All She Was Worth

Amazon.com

Recovering from a leg injury, a 43-year-old Tokyo police inspector named Shunsuke Honma realizes how out of touch he has become when a relative asks him to make some private inquiries into the disappearance of his fiancée. While he wasn't paying attention, it seems that everyone in the country but Honma has been caught up in a consumer feeding frenzy--going into heavy debt and declaring bankruptcy at a snowballing rate. This engrossing story of the search for happiness through shopping marks the first appearance in English of one of Japan's leading writers.

Book Description

Here is a deftly written thriller that is also a "deep and moody" (NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW) journey through the dark side of Japan's consumer-crazed society. Ordinary people plunge into insurmountable personal debt and fall prey to dangerous webs of underground creditors-so dangerous, in fact, that murder may be the only way out. A beautiful young woman vanishes, and the detective quickly finds she is not whom she claims to be. Is she a victim, a killer, or both? In a country that tracks its citizens at every turn, how can two women claim the same identity and then disappear without a trace?

Customer Reviews:

disappointing.......2007-07-11

The book engaged me, but I didn't ever feel as if I cared aboot the mystery. The characters were never particularly memorable or loveable... Perhaps that's the real charm of the novel, that it mirrors real life; nothing is spectacular aboot this novel, but I kept reading hoping something would happen. I think the think I liked most aboot the book was that it took place in Tokyo and made me think of my trip there, otherwise it was bland.

All She Was Worth.......2007-05-24

Although "All She Was Worth," is a taut mystery with all the bells and whistles. It is much more than that. In fact, the book is a commentary on the existential dilemmas facing young adults in 1990 Japan. Another issue explored in the book is the insidious nature of consumerism and the toll that credit spending was taking on the society. Moreover, the book is a tour of Tokyo.

The mystery itself unfolded in a Columboesqe fashion with the conclusion being drawn at a relatively early stage of the story. Yet, arriving there consumes the reader as Honma, the protagonist Tokyo Police Detective on medical leave, crafts a tapestry out of discordant patches of evidence. All the while, his instincts point in one direction.

The story revolves around the desperate lives of two Tokyo women both in their mid-twenties. After Honma's nephew begged him to find his fiancée, who fled after an innocuous enough event, the search was on for Shoko. His search for Shoko uncovered far more than a girl experiencing cold feat. In fact, the investigation revealed the currently discussed and obsessed over issue of identity theft.

In turn the reader is thrown into the world of Tokyo with stops in Osaka, Ise, and a small city outside of Tokyo. It is in these settings that we learn of things wholly Japanese. We see that most young low level corporate employees live in company dorms and that an apartment is a luxury for them. We see the relics of Buddhism and Shinto, which have been reduced to the status of an heirloom in this society on the cusp of post modernism. Another issue revealed is the value of family pedigree and how it can hauntingly predict the future of children in Japan.

Similar to Tom Wolfe's elaborate treatment of social trends and issues that shape current affairs in America, Myabe performs the same educational task. In the novel, she voices her concern over the insidious nature of consumerism in Japan and its incumbent effects. Using a sage and sympathetic bankruptcy attorney, she artfully details the trap of consumer credit in Japan that inevitably ensnares far to many. After describing how far to many young adults in Japan are falling into the credit card trap, the attorney remarks that schools gather the girls together before graduation and give them a primer on how to use makeup but not a word on the potential perils of consumer credit.

Finally, the imagery and language produced by Myabe engrosses and transports the reader. Whether she describes a nondescript office that, " can be taken in at a glance," or a tourist trap tearoom in the historically significant city of Ise, her writing is evocative. Moreover, her character development smacks of reality. Both of these talents taken together are reminiscent of Pat Conroy`s treatment of South Carolina and his characters.

All told, the mystery rises to the level of page-turner status, yet her formidable writing skills trump the plot.

Western consumerism vs. the Tao: a fatal conflict in a winning detective story........2007-04-10

Miyabe pulls off an impressive feat in this engaging mystery, a convincing emulation of Dashiell Hammett or Raymond Chandler. She makes us partners with her private eye, Honma--a Japanese Sam Spade, or slightly hobbling but clever Asian Clint Eastwood--while realizing the two-fold purpose of her "serious" theme: criticizing a credit-driven, debt-ridden consumer culture as well as questioning the very meaning of personal identity in an economy that reduces the individual to a commodity. Once recognized as a uniquely endowed natural being inseparable from the Tao, the individual is now subject to the unthinkable: the crime of "identity theft." Without overdoing the didactic element, Miyabe's Honma is the savvy curator of the private self who sees there can be only one Shoko, or one Kyoko (the identities that become switched)--"period."

