New York Books

Anthony Papa, just one of the thousands of victims of the draconian drug laws that hit America in 1973, tells his tale of how he "painted his way to freedom." It is similar to Life on the Outside, by Jennifer Gonnerman, but unique in its first hand account. This is not your usual story of a notarized drug dealer from the streets serving his bid and coming home to stir up more trouble. This is a story of a family man who gets caught in the web of the penal system, but fights his way back to personal triumph. Commended by the likes of Russell Simmons, Susan Sarandon, and Jack Black, 15 to Life will have you singing its praises after the first few chapters.

This book is one of the besst stories I have read recently. 15 to life starts right out w/ an exciting beginning and keeps you hooked the whole time. Anthony Papa's story will shock you. Every law and sociology class should be required to read this book. Buy it and support the cause.

Anthony Papa only took one risk to find the $500 he needed to pay rent so his
family could live. Like being asked to do some landscaping for a friend, Papa
was to deliver four and one half ounces of coke for some quick money and quick
resolution to his financial crisis. The deal was a setup to break the fall of
a dealer higher up in the hierarchy of the drug market and Papa endured the
mandatory 15 year minimum in court. Thereafter Papa lived an ordinary story of
acclimation to prison life as a first-time offender, as well as an extraordinary
story of discovery of latent talent, and a strategic engagement of that talent
to pursue his freedom. Through the pages we see the scant resources prisoners
have for advocating for their freedom. We see those scant resources exhausted
as Papa becomes a jailhouse lawyer creating appeals that are manhandled to his
misfortune by outsider law firms. In the end, as the title suggests, it is the
resource of art that prevails. Both as an occupation that allowed Papa to
transcend his despair in the cell and the afflictions of civil bureaucracy.
Papa wins his freedom through playing the ooh's and ah's of the art world and
its media following. His builds his campaign for clemency from then governor
George Pataki on the moral/aesthetic arguments that only his art is allowed to
communicate. And `moral argument' ought not be confused with plastic sympathy.
It is no puppy dog stare from a pet store window.

Papa's story is a milieu of competitiveness and resigned cooperation with an
inhuman system of power. Papa is forced to wile and trick a system to gain an
advantage that should be afforded to him on the basis of human rights. Papa
competes against many characters: lawyers, judges, dealers, other inmates,
CO's, high society artists and critics. And the prize of this competition is
not the fame associated with hanging portraits in galleries. That is just the
means to the real finish line: the freedom those on the outside all readily
take for granted. Papa literally paints for his life; it may well be the
reason he paints ("I knew that participating in the show [at New York's Whitney
Art Museum] was the break I had been waiting for. As I re-read the lines, they
blurred into a single word: FREEDOM.").

So art, the aesthetic realm all too often valued as transcendent of the hard
truths of life, finds a very practical cause. Art's power is used for a very
focused and determinate end: to sow a campaign for public opinion. Papa's
sentence at Sing Sing faces the opposite direction Oscar Wilde experienced
during his stay at Reading Gaol. Whereas Wilde was an aesthete whose genius
was eroded by the toil of his imprisonment, Papa finds his genius because of
the toil, because the normal argumentative paths to pursuing freedom (court
appeals) in maximum security prisons ultimately don't exist in his favor.
While Wilde may view art as those things that are unnecessary, Papa makes art
(and maybe more precisely the outside world's mass-mediated appreciation of
art) the absolutely necessary path to his campaign for clemency and his
freedom.

15 to Life reveals the conflicts and cooperation between the artist's brush,
jailhouse-law study, and numerous letters from legal bureaucracy. Papa
struggles through them all, playing them with and against each other in hopes
that he can freely reclaim his humanity. It leaves a lot of questions for the
reader such as "What happens to the inmates who don't have talent or technique
to entice the sympathy of the free world, what about the rest of them?"
Fortunately, Papa doesn't take his freedom and run. As co-founder of the
Mothers of the New York Disappeared he uses his clout as a cultural and moral
sensation to campaign for the rights of those he left behind the gates of Sing
Sing. Papa leaves the story of 15 to Life with a strong and quickening gaze
toward liberation for the Rockefeller incarcerated.

