V Books

I've been a fan of Mike Dugan's comedy for a long, long time. This is not ONE of the funniest books on relationships, it's THE funniest book on relationships I've ever read. Loaded with spot-on observations and male humility (yes, there is such a thing) it is also hilarious.

This is an interesting book- often humorous, sometimes serious, and always thought provoking. For any woman who needs a little bit more insight into what drives men. Also for those few men who are sincere about confronting the results of their behavior. This is a rare treasure of a book.

My sense reading this was that the author believed that all men tend to devalue women and treat them badly. I know that not to be the case. The early pages were humorous & fun, but the last half of the book seemed pretty apologetic to me.

This tale is short, sweet, funny, humble, and serious all at the same time. I think men and women equally should read it. The other positive reviews were on target and there's not much more I can add. Enjoy!

"My brother would get grounded for being 10 minutes late for dinner. By the time they got around to me, it was pretty much 'No heroin in the living room.'" (3)
-Mike Dugan, joking about being the youngest child in a big family and his parent's possible leniency.

By the time I read the sentences above, I had laughed six times already and I was only on page 3. To say this book is some of the best good natured humor anyone can read is an understatement. Mike Dugan delivers his mature and personal message about becoming the "right kind of man" with what is often knee-slapping, belly-rolling, and even telephone-your friends-and-pretend-you-made-it-up-yourself, comedy. (If you're not good at telling jokes I suggest you use text messaging and simply copy these jokes word for word from this book.)

In, "Men Fake Foreplay...And Other Lies That Are True", Mike Dugan shares his introspective quest to discover the dynamics involved between men and women in order to develop his own personal philosophy. He begins this quest by asking two simple questions: "What makes a man?" and "What do women want?" He addresses these two insightful questions throughout the book with chapters and headings such as: Communication; Domestic Priorities; Blame; Commitment; Boxing, Bubble Baths, and Big Boys Crying; to name a few.

Mike Dugan is no relationship expert and doesn't claim to be. If anything, he comes across in this book as an average guy with normal thoughts, healthy desires, and realistic expectations and emotions. He is the first to point out his own mistakes, misconceptions, and misadventures in the area of relationships and his interactions with the opposite sex. These misunderstandings have caused him much pain and regret in his own life, and he often displays a more serious side to these issues when they subsequently inflict pain upon the women he's been associated with:

"...if you choose to avoid your own ignorance when it reveals itself to you, it becomes arrogance..." (65)

These are immensely profound words from someone who comes across as an "average guy", but that's why this book is so enjoyable and worthy of reading. From a man's point of view, it reads as though two guys are sitting around having a deep and meaningful conversation about women. Men won't talk without laughing, and they will surely lose interest if it is nothing more than the typical feel-good group therapy session. Mike Dugan is a man's man, and he has done an expert job (as a non-expert) in this book of sharing his experiences and personal philosophy. Men seem to shy away from experts, and men don't even read the books by experts; but men talk to each other and laugh, and realistically most men will listen to reason. Sometimes, men just need to hear the right words from someone like Mike Dugan, who has obviously put a great deal of thought and good intention behind becoming the "right kind of man".

According to Mike Dugan, "the right kind of man" will honestly listen to a woman and nurture her. He will develop his character and create an environment of trust with the actions he takes and the words he uses. "Men Fake Foreplay...And Other Lies That Are True" really isn't about sex, it's about what a man does when he's NOT having sex. With this great little book, Mike Dugan points MANkind to the next level of social evolution. Every man should own a copy of this book, and then he should pass it along to his sons.

Brian Douthit
Author Of Perfectly Said: when words become art

This is a book that I didn't want to put down! This is a heart warming, inspiring story of having the courage to be who you are no matter what. I fell in love with Miriam and her spirit has given me the courage to dare to be me!

I'm so delighted this novel is now in paperback! It's the magical story of a medium who can tell everyone's future but her own. Smart, sassy and beautifully written!