The novel's appeal is universal, given the global stretch of the consumer economy and the widely held fear of identity theft. At the same time, for a culture that has traditionally emphasized a collaborative, communal model over the gratification of self-centered cravings, a reader may sense the novelty and added drama presented by the twin temptation of commodities and easy "plastic" money to the Japanese characters who become lured and entrapped (at one point, bankruptcy is equated with "moral pollution").

Western readers will feel some disappointment at the novel's conclusion, which is the most notable departure from conventional whodunnits. Not long after the midway part of the novel, Miyabe feels no obligation to outmaneuver or surprise the reader: the mystery has been solved, as we eventually discover, somewhat to our disappointment. Nor does the author feel it important to tie up loose ends, allowing us to see what happened to characters who were briefly introduced, or the exact fate of the victim Shoko, or the reactions of the primary perpetrator Kyoko. Whether these "violations" of the reader's expectations are intentional or not is hard to say. Perhaps Miyabe had to finish this one up quickly and move on to her next novel. Or perhaps the openness of the ending is there to serve as a reminder that life can not be so easily solved, cases so neatly wrapped and closed, identities so readily disposed of and recovered as Western fictional counterparts suggest.

Not worth my time.......2006-10-23

I found this book dull. It really doesn't get going until the final third and unless you have an unnatural level of interest in Japanese consumer credit, it's really not worth the effort. As other reviewers have noted, the ending is anti-climactic.

A nice piece of post-Bubble Japanese fiction.......2006-05-14

Miyuki Miyabe's "All She Was Worth" took 7+ years to make the trans-Pacific leap to these shores. As a result, we get a classic 1992 piece of Japanese 'popping of the bubble' fiction. When reading, you keep saying to yourself "Oh yeah, it's 1992." The roots of the story have to do with Japan's credit culture, the weight of personal financial debt and how otherwise 'normal' people get ensnared in ruinous, cyclical borrowing. Within the background of what Japan was like with its spectacular financial collapse of the early nineties, Miyabe's work is brilliant insight on that period.

It's also a great look at a police investigation and a quite plausible look at how an experienced detective pieces together a story.

Like others, I was hooked by the look of this book. The cover is beautiful and magnetic. Nice work by Mark R. Robinson, who is credited for the cover design. The contents, for once, measure up to the cover. I was hooked from Page One. The ending is a bit abrupt though...while the major question is answered, I wish the author had spent a bit more time tidying up some loose ends.

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All She Was Worth
Miyuki Miyabe
Manufacturer: Kodansha International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000LBGZAW

Average customer rating:

One of the best new authors

Flame in the Bowl Shines Brightly

2 stars

Spellbound from start to finish

Spellbound from start to finish
The Flame in the Bowl: Unbinding the Stone
Marc Vun Kannon
Manufacturer: Echelon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1590801407

Product Description

All Tarkas wanted was to live the life he'd made for himself, get married, have children, as generations of his fathers had done before him since the beginning of time. The Gods had other plans, and Tarkas couldn't say no, even had they bothered to ask him. Between one footstep and the next they alter his life irrevocably, and he finds himself plunged headlong into a new world and life, full of magic, mayhem, monsters, and mystery.

For a new prophecy has pitted the forces of Nature against themselves, and the Gods are helpless. But when even the Gods' gifts have thorns, their need exacts a price that only a Hero would ever dare to pay. Only a Hero can act, and Tarkas has been chosen to do the things that must be done, with the fate of two Realms in the balance.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best new authors .......2007-02-13

Marc is an up and coming new author in the field of sceince fiction. With a great talent this man will go far. Read both of his current books Unbinding and A Warrior Made and you will see what I mean.

