Phillips Books

very good reference !!
really i like it and im using it in my daily work life ! :)

This great atlas is very informative and contains lot of clinical data in addition to the huge amount of figures.

definitely more useful as a reference than a picture only atlas. text gives an adequate introduction, but usually only a superficial examination of the topic to be discussed. definitely overstates the association of alcohol with various dermatologic conditions -- likely due to where the author practices.

this is the grandfather of illustrated dermatology atlas'. This book will be a valued member of your diagnostic tools --good for board review also. Full of color illustrations -- a must for any medical practitioner -- a bit expensive but worth every penny. an accompanying Slide kit is also available.

Beyond The Burning Bus: The Civil Rights Revolution In A Southern Town by Presbyterian minister Phil Noble is the riveting story of Anniston, Alabama, a small industrial city, and how it was desegregated in the 1960s. Though there was violence and hatred opposing the end of the city's post-Civil War Jim Crow laws against the backdrop of one death, several cross burnings, as well as the publicized beatings of two black ministers, the social and political chaos was not as bad as it could have been because both black and white community leaders worked together through a biracial Human Relations Council to help their city get through difficult times. Researched meticulously and narrated from a personal point of view, Beyond The Burning Bus offers a unique, informative, and highly recommended microcosm of the civil rights era and the overall positive changes that took place within this typical and representative community in the American south.

Having been a professor of Race Relations and Minority Peoples at an African-American College during the Civil Rights Movement,
I was thrilled to read Beyond the Burning Bus and to learn how three ministers in Anniston, Alabama--one White and two Blacks--came together after the Bus Burning during the Freedom Rides and the miracles they were able to accomplish. In spite of threats and beatings, they were able to win the cooperation of leaders of both races. Through the first, if not only, mayor appointed Human Relations Council, the city of Anniston was desegregated. This is a heart warming story of the kind of courage and determination to work for better relationships that we still need in our society 40 years later.

I was living in Alabama as a young adult during the times about which Dr. Phil Noble writes. I kept in close touch with the hapenings regarding those events and remember them quite vividly.
Dr. Noble's recount of those events is exceedingly accurate, and he has succeeded so well in causing the reader to feel and experience the tension and fear of those terrible events.
He, also, gives behind the scenes workings of persons of good will who put their lives, and the lives of families, at risk in taking bold steps and actions to prevent a fine Southern community from exploding in what could have become a major racial riot.
I recommend this book for the reading of any age person, but I hope adults will encourage their youth to read this account of an important event in the life of this country.

In "Beyond the Burning Bus", Phil Noble has helped me past the fear of reflection on the violence and inhumanity which we experienced in the Deep South during the 50's and 60's. Told from his vantage point in the city of Anniston, Alabama, Noble helps us enter the delicate process of harmonizing race relations and establishing trust and confidence between white and black. The humanity and compassion with which this chronicle is laid before us is, in itself, inspiring. Not only a great read, this book should attract today's students and all of us who are interested in the transformation of violence into compassion and healing

Such an amazing book!He pierces the heart of his subject matter to whittle it down to it's most important truth. Resonant poems full of history and painful truths. I can't believe I waited so long to find this book.

We were lucky enough to have this amazing poet visit our class today. He happened to go the same school as us, Lakeview Academy in Gainesville. He is an amazing poet and doesn't care about making poetry the traditional way, he writes what he feels. This is evident in how many of his poems do not rhyme, but he feels his words. He is underrated as a writer and I hope soon people will become more affiliated with this wonderful writer.

A stunning book. Our children will be studying Patrick Phillips in some future edition of the Norton Anthology, and footnotes and professors will explain the references to photographs of people lost in the World Trade Center or the loss of farms to make Lake Lanier. But everyone will see for themselves, without need for explanation, what family and place were like at a specific time and that time's place in eternity.

Chattahoochee is an impressive compilation of verse by poetry award winner Patrick Phillips who is currently a Henry Mitchell MacCracken Fellow at New York University. This is poetry that is spare, sophisticated, and above all, memorable. The Flood: Two-thirds of earth, and most of us, is water./Come life, come death's black, fathomless water.//At the mirror I try to picture the soul./I raise my cupped hands, full of water.//And think of my birth: the scalpel, my mother's/skin parting like a sea of red water.//In the dream of the flood I'm always the one/looking back, turning into a pillar of water.//I drag a stick through my reflection: there lies/another, whose name is written in water.

