Brown Books

I've read, re-read and look forward to re-reading this book again just to savor the author's choice of words that he uses to weaves a tapestry of textures for the senses as he and his partner restore their "least worst" land to health over 20 years. He describes their joy and surprise of constantly making new discoveries, "it's like receiving lovely gratuitous gifts that you didn't even know you wanted." They "engaged in the contemplative exercise of watching" the effects of the wind blowing the grass, the texture of seasonal changes, marvelous sunsets, and wildlife, sometimes at arms reach. His descriptions bring back memories of enjoying my favorite, frequently, visited forests in a similar manner, wondering what new gift will be presented to me as I quietly listen to the sounds, feel the wind in my hair, and watch the shadows play with the sunbeams.

reader

Somehow it was fitting that I found this book sitting patiently among a thousand others in a second hand shop. The photo on the back, of an interracial gay couple, and that on the front, of the swampy sandhills of Mississippi, brought up visions of racism and homophobia in the rural deep South. After a few chapters, though, these stereotyped expectations gave way to a story unlike any other I've read. Don Schueler's unique and relentless focus on nature, his deft writing that switches from humor to suspense to tragedy in the turn of a page, the enduring scope of his chronicle - 27 years that witnessed 80 acres of logged countryside once again blooming and burning, building and blowing away - begets a book of life that speaks for the individual, the region, the planet.

From human neighbors Roddy Ray, Lurlee, and Hovit, to pet dogs Sammie and Schaeffer, to Fafnir the alligator, Griswold the baby owl, gopher tortoises, wood storks, cottonmouths, black widows and countless species of flowers and trees, A Handmade Wilderness leads the reader through land hunting and house building, tree planting and grave digging, from Hurricane Camille to the inauguration of the Willie Farrell Brown Nature Preserve, all the while spinning a tale of the seldom seen and sometimes forgotten fauna, flora, and men of The South.

Why this book doesn't have a bigger following is beyond me. For anyone who's ever dreamed of owning a place in the country, this is a delightful, funny, informative and beautifully written book. Refreshingly, there's not a self-indulgent sentence in the entire text. Schueler delves into all facets of the city/suburban person's adjustment to country life. And because the memoir takes place over the course of 25 years, you get to see the impressive results of he and his partner's devotion to their land. I highly recommend it.

Very few books about nature can compete with time actually spent in nature. But this comes very close. Don Shuler tells the story of his 20+ year careful and loving relationship with an abused and exhausted piece of land in the Mississippi sand hills. His simple storytelling style makes vivid the plants, animals, birds and human beings that he finds in this special place. These encouters are so carefully described that I felt that I was experiencing them along with him. And I wanted very much to read all that he might have edited out of this volume. The book is sweet, poignant, and filled with an animist's sense of humility and wonder. I am very surprised it is not more widely known and up there with the A Sand County Almanac.

For anyone searching for an entertaining book concerning nature with an amusing cast of characters both human and animal, A Handmade Wilderness fits the bill perfectly. Schueler is a fantastic story teller who is simultaneously funny and sincere about his mission - creating his own private utopia (on limited funds).

I used to be sore and tired after a round of golf, but after reading this book and trying several of the techniques my energy level has increased and my body seems much more energized!

I always thought that massaging myself was pointless, that it was something better left to an expert. Little did I know that in many cases I was the best person for the job. Tight calves and shoulders were some of my biggest problem areas but now I have the tools to take care of them myself. What a great gift!

Great book. It has helped a lot with my chronic neck pain.
I would say this is one of the only books that offers solutions and explains clearly how to relieve the aching without being too medical-techy.

I have three kids under 9 and can't get a spare minute to think about getting a massage! This book is just wonderful -- I can de-stress anywhere from the front seat of my minivan to the sidelines of a baseball game. It is amazing how a little pressure on the right spot can really give you back your energy!

Sitting cramped in airline seats for hours is not good. Using the techniques in this book is! For someone who travels a lot, this is a great book!

We absolutely love this book! The pictures are awesome! At our house, we can't get enough Dan Zanes! This book is a fun sing a long the whole family participates in...even Dad!

