Brooks Books

This book is NOT for everyone; it is for fans of TRUTH, of a candid, straightforward approach to life,Mormonism, and History of the West, Utah, and religion-religious organizations.
Juanits Brooks may well go down as the most honest LDS author EVER, and this book chronicles her life: what brought her to the point and the process involved in writing the book (2 editions) that brought the MMM out of darkness. May her memory live in the hearts of honest men & women forever.

Levi S. Peterson has done a remarkable job of researching and collating an enormous amount of material in revealing the wonderful life and career of a magnificent lady. Juanita Brooks, in her own right, was a premier writer of Mormon Utah and environs, who represented the very best in objective reporting in an environment that can be rather reserved. Dr. Levi Peterson, Professor of English at Weber State University in Utah brings Juanita Brooks to all of us who have admired her for so very many years. Professor Peterson has made a marvelous contribution to the autobiographical literature of historical writing, showing the best in organization and leading the reader onward, and onward with great anticipation to the next sentence, and the next. It is as wonderful an account of a worthy life as I have ever read!

George A. Hamm

I own about a thousand books,and I have been asked which one I value most,or would snatch up in a fire, on my way to safety. I would give up every book I own, if necessary, but would not relinquish this book under any imaginable circumstances.I traveled from Indiana to the Whitney for the Retrospective, and stayed all day. I purchased my copy before leaving.
In our current climate,the Kienholz' work ("Portable War Memorial" comes immediately to mind)speaks with ferocity and immediacy and is a stark critic of hypocrisy and cultural gluttony.
This book is an eternal flame.

Published at the time of the Kienholz Retrospective Show at the Whitney Museum in 1996, this book not only documents that show with over 400 illustrations (many in color), it is also a tribute to Ed Kienholz, who died in 1994. Contributions by art historians, artists, friends and most importantly, Nancy Reddin Kienholz, make up a history that spans 4 decades. It begins with Ed's solo work in the Beat Era of the 1950s and continues with the collaborative work done by Ed and wife Nancy from 1972 to 1994. Even those who are not artists cannot help but be moved by this book. The stories are interesting, often funny and always personal. From collages to life-size environments, the work is not afraid to confront issues of cruelty or to embrace the forgotten in society. Unique vision, artistry and the materials of everyday life (collected at flea markets and junk shops) combine to make art that can be quiet with despair, cry out in anguish, or even make us laugh. Considered by some as ugly, this work is never dull or without compassion. As art historian and curator Walter Hopps says on the book jacket, "The work of Edward and Nancy Reddin Kienholz has had an enormous impact on the development of contemporary sculpture." I recommend this book to anyone interested in contemporary art or social science -- or who just appreciates a beautiful book and fascinating story.

If you can't afford the ticket...or are past the stage when you don't require the comforts of home...adventure travel while horizontal, reading.

If you have traveled in East Africa, you will instantly be brought back--to the smells of roasting maize, absurd conversations, cigarettes sold in singles, utter confusion...beautiful, frightening chaos.

A favorite passage, but one that is not representative of the work as a whole: When the Colonel completes a banter..."Monroe polished off his whiskey. It was a pleasure to listen to a trained conversationalist string together nonsense. It occurred to Monroe that no television spewed images from the corner, no harmonious notes sifted down over their heads, the partygoers in this lost blade had learned to divert themselves with premise, resonse, and self-effacement, lost arts in an age of passive entertainment.

If you have had the good fortune to stumble upon this gem, but it and read it. It is crude and despicable in! all the right ways. We are lucky indeed. Mzuri sana, bwana.

A first effort that exhibits the hallmarks of a great author. This book thrills, amazes and surprises with a superb ending. The story of a young man who finds himself at odds with Africa and its morals and actions. It is a story of people and thier conflicts. A must read for anyone interested in Africa or life.

The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and so rich in details. Sometimes puzzle books are only fun the first time; I'm sure that this one will stay a favorite.

Aside from the illustrations, which span the entire page, the best feature of this oversized book is that when it's open it's literally the size of a television screen! This is a plus for the reader because it gives just one more reason to read the book, follow along in the incredible adventure, and let the imagination come alive instead of sitting mindlessly watching television. This book is a hit in our house!

The heroine Sarah is a spunky, lively and creative writer and princess wannabe. When her favorite author comes to town to judge the writing contest that she's been forbidden to enter, the adventures start to roll. Filled with funny, quirky, yet believable characters, surprising plot twists, lively dialogue, and let's not forget a spicy kiss or two, this book is just plain fun to read.

Fast-moving and well-written, with lots of fun jokes, a believable heroine to sympathize with, well-drawn characters, a good moral, and, of course, heart-stopping kissing. Perfect for learning how to be more independent, how to be responsible, what to do when people kiss you, and generally how to be 12 or so and not explode. More books from Susan Amesse eagerly awaited!

Los Angeles, like New York, is a city that people either love or hate, but nobody thinks it's boring. That is, unless your only exposure to it is reading the traditional travel guide with its listing of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Disneyland and Universal Studios.

Stephen Brook breaks out of that mold. An English writer who came to L.A. in the early Nineties, he proceeded to criss-cross the city, visiting virtually every major neighborhood, from Pasadena to Watts, from Beverly Hills to Long Beach. Not only did he bring an Englishman's fresh eye to the city, but he somehow arranged introductions to some of the most interesting people in it. In reading the book, one gathers that his open mind resulted in their opening their minds and hearts to him. He is simply a nice person, which comes through in his writing.