Miriam Kaminsky is a normal suburban mother and wife living on Long Island in a beautiful but old house. She's troubled by money problems, a husband who works too hard trying to breath life into his pharmacy, and a typical teen-age daughter who cringes with embarrassment at everything Miriam does. But added to everything else in Miriam's life is the very simple fact that she's a psychic with a strong gift for seeing people's auras and health problems and their future. Oh, and she sees ghosts --usually helpful spirits connected to the living.

Her childhood and her family are very important to Miriam, which is why her dearly loved grandmother Bubbie is still around her as is her father, both of whom have passed away. The hardest part of her childhood was her mother, who would order Miriam not to use her gifts. It all came from love and fear for her daughter, but Miriam still feels the shame her mother pressed on her whenever she was truly herself, using her psychic gifts to help others. More than anything Miriam would love for her mother, who also passed away, to visit her like the spirits of others do. But since, in her life her mother completely disapproved of the psychic talent, Miriam doesn't see her changing her mind in the afterlife.

But the here and now also carries hardships. Rory, her loving husband is losing money in his business. Though Miriam can't put her finger on why she doesn't trust the help in the pharmacy, Rory won't listen. He doesn't want her using her psychic gifts tell him what to do with his business. He insists that Miriam's psychic phone line is her business to do with as she sees fit, and the pharmacy is his. At the same time their daughter Cara, after trying for years to become a psychic, like her mother, finally realized that she doesn't have the gift. The disappointment has crushed her and the teenager changed overnight into a whirlwind of student perfection, studying and joining school activities, all of her thoughts concentrating on going to Cornell University. Using her gifts for her loved ones doesn't work at any rate. Miriam is too close, her heart is too wrapped up in their happiness, and that affects her ability to help them.

When out of the blue a press agent calls Miriam's psychic help line and insists that she could make Miriam a national name and wealthy, Miriam refuses. Her Bubbie always warned her not to use her gifts to make money, as if she were in a carnival. But Bubbie never had as many living expenses as Miriam does. When the house's roof springs leaks, then Rory's business begins to flounder as a new thirty thousand dollar computer system is needed to fill out the health care forms that make up his business and she knows that Cara needs money for her future, Miriam agrees to do a television appearance.

Will she lose her gift if she tries to make big bucks? Will her Bubbie and her father refuse to visit her anymore? Will Cara react even worse than she has at having a mother who now publicly dances to the beat of her own drum?

This book manages to make Miriam into the lady next door. She's not a madwoman or a charlatan, just a regular person with everyday problems but who happens to have an extra talent packed inside her likable person. I found everything about Miriam and her life believable. The author Rochelle Shapiro also managed to explain to me how a woman with her own mind and self-respect could permit her teenage daughter to treat her like dreck without losing her temper. Now that's an amazing talent!

At times funny and tearfilled, Miriam the Medium is an extremely great read. I enjoyed it thoroughly and look forward to seeing more of Miriam in the future.

This is a quick and enjoyable read which touches on the trials of bringing up an adolescent daughter in a typical suburban community when you are not the most traditional parent imaginable.
Miriam's extraordinary psychic abilities exacerbate the normal prickly tensions between mother and daughter and this novel explores both the tensions and abilities with humor and style.
The ins and outs of the plot keep you turning the pages - financial troubles, boyfriend troubles, and the business of being a telephone psychic were all of great interest to this reader. I recommend it very highly to mothers and daughters.

I really enjoyed this book. It sat on my shelf for two weeks before I got a chance to pick it up and read it and when I opened to page 1, I didnt want to put it down.

The author makes it very easy for the reader to like Miriam and sympathize with her. She must have a teenage daughter in real ife because the parts of the novel where Miriams daughter are involved are spot on.

I eagerly await Rochelle Shapiros next book!