Once again, Dan Zanes is a big hit with the whole family! My nephew who is 2 LOVES Dan and do we. The illustrations are great too. We also recommend the "Catch That Train" CD very highly. So nice to have music that all ages can enjoy

I am an Education major and this is one of the books our instructor shared with us. I thought it was a fantastic book, great illustrations and a cute song.

As a new parent, I was convinced that I was going to have to either listen to really bad baby music or start our daughter on a menu of carefully selected music from my own cd collection. Then we received a tip about Dan Zanes. We ordered 'Hello, Hello,' and now we can't get enough of him. Our daughter loves waking up to 'Hello, Hello' (we play it every morning and dance around her bedroom), and we read the book and look at Donald Saff's amazing illistrations at reading time. It's progressive, multicultural, educational, and just plain fun! It's hard to charachterize his folk/americana/international/historic/fun style. Now 'Hello, Hello' is our standard new baby gift. We've given 5 as presents and our freinds thank us every time for turning them on to Dan Zanes. We now own all of his family cds and have orders in for his new book and dvd. Next to diapers, this may be the best baby item to buy!

I actually ordered this by accident! I thought I was getting the Hello Hello CD and got this instead.

At first I was disappointed, but then after I read the story to my daughter (2 yrs old) for the first time I discovered the CD in the back! So, of course, I played the CD and re-read the story as the song played. She and I enjoyed it a great deal! And the song goes slowly enough for you to have time to lift the flap on each page (sort of like those extended perfume ad pages in magazines) and sing Hello Hello Hello.

The extra extra bonus is that there are a couple of ther songs on the CD with the words and music right in the back of the book!

If your child enjoys music and reading (like mine), then this is a great combination! And I feel it has staying power and will be a favorite for years to come. Because the writing is simple enough for beginning readers to practice and the rhythm inviting enough for them to *want* to read it. Especially with the song playing in the background.

All in all, a great buy!

Who would have thought that a book about hogs could be both as funny and informative as "The Hog Book" by William Hedgepeth. I laughed, I cried, I had swine visions.

Mr. Hedgepeth has managed to relate to the reader what, I believe every farm boy has secretly know for years, that hogs are magical, mystical beings worthy of our deepest respect and admiration. If you don't believe me just read the section on hog poetry or gather around the old piano and launch into a chorus of the Hog Song.

Mr. Hedgepeth has a gift for weaving fact and fantasy into a fabric that is as hilarious as it is enlightening. The book is beautifully illustrated by John Findley (is this the same John Findley who wrote and illustrated "Tex-Arcana" for Heavy Metal Magazine?) with photos by world famous photographer Al Clayton. I highly recommend it and it would make a good gift for all the farm boys or girls for that matter on you Christmas list.

I just couldn't put it down except when I was laughing to hard.

Many years ago, I was alone, floating on the sea of human companionship like a wretched speck of oil atop a great sea of cold, emotionless water. I drifted listlessly through the wasted years of my youth, never knowing the joy of friendship. Finally, I became a counselor at a summer camp in Vermont, where I came across Hedgepeth's great tome. I spent hours gazing at the image on the cover, of a beutiful, nude blonde woman riding bareback on a great specimen of swine. I taught the Hog Song to all of my campers and recited hog poetry in the forests under the moon. And not to go into specifics, but I learned quite a bit from the section about hog breeding. Quite a bit. I would just like to thank you, William Hegdepeth, for writing this remarkable book, and, if you are out there somewhere, please contact me so we can breed hogs--together.

Sincerely,

J--- W--- (Floating Feather)

William Hedgepeth's The Hog Book keeps you alert. Reading along, you pause and ask yourself, "Wait, was that list of animals written in verse?" It was. You read more and wonder, "Did he really interview that farmer or did he make it up?" It doesn't matter. Hedgepeth's talent is to compel the reader then punctuate his yarn with a delightfully palatable, "Gotcha!" Just when you've fallen under the Hedgepeth spell of silliness, he tugs at your heart with an in-your-face look at the slaughter of these animals he's just caused you to fall in love with. Why should you read a book about hogs? Because Hedgepeth is a gifted writer, and it's a pleasure to read his words. Because Hedgepeth's instruction about hogs goes down as if with sugar. Because Hedgepeth borrowed from Cinderella and Pygmalion to reveal beauty in creatures frequently ridiculed and dismissed. Perhaps each of us sees a little of our insecure selves in Hedgepeth's recognition of the value and beauty of the oft-maligned hog.

