwarted attempts at planning for his own succession. What Syme found was a man that grew very adept politically and whose political maturity rapidly developed at an early age. At eighteen, he was named as heir to Julius Caesar. He grew into the greatest Roman princeps spanning fifty-six years until his death. Augustus knew that to retain power he had to maintain the general consent of the governed. He astutely maintained order not by following the constitution or past precedent, but by using the tremendous resources at his disposal. Augustus kept the plebeians in check making sure they were fed, kept them amused with games, and constantly reminded them that he was protecting them from the oppression of the nobiles.

Augustus became the "leader of a large and well organized political party as the source and fount of patronage and advancement."

Recommended reading for those interested in Roman history, military history.

I read this book for a graduate course in Roman history. It is an indispensable primary source for students of Roman history.

On the first page of his Annals of Imperial Rome, Tacitus wrote that Octavian "seduced the army with bonuses, and his cheap food policy was successful bait for civilians." Tacitus' description of Augustus' transformation of Rome from a republic into an empire is most illuminating as well. "Upper-class survivors found that slavish obedience was the way to succeed, both politically and financially. They had profited from the revolution, and so now they liked the security of the existing arrangement better than the dangerous uncertainties of the old regime."

Sir Ronald Syme relied heavily on the work of Tacitus for his cogent narrative of Octavian's rise to power as Augustus. Syme's in-depth study of Tacitus' life and work was published in 1958. Tacitus' historical accuracy was doubted for centuries and Syme made a project of re-evaluating the accuracy of his historical writings. Syme believed that Tacitus was in a unique position to write about the birth and early political history of the Imperial period in Rome due to his very active political life. Tacitus had served as a senator, consul, and proconsul of Asia. In addition, he was known to be an excellent orator in his day. In his writings, Syme believed that Tacitus provided excellent accounts of Augustus' rise to power and his career as Rome's first Emperor.

Tacitus delved into the machinery of the new government, including Augustus' use of patronage as well as his many thwarted attempts at planning for his own succession. What Syme found was a man that grew very adept politically and whose political maturity rapidly developed at an early age. At eighteen, he was named as heir to Julius Caesar. He grew into the greatest Roman princeps spanning fifty-six years until his death. Augustus knew that to retain power he had to maintain the general consent of the governed. He astutely maintained order not by following the constitution or past precedent, but by using the tremendous resources at his disposal. Augustus kept the plebeians in check making sure they were fed, kept them amused with games, and constantly reminded them that he was protecting them from the oppression of the nobiles.

Augustus became the "leader of a large and well organized political party as the source and fount of patronage and advancement."

Recommended reading for those interested in Roman history, military history.

I read this book for a graduate course in Roman history. It is an indispensable primary source for students of Roman history.

On the first page of his Annals of Imperial Rome, Tacitus wrote that Octavian "seduced the army with bonuses, and his cheap food policy was successful bait for civilians." Tacitus' description of Augustus' transformation of Rome from a republic into an empire is most illuminating as well. "Upper-class survivors found that slavish obedience was the way to succeed, both politically and financially. They had profited from the revolution, and so now they liked the security of the existing arrangement better than the dangerous uncertainties of the old regime."

Sir Ronald Syme relied heavily on the work of Tacitus for his cogent narrative of Octavian's rise to power as Augustus. Syme's in-depth study of Tacitus' life and work was published in 1958. Tacitus' historical accuracy was doubted for centuries and Syme made a project of re-evaluating the accuracy of his historical writings. Syme believed that Tacitus was in a unique position to write about the birth and early political history of the Imperial period in Rome due to his very active political life. Tacitus had served as a senator, consul, and proconsul of Asia. In addition, he was known to be an excellent orator in his day. In his writings, Syme believed that Tacitus provided excellent accounts of Augustus' rise to power and his career as Rome's first Emperor.

Tacitus delved into the machinery of the new government, including Augustus' use of patronage as well as his many thwarted attempts at planning for his own succession. What Syme found was a man that grew very adept politically and whose political maturity rapidly developed at an early age. At eighteen, he was named as heir to Julius Caesar. He grew into the greatest Roman princeps spanning fifty-six years until his death. Augustus knew that to retain power he had to maintain the general consent of the governed. He astutely maintained order not by following the constitution or past precedent, but by using the tremendous resources at his disposal. Augustus kept the plebeians in check making sure they were fed, kept them amused with games, and constantly reminded them that he was protecting them from the oppression of the nobiles.

