White Books

This is the autobiography of Japan's greatest ace pilot to survive WWII. Saburo Sakai became a hero in his homeland and his account of his place in the Pacific War is even-handed and illuminating. In the early days of the war, victory seems to come relatively easy to him and the other pilots in his fighter group due to their superior training and the excellence of the Mitsubishi Zero fighter. As the war wears on, however, and the United States becomes more fully engaged on its Western front, the tide turns and the situation becomes increasingly desperate for Sakai and his compatriots, until the inevitable crushing defeat. Sakai, along with his co-authors Martin Caidin and Fred Saito, presents exciting accounts of air battles and Saito's harrowing experience piloting his aircraft back to base after sustaining injuries that should have killed him. As good as this stuff is, I was glad that the home front wasn't neglected in his narrative. In addition to being a great air warrior, he also lived a wonderful love story with his future wife.

This is the auto biography of one of the greatest Japanese airplane aces, Saburo Sakai. The story is really well written, on the ground style, and especially gives you the perspective of the war seen from "the other side". We have been educated to read History from the winner perspective, and in this view all the Japanese are horrible monsters without any humanity... this beautiful book will change your mind and teach you that war is the most horrible things in this world, that human beings suffer and feel the same feelings, and that there are no "right" wars. Wars is ALWAYS bad...

Samurai! documents the wartime exploits of Saburo Sakai, the greatest Japanese fighter pilot to survive World War 11, in which he was credited with downing 64 enemy aircraft. Sakai, who died in September 2000 of a heart attack became a legend in his own lifetime. This book explains why.
Samurai! takes us from early victories over the Chinese airforce to the later dogfights with the Dutch, the Australians and, finally, the unstoppable Americans. Sakai, in describing his journey from a rookie pilot to the final surrender, also chronicles the rise and fall of the Japanese Imperial Naval Air Force as seen from one of the most spectacular cogs in its vast apparatus.
Saka, who was never decorated for his actions, was a truly amazing fighter who was held in adulation by his mechanics and wingmen. Indeed, of all Japan's aces, Saburo Sakai was the only one who never lost a wingman in combat. This is an astounding record for a man who engaged in over two hundred aerial melees. But then again, Saburo Sakai's story is an astounding one.
His retreat from Guadalcanal is evidence enough of that. Having suffered paralyzing wounds in his left leg and left arm and having being permanently blinded in his left eye and temporarily blinded in his right eye, with jagged pieces of metal in his back and chest and with the heavy fragments of two 5-caliber machinegun bullets imbedded in his skull, he managed to fly his crippled Zero all the way back to New Guinea. That is the stuff of Hollywood legends.
So too is his dogfight against 15 Hellcats over Iwo Jima. Although he only had sight in one eye, Sakai managed to out manouver the Hellcat fighters and land safely back on the besieged island. His escape from Iwo Jima is also the stuff of Hollywood legends.
Hollywood bases its stories on legendary warriors. And Sakai and his comrades quickly became legends as their honed skills and Mitsubishi Zeros allowed them to cut a swathe through their Chinese, Dutch and Australian enemies. Sakai's accounts of those earlier battles are like reading th accounts of Cochise, Crazy Horse or Geronimo. Sakai and the other Japanese warriors of the air went out and did what they felt they had to do. Their Zeros were as precious to them as the finest steeds were to the warriors of old. They were the cream of the crop.
Unfortunately for them, their numbers were whittled down as the war dragged on. Midway accounted for over 300 of Japan's best pilots.The Americans, meanwhile, came relentlessly at them with their Wildcat and Hellcat fighters, which were purposely designed to outpace the Zero. Time and again, Sakai stresses that it was only the Americans' lack of combat experience that saved him.
They didn't save the others. As the war dragged on, the standard of the average Japanese pilot plummeted.
This book is not a glorification If this book glorifies anything, it is the futility and blaspehemy of war. Sakai describes how business went on as usuall in China even in the middle of combat zones. He describes watching Australian pilots being eaten by sharks. His account of how his superior skills saved him at Iwo Jima reflect the skills he noted in the Dutch and Chinese pilots of the earlier chapters. The Japanese, who had been the confident hunters I nthe earlier chapters, were now the prey. Usually, they were sitting ducks, powerless to do anything but volunteer for a kamikaze mission or to train the young novices who made the bult of the kamikazes.
Hiroyoshi Nishizawa, another top air ace who was later shot out of the air in an unarmed transport plane, was one of these. Sakai describes him as bing "unpredictable in the air, a genius, a poet who seemed to make his fighter respond obediently to his gentle, sure touch at the controls." Sakai constantly uses similar imagery to decribe his love for the Zero. This book has been reissued on countless occasions. Read it and find out why.

