This book is an educational, informative study of America's attitudes towards sex during the 19th century. The author's thorough research and interesting approach (taken from four very different perspectives, depending upon gender, profession, and philosophy/religion) offer a unique explanation and understanding of how Americans viewed sex during the 19th century. I was surprised by how much information (though much of it is incorrect, such as the "fact" that women who are raped cannot become pregnant because they do not feel passion during the rape) there was available to 19th century Americans about this taboo topic. Some of it was not a surprise (the whole male sporting culture, which was adopted as a Victorian moral code for men and women in which men are permitted and encouraged to have as many sexual relationships as possible whether they are married or single and in which women are to be kept ignorant of their husbands' (and fathers', brothers', etc.) relationships or, if they are aware of them, they are to turn a blind eye, yet absolute fidelity on the part of the females is required. It sets up an illogical double standard--who are these men having sex with if women are to remain virgins until marriage and faithful after marriage?) Other parts were a surprise--the concept of "free love" appeared much earlier than I thought and censorship appeared much later than I thought. The reasons for turning to the courts and for using censorship were also explained, with thorough detail about how mores changed as the century progressed, and the full impact of the Industrial Revolution made its mark on every aspect of Americans' lives. Horowitz shows how, with the Industrial Revolution, work changed, and young people left home to work in larger cities. Without parental/familial or community (religious) control or guidance, young men experimented with sex and young women were also now subject to sexual pressures and temptations. Horowitz also makes an interesting connection between the censors' fears of sexual information, particularly about birth control and abortion, and the dangers of having and using this information. Also discussed in great detail is why this particular group feared, above all, giving women (both married and single) any information which would help them limit the size of their families, despite very compelling arguments from opponents about the hardships faced by parents who could not afford to feed a large family yet lacked the information to limit family size and arguments about how important it was for the health of the mother (and her family) that she should not have 12 children in 12 years. Horowitz states firmly that it was the fear that these women, if they knew of ways to prevent pregnancy or that they could have an abortion, would all cheat on their husbands! Fear of pregnancy, they reasoned was the only thing that prevented female infidelity! In this area, I think that Horowitz did not go far enough. Undoubtedly this was the concern stated by the pro-censorship faction, but underlying this was the larger issue of inheritance. At this time in American history, only males inherited property from their fathers (married women were legally not permitted to own property--everything they brought to the marriage, i.e., the dowry, became their husbands' property once they were married) and only legitimate children (i.e., children born of the marriage) could inherit. Illegitimate children had no rights whatsoever (inheritance-wise). It was a very frightening thought to men that their wives could be unfaithful to them, could become pregnant, he could end up raising an illegimate child! This is also what was driving the double standard--men could be permitted to have as many extra-marital affairs with prostitutes, mistresses, etc. because their behavior did not affect the inheritance laws. If a man had 50 mistresses and 500 children outside of his marriage, none of those 500 children could claim any rights to parental obligations/duties or to inheritance. The only ones who could inherit were a husband's male issue born of the marriage. The extra-marital behavior of the wife, however, was another matter entirely. No man wanted to see his property go to an illegitimate child, so this added an additional "control" on female behavior, just in case fear of pregnancy was not enough.
This book is very well researched and well-written. Academics and non-academics alike will find it easy to read, theories are set out and backed up with research and facts, and many of the stranger mores associated with the 19th century explained. It makes an interesting study for anyone who has ever wondered how and why Americans came to be so schizophrenic (using sexual images to sell everything from cars and copy machine toner to chocolate, yet there was a huge fuss a few years ago about a billboard that showed a woman nursing a baby) about sex during the 20th century because it shows that Americans were equally conflicted about sex during the 19th century, and had not resolved those issues. Highly recommended.