Augustus became the "leader of a large and well organized political party as the source and fount of patronage and advancement."

Recommended reading for those interested in Roman history, military history.

I read this book for a graduate course in Roman history. It is an indispensable primary source for students of Roman history.

On the first page of his Annals of Imperial Rome, Tacitus wrote that Octavian "seduced the army with bonuses, and his cheap food policy was successful bait for civilians." Tacitus' description of Augustus' transformation of Rome from a republic into an empire is most illuminating as well. "Upper-class survivors found that slavish obedience was the way to succeed, both politically and financially. They had profited from the revolution, and so now they liked the security of the existing arrangement better than the dangerous uncertainties of the old regime."

Sir Ronald Syme relied heavily on the work of Tacitus for his cogent narrative of Octavian's rise to power as Augustus. Syme's in-depth study of Tacitus' life and work was published in 1958. Tacitus' historical accuracy was doubted for centuries and Syme made a project of re-evaluating the accuracy of his historical writings. Syme believed that Tacitus was in a unique position to write about the birth and early political history of the Imperial period in Rome due to his very active political life. Tacitus had served as a senator, consul, and proconsul of Asia. In addition, he was known to be an excellent orator in his day. In his writings, Syme believed that Tacitus provided excellent accounts of Augustus' rise to power and his career as Rome's first Emperor.

Tacitus delved into the machinery of the new government, including Augustus' use of patronage as well as his many thwarted attempts at planning for his own succession. What Syme found was a man that grew very adept politically and whose political maturity rapidly developed at an early age. At eighteen, he was named as heir to Julius Caesar. He grew into the greatest Roman princeps spanning fifty-six years until his death. Augustus knew that to retain power he had to maintain the general consent of the governed. He astutely maintained order not by following the constitution or past precedent, but by using the tremendous resources at his disposal. Augustus kept the plebeians in check making sure they were fed, kept them amused with games, and constantly reminded them that he was protecting them from the oppression of the nobiles.

Augustus became the "leader of a large and well organized political party as the source and fount of patronage and advancement."

Recommended reading for those interested in Roman history, military history.

I read this book for a graduate course in Roman history. It is an indispensable primary source for students of Roman history.

On the first page of his Annals of Imperial Rome, Tacitus wrote that Octavian "seduced the army with bonuses, and his cheap food policy was successful bait for civilians." Tacitus' description of Augustus' transformation of Rome from a republic into an empire is most illuminating as well. "Upper-class survivors found that slavish obedience was the way to succeed, both politically and financially. They had profited from the revolution, and so now they liked the security of the existing arrangement better than the dangerous uncertainties of the old regime."

Sir Ronald Syme relied heavily on the work of Tacitus for his cogent narrative of Octavian's rise to power as Augustus. Syme's in-depth study of Tacitus' life and work was published in 1958. Tacitus' historical accuracy was doubted for centuries and Syme made a project of re-evaluating the accuracy of his historical writings. Syme believed that Tacitus was in a unique position to write about the birth and early political history of the Imperial period in Rome due to his very active political life. Tacitus had served as a senator, consul, and proconsul of Asia. In addition, he was known to be an excellent orator in his day. In his writings, Syme believed that Tacitus provided excellent accounts of Augustus' rise to power and his career as Rome's first Emperor.

Tacitus delved into the machinery of the new government, including Augustus' use of patronage as well as his many thwarted attempts at planning for his own succession. What Syme found was a man that grew very adept politically and whose political maturity rapidly developed at an early age. At eighteen, he was named as heir to Julius Caesar. He grew into the greatest Roman princeps spanning fifty-six years until his death. Augustus knew that to retain power he had to maintain the general consent of the governed. He astutely maintained order not by following the constitution or past precedent, but by using the tremendous resources at his disposal. Augustus kept the plebeians in check making sure they were fed, kept them amused with games, and constantly reminded them that he was protecting them from the oppression of the nobiles.

Augustus became the "leader of a large and well organized political party as the source and fount of patronage and advancement."

Recommended reading for those interested in Roman history, military history.

This baby book was simply delightful. It has the cutest illustrations,and very unique content. A must buy for any African, or African-American home.

