This book deals with the issue of racism in a way that young children can relate to and understand because it makes the idea of judging people by the color of their skin almost as foolish as judging people by the color of their socks. I read this book to my fifth grade class and it generated some wonderful discussions about racism, and treating others with respect and kindness regardless of who they are, where they live, the color of their skin, or what clothes they wear. I highly recommend this book.

Reed traces the development of human societies, with particular attention to the role of women, from the early matriarchal clans of hunters and gatherers, to the growth of agriculture, to the rise of the first states and beyond. Her defense of the matriarchal nature of the early clans devastates the many defenders of the idea that society was always patriarchal and women are doomed to being the second sex. It also lays waste the idea that men are "by nature" oppressors of women. It is a welcome antidote to the many "spiritual" works on women as well as the psuedo scientific defenders of women's oppression.

The book is important for any student of human history. Among it's particular contributions:The explanation of the incest taboos as originating in taboos on cannibalism; the role of women in the development of agriculture; the significance of human sacrifice and why it ended (this section is particularly useful for students of Meso-American history); the evolution of lineage and kinship groupings prior to and after the formation of the first city states; the role of the state and private property in cementing the dominance of men and the patriarchy, etc. Her defense of both the evolutionary and comparative methods of anthropology, and her consistant materialism make the book a part of an important ongoing debate in scientific circles. A debate which is interesting to any reader looking for an explanation of why society is organized the way it is.

The book is a serious scientific work and takes work to read, though it is fascinating work. Her other books, "Problems of Women's Liberation" and "Sexism and Science" are useful introductions to some of the concepts explored here.

Women's Evolution is necessary reading for any student of anthropology. It is ignored by most anthropologists who have made their careers as defenders of the status quo and for the same reasons have ignored Engels, Lewis Henry Morgan, Bachofen and others. Though they often polemicize against them and their ideas. Reed wrote the book as a fighter for women's rights and an anti-capitalist, the work is dedicated to young feminists.

Betty Shabazz is also an At Risk kid. To get away from her drug addict mom and alcoholic stepfather she befriends Keisha, taking up for her whenever she's around. The first activity the kids learn is how to swim, while in the water Betty goes out much too far, and has a near fatal accident. At that moment Keisha decides she is going to learn to swim. 'Cause the next black person I saw drowning, I wanted to be able to save'em myself". Betty craves for attention and love and she goes looking for it in all the wrong places. Again she is at the depths of near death. Keisha and Betty learn how to swim, they are very good at it, so much so they believe they are going to the Olympics, with the help of the team coach, Mr. Walt.

With so much turmoil and disappointments in her life, and Betty no longer able to swim, Keisha decides that dreaming and believing isn't for black kids. After joining the swim team and making it as one of the anointed ones she gives up, until she receives a letter from Malik Shabazz, Betty's brother. Giving Keisha what she needs to go on, inspiration and romantic hope.

This book is for anyone and everyone who has a dream or simply had one and lost it. Keisha and her At Risk friends will show you that dreams come in all sizes.
Evelyn Coleman is a wonderful storyteller. The voice of Keisha was one I will always carry around with me.

Reviewed by Missy

Keisha Wright is a fourteen-year-old girl who is streetwise and smart in school. Her long-standing dream is to one day become a doctor. To help fulfill that dream, she anxiously awaits news of her acceptance into the high school program at Avery University. While at school, Keisha is called to the principal's office along with other students and is told she is being assigned to a program for "at-risk" children for the summer. Not only is she told she is "at-risk" but is also told that she is being removed from the college prep course program where she has been getting excellent grades. This alone sets the stage of a very revealing story of how the education community and society itself stereotypes our youth.

While attending the "at-risk" program with persistence from her mother, Keisha meets and becomes best friends with Betty Shabazz and soon develops a crush on her brother, Malik. Betty and Malik both have to struggle daily with a drug addict mother and alcoholic father. Becoming friends with Keisha helps Betty to stay away from home as much as possible and from her parents environment.

After a beach incident, where Betty almost drowns when the lifeguard decides to take his time to rescue her; and Betty's brother Malik beats the lifeguard and is almost taken to jail, both Betty and Keisha decides it time to learn how to swim. What they soon realize is that they both have a talent in swimming and are asked to join a local community swim team. They excel in swimming to the point of being considered Olympic hopefuls.

In the meantime, the lure of the streets and material things take Betty to near disastrous results. While fighting that same lure, Keisha refuses to allow an opportunity to attend Avery University high school program pass her by, so she applies on her own and is accepted. However, because she was removed from the college prep program at school, she now must pay for the program herself. Keisha's mother takes it upon herself to earn the money anyway she can, keeping what she is doing from her family. When Keisha and the

rest of the family speculates on what their mother may be doing to earn the money, she follows her one night and is nearly raped. Still not knowing what her mother is doing to earn the money for her to attend Avery University, she becomes totally distraught to the point that she feels she must indeed been "born in sin".