Having spent 10 years of my life as a career adviser, I can more than appreciate the smart tips and comprehensive information contained in Monster Careers. Well written, laid out in a way that makes it a breeze to explore and digest, filled with effective career strategies and techniques, this book will lead you to your next dream job and help you stay there. Jeff Taylor and Doug Hardy have put together a new classic in the job-hunt genre. Get one for your soon-to-enter-the-workforce son and/or daughter... and pick up a copy for yourself as well.

I've used this book extensively in the last 3 months. It helped me construct a great resume, coached me on interview techniques and etiquette, advised me about salary negotiations, and just centered me in general when I was feeling adrift after a recent, unexpected layoff. I gave this book to a friend in the same situation and she has also found it incredibly helpful. I got my first offer yesterday and I know that I will keep this book as a resource long after I land my next job!

I found "How to Land the Job of Your Life" to be the most valuable resource I used in my job search. I also felt that it would be invaluable for my college aged children to keep as they begin their future job searches. The book kept me motivated during the difficult times and helped to keep me focused. I think everyone should read this book and make it part of their permanent library!

Few people know more about finding the right job than Jeff Taylor, founder of Monster, the world's leading career Web site. Taylor leaves no contact unused in this comprehensive guide, discussing every step of finding a new job, from writing a winning resume to avoiding mistakes during salary negotiations to building a productive network. In addition to his experience, he presents advice from recruiters, human resource professionals and Monster employees. So if he directs you to Monster's Web site a little too insistently, you can forgive him, because his book is so well written, easy to read and full of good advice. It includes a good resource list of books, Web sites and services, as well as useful exercises. We recommend this 400-page monster especially to first-time job seekers, although experienced employees seeking more money, prestige or career satisfaction may also find its tips helpful.

I highly recommend this book for anyone in a job search. The exercises in part 2 "Preparing Your Search" have given me so much more confidence by helping me understand my own accommplishments and value to employers.

It's a little annoying that the book refers to worksheets online that don't appear to actually be available.

This book is great- between the detailed illustrations, the extensive lists of muscle functions and the breakdown of why the muscle does what it does, it really helped me to learn. The only think I didn't love is the order the muscles are listed in, in my brain they would have been logically grouped together a bit differently, especially when it comes to trunk muscles.

I bought this book after attending one of Dr. Muscolino's cadaver lab workshops. I highly recommend this book and, if you are thinking about a cadaver workshop, I recommend that as well. Dr. Muscolino is very knowledgeable, caring and sensitive.

It is nice to find a book dedicated to the muscular system. Although the graphics are simple (not photographic), the information and the lay out are great for learning and understanding of the muscles. The best pages in this book are those that lay out the muscular attachments of a region of the body.

Highly recommended for anyone that works in any field where the muscles are the focus!

Dr. Joseph E. Muscolino truly compiled the ultimate Musculoskeletal system anatomy textbook.

I esspicially found the Latin and Greek derivation section's to be very helpful in understanding the origins of the muscle names.

This author's logic and approach is unmatched.

Kudos to Dr. Joseph E. Muscolino!!!

This book is comprehensive in nature, scrupulous in detail, and the product of an obvious passion for the wealth of information to be found in our musculoskeletal system. As a massage therapist and perpetual student of the human body, I am glad to add this book to my library. It is well organized which makes it easy to reference whether I know the muscle, the bony landmark, or the general anatomical area of the body. Having so much information about an individual muscle in one book makes it easy to enhance or refresh my existing knowledge. I have opened the book just to refresh my knowledge of what an individual muscle looks like and found the illustrations clear. I have used the cross reference to find other muscles that might be adding to an existing muscular problem in a client. I have refreshed my awareness of an individual muscle by using the easy to follow palpation information. And I have added to my knowledge of individual muscle actions when helping a client isolate a muscle's tightness. Every time I have opened the book I have not been overwhelmed by what I do not know but rather come away feeling smarter.