My sister brought this book as a shower gift back in 1999. I just had my second child in January 2003 and was so delighted to find the same book still available at Amazon.com. I did not want any other book for my baby but this one. It is so unique and the only one I've seen geared towards African-Americans. There's also a little lullaby inside that I sing to my kids. A friend is having twins and I just ordered 2 more Baby's Roots books that I know she will cherish as well. I recommend this book because it will be a "unique" treasure ones children will have when they get older and look back at their childhood.

The Baby's Roots memory book was a baby shower gift from a friend. I liked it so much that I returned other memory books that I had purchased for my baby. The soft colors, graphics and especially the African American pictures of sweet little babies are what made this book so attractive. I wish there were a series of other baby products by Debbie Bell Jarratt with similar designs (such as baby keepsake boxes, photo albums, etc.) I'll give it as a gift to other mother's to be.

I purchased Debbie's book for myself five (5) years ago and loved creating and recording facts/pics for my daughter. The book will serve as a time capsule of information that highlights her heritage and family. I have given three of these books as gifts to expecting mothers. Believe me, it's not your typical baby book.

Thanks Debbie.

Ciao!

Trinice Speight-Moses
Willingboro, NJ

I have been searching for this book since the birth of my daughter 5 months ago. I received this book for my son three years ago and I have enjoyed it from the start. I think everyone who has achild or know someone with a child would really enjoy this book for years to come. It brings so much joy to take out the book and going through the sayings and quotes with my son. I am looking forward to doing the same with my daughter.

THIS BOOK TELLS HOW TO MAKE PEACE IN OUR HEARTS AND IN THE WORLD BY SHARING SPIRITUAL WISDOM , INSIGHTS AND EXPERIENCES. THE 16 PEACEMAKER VOWS ARE POWERFUL. VERY UNLIFTING BOOK.

This book is a masterpiece because Bernie Glassman's life and work is a masterpiece. His activism is truly awe-inspiring.

This book will touch your heart and make you think deeply about life, your own comfortable life with heat and light and computers, versus the dirty, cold, unsafe life on the streets.

There are just too many things to praise about this book that I can't write them all. Suffice it to say that all of it is a jewel, a gem, a lotus flower blooming from the mud of everyday life.

Buy it, read it, let it seep into you!

Bernie Glassman offers a vision of Zen practice which is fresh and American. I have found Bearing Witness inspiring and empowering, not just at first reading but day after day.

Glassman Roshi stands out as one of the foremost leaders in engaged spiritual practice. His sense of vision, personal journey and earth-level insight is clearly tangible in this recent publication. Glassman shares his heartfelt experience while also clearly reflecting the diversity of the Zen Peacemaker Order.

For anyone interested in making peace both within and without, or who is interested in combining spiritual practice with social action, Roshi Glassman's book is a "must read." He does a fine job of articulating and describing the spititual foundations of peacemaking in a very clear and straightforward manner. I found them both moving and helpful in my own search for a peacemaking path.

Since I have most of the original 'Bell's Best' cookbooks, I wondered if I needed this 'Best of the Best'. I do need this cookbook. It's so easy to find the recipes and so much easier to handle. Really am glad I got this one.

The TelecomPioneers of Mississippi have published a series of four volumes of cookbook recipes, beginning with "Bell's Best" in 1981, followed by "Bell's Best 2"; "Savory Classics"; and "Bell's Best IV". The accumulative total of these four previously published cookbooks adds up to more than six thousand recipes! Now available from Quail Ridge Press is their fifth cookbook volume, "Best Of The Best From Bell's Best Cookbook" which is a distillation and compilation of 429 recipes taken from the previous four volumes of the 'Bell's Best Cookbook' series and presented along with informative and fascinating historical facts and illustrations showing the development of the telephone over the years from its inception with Alexander Graham Bell's initial transmission over a telephone line to his assistant Thomas Watson, down to the touch tone and cell phones present day. This outstanding compendium include recipes for beverages and appetizers; breads and breakfasts; soups, stews and chilies; salads; pastas and rice dishes; meats; poultry; seafood; cakes; cookies and candies; as well as pies and other desserts. Of special note is the chapter devoted to equivalents and substitutions. From an Almond-Bacon Cheese Dip; to Chicken Tortilla Soup; to Fruit Salad with Apricot Dressing; to a Sausage Rice Casserole; to Barbequed Shrimp; to Crushed Pineapple Cream Cake; to Old-Fashioned Chocolate Fudge, these are dishes that would grace any dining occasion, please any palate, and satisfy any appetite. "Best Of The Best From Bell's Best Cookbook" is a welcome and recommended addition to both personal and community library cookbook collections!

