very useful reference book for inspirational creativity.

This book is a "must have" for any fan of French art deco/art moderne style. It is beautifully researched and written. The wonderful photography only made me long for more.

There was nothing written on this true master of Art Deco metalware, and this book is as comprehensive as a book can be on an artist. Written with respect, admiration and love for the Art Deco style and the metal craft. Cannot be surpassed. Nothing missing, nothing redundant.

Is there any food dish that is more American than Macaroni and Cheese? Many of us, myself included, grew up with the 'blue box' and as our tastes developed, so did our disdain for this dish. I tended to equate 'Mac & Cheese' with that meat product that comes in the blue can.

But Joan Schwartz has exploded the low-brow image of America's comfort food. This book is incredible! There are so many varieties of this dish from the 'classic' dishes to international flavors to what Ms. Schwartz calls 'Mac and Cheese Today'. And don't think that the cheese is that orange stuff. Swiss, Fontina, Mascarpone, Feta and Mozzarella are just a few of the varieties that you will use in your recipes. And just when you thought that the cheeses were a stretch, recipes with lobster, prosciutto, artichoke hearts, portabello and crimini mushrooms and chiles and chipotle peppers to mention a few, will delight your tastes.

I'll admit that I bought this book with a great deal of skepticism. A few bites of the 'Chunks of Lobster Swimming in Cheesy Macaroni' dispelled my reservations. Other favorites include 'Farfalle with Fontina, Tasso Ham and Baby Spinach' and Mac and Smoked Cheddar with Ham and Chipotles'. Imagine the look on guests' faces when you announce that you are serving them Mac and Cheese and their surprise when you serve a dish approaching haute cuisine.

Let's admit it...we liked the 'blue box' growing up and most of us are ashamed to reveal our love of this American staple. Now we can proudly bring this long demeaned dish back to the table and rekindle our fondness for it. Buy the book....it's a keeper!

Clearly written, with easy to follow instructions, and guide to ingredients, including definitions and sources. I love the 50's style art and kitchy-ness of this wonderful comfort food book. The recipes go from simple and basic to complex and gourmet. Even my husband loved this book so much, he followed a recipe and made a decent meal from scratch for the first time in his life.

I plan to attempt most of the recipes in this book.

The recipe for greek mac n' cheese is one of my favorite recipes of all time. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Joan Crawford's book is clearly stating the importance of priority to one's life. This is a great book and I recommend it to both women and men who want to grasp the principle of holding their own grounds as they progress towards in life. Joan Crawford teaches how to value time for oneself and others, the importance of making things everyday activities convenient and the ultimate challenge of being able to present the right athmosphere for his/her partner.
The Desiderata part is also beautiful, I'm very impressed with this work.

A friend who works at a stuffy private library loaned this to me, and it kept me in stitches for literally weeks. From recipes for peanut butter-and-bacon hors d'oeuvres to hilariously self-serving anecdotes about throwing parties, raising children and satisfying your man, it's equal parts Hints from Heloise and "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?"!

I always wondered how to instruct my maid to pack the sleeves of my Chanel suits for travel. Of course, Joan comes to the rescue. I was thrilled to find this book at a used book sale. I treasure it, and refer to it often, especially if I'm feeling a little too picky about my housekeeping. For me, it's a portrait of Joan trying desperately to keep her star burning bright. No one ever did it like her. No one ever will again.

This is a well-written, highly personalized biography of Victor Jara, a great Chilean folksinger. However, in 1998 Joan Jara published an updated version of this book, which corrects a few minor errors and gives updates on Victor's legacy. This 1998 book can be found at various UK online booksellers, including amazon.co.uk.

This is an incredible book about Victor Jara, the musician and activist in the Chilean struggle against fascism and imperialism, and his brutal murder by Pinochet and his forces. It is also a book about the people of Chile, and chronicles carefully their poverty as well as their amazing spirit. To the non-Chilean reader it provides an important account of the workings of imperialism. Joan Jara's book MUST be read as widely as possible. Why is it not available more easily in North America?! It is a very important book because of its relevance to modern day imperialism.

I tried to write to you so many times... I hope you could read my letter... Once I was in Madrid, in a bookstore, and your book just jumped right to my hands. Since then, your book stays near my bed (and I am talking about 15 years...), and turn to be part of my life. Thank you so much for the strenght, hope, the lesson for life you gave with your (and Victor`s) words and life story. I hope you found peace and forgiveness. We will never forget.

This fascinating biography is not only a pager turner, it also an insightful discourse on how to be an agent of change. This book is a MUST READ for anyone who is grappling with issues of how to change policy, whether as an "insider", "outsider", or hybrid. It is also an inspirational story of an terrific woman. I couldn't put it down.

