Washington University Books

This book is just what the subtitle says - it deals with the relationship between Inuit and seals. Not just the Inuit using the seals as a source of food, fuel and clothing but also as the respect they feel for the seals. They treat the seals, and other animals, as if they have souls and their legends, rituals and traditions reflect that fact. At just over 127 pages, with tons of photos, this is an easy read.

This magnificent book is beyond breathtaking and deserves far more than a 5-star rating. I saw many of these priceless silver saddles, spurs and other Edward Bohlin masterpieces in parades years ago. They're even more dazzling today. Gorgeous color photographs taken by Susan Einstein certainly do them justice. I'd have paid the full $60.00 for this one without a whimper.

Clause-Levi-Strauss is a reference for generations since the publication of his studies about kinship, in which he developed his theories about structure and after that, some of our intellectual fields have never been the same again. An intellectual like him can be very important for a science in a country, and he has influenced most of Brazilian anthropologists since then. But this marvellous photographic and literary essay reaveals that a country can also be very important for a young sociologist that would became one of the guidelines of the contemporary thpught. The young intellectual born in Belgium arrived in Sao Paulo about 1935 with his young wife, Dina. The Universty of Sao Paulo was in process of creation and he came here to teach antropology. Here, in contact with his students that were French speakers, with Mario de Andrade - the author of Macunaima - and going through the fields of a changing city like Sao Paulo and the forests of Brazil, he became an Antropologist. Now, he feels "saudade", this word that only exists in Portuguese. To fell saudades is to miss something or somebody, to be homesick, to feel nostalgic, but is a feeling beyond description. Reading this book, as Brazilian and Anthopologist, and looking at the photos LeviStrauss took here, I felt saudades as well. I could not write of saudades of a time when I was not even born. But of a lost city, the Indians we lost, the antrhopological hope of an understanding between men. During the thirties, Brazil and France were geographically far, but could dialogue in equal terms. Now all frontiers are fading and we can feel saudades of the promises that the modern thought has left without answer

I live in Lubbock, Texas, where much of this story takes place, and I happen to know some of the people Dr. Ford mentions. But that was hardly the only reason I wanted to read this compassionate biography. Dr. Ford shows how her brother bravely faced AIDS and the bigotry related to it.

Despite its subject matter, this book is never depressing. Instead, Dr. Ford captures the inspirational aspects of her brother's life and how it touched the lives of people around him. I found her poems about his struggle especially touching and hope she'll share more of those in another book.

Duane Simolke .....

Having had 20 years practical experience in the snow safety business I can assure any potential readers that buying this book is money well spent. So many books on avalanches tell us about snow, about weather etc, but fail to really come to grips with the "how to tell whats been happening and is it dangerous" lesson. The many visual clues that one has when looking at potential avalanche terrain are here very well documented and explained. Easy to understand. Highly recommended

My wife and I really enjoyed using this book. Walks on Capital Hill to Magnolia to Pioneer Square revealed many things that we did not take the time to notice before.

Our favorite was probably Capital Hill, it tooks us about 3.5 hours to complete and we've done it many times since.

I'll read anything with this great writer's name on it!

Seven women writers have written realistic stories about women's lives in the People's Republic of China. The book is informative and realistic, and moves the reader with compassion and admiration for women struggling to make good lives for themselves and others in a difficult world.

This is an excellent treatment of the Lotus Sutra in Chinese art, primarily focusing on Dunhuang but of use to anyone who wants to gain a further understanding of medieval Chinese murals and sculpture. A basic knowledge of both Buddhism and Buddhist iconography is almost essential but a fast learning, highly motivated beginner would also find this book extremely helpful. No one going to all the trouble to visit the Dunhuang caves should go without reading this book, and anyone who finds this book hard reading or uninteresting with a trip to Dunhuang on their agenda, should choose another destination. For those interested in medieval Chinese Buddhist iconography and pictorial art, this book "pulls it all together" and is both readable and scholarly in its approach. Excellent photographs and detailed drawings to help one interpret the ancient paintings make this book an invaluable guidebook to Dunhuang or to any armchair traveller. A true find and a book one will be able to reread over and over again as one becomes an increasingly advanced student of the subject.

This is an insightful and illuminating work on the subject, which is very interesting by itself. The author has conducted extensive research in the field, and the narrative is very well written indeed.

A joy to read.