The Simpler Family: A Book of Smart Choices and Small Comforts for Families Who Do Too Much

Book Description

The Simpler Family shows families how to make their dreams come true by making smart choices about the way they spend their time and money. Its proven strategies help families increase free time, reduce stress, improve work/life balance, increase healthfulness and save time and money.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent advice.......2004-05-12

This book is just what the world needs to hear. A simpler lifestyle has done me and my family a world of good and I highly recommend it to anyone who is in need of decompressing their life and reconnecting with themselves. Well done!

Lots of practical, easy-to-implement advice!.......2001-12-09

This is truly a book for the times! With layoffs happening across the country, what better time to take stock of your family life? Christine Klein shows how to make the most of what you have -- financially and emotionally. In the process, you may just find -- as I did -- that you already have almost everything you need. You'll definitely feel empowered after reading this book!

Simple Reassurance.......2001-12-08

Reading this book is like sitting down with a good friend and having them tell you the secret to life.

Talk about having it all, Christine Klein has it all.
This book reassured me on the choices I've made in my life...even though I still work full time.

She presents simple solutions on guidance to managing a household...not just as a "to do" list...but with love. She is clear, consice and, again, reassuring, that life is all about the people you journey with...not about the vehicle you ride in or the clothes you wear along the way.

This book would be a wonderful gift to anyone who is in the midst of dealing with a hectc life....enjoy!

Great Book!.......2001-12-07

I really enjoyed this book. Not only was it a good read, but it was filled with great ideas! It's so easy to get caught up in material things. This book brought back how family and family time is what's really important. Thanks Chris!

Simplify Your Life.......2001-12-07

I heartily recommend Chris Klein's guide to simplifying your family and your life. Chris is a well-known writer in the Cincinnati area with whom I have had the good fortune to work. Her own life is a testament to the wisdom she shares in this book. If you are feeling stressed because of conflicts between your work and family life, you need this book. Chris's writing is as no-nonsense and as straightforward as her message. You will come away armed with practical advice on exactly how to make your life easier--and better. Your family will thank you for years to come!

Book Description

When Generals in Gray was published in 1959, scholars and critics immediately hailed it as one of the few indispensable books on the American Civil War. Historian Stanley Horn, for example, wrote, "It is difficult for a reviewer to restrain his enthusiasm in recommending a monumental book of this high quality and value." Here at last is the paperback edition of Ezra J. Warner's magnum opus with its concise, detailed biographical sketches and—in an amazing feat of research—photographs of all 425 Confederate generals. The only exhaustive guide to the South's command, Generals in Gray belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in the Civil War.

AUTHOR BIO: Ezra J. Warner (1910-1974) was also the author of Generals in Blue. A native of Lake Forest, Illinois, he lived in La Jolla, California and was well known for his work in Civil War biography.

Customer Reviews:

Few books are REALLY essential.................2007-06-30

.....but this one sure is. The Civil War is still a current event for many of us. For four long years, both sides were carried by their armies, and led by their Generals. Now, lots of us know about Lee and Jackson, but there were a total of 425 Confederate Generals over the course of the war, and some even I've never heard of. Of these, 299 were serving as General Officers at the end. A total of 77 were killed in battle; the rest died of natural causes, resigned, got fired, etc., etc.

They're ALL here, at least the ones that we can't argue about whether they were really a General. [There are others about whom we can argue, for various reasons--a separate book has come out in recent years...see "More Generals in Gray"]. While Lee has has more biographies than I can count, and many have at least one, for most of these guys, this is all we've got. Here we get pictures, pre and, where appropriate, post war careers, grave sites, and a study of just what the man accomplished [or didn't]. Robert E. Lee gets three and a half pages, but all get a good write-up.

They were a varied lot: six General Lees, six Jacksons, eight each of Smith and Walker. Professional soldiers, lawyers, politicians, even three preachers [Polk and Pendleton, you know; read this and find the third]. Some were heroic, some were drunks, a few were both. Some brilliant, some inept, one or two both. The post war lots of the survivors were as various as the men; poverty and wealth, glory and apostasy, and all points in between. Trivia: Who was the ONLY Confederate General born in Texas? Who was the last living Conferderate General? ONE man answers BOTH questions. [OK, I'll give it to you...Judge Felix Huston Robertson of Waco died April 20, 1928]. The very first American Indian to wear General's stars AND the last General to surrender...he's here, in all his glory.

