Naomi Shihab Nye is Palestinian-American and currently lives in Texas. Words Under the Words is a collection of works from three earlier books: Different Ways to Pray, Hugging the Jukebox, and Yellow Glove. In this collection, her poetry celebrates the interconnectedness of the human spirit and the ordinary world. A stranger's eyes, once met, become the eyes of a fellow (Eye-to-Eye, p. 11); a serving woman's lined face tells a story of great worth (The Indian in the Kitchen, p.4); and images of Guatemala eulogize the passing of indigenous culture in service to the industrial world (Getting Through the Day, p. 69).

Nye's poetry is informed by her sense of place: Kindness (p.42) could have been written nowhere but from Colombia. Before you learn the solemnity of kindness, she writes, you must see a dead person lying roadside. "You must see how this could be you/how he, too, was someone/who journeyed through the night with plans/and the simple breath that kept him alive." Many of the poems in this book have been written from different Central and South American countries-others in the Middle East, in the United States-there is even a poem about being lost in Kansas.

In an interview with Rachel Berenblat, Nye said she has written poems from childhood. "I liked the portable, comfortable shape of poems," she said. "I liked the way they took you to a deeper, quieter place, almost immediately." It is no surprise, then, that these poems are accessible and harmonious, written in the language of empathy and compassion.

I have always felt that I couldn't "understand" poetry, but these poems spoke to me. I came across this book by accident, but once I started reading it, I couldn't part with it. I felt compelled to buy a copy. The beauty of Ms. Nye's poetry lies in its unpretentious yet eloquent simplicity. The poems are full of everyday events, people, emotions - yet express such profound ideas. They are full of humanity, good-will, and self-discovery. This is a book that would appeal to even the most "unliterary" person.

The Words Under the Words is certainly one of my favorite books of poetry. Nye writes with a warmth and gentleness that is calming, thought-provoking, and increasingly rare in today's poetry. She seems to have an amazingly accurate and poignant understanding of human emotions and presents these so softly and beautifully that it's hard not to fall in love with the stories that grow from these poems. One of the few books of poetry I've read cover to cover that's maintained a sense of freshness and wonder throughout. It held my interest like a hand. I can't imagine anyone not liking this book. A great read.

This volume contains many gems, including Trotsky's introduction to the first Afrikaans version of the Communist Manifesto and his memorial to his son, murdered by Stalin's agents: "Leon Sedov - Son, Friend, Fighter". But there is something else the reader can gain from reading through this and the other "miscellaneous" Trotsky Writings collections, that you don't get from Trotsky's major books of the 1930s: the picture of a revolutionary leader dealing day by day with every challenge, with issues big and small ranging from world politics to party organisation, providing a political lead in response to revolutionary opportunities and other explosive events as world war II approached. In the early 21st century, with depression conditions and class polarisation extending relentlessly, these lessons from the 1930s become ever more relevant to class conscious fighters seeking a way out of capitalism's terminal crisis.

Isaac Deutscher, the great historican and biographer of Trotsky, called these years "The Hell Black Night." Then these were years Deutscher, then a Polish Trotskyist, used to slink away in fear from Trotsky's revolutionary perspectives, the only delegate to vote against the founding of the Fourth International. Read these articles, speeches, and interviews and you will understand why during the height of Stalin's purges when the victims were not only comrades, people he fought the Russian revolution with, fought Stalin with, but his own dearest son and closest political collaborator, that Trotsky extended the vision of a new revolutionary international, that Trotsky led his movement to new growth and expansion, politically and numerically on a world scale. Read here how to fight Stalinism and fascism, see here as Trotsky builds a movement on principle. see the faith in history and the revolutionary potential of working people that allowed Trotsky to understand there would be new revolutions, revolutionary communists like Che and Fidel. revolutionists like Thomas Sanakara and Malcolm X. Read the basis for victory for working people around the world.