A fantastic, inspiring book for these times. Civil Rights history comes alive in the Congresswoman's life story. The writing is diligent and refreshing, illustrating Norton's true integrity and commitment to the core values of the United States Constitution.Lester tells the story in a unique fashion. I couldn't put it down.

Fire In My Soul is a fascinating account of how one woman of color experienced and led the nascent Civil Rights, Equal Opportunity, Human Rights and Feminist movements. It is also a powerful insider's look at the personal compromises and trade-offs women, in particular, must make in order to prevail as torch-bearers. Particularly touching is the recounting of Eleanor's childhood where she consistently overrode her intense longing for connection and home with action and organization. This childhood pattern would become the watchword of her life. Also fascinating is the history of her forebears in slavery and her fights at the EEOC. Lester lets us see Eleanor as a whole person, warts and all. It is a fascinating and compelling read and a clear portrayal of what it takes to succeed as a woman in a man's political world. I only wish there were more women like Eleanor to help keep the torch burning!

I was given this book at age 7 or 8: one of my first "big kid "books that wasn't a hand-me down from my sisters. No one had to make me read poetry,after that!I adore the illustrations; they just seem so perfect for each poem! There are dozens I can still recite from memory.
When my son was 4, I got the book out of storage and read him, "The Highwayman"- and he was hooked! We rode with Paul Revere and asked each other: "I'm nobody! Who are you?" When my daughter found an abandoned nest of baby birds and we knew they would die- we read "Four Little Foxes" and grieved together, and later laughed over "The Owl Critic." These poems and drawings are like old friends to us all.
After all these years, it's rather the Velveteen rabbit of the bookshelf: pages dog-eared and falling out from years of use. I am ordering a new copy for my daughter's 12th birthday (don't pay attention to the age range listed for the book) so she'll have a copy to pass on to her children. It's just a wonderful selection of all types of poems, sure to please the children AND the adults who read to them! Start tonight!

I was cleaning out some boxes of children's books, keeping what I consider classic while giving the rest to my grandchildren or to the libraries. I doubled-back between this current edition and the previous editions to make sure this was the same one...it is, and I highly recommend this. I took a class in children's literature back in the 70's and I fondly remember it as being one of the most enjoyable classes I had in college the first time around. This book lasted through my children's growing up and is now going through new useage with my grandchildren. I love the way this book is organized. If you have a child with specific interests such as limericks (and I know few children who don't get a kick out of limericks) you can go to that section without delay.

I grew up with Joan Walsh Anglund poignant drawings. They are not particularly 'great' art, but for children and in this book, they are vastly more suitable than the poorly drawn and maddening stuff put out in cartoons (especially of the Pokemon variety which will set off seizures in children). They say the age of this book is for four years to eight year olds. That isn't true. Every parent should try to take the time to read to all children in whatever form necessary...and it should start at age one. Reading aloud (or signing books) to your children not only makes essential bonds, but it also teaches children what you think is important, and also teaches them how to stop and pay attention. The massive complaints about restless children and the abuse of labeling (ADD/ADHD) has its beginnings in simple things such as turning the television/computers off and reading to your children.

... should be showing the pictures and pages of this book in a sampling, so that parents can make informed decisions about children's books. If you only get one child's book this year, get this one and sit down with your children and read.

Karen Sadler,
Science Education,
University of Pittsburgh

Incredible book of poetry for children and adults alike. Timeless selections. Many will remind you of your own childhood. This collection should be required reading in all schools. Also, the illustrations are most memorable and will capture young imaginations. I'm so glad to have rediscovered this book after over 3 decades!

As a recreation of ancient Egypt, this feels authentic. The people are as wise, noble and spiritual as we'd like to believe the ancients were.

The novel is as much philosophy as story, and there is much to provoke thought. However, the book can be enjoyed whether you take it as past life memory or just an escape to another time.

Sekeeta is a princess born to a First Dynasty pharaoh. When the young girl shows a talent for clairvoyant dreams, she is sent to train as a Priestess of Anubis, the god of prophecy. Her temple teachers are wise, and train her to use her gifts to serve her country. When she is grown, she rules as co-Pharaoh with her brother Neyah.

As noted above, this book is philosophy in novel form. It is to our conventional idea of the novel as the Egyptian wall painting is our idea of painting. The traditional elements of conflict, action and strong character development aren't much in evidence here. That doesn't make it unreadable, just different.

The language is stylized but beautiful, with a certain biblical flavor, the imagery vivid and poetic. In the childhood part of Sekeeta's life, she is told child's stories with simple, sound lessons, like The Monkey Who Wanted to be a Man.

