Motherhood in Black and White does what few books on liberalism dare to do-- talk about policy, politics, and psychology as having gendered underpinnings and racial consequences. Feldstein's story is about the good guys, the racial liberals of the age between the New Deal and the Great Society, who optimistically conceive of the state as having a necessary role to play in the eradication of racism and poverty in the US. Yet, even with these laudatory goals, these white hats put into play conservative notions of womanhood to propel civil rights activism and anti-poverty programs forward. Mothers, black and white, needed-- no, were relentlessly compelled by popular culture, psychological experts and political commentators-- to raise healthy, manly, and restrained sons who would grow up to become good citizens, able to be compassionate, assertive, and democratic. Poverty and racism were the consequence of a job poorly done. The tight rope women walked-- be affectionate, but not smothering, be strong but not castrating-- is deftly explored by Feldstein through a range of sources, including Hollywood film, New Deal legislation and The Nation, as well as through characters like Mammy Till Bradley and Betty Friedan. This is not another account of mom- bashing. Masterful, indeed.

This was one of the most eye-opening books I've ever read. I have never seen such articulate and comprehensive arguments made about the parallels and correlations in public policy to race and gender. Feldstein is brilliant and enthralling. I recomend it to anyone who thinks legislation now and in history can be analysied at face value.

This history of ideas about motherhood is much more than that: Feldstein argues that the way our culture has represented motherhood tells us a great deal about gender roles, racial politics, and the development of mid-century liberalism generally. To me, the most exciting claim of the book is that many Americans, both black and white, who made liberal arguments for African American civil rights, did so by making conservative arguments about gender. That is, in order to prove that racial differences were not biological or inevitable, social scientists and others tried to prove that racial differences were social and psychological: in particular, they insisted that such differences were caused by the failure of black women to mother their children into properly (white-modeled) citizens. Similarly, when cultural observers wanted to understand white prejudice, they looked to arguments about the role of mothers in raising men who were likely to become fascists, racists, or communists. Feldstein argues that from the 1930s to the 1960s, liberal ideas for racial equality were in some sense _built_ on conservative ideas about the failures of both black and white women to be proper mothers. Women were simultaneously accused of being bad mothers and exhorted to do more mothering -- told this was their highest and most valuable role.

Feldstein's argument is fascinating, because she shows us how hard it is to fully separate the "good guys" from the "bad guys" when we study the complexities of American history: liberation in one arena can depend on reinscribing a kind of oppression in another.

And the book, while very scholarly, is also an interesting read. The author discusses popular culture (such as the Imitation of Life movies), social movements, and intellectual history in a highly nuanced and yet readable way.

The Nursing Home Handbook is thorough and well written. It answered nearly all my questions and many I never thought of. My remaining questions are: Which are the best places? Are they easily accessible? How much do they cost? I still have to do research, but this book provides criteria by which to judge.

I recommend this book for anyone who needs help choosing a nursing home or dealing with one already chosen. It may also help you decide, as I did, that a nursing home is not the right choice at this time.

This book is a quick read, but is stuffed full of good information and practical tidbits. I read it in just a few hours and learned a tremendous lot. I especially liked the boxed text in the margins with interesting little factoids and suggestions.

For instance, when I asked to read my loved one's medical chart I was told, "okay, but hurry. I don't want anyone to see that I'm letting you do this." In Davis' book, she states that we have a legal right to read our own medical charts. Her book is full of this type of "been there, done that" advice.

The next to last chapter, which gives some information on hospice and practical advice on how to sit by the bedside when it's time for your loved one to leave this world, was very well written and is alone worth the price of this book.

I've read many of these books and this is one of the few that I'd highly recommend.

Ruth Davis writes with humor and great practicality on a topic that I find uncomfortable and somewhat overwhelming. She provides information on all aspects of nursing home care --from finding the right setting, to coping with details of day to day life in a home, to the last moments. I love her use of sidebars, little snippits of advice, often filled with humor and always packed with common sense. I would recommend this book to anyone facing the problem of long term care for self or loved one.

It is important to have the companion book to this. The study guide is so helpful in applying and making the Scriptures personal. I think all of my life I have been timid about "making God too personal". This book gently leads one into that. It is such a wonderful book on communicating God's love for us and also does a great job on explaining why so many of our struggles are from not understanding God's love (misconceptions). I went out and bought 10 copies of this book for friends/relatives as gifts. Ruth Myers "31 Days of Praise" is also an excellent book--I only use the Bible more (and that book is so full of Scripture anyway to lead us in praise of our Lord--but it also instructs on why praise is so important).

(...)This
book is incredible. I use it as a daily devotional. Buy it.
You need this book!