For many of us with Western educated and disciplined minds, Zen is alluring but mysterious. To comprehend Zen requires that the Western mind unlearn much and spend years in dedication to its study and practice. This book is the best I've read at helping to understand how Western minds might benefit from Zen. It is aimed at managers, and all you need to do to appreciate the need for "conscious managers" is read the news about the state of business management. But, not only do we need conscious managers, we need conscious people. The US has never faced the complexities of the current environment. And, all the signs say that life and business are just going to get more complex in the future. Despite all our efforts to return to simplicity, I'm afraid our burden is complexity.

Phillips begins his book with a quote from an overwrought manager, "Wear a lot of hats?" complained the over-tasked manager. "I have to wear a lot of faces. And I hate it. I wish I could be the same person at work, at home, and with friends. I want my life to all of one piece, not a lot of fragments working against each other. Isn't that what integrity means? How can I make choices and decisions without feeling torn."

In eight chapters, the author covers beginnings, practice, opening, support, test, mission, recipe and perspective. Using his expereince in Aikido (5th degree rank and 25 years as an instructor) and his practice of Zen as a layman, Phillips writes an insightful and sometimes moving explanation of what he has gained from his expereince. He also describes accurately some of the problems of being a manager is today's environment and how Zen can help people and organizations.

"My favorite comment of Zen was given to me by my teacher when I asked him, Sensei...what is Zen? After a long pause, eye contact, and a smile he replied, If I say...it is not Zen.

Yes, any time you freeze reality in black and white words, it's no longer Zen. Many fine Zen books have been written before this one. Their pages have inspired readers, wrapped sandwiches, and lined kitty litter boxes. May this book serve you well!

Now here is a more serious way to answer your question. The highway sign pointing to Detroit is not itself Detroit. This book is not Zen, but it is a pointer. Like the highway sign, it might help you slow down, and turn in the direction you already want to go."

So, here's the difficulty I have as a reviewer. This book is not Zen. It's pointing to Zen. Using the author's analogy, I've got to write a review about the directions to a place. I've never taken the journey and I've never experienced the place. Hmm...
I can comment on what's in the book and excerpt some quotes I think might be valuable. The book contains the characteristics of a conscious manager. It also describes the steps along the Zen path of responsible decision making.

The book is loaded with quotes, all insightful and supportive of the ideas in the writing. It is written in a style that makes the concepts accessible to Western managers who think.

The author explains the connection between what is essentially a pacifist approach and it's many militaristic applications:

"Buddha's teaching was in no way war like, and in many ways pacifistic. Yet its connection to martial arts, centuries later, was logical, as its connection to business today. Martial analogies serve the conscious manager well when he* focuses on war's imperative for strategic action, instantaneous response, and dealing with fear and compassion. However, war is destructive and tragic. Business and politics can involve `creative destruction' that sweeps aside the old in favor of the new, but business and politics also construct wonderful new products, organizations and institutions. Analogies that focus only on the destructive aspects of war and management fail. In fact, we know that something is seriously wrong when a company's president (as actually happened in one firm known for indiscriminate downsizing) earns the nickname 'Chainsaw'. "

* The author generally alternates the use of he and she.

At the heart of this approach is the concept of non-attachment. According to the author, we are all already enlightened. But our attachments are what prevent us from recognizing our enlightenment. (He warns about becoming attached to the pursuit of enlightenment.) Before you can get rid of our attachments, we must first become aware of what we are attached to. Then we can begin the work of understanding the attachments and ridding ourselves of them.

"How can a manager become aware of attachments? Through meditation, through mindful practice, through the support of other students of conscious management, through challenges and tests, and through instruction from a qualified, compatible teacher" he writes. This book provides guidance and clues as to how to accomplish this.

What is a conscious manager? Phillips provides these characteristics:

 Attends to detail but looks at context; tries to see the big picture
 Doesn't believe everything he or she is told
 Rejects any labels
 Constantly hones personal skills
 Is committed to lifelong learning - for everyone in the organization
 Exercises respect and compassion, but not indulgence, in all dealings
 Is flexible but not wishy-washy
 Spares no effort to match the right people with the right jobs
 Lets employees put their best foot forward
 Controls the organization loosely
 Gives employees the chance to stretch themselves
 Tries to see the adversary's point of view
 Shows a creative imagination
 Is focused and steadfast in pursuit of a mission
 Uses every tool at his or her command

The ingredients necessary for becoming a conscious manager are:

 Hunger
 An opening experience
 A practice
 Support
 Tests
 A mission

But enough from me describing the directions pointing the way to Zen. Buy the book and read the directions yourself. It's a great read!