I can go on all day. The late Ezra Warner, Illinois native and California investment counsellor, published this in 1959...it needs to stay in print forever. While I've had this, and the companion "Generals in Blue", for years, only recently has a trade paperback made it readily available, and affordable. A "thank you" to the publisher, and a huge, everlasting, "THANK YOU" to Mr. Warner.

The good the bad and the ugly..........2006-02-17

This book is a must for any Civil War buff. Learn the good, bad and the ugly about all general officers of the army of the CSA. I keep this book, and its companion, Generals in Blue, handy when I am reading historical accounts of battles of the Civil War. How often, while you are reading, have you yearned to get additional information on a particular general? These books are perfect to provide more information, when you want it.

Excellent Source of Information on Confederate Generals!.......2004-03-27

I remember first reading Generals in Gray as a teenager and have often referred back to the book over the years.

Warner gives a synopsis of each general , usually containing the following information:

1. Birthplace and birthdate.
2. Pre-Civil War life.
3. Battles served in, promotions, woundings, death (if applicable).
4. Postwar career (if he survived the war).
5. Death and place burial.
6. Brief mention of the general's competency (or lack thereof).
7. Relationships with other generals (superior, subordinate).

I have often found the book to be extremely helpful when reading a book on a particular Civil War battle. Doing so helps me to better understand the general when studying a particular battle.

Whether you have a serious interest in the Civil War or a novice, I highly recommend the book as an excellent reference!

Excellent reference book.......2002-09-23

Warner does an excellent job in giving short biographies on all 425 Confederate generals, including a picture of each general. An excellent reference guide and a must have for your Civil War library.

A must have reference work.......2001-02-13

If you have even an ancillary interest in the American Civil War, this is essential to read and to own. I consult my copy on a weekly basis and I've owned it for twenty years. Warner writes well and succinctly about all of the Confederate Generals. Each biography is accompanied by a single photograph of the subject. The book is like a large biographical dictionary, easy to navigate and peruse at your leisure. If you are interested in in-depth material on any of these Generals, it's best to consult an individual biography of your chosen favorite. But if you have a casual interest or merely want an essential reference tool, this is a "must have."

Many historians have compiled lists of the most influential and indispensable civil war books of the 20th century. Invariably, Warner's book is included, along with the companion volume on Union Generals. It's not fancy, but it remains one of the preeminent biographical tools for any civil war historian.

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GENERALS IN GRAY: Lives of the Confederate Commanders

Manufacturer: Louisiana State Univ - Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IBVAA0

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Generals in Gray : Lives of the Confederate Commanders
Ezra J. Warner
Manufacturer: Louisiana State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GTEQSC

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Generals in Gray Lives of the Confederate Commanders
Ezra J. Warner
Manufacturer: Louisiana Univ. Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JLGL94

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Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders.
EZRA J. WARNER
Manufacturer: See notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RRAZI8

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Generals In Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders
Ezra J. Warner
Manufacturer: LOUISIANA STATE UP
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OL4TCU

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Generals in Gray : Lives of the Confederate Commanders
Ezra J. Warner
Manufacturer: Louisiana State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000QXK0CO

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Generals in Gray : Lives of the Confederate Commanders
Ezra J. Warner
Manufacturer: Louisiana State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MEG9AY

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Generals in Gray Lives of the Confederate Commander

Manufacturer: Louisiana State Univ Pr, 1999
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I8T6PE

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Generals In Gray Lives of the Confederate Commanders
Warner Ezra J.
Manufacturer: Louisiana State University P
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UF0OVA

Book Description

For thirty days I was close by him at historic events -- in the places where writers never are.

Before Britain could help the United States in the war against Saddam Hussein, Tony Blair faced a battle against his own voters, his own party, and his own allies in Europe. These were among the most tense and tumultuous weeks the world had seen since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

In thirty days, Blair took on his opponents and won.

Through it all, Peter Stothard had unprecedented access to Blair -- from Ten Downing Street and the House of Commons through the war summits in the Azores, Brussels, Belfast, and at Camp David. Stothard brings us inside the corridors of power during this extraordinary time, offering a vivid, up-close view of an enormously popular leader facing the challenge of his life.

Customer Reviews:

The Process Not The Substance.......2005-11-30

I found this book to be an interesting read because it follows the day to day and hour by hour activities of PM Blair. Having said that it lacks a lot of the details and fails to answer some of the pressing questions.

This book does an excellent job of following the daily activities of Blair starting 10 days before the Iraq invasion and for 20 days after that event. It gives an excellent insider's view of what he does during a day, how he handles stress, and living conditions at Number 10. It describes who he talks to, who gives him what advice on what subject, how he handles travel, phone calls, meetings, advisors, etc. It even covers what he eats and his preparations for the question period in parliament.