I love books and keep a library of helpful books that are "keepers".. ones that are full of wisdom or say something very well. Out of all the books I have on knowing who God is and how to walk through life with Him, next to the Bible, this is my favorite. I love reading this book, first of all, because Ruth Myers knows God so well. Her admiration, passion, and devotion to Him come across on every page. Secondly, as a woman who was single, then married and a missionary in Asia, then suddenly widowed with children, then lonely and learning to trust God with the stresses of single parenting, and then as a married woman again, Ruth offers practical and loving words as she tells her story that we can all benefit from. Third, Ruth possesses an uncommon wisdom. On every page, there was something that arrested me..something I could keep and use immediately. One thing in particular was the ART of how to handle negative thoughts by A) acknowledging them B)renouncing them and T) thinking the truth with thanksgiving. When I added the third step (which I had never really learned to do before), my life (and my relationship with God) changed to become more confident, more joyful, more filled with awe at His greatness. Another chapter tells it like it is about the kind of love that God gives us, as compared with the best of human love. As a person who has been a believer for more than twenty-five years, I found that she knew and put so well things I have been learning the last ten. The supply of riches and wisdom and help that a person will receive from this book is practically inexhaustible. Although I have not even finished the book yet, I have already given away four copies to my friends! I don't believe I will ever outgrow this book, and I am hoping to also get the study guide. It would also be a wonderful book for discipling others as you read it together and discuss what she says. I am interested in solid, biblical foundations that won't shake or crack and break down under everyday use. Ruth Myers book is a very practical explanation by a very real human about how to put Yeshua's (Jesus') words into practice and build your life on trusting in the One who really is the Perfect Love.

The book is a refreshing approach that combines gardening and natural history. I like the balance. A useful guide but also a good read on its own. The best part is having a book written about the prairies by authors who garden on the prairies. Too many books miss the mark for our region but this one is on target for the insect questions I've had. I hope more garden writers in our region pick up the torch as this book does.

It's great to find a book that is actually of practical use. I like the mix of gardening info and Nature info. I've already identified a few critters in the garden and figured out which ones (there was only one) to keep an eye on for problems. The illustrations are top-notch. I like books that aren't dumbed-down but the average gardener can still use. I hope there are more books written by people who garden in our climate and don't just rehash info that is more relevant to warmer zones.

Everyone who gardens, especially those who live in the prairies of Canada or the Northern USA, should read this book!

It not only has great information about entomology and the individual bugs but also details about how to live with them. The illustrations are wonderful too!

As a teacher, I suggest that it would make an excellent resource for school libraries as well because it's not only dry facts but is written in a manner that is easy and fun to read.

...

This book defined some of the mechanics that help children learn to read. I found it useful in providing me with some basic knowledge that will help me make reading time with my kids more meaningful and beneficial for them. The second half of the book provides 60 book recommendations for preschoolers along with activities to provide the child an opportunity to relate the story to real life. The examples in book provided me insight my child's perspective on learning to read. I would recommend this book to anyone with a preschooler.

In Ready For Reading: A Handbook For Parents Of Preschoolers, Ashley Bishop, Ruth Helen Yopp, and Hallie Kay Yopp collaborate to provide clear, concise information about how preschool children learn to read and how parents can substantially contribute to their child's ability to read with competence and enjoyment. Ready For Reading is enhanced with sixty engaging and "kid-tested" book-sharing activities, recommendations for more than 400 books and 400 poems for early readers; as well as convenient end-of-book indexes to help parents quickly and easily locate the sharing activity best suited to their child's situation and interests. Ready For Reading is highly recommended and invaluable for concerned parents wanting to insure their child's academic readiness for school through preschool reading readiness and learning activities, skills, and abilities.

I stumbled upon this book while looking for information on dyslexia. As a speech/language pathologist, I work with pre-schoolers and primary grade students with language difficulties, speech disorders and phonological disorders. This book has become a wonderful guide for my clients' parents. The authors have cleverly laid out a fun and inventive handbook for reading to any child. Each "Book Share" has valuable information to help make the reading process fun as well as valuable for various language processes and pre-reading skills without being "work". If you are an educator as I am, you probably have these books as I do already. I read a lot of these to my children when they were young... Whether a parent or educator these books are timeless. I still get warm fuzzies... You will not be diappointed. I credit these authors with a well thought out format.