Also interesting are the meanings behind some hieroglyphic symbols; in Grant's view, the images were metaphors for spiritual concepts or lessons. The word "beloved," for example, was written as a plow to show that, as a plow makes the earth fertile, so love does likewise to the heart.

On the whole, this a book that I return to and enjoy.

This is Joan Grant's great work. Even if she didn't say it was a "far memory" of a past life, it would be easy to imagine the story is true. She starts as a small girl and her speech is very simple. As she grows, so does the level of vocabulary and conversation, but imperceptibly. Also, this book is so real and yet magical, I wished I was in it! I read a chapter of the little girl section to my 6 year old niece who hated to go to bed and she made me read that same chapter over and over and over in the same sitting! It is sooo beautiful! I've read just a chapter to adults and they had to read the whole book. Make people get their own copy, though -- I've noticed they don't like to give it back!

All souls who travel down their life-path looking for the answer to the question "why am I here" have seminal books that are signposts to help them on their way. One of mine is "Winged Pharaoh" by Joan Grant. I could not put it down until I had read it from cover to cover. It was the temple training of her main character Sekhet-a-ra that spoke to me through the pages of her book.

So what is the book about? It is the 'autobiography' of a First Dynasty Egyptian Princess who later goes on to become joint Pharaoh with her brother. Before she can take her place beside him on the throne of Egypt she undergoes training to become a priestess of Anubis.

The book is set out in three distinct parts. The first deal with her childhood, the second with her training to be a priestess and the 'graduation' ceremony (which is truly traumatizing), and the third covers her life as Pharaoh. In reality the book is divided into eight parts, but in truth the life is clearly demarcated by those three main sections.

That is a dry description of a narrative that grips the reader. You live Sekhet-a-ra's life with her from the time she is a small child being cared for by her nurse Maata until she dies at the age of fifty-three. Her childhood makes you feel the dry sands of Egypt, the gardens of the palace and the training necessary for her future role as joint Pharaoh with her brother.

I had the good fortune to meet Joan Grant in her later years. Did we discuss deep and meaningful things? Once or twice we did. In fact she shared some insights that I did not understand at that time, but now do. Mainly I fulfilled small services to make life a little more comfortable for her, such as sending her talking books back to the library they came from. I hope that those small services repaid in some measure the pleasure, knowledge and understanding that her 'novels' and especially "Winged Pharaoh" gave to me. I want to pass on to you the fact that this precious book exists and that for anyone interested in reincarnation and astral traveling it deserves to be on their reading list.

Written by a Quaker, on an entirely ocean moon, with an all female species, committed to pacifism- this novel has it all! Slonczewski's Friend background breathes through the book, where the Sharers, the moon people, have regular meetings, "gatherings", in order to determine the action that needs to happen, by consensus. If one person disagrees then no action is taken. They are committed to nonviolent action not as a means to an end but a way of life itself- and they are very good at it. And it seems that long ago they produced women only.

Then trade begins with a much more violent-prone planet which they orbit, with both genders of humans, ruled by a distant patriarch. It's basically like our planet. And with the trade comes traditional ideas of control and power. A few representatives of the moon rise up to advocate for those on the planet, arguing that they are people as well, and that there can be healthy interaction between the moon and the planet.

Slonczewski has rich character development and keeps the reader on the edge of the seat with novel plot twists. It is also real. The best kind of Sci-Fi changes a few parameters and lets real life develop from there. Here, if we posit the beginnings of a female pacifist ocean moon, it all makes sense. The nonviolent action doesn't always work out as we would like, and our friends are not always friendly. Just because the women are pacifists doesn't mean they are good or always agree. But, as in real life, nonviolent action here is effective also.

The one downer in the novel is some lesbian interaction, which thankfully is minimal. The incredibly great aspect of the novel is how it puts you into a Pacifist mindset, thinking along the lines of active resistance without violence. For it is not just tactics, but a way of being. The Sharers greet each other with "Share the day" and speak of "learn-sharing" or "food-sharing"- for all actions in their language are reflexive. To give birth to a baby is to be given birth by the baby into motherhood. Their names are their worst faults, such as "Usha the Inconsiderate"- a name chosen when they become an adult as a reminder of what they need to try to overcome for the rest of their lives. I think we would be far better off looking at our own faults like this continually. And even their understanding of death as the last door, which you enter and then are reborn, has the metaphorical image of life only through death. They constantly affirm that we are doers who act- we choose- even choosing death at times, but it is our decision. This awareness that they are in control means that there is not the need for violence to get their way, or even to get their way. It is the way of the Gospel- the way the Kingdom *should* look this side of Eternity. Would that we all lived more as Sharers.