William Hedgepeth has written one of the most unique books imaginable on the life of hogs. This dry and witty look at porcines is no quick compendium on the subject. It is a thorough and informative account of everything you could want to know about these creatures. And it's funny.

An early Ally McBeal Show featured a case where Michael, a pig, gave up his life in order to donate his liver (or some organ) to the crass & orca fat Mrs. Goldstein. Instead of thanking the Doctor for life, she sued because she felt it beneath her to share an organ with a pig. Had Goldstein read The Hog Book, she might have requested Michael's heart as well. This animal's existential ability to accept itself and experience joy in living is a tall order that most humans cannot fill.

I see a sequel to this book - The Tao of Being a Hog, Living in the Now. In any case, I wish this author would turn his journalist's eye and writer's wit onto another subject quick. He's a pleasure to read.

In college days, a friend gave me a copy of this book for my birthday. In it was a picture of a hog, its face painted like a clown, a ruffled clown collar and a conical clown hat. I stared at that picture off and on for quite awhile vowing, I want to train "circus pigs" for a career. Eventually I went on to train hogs for movies, television and live performances. Keep this book away from your children and young impressionable college students unless you want to condemn them to a life of loving hogs ... and people too, because after reading this holy scripture, you will realize, we too are hog.

clear, concise...a pleasure. made my name change easy. thanks nolo!

The 7th edition of this book was my main reference as I successfully completed a legal name change. It did a good job helping me through the process without the assistance of a lawyer ("In Pro Per"). I would also suggest finding a good paralegal to help in typing up the forms.

This book packs a wallup!
It was complete, concise, and easy to follow.
I definately could not of made the change without the help of this book.
I do not recommend trying to change your name without this - it walks you through from A to Z, not missing a beat.

Excellent book.

Well written, containing all the neccessary information and forms, this book is an invaluable resource for those individuals who are interested in legally changing their name in California.

Pro's and con's are examined about Court Ordered Name Changes and Common Usage methodologies. Well thought out and written in a very readable and comprehensive style...this book answers almost any question you may have regarding the implications of changing you name.

Highly recommended....by far, the best book I have seen on the market around this issue.

I'm really enamored of Nolo Press's self-help legal guides. This one saved me $400 in legal fees. Just follow the steps outlined and it will guide you safely through even a court hearing, if you want to be able to change your passport. If, in the process, you decide you want to change any deeds your old name appears on, you can use their quite inexpensive guide to updating Deeds in California. As for typing up the forms -- neat printing does the job, too.

My 5 yr old loves to "read" this book with me and my 2 yr old loves to listen. The colored stars make my children laugh! It has wonderful repitition so it is easy for a beginning reader to excel.

My students in Japan, ages 1 and 2 years old, LOVE this book. I was really surprised. I thought the paper-cut-out artwork wouldn't grab them, but it did. The vocabulary was basic, but things they knew and could point to in the pictures. I turned this into a dialogue book because I found the sentences weren't enough. But even a month after we finished our work on this book, 2 of my students were still carying this in their book bags every day because they loved this book so much!

From the author of Goodnight Moon. Provides emerging readers with immediate success.

My 4 year old son LOVES this book! It's great for bedtime. He laughs when we see the animals with their sunglasses on watching the stars. Definitely recommend this book!

This is a wonderful book for children just learning how to read. The illustrations glow and pop off the page! A wonderful book for all!