Flame in the Bowl Shines Brightly.......2005-05-28

I haven't had this much fun since Willow! Vun Kannon left me breathless with this well-crafted story. Start to finish, the crisp dialogue and detailed, realistic plot of The Flame in the Bowl: Unbinding The Stone never ceases to entertain. The focus of the tale is on the adventures of Tarkas the Singer, a charming character who is always boiling in some sort of moral stew. He doesn't seem to understand the rules and morals he applies to his own life until he is cast from his social womb and stumbles blindly into a world of sorcerers, demons, and invisible storm dragons where the rules are as unpredictable as weather. The ensuing adventures are wonderfully exciting as Tarkas and his pals struggle with love, danger, and ominous dreams, moments that are spiced by the presence of carefully composed, witty dialogue. But the most endearing parts of this book for me are the scenes of great compassion, such as when the runner who is spreading the word that Tarkas has been banned pauses long enough to remove his own sandals and give them to the barefoot Tarkas. This is the type of behavior we need more of in our own society, and part of the pleasure in reading this book is realizing how Vun Kannon's characters resemble people you wish you'd meet on your own streets.

2 stars.......2005-04-18

Fans of shows such as Hercules or Xena will likely find much to enjoy in this epic saga. With humor reminescent of the type that characterized such shows, it tells the story of a warrior whose life journey is watched over by gods and goddesses. Against dangers untold, he wrests with prophecy and monsters alike. Great originality is exhibited in the creation of new creatures that are both sentient enough to be bound under a gaes, yet struggle to mold it to their own will. As this is appears to be book two in a series according to the title, new readers may have a bit of at sea feeling, however.

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

Spellbound from start to finish.......2003-11-24

Tarkas, a young and unpretentious Singer, finds himself cast into the role of an apprentice Hero. Together with his mentor, a Demi-God, and a non-descript beast, Tarkas embarks on a mission of uncertain nature. Breathtaking adventure and many dangers are their lot while, undeterred, they move through a Dantesque world.
The universe in which Tarkas moves is governed by gods, demi-gods and other supernatural entities, who set their own rules and then unexpectedly change them, leaving Tarkas disoriented and the reader thirsty to see what else they have in store for him.

Unbinding the Stone is a tale through which the reader is forced to face the capricious nature of Life and the obscure meaning of omens that can make you take the wrong turn and head for perdition. It also takes you through the complete gamut of human behavior, from the careless indifference to death to the deepest sympathy for somebody else's tribulation. But when it comes right down to it, the extraordinary behavior of the characters in the book, when stripped of the magic and fantasy accessories, is not much different from what we face in real life. That makes you wonder.

However, if you don't feel like philosophizing, don't worry. The book is just plainly entertaining, even if read without an eye for the roots of human nature. It contains some pearls that make the reader smile no matter what - the "thatway", a path that can only be found when not paying attention, and a friendly incarnation of Death with which it is a pleasure to go for a walk - to mention just two.

Fans of the genre will find an enjoyable new voice in this fast-paced fable. This is one of those books that make you wonder whether you really read the whole 393 pages; you won't be able to shake away the feeling that maybe - just maybe - one of the many spells it contains has taken you too quickly, by a hidden magic route, to the last page.

Spellbound from start to finish.......2003-11-24

Average customer rating:

Very pleased with this purchase.

Great Cookbook

Excellent Selection of Interesting Baking Projects. Buy It.

A Baker's Tour: Nick Malgieri's Favorite Baking Recipes from Around the World
Nick Malgieri
Manufacturer: William Morrow Cookbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Desserts | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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How to Bake: Complete Guide to Perfect Cakes, Cookies, Pies, Tarts, Breads, Pizzas, Muffins,

Perfect Cakes

ChocolateChocolate

The All-American Dessert Book

Cookies Unlimited

ASIN: 0060582634
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Amazon.com

Nick Malgieri, James Beard Award-winning author of How to Bake, is first and foremost a teacher. He directs the baking program at New York City's Institute of Culinary Education, so he knows the questions before they are asked--a neat trick when you sit down to write a cookbook for a general audience. With A Baker's Tour Malgieri presents over 100 recipes for breads, cookies, cakes, pies and tarts, puff, savory, and fried pastry, even dim sum from around the world. What might normally be an alarming proposition, baking the unfamiliar in an American kitchen, becomes a journey of discovery in Malgieri's capable hands. He answers the questions before they are asked.

