Even the title is intriguing, although it has little to do with the story behind it. After savoring the title, you will find that this is a real "buddies" yarn, consisting largely of first-person versions of the same events seen from different points of view. The four main characters, though differing considerably in personality and profession, have in common their age (mid-30's), residence (Miami apartment complex), and an interest in picking up women. In fact, it is the pickup game that leads to the inconvenient incident of the teenage druggie dying of an overdose in the car. Willeford uses this event to introduce the idea that these men are not just drinking pals but that their relationship pervades their lives in various ways. We see how they complement one another in collaborating to get rid of the body. And this sort of problem occurs a couple more times, since they do have this difficulty with handguns in that whenever a pistol appears, someone ends up embarrassingly dead. But Willeford disposes of the bodies between chapters, without bothering the reader with details. Because he is not writing a crime novel. These violent happenings are introduced to see how the four friends will react as a group. He manages to create plenty of suspense by dealing with how the group collaborates in solving their individual and complicated domestic problems. And he is inventive enough to keep the reader hooked until the end. Willeford's expert writing provides a transparent window into his characters' lives. He is so accomplished that you almost think you could do it yourself. As in other of his novels, he finds opportunity to satirize men's clothing styles (early on, he discovered the vein of humor uncovered by whoever induced men, or their wives, to believe that male clothing styles should change every year or so - remember the Nehru jacket?). I read this book while recuperating from minor abdominal surgery, and the description of the "makout" attire affected by one of the buddies put me in danger of literally splitting my sides. All in all, this book is among the best from an always superior writer.

Quentin Tarantino has admitted to being influenced by the writing of Charles Willeford, and the "The Shark Infested Custard" is the most Tarantinoesque of Willeford's novels. Too hardcore to be published in the 70's, it finally was released after the writer's death. Anybody who has seen "Pulp Fiction" will notice obvious parallels with Willeford's novel: for example, the first chapter (whose surprises, by the way, are given away on the back cover, so I'm not spoiling anything) ends with a drug dealer being killed when a gun "accidentally" goes off. There's lots of raunchy sexual content, scattered outbursts of violence, and a few small dollops of racism. The novel's heroes are four self-absorbed borderline sociopaths, and the story consists of four separate interconnected narratives. Incidentally, Tarantino is writing the introduction to an upcoming Willeford reprint; maybe he could film one of his novels and give Willeford's writing even wider exposure. ("The Woman Chaser" would make a great Tarantino movie...)

Willeford himself considered this his best book and if you read it you'll see why. Technically a novel, the book is really short storie with the same characters--four sociopathic swingers in Miami. Set in the seventies, the plot may have been too risque for its time, but with movies like Pulp Fiction and In the Company of Men invading our pop culture the bleak story is more timely than ever. A masterpiece of crime fiction.

Benjamin Banneker:Surveyor, Astronomer, Publisher, Patriot, by Charles A. Cerami has expanded our knowledge of this renowned 18th century African American. To those familiar with the contributions of blacks to American society, Benjamin Banneker's accomplishments are well known. He was a free black man, son of an African, his grandmother, an indentured servant from England. He built a wooden clock using a pocket watch as a guide. Later on in life, he parlayed his scientific and mathematical skills into the creation of an almanac. He then went on to become an integral part of the team that surveyed the area that was to become the nation's capitol. He wrote letters to Thomas Jefferson critical of the latter's racist views, and even received a response. The author covers this ground well. We are aware of how stunning Banneker's achievements are, given that he was a black man living in a nation where the vast majority of black people toiled in slavery. Even a free black was a degraded, stigmatized creature in white eyes. The author, however, lifts Banneker out of this limiting context to elevate him into the company of truly original thinkers. Thus, Banneker becomes more than a brilliant black man who rose above his station to live the life of the mind, a pursuit which, if he were white, would not have garnered much attention. Banneker made an assertion that no one had made up that point (at least not with his degree of logic). He speculated on the existence of life on other worlds. The author presents an excerpt from Banneker's writings as proof that this humble black farmer was far ahead of his time. Indeed, such a revolutionary thought would not be adopted by scientists as a credible theory until well into the 20th century. Charles Cerami's work is of monumental importance because now we have a new insight into the depth of Benjamin Banneker's intellect. Hopefully, this book will be so widely read that Banneker's role as the man who memorized the plans to Washington, D.C. will not be his ultimate achievement in the popular imagination. Hopefully, scientists, historians and lay enthusiasts will recognize the significance of Banneker's thinking in regard to the possibility of life beyond our precious, little world.

I can't believe the genius of Benjamin Banneker, the man. I always knew his name through his famous letter to Thomas Jefferson. In the pages of this fascinating biography, I discovered his excellence in so many professions, especially astronomy. His speculations on light and stars were revolutionary and opened the door to modern astronomy. He is a true American hero.