This marvelous books contains lots of surprises: that legal censorship of written material about sex came later in the 19th century than I had suspected; that "scientific " reformers who believed that disseminating informaton about sex appeared on the scene earlier; and that the perception that masterbation was a threat to American society came not from religious fundamentalists but from the scientific theories of some of these same reformers. Elegantly written, and brilliantly researched, this book is a must for anyone wanting to understand the strange cross-cutting attitudes about sex in contemporary America.

Helen Lefkowitz Horowitz says that she was puzzled by the stir in 1994 when Joycelyn Elders made a mild comment mentioning that masturbation might be taught about as part of sex education in schools. Our nation is used to hearing daytime talk show chatter about sexual abuse, homosexuality, prostitution, and more, but mentioning this universal and enjoyable practice as something that should be taught about (the religious right twisted her words into "should be taught") was enough to get Elders fired as Surgeon General. Why was there such a hysterical reaction to a mention of masturbation? Horowitz is a historian, a professor of American studies, and the one thing she could do to find an answer is historical research. She has done a mountain of it, looking into obscure court cases, journals, and newspapers, to produce the monumental _Rereading Sex: Battles over Sexual Knowledge and Suppression in Nineteenth Century America_ (Knopf). As the title reveals, Horowitz has not just covered ideas about masturbation (although ridiculous fears of that "evil" seem to have percolated through the minds of every parent and preacher of the time), but has covered the huge topic of what our predecessors thought about many aspects of sex.

The evangelical Christian movement sweeping across the country in the first half of the nineteenth century seized upon such worries about masturbators and lustful women, and "sinful lust became a chief way of comprehending sexual desire." The American Tract Society was particularly vehement on such issues, and was aghast at the scientific understanding of sexual function that was beginning at the time. Especially important was the protection of female virginity, and fear of pregnancy was a vital shield of the nation's maidenheads. Physiological explanations of birth control were seen as a special danger; unimpeded by fear of impregnation, there was no telling what the women would get up to. Tractarians saw the freethinkers who promoted sexual knowledge as blasphemers. Nothing shocked them more than the non-religious (and it was generally the freethinkers who promoted the spread of physiological ideas) insisting that women had similar sexual desires and need for satisfaction as men, or that birth control would promote happiness, health, and economic freedom. It is surprising that the Young Men's Christian Association looms large in these pages. The YMCA had as a goal the promotion of evangelical religion, and during the Civil War, it was worried about Union soldiers, displaced from home, and in 1865 the YMCA was able to advocate for a post office bill that would forbid mailing erotic prints and books, the first time the federal government tried to regulate moral content of mailed material. The anti-sex activities of the YMCA were linked to the famous and foolish reformer, Anthony Comstock, whose censorious aims even kept birth control information out of medical texts.

Horowitz has summarized four "frameworks" out of the confusing discourse about sex during the period. The Vernacular Tradition consists of sexual information (and misinformation) passed generally by word of mouth. Evangelical Christianity hated lust and equated most sexual activities with sin. Reform Physiology looked to the science of the body (often composed of wildly inaccurate assertions) to promote sexual freedom, and sometimes sexual restraint. And then there were Utopians, who thought sex was the central part of human existence and should be untouched by the government. These four voices, in the printed works and journals of the time, often overlapped and swamped each other with rhetoric. The huge number of philosophies and personalities which played a role in the debate, and made a foundation for our current sexual ideas, are brilliantly distilled into this large, well-referenced book, which is an entertaining academic tome without ever being fusty or tedious.