Papa's memoir will be easy and important reading for those who want to figure
art as a politicizing and strategic resource for creating real change for
social justice. It will inform the reader not only about Papa's artistic
process but also the political process he must engage to make his art work for
social change and his freedom. This process includes mobilizing audiences,
critics, press, and other locations of power toward an ethic or political good.
Papa's art is great and can stand alone as a form of beauty. However, "How I
Painted My Way to Freedom" is a complex subtitle and ought not conjure an image
of the paintbrush as a mystical key to the cellblock latch. Papa's story does
not let one underestimate the amount of work and struggle Papa needed to endure
to direct his art toward political resolution.

In 1985, Anthony Papa was a 29-year-old small business owner living in the Bronx with his wife and young daughter. Bills were mounting, rent was due and tensions were rising in his marriage when a gambling acquaintance stepped up and offered him a quick $500 to deliver a package. Papa had doubts and misgivings, but he accepted the proposal. The package Papa carried was full of cocaine and he delivered it directly into the hands of undercover cops. To make matters worse, this particular event came with an added twist; namely New York's Rockefeller drug laws, which mandate a 15-year-to-life sentence for the weight of the drugs Anthony had delivered.

15 to Life details how Papa transformed himself while in prison, from a convicted drug courier into an artist and later into an activist. The first 80+ pages cover his dealings with a shady lawyer, codefendants turning on him and his initiation into the jail system. Papa reinforces that what you see in the movies about prison life is not far from reality. Sex, violence, drugs, deals made and deals broken all take place on a regular basis behind the prison walls.

15 to Life takes a turn from prison narrative to survival tale when Papa realizes that he is going to serve a good deal of his sentence. Papa finds his inspiration to not give up when he sees a prisoner painting in his cell and becomes mesmerized by the act. A short while later, emerging from a three-day lockdown Papa has an epiphany as he looks around his cell. He considers the ten paintings he has completed and sees his freedom on the canvas. At this point Papa becomes committed to his art, realizing it is the only way he can survive prison.

While Papa works on his art he starts to realize that his lawyer is not doing much to help him. While in the library studying his case, a prisoner tells him about the law that has sentenced him to 15 years to life. The Rockefeller drug laws state that a judge must impose a minimum sentence of 15 years to life to anyone convicted of selling two ounces or possessing four ounces of a controlled substance. Kingpin or first time bust, everyone receives the same minimum sentence. Papa now had another focus besides his art, his case and more specifically, the law that put him behind bars.

Papa gets a break in September of 1993 when the Whitney Museum contacted Sing Sing about a show they would be putting together. The Whitney was looking for art by a murderer for their show. Papa saw an opportunity and pursued it, telling The Whitney that he was a convicted killer. In his mind the lie would expose his are and hopefully get him closer to freedom.

After the Whitney show Papa received his first press exposure, an in depth piece in the Gannett Suburban Newspaper. An article in Prison Life magazine followed, then a NY Times letter to the editor penned by Papa in regard to the Rockefeller drug laws. Later, an Associated Press story that is printed in six New York newspapers follows. Papa welcomes the press; the prison does not and reassigns him to a harsher area of the prison.

Papa later learns of an opportunity to join a Master's Degree Program from the New York Theological Seminary. While he is enrolled in the Master's Program Papa starts the ball rolling on his plea for clemency from Governor George Pataki. Papa details his attempts at clemency and his joy at finally receiving the news that it had been granted.

After his release Papa tells of his days outside of prison. His major focus is on the group he co-founds, Mothers of the New York Disappeared, named for the mothers and relatives who have had family members disappear behind prison walls. The group is focused on repealing the Rockefeller Drug Laws. The efforts of the group have helped change public opinion on the law, however the public and the government that represents them are not on the same page and the laws remain unchanged.

