Please expose young people to this work! It will bring the Scriptures and African-American culture alive for them. It wouldn't hurt adults either..I was thinking from a teaching standpoint..Love this work!

James Weldon Johnson was one of the giants of African-American cultural history. A novelist, poet, songwriter, diplomat, educator, and activist, he left behind a towering legacy when he died in 1938. An essential part of that legacy is "God's Trombones," a book in which Johnson pays poetic tribute to the "old-time Negro preacher."

"God's Trombones" contains seven poems, each of which is inspired by the art of the classic African-American sermon. Most of Johnson's poems retell Bible stories. "The Creation," "Noah Built the Ark," "Let My People Go," and more--each one carries the reader to the traditional Black churches of Johnson's era. In his preface Johnson discusses the cultural significance of the traditional African-American religious orator and also reflects on his own literary strategies in the construction of these poems.

Johnson's poems beg to be read aloud. Whatever your own ethnic heritage or religious inclination, try giving voice to these masterworks: you'll be amazed at the effect. If you are a lover of Christian inspirational writing, a scholar of African-American culture, or a person who appreciates great poetry, "God's Trombones" would make a fine addition to your library.

I read this book two years ago as a freshman in college. The poems touched me so much that I still continue to read them. Through this book James Weldon Johnson has retold familar Bible stories in a new light. He has captured the spirit of an oral tradition and has preserved this great tradition for future generations. I would highly reccomend this book to people of all ages and all backgrounds!

There have been a number of slams against stock options by people who think they are at the heart of corporate scandals. This readable and thorough book points out that sharing ownership broadly has been a tremendous benefit to many companies, although a few have abused it. Those of us who have seen companies grow dramatically through the efforts of incentived employees know that options are the best system devised for sharing ownership broadly, and that current attempts to restrict them will do more harm than good for the US economy. This book carefully documents both the benefits and abuses, and should be useful for entrepreneurs who want to build companies, and for regulators who want to really curb abuses while saving the benefits -- and chance for broad based wealth creation -- that employee ownership represents.

This is a very carefully crafted and persuasive book. The authors do a great job of laying out the argument for why sharing ownership broadly with employees is good for companies, shareholders, and employees, while concentrating ownership in just a few executives is a bad idea.The book is especially important now with all the debate going on about stock options, which they point out are just one of the ways companies can share ownership. The book provides the most comprehensive data on this subject to date, so its arguments are not just based on preconceived notions. It deserves a wide audience, especially among corporate decision makers.

For those who have become interested in Douglas' art, this sets it and his life in a broader context. Very satisfying.

As usual Coupland delivers a book full of smart pop cultural references and observations about life that makes me smile. It's always a pleasure to read him! The theme is, as in Microserfs, how you can find your true personality and how you can get a good, fulfilling life when you're stuck in the middle of everybody else expectations and in the middle of everyday life. Microserfs is my favorite Coupland-book and I don't think Miss Wyoming is quite as good as that one. The story is certainly entertaining with all that Hollywood and beauty pageant background, but it doesn't really make me stop and think like Microserfs did. What I like best about this one is the many unexpected turns on the way to the end (and don't watch teve or something while you read it because it's _not_ chronological) and all the characters around Susan Colgate and John Lodge Johnson. Think tank-Vanessa and video-Ryan for example! And Dreama with her numbers. Great! But if you want to read a really good Coupland, I suggest Microserfs.

I have been in love with Douglas Coupland and the characters of his books for years now. I own first editions of everyone of his books, and he had always been high on my list of men I would marry--living or dead. That being said, I removed him after stumbling through Girlfriend In a Coma. It was surface, uninspired writing; and for the first time I didn't get to that special place that I get to with every other Coupland book. That place where I have read a line and he has described something in that most perfect way. The way I had always wanted to express it, but never knew until I read it. It is those moments when I lay the book against my chest and sigh. Douglas has redeemed himself with Miss Wyoming. There is at least one perfect moment in this book. No, it is not Life After God or Microserfs. But it is good. It's worth your time. And it reminds you that just like you're mother, Coupland isn't perfect. And that's okay.

Get this book, and put it in the hands of people who have never read Coupland's work.

I think Coupland has found a great balance between character and plot in this novel. The characters in this book are interesting, engaging, and feel realistic. The dramatic tension from the different story threads moving back and forth in time worked well, I couldn't wait to get back to each thread.

In some of Coupland's earlier books I liked the style and fresh point of view more than the story. In Miss Wyoming the style serves to propel the story, the story stands on its own. Read it.