Rube Foster-what an amazing man! Dr. Robert Cottrell's impeccably researched biography gives us insight into the evolution of an outstanding athlete, coach, manager, businessman, visionary, and co-founder of the Negro Leagues. In this book, we not only get a detailed look into the day-to-day life of a ballplayer (complete with box scores-balls, strikes, hits, walks, stolen bases, and outstanding plays). More importantly, we see the panorama of black ball (and white ball) in the early part of the 20th century as we barnstorm the country and Cuba with Rube and his various teams and teammates. This biography joins the pantheon of other works by Dr. Cottrell. In his earlier biographies of I.F. Stone, Nicholas Comfort, and Roger Baldwin, we saw sensitive yet balanced looks at strong-willed men in conflict with oppressive conservatism and prejudice in the areas of journalism, religion, and social injustice. Now, we are treated to the same spirited view of our nation's pastime and one of its unsung heroes. This book about Rube Foster provides us nothing less than a much needed revisionist's look at American history.

Rube Foster-what an amazing man! Dr. Robert Cottrell's impeccably researched biography gives us insight into the evolution of an outstanding athlete, coach, manager, businessman, visionary, and co-founder of the Negro Leagues. In this book, we not only get a detailed look into the day-to-day life of a ballplayer (complete with box scores-balls, strikes, hits, walks, stolen bases, and outstanding plays). More importantly, we see the panorama of black ball (and white ball) in the early part of the 20th century as we barnstorm the country and Cuba with Rube and his various teams and teammates. This biography joins the pantheon of other works by Dr. Cottrell. In his earlier biographies of I.F. Stone, Nicholas Comfort, and Roger Baldwin, we saw sensitive yet balanced looks at strong-willed men in conflict with oppressive conservatism and prejudice in the areas of journalism, religion, and social injustice. Now, we are treated to the same spirited view of our nation's pastime and one of its unsung heroes. This book about Rube Foster provides us nothing less than a much needed revisionist's look at American history.

This is the first book to attempt to discuss the legacy of the Black Panther Party. The fact that a second book, Liberation, Imagination and the Black Panther Party, managed to continue the work begun here without significant overlap shows what a rich legacy it was.

One essay, "The Black Panthers and the 'Undiscovered Country' of the Left" proposesthe novel idea that the Panthers had begun to emulate many aspect of an emerging nation-state by taking on the functions of provideng serverices for the community, setting up independent relations with other nations, etc., While this seemed to be unintentional, it does suggest the larger potential of the Party.

It's important to realize that there were many Black Panther "chapters" that were inspired by the Oakland Panthers but developed autonomously and had different levels of political development. The Oakland BPP attempted to gather them all into one big centralized organization but had neither the political experience ,or the time [they were attacked by city, state and federal governments almost from day one] to properly pull it together. The essays by some of the ex-Party members in this volume provide great insight into the different ways in with the BPP were able to speak to local Black communities while encapsulating the grievances and hopes common to them all.

The one weakness of the book is its defensiveness. The city, state and federal governments used the Panthers' militant politics and gun imagery to portray them as reckless thugs who covered up their criminal tendencies with political rhetoric. The authors in this book attempt to refute that by emphasizing the community organizing aspects of the BPP such as the free breakfast programs. However, none of the authors explored the question of whether the Panthers had a legitmate case for armed revolution in the US. By avoiding the debate, the authors seem to be ceding ground to the Pantthers' opponents.

This book should not be seen as the final word but as the beginning of an important conversation. Anyone who wants to understand post-60's political movements can't avoid the fact that the Panthers helped shape the debates that continue up to our time. Read this book to see how.

This book is the first book that comes close to giving a balanced view of the history of the Black Panther party, its problems and its ultimate demise. It includes a view by regular rank and file members. It is well worth reading for those looking for an alternative to those books written by Party leaders, informants, or critics.

I checked out this book from the library about 5 years ago for my (then) 3 year old daughter. We loved it! We've never forgotten about the story, although we couldn't remember the title. I was so delighted to find it again just now! It was so imaginatively written; I would take the words of the song written in the book and make up my own tune. It's really an interactive story a mom can have alot of fun telling.

My two-year-old daughter loves this book, which we read together with much dramatic flair. The problem of King Gordo is familiar to her -- how to take a nap when everyone else is making too much noise? Of course, King Gordo has much more control than a child. He gets to banish the noise-maker to the "Cold and Snowy Land". We make all of the noisy sound effects together (trumpets blare, flags flap, Gerald hiccups, the King snores, Phoebe sings). My daughter walks around our house now saying "this castle is TOO NOISY!" The illustrations by James Stevenson are very amusing. I think it would be enjoyable for a wide age range.

History records major events that often changed or will change human events. History is packed with stories about famous people and places that every child knows about, from Washington to Lincoln to Kennedy. But what about those people in history that make a difference and never get noticed?

Written by his daughter, what we find in this book is more than history its living history. Smith captures the reader with insight only a person this close to the subject can bring to life. Just the lessons about the Tuskegee Airmen is reason enough to read this book.