Amazing new story that made me fall in love with Weetzie all over again. A quick and satisfying read, full of color and fantasy.
LOVE IT!!!!!

It looked like chick lit, so I picked it up last week. I have been drawn to lighter fare since losing Nat. My mind is wrapped around so many other things, that it is harder to attach myself emotionally to a story. However, this book wasn't exactly chick lit. I had never read the Weetzie Bat books, or anything else by this author for that matter, so I went in blind. It was a fabulous trip. Block's story winds through reality but includes magic at every turn. This book has a captured mermaid, changlings, floating brides, magic spider weavings... It was like a grown up Oz. And, from me, that is high praise. I was so sad to read the last page and close the book. I picked up the first of the Weetzie Bat books from the library and am reading that now. I will let you know what I think when I have finished reading.

I fell in love with weetzie bat about 8 years ago. I was searching for books and i ran across this one and bought it instantly. I was taken back to weetzie's beautiful world but this time filled with mermaids and drag queens. I finished it in a few days and needless to say I totally fell in love with it. I'd always felt a little incomplete at the end of dangerous angels and this finished it perfectly.

all in all...it is amazing. I HIGHLY recommend it.

Weetzie Bat is an adult now--just turned forty, with her children in college, and her relationship with her secret agent lover man Max falling apart, Weetzie packs a suitcase, leaves her cottage, and moves to a hotel--an unusual hotel, where she meets a blue receptionist, a room-service faun, and an invisible cleaning lady, among all of the equally unusual guests. She plans to stay there until she rediscovers kisses: the passion, goodness, and love in her life. Continuing the wonderful YA series of Weetzie Bat books in a new adult text, Block writes in her usual style, creating a magical, authentic, and truly approachable, enjoyable text. The setting is fantastic, the writing is at the same time straightforward and quirky, and the characters are vivid and their lessons learned are meaningful. This is a fitting sequel to the Weetzie Bat series but aptly modified for a more mature audience, and a wonderful, meaningful, and ultimately uplifting read. I highly recommend it.

The Weetzie Bat books are young adult classics--magical, enchanting, and in many ways uniquely realistic. To my great pleasure, I found Necklace of Kisses to be an apt adult continuation of the series--it preserves both the magic and the enchanting atmosphere of the YA books, and (while many of the issues in the YA books are mature), deals with more adult topics in a similarly honest, respectful fashion. The original Weetzie Bat series may be YA fiction, but it is a worthwhile read for all age groups; I'm pleased that this novel continues the series in a way that is authentic to the original texts yet still modified to speak and appeal to a more mature audience. In fewer words: if you loved the original Weetzie Bat books and are interested in reading a more mature version, then you will enjoy Necklace of Kisses.

Beyond anything, Block's writing style is magical, transporting both characters and readers to a world that is increasingly delightful and vivid. Don't let the unusual cast of characters fool you: the story is actually all the more realistic and meaningful for for its fantastic elements. Block's visual writing style and fantastic setting and characters make the experiences and messages in the book magical (and so more engrossing and more enjoyable to read) and also more vivid (and so stronger and more meaningful). The otherworldliness gives Weetzie's journey an ethereal, universal sense without ever becoming obvious or preachy. This is a delightful book and easy to get lost in, and Weetzie's journey and the conclusions she comes to are satisfying and meaningful. It is an intensely original coming-of-middle-age novel, and Block storytelling and writing is exceptional.

There are a few minor issues with this book (I found some of the characters unappealing, some of the plot points are predictable, not all of the life lessons are meaningful to all readers), but those issues are minor in comparison to the greatness of the overall text. It may not be perfect, but Necklace of Kisses is wonderful. It's a respectful and authentic continuation of the series, it is well adapted to an increasingly mature audience, and Block's writing style excels here, engrossing the reader in Weetzie's magical world and bringing her new knowledge to life. I was delighted by this book, truly glad to have picked it up, and I highly recommend it. It is wonderful.

