Book Description
In this stunning and fully independent conclusion to A Great Circle, Reynolds Price tells the complex, moving story of a man's return home to die of AIDS and of the unexpected effect that his arrival -- and his death -- has on his family.
Wade Mayfield's parents are separated, but for the remaining months of his life they and their friends come together to care for Wade with the love they can muster. They are unprepared, however, for the astonishing mystery Wade has prepared to reveal once he is gone -- a mystery that initiates the possible reunion of his parents and promises to continue the proud traditions of a complex, multiracial family.
Customer Reviews:
One of Reynolds Price's best novels.......2006-05-15
This is the third volume of a trilogy that includes THE SOURCE OF LIGHT and THE SURFACE OF EARTH. The time is now 30+ years after the ending of the second volume. Hutch, a college professor of English and a man somewhat stingy with his emotions, must confront the death of his son, Wade, from AIDS. Wyatt, his son's black lover, visits Hutch, a man he despises, and Hutch begins to understand the power of Wade's love and emotional giving. The novel ends with a not-so-successful visit by Hutch to the northern slum in NYC where Wyatt's family resides. Price's writing power is in full flow, especially his uniquely brilliant use of figures of speech. It's a sad and poignant novel (though one that contains hope and promise, too), all about forgiveness and understanding and redemption, and it's one of Price's very best books.
A Moving and Beautiful Book.......2006-02-26
Ignore the one-star types. This is a moving and oftentimes painful book. Just be open to what you read and do not come equipt with preconceptions about how to write. Price writes an often elegant prose with subtlety and depth. Too bad for those unable to appreciate this work.
A more fundamental challenge to the pseudo-literati.......2002-10-15
The cliche of every creative writing class is "show, don't tell." The problem with that philosophy is that true literature can be defined as breaking free of cliches. Unless you abandon omniscient narrator or (most) first-person narrations as literary devices, you will be engaging in some sort of "telling."
Now, as for believability, literature is a tool for the communication of ideas, just as color and light are to a painter. Would you tell Picasso that it is simply not believable for a woman to have two eyes on one side of her head? I would encourage anyone who has questions about the role of believability in literature to read Maupin's The Night Listener. He clarifies that literary truth transcends the believability of the narrative.
In summary:
1) In literature, it is perfectly acceptable to "tell" versus "show" if "telling" is the best way to communicate your ideas.
2) In literature, believability is irrelavant if the amalgamation of words effectively communicates the writer's ideas.
I'd give it a 0-star rating if I could........2001-03-15
Frankly, Reynolds Price's The Promise of Rest is one of the worst books I've ever had the misfortune to read. If it hadn't been for the fact that it was assigned reading for my MFA class, I'd have thrown it across the room by page 15. Price commits practically every literary sin that exists, including the unforgivable telling instead of showing: he explains the characters' every reaction and motivation as the story moves (very slowly and in 350 pages) along, making the reader feel a bit stupid and left out, as if he or she can't possibly understand without some authorial intervention. Some of his other, more egregious transgressions are the characters' identical and unrealistic speech patterns (particularly the fact that everyone calls everyone else "old friend" or "sir"), the vague and often unfulfilled implications of meaning in much of the dialogue, the grand, philosophical statements and epiphanies, such as "He suddenly knew that this would be the last time...," and "It was the first time that he had ever thought...," and "Until now he had never understood...," which seem to come in every other paragraph. The writing itself is terribly strained and highfalutin, with allusions to great cultures and ages and beauty tossed in randomly and without conclusion, as if Price went through and added them in late revisions. The smaller frustrations I felt are too numerous for me to mention here.
As for its content, Price took a promisingly touching theme-that of a man returning to his estranged parents to die of AIDS-and made it into his own little soapbox from which to complain about the state of the world we live in. Soapboxes have their place in literature, but the political agendas of Promise of Rest outweigh the story to the point that the reader can't help but feel a little insulted. In particular, I noticed a vein of misogyny running through the text. At one point the main character, an older man named Hutch, says, "Everybody with eyes in the past three centuries knows that white women were the engines of slavery," which by itself might seem innocuous and perhaps true, in some way and to a degree, but later other characters say things like, "women's training and doubts and pluming problems," and "Skin is mainly what's killed men always. And women have certainly used theirs for harm." These sentences may be taken out of context, but the message of the book is that men are only victims and rarely if ever guilty of anything. The main female character, Ann, vacillates between bitchy and whiny and ; Price blames much of Hutch's unhappiness on her decisions. The other women lack the strength and independence that even the weakest male character embodies, and they exist primarily in roles of caretaking. Besides an attack on the feminine, the book tries to tackle other ethical issues such as racism, sexuality, and religion without much effort on the part of the author or, for that matter, success.