What it lacked was the definitive comments from Blair why he was going to war. By the time the book starts, Blair has made up his mind to close ranks with Bush and support him with military assistance, and he had decided that was essential to preserve trans Atlantic unity.

So the book is very interesting, very well written, but more about the process than the rational of his activities. I preferred Tony Blair: The Making of a World Leader by Philip Stephens.

So 4 stars.

"I want to end with 'God Bless You'," says the PM.......2005-01-02

"It's all very well being a pacifist, but to be a pacifist after september 11, that's something different." So says Tony Blair early in this behind-the-scenes look at the office of the British Prime Minister during 4 crucial weeks in march & april of 2003. During this time journalist Peter Stothard follows Mr. Blair to several important summit venues: Brussels for the EU, the Azores for the coalition-of-the-willing vis-a-vis Iraq, Camp David, & Belfast. We are also treated to some of what went on behind closed doors as Mr. Blair submitted his Iraq policy to an up-or-down vote in the House of Commons; which, had he lost, would have necessitated his resignation. That said, this journalistic book is more an agglomeration of snapshots than an accomplished whole. We learn what everyone already knew: that Blair was standing shoulder to shoulder with President Bush over Iraq on principle---Blair's religious side apparent here as well; & because it was in Britain's interest to do so; that the British were far more keen on the UN than Washington; that Mr. Blair relied heavily on his advisor Alastair Campbell, etc. In short, most of this book should already be known to anyone who followed British politics avidly on television and in serious newspapers either at the time and/or since. The value of this book, thus, lies more in the not-so-noteworthy incidental happenings obscured from public view that provide "color"---ie., personalize the individuals herein. Hence, we are treated to numerous occurrences the likes of this: Blair's convoy outside of his Downing Street residence starts off & then abruptly stops. "'He's forgotten his glasses.' 'Where are they?'" an aide in Number 10 asks another aide in the motorcade. "'Somewhere in the den,' she repeats the reply. She pushes open the door, but Jack Straw is already back on the Number 10 front step. Before there is time to ponder whether Lord Carrington would ever have left his car to fetch Margaret Thatcher's glasses, or whether Douglas Hurd would have made the same leap for John Major, Tony Blair's Foreign Secretary is back in the street with the trophy in his hand." Yes, such asides are interesting to characterize personalities and such, but when too numerous to count, can become as satisfying as several appetizers in lieu of dinner. Mind you, I didn't dislike this book. It is a very short read and has its moments. I'm just stating that it isn't as substancial as the above editorials make it out to be. I read its 234 pages in something over 6 hours over two days & enjoyed it. The most interesting thing about the book, I think, was that Mr. Blair wanted to end an important address to the British people---as he committed British forces into combat---with "God Bless You" but his advisors dissuaded him from doing so. I present to you the exchange: "'That's not a good idea.' 'Oh no?' says the Prime Minister, raising his voice. To which they respond, 'You're talking to lots of people who don't want chaplains pushing stuff down their throats.' 'You are the most ungodly lot I have ever...' Tony Blair's words fade away into the make-up artist's flannel. 'Ungodly? Count me out,' complains speechwriter Peter Hyman, who is Jewish and whose plum-coloured neck wound is throbbing hard. 'That's not the same God,' the protesters insist. 'It is the same God,' says the Prime Minister, scribbling fiercely on his text" (pp. 106-107). The author ends the book by saying of Mr. Blair, "but he has changed in the past 30 days"---ie., since the author began to observe him in close quarters, but he is rather vague throughout this book exactly how. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the read & can recommend this book as part of a multi-volume study of Mr. Blair and/or the Iraq War. Cheers!

Book Description

Rich in humor and culture, passion and love for the cause of God and of man, Milestones is the autobiography of one of the most influential men in the Catholic Church at the turn of the millennium. In his famous Apology, Cardinal Newman accounted for his conversion to Catholicism. In this biography, which in certain respects recalls Newman's masterpiece, Ratzinger tells of his family life, the years of the Nazi oppression and of the war, his extraordinary academic path, and his participation in the Second Vatican Council. Illustrated.

Customer Reviews:

Still want to know more about him.......2007-07-12

The first 50 years of Joseph Ratzinger's life. I liked Joseph Ratzinger very much prior to 2005, and have loved him very much since he's been Pope.