Fred Phillips is an educator and executive who has taught Zen martial art for more than 25 years. As head of the management department at Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and technology, he has built the Northwest's most admired management degree program for high technology leaders. He is the author of the textbook Market Oriented Technology Management: Innovating for Profit in Entrepreneurial Times, and Associate Editor of the Journal Technology Forecasting & Social Change. A longtime Texan, Fred now lives in Beaverton, Oregon, with his wife and daughters. He holds fifth-dan rank in akido.

I found Dr. Phillips book to be an intriguing blend of modern concerns of worldly complexities viewed trough the well practiced frame of martial art, modern management techniques and eastern philosophy.
In his book Fred Phillips asks a great deal of deep questions to which he (thoughtfully) also provides answers. Better still, provides approaches and exercises enabling the reader to find
their own answers.

I found myself continually putting down this slim but thought provoking volume to ponder a section, an exercise or an idea, relating these to my business, my art, my practice.

Dr. Phillips addresses concerns such as; How does one manage to find continuity and balance in life while maintaining room for both passion, play, and lifelong continuing education? How one might then bring this balance forward into their daily working life. How do you actively pursue, develop and consistently exercise integrity, wisdom and honor in all the facets and through all the stages of your life? How can you challenge yourself, find the 'on ramp to the path of knowledge and mastery' in our sometimes to soft and comfortable western society?

Fred Phillips takes on such difficult subjects as death with dignity and the ramifications of the WTO riots in Seattle of 2000. The integration of ZEN practice, the principals of ZEN martial art (Aikido) and there applications for the day to day business world.

I especially enjoyed the framework of the book and his steps of the path to responsible management (beginning, practice, experience, support, tests and mission), as well as the
management challenges sections and exercise.

If you are an experienced aikidoist, a seasoned high level manager, have been practicing ZEN meditation for years or are new to all of these subjects I would recommend that you take the time to explore The Conscious Manager: Zen for Decision Makers.

This is not a "fly-by-night, one-size-fits-all" formula book for the current business world nor is it an anachronistic text that will wallow among future challenges. It is a book that has been battle-tested and cross-checked with centuries of Zen philosophy. It embraces a way of life that a person can begin today and can constantly practice during a lifetime.

If you want to become a better manager and still retain better relationships with family and coworkers, and at the same time to sleep better at night, I highly recommend this book.

Fred Phillips, the author, puts it best when he writes "There have been Zen books that told you how to get along with obnoxious co-workers, how to plan your career, and how to maintain your motorcycle. There are Zen books on how to cope with oppressive bosses. But now you are the boss. You make decisions for yourself, your family, your company, your clubs and charities, and on political issues. You want to make these decisions responsibly, with integrity and good humor, and based on a positive and consistent set of values. This book can help you do that." (The Conscious Manager, p.5)

This book is a wonderful tool that provides the reader with valuable techniques to improve your concentration and help you make better decisions. The use of the word "Zen" in book titles today often isn't seriously implied. In this book, Zen is seriously (and easily) applied. You will find the author has skillfully blended the benefits and methods of Zen with today's corporate challenges,international politics, and monetary issues. The book is very organized in chapter and subject material. The concepts and methods are explained in the right amount of detail. Also appreciated is the work the author put into researching supportive reference materials, in case the reader wishes to pursue the topics deeper. The book is definitely not dry and boring. It's fun to read and has plenty of interesting quotes and phrases sprinkled within. Regardless of your present management level this book will change and improve you at work and at home.

This is a well-researched book on a (for the non-Chinese and even for the non-Cantonese) somewhat esoteric and, perhaps, daunting subject, and the author is meticulous in giving details about each kind of vegetable. It is informative and clearly written. She is obviously familiar with the noisy, at times chaotic, but oh-so-fresh "wet" markets and home cooking situations in Hong Kong. She is able to bridge the gap between Cantonese-Chinese and American cultural sensibilities towards food and nutrition, making Chinese thinking on these topics more understable. The drawings are lovingly rendered, enhancing the usefulness and appeal of this book.

This is an easy to read with information and instructions on use, appearance, when to plant, and how to plant Chinese greens, beans, melons, cabbages, herbs, peas, and even water plants.

If you're interested in growing Chinese vegetables, this is a great one for the library. Also includes English and Chinese names, planting table, and instructions for container gardening.

