Stuart Books

What is acting out? Is an mental illness

Sounds like a bunch of 'Good Guys' are out there looking out for the rest of us who are just trying to get throught our days without much trouble from the 'Bad Guys'. Just reading what someone could do (and in some stories, has done) to the 'Deserving Mark'. It might just make the rest of your week go by better than you thought it would, knowing someone 'might' be having a worse day than you ...

I found this book to be my constant reference.
Like Tonny's narative style and the part on NIG Priors!
Contains valuable contributions by the author
hard to find elsewhere.

Highly recommended!

Suart Cloete started off in West Africa and travelled down to South Africa covering many of the countries in between in the late 1950's in the twlight of the colonial period. The book's essentially a chapter by chapter look at the countries he visited, the state of their economies, the education system, infrastructure, resources and standard of living, but written as a travelogue rather than a textbook. At the time he wrote, Cloete was full of hope for the african continent, a hope that shines through in the book when he talks about the excellent infrastructure and governance that was in place at the end of the colonial era and the potential for africa to develop (the "african giant" of the title).

Interestingly, at the time Cloete wrote, many african countries GDP's were greater than those of the SE Asian countries who were in the same "twilight of colonialism" period. A comparision Cloete makes. Most notable to me in reading this book 45 years after it was written were his descriptions of Nigeria and the Belgian Congo, two countries which were left with outstanding infrastructure and incredibly rich resources. Both have been abject failures and the contrast between their portrayl in the book and their current situation is more than saddening, it's tragic. If these countries couldn't make it, what hope is there for the rest of africa?

This book with it's bright hopes for africa's future leads you to think about what might have been, together with the opportunities and the wealth that was squandered (and is still being squandered) by the leaders of these and many other african countries.

Ethiopia has one of the most unique and fascinating cultural histories in the world. Due to the isolation stemming from its high mountains and plateaus as well as by the advancing Moslem armies from 500 to 1500 AD, Ethiopia might be termed the Tibet of Africa. However in this case it is Christianity rather than Buddhism which became the binding force of its people. As a result, its art has a pronounced individuality in treating Christian themes and icons. But they possess an unworldly and overwhelming impact in their beauty and artistic integrity. The many color photos show the church painting, bronzework and book illustrations from 1200 to 1800 so the reader gets a vivid conception of the progression of style across the centuries. An essential book!

This is a great book that I am surprised has not received more attention. John Stuart Clark not only describes his adventures (and misadventures) bicycling across the United States in the foot steps of the 49ers, but he also reveals and comments on America today. As a document of contemporary America without too much politics, this is a great commentary on the status of the American society and landscape. I loved this book. It is dense, but really worth reading. You can really feel his despair in the Utah desert, and his happiness over a cold beer or a day without wind in his face. Just read it.

It's remarkable and a little frightening to think about the small things that influence us and sometimes change our lives. I read this book at a public library when I was maybe twelve years old. Make that fifty years ago.

I was enthralled by the colorful images of South Africa and Rhodesia that Cloete evoked. Remember, I was only a child and I suspect this book would have anywhere like the same impact on me today. Nevertheless...as the twig grows... I became fascinated by Southern Africa and, as soon as I had enough money, went there and have been there many, many more times. I went to Rhodesia during their bush war and could see the looming catastrophe. I spent time in South Africa and experienced the foolishness that was apartheid. I purchased a portion of a South African game conservancy and, a couple of years ago, became a part-time resident.

All this--for good and bad--can be laid at Mr. Cloete's feet.

Ron Braithwaite, author of Mexican Conquest novels, SKULL RACK and HUMMINGBIRD GOD

Aksum: An African Civilization of Late Antiquity ranks as one of the best publications i've ever read. It's up there with "Dandelion Wine" by Ray Bradberry, and "Jenny Jameson sings the blues" by Jenna herself. Its probably better than the bible

Alphabet of Ocean Animals is more than just an ABC book; it also features a delightful read-aloud rhyme and amazing facts about sea creatures, such as how dolphins breathe and the true nature of coral reefs. An accompanying audio CD enhances this excellent and educational book ideal for young people ages 4 to 8. Highly recommended, especially for budding marine lovers!

James Flexner first wrote this book (since revised) in 1939, when he says that it was agreed that the United States had produced no worthy art, certainly not back in the late 18th and early 19th century when the four artists discussed here were painting, i.e., Benjamin West, John Singleton Copley, Charles Willson Peale and Gilbert Stuart. All of the artists were initially self-taught, or trained by artists inferior to themselves, but did later get European training. Nonetheless, Flexner maintains that at their best, they retained uniquely American characteristics, in particular an sense of realism in an era when idealization was much praised. They spent most of their time doing portraits, although some of them hated it, because Americans had no interest in landscapes, or the history paintings that were then consider particularly high-brow art.

The book has been revised before this edition was published, and some color plates were added. The plates are often rather muddy (perhaps this is because I have the book club edition.) This was later reissued in the 1990s, so perhaps the illustrations have been upgraded.

Flexner is an agreeably genial guide. Perhaps because he was initially defending works that were considered worthless when he began to write, although they were often highly regarded in their own time, he warns the reader against assuming that current taste in art is "correct." He points out the historical changes in taste, and sometimes admits to finding some works not to his own taste, but he isn't oppressively didactic. In recounting the lives of the painters, he sometimes points out obvious errors, but instead of using them to accuse the autobiographer/biographer of being a pathological liar, as many biographers do, he is willing to attribute them to honest lapses of memory if possible.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book.