The story of Anthony Papa is a great read and at points a heartbreaking story. Papa is a man that did not give up when he could have easily done so. Papa capitalized on every chance he had while in prison and his story is one of triumph. His story is also one that should make the reader think about the prisoners that do give up, that are not given any chances. 15 to Life should make you think about the prisoners that are left to rot behind bars due to unfair and restrictive sentencing guidelines. Papa's story helps the reader to realize that the Rockefeller Laws are not putting away the big dealers like they intended and need to be reevaluated and ultimately scrapped.

Well written book, nice to see Rich and Sue are doing well, I used to work with them at Eastman Kodak.

"200 Waterfalls in Central & Western NY" is an especially well organized and presented recreational guide to a dazzling, beautiful, sometimes unexpected but always memorable assortment of natural waterfalls in NY. Maps, directions, time and effort required to reach them, as well as distinctive features of each waterfall are listed in this handy, convenient and highly practical vacationer's guide. If you are an outdoor enthusiast and planning to travel through the central and western regions of New York State, then begin planning your excursion's daily itinerary by browsing through the pages of Rich & Sue Freeman's "200 Waterfalls in Central & Western NY."
The Midwest Book Review - Buhle's Bookshelf

200 Waterfalls In Central & Western New York is an especially well organized and presented recreational guide to a dazzling, beautiful, sometimes unexpected but always memorable assortment of natural waterfalls in the New York area. Maps, directions, time and effort required to reach them, as well as the distinctive features of each waterfall are listed in this handy, convenient and highly practical vacationer's guide. If you are an outdoor enthusiast and planning to travel through the central and western regions of New York State, then begin planning your excursion's daily itinerary by browsing through the pages of Rich and Sue Freeman's 200 Waterfalls In Central & Western New York.

Rich and Sue Freeman have come out with another must-have Finger Lakes guide book. This one, called "200 Waterfalls in Central & Western NY," is a well-done guidebook of accessible waterfalls complete with driving directions, access trails and photographs. Their descriptions include information and some historical notes. Whether a year round resident with out of town visitors or a summer resident, you will find this book a fine reference for area waterfalls. Mark this book as a good gift too.
Leona Jensen, The Observer

I Pissed My Pants Reading This Book...

A very funny book and indispensable reference guide to finding a bathroom in the Big Apple (which is not always easy). Very Practical research and very, very funny!

If you're one of those people who thinks that the world is your toilet, or if you're just some average joe who likes to go al fresco, you'd be amazed at what you don't know about peeing in New York. This little book tells you all you need to know about peeing outdoors WITHOUT getting busted and, more important than that, how to pee in New York without splashing all over your shoes, your purse, your what-not, and so on. In fact, splash reduction is a major focus in this homespun tour de force, and it gives fascinating, detailed instructions that any curbside pisser can understand and appreciate. The weird drawings alone will give you hours of mictur-iffic enjoyment. It's a great gift for someone you love or anyone else who loves to pee in New York--bar mitzvah boys, barflies, AA graduates, NYU students, anthropologists, you name it. This book belongs on every toilet tank in the greater metropolitan area.

Hilarious! This is one funny little book. If you're a New Yorker like me, you'll recognize the peeing zones in the book. A real treat for anyone strolling around manhattan.

I am sure that many people who live in New York or just come here to work or visit,know that it is hard to find a public restroom.Well people the book you need to have to solve this problem is "A 40 Point Guide To Peeing In New York" By Ray Tempus.This book tells you in hilarious words and brillantly drawn pictures how any man or woman, young or old can take care of natures call, without getting caught, and maybe even having some fun while your at it.This book should be on everyone's bookshelf!

I recieved these cards as a birthday gift and loved the restaurants and recipes so much that i ordered them for my Mom and Grandma for Mothers day.. the recipies make cooking so much fun and the cards are so much more portable than a book when shopping for the ingredients .. it also makes picking a restaurant in the city soo easy!