Not being an intellectual myself, I can only marvel at the life and character of this man. Maybe the reading of this small book is a little dry, but if you are interested in learning about him - it is well worth the reading. However, because it is written by himself, there is a lot about the man that I would like to know that isn't covered.

I like the fact that the love for his family and his Bavaria is very evident - almost tangible - all throughout the book, but it is difficult to "crack the code" of his obviously deep and complex personality. Yet, I can understand that unwillingness to expose the deeper self in a book.

For me the book is gratifying, if only for getting the basics but a biography would be better.

Milestones, a review of the first half of the life of the current pope.......2006-11-20

Milestones is a highly readable, name-dropping autobiography that illuminates some of the life and thinking of the current pope. Our church chose this for one of the selections of our book club. We reviewed it just after Benedict XVI's controversial talk at the University of Regensburg, which we read in its entirety. The consistency of the sentiment of that talk (advocating, basically, for a repudiation of violence in the practice of religion, and a dialogue with other religions and with science) with Benedict's early life is very clear. He is an actor on the world's stage, but also an important religious leader, whose vision directly affects nearly a billion people and indirectly the entire world. Important, easy-to-read and gentlemanly book.

Was Ratzinger a Nazi?.......2006-09-03

When Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI over a year ago, many journalists quipped that "Ratzi the Nazi" is now Pope. Indeed, the image of the German Pope being an ex-Nazi will probably never be lost for the remainder of his life, and though this extremely learned and dignified man shouldn't for a second be upset over the attacks made on him by people whose learning amounts to no more than a tiny fraction of his own, addressing the "Ratzi the Nazi" myth is worthwhile, if for no other reason than that it may teach some people to read something instead of making judgments on the basis of the lies and leftist clichés their brains are inculcated with in modern "schools."

So what evidence can you find in Ratzinger's memoirs that he came from an anti-Nazi family and himself disdains Nazism?

He wrote that "time and again, in public meetings" his father took "a position against the violence of the Nazis" (p. 12), that after the January 30, 1933 "seizure of power" in which Hindenburg transferred to Hitler the position of chancellor of the Reich his father was "mortified...to have to work...for a government whose representatives he considered to be criminals" (p. 14), that his father "would warn and aid priests he knew were in danger" due to the Nazi practice of spying and informing on priests who behaved as "enemies of the Reich" (p. 14), that his father "saw that a victory of Hitler's (in World War II) would not be a victory for Germany but rather a victory of the Antichrist that would surely usher in apocalyptic times for all believers, and not only for them" (p. 27), and that his father "voiced all his ire against Hitler" to the faces of two SS men given shelter in the Ratzinger house (in either April or May of 1945), an action which "as a rule should have had deadly consequences for him," or, in other words, an action that put his life in danger (p. 36-37). In September of 1944 Ratzinger was assigned to a Nazi forced-labor camp run by Nazis who Ratzinger described as "fanatical ideologues who tyrannized us without respite" (p. 32-33); and, in either late April or early May of 1945 (Ratzinger doesn't remember precisely) he risked his life to escape the Nazi forced-labor camp; he made the escape attempt with the knowledge that soldiers "had orders to shoot deserters on the spot" (p. 36). On page 42 he refers to Nazism as a "destructive ideology."

On lewrockwell.com Paul Gottfried briefly explained that the "Ratzi the Nazi" charge is entirely grotesque:

"Except for a forced membership in the Hitlerjugend and a minor role protecting German cities against the Allied bombing of German civilians, Ratzinger had no links to the Third Reich. Before the War's end, he surrendered to American forces, which allowed him to return to a Catholic seminary. He and his brother Georg, who also became a priest, came from a staunchly anti-Nazi Bavarian family, which made only the smallest necessary compromises to survive in a regime they plainly disliked."

Pleasant reading limited by years covered.......2006-08-29

Like most people, I read this book, to see what the new Pope had to say about his own life. This book is most interesting when he talks of his childhood. Once he goes off to his theological studies, it's less so. The biggest drawback is that the book was written years ago, it stops at 1977. What we would have loved was to have a memoir encompassing his years with JPII and as the Prefect. Considering the very moving speech he gave at JPII's funeral, I would have loved to read something about those years. I truly hope he will have time to put those down.