A Baker's Tour is divided into chapters based on the kind of baking, not the country of origin. After brief words on ingredients and equipment that will come in handy, Malgieri opens with Breads followed by Yeast-Risen Cakes, Cookies, Cakes, Pies and Tarts, Savory Pastries, Puff Pastry, Strudel and Filo Dough, and finally Fried Pastries.

You'll find Ligurian Focaccia you can bake in your oven, not a wood-fired brick behomoth, or Naan for the oven or grill for those who don't have a tandoori oven at home. Prune-Filled Buns, kolache, from eastern Europe and Honey Cakes from western Europe shouldn't be overlooked. Norway's Princess Cream Cake demands an exercise regimen all its own. Egypt's Spicy Meat Pie in a Filo Crust with Yogurt Sauce is as captivating as China's Barbecue Pork Buns (cha shao bao).

There's a world of baking between the covers of A Baker's Tour. Your tastebud-driven curiosity is your passport. Let Nick Malgieri be your guide. --Schuyler Ingle

Book Description

Nick Malgieri has journeyed far and wide during his thirty-plus years working as a professional baker. His experiences abroad have always informed the flavors and techniques of his recipes. Now the award winning master baker transports the world's greatest kitchens and bakeries to your home with this inspired gathering of more than one hundred cookies, cakes, breads, sweet and savory pastries, pies, and tarts, from the baking traditions of thirty-nine countries.

Look no further for chewy naan from India, rich chocolate Millennium Torte from Vienna, and crisp cannoli from Sicily. With A Baker's Tour at your fingertips, you don't have to tour Monaco for Prince Albert's puff pastry cake, Poland for the lightest, most flavorful babka, or Argentina for perfectly seasoned beef empanadas -- you don't even have to go to country-specific cookbooks.

The recipes here range from casual to sophisticated, and all have been adapted for American use, ensuring consistent, delicious results without sacrificing flavor. Supplemented by illuminating food facts and anecdotes, and illustrated with gorgeous full-color photographs, Nick Malgieri's A Baker's Tour is a satisfying and educational international collection of inviting, delicious recipes for home cooks and food lovers everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

Very pleased with this purchase........2006-03-02

This is a lovely book with lots of information. I can see that I will be spending many hours reading and enjoying this book, plus Baking! I only purchased this book about a month ago, however, the three recipes I've made have been delicious.
The photography makes you want to start baking and not stop. There's been a lot of work put into this book and it is lovely.

Great Cookbook.......2006-01-13

I attended this class at Sur La Table and Nick Malieri was a guest baking things from this cookbook. I purchased the cookbook and have really enjoyed the recipes. Most of them are easy to make, very user friendly. This is a very nice cookbook.

Excellent Selection of Interesting Baking Projects. Buy It........2005-12-07

`A Baker's Tour' by noted baking author and teacher, Nick Malgieri is the answer to the question `What does a baking writer write when they have already written major books on cookies, chocolate, pastry, and `how to bake'. I suppose that like Rose Levy Beranbaum, you could write a book on bread baking, but bread doesn't seem to be Nick's main thing, so he writes a book on his favorite recipes from around the world.

Malgieri is one of the very best writers from which to learn basic techniques, especially from his book, `Nick Malgieri's Perfect Pastry', but if that is your primary objective, this book may not be the volume to buy. That is not to say that this is not an extremely well written book. Only that it is designed to present very good recipes for `favorite recipes', where the favorites are not only Nick's favorites, but I suspect that most of these could count among favorites of many people who bake.

One sign that this book is not written for pedagogical effect is the fact that recipes are not organized by similar technique, but by style and use of the final product. For example, recipes for yeasted doughs are spread across the first two chapters instead of being presented together as a basic technique.

This book is comparable to `The best short stories of 20xx' or `The Oxford Book of yyyyy'. It is a collection of recipes into which you will dip when you want something special for entertaining. It is also a great read for people who love to bake. And, it is certainly not without substantial teaching value, except that it should not be your first book on baking.