This is a good book--nice color illustrations of Chinese vegetables, descriptions of both common and uncommon varieties, Chinese characters and latin names added. Simple recipes I found to be not that useful, having many cookbooks, but novice Chinese cooks may find them appealing.

This is an easy to read with information and instructions on use, appearance, when to plant, and how to plant Chinese greens, beans, melons, cabbages, herbs, peas, and even water plants.

If you're interested in growing Chinese vegetables, this is a great one for the library. Also includes English and Chinese names, planting table, and instructions for container gardening.

Cooking with Fire and Smoke is the absolute best cookbook for grilling basics. In particular the pages which give times for every cut of beef, pork, chicken, lamb, etc. is invaluable. I refer to it every time I cook something on the grill.

I grill nine months a year on my 22 inch charcoal Weber Grill. My failures have been few and far between soley because of this book. Cooking with Fire and Smoke is an indispensible resource for the serious "griller". It has a thorough introduction for the novice on types of woods, grills, and smokers. It is well organized with chapters on poultry, meats, fish, vegetables, etc... For speedy reference, Cooking with Fire and Smoke concludes with a chapter on rubs and a chapter on marinades. All of which have appeared in the preceding text. If you like to grill the purchase of this definitive cookbook is a must!

Very well written,,Describes with great detail, the process of how to smoke and cure varoius foods .It is indepth, with very easy to understand , down to earth language.Also includes many great recipies..Recommended highly for the novice person, seeking information about smoking foods,

This book has every conceivable food combination for grilling
food outdoors. It lists accessories, the use of aluminum to
protect the grill, cleaning and general maintenance.
In addition, the author describes marinating with herbs, chopped veggies, virtually every burger variety and recipes of every
kind. For instance, the classic rib roast is described as is the
grilled chicken with herbal enhancements. There is an exhaustive
glossary to familiarize yourself with the outdoors lingo. Buy this book if you know very little about outdoor grilling. The recipes alone are worth the cost of the
work.

Phillips and Benner have edited nine narratives written on "redesigning the structures and processes of our public caregiving institutions in order to better facilitate practices of caring," (vii) an excellent resource for those in the helping professions and for those who care. The narratives are actual circumstances with real people who practice within the caring professions. The authors invite the reader to examine the narratives in terms of the practices of care illustrated by them (vii). Because the narratives are written by practitioners and theorists who are experts in their field (10), each has spoken out against the objectification and commodification of persons and practices that mask contemporary helping professions (11).
These are examples of the experts. Robert Bellah, a sociologist, argues for a rich, interpersonal world as he pleads for Americans to listen and see, by adopting an ethic of responsibility, of moral discourse, instead of control and commodification (13).
Patricia Benner, a professor of physiological nursing, advocates that, "effective caregiving requires more than intent or sentiment. It requires skill and knowledge and being in relation with others in ways that foster mutuality, empowerment, and growth" (45).
As a pastor and theology professor, Eugene H. Peterson describes the difference between genuine caring and control veiled as caring. Dr. Peterson believes that we are meant to open out toward our neighbors and open upward towards God, and that we can be whole and healthy humans only to the degree that we do this (69).
Pediatrician E. Dawn Swaby-Ellis states that "whatever the competing factions my challenge is the same: to be effective, efficient, and empathic" (84). Furthermore, she believes that caring for patients must come out of true concern and love for them (90). Her personal caring relationship with her patients was deeply validated by her exposure to the biopsychosocial model proposes by George Engel and expanded by Paul Tournie to include the spiritual dimension. Although, Dr. Swaby-Ellis praises many of her teachers, she declares the Holy Spirit to be her greatest teacher. "It is one thing to be a Christian who wishes to live a life of obedience to God by showing love to mankind. It is another thing to integrate our faith into the fabric of our being so that our actions mirror our spiritual belief" (93).
To Anna Richert, an educator, all teaching practice must help kids to grow through caring. Although there are increasing challenges and dangers educators deal with daily as they attempt to care by teaching in urban chaos, still "children need care and they also need to learn to care for one another. Ultimately they need to learn to care for themselves" (109). I agree with Richert that fundamental to teaching children to care is the fact that children "need to feel and be safe" which includes "needing to trust others, and having a sense that others believe in them" (109).