86 has introduced me to so many places to eat right in my own neighborhood! Everytime I thumb through these great little cards, I find new a restaurant I can't wait to try. The best part is making the recipes yourself, everything is laid out so clearly, even a novice can create these amazing dishes. The wine pairings are excellent, and I love that the recipes cover brunch to dessert and everthing in between. I'm having such a good time trying them all at home!

I was so happy when I opened this package. This beautiful little box works on two levels--wonderful guide to NYC restaurants, fabulous recipes. The packaging and cards are beautifully done and it's a terrific addition to my recipe collection. It's like a modern version of the old fashioned recipe box my grandmother had!

I've just recieved this box of goodness as a gift for my bridal shower. I love dining out in the city and always curious about the recipes. I've made a couple of the recipes so far. The cards are easy to read and the recipes are surprisingly easy to prepare and well explained. plus, the box is really cute so i don't mind having it out in my kitchen. It's just a nice change from the traditional book. I'd definately reccommend it as a gift or just to have!!

Every police officer, deputy sheriff, firefighter, EMT, and others should have a copy of this book. I am a 20 year retired law enforcment veteran. My wife purchased this book for me. It was one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received. This day forever changed our lives. Our children and our grandchildren will deal with the aftermath of these events for years to come. Every time I pick this book up and even now as I write this review my eyes tear up. We must never forget the courage and service of those that fight and have fought to protect the many freedoms we enjoy as American citizens. This book helps us to remember.

This book was so great! The pictures can just show you what went on from like a person who expierienced its point of view! They are so amazing! I loved this book! This was one of the best 9-11 books that I have ever read!

This book starts off nicely by remembering 9-11 and that section is quite moving. In fact it is excellent. Then the book begins hero worship of the President, the Prime Minister of Great Britain and a parade of world leaders. It loses sight of 9-11 and thinks only of the "big" people. It continues into the war in Afghanistan then Iraq. I understand Afghanistan but the Invasion of Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11. That part should have encompassed another book.

When future generations look back upon this event these are the pictures they will study. Hopefully, looking at them will give our descendants a sense of what it was like to be an American at the beginning of the 21st century.

Yes, there are pictures of "important people" like Bush and Blair. While "little people" worked to repair the damage of 9/11, leaders like Bush and Blair had to decide how to respond. The response they chose was to destroy the Taliban and topple the pirate-ocracy of Saddam Hussein. Perhaps these actions aren't popular with some but what they did is now "history." History isn't composed of events and decisions that are nice, easy, sensible or popular.

Look at these pictures and consider the people who's own history ended on that day.

Any attempt to disentangle the many threads of Adorno's rather confusing opus hinge on the fact that he never exhibited any sense of actuality. He was but mere unlived potential, a wasted and fragmented soul. Academics will read and enjoy. The rest of us will be stuck with Star Trek.

It is probably harsh to say of Pensky, "The parallels are with Star Trek", since surely they lie elsewhere, near the Bay of Fundy. When the villagers arrived to tell us that the basilica's southern tip had submerged we finally got it, Adorno had an acutality, but one very different than what we previously had assumed.

This is the best book I know that treats Adorno's relationship to postmodernism (esp aesthetics). Certainly written for experts, it presupposes strong familiarity with Adorno and some of the posty folk (esp Derrida).

(Non-)structurally speaking, Pensky's commentary on Adorno is an attempt to isolate the isomorphic tensions present in later works by Adorno. The parallel here, as is the case with much of Pensky's work, is to the later episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. But isn't that the point?

This book is wonderful. The pictures and narratives are both wonderful and the diversity is nice as well.

Bought this for my dad on his 59th birthday while I was in Tupper Lake. I think he is really going to like it!

... truly awesome; must see to appreciate!

This was a gift to my husband who has hiked many of the high peaks. The pictures in this book were breathtaking.

The book has many beautiful pictures and may easily be dismissed as just another pictorial Chamber of Commerce celebration of a city's history, a "coffee-table book." But instead, it is a great and accurate account of a city built by Deutsch (Dutch & German) and Irish ethnics, written by a historian and public man of breadth and character, who is intimately familiar, through his family, with the history of the city of Albany to the mid-19th century. I am myself a historian of 19th century New York State, and found the book not only to be very informative, but enjoyable to read as well.