I love this book! The text is fun to read and really easy to understand while introducing some big scientific words. And the pictures are big and colorful, and I really mean BIG and COLORFUL. But even more than that, they are accurate--the flowers, seeds, animals, and insects can all be identified down to the species. Towards the end it gets a little off topic, but even these pages are filled with interesting flower-facts that get you interested in further exploration of the world of flowers. There's even a touch of humor: after pages of large, flamboyant illustrations, the final page contains a single mushroom and the text, "Plants that have no flowers are fascinating, too." I had to laugh at the simplicity and effectiveness of this ending. Last, but not least, the endpapers have a wonderful drawing that shows a flower progressing into a fruit--a wonderful summary of the purpose of the book without using any words. This book definitely gets my recommendation for anyone who wants to introduce their kids to the world of science and nature in an unintimidating, yet accurate and enjoyable format.

Children are constantly asking questions and sometimes they come up with a question you have difficulty answering, such as "why do we have flowers?". This book answers that question in a way that is both fascinating and entertaining for both children and adults. The illustrations in this book were quite lovely and almost tell a story themselves. The rhythmic cadence of the words introduces children to a biological vocabulary without being overwhelming, describes the different parts of the plants, explains the process of pollination, and illustrates what value plants have beyond just "something pretty to look." This book is a great book for teachers of young children for science related curriculm.

Ruth Heller's rhymes and beautiful pictures engage children and clearly illustrates pollination and the role of flowers.

The most life-changing book I have read so far! I'm buying all the used copies I can get my hands on to give to friends and family. The BEST way to read it is SLOWLY--- one chapter/week minimum, to let the revolutionary concepts sink in. Even better, go through it with a friend and share the phrases that strike you most. Thank you, Ruth, for opening my eyes to God's amazing, satisfying love!

Did you ever think that God could satisfy ALL your needs?? No matter how insignificant it is or that God simply didn't want anything to do with it? I believe many Christians fail to see God's love and focus instead on earning it. What a difference it would make if people just realized our value to Him. He can choose to dwell anywhere in this universe, and yet He chose to live in us. God is wonderful. God is not human.

This book has done two things. It has gave me a deeper insight into who christ is and what he has done. And secondly it has opened my eyes so I can see once again that I am someone worth Christs love. Every single devotional hits home in one way or another. It is a a book wrote from a very personal standpoint that takes you through a personal walk with christ.

If you like photographs of celebrities that express their personalities in loving ways, this volume is a must for you!

This volume contains a few nude and topless female photographs that are artfully and tastefully done.

Francesco Scavullo created the images that most of us carry around with us that "define" the celebrities that have made an impression on us. These images are greatly enhanced in this volume by brief captions in which Mr. Scavullo shares his verbal perspective on the model. For example, about Diana Vreeland, he says, "Allure personified." His way with words is as good as his way with the camera. Louise Nevelson (one of the subjects of this volume) called his work "the poetic essence of his subject." In doing this, he "filters out visual cliches." In fact, he changed the images of many of his subjects (do you remember the glamor portrait of Martha Mitchell on the cover of New York Magazine?). He has been fascinated that "you could make people attractive."

Mr. Scavullo has an obvious love for people that carries from one thoughtful portrait to the next. He captures a liveliness that most people only feel a few times a year, yet that spark exists in almost all of these images. It's enough to get you to jump up out of your seat and kick your heels in the air!

The book's essay is also candid about Mr. Scavullo's experiences with manic depression, and his joy in doing his photography while in the manic state. Many of his downs are described as "nervous breakdowns" and certainly give a greater poignancy to these bouyant views.

There is also a brief chronology of his career that will put events in perspective for you.

The book is a blockbuster of outstanding images. I could have listed dozens as my favorites from these great black and white and color photographs. Here are a few selections to whet your appetite for the real thing:

Sophia Loren, 1973

Catherine Deneueve, 1970 (1st one)

Elizabeth Taylor, 1977

Oprah Winfrey, 1994

Maria Shriver, 1986

Louise Nevelson, 1981

Christopher Reeve, 1977

Dick Cavett, 1978

Salvador Dali, 1973

Gore Vidal, 1975

Andy Warhol, 1983

Samantha Jones, 1969

Iman, 1989

Lauren Hutton, 1975, 1973

Rene Russo, 1974 (2nd image)

Ingemore, 1968

Maria Badeau, 1970

Brooke Shields, 1983, 1991

Pauline Trigere, 1977

Linda Evangelista, 1990

Claudia Schiffer, 1989

Elizabeth Hurley, 1995

Julie Andrews, 1994

Bee Gees, 1977

Gene Simmons, 1979

Isabella Rossellini, 1986

What thought does it take for you to come alive as these people do? Notice that they seem younger, less guarded, and more confident and comfortable. That makes them more appealing.

Be your most attractive to inspire you . . . and everyone else!