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I grew up in Mississippi and have since traveled and lived all over the world. Trust me, unless you are a total foodie (heck, even if you are- I am and I STILL like these recipes) you will adore this cookbook. If you are trying to master regional southern cookery this is a WONDERFUL place to start. Real recipes from real people- this is the everyday food of Mississippi. If you want some of the more refined food order this (because it's great) but also order Southern Sideboards from the Junior League of Jackson, Mississippi. Together they make a wonderful set as a gift!

Okay, when I saw this Cookbook, I just had to have it. I have the Original Bell's Best cookbook. I was thrilled to see a compilation of all 4 cookbooks combined. I bought copies for some relatives of mine as well. The Bell's Best are well known here in the south (at least I think they are). I only wish there were more recipes added. It could easily been made a much bigger cookbook, esp. since the other Bell's Best cookbooks are hundreds of pages in length. I guess this will leave room for sequels so others can enjoy these recipes as much as I have!

Especially 1 & 2. You can't go wrong with this cookbook. It has everything but the kitchen sink in it!!! I have never made a bad recipe from these books!

The only reason I bought this book is because Walter Mosley's name was attached to it. Mosley is one of America's most valuable treasures, and I jump at any opportunity to experience his words. However, while his essay is excellent, the other authors more than hold their own.

I don't know who the intended audience is for this book, but I think it should be required reading for everyone. From age 15 through 90. Liberal, conservative, egalitarian, libertarian, agnostic, spiritual, what have you.

I cannot put my respect for this book into words. I am saddened with the realization that this book will go unnoticed by many because of a number of reasons. This book deserves much more recognition than it has received to date.

This is a very serious piece of writing. So often, African-Americans look to others for help in "handling our business." Here are 13 essays from people of thought and action that have decided to lay out some ways we can handle it ourselves!

The real beauty of this book is the accessibility of what is written. No offense to Cornel West and other Black Intellectuals (they have voices that must also be heard and heeded!), but this book is written in such a way that even the casual reader will be touched and moved to action. There is no lack of depth here but rather a casual familiarity as well as a sense of urgency that will immediately draw the reader in.

Further, there are a variety of voices presented here. From Spike Lee to Randall Robinson to Walter Mosley, these essayists cover a tremendous amount of ground and touch all of us along the way. There is something here that speaks to the many facets of the African American experience.

Buy this book - I dare you not to be inspired by it!

Why are we intrigued by all of Spike Lee's Movies no matter how bad or good, or Easy Rowlin's character in Walter Mosley's Devil In A Blue Dress? Is it the casting of characters, the mystery of the black experience or the marvel of these geniuses who seem more talented then life itself at times. they are the folks who encourage to hold on to life, catch a dream, and believe that success doesn't have to be a thought but a realization. This book contains the very folks who may or may not seem like geniuses to everyone, but just the mere power of their actions has transformed a generation through movies, literature, sports, fashion, journalism, and Humanitarianism. I always sink into these anthology compilations because I am curious to find out the reasoning behind some of the great Black African Americans featured in anthologies like this. It may be true that to be a success is to know success, but for those who don't have that convenience...why not read about it?

This is some of the heaviest reading I have chosen in a long time. While I must say I did not agree with several of the viewpoints of the collective writers, the writing was done with conviction and the ideas were thought-provoking. I recommend this book to any students of African American history, Journalism or Economics. I thought a better title for this work would have been Collective Black Genius.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Too many times the Black community is treated as if we all believe only one idea or follow one way of doing things. "Black Genius" brings out the qualities our many talented Kings and Queens by providing personal narratives with solutions to many concerns that effect the Black Community daily. I highly recommend this book. If you are concerned about issues in the Black community you wont be dissapointed.