Wish it were a lot longer (actual memoir consists of only 113 pages, plus 36 pages of B&W photos). .......2006-08-02

"As a rural policeman, my father was transferred frequently, so we were continually on the road." That is, until 1937 "when my father turned sixty and retired." Ratzinger was "born on Holy Saturday, April 16" only ten years earlier; on the eve of Easter, a time of "not yet standing in the full light but walking toward it full of trust." In his twelth year, aso at Easter time, he enters the minor seminary, but Ratzinger doesn't go into much by way of detail on this 'milestone' of his. Of course, Hitler was on the war path during this time. "At first," Ratzinger remembers, "the war appeared to be almost unreal." His brother was not drafted until 1942. The following year Joseph was himself drafted, not into the German army, but into "a very peculiar kind of boarding school in Munich." Then on September 10, 1944, having reached military age we [Joseph & his boarding school cadets] were released from the FLAK in which we had actually served as students." (FLAK is an acronym for batteries of the anti-aircraft defense.) "When I arrived home, the draft notice of the Reichsarbeitsdienst [work service of the Reich] already lay on the table." After some weeks spent in the labor detail he was finally assigned to infantry barracks in Traunstein, his home town. Basic training began in mid-Jauary 1945 & not long after its completion Joseph found himself a POW in American hands. He was a free man again on June 19; his brother reappearing the following month. At this point we are at page 40 of the 113 pages of text. The balance of this "biographical sketch" (as Ratzinger refers to these memoirs) touches upon a two-year study of philosophy, followed by theological studies in Munich; and the conferment of his theology degree in July 1953. Not long after this milestone Ratzinger loses his father. ("I sensed that the world was emptier for me and that a portion of my home had been transferred to the other world.") Then, having developed a good relationship with the archbishop of Cologne (Cardinal Frings), Ratzinger accompanies him to the Second Vatican Council proceedings in Rome as the cardinal's theological advisor. Ratzinger does not at all, however, enter "into a detailed portrayal of these very special years;" not believing that "the theological and ecclesial drama of those years belong in these memoir." The story thus jumps to Munster where Ratzinger takes a position lecturing as he begins to divide his time between this locale and his ongoing advisory role in Rome. 3 years later he ditches Munster for Tubingen during a time of turmoil, a time when "at almost a moment's notice, there was a change in the ideological 'paradigm' by which the students and a part the teachers thought." It was 1967 when "almost overnight the existentialist model collapsed and was replaced by the Marxist." By 1969 he moves yet again, this time to Regensburg (where he brother was then living) to work in a "less agitated environent." But the "waves of Marxist revolt...pounded there too." The crisis in theology, though, had a cause; having emerged out of a crisis in culture and, indeed, out of a cultural revolution." Out of this turmoil came the idea to start an international journal; a project that "was to gather together all those who did not want to do theology on the basis of the pre-set goals of ecclesial politics..." Ratzinger's book ends with his appointment as archbishop of Munich, but many more 'Milestones' were still to come, thank God. (06Jul) Cheers!

Milestones: Memoirs 1927-1977: Joseph Ratzinger , Pope Benedict XVI

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Milestones: Memoirs 1927-1977: Joseph Ratzinger , Pope Benedict XVI

Manufacturer: IGNATIUS PRESS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0739456261

Product Description

MEMOIRS OF JOSEPH CARDINAL RATZINGER (POPE BENEDICT XVI) TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN.

Customer Reviews:

Read it in 2 days !.......2000-05-04

I read it in two days, because this book is so absorbing, no bullsh..t orientated, focusing on facts, not speculation, not legends. It is impressive the ammount of Americans who payed the ultimate price while serving in RAF.

Very good !!!.......1999-08-24

Although not focusing in combat narratives, Caine did a stupendous job!! HE follows the character who flew in Eagle Squadrons before and after they passe through that units (71, 121 and 133 RAF Squadrons. He end the myth that American FOurth Fighter Group was made mainly by ex-Eagle pilots. They were minority there. It has an apendix which dates the Killed in action, the aces. And it gives a good picture of how RAF worked in those days. Great, great, great !!!

American Pilots In The RAF The WWII Eagle Squadrons

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American Pilots In The RAF The WWII Eagle Squadrons
Caine Philip D.
Manufacturer: Brassey's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UDVT8Y

Book Description

Everyone needs to love and be loved -- even men. But to know love, men must be able to look at the ways that patriarchal culture keeps them from knowing themselves, from being in touch with their feelings, from loving. In The Will to Change, bell hooks gets to the heart of the matter and shows men how to express the emotions that are a fundamental part of who they are -- whatever their age, marital status, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

With trademark candor and fierce intelligence, hooks addresses the most common concerns of men, such as fear of intimacy and loss of their patriarchal place in society, in new and challenging ways. She believes men can find the way to spiritual unity by getting back in touch with the emotionally open part of themselves -- and lay claim to the rich and rewarding inner lives that have historically been the exclusive province of women. A brave and astonishing work, The Will to Change is designed to help men reclaim the best part of themselves.