Like most people my age, I've seen old movies depicting the Gold Rush, but they were nothing compared to this delightful account of the author's experiences in Dawson and Whitehorse, in the Yukon. From page one to the end, I FELT the cold of the North, learned about the vegetation and moreso, shared in the life of the pioneers AFTER the Gold Rush. Such hearty men and women gave of themselves in the search for gold, few, very feew becoming rich. Yet, they all seem to have enrichened my life thanks to their determination and stamina despite all odds. To read of the social differences that the citizens upheld in Dawson gives one a thoughtful look at the upper classes, who brought their prejudices with them to Dawson. Yet, with time, as the gold became more and more rare, the population dwindled and with it the many differences, which had segretated the classes. Abandoned homes, run-down shacks, empty stores finally gave way to social values, which brought the remaining residents together. As the author mentions, one could not walk down the street of Dawson without saying "hello" to everyone since the life of one touched the life of the others. With only 800 persons left in town, all knew one another and social standing gave way to familial attitudes. It was no longer necessary to give the telephone operator a number, only the name of the person to whom one wanted to speak need be mentioned and the phone rang at the other end. Tragedy and hardships took hold of the life of everyone, but friendship and helpfulness prevailed as their numbers dwindled. A beautiful read, which has opened my mind and heart to these pioneers, who are our ancestors.

I read this book during a travel threw canada in 1985 especially Atlin in the yukon. I like all biographics books which are the witnness of the story of the world.

This is the true story of a woman who moved to the Yukon in the days of the Gold Rush - she went to be a schoolteacher for a couple of years, married a prospector, and wound up raising a family in one of the most spectacular - and harshest - places and times in North America. Laura Berton writes with humor and insight, and has produced a most entertaining book which is interesting as biography, as history, and as just a fun read! Laura also produced one of the most prolific authors in Canada today - Pierre Berton, author of FLAMES ACROSS THE BORDER and THE DIONNE YEARS. This is a book that deserves to be more widely read!

Ms. Berton's account of life in Dawson from 1907 to the 1920's is too late to tell the story of the Klondike gold rush. Instead it tells of life in a small northern community that has seen its hey-day come and go, describing it's traditions and lifestyle in such detail you soon feel as though you've lived there too.

The descriptive passages are excellent and the book contains several colorful tales of individual struggles, her own and others'. I was a bit put off by the enormous number of names of people she met in the Yukon but didn't find I needed to remember them all to enjoy the book. If you have read the history of Dawson during the gold rush in other books, this is a great afterword that describes many notable figures' lives following the rush, answering several 'whatever happened to so-and-so' questions.

I remember our elementary school library encouraging children to read it, but given its richness of detail and adult perspective it's anything but a kid's book. Despite her matter-of-fact writing style, Ms. Berton's story is emotionally engaging and a great portrait of life in northern Canada.

If you ever plan to come up to Dawson City, Yukon you will want to read this book. Mrs. Berton gives an insight to the Goldrush town of Dawson City. I can say that you will still find the house she lived in and some of the houses that she describes in her book. As a resident of Dawson City it is nice to have read a book that is truly about what life was and is in Dawson City.

What a powerful story of faith and courage! I felt that I was right there walking through Feliberto Pereira's moving experience. This is an inspiring read; it was evident that this man of great faith was chosen for this divine purpose. He leaves you believing that with faith and hope all things are possible.

-Verron Thornton
Author of "Get up girl", you've been sitting too long!

This is an inspiring and fabulous book. Everyone should read it. It will change your life.

Few books have made such an impression, touching the very core of the heart as this one. Much like "The Hiding Place" or "God's Smuggler" this book allows you to enter into the experiences of someone who has decided to not let anything steal the hope within.

Whether you are feeling the panic of the nine year old boy running down the dusty path for home or the crushing weight of despair a young husband and father carried as he endured the labor camps... carried, but never overcome by, as he trusted in the hope found in his faith in God.

This book is a man's journey of faith, a history lesson, and a revelation of finding the true meaning of liberty. The liberty to really be a human, being what God meant for us to be -- Aware that we really are brothers and sisters and called to care for one another, regardless.