A friend gave me a copy of "Weetzie Bat" in the late 90's and told me I must read it because I was very much Weetzie. Unsure what she meant, I took the book and devoured it in one brief sitting. Since then, I've read all the books in the "Dangerous Angels" series, as well as other non-Weetzie titles, and go back to them often. Block's word pictures and fantasy scapes thrill me to no end. Her imagery moves me.

I recently purchased "Necklace of Kisses" and was totally blown away by this book. After recently turning 40 myself, I found I could relate to Weetzie's search for self at the beginning of midlife. This book reinforced the truth that life doesn't end at 40...in some ways, it begins anew.

To anyone contemplating this book (especially those hip New Wave/punk grrls from the 80's who are turning 40 soon) please take a chance on it. It will show you that you can still be you as you are, no matter what age you may be.

Here's to the Weetzie in us all!

Have you ever read a book and then felt regret when you finish it? This is the book that evokes that response in me. I laughed, I cried and I never wanted it to end! Simply....a great book!

Don't we all wish we could go home again and make it work? Beautiful book and one of my all time favorites.

This is my first book by Barbara Samuels, but I do plan on reading more of her work. The book tells a heart warming tale about love, loss and family that touched my emotions on more than one level. The charactars were brought to life on the pages and the town of Pueblo, with all its traditions, a place you would want to plan to visit and stay awhile. I would highly recommend it!

Now that I've read and thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful book, I find myself missing these characters - that's how real they are. It's a familiar story told with truth, wisdom, humor and insight. As a mother, and author of a book for mothers, NEW PSALMS FOR NEW MOMS: A KEEPSAKE JOURNAL, I especially appreciated the touching moments between Jewel and her son, Shane. My sons are also boy-men, and I know the tug at your heart that happens daily as you watch them preparing to take flight. This is a book I'll recommend to friends. Like Jewel's pies, it's a tasty treat!

I loved this book. It's not often a novel makes me cry, with this one I couldn' t stop crying, but laughing too.

Jewel the heroine has such a wry way of looking at the world that we can identify with her easily, yet she is full of love and does her best to cope like everyone else with some horrendous circumstances. Hers is compelling first-person narrative and the talented author gives her a very strong voice, part comedian part earth goddess, all woman.

Every character is a little jewel that sparkles, and the hunky heartthrob Malachi is even to melt your bones. The love secnes are wonderful--only wish there had been more!!

A beautifully written book-I couldn't put it down, raced to the end and then re-read the whole thing to really savor it. I will definitely be reading more by this fabulous author.

Thank you Dr. Melina for this incredibly user-friendly book. I have always been interested in nutrition, eating healthy and maintaining a healthy weight, and I became very frustrated when, after having my kids, I couldn't get rid of that last 5-7 pounds despite perfectly adhering to Weight Watchers and calorie counting etc.

I finally met with a nutritionist who helped me create a lifelong way of eating that didn't involve counting calories or obsessing about points etc. I was able to lose the last 5 pounds and have kept it off. After seeing Dr. Melina on local TV, I was curious and bought her book. I was so pleased to find that her guidelines and principles are very similar to those that my nutritionist laid out to me. She presents these very sound principles in such an easy-to-follow way that I have been recommending her book to friends and patients in my practice.

Her principles will be helpful to anyone, whether you feel like you know everything about nutrition (I thought I did) or whether you're starting from scratch and want to start leading a healthier lifestyle. Dr. Melina is a physician who has dedicated her practice to nutrition, which engenders so much confidence in me as I read through her book. And this is also a way of eating that you will take with you for the rest of your life.

I have watched Dr. Jampolis on Tv for years and was excited when she wrote this book. It is very informative and helped me greatly!

This book/diet is wonderful and very easy to incorporate into your busy schedule. Not to mention is small enough to carry around on vacations and to the office. Highly recommend it to anyone!!