The article on the death of his son, Leon Sedov, is heart-rending and inspiring - a father who must write his child's obituary, a leader who salutes another leader and faces his loss. As always with Trotsky's writings, a rich mixture of political clarity - like the article explaining the difference between the economic foundations of the Soviet economy and its perfidious government - and nuggets of insight - such as the single page on art and revolution. Includes simple, short exposés of the Moscow Trials. Gives the reader a feel for deep, historical truths learned during the Russian revolution that drove Trotsky to keep fighting as the world crumbled into World War II.

My 18 month old son and I both love this book. I think he can really relate to the illustrations for several reasons. First of all, the characters, like his family and himself, are black people. Secondly, the book shows the family doing things that we do as a family such as reading, singing, giving the baby a bath, and giving the baby a good night kiss. This book reflects a normal, two parent family who have a lot of love for their child. What could be healthier?

Even though my daughter is only 15 months old, this is definitely one of her favorite books and has been since she was old enough to pick her own books out. The story is simple and short, teaching healthy family values. The pictures are bright, colorful and genuine. Each page has just a few lines which are all a young child can handle. And the book itself is constructed of sturdy hardboard, making it easy for her to turn the pages, just like in the story. She makes me read this story every night and appears to listen intently each time. I highly recommend it for even the youngest infants.

This is one of the sweetest little bedtime books for babies. It is short, with colorful pictures, and a nice rhythmical rhyme. It is one of a series featuring African-American families. But, like any good book, it is written for all colors! I applud the authors and publisher. If you cannot purchase it, find it in your library. This is a good book to introduce your baby to the world of reading!

The first target of Stalin's murder machine was the thousands of communist workers who supported the left opposition of Leon Trotsky. In the Soviet Union the human continuity of real Marxism was broken by Stalin, but the political program remains today. An important part of this program is collected in this book, which analyzes the early tendencies of the bureaucratic machine that was beginning to supplant revolutionary Marxism. Trotsky brilliantly analyzes the first fruits of Stalin's narrow world outlook in the years following the defeat of the German Revolution of 1923. On the domestic front, he points to the need to build an alliance of the working class and peasantry. Within the party, he calls for democratic discussion to replace lies and slander. Now, with the collapse of Stalinism coinciding with a disastrous crisis of capitalism, is a good time to check out these articles by Trotsky.

This book consists of talks and articles by the leader of the fight to keep the Soviet Union on a revolutionary course from 1923 through 1925. Lenin's perspective of extending revolution world-wide clashed with the views of the nationalist, bureaucratic caste growing within the USSR, led by Stalin. Lenin sought Trotsky's collaboration to oppose Stalin's political and organizational transgressions and remove him from the position of Communist Party General Secretary.

But a stroke felled Lenin in the spring of 1923 and he remained incapacitated until his death early in 1924. It was left to Trotsky to lead the fight for Marxism - Leninism against its negation: Stalinism.

This volume marks the beginning of the struggle Trotsky launched at Lenin's insistence to oppose Stalin, Bukharin and others who adapted to middle class bureaucratic layers in Russia and began to turn the young Soviet Union away from the revolutionary communist road Lenin had led it on, onto the bureaucratic degeneration that became known as Stalinism. Covered here are how to fight bureaucracy--is it an administrative or social economic problem--the real history of the Russian revolution, and so much more. This is required reading for fighters in the former USSR, in China, Vietnam and other countries trying to fight their way out of the debris of the Stalinist regimes. This is a great asset for Cuban fighters to understand that Fidel and Che's fight against bureaucratism was not the first.

I have been collecting Harrison Fisher illustrated prints and bookplates for about 10 years now.

Ms. Welch compiles so much of Harrison Fisher's work in this volume.
This book begins with a biography which has the most information I have read about him anywhere. Good quality materials are used; this is a large artbook with full-color illustrations printed on glossy, thick paper. Most, if not all, of Harrison Fisher's Cosmopolitan and Ladies Home Journal magazine covers are pictured here.