I haven't read the first two books of this trilogy, and if I knew they would give a greater insight into Reynolds Price and his characters, I might give them a try. But I doubt I will, in the hopes of never having to go through this awful experience again. At its best, The Promise of Rest offers hope to all aspiring writers: If this book can get published, then by God your novel should have no problem.
PS. I don't mind being called a "psuedo-literati," though I prefer "literati-in-training;" I don't mind being accused of something I don't even agree with (I've read other books by Southerners that I absolutely enjoyed, and I'm as anti-Gap as anyone); but none of these facts make the book good by any stretch of the imagination. ....
I recommend this Book to everyone.......2000-12-22
I simply can say enough how much I loved this book. I am an avid reader, reading approximately 2 books a month and this was my all time favorite. It was incrediably touching to witness the relationship between father and son. I cried at the end because I was so sad the book ended. Because this is the holiday season and people are always swaping ideas for presents, this is the first suggestion I make.
Average customer rating:
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Promises Laid to Rest
Margaret M. Chidichimo
Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
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ASIN: 141379341X |
Book Description
Elizabeth was drawn back to Oak Hill because its people and history had such a profound impact on her life. As the storyteller, she reflects on a simple but compelling place that had isolated itself from the aggression of progress by clinging to the memory and legacy of its intriguing past. The horrible mining accident that killed Martin Phelps and the legend of the wedding bodice found by a famous dignitary and his wife would shape the town's history for decades. After many years, Jonathan Crosby knew it was time for Oak Hill to give way to progress. The elderly gentleman leaves Oak Hill and begins his journey to find Violet's descendants, hoping he can fulfill the unspoken promise. The reader follows Jonathan and is introduced to a host of characters along the way. The adventure details his insights into the places he visits, the situations he encounters and the people he meets.
Customer Reviews:
The Lessons of Jonathan.......2005-12-24
No sex, no violence, no foul language, what a concept when writing a book. This is a must read for the entire family. This is a story that transends all age groups. Following Jonathan's journey through life takes the reader to all different aspects of life. Joy, sadness, life, death and all thats in between. This is a genteel story that teaches children, parents and grandparents the arts of love, respect and honor. Through Jonathan's eyes children learn to respect their elders and learn from their mistakes as well as the experiences of their grandparents and parents. Parents learn that they do not always have all the answers and can still learn from their parents. Grandparents learn that new ideas and feelings can be inter mingled with the old to sometimes make a better life.
This is a story that can be read and discussed with the whole family. I am a man who enjoys high adventure and intrigue and at first did not think that I would enjoy this book. Jonathan won me over with his wisdom and caring for the people that surrounded him in his life. When his death came, and you knew it would, I cried with tears of sadness and joy at the same time. I left this book with a good feeling inside and a hope that with the lessons taught in this book the future will be better than the past.
Average customer rating:
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The Sandman: A Little Book With a Promise to Keep : Rest, Relaxation, and a Good Night's Sleep
Keith Floyd
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0898159105 |
Amazon.com
Insomnia? Got a child who will not go down at night? Try reading The Sandman out loud and you'll find yourself, and your child, blissfully snoozing off in slumber land. How does it work? Author Keith Floyd did his doctoral dissertation on relaxation and sleep research--and The Sandman evolved to become the core of his research. This book (unlike many other equally soporific doctoral dissertations) tells a charming, enjoyable, and comforting story appropriate for non-sleepers of all ages.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Mississippi Quarterly, published by Mississippi State University on March 22, 2000. The length of the article is 5798 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Fiction of Mercy: Suffering Delight in Reynolds Price's The Promise of Rest.(Critical Essay)
Author: Tara Powell
Publication:
The Mississippi Quarterly (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2000
Publisher: Mississippi State University
Volume: 53
Issue: 2
Page: 251
Article Type: Critical Essay
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand, published by New Zealand Nurses' Organisation on July 1, 2004. The length of the article is 784 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: How much can nurses handle? A "no-lift" policy in hospitals and rest-homes promises to reduce nurses' back injuries caused by handling patients and lead to improved patient care.(health and safety)
Publication:
Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 1, 2004
Publisher: New Zealand Nurses' Organisation
Volume: 10
Issue: 6
Page: 15(1)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from World Literature Today, published by University of Oklahoma on January 1, 1996. The length of the article is 518 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: The Promise of Rest.(Brief Article)
Author: James Knudsen
Publication:
World Literature Today (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 1996
Publisher: University of Oklahoma
Volume: v70
Issue: n1
Page: p189(2)
Article Type: Book Review, Brief Article
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Sojourners Magazine, published by Thomson Gale on May 1, 2005. The length of the article is 1880 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: The Sabbath promise: to follow Jesus more deeply, we must learn to stop and rest.