I found this book to be very useful. It was a pleasure to read, fun actually. It helped me to finally take off the last few pounds I was trying to lose. I am a physician and found Dr. Jampolis's approach so easy, that I have recommended it to many of my patients. I like the simple recipes. Her tips on traveling and eating out are great. The information about cholesterol and diet is teriffic, too. Keep at it Dr. Jampolis.

For any one who has fought or is fighting the battle of the bulge ,The No Time to Lose Diet by Dr Jampolis is a MUST READ. It emphasizes permanent life style changes addressing behavior, exercise and nutrition. It gives realistic and attainable ways for not only losing weight but most importantly maintaining weight loss. It's doable for those who have hectic lives, are always on the go,juggling work, family and community responsibilities and still want to feel and look good. It deals with daily challenges faced in the real world and has strategies to over come them that can be incorporated into your life to achieve a healthier better you. I highly recommend it.

I think that "With the Old Breed" by E.B. Sledge, is the best WWII book ever written. In my opinion, "One Square Mile of Hell" is second best. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in Military History.

This is a gripping account of the pure hell of war, the title says it all.
The author has taken you into the bloody slogging match that was Tarawa, you live through the expierence, imagine being a Marine on a landing craft heading for a beach that you can see, is probably going cause your death, and there isnt a thing you can do about it.
Very scary and realistic

Based upon the The Ratings and Reviews of this book, I figured I would broaden my knowledge of the WW2 battles most Americans dont often hear of. Battle of the Bulge, Normandy, Midway We all hear about and rightfully so.
Tho I am ashamed being an American I never heard of the Island of Tarawa and its contibution to victory against Japan in the Pacific.

I must say It was a great read, altho horrific in how Men lost and how they sacrificed there lives for their country.
The books details on the Marines approach to the island could make you break out in a sweat. It was so intense and brutal.

I am sad to say I dont think we will ever see this kind of courage and dedication in the USA again.
The Men of WW2 were one of a kind and to this I am grateful. For those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so others could appreciate freedom.
To all those who served as well, Thank You!!
Freedom isn't Free!
READ this BOOK America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really enjoyed this book. It was like the Marine move I never saw but that needed to be made. If your a person who likes to read about the Marines in the Pacific, this book is a must!

Peruse all the technical manuals, strategic narratives and overall battle histories you'd like. Then a book like "One Square Mile of Hell" comes along and takes you to the inner hearts and minds of those who participated in the fullest measure of devotion to their country and it's people, and the cause of Freedom. Measures of devotion that took them to places like Tarawa, where dreams of the future can be so quickly and terribly whisked away. To know the childhoods, lives and aspirations of the men who waded ashore applies an emotional attachment you cannot deny upon learning their fates or futures. Their story, so tenderly and eloquently put by John Wukovits, will move you to tears.

Itam was on time and is recommendend for all women to read even if you don't FEEL like your in a pit.

Initially, I bought the Praying for Purpose book to infuse my daily quiet time (plus it was on sale). I was enjoying Praying for Purpose so much that I decided to take the advice at the front of the book and read Pathway to Purpose as the foundational book. Significant time elapsed between my buying the book and actually reading it--mainly because the longer chapters were daunting when combined with my hectic schedule. Nevertheless, I knew I need to really delve into it because I am at a watershed period in my life. Well, once I began reading I was drawn into the contents. I was particularly struck by the author's relation of her own story. She writes with strategic candor--sharing vignettes of her life with precise relativity to the principle being shared. I was not able to fully relate to the first 2 chapters but I appreciated their advance wisdom. I am still working my way through both books because ever so often I stumble on something that takes me a few days to "soak in." Nevertheless, I've enjoyed Pathway to Purpose so much, I bought copies for each of my Women's Ministry Coucil members. I would totally recommend it!!!!!

I found this easy to listen to but not of much help to any pathway to purpose for me. It was interesting and did get some ideas from listening to it.