Sakai gives us insight into the progression of the war from the Japanese perspective, revealing the mindsets of those on the other side, without meandering into the chronological army list minutiae that many others succumb to. Action and emotion, quandaries of conscience and honour are always the subjects discussed.

Very good book. Highly recommended - very pleasureable read.

Also of increased value to those of us who play WWII combat flight simulators (grin).

This book shows that combat warriors on both sides have the same thoughts and concerns. They worry about their families and complain about their leadership.

I bought the Classics of Naval Literature volume after reading a library copy. That's how much the book impressed me. The top-surviving Zero naval ace of WWII, Sakai had realistic and controversial opinions of Japan's role in the war. He did much to build postwar friendships with the United States, even at risk to his own life.

Little did I realize when I bought the book that I would someday meet him. I visited him in his Tokyo home and hosted his visit to Naval Air Facility Atsugi. My book is now autographed.

It's amazing how much is assumed in most after-market Java books! I can't estimate how often I've seen, "It is assumed you know about Threaded Programming, and therefore it is not covered here." Well, good news, It IS covered here. And is is covered well.
As a professional programmer for 20 years, I can attest to the fact that Thread programming is the most schizophrenic of disciplines. In addition, since most legacy thread concepts come from 'procedural' languages, the Java implementation tends to be hard to hold on to.
I found this book to be a wonderful 'primer' into Java's Thread capabilities. It doesn't attempt to relate to older languages. It starts from the begining, and presents its subject clearly. It's a good learning tool, and is organized well enough to be a reliable refference.
Even if you have experience with threading, this is worth it to orient your head to Java Threading.

If you find Doug Lea's "Concurrent Programming in Java" too daunting, this is the book you should have read first. The examples were easy to follow, and were to the point -that is, you will only learn how to work with the Thread API, and there is not much talk about design patterns. The diagrams in the book were very handy to follow Hyde's explanation. I enjoyed reading this book.. I recommend this book for every beginner in java programming.

This is a good book to learn Thread fundamentals and how to use thread in Real Life. The code examples uses a lot of AWT thats why the 4 stars I would have been a little bit happier if it used something else.
Any way a good purchase for learning Thread I brushed up my knowledge on Thread before sitting for the SCJP

This is a particularly easy to understand book on Java threads. If you are new to Java or to threading then don't hesitate to buy this book. The topics are clearly explained and in a logical order. The examples are small enough that they are easy to understand, but big enough to get the point across. And they work! Mr. Hyde has clearly gone to a great amount of trouble to make his presentation clear and simple to digest. As examples the diagrams he presents for explaining a deadlock and the timing of events in a wait/notify sequence make what is going on very clear.

If you are an experienced thread programmer looking for the finer points of threading, this book might not be the best. It does not go into the level of detail that some other books do, for example Holub's book "Taming Java Threads". On the other hand, these books are not the best for beginners.

Very straightforward and gentle introduction to the Java threading mechanics.It features basic theory and examples for about 3/4 of the book with the rest of the pages dedicated to a few useful techniques to ease and streamline threads programming, which you can use in you applications or as inspiration and examples for your own devices. My only complaint is the presentation method: a bunch of code followed by a bunch of explanations. I think presenting the more relevant lines of code interleaved with explanations and then the whole example program would make learning much more effective and easy. This book is also starting to show its age, so until a second edition comes out I would recommend the O'Reilly book over this one, unless you can get it real cheap.

I have had a telephone session with Annette and found it so correct and helpful that I purchased a session for my daughter who felt the same way. Now I'm looking forward to meeting her in person next year. Meanwhile, I have terrifically enjoyed her book which told me more about Annette herself - an extremely accomplished and intelligent woman with an interesting and varied background. Even if you're a skeptic, you will enjoy this easy read of Annette's remarkable and continuing journey.