If you're looking for something different and interesting, this is a story worth reading. A planet consisting of only water and floating rafts populated by women struggles to cope with a visiting planet's representatives. On the planet, Shora, the women live based upon a philosophy of sharing, but the visiting delegation only is interested in having Shora and their inhabitants as resources. A philosophy of sharing and cooperativeness vs. a philosophy of domination and control. This one is worth sharing with others. The only drawback I noticed was the slow start I felt reading through Part One and the beginning portion of Part Two. Don't stop there, as this is all necessary as building blocks for the rest of the novel.

Dune was probably the first "environmental" sci fi, exploring issues of how "where you live" and how your relative harmony/disharmony with that place can affect your society. This book is similar in that way-- and it adds the element of a society where gender relationships are examined, like the best utopia sci-fi. I thought that the characters were interesting, and the clash between a sort of "patriarchy" with a definite matriarchy was thought-provoking, as well. If you liked books like Ursula K. LeGuin's The Left Hand of Darkness, The Handmaid's Tale, The Gate to Women's Country, and other "dystopic/utopia" fiction, you'll probably like this one.

If you believe that every dish has a story to tell, in other words, if you are the kind of person who likes to read cookbooks as much as you like to cook by them, then "The Foods of Israel Today" by Joan Nathan is a book for you. While the title indicates these are foods found in contemporary Israel, each dish is traditional, originating perhaps in Israel, or more often somewhere else: Germany, Iran, Italy, Libya, Morocco, Turkey, etc., but all a part of the Jewish diaspora and eventual return to multicultural Israel. The author really tells the story of each dish (there is just as much "story" as actual recipe): the people that make it, where they come from, how they live, and how the author came to learn it all. There are lots of historic photographs too. One slight drawback is that this book is most useful to someone who is an experienced cook, especially one who is familiar with Jewish cuisine. In a few places where a food or cooking technique may not be familar, it is not as much a step-by-step guide as it could be. However, this is a minor fault in a very valuable and enjoyable book.

When was the last time you took a cookbook to bed with you? This is a book that you'll read from cover to cover, and not necessarily in the kitchen. Well researched and expertly written, "The Foods of Israel Today" is actually a history of food traditions in Israel with a bonus of assorted recipes. Joan Nathan, formerly an assistant to Teddy Kollek, knows all the right people and has been to all the right places. The book is filled with delightful food-related anecdotes about well known Israeli personalities. This makes for a great read. For example, a full-page anecdote about a visit to Arik and Lili z"l Sharon's ranch with a photo of Lili and a description of their kitchen, precedes Lili's recipe for roast lamb. Her secret? A whole head of garlic pressed into the lamb.

The introduction to this book is a fascinating history of the development of agriculture in Israel and how that influenced Israeli cuisine. The book has several full page color photographs, but more captivating are the many small black-and-white photos of Israel in its early years. There are other handy items such as recommendations for favorite Hummus haunts in Jerusalem, pita bakeries and where to get Baklava in the Galil. The recommended places are not all kosher, but the 300 recipes appear to all be kosher. This book is a must-have.

The Foods of Israel Today is a delicious tour of Middle Eastern tastes and sights. The black and white photos of Israel's early days and the beautiful color photos of contemporary life in its varied ethnic communities provide a vivid picture of the country's history and the complex textures of its vibrant daily life today.

I love reading all of Joan Nathan's books almost as much as I enjoy cooking from them. The dishes I choose to emulate are enhanced by the stories of the people who have already fed these goodies to their own families. Where else can you find recipes for life alongside recipes for casseroles?

The cooking instructions themselves are easy to follow. I don't read a cookbook like a science text; I don't much care if what comes out of my kitchen is exactly like the original. The fun is at least partly in the process. And with The Foods of Israel Today, as with all of Nathan's books, there's an added reward: while your friends and family are enjoying their dinner (and complimenting you for it) you can regale them with the stories of the interesting folks who made these recipes possible.

The book is basic in its approach to elder caring. Because the book is written by fourteen different people it is repedative in areas. This book completely ignores the wonderful counsel of daily Bible reading and prayer in elder care giving. My Mother suffering with Alzheimer's, loves to have the Bible read to her. "What a friend we have in Jesus".

The correct title of the book isFourteen Friends' Guide to Eldercarin

This book gives practical advice and guidance to caregivers of both the elderly and others requiring on-going care. In addition, the book gives positive encouragement and uplifiting thoughts. It would have helped me in the past and I know it will help me in the future. Every family seems to be facing caregiving situations these days. This book will help!