This is a phenomenal Christian based book for families who want to approach the 'big' talk with their kids. It is NOT your basis anatomical guide on the birds and the bees. Rather it is an indispensable guide on how to connect with your kids early and keep the lines of communication open so that as sexual issues or questions arise, they are comfortable enough to approach you, and you are comfortable enough with them to discuss it. Many great ideas and suggestions in talking to your kids about sex and life in general. LOVE IT!

Family psychologist Dr. Kevin Leman and sexuality educator Kathy Flores Bell present A Chicken's Guide To Talking Turkey With Your Kids About Sex, a straightforward guide for parents and educators about teaching young people about the first period, first nocturnal emission, dating relationships, STDs, molestation, and much more. A Chicken's Guide To Talking Turkey With Your Kids About Sex offers useful advice in down-to-earth terms concerning what needs to be taught, how to build a bond of trust and support, and how to sound fully credible when promoting abstinence in a culture that is media-soaked with sexual imagery, as well as more basic tips concerning trials of puberty such as proper hair and skin care, oral hygiene, and more. Highly recommended.

A wonderful guide to helping your child grow into adulthood. A "no-fear" approach to the truth about body changes, peer-pressure and relationships. It is the responsibility of the parents to make sure their own children knows the facts. It's not up to the schools, folks. God made our bodies, this book acknowledges his wonderful creation.

A long time fan of Leman's work and appearances, I was thrilled to see that he had a book on a subject I have been dreading discussing with our 9 year old son. Leman's humor and good-sense parenting advice reminded me that teaching your kids about sex begins long before "the talk" becomes necessary - it is the way you raise your children, with limitations, without instant gratification, and in the way you respect your own spouse that speaks volumes to our children about sex. Hooray for Leman! I am so glad that there is someone who can guide me in a Christian way on a vast number of subjects while still making it a fun read.

This book is excellent! You don't even have to wait until your kids are older to read this book. The practical suggestions they give begin with pre school age children, and continue up until your kids are 16 and 17. I highly recommend this book as a must-read for any parent!!

I have read all the Judge Dee mysteries at least twice, and really love them. However, I have just read a number of books on China and discover that van Gulik has purposefully mislead readers to make ancient Chinese justice just like Western justice and rather appealing. The truth is almost the exact opposite.

If you are interested, a standard history of china by harvard professor John Fairbank and Merle Goldman, China A History, explains that the Chinese justice system was openly corrupt (corruption did not have to be secret - it was and is the accepted way), relied on torture of both plaintiff and defendent, had no consistent laws, no equal punishments for the same offence (everything was based on class and kinship status) and bascially was just like modern Communist law: it was a vehicle for the state to control behavior. The goal was not 'justice' in the Judeo-Christian sense but state control.

Also like Communist China under Mao, imperial law relied on collective punishment to terrorize the populace. The entire population was divided into groups of ten and one hundred families, and if anyone in the whole group was condemned, the entire group could be executed. For serious offenses against the state, thousands of families could all be executed.

Van Gulik is always showing citizens bringing disputes before the court. In reality, this was never done (as both sides could be tortured and both sides had to pay the court and both sides had to bribe the court). Instead, people relied on their village elders or clan heads to rule on disputes, as the court system was too dangerous.

Most of the ideals that Van Gulik gives to Judge Dee of fairness, protecting the weak against the strong etc. are Christian values that go back to the Jewish Bible (God creating all men equal, protect the weak and the stranger, equality before the law etc). They are antithetical to Chinese values from imperial to modern times. It is very important not to pretend that foreign cultures are the same as we are...or that our values are universal. They are very special treasures that we should be incredibly grateful for.

The Judge Dee books also mention women's tiny feet at times, but he never tells the reader that until 1900, all upper class and middle class women in China had their feet broken and maimed leading to their being crippled for life, unable to walk normallyeuphemism - binding their feet). From the 19th century, this custom of torturing and crippling women spread among the peasants also. 10% of girls probably died from this treatment.

Van Gulik prominently features 'courtesans' and 'prostitutes.' A more accurate term might be slaves or sex slaves.

We are often told that China was 'more advanced' than the west until modern times. In truth, they were most comparable to ancient Rome, a cruel and despotic slave-owning culture with admirable roads and art. But Rome at least had rule of law, something China never had.

So, enjoy Judge Dee - but take it for what it is, bascially a fun Western mystery story set in a lovingly recreated period piece, kind of like most Hollywood movies - great costumes, great settings, fun plots, endearing characters - all basically unrealistic.