This book proved to be an exceptional celestial adventure for the story of a young child's journey through life and into womanhood who possessed incredible blessings of the White Light and how she shared those blessings with other human beings. This book was ceaseless in inspiration and I am grateful that Ms. Martin allowed us, her audience, to share in her blessings. My heartfelt gratitude for allowing me the opportunity to experience this wonderful book. Thank you for all you've done & continue to do! Patti

I have so enjoyed the book "Gift of the White Light" by James N. Frey. This biography was about the life and journey of Annette Martin, who was the first psychic sworn in as an expert witness in a court of law for a murder case. I loved reading about her life's journey and how she made a concious choice and decision to help people with her extrodinary gift. She showed courage and kindness to people in need during a time in our history when psycic abilities were not as respected as they are today. I appreciate her story and encourage everyone to read her book! It was truly wonderful!
Diane Wesson

This story about the life and experiences of Annette Martin is a must read for anyone interested in the paranormal. Although blessed with this gift of psychic vision, Annette is also a very normal woman that we can all relate to. This is a marvelous tale of coming to terms with the challenges and responsibilities of this special calling. While having many other interests and talents, Annette has chosen to also find time to be of service to humanity by using her psychic vision and light to heal and guide individuals. She has also helped police departments solve crime mysteries. This wonderful book is full of stories that illustrate how she has used her amazing gift.

It's unusual to find a book written in a straightforward, clear, matter-of-fact way on this subject which is so often cloaked in foggy New-Age mysticism. But James Frey's engaging biography of Annette Martin is just that. And the book's style reflects the style of its subject, who is a delightful, sunny, very down-to-earth person. Annette was recently a guest on my radio show, American Variety, heard on NPR-affiliate stations in Central and South Florida, and we had a great time talking about the adventures on which her special gift has led her. She's the real deal, and I'd recommend this book to anyone.

My absolute favorite book. A must read for all women.
I'll give this book at every baby shower!

I am a birth doula and expectant mother. This book inspires me on every level. The stories are beautifully written by mothers and include a wonderful variety of births. (unattended, home, hospital, etc.)

One mother describes how she used perineal massage to birth a very large baby without a stitch or tear. She describes the steps very simply. I will be sharing this story with an expectant mother I know who has had large babies and painful recoveries from tears in the past.

A client recently told me that she'd like to have an unmedicated birth. I thought of this book immediately and will be letting her read it before her birth. I know that it will give her the confidence and inspiration to go forward with her choice.

My favorite element of this book is that at the end of each story, the mothers tell what inspired them. (Books, magazines, classes, etc.) They give advice as to things that helped them through the delivery as well. As an expectant mother, it was like getting advice from friends!

A wonderful book- I give it my highest recommendation!!!!

I loved this book. I sent copies to both my sisters, one of whom was pregnant at the time. During my first pregnancy, I read all the how-to and technical birth books. During my second, I read these stories, and they gave me just what I needed. I hadn't known anyone who birthed naturally, and these stories filled that place for me.

This book's stories are inspiring and very educational - if you are thinking about why you should try for a natural birth, these stories will help inspire you! Very easy read - stories are from real Moms and usually no more than a few pages at a time.

This book, about natural childbirth doesn't portray 100% positive experiences. The women's accounts are still filled with testimony of their doubts, fear, stress, pain, and often complications during childbirth. I bought this book hoping to prepare my own mental attitude for a more calm and comfortable 3rd natural childbirth. My first two births were already more calm and comfortable than most of the testimonies in this book so I found the stories frightful and reminding of the painful memories.

This book is one of my all-time top comfort reads. I know. Historically accurate, minutely researched Vietnam War novel=comfort read? you ask incredulously. What can I say? My favorite characters tend to endure mountains of suffering before attaining (hopefully) a modicum of happiness. Lt. Rebecca Phillips is no exception. What a heroine she is. A Radcliffe-educated nurse, Rebecca comes from stalwart, intellectual New England stock. She's the last person anyone expects to enlist in the Army and voluntarily get herself shipped off to Vietnam. But after the boy she loves is killed in the war and the brother she idolizes flees to Canada to escape the draft, Rebecca has to do something to deal with the pain and confusion that suddenly is her life.

The War, unsurprisingly, turns out to be a million times worse than her worst nightmare, and gets progressively worse until Rebecca finds herself racing for her life through the jungle on a broken ankle, having been shot down in a helicopter she never should have been on in the first place. Yeah. White doesn't pull any punches and Rebecca goes through hell and back again before she finds herself home once more, utterly unable to deal with the ramifications of The War and the friends she gained and lost there. And Michael is at the top of the list. Michael Jennings--the bad-tempered private Rebecca meets while MIA in the bush. The second half of the novel follows Rebecca's stilted attempts to reconnect with her family and Michael. To somehow fit together the pieces of her two lives: Before and After The War. It's a tour de force, in my opinion. White's prose and dialogue are as rapid-fire as ever and my pulse races every time I read it. Rebecca and Michael are such wonderfully strong, tangible characters. They deserve every scrap of happiness they can get.