Home sweet home: a place of love, refuge, and memories. For Helen Martin's it was also her life, her work and her Mecca. In the play "The Road to Mecca" Athol Fugard explores the question: Should we leave our Mecca, our spiritual fountainhead, when we can no longer take care of ourselves? The conflict between the three strong willed characters Helen, Elsa and Pastor Marius explores the question in the light of different religions, cultures, genders, ages and environments. Fugard said the play was suggested by the life and work of Helen Martins of New Bathesda, South Africa. The real Helen from age 50 to 75 transformed her house into a personal universe that enters the realm of archetype, symbol and metaphor. The house, furniture, windows and walls became a kaleidoscope of colored glass. In her garden she constructed over 200 figures: owls, Biblical figures, Buddhas, and ancient gods and goddesses. One South African scholar described her work as one of the most stirring experiences of his life and another called her one of South Africa's artistic geniuses. Fugard in his play shows Helen's creations as a glorious, makeshift oasis of creativity and life force and Elsa, his character, sees Helen as an example of freedom and transcendence. One powerful scene is when Helen, seated in her Mecca with dozens of candles playing off glittered walls and mirrors, tells Pastor Marius "I can't reduce my world to a few ornaments in a small room in an old-age home." The effect is stunning. The play is thought provoking and gives few answers. Helen is alive when it ends. Sadly, in 1975, the real Helen committed suicide. She drank caustic soda and died after three days I solitary agony. Her will included complex instructions listing in detail the ritual disposal of each of her sculptures. But today her home, known as "The Owl House" has been proclaimed a national monument and is a mecca for artists and tourists.

A reclusive elderly widow (based on the late Helen Martins, whose South African home is now a museum) has created her own "Mecca" by decorating the inside of her home with candles and mirrors and by surrounding the house with an assortment of personally-sculpted mermaids, wisemen, peacocks and pyramids. Although her neighbors view Miss Helen as a crazy old woman, she has made friends with Elsa Barlow, a young teacher who has returned for a surprise visit. On that same day, clergyman Marius Byleveld has come to help Helen apply to a nursing home. Marius is fond of Helen and fears for her safety. Elsa is in opposition to a move as it would take Helen away from her art.

I was originally concerned that a drama focusing on an old woman's artwork would not translate well to a listening experience. How could I care as deeply about Miss Helen if I was not able to see the oddball sculptures she had created? Surely the vision of "a city of light and color more splendid than anything I had ever imagined" could not be adequately transmitted through the speakers of my tape player. I need not have worried. One of my favorite parts of the entirely wonderful listen remains the moment when Helen lights her room with candles -- music comes up and there is absolutely no problem seeing a room aglow in a growing light of imagination and art. Adding to the experience is a superb cast performing a well-written examination of what it means to be an artist, what it means to be older, and what it means to be shunned. Fabulous!

Excellent recording quality, an interesting listen.

This book, although written a decade ago, is an insider's prescient account of how Hamas was born on the West Bank and why. It also is a terrific read, with true literary quality. Almost like a novel. And enlightening for policymakers and anyone else trying to understand the fundamentals of the Middle East.

This book is astounding, a great read that also teaches you more than you can believe about life and history and politics in the heart of the West Bank. Read it and you will be a wiser person and have a good time too.

This book is astounding, a great read that also teaches you more than you can believe about life and history and politics in the heart of Africa. Read it and you will be a wiser person and have a good time too.

If you are looking for a relatively easy way to add a touch of individuality to your quarter which can be removed before handover, then stencilling may be the answer. It's cheap, adaptable, and easily painted over- and can be as individual as you want! 'The Stencilled Home' by Helen Morris is a book to inspire you- full of sophisticated and imaginative ideas, each chapter focuses on a themed room, with step by step guides and stencil packs to trace.

There's simply no other book like 'The Stenciled Home'. When you open the book you embark on an amazing and delightful tour of thirteen themed rooms of Morris' stenciling work... Instead of following a trend into trompe l'oeil stenciling, Morris' shows us the immense possibilities that simple stenciling has in the ability to literally transform the interior of your home... It is the imaginative and innovative use of stencils that make this book invaluable... This is a stenciled house from top to bottom and definitely something not to be missed.

Transform rooms with stencil ideas from the stencilled Home by Helen Morris. Helen co-founder of the Stencil Library, showcases a number of distinct perioid styles each with a stencil pack to trace from the page.