Bravo, finally a superb book on the history of Albany and Albany County by the man who lives and breathes Albany, John(Jack) McEneny. Such insight and history into a city I grew up in. From the dutch settlements through the great Democratic political Machine, Jack captures the essence of what Albany was and is like to this day. Memorable photos take you back to a wonderful time gone by. It is truly our great city on the Hudson. I HIGHLY recomend to all.

This Book Tells About Albany's History. John McEneny Did A Great Job On This Book. It Has The College Of St. Rose In It. It Also Has Historic Areas Like Lark St. Albany's Village, The South End's South Preal St., State St., The New York State Capital And Education Building, The Empire State Plaza, N.Y.S. Museum, The Corning Tower, And It's Bus Company Known As C.D.T.A.

John McEneny gives a full coverage of the history of Albany, NY. Well researched; easy to read; some great maps included.

I found this book to be very fascinating. Having grown up in the area and still having family in the area is what drew me to this particular book. I remember my father telling me about some of the people, as well as my mother-in-law who also resides in the area. I also have a daughter in medical school so I will pass this on to her so she can round out her understanding of all areas of medicine and people. The beautiful photographs added to this book. Anyone interested in the Adirondacks or in the medical field would find this book a must have for their collection.

As an allied health care provider (EMS) I cannot praise this book enough. Daniel Way is a truely remarkable Physician in an age where medicine as an art and calling has become a business and patients are easially lost in the system as only a diagnosis or case number. As someone who sees the depersonification of the medical practice every day and the endless referals, Dr. Way genuinely cares for his patients. Some of his vignettes are humorous, some are inspiring, and some display the raw cruelty of life and death. Dr. Way has a special gift in his writing that makes you feel as if you actually know the patient at the end of the biography. While reading this book I could almost sense the sights, emotion, and even the smell of where he was. As someone who has hiked, paddled, and biked all over the Adirondacks of New York State, this book's setting was all the more relative to me. This book should be mandatory reading for anyone that chooses to become a healthcare provider as it is a constant reminder as to what and who we chose our professions for. The medical community needs more people like Dr. Way.

You can tell by reading this book that the author is certainly no ordinary family doctor. The author, who happens to be my dad, shows without a doubt that he truly cares about his patients, and can find an intersting story behind any face that walks in for a checkup. From a World War II hero pushed to the brink of death countless times to a simple man spending his entire life in a rural convenience store, Dan Way's patient stories will make you laugh, gasp, and maybe tear up a little. Way compliments each story with beautiful pictures from a beautiful region that I've spent much of my life in: the Adirondack Mountains. This is definitely worth reading for anybody, particularly those interested in photography or those in the medical profession. Great job Dad!!!!

All In A Day's Work: Scenes And Stories from an Adriondack Medical Practice presents the ruminations of an experienced medical doctor whose home visits amid the Adriondacks allowed him to take in the beautiful scenery, capture photographs, and bring help to people who needed it, especially in a part of the nation with a high population of senior citizens. Full-color photographs illustrate every page, and the down-to-earth narrative text describes not only the beauty and majesty of the scenery, but also vignettes from the lives of patients, some stories uplifting, some heartbreaking. An emotionally moving portrait of land and the people who call it home.

Love 'em or hate 'em, the New York Yankees are an integral slice of Americana. The superstars seem to shine brighter there than in other markets. They transcend sports and become a part of American life. From Ruth and Gehrig's dominance of the Roaring 20s to Joltin' Joe Dimaggio's hitting clinics of the 30s, 40s, and 50s, to Mantle and Maris in the 60s, and finally the resurgance of recent days, the baseball world hangs in the balance of what the Yanks ultimate destiny is on a yearly basis.

With the exception of Ruth, it is entirely possible that no one figure captured the baseball world's imagination to the same degree as Mickey Mantle. From his humble beginnings to his majestic homeruns, "The Mick" had something for every baseball fan and he displayed it all while wearing the famed pinstripes in a total of 12 World Series.