Once again, Ellen Emerson White astounds, investing every character with total believability and heart-wrenching, relatable emotion. Like her President's Daughter series, she deals with characters who have appeared in other books but in such a way that any reader can pick up the book with ease without having read the previous stories. Here's hoping she takes Rebecca or at least the Major in a new direction sometime soon, because we need more female heroes like them.

A compelling read about a young nurse in Viet Nam, her experiences there, and then what happens when she returns home. A lot of the character development happens in the two central relationships of the book -- with Major Doyle (her head nurse) and soldier Michael, both wounded in their own ways, psychological and physical. Ellen Emerson White writes about recovery from trauma in another series too, the President's Daughter series, and the process is completely gripping and involving to the reader.

Twenty-one-year-old nurse Rebecca Phillips has fled a wealthy Bostonian upbringing fraught with issues and essentially exchanged it for a different type of hell --- a field hospital for wounded American soldiers in Vietnam. She works 16-hour days in the chaos of horrific amputations, burns and other casualties, and must often make the call between life and death...something that continues to haunt her day after day.

In a very short time, her co-workers cease to be merely people working with her toward a common goal. Rebecca finds a source of inspiration and friendship in her seemingly perfect direct supervisor, Major Maggie Doyle, and comic relief in Wolf and Spike, two young pilots. At the same time, Rebecca's bonds make her feel the pain all the more intensely when she learns more about the difficult past that led Major Doyle to the Army, and when tragedy befalls Wolf and Spike -- and herself.

But with tragedy often comes some joy, however small and imperceptible it may at first seem. In the most unlikely circumstances, Rebecca meets Michael Jennings, a 19-year-old private who seems instantly infatuated with her. She grudgingly agrees to exchange addresses, and before long, Michael's heartfelt accounts of his thoughts, dreams and daily experiences in the jungle have made her fall in love with him.

When tragedy again strikes, separating Rebecca and Michael not long before her yearlong tour is up, she feels as though she cannot go on. The past year of grief, horror, physical and emotional pain finally combine in a way where Rebecca believes she cannot fit into regular American life ever again. It's at her lowest that Rebecca shows just how strong she can be, and how while she could not control so many other things in her life, she can shape her own destiny.

One day, about a year ago I, a young seventh grader was browsing in the young adult section and couldn't find any new interesting books or ones I wanted to read that I hadn't already read, so I picked up The Road Home
Since that day I have read this book about a million times. I had my dad buy a used copy from a far off state, and every time we go one a trip I bring it along. I love this book and I don't believe that I once lived without it.
Rebecca, the heroine, is a young nurse who went to Vietnam and served her country. This book has an anti-war theme, but it defends the veterans and exposes their persecution.
Possibly the most enjoyable part for me was to read someone's writing whose humor so perfectly matched mine. I love it.I believe that while some swear words and other may be unappropriate for too young of readers, this book is perfect for anyone aged twelve to aged 120. This book combines the key elements, in my mind, of history, adventure, wit, humor, and romance.
I've read this book so many times that I've almost memorized it. Please try it and tell your friends. This book is too good to be thrown out of libraries. Read it!!!

Michael A. Stelzner's Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged describes a detailed step-by-step program for creating effective white papers and leveraging them into corporate and small business profits.

Based on Michael's years of experience, and on-going research conducted with over 600 write paper writers and users, nothing has been left to chance. Among the things you'll learn:
* Why white papers succeed
* Who uses white papers
* How do they use them?
* How white papers differ from other marketing communications
* Different types of white papers
* How to choose the right title
* Research and interview tips and techniques
* White paper design guidelines

There's even several samples of completed white papers, plus tips for locating additional sources, such as a discussion forum for white paper users and writers.

Although aimed at writers and users of white papers, Stelzner's book has lessons to teach a broader audience of authors and writers. Any self-employed professional interested in writing a book to promote their competence and expertise and will Michael Stelzner's Writing White Papers an excellent guide to creating trade books and e-books.

This is a well written guide to developing white papers that is perfect for the novice or the professional. The book is easy to read and the principles easy to apply. I will use it as reference book for years to come. Jeb Blount, author of PowerPrinciples: Do you have the Winning Edge?

I found reading this book to be an easy read, a great pleasure and very informative. I love books like these which provide concrete information that is full of practical and readily usable examples. As you can tell, I loved the book. Example outlines for the different objectives was particularly helpful. I'm already using the tips and guidelines to accelerate the entire effort by being more effective and more efficient.