Keisha, Betty, and Malik along with other strong developed characters in Ms. Coleman's novel is scripted to a point that every person jumps out at you with their own personal drama and real emotions. She draws you into relating and becoming truly absorbed in what Keisha, Betty, Malik and others must endure to reach their dreams.

As stated briefly in the beginning, Ms. Coleman's novel takes you through several emotions from laughing, sad, upset, angry, crying and finally cheers. I personally experience them all. It is a wonderful story where you will definitely close the book learning something very deep and relative to real situations and circumstances facing our youth today. You will truly enjoy the ending. I applaud Ms. Coleman on a well-written book and highly recommend everyone read Born in Sin. I give it a rating of 5.

Reviewed by Kalaani

At only thirty-nine, Stephen Marshall has been President of the United States for about a year. Already his advisors and his beloved Aunt Doris inform him that if he wants to be reelected he, being a bachelor, needs a woman by his side. To insure that no sex scandal impacts him, Stephen lives the life of a cold showering monk.

Ginny Baxter is Jane Q. Public citizen, who is on the tour of the White House, when her blood pressure medicine sends her looking for a bathroom. Somehow she clears the entire house without being stopped, ultimately running into the Secret Service and the President. Quick thinking Stephen selects Ginny as his political rescuer and invites her to attend a reception. She wonders if she is Cinderella or just the butt of a bad practical joke. The mother of a teenager and the country's most eligible bachelor begin to see each other and fall in love with one another. However, he is political suave and she is suburban baseball mom,

leaving no doubt that midnight will strike early for this unusual couple.

GOLDEN MAN is a contemporary American fairy tale that succeeds due to the immense talent of Evelyn Rogers. The story line, especially the night of the "disaster", seems so real because of the awesome skills of the writer. The lead players are charming, but it is the political hacks, sycophants, and friends of the president that turns Cinderella goes DC into a deserved crown of glory for Ms. Rogers.

At the beginning of the book Ms. Eaton was living in a shack, in ill health, and barely surviving. A friend suggested that she go to a medicine man (wicasa pejuta) and ask for a healing at a sweat lodge. As time goes by; attends cerempnies, and as more time passes she goes through fasts, and later obtains a Catlinite (pipestone) pipe and becomes a medicine woman, and used her gift to help the people around her until her death in 1983.

Unfortunately; she had MANY problems with some indians because she attended the ceremonies, and was a pipe carrier. It did NOT matter to them that she helped the people, she had undergone three fasts, and the spirits had chosen to work with her.

This animosity is STILL going on from some indians to whites, and mixed bloods that are not indian enough (in their opinion) to practise this form of spirituality. I have received some very angry E-Mails from people that claim to be indians, and are offended that I am a pipe carrier, and choose to follow this path. One person went so far as to challenge me with "Your people stole our land, and how dare you now steal our religion!".

I am not stealing anyones religion. I am only following a path that works for me. I know there is real spirituality in this path, and it answers more of the questions I have (It even explained the experiences I had 40+ years ago). I have studied most religions from agnosticiam to zen.

Now; I do have a few minor problems with this book.

1. There are several misspellings in this book.

2. She incorrectly assumes that all medicine people or holy people MUST use a Catlinite (pipestone pipe).

The spirit helpers choose to work with the person based on their integrity, and sincerity. In 1999; the Bear Totem animal would NOT be denied. The Bear repeatedly showed up trying to get my attention and let me know that it had decided to work with me. At that time I neither had a pipe, nor used tobacco in any way...

Thus begins a most unusual relationship between the very young Krishnamurti and the Theosophical Society (Annie Besant was appointed guardian of Krishnamurti and his beloved younger brother one year later, in 1910. There were many advantages and disadvantages to the transformed life Krishnamurti led, and this book covers all the most interesting facets of Krishnamurti's life with beautiful photographs, hand-written journal entries, and interviews with Krishnamurti and other great thinkers of his time.

This is the story of a man devoted to giving spiritual teachings -- a man who inspired many (including Bruce Lee, Van Morrison, Henry Miller, Deepak Chopra, and Joseph Campbell) with his tremendous wisdom and clarity. Many of Krishnamurti's thoughts and quotes are included, such as, "In yourself lies the whole world, and if you know how to look and learn, then the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either that key or the door to open except yourself."

I highly recommend this book, both for its exquisite attention to the details and big picture of Krishnamurti's life, and for the inspirational wisdom it imparts to the reader.

China should changed the name back to "Manchu" Qing Dynatsy is great!!!

E.Rawski's concentrated research on the Manchu royal family shows that the Manchus, particularly the elite did not lose their cultural heritage but in fact strove to maintain it.

The book explains how the Manchu royal family differed from the Chinese dynasties in their various aspects of social life. As the book is divided in chapters, it's easy to follow and read.

In my humble opinion, this book is for those who wish to study the Manchu monarchy in more detail.