The Judge Dee Mystery Series by Robert Van Gulik are paperbacks that I keep after I read them. In fact I have purchased every one that Amazon offers. These are superb Asian-flavored legal mysteries, impressive because of the historical accuracy and insights about the Chinese character given by Van Gulik. In this book one of the cases the Judge solves (there are 3 different cases) is the mystery surrounding the death of a young girl on her wedding night. Needless to say Judge Dee gets to the bottom of the murder and solves all 3 mysteries. It's important to note that Judge Dee-Jen Dijeh (630-700 A.D.) was a real Magistrate known for his wisdom in China, and his stories became a part of the folklore of China. Robert Van Gulik was fascinated by the tales of this judge and wrote a fictionalized series featuring the Judge in the early 1950s. If you enjoy well crafted myteries that are full of wit, clever plot devices, action and adventure as well as great descriptions of food and culture, you'll love all the Judge Dee Books just as I do.

Yet another strong entry in Robert Van Gulik's series about a crime solving Imperial Magistrate in seventh-century China. In this book, Judge Dee has taken up a new posting in the large and flourishing district of Poo-yang on China's east coast. The district seems prosperous and relatively crime free, so the judge's retinue consisting of his faithful retainers Sergeant Hoong, Ma Joong, Tao Gan and Chiao Tai are all looking forward to an easy posting. But contrary to all expectations, the team has to deal with several crimes in the district soon after arrival. A young girl has been raped and murdered with her killer absconding and the judge is also asked to look into a long series of crimes committed by one of Poo-yang's wealthiest merchants Lin Fan by one of his victims who may have her own hidden agenda....To make matters more complicated, the judge soon learns that the monks in the wealthy Buddhist temple in the area may be preying upon unsuspecting women and cheating them of large sums of money by promising them that they will be able to conceive a child by offering prayers and money at the temple! This may seem like an overwhelming series of problems, but Judge Dee with the help of his assistants is able to clear up the various crimes with his usual flair and wisdom. Enormously entertaining, both for its wealth of historical detail about ancient China as well as for its finely plotted mysteries. Highly recommended for fans of the series and even those who are just looking for a good mystery read.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends THE CHINESE BELL MURDERS in which Judge Dee solves the mystery surrounding the death of a young girl, where all the evidence points to the guilt of the deceased lover. on her wedding night.

Judge Dee-Jen Dijeh (630-700 A.D.) was a Magistrate known for his wisdom & wit in China, & his stories were a part of the local folklore. Robert Van Gulik, who had a historian's interest in China in the early 1950s, was fascinated by the tales of this judge, & finally collected & fictionalized them into four volumes.

The wit, ingenuity, & genius of Judge Dee is well reflected. Remember the old tales of King Solomon the Just -- well, give them an Asian flavor, a touch of Old China -- & you get Judge Dee.

All of Judge Dee's books are most pleasurable - - worthy of 10 stars!

The Chinese Bell Murders is another of the classic Judge Dee mysteries authored by Robert Van Gulik. This book, along with the Chinees Maze Murders, is probably the best of the Judge Dee books.

The plot of this story involves three disparate events, a rape/murder, shenanigans in a Buddhist temple where women with fertility problems are apparently giving birth due to divine interventions, and a corrupt businessman who is involved in a bloody family feud. Along the way, Judge Dee and his assistants have an encounter with the bell that is the title of the story. Van Gulik ties up everything in a tidy package that is engrossing and gives the reader an insight into ancient China.

What is impressive about this book is the historical accuracy and insights about the Chinese character given by Van Gulik, no doubt due to his service in the Dutch foreign service and his credentials as a Sinologist. The Buddhist influence in T'ang Dynasty China and the corruption of monks was a constant problem and Van Gulik is not complimentary in his portrayal, which is similar to the unfavorable portrayals of Buddhism by Chinese writers throughout history. Also, the corruption of businessmen in China and the conflict between northern and southern China is well portrayed. Only a Chinese or somebody who is familiar with China can understand the nuances and conflict.

As one of the original five Judge Dee books (this one is the second book in the sequence), the detail and the plot are very much in line with the famous Chinese stories of the day, albeit in a more compact form. This lends authenticity and makes these stories better than the later Judge Dee stories, which are still good.