Mr. Selzner's bookis a thorough and readable guide to how to write white papers. He defines what a white paper is, provides examples of white papers, provides detailed guidance on how to write different types of white papers, and identifies difficulties writers often encounter and how to overcome them. A excellent guide and resource on white papers.

I thought I had a pretty good understanding of white papers; how to write them and how to use them effectively. Then I read WRITING WHITE PAPERS by the King of white papers, Michael Stelzner. This book put white papers in a whole new light for me. When I reviewed Dan Kennedy's book, "The Ultimate Sales Letter", I said that no one should even attempt to write a sales letter without first reading Kennedy's book. Ditto here. Don't even think about attempting to construct a white paper without first learning from the white paper master.

Stelzner takes the reader by the hand and walks you through the world of white papers, beginning with a succinct definition and the four primary types of white papers. From here, you'll learn how white papers should be used and the basic elements that all white papers should contain. Once this basic information is clearly defined, we follow Stelzner's ten-step process of writing white papers. The rest of the book is a compelling study of these ten steps.

Throughout the book, the text is laced with clear examples. Everyone will find their own favorite chapter along the way. For me, it was Chapter 5, particularly time saving research techniques. In just minutes on the computer, I was saving hours of time on google, simply by using the proper search techniques, making google searches much more effective.

Once your white paper education here is complete, Stelzner concludes with a chapter on Marketing with White Papers. I believe, for the writer, there is much to learn here on how to effectively "pitch" a potential client on whether or not to commission a white paper for their company or product.

The Appendix contains a Quick Start Guide, a pair of well-crafted white papers samples, and white paper resources. I don't believe much has been left out here. This is a pretty conclusive guide, with the exception of maybe Stelzner sharing advice on how to go about landing such clients as Microsoft, Motorola and FedEx. Maybe that will be in the next volume.

It's that good. The 1988 US presidential campaign was filled with quirky personalities--the wonky Dukakis, the foot-in-mouth George H.W. Bush, crusty Bob Dole, and of course Gary "Loose Cannon" Hart. Richard Ben Cramer gives us the men behind the names, the desperation behind the campaigns, and does it in a slightly gonzo, riproaring, eminently readable style.

Cramer achieved what I would have thought impossible... he actually made me root for Dole, sympathize with GHWB, and understand (well, sorta) how Gary Hart could have imploded his own campaign. Most of only get to see the public face--Cramer has taken us farther, to see the pressure and the craziness of the race and the origins and formative influences that made each of the candidates what they were. It is as important, and as entertaining, now as it was when it was written. Current campaign watchers, take note: Joe Biden's story is one of the ones told, and it will give you a great deal of insight into his character.

What It Takes is one of those books you buy multiple copies of (because when you lend it to your friends, you're probably not going to get it back). Must read!

Cramer's research and insights are impeccable. Frequent flashbacks are a bit disconcerting in what amounts essentially to a joint biography of six significant late 20th century political figures and the business of politics. Cramer's literary device of writing through the imagined thoughts of the principals is compelling. I know Mike Dukakis and Cramer has him absolutely cold. The Bush and Dole portrayals also comport with what I have learned about them elsewhere. Ii't fair to assume then that Cramer also "gets" Hart and Gephardt and, still significantly, Joe Biden. I am a political history buff. This is the best book I have read on the subject EVER, supplanting (in my eyes) "The Making of the President - 1960."

I read this book in hardcover when it was published. I can't imagine a better book on the rigors, the deceptions, a true inside story of how campaigns really work. So insightful! The section on Joe Biden is certainly worth re-reading. He is an amazing man. His history is so helpful in looking at this election and comparing him to McCain's Barbie doll saviour, if any comparison is needed after her lame performance reciting practiced answers even though the answers were not to the questions asked. Duck and dodge, but the Katie Couric interviews showed she is lost in the ring and doesn't belong there. Shame on John McCain for subjecting us to the possibility of a Palin presidency.

If you haven't read this book now is the time! Whenever I am forced to chose only one book as my all time favorite What It Takes (The Way to the White House) by Richard Ben Cramer is the one...I read it when it was first published and still have yet to find another book about politics that is so enthralling..Lots of Joe Biden in the book so that alone makes it a timely book to read now...

This is a book people might shy away from since it deals with the 1988 campaign, and those candidates are basically ancient history (except for Biden). However, what the book really describes it literally 'what it takes' for any man or woman to believe they can be President.