Talk a walk through the 200-page life history of one of the greatest men in aviation history. Honored by a number of people, Charles McGee is a true national hero for all ages and all people. The sad part of the whole story is how the history books missed the group of men who changed aviation history.

In a day when it is a sad reality that most American history books fail to portray any African American as a hero in the history books, it is great to know that people like Charlene McGee Smith can help us to remember that history is colorblind. Excellent reading for everyone!

This is a wonderful story that chronicles the life of Col. Charles McGee who holds the record for the highest three-war total of fighter combat missions in US Air Force history. It is told through the eyes of his daughter who captures both the military experience as well as the human side of this story. We learn of the perseverance of this Tuskegee Airman who was able to overcome racist experiences and become an American hero. Part of the delight of this book is the personal rememberances by family and friends. Col. McGee flew combat missions and navigated racist attitudes and biases throughout his life. This account is about more than a distinguished military career,it is about family and the significant influence he had on his eldest daughter. We learn about his bravery but more importantly lessons about the value of family, character, and education shape a powerful message for all of us.

Any serious student of African American literature has read the fiction and/or journals of Charles Waddell Chesnutt, one of the most ambitious, intelligent, and under-rated writers of his time. "The Absent Man" is a must-read for Chesnutt scholars, because in it, Duncan explores some of the reasons for Chesnutt's enigmatic reputation: his elusive authorial stance; his introspective personality; his lifelong preoccupation with the ways in which society constructs a person's identity; and his persistent examinations of racial attitudes at a time when much of the reading public was unprepared both emotionally and intellectually for such honesty. Duncan painstakingly dissects the various narrative constructs--such as masking, and the first-person narrator-protagonist vs. the witness-narrator--with which Chesnutt experimented in his writing. Duncan demonstrates an astute understanding of Chesnutt's delicate role: a 19th-century black writer attempting to challenge the racial assumptions of his readers, most of whom were white, and gain fame and fortune in the process. Ambitious indeed, and, sadly, Chesnutt in the end suffered from critical backlash. After Chesnutt's death in 1932, his canon seemed neglected for a time; however, critical attention increased during the latter half of the 20th century, and, influenced by Chesnutt scholar Joseph R. McElrath, Jr., Duncan's voice is a competent addition. While some critics have focused mainly on Chesnutt's most well-known works, such as "The Conjure Woman" and "The Marrow of Tradition," Duncan gives special attention to Chesnutt's lesser known short fiction, such as the short stories "Baxter's Procrustes" and "The Shadow of My Past." Duncan's is a much-needed contribution to our understanding and appreciation of Chesnutt's rhetorical brilliance.

Black Biblical Studies is one of the most important works on the historical/theological significance of the role and presence of Blacks in the Holy Scriptures.

The primary strength of Copher's work is the breadth of topics covered in this concise book. While being small in size, it is big on highlighting the important issues and interests that most readers and researchers are looking for. Dr. Copher's exquisite scholarship is evident, and his many years as an eminent Old Testament scholar add much texture and depth to these articles.

As an African American seminary professor, I am always seeking works that clearly articulate difficult issues for students. I especially appreciate his chapters on "Three Thousand Years of Biblical Interpretation with Reference to Black People" and "Racial Myths and Biblical Scholarship." His footnotes were very helpful in pointing me to additional sources that offered additional quality sources of information.

There is no attempt here by Copher to tell it all; this text does get one started in the right direction in one's quest for the truth. It provides a clear path for those who desire to push further.

I highly recommend this text.

If you want to learn about race relations and you do not have a lot of time, READ THIS BOOK! It is one of the best short books on race relations. Unfortunately, no book as sweeping in scope, scholarly, concise, readable and fair as this one has been published in the last 30 years. It traces race relations from slavery to emancipation to Reconstruction to Jim Crow to the migration of African-Americans to the Northern cities. The author predicts an explosion of racial violence, which in fact did happen after this book was written, in the 1960s. He offers a solution: community organizing in the style of the labor organizer Saul Alinsky, plus pre-kindergarten education for black children. (Alinsky wrote the book "Rules for Radicals.") Malcolm X, Ralph Abernathy (Martin Luther King Jr.'s close associate), and Jerome Bruner (famous Harvard psychologist) all had high praise for the book. It is 30 years old, but 80% of the information is still relevant, and 95% is relevant if you are interested in the history of race relations.

This book is a must have for any country, blues and folk music fan. This book is important in more that one way. It tells you the story of a great man and you get to learn much about early country radio and music. The book also contains many pictures of the Harmonica Wizard, DeFord Bailey.

DeFord was the first artist to ever appear on the Grand Ole Opry. I also want to recomend the CD; The Legendary DeFord Bailey.

You can look forward to many great hours reading about his life and listening to his famous and unparallelled harmonica playing, banjo pickin and guitar playing

DeFord was truly a folk music genius

God Bless Him