Download Description

"With the courage, honesty, and compassion that have made her one of America's most provocative authorities on modern culture, bell hooks takes on the interior lives of men and answers their most intimate questions about love. Everyone needs to love and be loved -- even men. In this groundbreaking book, bell hooks gets to the heart of the matter and shows men how to express the emotions that are a fundamental part of who they are -- whatever their age, ethnicity, or cultural persuasion. Written in response to the author's in-depth discussions with men who were inspired by her trilogy, All About Love, Salvation, and Communion, bell hooks's The Will to Change addresses maleness and masculinity in new and challenging ways. With trademark candor and fierce intelligence, hooks answers the most common concerns of men, such as fear of intimacy and loss of their patriarchal place in society. She believes men can find the way to spiritual unity by getting back in touch with the emotionally open part of themselves. Only through this liberation will they lay claim to the rich and rewarding inner lives that have historically been the exclusive province of women. Men can access these feelings by giving themselves permission to be vulnerable. As they grow more comfortable and start believing that it's okay to feel, to need, and to desire, they will thrive as equal partners in their intimate relationships. Whether they are straight or gay, black or white, The Will to Change helps men to reclaim the best part of themselves. "

Customer Reviews:

An evolutionary revolutionary work.......2004-09-25

"The Will to Change" by bell hooks is one of the best books I have ever read. bell hooks gets to the heart of the ways in which most of us (men and women, people of all classes and races) are harmed by patriarchy, as well as exposing the ways in which we unconsciously replicate it in our personal lives. Her ideas are big enough to include all people who are struggling with division, oppression, and/or general un-wholeness and unhappiness, not just women. She suggests that the way to freedom is for us to love each other and support each other on our journies to wholeness. She clearly and consistently frames the struggle as one of hurting people yearning to be whole and free. This is a theory that is accessible to everyone - anyone who searches their heart, or just observes the society around them, can see that what she says is true. As a feminist who is married and loves men, I found her advice to be full of wisdom, with a refreshing lack of intellectual elitism.

After reading this wonderful work, I am more convinced than ever that heart and soul are the primary components of our future evolutionary path. Hats off to you, ms. hooks!

Unearthing the Roots.......2004-07-03

Throughout history, society has defined exactly what it means to be a "man." From birth, men and women together learn that men are providers, protectors, emotionally detached, and physically stronger. In an effort to reinforce such beliefs, society created gaps between men and women in almost all arenas of life: the workforce, personal hobbies, appearance, and relationship roles. Due to the creation and nurturing of such roles, it has become difficult for men to love and to express any kind of emotion (except anger)...it has also become difficult for women to understand men and how to love them.

In her novel THE WILL TO CHANGE: MEN, MASCULINITY, AND LOVE, feminist scholar bell hooks sets upon the task of unearthing the roots of masculine thinking. She sheds light on patriarchy, on masculine emotion, and how together they affect men from infancy to manhood. She includes quotes from journalists, psychologists, and other feminine theorists to support and clarify her opinions. THE WILL TO CHANGE is an informative, thought-provoking work that strikes at the very soul of our society. Reading like a college psychology text, it can be a little dry in spots, however, hooks shows readers how deeply misguided she believes our society to be and how difficult it is to change the very basis of our foundation. Author bell hooks is a passionate, highly educated woman, and while most of what she writes is disturbing and often difficult for me to swallow, I appreciate her contribution to the education of our society.

Reviewed by Natasha T.
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

a feminist assessment of patriarchal masculinity.......2004-01-03

bell hooks states that feminists have not discussed how to improve the lives of men and this is her attempt. In 11 chapters, she details her ideas that men must be open to feminism and feminists must be open to men, that patriarchal masculinity is the problem, not males, and that much harm comes to the life of boys.

Professional critics have called this book that non-race-based equivalent to "We Real Cool." However, I'd say it's the male counterpart to hooks' "Communion." This book is an ideal tool for feminist women raising sons. It also may be a good introduction to feminism for progressive men or men who want to be progressive. hooks cites many canonical men's studies texts and progressive books on boys and men that many readers will find useful. (Again, it's a shame that this book lacks a bibliography, just like most of her most recent works.)