Each artbook has its own section that includes detailed publishing and printing information and is followed by the illustrations presented in the order in which they appear in the artbooks. Differences in first and second printings are discussed. Ms. Welch includes insets of Harrison Fisher's signed artbook contracts.
Various collectibles featuring Fisher's artwork are pictured accompanied by a value guide in the back of the book. Please note that postcards of Harrison Fisher's illustrations are shown in another of Naomi Welch's works.

Thorough reference source and great collector's item on Harrison Fisher and his illustrations. Would love to see more reference books in the future on Fisher. Hopefully, a biography will be published about him some day.

If you want to find out more about Harrison Fisher and his illustrations this book will give you wide exposure to his work.

A great book--comprehensive, great insights into the author's life, terrific color reproduction and sturdy binding so you can look at it again and again. A minor quibble is that I would have loved to have seen some of the magazine covers full page, but that was probably cost prohibitive. Somebody, please do a Harrison Fisher poster book!

Naomi Welch has done a beautiful job on "The Complete Works of Harrison Fisher Illustrator". I grew up with Harrison Fisher prints and dearly love them. Ms. Welch has certianly done her homework providing a well written history of Harrison Fisher and his works. The pictures are presented in a very loving manner with great detail. It is a must have for any Harrison Fisher collector! Beautiful!

My son got this as a favor at a birthday party when he was one. He loves this book and wants us to read it to him over and over. Now, when we say "Elmo says touch your nose!" He will do it! The best one is when "Elmo says do a shimmy shake"! You have to see it. I just wish it was a board book instead of pages, since he has ripped out several pages and now I need a new copy.

This is a wonderful book for an extremely low price. I bought eight of them as birthday party favors. It is perfect for small children.

This book is wonderful for toddlers. It teaches them to follow instructions while having fun with their Sesame Street fans. My daughter is 16 months old and knows the book by heart. I would recommend every family have this book in their childs library.

I really liked reading Han's Christian Anderson's biography. You learn a lot about him, and his stories from this book. He is one of the greatest writers ever. He tells the story of his life beautifully. It was full of adventures and travels, of which he tells a lot about in his book. He truly liked all people. I highly recommend this book, and would give it more stars if I could.

The Fairy Tale Of My Life is Hans Christian Andersen's autobiography. Andersen (1805-1875) had an undeniable gift for storytelling that led to the creating of a series of classic fairytales that included "The Little Mermaid", "The Ugly Duckling", and "The Snow Queen. His sense of fantasy, descriptive abilities, and sensitivity to human emotions are also evident in the candor and engaging self-told story of his life from the extreme poverty of a provincial childhood to the international celebrity of his final years. Careful readers will also find valued insights into the sources for many of his most famous and enduringly popular stories. The Fairy Tale Of My Life is a "must" for the legions of Hans Christian Andersen fans!

The Fairy Tale Of My Life is Hans Christian Andersen's autobiography. Andersen (1805-1875) had an undeniable gift for storytelling that led to the creating of a series of classic fairytales that included "The Little Mermaid", "The Ugly Duckling", and "The Snow Queen. His sense of fantasy, descriptive abilities, and sensitivity to human emotions are also evident in the candor and engaging self-told story of his life from the extreme poverty of a provincial childhood to the international celebrity of his final years. Careful readers will also find valued insights into the sources for many of his most famous and enduringly popular stories. The Fairy Tale Of My Life is a "must" for the legions of Hans Christian Andersen fans!

Naomi Shihab Nye is a bridge-builder. She reaches out to those of other cultures, and always expresses understanding of those sometimes forgotten in our society. A good book for all ages!

Possibly the best book in this genre. Nye's essays are thought provoking because they could happen in any of our lives. If you are going to be stranded on an island, take this book with you.

Her essays read like poetry. This book is wonderful

Plate Tectonics: An Insider's History of the Moden Theory of the Earth edited by Naomi Oreskes is a book about the movement of the land masses on the Earth and how the theory of plate tectonics came about. In the book there are seventeen original essays by the scientists who made earth history as they explain how placte tectonics works.