Author: Michaela Bruzzese
Publication:
Sojourners Magazine (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 34
Issue: 5
Page: 16(6)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
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Ice Prophet
William R. Forstchen
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Forstchen, William
| ( F )
| Authors, A-Z
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Similar Items:
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Darkness upon the Ice
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The Flame upon the Ice
ASIN: 0345307909
Release Date: 1983-07-12 |
Customer Reviews:
well done.......1997-10-09
The author created a very probable future culture by extrapolating historic human behaviour. The characters are also very well modelled. In the novel are a few things wich don't seem logic to me, but my overall rating is a "well done"
Average customer rating:
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Ice Prophet
William R. Forstchen
Manufacturer: New York: Ballantine Books, 1983
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000LVNBIQ |
Average customer rating:
- Yum!
- another cookbook for Weight Watchers
- Great Recipes
- Recipes
- Love this cookbook!
|
Marlene Koch's Sensational Splenda Recipes: Over 375 Recipes Low in Sugar, Fat, and Calories
Marlene Koch
Manufacturer: M. Evans and Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Herbs, Spices & Condiments
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Similar Items:
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Splenda Cookbook
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Fantastic Food with Splenda: 160 Great Recipes for Meals Low in Sugar, Carbohydrates, Fat, and Calories
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Unbelievable Desserts With Splenda: Sweet Treats Low in Sugar, Fat and Calories
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Baking with Splenda (Healthy Exchanges Cookbook)
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The SPLENDA World of Sweetness: Recipes for Homemade Desserts and Delicious Drinks
ASIN: 1590770951 |
Book Description
With the newest addition to her Splenda library, Marlene Koch, has created the ultimate healthy low sugar cookbook. Featuring 125 brand new recipes along with all of her critically acclaimed recipes from Unbelievable Desserts with Splenda and Fantastic Food with Splenda (many with revisions and new updates), Marlene offers you 375 Sensational Recipes for every day and every occasion! From cold drinks and smoothies to hot beverages and breakfast foods to salads, vegetables and protein-packed entrees these are foods the entire family will love. Hungry for a treat? You'll find all your favorites and more from puddings and custards to frozen desserts, cookies, pies, cakes, cheesecakes, toppings and even cocktails. Even more sensational, Marlene's recipes are as easy-to-follow as they are on the waistline -- So no matter what your diet, you too can enjoy great food like Creamy Iced Coffee, Decadent Hot Chocolate, Stuffed French Toast, Minced Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Easy Re-Pickled Sweet Pickles, Lemon Meringue Pie and yes, even Strawberry Topped New York Cheesecake, because they've all been incredibly reduced in sugar, fat and calories but not in taste! This book also features: * Recipes, information and invaluable tips for cooking and baking with every type of Splenda (including the sugar-blends) * Sweet ways to cut the sugar and fantastic ways to cut the fat in all your own recipes * Up-to-date nutritional information for every recipe including Weight Watcher Point comparisons and Diabetic Exchanges
Customer Reviews:
Yum!.......2007-09-27
Love it. She also includes Weight Watcher points on everything! Excellent book. Treats without triggering the obsession of the sugar buzz.
another cookbook for Weight Watchers.......2007-09-12
I love it that this book has the weight watcher points included with each recipe.
Great Recipes.......2007-08-06
I purchased this book a short time ago and love it. I was delighted that the lemon blueberry bread was as good as it was. I suppose, never baking with Splenda, surprised me. Friends who tasted the bread asked for the recipe. I have many tagged for trying.
But I would highly recommend it.
Recipes.......2007-07-07
Already made a couple of these desserts. Very good. Would definitely recommend it.
Love this cookbook!.......2007-05-29
I use this cook book often. Easy to read & understand, more than just desserts and helpful hints to cooking healthier! Would be better if colored photos were included, but still a great resource!