While this book discusses romantic love, that type of relationship is not the main issue here. Readers that have already heard enough about hooks' views on love from her autobiographies and recent works will find this refreshing. Many loving dynamics are detailed here. Most importantly, hooks discusses the troubles faced by little boys. I'm impressed that a childless writer is so devoted to children. This almost reminded me of Rosie O'Donnell's autobiography the way a grown woman is so concerned about minors.

I would say that I have three major complaints/critiques of her book. First, as much as she constantly assesses and promotes feminism, what comes through is that anti-oppression books can help men. Her gender analysis just happens to be her angle. A civil rights activist could have said that organizing could help men or a Communist discussing anti-classism could make the same argument that hooks makes here. Thinking about justice, breaking out of boundaries, and imagining utopias has never been the work of just feminists.

Second, hooks critiques feminist self-help books for not discussing politics and the larger superstructure. However, the majority of self-help books, even ones that she cites, are apolitical. She needs to critique the whole genre if she is going to find so many individual examples unsatisfying. People who feel that hooks was too hard on Naomi Wolf will be equally surprised at how she goes after Susan Faludi here.

Third, recently, everytime bell hooks mentions sexual orientation issues, she starts off with "Lesbians and gay men can be as conservative as anyone else, but here's one bit of info that I find useful from their activism......" If a white person started every comment on race with "People of color can be just as conservative as anyone else, but...." or a class-privileged person said, "Some poor people deserve the barrel they are in, but here's what I find useful on class-based activism....", etc., hooks would be livid, yet she does it with gays. I understand hooks' point that gays are just people just like straights. However, her statements are somewhat course and insensitive. I think this flaw still highlights how bell hooks has continually marginalized issues of sexual orientation while she champions issues of race, class, and gender. Her recent ability to add imperialism to the mix shows she can build on her theorizing, so her stance on gay rights is incredibly problematic. There's a great chapter in Carbrado's "Black Men on Race, Gender, and Sexuality" that discusses hooks' shortcoming.

At the end of almost every chapter, hooks presents cultural criticism. Her subjects are broad including the Harry Potter series, the film "Life as a House," and other popular works. I am curious as to whether she is trying to satisfy her fans that are most familiar with her cultural studies work. I wonder if she is trying to prove that her new march toward self-help writing is not meant to show she has lost her cult crit skills. Coming from an African-American woman who almost always discusses black issues, this book was pretty light on race matters. African-American readers, like myself, looking for that topic will find that the only chapter that is the exception is "Popular Culture: Media Masculinity." I applaud hooks for pointing out and proving that black authors have an array of writing interests.

Like always, this book is annoyingly repetitive. hooks comes close to admitting this in her introduction. If I remember correctly, she seemed reluctant to discuss domestic violence and war in her classic text "Talking Back." Now, she has taken those problems as a centerpiece of her work. The cover of this book shows that Renaissance painting where God's finger points down toward Man's (this was the basis for the cover to "E.T.," btw). The cover has a pretty shade of blue. I think readers will find the cover quite inviting.

Book Description

Reissued on the tenth anniversary of its publication, this classic work on our environmental crisis features a new introduction by the author, reviewing both the progress and ground lost in the fight to save the earth.

This impassioned plea for radical and life-renewing change is today still considered a groundbreaking work in environmental studies. McKibben's argument that the survival of the globe is dependent on a fundamental, philosophical shift in the way we relate to nature is more relevant than ever. McKibben writes of our earth's environmental cataclysm, addressing such core issues as the greenhouse effect, acid rain, and the depletion of the ozone layer. His new introduction addresses some of the latest environmental issues that have risen during the 1990s. The book also includes an invaluable new appendix of facts and figures that surveys the progress of the environmental movement.

More than simply a handbook for survival or a doomsday catalog of scientific prediction, this classic, soulful lament on Nature is required reading for nature enthusiasts, activists, and concerned citizens alike.

Customer Reviews:

To Be Honored But Not Necessarily To Be Read.......2007-07-26

The good news: "The End of Nature" was a truly prophetic book when it was published in 1989. Eloquent and well-intentioned, it was one of the first books aimed at a general audience to discuss global warming and deep ecology. It may even have influenced public opinion, if not public policy.

The bad news: "The End of Nature" is meandering, journalistic, and full of 20-year old science. Even worse, it's main Big Idea doesn't seem true. McKibben believed that man's ability to change the climate would eventually make it impossible for anyone to see nature as quasi-sacred and independent of human meddling. In reality, man's respect for nature will surely increase, not diminish, as the earth warms up. Coastlines will disappear, hurricanes slam into cities, and summers sizzle. Whatever else global warming will do, it will humble mankind.