Malgieri's most important lesson in the book is that baking is an activity in which you really want to take your time, especially if you are an amateur who may be making a recipe for the first time. The next best instructional value to the book is the fact that there is a great variety of different variations on a few basic techniques. While pastry dough is pretty basic, and Malgieri does much to coach you into believing that working with pastry is not a major challenge (Note that I really believe it is a major challenge for those of us who may make a pastry crust once or twice a month.) he also shows us many different variations on the basic French pate brisee. Another major contribution to our baking praxis is his insistence on using the specified size of baking pan. Everyone stresses careful measuring, but too few baking writers stress using exactly the right baking equipment. While none of this is new to me, I did find one genuinely new piece of information on using baking powder in pastry doughs to save the work of prebaking crusts. I have seen baking soda added to pastry, but I have never until now heard the reason why. Note that many recipes include vinegar in pastry doughs and I will offer the opinion that vinegar and baking powder will cancel one another out and potentially make a mess of your dough, so don't mix the two in the same recipe.

The extensive bibliography at the back of the book makes it seem that our Nick culled these recipes from his library, but his headnotes clear this up and offer ample evidence that Malgieri literally collected these recipes, or at least the inspirations for these recipes from actual travels around the world.

A glance at the list of recipes by country amply confirms the fact that mainland Western Europe, specifically France, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy are the world's `baking central' as almost half of all recipes come from these four (4) countries.

Incidental tips and pep talks are not enough to convince me to buy this kind of book. I will take the tip about baking powder in crusts to my grave, as it easily fits into all I know about pastry, so it will not be forgotten, and I don't need a copy of the book to remind me of that. On the other hand, the book has an excellent chapter on savory baking recipes and this is why I would buy this book. I would even buy the book for the single Chinese recipe for `Cha Shao Bao' (Barbecued Pork Buns). These little bundles of goodness are absolutely the most outstandingly yummy finger food I can imagine. But they require quite a bit of time and expertise to make. So, having a recipe by an expert baker for this appetizer is a real plus. Accompanying this are savory recipes for both Mexican and Argentinean empanadas, Australian sausage rolls, Japanese salty and sweet rice crackers, Italian ham and cheese filled brioche, Italian salty ring biscuits, Russian cabbage pie, Spanish fish pies, Egyptian spicy meat pies, Italian zucchini pies, Italian ham and cheese pie, French onion tart, South African curried beef tart, and Swiss cheese tart. There is even a recipe from the very difficult to find cookbook of Alice B. Toklas of hashish brownie fame.

One reason an inexperienced cook may want to put this book on the back burner is the fact that I detected a few minor lapses in the cooking instructions. Fortunately, they were in the preparation of savory ingredients rather than in the baking. There was a time when I would literally gig a book an entire star for such a lapse, but I have seen it so often in otherwise excellent books that I simply warn readers to keep their mind thoroughly engaged when following cooking instructions. I have always had success with Malgieri recipes and I go to his books first when looking for a recipe for a new preparation.

Highly recommended as reading and recipe source for the baker with some experience.

A Baker's Tour : Nick Malgieri's Favorite Baking Recipes from Around the World

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A Baker's Tour : Nick Malgieri's Favorite Baking Recipes from Around the World
Nick Malgieri
Manufacturer: Morrow Cookbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEWC6M

Book Description

Cat lovers are invited to curl up with the exquisite art of Lesley Anne Ivory and consider how the feline co–owners of their homes and hearts provide meaningful lessons including—

personal space is good
be careful what you ask for
ritual is important
life is as good as the view
love the one you are with

Anyone with a cat fancy or a collection of Lesley Anne Ivory’s paintings will leap to have this book and give it to a friend.

Customer Reviews:

Everything I Know About Life I Learned from My Cat.......2007-10-06

Another beautiful book illustrated by the extraordinarily talented Lesley Anne Ivory. Everyone who loves cats, or simply appreciates the individual beauty and grace which makes every cat a masterpiece, will be enthralled with the paintings of these glorious creatures, posed to prefection against Lesley's exquisite backgrounds

Everything I Know About Parenting I Learned from My Puppy

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Dog trainer's point of view
A delightful book!

Everything I Know About Parenting I Learned from My Puppy
H. Norman Wright
Manufacturer: Harvest House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0736906495

Book Description

Decidedly humorous and remarkably resourceful, family counselor and unabashed pet enthusiast Norm Wright delights in paralleling the adorable similarities in raising a puppy and rearing a child. Anyone thinking of getting a puppy, starting a family, or wishing to maintain a sense of control over an existing family will discover a wealth of enjoyable parenting tips and techniques.

