Florida Books

Michael Lackeys little book (150 pages) is one of the most fascinating and wonderful books I have read on atheism and the God concept, with the special feature that it is written from the viewpoint and minds of African Americans. I learned more and was moved by this little known (and still expensive) book than by any of the recent popular atheist tracts written by Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, et al. I also found the book impacted me profoundly and has inspired me to read further into literature I had barely been aware of before.

Mr. Lackey's book is an astute and scholarly rigorous analysis of black atheist writers and their works, including; Frantz Fanon, J. Saunders Redding, Richard Wright, Nella Larsen, and Langston Hughes. By page 30, I began to feel that this book has a far broader scope and audience than the title implies. This is a book for everyone, written by and about people who had every reason and motivation to consider deeply and honestly the true effects of religion on black Americans and ultimately all of us.

I confess to having been one of the multitudes of secular people who have wondered how African Americans could so enthusiastically embrace their oppressors myth-based and irrational religions. I have suspected for many decades that African Americans continuing disenfranchisement is directly related to their addiction to the "white mans" religions. This book uses the brilliant and insightful works of numerous black authors who loved life enough to REALLY think about it and write it down. Each has a fascinating story. Most came to the same conclusion. What Mr. Lackey and his subjects did for me was prove what I (and others) have suspected is true. The African American is not free because they are still slaves to Christianity and the God Concept.

The timing of my reading of this book has become sad for me when I consider the current presidential campaign and the strong candidacy of the first partially African American in history. I have followed the controversies surrounding Barack Obama's religious affiliations and convictions with interest. I was, at first, delighted at his candidacy and his success. For me it meant that we, as a nation and a culture, had finally made the quantum shift where such a thing was even possible. (Let alone a female candidate as well.) After reading Michael Lackeys brilliant little book, I now find myself following the campaign with certain trepidation and concern.

I don't know if Michael Lackey set out to accomplish what he did with me. I don't imagine Barack Obama was even a thought in his head while Mr. Lackey researched, wrote, and published his book. But as for me, Michael Lackey and his subjects convinced me beyond doubt that any candidate and I truly mean ANY candidate, who has been and remains inculcated and subservient to religion, can not, and will not bring true freedom and equality to anyone, and I mean ANYONE... Black, Brown, Beige or Pink! I fear the last thing any of us, (particularly African Americans) will get from Barack Obama is "real change". It saddens me because I think we are all running out of time.

The best thing that could happen for America and the World is for famous and influential black Americans to read this book, and to think about this book, and to ACT on this book, and to do it NOW. They could start the New American Renaissance for all of us.

I am neither famous nor black. I am not influential. But I have no doubt this review will be seen by very few people in the grand scheme of things. I have no doubt that Jessie, Al, and Louis will be upset if they ever get wind of Michael Lackeys little book. I have no doubt that if this little book and its author were to become widely known, Mr. Lackey would be attacked by many powerful people and organizations. I have no doubt that the vast majority of you reading this won't agree with me or ultimately with Michael Lackey. And it is because of those lost doubts that I believe Michael Lackey is really talking about "real change". Really real change. Not the same old religion. Not the same old identification of the inferior. Definitely NOT what I will hear on TV tonight.

Near the end of the book, (page 145), Mr. Lackey quotes J. Saunders Redding; "Race is a myth: it is artificial" He then quotes James Baldwin; "Color is not a human or personal reality; it is a political reality". By the time I read those words I had been so deeply moved by this work, that I am convinced this book and its author are something very, very special. I ordered one each for Grandpa and my daughter to keep and another new first edition for my "special" library. If it ever comes out in paperback I will order dozens and give them to my friends and family on holidays and birthdays.

I hope Michael Lackey publishes another book soon. It think it could do us all good.

I found this book to be a very comprehensive presentation of the various types of entrepreneurship in Africa. It was written by seventeen very qualified writers and should be read by all those who wish to better understand the importance of African entrepreneurship for the future of Africa.

Originally published in 1959, Alligator Crossing by Marjory Stoneman Douglas (1890-1998) is an engaging novel about Henry Bunks, a thirteen-year-old boy who stows away in the boat of an outlaw alligator hunter in Florida. Henry's journey through the Everglades will take him into a world of beauty and danger, where he must rely on his own courage and resourcefulness to protect himself and the land alike. Also available in a paperback edition ... is highly recommended reading and a welcome addition to school and community library collections.

its a collectors book with really good Judo moves in it. and if you send the book to me I will sign it.
buddy clark

If you like St. Augustine's old houses and architecture, you will love this book. Karen Harvey takes you through the old neighborhoods one-by-one and gives you the history of each. You could spend an entire vacation with this book walking and enjoying St. Augustine.

Davidson's America's Palestine is an excellent documentation of Anglo-American perceptions of the still today disputed Middle Eastern territories. Various media citations are included, such as the New York Times, The Chicago Tribune and the LA Times. Discussion of the State Department's evolving position from neutrality to full fledged support of the Zionist agenda is included. The book is eye opening and gives a good history of how these early Anglo-American perceptions of the Arab-Israeli conflict distorted the realities of the Middle East.

I didn't purchase it here, but I own it. It is full of wonderful color pictures of his work. Also, it has a nice biography of Iver. The photos are good replicas of his originals. This one is worth hanging on to. There are others out there with more of his collection from different exhibitions as well. This is one of the best. AS for the binding/edition which states "unknown", every catalog that is available was printed in Naples, FL for that exhibition. Harmon-Meek (Foster Harmon and Bill Meek)Gallery along with his family had it made up.

The author was a convict work camp supervisor for 14 years. The book is a memoir of his work experiences related to Florida's convict labor lease system. From about 1877 to 1925 contractors paid the state a yearly fee to lease convicts to build railroads, mine phosphate, pick fruit & vegetables, and collect naval stores from the pine forests.

The system was ripe with abuse. Many people were simply kidnapped by the local sheriffs and sent to the work camps. Everyone from the sheriff to the governor got a piece of the fee. The sheriffs preyed on tourists, vagabonds, youths, and local nuisances. The contractors disciplined the convicts with whippings. Children as young as 4 years were sent to the camps.

The state finally abolished the system when a lumber company whipped a sick boy to death. The boy had pneumonia and his death outraged and embarrassed people.

The book is well written and very interesting.

We borrowed this book and only reluctantly returned it. I am now buying a copy to keep and a copy to circulate among my family members. We are Floridians of many generations. The places and names and histories in the book all ring true. As historical fiction, American Tropic is a credit to the genre. Although the stories are fiction, those stories are clearly tied to historical information and the author cites the connections at the end of each section. The stories are engaging, the characters memorable. A really good read.

This book, which represents over a decade of research effort, will transport you to late-Victorian London and introduce you to a group of clever, creative, and strong American women. All right, I am not objective as I wrote the book, but allow me to tell you a bit about it! Curious as to why so few women were mentioned in books about American expatriates in 19th-century England, I challenged myself to find them. After piecing together bits of correspondence, newspaper and magazine articles of the time, club records, and scores of out-of-print books, I assembled an array of fascinating characters. There are two women who were best-sellings authors of their time; the New York society woman who left her family for a career on the London stage; the suffragist playwright; the singer from upstate NY who was one of Queen Victoria's favorite artists; the expose-writing journalist; the portrait painter who set up a sanctuary in London for wounded soldiers, and many more. I hope you will enjoy reading about these women who deserve NOT to be forgotten!
Thank you --