Francesco Scavullo has a gift, there's no question about that. His pictures are so full of life it's hard to believe they are frozen on paper. He also offers candid insights into some of his subjects which only add to the photo's charm. This book has something in it for everyone. It's a purchase you won't regret making if you have even the most remote interest in photography.

I collect and read photography books. This one I got as a Christmas present, and it's super. Whether you're into celebrities or just great photography, this book covers it all. I also like his reasoning and history behind some of the people he photographed. A great book to have in any collection.

This is a great book in so many ways. If you need a good summer read, get this one. As far as my advice, buy this book for anyone in your family touched by Alzheimer's or another serious disease. It'll touch your heart. It did mine.

"Still Holding Hands" is a remarkable piece of reading material! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this incredible book. I am impressed that Pat Robertson of "The 700 Club," Randy Travis, and Senator Chuck Grassley all recommend this book! It is amazing that such a young girl was able to write her grandparent's story (dealing with Alheimer's disease) like an educated adult. I felt like I was a part of the Beamer family - it touched my heart. This book educats people about the affects Alzheimer's disease has on families of victims. Not only does "Still Holding Hands" inform people about Alheimer's (through real life stories lived by her grandparent's) it also includes humorus, adventurous, and Christian romantic stories. I urge all to buy and read this page turning book. I could hardly put it down when I read it. I will definately read it again in the near future!

"Still Holding Hands" is a spectacular piece of literature. I recommend it to everyone! Stacie Stoelting is an amazing young author who indeed has a gift of displaying her feelings on paper. There are in-depth descriptions about her grandfather's mental decline, his childhood stories, and the Christian romance between him and his wife. It is a very well-rounded book. I felt as though I was part of the Beamer family dealing with an Alzheimer's stricken victim. It nearly brought me to tears during some areas of the book. However, "Still Holding Hands" is humorous in other areas. It is amazing that the book has been recommended by Randy Travis, Senator Chuck Grassley, and Pat Robertson of The 700 Club. If you want want to read a heart-warming, page-turning book, read "Still Holding Hands". I could hardly stop reading it.....I may even read it again!

I became interested in "Ten Sisters" when I noticed that the story took place in my home state of Illinois, but specifically central Illinois. I just graduated from EIU which is located in Charleston and just next door to Mattoon. Reading about the Waggoners in those towns was such a joy, but meeting nine of the sisters was an even greater honor. They signed my book at the mall in Mattoon and were extremely gracious at my interest in their stories. I wasn't able to finish the novel before I met them, but even so, reading the chapters after I had met the authors gave the book a personal touch. I was in disbelief at some of the personal trials they went through. It is amazing that any of them survived so much heartache and uncertainty! My favorite aspect of the book is how Jenny and the older sisters wrote about the same period of time, but by the time you get to Vera's, Audrey's, and Doris' chapters, you are set in a completely different timeframe with completely different lifestyles. It is amazing how so many different stories come out of one very close, very special family. They told me that they will be coming out with an audio version of the book and they'll be featured in a popular women's magazine in Nov. or Dec. I'll be sure to check it out, and you should too!

I really don't like to read...let alone do a report on something that I have read! I don't know why, but I actually like doing it for this book...... It has some really funny, sad, and just odd things in it. I mean who would have a pet goat as a kid? I am in Highschool and lots of my friends and teachers were all dying to read this book. I would sit in class and read bits and pieces and the kids around me would always want to hear more...it was weird! Stuff like having a boxing ring in the front yard, or ten sisters sleeping in one bed not knowing who wet the bed in the morning...for some reason that sparked their interest???? Then there was the sad stuff in the book that was described in detail. It really made me learn a lot more then I already knew about these ladies, it's like stepping into their shoes (although they didn't wear them too often) I really like the book, after I read it there were just soo many things to tell about it in the report I did for my sophmore English class that it ended up getting an "A"...which is odd for me! :) This book is great...there are just soo many things to like about it, so many stories. The part I really like about the book though was that sometimes the sisters had different view points about the story, it was kinda neat to see what each one said about certain things...if they remembered or included it. And living in Iowa, it was a big highlight of my life...not many things can do that here! thanx-AM

Courage comes at an early age... these women had it in 1942 and even today display that same courage. As I know each one of these women personnally, my review may be a bit biased...but anyone that reads this work will see that I am only telling the facts. Each sister is a remarkable work of art. This book is a true "Love story" about "Family" and the meaning it gives to our lives. "Divided" as a family at such an early age has given great meaning to "togetherness" as each sister worked their way from mid 20th Century to present day.... Their style of writing is free and bold as they tell of perceptions and feelings. Just to get ten sisters to sit down and author a book together is almost fiction. Yet again their spirit of "one for all" won out, and I, a reader won too. This book is "true LIFE" at its worst, and best