Every once in a great while, I read a book that not only inspires me, but actually ingrains itself within my very being. I Was A Stranger: Hope for a Hidden World is the amazing true story of Feliberto Pereira, a Cuban minister who spent four years in Fidel Castro's brutal prison camps because he refused to denounce his faith. Pereira eventually gained his freedom and came to the United States, where he has devoted the past 40 some odd years to helping refugees persecuted by oppressive governments from across the globe. A modern day Good Samaritan, he provides clothing, shelter, and perhaps most importantly, security to people of all races and religions who have been forced to flee their homelands out of fear for their lives. Ultimately, Pereira's story demonstrates how faith and hope have the power to guide us through the most harrowing ordeals and defeat the most evil tyrannies. And in doing so, he teaches us how to befriend the stranger within each of us; he teaches us what it means to be human.

I Was A Stranger is one of the greatest books I have read in my lifetime. This book shares a similar thread with The Diary of Anne Frank in that it tells a harrowing story of avoiding an oppressive government while still caring compassionately for those facing the threat of persecution and death on a daily basis. I imagine if Anne Frank had survived the Holocaust, she would have turned out to become a person similar to whom Feliberto Pereira is today--a compassionate man whose liberation from the torture camps of Castro left him extremely grateful and prepared to help others who seek asylum in this country from political and religious oppression. This well-written story placed me in the situations that Feliberto endured, and it seemed like I was living in Cuba right with him, sharing the emotions of happiness and despair--the emotional highs and the depressing lows. This is one of the most inspiring stories ever of a person who has been given the American gift of freedom and then sharing and seeking it for others--the "stranger" he once was. This is a must read for all those seeking an inspiring story of faith and change in a world of perverted values. I Was A Stranger - Hope for a Hidden World

Alton Brown's books are so easy to follow and really help your understand your foods and utensils in the kitchen.

I love these books! I am a kitchen gear fanatic and of course an AB fan, so I had to get Gear For Your Kitchen. He isn't doing shameless plugs for certain brands, he is simply telling you what gear he personally likes, and why. I got some very useful tips for buying and using gear from this book. And I'm Just Here for More Food 2.0 is a great resource for learning various cooking techniques- as you've read by now in the other reviews for this book, it isn't a recipe book (although it does have many recipes), it is more of a How-To guide, which is what anyone who watches his show no doubt wants. If you are a Good East fan, you know what AB is like and this book is just like him. 'Nuff said.

They're both great books. They're typical Alton Brown. The book on Gear for your kitchen is a great book for the cooking beginner.

One of the best combinations of cookbook and food science textbook out there. A great read with good illustrations that really explains the science of food.

Geek that he is, I thought it would be appropriate to title this review "AB roxxors." I own these books but I did not purchase them in this bundle.

...More Food is AB's baking book. If you've never baked before, this is a very important manual. It's a manual, not a cookbook. Between its covers you will find everything a beginning baker needs to know to produce great results every time. It also contains the whats and whys of baking chemistry so even advanced bakers will find use for this great tome.

AB's Gear for the Kitchen. I may have reviewed this before but I'll say it again. If you love kitchen gizmos, you need this book. Keep this reference handy and consult it often. You'll never buy a bogus/useless gadget ever again. He encourages you NOT to buy gadgets for gadgetry's sake, but if you MUST buy, he explains to look for and what works.

Would you like to know how life would be with dinosaurs? Well, if you do, read If Dinosaurs Came to Town, by Dom Mansell. In the book, it talks about 20 dinosaurs and how it would be to live with dinosaurs. This book has awesome drawings! If Dinosaurs Came to Town is a great book!
Student from G.P.

I love reading this book to my children, and have given it as gifts several times. The story is informative and intriguing and puts the awesome power and diversity of dinosaurs in a way even my 4 year old can relate to. The front pages that give parents a "cheat sheet" on how to pronounce the names of the dinosaurs are very helpful.

The book is a scary and tremendous way for kids to learn about dinsoaurs. It tells you about what it would be like if dinosaurs came to your town. What would you do? Try catching them? What you would do is run to your car! Kids who like dinsoaurs would love this book.

My daughter and her girl friend love this book -- it's not a gender specific topic. I also think this book IS full of information -- just the right amount for a young child. It's really well done.

Young boys love to have this book read to them. Visually it is interesting because there is so much to see and find on each page. The story fires the imagination - "what would happen if dinosaurs came to your town?". The writing is fun and exciting for children, and as a parent who has reread this book countless time to my sons, I don't mind rereading it either.