We look at the people running today, and we see them as TV characters and sometimes buffoons, but forget that in their youth they were probably the smartest, most popular, most driven people we would have known. Just to get to a place where one can entertain the idea of running for President takes a life of very, very few wasted opportunities.

So, while this book doesn't talk about Obama or Clinton or Huckabee, etc., you can read it and at least get sort of a sense of what the candidates are like behind the masks they put on.

The best thing that can be said about "What It Takes" is that you will read it and you will appreciate that Presidential candidates actually are qualified, and while they might make terrible decisions, they really are the best we have.

"What It Takes" is an antidote for cynicism.

Brian Copeland's new memoir shows us the world through the eyes of an 8-yr old black boy and the challenges of growing up black in an all-white neighborhood and school. He never really got to relax and enjoy his childhood because life was pretty much a war zone for him. His absentee father would show up and verbally abuse him, as did potentially anyone he came in contact with. So he had no role model; he had to grow up too soon and become the man of the house. The protector of his mother and younger sisters. No one was in his corner. Teachers feared uprisings or job loss for taking up for him. As he got older he learned how to mask his fears and to use humor to cover up the painful past. The book also delves into mental illness. When suffering from tearful outbursts for no apparent reason, his psychiatrist likened his condition to PTST - Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Dealing with that after all these years has made him a stronger person, and one who can reach out to help others. The book is a huge eye-opener. It is a heartwrenching read. But his humorous writing provides the foil needed to keep the reader from throwing down the book and drowning in despair and shame for what injustices blacks went through in order to get out of the ghetto and to have a productive, satisfying, prosperous life. While race is a big part of the book, Copeland insists his story is more about being an outsider and what skills outsiders can use to "cope" in a "land" of insiders. I highly recommend this book! I couldn't put it down! I am a richer person for having read it.

Brian Copeland shares his life story with us in Not a Genuine Black Man. It is insightful, touching and important. Although the subject matter of racial prejudice is serious, he tells the story with much humor to help us, and him, be able to get through it.

If you've ever seen Brian do stand up comedy, listened to him discussing topical news issues on his highly rated talk radio show or met him in person he comes across as being "not like other blacks".

Every white person knows someone like Brian. The co-worker at the office who doesn't have the "accent". Who talks about and does "normal" things. The one who is "just like us". The one who "doesn't play the race card". You've heard at least one person say "why can't they all be like him?"

There are white people who believe racism and discrimination are a thing of the past, saying that no one alive today was ever a slave and everyone now has the right to vote. They feel that African Americans just have a chip on their shoulder based only on injustices that happened a long time ago to someone else. For "proof", they point to African Americans like Tiger Woods, Barack Obama, Colin Powell, Dick Parsons, Stanley O'Neal, John W. Thompson and Oprah Winfrey. Surely they are "just like us", the theory goes, because they choose not to feel victimized by the ancient injustices others suffered.

Copeland lets us see behind the curtain. We learn of the pain that prejudice causes first hand through the eyes of Brian as a child and the toll that experience takes on him as an adult. We learn that with everything he has accomplished, there are white people to this day who say "Yeah, but he's still just a n____". We learn the pain doesn't stop with the discrimination -- when he refuses to make an issue of it and not let it get him down, there are those in the African American community that accuse him of not being a "genuine black man".

Brian let's us know that he is successful and "like us" not because he never experienced the pain of prejudice, but rather he is successful and "like us" despite it.

"Not a Genuine Black Man" is a must read with lessons for everyone. African American readers will surely relate to his experiences and the pain he feels. White readers may begin to understand it.

I enjoyed the book, but not for $14. I thought the author could have had more depth instead of simply recalling the past. I did enjoy learning about the Bay Area and the history of San Leandro, though. He is a funny man, but the book could have had a little more "meat".

An ideal assigned reading for ANY and ALL high school/college level students. So poignant, humorous, self-reflective and blatantly truthful --Mr. Copeland's personal retrospective, analyzing just exactly what he knows (his life), comes entertainingly packaged in a wrenching yet totally engaging exhalation.

I'd say that this book IS GUARANTEED (yes, this is a superlative) to activate "the thinking mechanism" and elevate your class to that of an educational milestone. If there is one common element which student readers most respect, it's an author's iron-clad commitment to
"keeping it real". Well, Mr. Copeland's clever and stylish prose delivers a tasty dose of head-on reality which will move readers to a new and better place.

Reviewer's "poetic license" observation:

Inexplicably often, peoples' names accurately and ironically depict a significant measure of their calling. Mr. COPELAND, I'm personally thankful for you and your families' inspirational determination; I'm humbled by my ability to include you in this often recognized, yet little understood club.

NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN: OR, HOW I CLAIMED MY PIECE OF GROUND IN THE LILY-WHITE SUBURBS

Brian Copeland's "Not a Genuine Black Man" is a provocative and moving autobiography that begins the Copeland family's 1972 move into "lily white" San Leandro, California. Brian was then eight years old. And San Leandro (99.9% white) was using any method it could to maintain an all-white status.

Copeland, a San Francisco Bay Area TV/Radio celebrity, comedian, and author, is an excellent story teller and tells his story alternating between his arrival in San Leandro and an awakening at age 35 which led to an attempted suicide. "Not a Genuine Black Man" is more than the story of Copeland's struggles with overt bigotry and eventual depression, it is also the story of his mother's and grandmother's resilience that brought San Leandro into the post-civil rights era as a diverse, inclusive community.

The book's title "Not a Genuine Black Man" comes from a letter Copeland received from talk-radio listener which said, "As an African-American, I am disgusted every time I hear your voice because you are not a genuine black man. The letter becomes a catalyst for Copeland to explore his past and find out who he is. "Not a genuine black man...What does that mean?"

Upon reflection, Copeland sees that his mother really wanted white childre and did not want to associate with the black community. "I'm not one of these blacks." As a result, a young black child was faced with the challenge of growing up in one of the most racist suburbs in America with a mother who was trying to escape her black roots. Unknowingly, he had to develop a mask to protect himself from these truths...a mask that would lead to depression.

"Behind most of our masks is a truth that is hidden for a specific reason. Often we don't know what that truth is. I wasn't ready to deal with my truths, but ready or not, they started to bubble to the surface. Once that began to happen, try as I might, I couldn't get the toothpaste to go back into the tube. I knew I had to face the truth about my mother."

Today, San Leandro has changed and Copeland now feels proud of being part of the change. Members of all races worship side by side in the pews of churches of all denominations. His grandmother and, posthumously, his mother were presented with a commendation from the City of San Leandro for "their bravery" to make San Leandro a better place for all.

And as the City has changed, Copeland has also changed. He knows now what it really means to be a genuine black man - he is a "unique man" who has the resilience of his forefathers and the fortitude of his mother and grandmother. His experience is unique and it is a "true" black experience because this is his experience.

A human life is the most complex narrative of all: it has many layers of events which embrace outside behavior and actions, the inner stream of the mind, the underworld of the unconscious, the soul, fantasy, dream and imagination. There is no account of life which can ever mirror or tell all of this. Copeland has offered us a sample of this complexity and reminds us that black people are not a monolith with one lifestyle, one viewpoint, and one agenda. They are a varied lot like any ethnic group, each with their own complex narrative to tell. Narratives that we all must hear.

I stumbled upon this book on a whim and decided to check it out and this book is directly on point. Waset manages to tell it like it is and add humor. If you are easily offended might not be for you but she speaks the truth and wonders the age old question where is the common sense in the world?

"Finally, a book that will leave you with a buzz - and it's $5 cheaper than a bottle of Hypnotiq."

Perhaps she said it for its pure comedic value, or, to take a satirical jab at those folks whose priorities afford them the luxury of splurging on a bottle of that "blue stuff" instead of purchasing her book. Whatever the reason, Waset's humor, intelligence and passion for all things real are manifest from front to back cover and all pages in between The Power Journal: Chronicles of a Revolutionary Black Woman in White America.

The Power Journal is a literary one-woman show scripted with poetry, essays, journal entries, hip-hop laced spoken word and amusing insights--be it terrorism or wondering why Doublemint gum retains flavor and Juicy Fruit doesn't, even though they're made by the same company, no topic is too controversial or seemingly mundane to be addressed . She has a lot to say, but this may be no fault of her own. She's speaking for all of her readers, and for anyone that's in search of the truth but hasn't yet stumbled across this underground treasure.

Have you ever awakened in the morning overwhelmed and depressed? Not about the state of your personal affairs, but about the state of the world...your country...your `hood....your people? Pieces such as "911-A State of Emergency" and "Use Your Ballot or Catch Their Bullet" give voice to the anger and sadness many of us feel, but either don't know how to express or fear to articulate. Waset writes in her journal entry #21 that, "Several people I know have warned me that I probably shouldn't speak up about the U.S. attacks on Iraq and other world matters." History has shown us what happens to people who speak a little too loudly and stand a little too tall, but just as history repeats itself, Waset's raw words continue to loop page by page begging us to challenge the status quo.