The bottomline: "The End of Nature" has earned a place in the canon of environmental literature alongside classics like "Silent Spring." Every environmental library should have a copy of it. However, there's no compelling reason why general readers in 2007 should devote much time to it.

Classic.......2007-06-19

As relavent today as it was in 1989 and when combined with Deep Economy gives you something to ponder.

Rave for 'The End of Nature'.......2007-05-13

Bill McKibben's beautifully written and cogently reasoned analysis of how humans are damaging the world we share with all other life is must-reading. He shares with readers a respect for Nature---truly wild, untouched Nature---that is personal, emotional, reverential, and spiritual. That respect is contagious. We need to hear voices like his. His book strengthens our will to take the difficult but essential steps to slow global warming. He urges us to be good stewards of the earth.

Wonderful Book, A Little Outdated.......2004-11-09

This would've been a five-star review if this book were about 10-12 years newer than it is. In some ways, McKibben's extended essay on global warming has aged very well. His central thesis that nature is ended (not destroyed but removed of majesty or even neutered) by the overwhelming pressures of human industrial society and human overpopulation is as relevant now as it ever was, the truth of this argument more evident every day. And global warming, the central thread of his argument, is even more pressing today, even though we in the United States are doing even less about it. Though some of his worst fears have yet to come true, the reality of global climate change is bad enough, as underscored by the recent report on rapid climate change in arctic regions.

In other ways, though, the book seems dated. A lot of what McKibben writes about is uncertain. "It could be that in 50-100 years..." or "our models are very uncertain but..." and so on. The last 15 years have seen a lot of research in this area and a a great deal of refinement of our climate models, such that we know have a much more certain picture of the realities of climate change. This is real. It is happening, and it's happening quickly. Unfortunately, the greater uncertainty in our understanding of this at the time McKibben was writing undercuts his message somewhat, that we must learn to curb our desires and live more humbly if we wish to avoid the worst consequences of global warming. Were his argument bolstered by more modern research, I think he would have a much easier time outlining some real steps we as a society could take to deal with global warming.

Still, the issues McKibben raises and the ideas he presents for how we can deal with them are as pressing now as they were in 1989, perhaps even more so. Anyone who is at all concerned about global warming, the environment, or even just living beyond the next 30 years or so would do well to read this book.

Prophetic and life changing........2004-02-23

In the ten years between the time THE END OF NATURE was first published in 1989 and reissued in 1999, we experienced seven of the ten warmest years in recorded history (p. xiv), which establishes Bill McKibben as a global warming prophet. And the thing is--we're still not getting it. "We live in the oddest moment since our species first stood upright," McKibben writes in the new Introduction to his environmental classic, "the moment when we are finally grown so big in numbers and in appetite we alter everything around us" (pp. xv-xvi). The United States alone dumps 15 percent more CO2 into the atmosphere than it did ten years ago (p. xvi). Arctic glaciers continue to retreat, ice grows thinner, and the sea level steadily rises (p. xviii). In short, "this buzzing, blooming, mysterious, cruel, lovely globe of mountain, sea, city, forest, of fish and wolf and bug and man; of carbon and hydrogen and nitrogen--it has come unbalanced in our short moment on it" (p. xxv).

McKibben's basic argument is that our relationship with the concept of "nature" as something separate and wild has changed, and in our pursuit for "a better life," we have totally wrecked the environment (p. 48). By changing the weather, for instance, we have altered every spot on earth, depriving nature of its independence, leaving "nothing but us" (p. 58). Stated differently, we have ended nature's separation from human society (p. 64).

Because nature provides us with a sense of comfort, reading THE END OF NATURE is not a happy experience. McKibben has issued a wake-up call, and his book should be required reading for any global-warming skeptic, or for anyone who drives a SUV. As Thoreau said, we are living lives of quiet desparation--we enjoy the consumptive, easy life. However, as McKibben's compelling argument demonstrates, such a lifestyle is incompatible with the well being of our planet. He encourages us not only to change the way we act, but also to change the way we think by adopting the radical notion that we learn to respect nature "for its own sake," as a "realm beyond the human," and give it "room to recover" from the damage we have done (pp. 174-77). This book was a life changer that prompted me, in part, to move from the concrete, urban sprawl of Phoenix, Arizona to Boulder, where there is a respect for open space, and where it is still possible to have a humble relationship with nature.

G. Merritt

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