This remarkable, engaging little book can save you and your children from years of tears. It can protect you from unnecessary frustration, struggle, anger, and sadness, and can help you and the children you love grow in understanding and self-esteem. Solidly rooted in almost fifty years of published research and clinical experience, Temperament Tools shows readers, with insight and skill, how to understand and work with children's inborn traits.

Different children react differently to the world around them from the very start, and their inborn temperament traits usually persist. Active babies are likely to become active toddlers and preschoolers. The same is true, too, for babies who are sensitive, or persistent, or resistant to change, or easy to soothe. On the basis of their own extensive professional experience, authors Helen Neville and Diane Clark Johnson help readers assess children's temperament traits, understand the interactions between children's and parents' patterns of behavior, and learn how to provide the loving structure and support that can prevent challenges from becoming catastrophes. Ultimately, they provide practical, detailed, and accessible guidance for us in our efforts to help the children we care about learn to love, know, and respect themselves and others.

As a pediatrician working with parents, professionals, and friends to protect children's well-being during and after divorce, I draw freely and often from the material presented in Temperament Tools. As a professional or non-professional, you can expect heartfelt thanks from the relatives, teachers, and pediatricians to whom you give copies of this book. Beyond that, you can take pleasure in knowing how much you're helping the children whose lives they touch.

I stumbled across this book at my library, and it has helped me understand my daughter more than any other book. The practical explanations of temperament traits are excellent. But better yet are the "temperamental" descriptions of the different children--my daughter is Tiganda Tiger 100 %! My husband and I have used many of the techniques recommended for dealing with our daughter and found them to be very successful. I have become such a convert that I am now teaching temperament traits to my students in middle school.

Easy to read guide to understanding my child. It has been helpful when working with other children in a professional way. Can highly recommend it to parents and prfessionals. This book gives new insight into how a child ticks.

My daughter & I loved this book so much, we even know Tacky's cheer by heart: 1,2,3 left... A,B,C, right... flop down, roll over, Say, what's for supper! this is a beautiful way to show children that being different is okay.

This is a super little story about the one person who stands out in every group. This is great for a classroom and to read to cheerleaders. This aids in the understanding that the "odd" person may be the "WINNER"!! People of all ages can relate to Tacky and his friends!!

Tacky is such an odd bird! My child was drawn to his excentric style of dress, and the rhyming of the cheers. She had this book memorized in no time, and it has always been one of our favorite books to read together. I recommend it highley!

My 20-month-old boy has loved this series from the day we brought the first book home from the library. Tom's attachment to Pippo is endearing, while he seems to suspect Pippo of subtle mischief in each book (in this one, he thinks Pippo made him run too fast, causing him to fall over). One could perhaps say something about the power ascribed by children to the mysterious forces around them, but maybe one should refrain.

The stories are quick and straightforward, yet also strangely touching. Just don't be surprised if your toddler starts blaming his misfortunes on Pippo.

This book, along with others in Oxenbury's Tom and Pippo series, was one of the first stories my son (now 2) would sit still for, and they continue to be counted among his favorites. They are short enough for toddler attention spans, the illustrations are interesting to reader and child alike, and the stories are wonderful.

As expected, Oxenbury again finds a sweet, simplistic way to reenforce the everyday life lessons that parents teach their toddlers. This time it's about going out on a cold day for a walk. Lively illustrated, the story is short and direct. Perfect length for those short attention spans.

I love the wonderful illustrations in "Tom & Pippo." Messy playrooms, mommy and daddy snoring with their mouths open, the soft-boiled egg dripping on the tablecloth.

Their's much more than just a story about Tom's day or his friendship with Pippo for my son and I to talk about, as Oxenbury's simple and sweet writing let you explore what she *hasn't* said.

I know this by heart, which is good, because my son has worn the words right off the pages!