Book Description
Everybody loves a Wiener dog. Their funny bodies with their short little legs, floppy ears, and pleading eyes make Dachshunds irresistible even to people who claim to dislike small dogs. Also, Dachshunds are natural clowns. They can keep a room in stitches with their antics and coax one more dog cookie out of the strictest disciplinarian. In addition, Dachshunds are great with kids, love to play, and can be extremely affectionate. On the other hand, Dachshunds can sometimes be very willful and hard to train, often bark a lot, and can rival a Labrador Retrievers in their ability to dismantle your furniture.
Is this playful and inquisitive breed the right dog for you and your family? Dachshunds For Dummies provides the answer to this and all your questions about getting, caring for and living with this unique breed. Life-long Dachshund fancier and leading pet journalist, Eve Adamson gets you up and running with what you need to know to:
- Find and communicate with reputable breeders
- Choose the right Dachshund for you
- Housebreak and socialize your new puppy
- Educate yourself and your dog
- Handle behavioral problems
- Participate in competitions
In friendly, down-to-earth language, Eve provides insights into the Dachshund temperament and loads of sensible, easy-to-follow advice on everything a Dachshund owner should know—along with fun facts and Dachshund trivia, and tips on how to have a great time with your Dachshund. You’ll discover how to:
- Decide on whether a male or female is right for you
- Find and choose your new friend and bring him or her home
- Understand how to communicate with your Dachshund
- Train your Dachshund
- Find a good trainer and attend classes
- Deal with emotional conflicts
- Feed and exercise your Dachshund
- Recognize, prevent and treat common health problems
- Have loyal friend for life
The indispensable guide for you and your Dachshund, Dachshunds For Dummies is the only book you’ll need to help you have the best possible experience with this plucky breed of dog.
Customer Reviews:
Dachshunds for Dummies.......2007-07-20
Not very helpful. Could be talking about any dog. Recipes in the back of the book are dangerous for dogs. Some of the ingredients are toxic to dogs and could make them sick or kill them. Not happy about that. This book should know helpful and healthy lifestyles for animals. This is the second dog for dummies book I've bought. Won't buy any more.
Dachshunds for Dummies.......2007-04-02
Bought for a friend with a new Dachyl - she loves both!
Dachsies..good reference book.......2007-02-10
Even though have had several dachshunds over the years I still found the book interesting and informative. But then, what's not to love about these bossy little 4 legged fun loning animals?
A real eye opener.......2007-01-05
Dachshunds are very loving and wonderful dogs, but they are also some of the most stubborn creatures that you will ever meet. This book really helped us to understand how to train and relate to our new puppy. We were ahead of the game when it came to potty training and discipline because of this book. I highly recomend this Dachshunds for Dummies for all dachshund owners (both present and potential).
dachshunds for dummies.......2006-02-01
Good book and informative. A must buy for anyone who is thinking of adopting/purchasing a dog of this particular breed.
Average customer rating:
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Dachshunds for Dummies
Manufacturer: HUNGRY MINDS (TWLD)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GUAVUI |
Book Description
Here's the most comprehensive and up-to-date price guide available for the fast-growing field of fast-food collectibles. Includes more than thirty restaurant chains, from Arby's to White Castle, that provide toys as premiums and promotional giveaways to entice youngsters and their parents. Often tied to contemporary film releases, notable sports figures or events, or popular cartoon and comics characters, these promotional giveaways already number in the thousands. In recent years these items, given away “free” when first introduced, have become much sought after, and often valuable, collectibles. Co-authors Robert Sodaro and Alex Malloy, both experts in the contemporary collectibles field, have combined forces to accurately document this increasingly popular collectibles category.
-More than 500 photographs of the most sought after premiums, past and present.
-Up-to-date values for mint in package, mint out of package, individual items, and complete sets.
-Profiles the fast food restaurant franchises and their premium programs.
-Provides tips for locating, collecting, and grading items.
Customer Reviews:
Wow, what a very cool book.......2005-04-07
Mind you while I'm not a huge fan of fast food toys, I do find them interesting. So saying, I've certainly acquired my share of these items over the years, and yes, I like so many other folks at my office, have some of them on display at my desk.
Needless to say, Mr. Sodaro is very knowledgeable on the subject. (I remember seeing a segment about him on The Food Network, and heard him talk about fast food toys on my local radio station. Plus I know that he has written about fast food toys for Barbie Bazaar Magazine, and American Antiquities, as well as other publications, I understand that he's even been quoted in no less than The Wall Street Journal on the subject.)
He provides readers with an impressive array of facts and info on not only the toys themselves, but on the various food franchises that dispense them. Plus there are chapters on specific genres (comicbook superheroes, Beanie Babies, Star Wars).