The writing is succinct. Each of the 32 chapters consists of approximately 10 to 12 pages discussing a different aspect of the city (His breakfast with Carver Mead at Caltech, in Chapter 20 is alone worth the price of the book).

Brook's forte is architecture. Los Angeles arguably has the finest architecture in America, and Brook provides addresses, the name of the architect, and a brief description of each building, yet somehow avoids sounding like a cataloguer. He is also strong in describing the various museums throughout the city, many of which I was not aware of.

At the same time, he is equally at home discussing the political, educational and gang situation in the city.

All in all, a fine book.

Outsiders perceive L.A. as a hellhole of endless sprawl, smog, and high crime, emblematic of the U.S. at its worst. Stephen Brook moved to L.A. long enough to really get to know the city and all of its complexity. He's a Brit, but never falls into the trap of arrogant Yank-bashing, as so many British travel writers do when they visit the U.S. It's refreshing that Brook is a writer who actually likes L.A., so we experience the city through the eyes of a British newcomer who enjoys being there and accents the positive where he can. However, Brook is not blind to the negative elements; he gives ample coverage to the gang problem, the abuses by LAPD, and Black-Korean friction. He discusses the perceived failure of the public school system, but also interviews teachers who have dedicated their careers to providing a quality education. Brook takes us through the various suburban communities, explaining how each has its own unique character. At the end of the book, I felt I understood the fabric of the city in a way no tourist does, and now I can't wait to re-visit L.A.

Very entertaining - also good reference as to whether or not certain names are deceased or not plus dates. As a lover of old black and white movies, I can satisfy my curiousity as to status of actors.

This book really surprised me. A browse through Remains to be Seen in California amounts to much more than picking over the bones of dead actors and historical figures. Nothing so dry as that. On the contrary, there's a great deal of fresh meat to the short biographical write-ups here, and it's well seasoned with humor, irony and opinionated insight. I'd initially thought to give the book away as a gift to my mother in law, but got carried away digging through the various entries, laughing at some, shaking my head in disagreement at others, that I decided to keep it for myself. Not only is the copy now too dog-eared to serve as a gift, but it's too darn funny for my straight-laced in-law. My one complaint is that mixed in with profiles on Jimi Hendrix, Jack London, John Muir, Rodney Dangerfield, etc., are an awful lot of "bios" on really old people that I've never heard of. But of course, my ignorance may be someone else's erudition. Although I'm not one of those people who's dying to visit cemeteries, the authors not only make it look easy, by giving lots of specifics on hours, addresses, tours, etc., but they even manage to make it look fun by listing lunch places near the tour spots. I never thought I'd dig a cemetery book, but this one really rattled my bones.

Sir Randolph Fiennes has been called the 'world's greatest living explorer': he's spent thirty years circumnavigating the globe, broken many exploration records, and has had both high and low moments in the process, so it's little surprise BEYOND THE LIMITS provides such a fascinating memoir and examination of these points. Ranulph Fiennes's lifetime of adventures is documented in a vivid series of lessons: add color photos and you have an outstanding achievement.

Ranulph Fiennes is a remarkable person who set out to achieve what most considered impossible. From circumnavigating the Earth's polar axis to discovering a lost ancient city in Arabia to gut-wrenching unsupported polar treks, Fiennes shares the ups and downs of a life lived in full.

Here are the finely-distilled lessons learned of an intrepid spirit, told through captivating stories of adventure and magnificent photographs.

This book provides hard-earned, sage advice for people from all walks of life. Recommended.

This book is the first in the series "Ecology and Law in Modern Society," aimed at exploring the feasibility of placing ecosystem ecology at the center of environmental policy and law. The 11 highly readable chapters establish the foundation for the series. In the opening chapter the authors provide an overview of the two disciplines, introducing the basic concepts of each. The following eight chapters chronicle the history of the movement of ecological concepts into environmental law from
1970 through the 1990s, illustrated by selected case histories of episodic interactions of environmental law and ecology. Chapter 10 discusses international law regimes. The concluding chapter covers an inventory of the problems posed by the relationship and an agenda for future research. Some 47 tables succinctly summarize concepts and examples of interactive cases. Eight figures depict basic cycles and models useful for readers unfamiliar with them. Each chapter ends with copious, informative notes and citations to references given in the bibliography. This important book should be required reading and study for ecologists, environmental scientists, lawyers, and policy makers. Absolutely essential for law and ecology libraries.

Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. --
R. L. Smith, West Virginia University

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ. THIS BOOK IS TEN TIMES BETTER THEN HARRY POTTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As reading specialist at elementary schools, I search out books which will entice young children to become lifelong book lovers. A read-aloud book, Ben Brooks' Lemonade Parade is one read-aloud which fits the bill. A familiar situation (a not-so-busy lemonade stand), just enough repetition to give the text rhythm, a light-hearted mystery (Just why do all those customers wear the same familiar red sneakers?), and delightful drawings by Bill Slavin have captured the hearts of lots of first and second graders in my corner of the world

A basic plot with three kids selling lemonade on a hot day. Dad spots the kids at work and decides to help out. One of the clever kids is Wynona, a sly character with mother wit. The many disguises Dad wears appeal to the kid in adults and recreate the emotions most of us have felt on the hot summer day someone decided to run a lemonade stand. The emphasis on Dad's involvement is a bonus. One Dad I know actually played out the book when his own kids were flogging their liquid cooler. Slavin's illustrations are marvelous. Brooks has gone on to do sketch comedy (Joe's Convenience) in a big way. He wrote this when he was 19 and had stopped out of college