Plate tectonics is a science that you'd think has been around for a long time, but in fact, not until 1968 has the theory, research, data collection and analysis came together. The movement of relatively static land masses was not a popular idea, especially in the oil industry, where they believed that tectonics was not a viable theory.

This book takes us on a journey in history giving us a historical background of continental drift to plate tectonics. What I find extemely interesting about this book is the actual players in the development of the theory are represented here. Giving their accounts and insight into why things are as they are... explaining their thought processes in confirmation of the theory of plate tectonics.

Each author gives a piece of the puzzle until there is enough evidence that a workable theory can be developed. These authors tell us in their own words, making for a compelling book about discovery. Also, the reader will find an overview of definitions of terms used throughout the book, this keeps the readers interest as you will not be overburdoned with terms you do not understnd.

All in all, this is a very readable book as it explains the science of plate tectonics and the inter-relationship of this science to man's well-being on earth.

This book will delight all historians of science. The indefatigable Naomi Oreskes, known for her excellent history of continental drift and plate tectonics, has assembled reminiscences by the surviving founders of plate tectonics theory. Dr. Oreskes deserves the highest praise for this. Alas, the senior figures such as Arthur Holmes and Harry Hess are no longer with us; the writers of these essays were graduate students in the critical early 1960s. Now elders themselves, they recall the excitement of coming on the scene just when all was breaking loose. Even the most sober number-crunchers manage to write with infectious enthusiasm. The theories are explained in a notably accessible fashion, and the varied intellectual currents of the time (and, in some essays, subsequent decades) are brought out. My one complaint--as a reader interested in the history of science--is that the writers don't say much about their personal lives. One suspects that some of them have no personal lives beyond number-crunching. Most, however, hint at or partially reveal rich and interesting backgrounds that clearly affected their thoughts. Only Peter Molnar does much more than hint, and, although he claims that one reader called his essay "unexpurgated," even he is rather reticent. Still, this volume is a gold mine, providing a very different look at one of the most "revolutionary" (in scare quotes) theoretical advances in the history of science. The consensus here seems to be that it was indeed a revolution, at least in the eyes of American graduate students of the 1960s, but not a Kuhnian revolution brought about by highly intellectualized "paradigm shifts" (Kuhn 1962); it was brought about by new field methods that brought floods of new data. These allowed the development of real mathematical models. One can only stand in awe of the amount of work this entailed. Several authors speak of working day and night, week after week, on data entry and computer jockeying. They managed this without any loss of enthusiasm--quite the reverse, apparently. Ah, youth.

This is a highly informative account of both the ideas that led to the development of Plate Tectonic theory and the concepts of how the earth works. The book is engaging to read and is understandable to an audience at the level of Scientific American. I am using it as a required text in my course at Columbia University titled "Plate-tectonic theory and its geological corollaries". For those fascinated in how the human mind puts observations together to build ideas and then test them, this book is first rate. Each chapter is crafted by a different researcher describing his or her contribution to the over all theory. The reader encounters brilliant and original ideas discarded by peer review, scientists peeping over each other's shoulder, the rush to the goal line to publish first, competition for access to key data sets, a last minute conversion from the static earth perspective, and the thrill of exploration at sea. The authors presents a wonderful history in Chapter 1 of the intellectual passage from the first inkling of continental drift in the 16th century to the breakthrough in 1966-1968 of the full-blown theory of rigid lithosphere paving stones and narrow plate boundaries.

I have been collecting ruby glass for over 20 years. I have never concerned myself with the history or pricing of same until recently. If you love ruby you will find this book a good resource.

I have been collecting ruby glass for 20 years because I love the beauty of it. I was never concerned with the price or make until recently. This is a good beginning resouce with color photos and a price guide. If you love ruby you will enjoy this book.

A fabulous book for ruby glass collectors or collectors of anysort. A great reference for rare pieces and everyday itmes.

Very informative - would recommend to any one.