Customer Reviews:

Dog trainer's point of view.......2005-07-24

One of my clients sent me this book, and I enjoyed every word and picture. I have been a dog trainer for over 20 years, and it is very true that children and puupies are a lot alike for the first couple of years. When I had a client with well behaved children, I knew the puppy would be easy to train. When the children were brats, the puppy usually was too.

A delightful book!.......2003-05-13

I bought this as a gift for friends who had just gotten a lab puppy. Very cute book and makes a great gift.

Average customer rating:
Fell's United States Coin Book, 1995: The Definitive U.S. Coin Guide Since 1943 (Fell's Official Know-It-All Guide to Coins)
Roderick P. Hughes
Manufacturer: Lifetime Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Coins & Medals | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 081190802X

Book Description

This book features the winners of the Institute of Store Planners (ISP) and International Store Interior Design Competition. Each winner represents excellence in store planning, visual merchandising, graphics and lighting design. More than 60 leading-edge stores are presented in 300 full-color photos of excellent and varied designs, diagrams of floor plans, and detailed captions. Included are: new and renovated stores, specialty shops, department stores, kiosks, restaurants, themes and entertainment establishments, supermarkets, and mass merchandise stores.

176 pages "8 1/2" x 11" 300 color photos hardbound 0-94409-444-9 $39.95

Amazon.com

The African American century was the one "in which African American life was transformed--and the century in which African Americans changed America." When it began, only 35 years after the end of slavery, few could envision what the 20th century would hold for black Americans. The 100 men and women described in this compendium, written by two of the most prominent black scholars and social commentators in America, represent important moments in the struggle to deepen America's democratic roots against the overwhelming forces of racism and bigotry. By choosing 100 (10 per decade), Gates and West ensured that they would have to omit important black figures. Nevertheless, the profiles achieve their purpose: to demonstrate and celebrate the multifaceted and profound achievements of African Americans in fields as diverse as science, politics, the military, literature, entertainment, and academia.

From W.E.B. Du Bois, probably the greatest African American intellectual of the 20th century, to Tiger Woods, golf's first black superstar, the well-written, fact-filled profiles present those who have lived extraordinary lives and shown tremendous courage. The roster includes the well-known, such as Louis Armstrong, Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks, and Oprah Winfrey, as well as the more obscure but no less important. These include Carter G. Woodson, who pioneered the historical study of black America; Charles Richard Drew, who founded two of the world's largest blood banks and in so doing prevented millions of deaths; and Barbara Harris, the first woman bishop. Gates and West also embrace controversial figures such as Louis Farrakhan, Tupac Shakur, and Angela Davis, emphasizing their positive imprints while acknowledging their complexity. With this valuable addition to black history collections, the authors (both controversial in their own rights) continue their quest to fill the aching gaps in public awareness about African Americans and remind us that self-confidence, dignity, and excellence are the essential virtues in the great historical drama of American democracy. --Lesley Reed

Book Description

Black Americans are at the heart of the greatest achievements of our history, from music to law, from politics to sports, from literature to religion. Now the two leading African-American intellectuals of our day show us why the twentieth century was The African-American Century, with one hundred original profiles of the most influential African Americans from W. E. B. Du Bois to Oprah Winfrey.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Cornel West offer their personal picks of the African-American figures who did the most to shape our world. Here we find much-loved figures such as scientist George Washington Carver and civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., and contemporary favorites such as comedian Richard Pryor, novelist Alice Walker, and golf champion Tiger Woods. We also learn about less well known people such as jockey Jimmy Winkfield, aviator Bessie Coleman, and filmmaker Oscar Micheaux, and recognize the achievements of controversial figures such as activist Angela Davis, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, and rap artist Tupac Shakur. Each profile is a lively story in its own right. But taken as a whole, these one hundred stories offer a unique window on the history of the twentieth century. Decade by decade, we marvel at the triumphs of a people who began the century only thirty-five years "up from slavery," and ended it at the top of every field. The result is a moving testament to the humanity and genius of black Americans, both individually and together.