So if you have these toys, want to know more about these toys, or simply want to know how much the ones you have are worth, I highly recommend this book.
Now all he needs to do is to come out with a volume 2 to bring the list up to date (it was originally published in 2001, and certainly could stand to use updating.)
Good Cheap Fun.......2003-11-28
Admit it or not nearly everyone has been to a fast food place. These toys are fun and exist in everyone's home. Now we have a guide to find out how much they are worth.
As Seen on the Food Channel!.......2003-11-13
I saw this book on Top 5 on the Food Channel. That show (originally broadcast Nov. 10) listed the top five give-away premimums as 5) Crackerjacks; 4) S&H Green Stamps; 3) Bazooka Bubblegum comics; 2) Breakfast Cereal toys; and the #1 giveaway as Kiddie Meal Toys! Top 5 interviewed Mr. Sodaro, and he spoke rather elequently about Fast food toys, their history, and why we all love them so much. Needless to say, he goes into greater detail into all of this in his book. Great stuff I highly recommend it!
SpyderB0y
Local citizen makes good.......2002-10-29
I first read about Mr. Sodaro's book in my local newspaper (The Hour, Norwalk, CT), and found his concept for a book to be facinating. I later heard him speak on the topic of fast food toys and (of course), his book, at a couple of events in the area, and determined to seek out the book and purchase a copy for myself. Sure enough, it proved to be every bit as interesting as Mr. Sodaro was in person. While I am a collector of toys and such, I really had never given much thought to fast food giveaways as legitimate toy items until I heard Mr. Sodaro speak, and then read his book. Very informative. I recommend it to anyone who collects toys, or has eaten at a fast food location.
At last, a price guide worth buying.......2002-06-27
I'm a collector of stuff, and most of the price guides I see are simply lists and prices, or slight variations on that theme. Here, finally, is a price guide that not only gives you lists of things with prices, but also offers you some insights into the background of the material priced. Misters Sodaro & Malloy have delivered an extended, clever, insightful look into the world of fast food toys and collectibles. most of the 40 or so resturants that are listed have company profiles, plus there are articles about the backgrounds of the various types of toys available at the various franchises. There could be more color photos, but they do have plenty of them in black and white. Hopefully they will issue an updated version of this very fine book soon.
Average customer rating:
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Quilts on Safari
Jenny Williamson
Manufacturer: Quilters Resource
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
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| Home & Garden
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Quilts & Quilting
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
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ASIN: 0958387397 |
Book Description
Add a touch of old-fashioned charm to gifts, notecards and more with lovely images of fruit clusters, potted plants, lush bouquets, single blossoms, as well as lovely ladies and adorable children holding flower baskets, garden tools, and much more.
Average customer rating:
- Fun with David E. Carter!
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Fun With Fonts
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Typography
| Graphic Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
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ASIN: 0823065863 |
Customer Reviews:
Fun with David E. Carter!.......2001-03-10
Enhance mental imagery on any printed project by experimenting with fonts! In "Fun with Fonts," David E. Carter shows you how to "speak" to others simply by choosing the appropriate type font for your project. More than 170 complete type font alphabets are featured in his book, along with an amusing application of each. The designs and color combinations are whimsical and the anecdotes are delightful!
As a journeyman typesetter for nearly 30 years, I'm a self-confessed font lover - Carter's book satisfies my font"sweet tooth!" He even goes as far as addressing this "addiction" by offering the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the firms selling these designs!...
Book Description
The grandson of slaves, born into poverty in 1892 in the Deep South, A. G. Gaston died more than a century later with a fortune worth well over $130 million and a business empire spanning communications, real estate, and insurance. Gaston was, by any measure, a heroic figure whose wealth and influence bore comparison to J. P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie. Here, for the first time, is the story of the life of this extraordinary pioneer, told by his niece and grandniece, the award-winning television journalist Carol Jenkins and her daughter Elizabeth Gardner Hines.
Born at a time when the bitter legacy of slavery and Reconstruction still poisoned the lives of black Americans, Gaston was determined to make a difference for himself and his people. His first job, after serving in the celebrated all-black regiment during World War I, bound him to the near-slavery of an Alabama coal mine—but even here Gaston saw not only hope but opportunity. He launched a business selling lunches to fellow miners, soon established a rudimentary bank—and from then on there was no stopping him. A kind of black Horatio Alger, Gaston let a single, powerful question be his guide: What do our people need now? His success flowed from an uncanny genius for knowing the answer.