A softer side of the author is revealed through her introspective poetry on love and life and in her random musings on pop culture. Is Waset really the only one who gets offended when New Kids on the Block (NKOTB for all you pop heads) are referred to as pioneers while the original "boy band" New Edition is treated like sloppy seconds (journal entry #37)? Highly unlikely. Waset isn't the only one fed up with celebrity sensationalism. She's even got a little something to say about R. Kelly, Michael Jackson and our beloved king and queen of R & B, Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston.

Waset takes the prototype of witty social commentary perfected by the likes of Michael Moore and Aaron McGruder and elevates it as only a revolutionary Black woman can. If you can't feel what she's saying, society has thoroughly numbed you. Re-read The Power Journal until the words melt to the core and wake you. One day it'll all make sense.

--Reviewed by Sandria M. Washington,
www.SandriaWrites.com

I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was given to me from a friend's friend's friend so when I got it, it was pretty beat up, but told it like it T-I-S! This woman means business and she shares just about all of it from R.Kelly to George Bush with you. The Power Journal fills your cup up with knowledge on LIFE. I live and swear by this book. HOT! HOT! HOT! You are lucky to get it because you can't find it in book stores. Is there a website to buy? Heeeelllllp! Who knows this author??????

I finished reading the book in a week --which isn't bad
seeing as how I work full time, go to school, and have
a vicious 2 year old at home. I told EVERYBODY I know
that they better get a copy cuz they weren't getting
mine. I did let them take peeks inside though...they were laughing
like crazy!

Let me tell you...it was real --I mean
really REAL...humorous...poetry was on point! On
another note, it made me think--I mean like really
PONDER on some situations...and after reading it I was
inspired to write as well. (sometimes that's what a
good read is all about.) I am very happy I purchased
the book.

Have you ever just wanted to let go and tell the whole world how you feel? Have you looked back at your journal entries and thought, this is just too good for my eyes only; everybody needs to know? Well, that is the concept of The Power Journal: Chronicle of a Revolutionary Black Woman in White America by WASET who gives it to you raw, real, straight, no chaser and no excuses

WASET is a young woman who speaks her mind on the ballot and the bullet, brothers hitting on White women at the Essence Festival and "turrible" service at one of Magic Johnson's restaurants in Los Angeles. Her writings include the 2003 California governor recall and the election of movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger as the next head of the state and all the madness surrounding it; dissecting the Whitney Houston and Diane Sawyer interview, replete with fabricated receipts for crack cocaine; and R. Kelly's bump and grind saga.

Much of this author's poetry starts out lyrical and deep but soon turns into an angry rant; for example, The Lost King of the Nile becomes a seething tirade about Black men craving White women. The Lost Queen of the Nile actually fares better and was beautifully written. Some of the poetry, as most of the essays, appears to be remnants of everyday thoughts, not unlike the blogs we are seeing more of on a daily basis. The journal entries are numbered and the topics are endless and limitless.

This journal that has a stark black cover with gold lettering can be interpreted as either a statement of a powerful, articulate woman who has much insight and even more to say or as one long, continuous rant of the typical, angry, black woman. Read it and decide for yourself.

Dera Williams
APOOO BookClub

I first read this book when I was in college. At the time, this beautiful, tear-jerking story became one of my favorites. Almost 18 years later, I feel the same way. This story of grief, loss, love, and healing holds even deeper meaning for me now. This is a book I will keep in my collection -- to read over and over.

I loved this book it is a great book to help with the lose of the loved one.

I really enjoyed this book. Terry Kay has a smooth, fresh writing style, and his story of Sam Peek and his White Dog is truly moving. I have just begun Valley of Light and I am already loving this one too. I recommend them both!

This is one of my favorite books of all time. It at first seems like a simple story of a man growing older. It mixes the touching and often amusing story of his frustration with the constant worrying of his adult children, about whether his mind is slipping, with one of the sweetest love stories I've ever read. When you think that you have finished, the author then tells the origin of the story and you are utterly amazed. It quite literally took my breath away. I immediately went out and bought copies of the book to share with family and friends who were equally touched. It is definitely a classic.

This was a nice book to read. Not my all time favorite but very enjoyable. It was easy to read and just told a man's journey with becoming old and alone. Sam Peek seemed like a "real" old man. I now see Sam Peek in every old man I pass on the street, in the store or at church. Made me want to reach out and be their friend. If someone you love is growing old you need to read this book.