This book is excellent for doing exactly what the title predicts. It has certainly been a pathway to God's purpose for my life. I am slowly discovering the passions that God has placed in my heart and connecting them with, what else but, His purpose for my life.
Carole

This book is one of the most significant books I've read in awhile in regard to helping me honestly evaluated God's place in my life and my own motivations for serving Him and relating to others. This book makes me feel like I want to sit with the author and discuss at length the concepts she brings forth in her book. Ms Brazelton must be an awesome mentor.

I agree with the critics who claim this book . . . "a delightful, rollicking history, a fun read and well supported by research". Greenfield's account is entertaining as well as informative, not a book to put you to sleep as some histories are. I read it as a library book and decided it is a 'must have' in my library. Although her style is professional, the read is easy - no big words to look up in order to understand the full meaning. Her account of world events is so insightful and complete, you come away with more than an appreciation of how color has changed the world An understanding of world history in general is gained, both political and economical. I especially loved the personal stories that added so much interest for me.

I live in Oaxaca, Mexico and even many people here are not aware of the impact of cochineal on the Spanish Empire and Europe. This book is fascinating! And well written.

This was one of two books a friend traveled across the country to share with me. I am so glad she did. I would never have picked up this book on my own. I have a terrible time finding non-fiction works that are interesting - unless they are recommended. I look at the table of books and decide something looks good. Then when I get it home, I have a hard time getting to my 100 page allowed stopping point.

Greenfield does a wonderful job of describing the importance of the color red throughout history and the different compounds used to create it. With a focus on the cochineal originating in Mexico, this book covers the fortunes of Spain and the industry itself. Weaving the domestication of cochineal with the efforts of other countries to destroy Spain's monopoly, the book moves quickly. there were very few sections of the book where I was willing to put it down. Yes, I could stop at the chapters, but I only once put it down while in the middle of a chapter.

I highly recommend this book - and if I didn't have to send it back to its owner, I would keep it in the library. I will be recommending it to my mother for her book club. With their focus on women authors and a mix of fiction and non-fiction, this book will give them much to discuss.

Some of the best stories are the histories of everyday objects that few ever consider. This book is an example of such a story. It traces the history of the color red; specifically, it examines the sources of red dye sought by humans over the past 700 years. Something as simple as a color can actually be quite difficult to obtain without the marvels of modern technology. This book starts of at the Venetian textile guilds of the late Middle Ages and shows the reader the state of the world's textile industry. Of all the colors, bright red is hardest to produce on clothing, and individuals and governments devote a lot of time and effort to procure new sources. Many are found, but the best one is carminic acid found in the insect cochineal, native to the Americas, and cultivated in Mexico specifically to obtain the color red. Starting with the Spanish conquest, red dye from Mexico is exported to the rest of the world, and four centuries of trade wars and political intrigue follow. The book lays all this out in chronological order, citing places, people, governments and institutions. But eventually, man's technology caught up with nature's bounty, and by 1900, synthetic red dyes destroy the cochineal cultivation industry. All the ensuing technical advances, scientific discoveries, and commercial contests are detailed clearly by the author. The book ends with a survey of the dye industry at the end of the 20th century, and a review of how red dye has influenced, and been influenced by fashion tastes throughout the centuries. This book touches many countries, and ties in history, economics, fashion, politics and science into a wonderful tale of man's obsession for a specific color.

This book is one of the very best I have seen in a long time. The author has taken great care to present historically correct and detailed information about the long history of cochineal farming, and sale of this commodity (dried beetles that can be processed to create a brilliant hue of red).
She reveals all of the intrigue of Spain's royalty, as they sought to keep this much prized product of New Spain exclusively for the Spanish empire. Even Perkin's discovery of the color "mauve" is discussed. This book will find broad interest among scholars and the general public. It is certainly a book worth owning, if you love the history of textiles.

Patricia Cummings