Combining rich family lore with a deep knowledge of American social and economic history, Carol Jenkins and Elizabeth Hines unfold Gaston’s success story against the backdrop of a century of crushing racial hatred and bigotry. Gaston not only survived the hardships of being black during the Depression, he flourished, and by the 1950s he was ruling a Birmingham-based business empire. When the movement for civil rights swept through the South in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Gaston provided critical financial support to many activists.
At the time of his death in 1996, A. G. Gaston was one of the wealthiest black men in America, if not the wealthiest. But his legacy extended far beyond the monetary. He was a man who had proved it was possible to overcome staggering odds and make a place for himself as a leader, a captain of industry, and a far-sighted philanthropist. Writing with grace and power, Jenkins and Hines bring their distinguished ancestor fully to life in the pages of this book. Black Titan is the story of a man who created his own future—and in the process, blazed a future for all black businesspeople in America.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Black Titan: A.G. Gaston and the Making of a Black American Millionaire.......2007-07-27
Actually most of the information from this book was taken from Green Power ( written by the man himself) and the rest was stretched. Actually, I know the authors. Neither of them truly new him and as far being related, they were nieces only by marriage. I just think they are trying to make a quick buck on something that they know nothing about.
Winner of A.G Gaston Spelling Bee.......2007-06-02
As a child I participated in and won the A.G. Gaston spelling bee on the state level two years in a row (1957-1958). It was a stepping stone for me and enabled me to go on and do more rewarding things as an adult. I remember staying in his motel in Birmingham with my sponsor and god mother, Mrs Tempie Horton. This is a piece of history that I share with my grand kids. My name is (maiden) Lois Jean Scott and I attended Calvary Jr. high school in Huntsville, Alabama. I am grateful for Mr Gaston and his wife, whom I met on several occasions, for giving me this opportunity.
Black Titan: A.G. Gaston.......2007-01-05
Excellent, well-written rag to riches story! As a student, I aspired to win the spelling bee which he paid money to the state winner in Alabama.
Very Insightful Story.......2006-09-07
I took me a little longer than normal for this read but it was a very good narrative of a great american entrepreneur, regardless of his background. Although I am familiar with the accounts of the civil rights movements, the authors did a very good job of painting a picture to the reader of how those events were intertwined with Arthur G. Gaston's life. I appreciated the honesty in detailing his relationships with those close and even more interestingly, Martin Luther King, Jr. Very good book. Icon in our American capitalistic system.
Gaston is Rockefeller with both hands tied behind his back--Simply Amazing!.......2006-07-27
Carol Jenkins and Elizabeth Gardner Hines do an excellent job of documenting the life and times of one America's greatest, if largely unsung (at least outside of the black community), business heroes. Gaston built a great business empire in the Deep South of Birmingham in the Jim Crow, pre-Civil Rights, pre-Affirmative Action era. Imagine the wealth he could have achieved had his brilliance and work ethic not been shackled by racism and discrimination? And despite being lambasted as an apologist and Uncle Tom by many during the battle for civil rights, what would the fate of Dr. Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement have been were it not for the financial resources, advice and intervention of Gaston? Black Titan is a great example of defining a man, the times he lived through and the broad impact left in his wake. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Gaston several times during the last decade of his life. For those who didn't get that chance, Black Titan is the next best thing to meeting him in person. The book should be required reading not just for black America, but for all Americans. Also, this book is yet another reason why Carol Jenkins is deservedly idolized by an entire generation of black journalists--she is a titan of her profession, and a worthy heir of Gaston's legacy.
Product Description
Arthur George Gaston, the poor grandson of slaves, was born in tiny rural Demopolis, Alabama in 1892. Over the course of his extraordinary life, which lasted more than a century, he amassed a fortune of over 130 million. From humble beginnings in small financial ventures, Gaston built a vast business empire that encompassed communications, insurance, and real estate. In Birmingham, the city that became his home, Gaston was also deeply involved in civic matters. He joined forces with Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. in the struggle for civil rights in the 1960's. Tirelessly, he campaigned for educational opportunities for Birmingham's African-American residents. Carol Jenkins, A.G. Gaston's niece, is an Emmy Award-winning television journalist who has been anchor and correspondent for WNBC-TV in New York for many years. Her daughter, Elizabeth Gardner Hines, is a writer who holds degrees from Yale and Harvard. Together, they have lovingly crafted a biography of the man who forged the beginnings of African-American entrepreneurship. "This important book...is full of lessons for anyone looking to succeed in today's business world." -- Robert Johnson, CEO of BET
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