Not every World Series was won and Mickey certainly illustrates that he was far from perfect, both on and off the field. It's a wonderful look back to the Golden Era of baseball and an inside perspective of an age of sports that will never be seen again.

Fully recommended!

I was a Big Mickey Mantle fan back when he first came up to the Yankees as a 19 year old.
He immediately had an impact on me. As a young boy he was my idol.

I just began reading the book, and am already impressed with all the won- derful memories of the great Mickey Mantle.

The book is great!, and I expect no less, as I continue to read on.

All My Octobers is a great book, full of great moments and great players in Major League Baseball's greatest classic, The World Series. Told in the first person by the late baseball legend and New York Yankees powerhouse centerfielder Mickey Mantle, these stories of the World Series are natural and authentic. It's up close and personal, right from the dugout at Yankee Stadium. From his first series in 1951, playing with The Yankee Clipper, Joe Dimaggio, right through to his last in 1964 against the St. Louis Cardinals, where Mantle hit three home runs to set a career World Series record at 18. Mantle still holds that record, along with runs scored (42), and runs batted in (40). Of course, he writes about the excitement on the field during the games, but he also gives us some personal tid-bits and his thoughts on the games and players. He tells us that some mistakenly thought he was giving Joe Dimaggio the cold shoulder, but in truth, he just didn't feel it was his place as a young player to be so forward with a legend like Joltin' Joe. He recalls conversations with Casey Stengal and Yogi Berra, the all-night drinking sessions with Whitey Ford and Billy Martin, and how he watched Roger Maris hit his record breaking 61st home run on television from a hospital bed, while sidelined with a hip infection. Each chapter is devoted to a different World Series, and every one is remembered fondly and precisely by Mantle. These were the glorious New York Yankees' dynasty years, back when The Bronx Bombers ruled Major League Baseball, and the world was a different place. All My Octobers is a very interesting and intimate look at the best of baseball during that magical time.

An interviewer asked Yogi Berra to do word association. The interviewer's first words were Mickey Mantle. Yogi's association was - What about him?

Mickey takes us through his World Series appearances - 1951 when he permanently injured his knee, 1952 when Jackie Robinson told the press that Mantle beat the Dodgers and that the Yankees didn't miss DiMaggio, 1953 with Mickey's tape measure homeruns, 1955 when the long suffering Brooklyn Dodgers won their only World Series, 1956 when the umpire gave Don Larsen that final strike, 1957 when Yankee reject Lew Burdette beat the Yanks, 1958 when Bob Turley returned the favor by beating the Braves, 1960 when Casey failed to use Ford 3 times against the Pirates, causing the most heartbreaking disappointment in Mantle's baseball career, 1961 when Maris outpaced Mantle and substitutes won the World Series, 1962 when McCovey lined out to Richardson, 1963 when they ran into Koufax-Podres-Drysdale-Koufax, and 1964 when Whitey had a sore arm and couldn't pitch to St Louis.

Mickey blamed himself for failing to do rehab on his legs. He endured constant pain, and it was a miracle that he had a baseball career at all. He rated himself as equal to Mays in fielding, faster than Mays on the bases, but without the longevity.

If you look at the incredible Yankee dynasty of the 1950s you see a team that wasn't great on paper. The Cleveland Indians were at times as good or better. The Brooklyn Dodgers had much better hitting. It wasn't like the awesome Yankee teams of 1998 and 1999. The Yankees of Mickey's day had no business winning so many pennants and world championships. What they had was Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Gil McDougald, and above all Mickey Mantle.

Did you ever see him swing a bat? He hit the ball harder than Babe Ruth. He had the best swing in history, combining the grace of Ken Griffey Jr. with the power of ...... of nobody but Mickey Mantle. McGwire is a deep popup artist like Babe Ruth was. Mantle would drive the ball through a brick wall. He was the most powerful hitter who ever lived, and had the Olympic class speed of Rickey Henderson.