My son loves all the Tom & Pippo books and we have all the ones that are still in print! I recommend any of these Tom & Pippo books by Helen Oxenbury as they are very sweet and perfect bedtime reading for toddlers and preschool ages. I wish she would write more as I enjoy the little simple but adorable story lines as well!

This book beautifully communicates the friendship a toddler feels for his favorite stuffed toy. My daughter loves this book -- she's not even one year old but the instant I say "Do you want to read Pippo with me?" she is happy and eager to help turn the pages. Few things entertain her for more than a few minutes (except, of course, my dog's food dish) but she will sit and listen to this book as often as I will read it. It's a very short book but the effect upon her is consistently magical. I cannot say enough good things about it, but I must stop typing regardless -- I've got to go order more "Tom and Pippo" books for my daughter.

I read a borrowed copy of this book aloud to my two children ages 8 and 11. We loved the story of John and Helen Dekker moving, with their family, into Toli River Valley area of New Guinea to be with the Dani people.

The work they were allowed to do was very inspiring. It was so interesting to consider explaining and teaching about Jesus and the Word of God to a people that have no knowlege of Him. There were many things that did not have direct paralels with the Dani culture, we enjoyed reading about how the Dekkers conveyed the message. The results were so touching. It reminded me, that each of us is in the same position and can be touched and changed as dramatically as the Dani's were changed by knowing and following Jesus.

The spirit that the Lord imparted to the Dani's under John and Helen Dekker was very precious. They desired to give to others what had been given to them. And they endeavored to do it.

We all loved meeting the different Dani's through the story. We will only travel in wururu's after this, never airplanes. We laughed at the Dani's attempt to convey modesty, cried at their losses and really appreciated the sacrifices that were made by the many people involved in this work, knowing that sacrifices extract a price.

We all agreed that we would need to get our own copy of this book. Another book in a similar vein we enjoyed was "In Search of the Source"--can't remember who it is by.

This is an amazing and inspiring story. I wish more people could know about this. It would make a great movie. If you are contemplating on reading this book, take my advice and do so. You will not be dissapointed. - DaveDavidson.com

This is a very readable account of the emergence of a tribe that was literally in the Stone Age (no knowledge of or use of any metal!) into the 20th Century during the 60's and 70's. These People are still assimilating into the Indonesian culture today. Much of the story is about the evangelisation in a People centered, keep the culture manner. The book is co-authored by and about my father - so I have a personal interest in this story! In fact I grew up as a child in the midst of it.

Helen M. Luke's clarity of mind permeates every word in this extraordinary book. Her insight into Jungian thought and her own interpretation of Jung's ideas give us a book which is one of a kind. The chapter on Orual especially interested me. The author explains our desire and need to be close to other women and how this can be a danger and a blessing. I have read some paragraphs over and over. This is the kind of book you keep and hopefully give copies to your friends.

If you find Jung's thoughts on individuation compelling, you will probably love this book. Having embraced the path of individuation for her own life, Helen certainly makes a substantial contribution to those who are on a similar path. It is a beautifully written book that is intelligent, thought-provoking and compassionate. It provides invaluable insights and I find myself returning to this book regularly to re-read parts of it. Helen gives her own unique perspective in applying Jung's ideas to the everyday struggles faced by us all, particularly the challenges faced by those who seek greater consciousness. After reading this book, I felt an overwhelming gratitude to Helen: her rich humanity penetrates her words and she provides an inspiring example of a person who embraced a full and courageous life.

For anyone who is interested in symbolism, cultural criticism, or personal growth, this book is a challenging must-read. So many new ideas come to me in each chapter, I often find myself re-reading the chapter I just finished before moving on the the next so that I may savor these thoughts and let give them ample opportunity to work their way into my conscious daily life. Luke discusses various topics such as the importance of suffering in our lives, the symbolism of the marriage vow, and the dangers faced in our culture due to the fact that we have subverted the symbolism of money as a means of exchange, and turned money itself into an end. A wonderful introduction to the writing and thought of the late Helen Luke