Insightful, humane, challenging, reflective, and practical are words that describe, The Crisis of Care: Affirming and Restoring Caring Practices in the Helping Professions, edited by Susan Phillips and Patricia Benner. The nine chapters followed the format of a story narrative followed by a pertinent and complimentary discourse. Phillips wrote: "Teaching, nursing, medicine, psychotherapy, and pastoral ministry are written of from the inside in terms of excellent practice" (vii). Inevitably, "care is relational, creating more than we expect and at other times showing us the limits of `helping'" (10).
Phillips' book is a positive example of how ritual and relationship can fuse to embrace the unique personhood of students, patients, clients, and parishioners; thereby, humanizing what has been viewed as merely objective clinical processes and procedures. The distinguished practitioners and scholars who contributed stories and essays are to be commended for their efforts in providing authentic care themselves and in sharing their insights.
The stories are powerful. A Holocaust descendant's anxiety is relieved because the psychotherapist heard with an inner ear, the patient's real and heretofore unexpressed need. Attention to the not said and the unseen on the part of the caregiver is of terrific value when providing care. An abortion case is reviewed with some of the multiplicity of implications that are involved. "Sammy," a six years old Amish boy, kicked by a mule, is restored to health. The preparation of a simple meal and the opportunity to learn the history of an African-American woman's family (Ambrosia Jones) helped pave a road to recovery. Death by choice in a chapter of the same name is provocative. Blake's story is about the unattractive child. It presents the compassionate value of a mother's love, and reveals a doctor's openness to in-seeing and in-hearing, and thereby some profound learning occurs. Mrs. Clark's paralysis and the visiting male nurse's ritual and relationship pastoral care story are inspiring.
The insights are powerful. Benner wrote: "If we were able to replace our disease care system with caring practices that foster illness prevention and health promotion so that clinical wisdom could be fostered from caregivers and receivers alike, we would alter dramatically how we are spending our health care dollar" (59). Eugene Peterson described the pastor's task: "Pastors identify God in the action, God in the language" (74). Peterson's challenge was to learn when to care, and not to care. The Atlanta, Georgia pediatrician, Dr. E. Dawn Swaby-Ellis learned: "My greatest teacher in learning how to care has been the Holy Spirit" (93). Clinical Psychologist Mima Baird echoed the sentiment by contributing: "To care is to listen; to hear is to care" (96). Teacher Anna Richert noted that it lies within the ability to make authentic connections that the capacity for care is enhanced, and by implication, the significant educable moment can be realized. Professor Joel Green draws attention in his summary statement: "Just as we know the character of God only in the concreteness of our lives, especially within the community of God's people, so we recognize the threads and hues of human reflection of God's character only in the fabric of social life in the everyday world" (165).
Quickly paced, tightly written, and imaginative stories, and longer, but nevertheless interesting reflections and observations, make The Crisis of Care an excellent addition to every caregivers memory storehouse and personal library.

The Crisis of Care is an insightful examination of the state of care in the helping professions. The editors argue: "... that examining our exemplary caring relationships can prompt us to redesign the structures and processes of our public caregiving institutions in order to better facilitate practices of caring" (1994:vii). Utilizing essays from practioners and scholars, the editors have collected narratives and scholarly discourses that address the practice of care in various helping fields and from the perspective of various academic disciplines. While the reader may not fully agree with positions taken by various writers concerning such issues as euthanasia, abortion, and the philosophic basis of ethics, the writing on the whole is good. The narratives frequently touch a sentimental chord. One good example is W. Thomas Boyce's "Beyond the Clinical Gaze" (1994:144-148). Eugene H. Peterson's essay "Teach us to Care and not to Care" is brilliant (1994:66-79). Peterson challenges the reader to not defile the holy. Joel B. Green's essay "Caring as Gift and Goal: Biblical and Theological Reflections" was also outstanding (1994:149-167). Green covered much biblical and theological ground clearly and with keen insight. Robert N. Bellah's "Understanding Caring in Contemporary America" was awesomely insightful (1994:21-35). He explores the themes of placing caring over exploitation and placing attention over distraction.
While, to me, some of the narratives and essays were not as excellent as those I mentioned, on the whole the book is worth reading. I recommend it.

A review by Eric Newell
April 10, 2002
The Crisis of Care is moving away from the technological, managerial aspect of caring. The need is to restore the concern and compassion for the need of the care receiver. Persons care for the wrong reasons. If it is not the aspect of filling the prescribed attention to a patient, very often there is the one who is interested to help or assist because they feel a sense of moral commitment or the sense that it will make them feel good. The editors quote Wuthnow's survey report that 42% of Americans were interested giving themselves for the benefit of others. The percentage dropped to 15% when asked if they were willing to sacrifice to help another person." (1994, p.23)
"From the time we were children, we were told by our parents and our grammar school teachers to "Pay Attention!" Even though we have grown inured to this injunction and shrug it off, there are few things in life more important." (1994, p. 28) Restoring those concerns for the individual, the context of their situation and what it is that needs to be protected for the care receiver is important.
Steven Covey in his writing cautioned against responding to the "Tyranny of the Urgent". In "The Crisis of Care," the chapter, "Teach Us to Care and Not to Care," says the caregiver who offers standardized responses to the needs or responds to that which gives only immediate relief, is not giving the full extent of care. There needs to be the caregiver who is will not only to pray for the receiver only, as an immediate answer to the problem, but who is willing to take the time to teach the receiver how to pray. This awareness of how to pray helps the person begin to understand that value can be found even in the experience of their suffering.
Creating a context of care, listening and reducing isolation are all important in care giving. It is not enough to know the facts about a person or even the facts about their situation. The concern is that one knows the issues and reasons, which surround those facts. This is important whether it involves the student in the school or the patient wrestling with the quality of life. "From a theological standpoint, any notions of caring we might have grow out of our divine vocation, to reflect in our lives together in the world the character of God, manifest in his covenant love, (the compassionate behavior of God)."
Phillips and Benner blend the use of narrative, dialogue and instruction to emphasize the strengths and weaknesses in present day care giving. The reoccurring issues of finding the context, the willingness to listen and the autonomy of the care receiver emphasize the point of the writing that care giving needs to move beyond the mechanical and technological response.

This is the story of Thomas Wingfold, Curate, who has settled into his first parish. He comes to realize he has chosen the ministry merely as a profession and honestly doesn't know what he believes.

It was very very good and made me think about Jesus and God's love for us. It is a very honest book and I cried several times as I read it. It has a great theme of forgiveness and mercy and a honest search for truth.

This is my absolute favorite of MacDonald's work. If you are looking for a place to start - this is it. This book addresses many of the questions and issues raised by Christians and non-Christians living today. Questions of God, truth, belief and existence. MacDonald draws out these questions and gives answers in the rich and multi-layered narrative style he is well known for. An absolute must read!

MacDonald is real. He understands people, their trains of thought, their failings, their desires. Through his characters, MacDonald provokes deep thinking and self-examination subtley and effectively. What makes him a good writer is that he isn't forming a plot so that he can preach a sermon or say all the things he wants to say. The story is purposeful and engaging and the dialogue is rarely tedious. I highly reccomend this book along with the rest of the series. The book will do more than keep you AWAKE...

This book is a well written exploration of the guilt we all carry around with us and how we find the strength to face it. A surprising twist to more modern ideas of how we deal with guilt. Definitely worth owning.

Book is well done - Beautiful photography ! Recommended to anyone that likes great photographs.

Some of the finest modern photography from Japan has been produced by Daido Moriyama. Defying any categories (including the "modern" one I gave him above, Moriyama stretches the boundaries of photography and peers into the dark and blurry places that scare us. The book's comments on each photo are extremely worthwhile also, providing an insight into Daido's work that isn't found elsewhere.

I've seen several books and articles on Japanese photography that seem to feature bad cameras, low resolution, muddy printing/reproduction. This is one of them. However, the pictures are disturbing, affecting. Some don't work for me.

Does it help to say, I lost a copy of this in a fire, and am buying it back?

Or that I recommend it highly to anybody who thinks they need better equipment to take good photographs.

As someone who saw Moriyama's fantastic show at the SF MOMA I had to buy this book. Great gritty black and white photos examining post WWII Japanese Culture. Includes a fairly extensive intro detailing his influences and his career.

The Date Night Cookbook is a compilation of stunning photos of recipes that are easy to understand. I'm not the least bit intimated in trying these recipes because they seem uncomplicated. Beautiful Meredith from The Bachelorette has transformed herself into a Culinary Artiste.

This is a wonderful cookbook -- and it's not just for date night! Great, easy-to-prepare recipes with beautiful photography. The book has a similar style to that of my favorite cookbook author, Ina Garten ... very enjoyable.

very nice photos of recipes, will make you want to try them.
also interesting update on Meredith.the recipes are clear. This is a quality book.

I have been looking for just this type of book to help me cook for my wife. She has loved every meal I have tried so far. Meredith's recipes are delicious and easy to follow. I highly recommend this book.