The African-American Century reminds us that there would be no American culture without black America. Without Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, or John Coltrane, we would have no jazz. Without Zora Neale Hurston, Ralph Ellison, or Toni Morrison, we would miss our greatest novels. Without Joe Louis, Jackie Robinson, or Althea Gibson, we would have none of our most glorious triumphs in sports. Without Thurgood Marshall, Dr. King, or Barbara Jordan, we would be deprived of the political breakthroughs that affirm and strengthen our democracy. Whether we are laughing with Bill Cosby or dancing to rock 'n' roll, whether we are listening to a great preacher or stunned by the power of a Spike Lee film, whether we are building a business empire or fighting for justice -- we are all shaped and influenced by the African-American experience.

Written in a lively, accessible style and fully illustrated throughout, The African-American Century is a celebration of black achievement and a tribute to the black struggle for freedom in America that will inspire us for years to come.

Customer Reviews:

Nice but could be better.........2004-02-23

The publication is a fine read for a person of any race and most ages (10 & above). However, I feel that the last sections of the book place excessive emphasis on contemporary cultural "pop" figures, i.e., persons in show business and sports. Too many black notables in the sciences and fine arts are ignored.

As a previous reviewer noted, perhaps a future edition will be more balanced and will give the American Negro proper credit for invaluable contributions to our culture and society.

Very good and informative book.......2002-02-22

I found "The African American Century" to be informative and at times entertaining. Most of the time, real proud. I am planning on giving out copies as prizes for our African American History program at church. However, at times, I found some of the information and dates to be inaccurate. Despite that, it is a great book to give to schools and children, and it is highly recommended by me.

Great Reference: Just Understand Its Purposes.......2001-03-10

Even though this book gives brief biographical sketches of significant African Americans, I still give it five stars for the following reasons:

1) It is a very neatly organized resource for notable African-Americans, that can give quick and accurate information about these people and their times. I like that each page clearly shows the decade during which that person made major accomplishments. For each person profiled, there is at least one photo, and a provocative, "boxed" quote.

2) This kind of book is desperately needed by most of America's schoolteachers. Many are not well-informed about the achievements of African-Americans, and here they get a quick, clear, and stimulating profile of many who made major contributions. Further, Professors Gates and West provide a bibliography that leads the reader to at least one significant in-depth work about each person profiled, so those who want to know more are "pointed in the right direction."

3) While there are some sports and entertainment figures, I don't think there is any bias in that direction. With personages like Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, and Hank Aaron, you MUST include them in a work like this because they really transcended sports, and became larger-than-life symbols of social issues.

4) Professors Cornel West and Henry Gates Jr. write in a very clear manner, and don't candy-coat their subject manner. They point out the contradictions in many of these peoples' lives, mention their social critics, and demonstrate that meaningful lives are seldom neat and tidy ones. To professors Gates and West, I say "Thanks, fellas, for not coming across like the stereotypical "stuffy Harvard scholars!"

Finally, if you know of a school teacher who is well-intended about teaching more about African American history, but maybe can benefit from an attractively presented and easily accessible resource book, think of this as a thoughtful gift to that person. Next time February (Black History Month) rolls around, they will have lots of suggestions for class projects and pupil reports.

SHOWCASE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ACCOMPLISHMENT.......2001-02-28

What would the 20th century in America look like without the contributions of its African-American citizens? Henry Gates and Cornel West take up that very question in chronicling how African-Americans shaped the culture of the United States. The authors profile African-Americans from each decade of the 20th century and show how their accomplishments have impacted upon the country.

Overall the authors have produced a good book for coffee table discussions and stimulating conversations about African American contributions. Its weakness lies in the fact that most of these persons are already known, it leans heavily towards those in the field of entertainment and many of the essays are unclear as to what the person contributed beyond being the first Black in their field.

Another element missing is the lack of information regarding what was going on in the person's particular decade that enabled them to achieve against the odds. The African American Century falls short in giving you a full comprehensive look at what Blacks achieved throughout the decades. You are left with individual biographical portraits of those who "made it". I recommend the book as a referance guide for those unaquainted with the persons profiled. Perhaps the authors will come up with another volume that is more comprehensive of the achievements of African Americans in fields other than entertainment and sports.

Our History: None Like No Other!.......2000-12-07

The African-American Century: How Black Americans Have Shaped Our Country by Cornel West and Henry Louis, Jr. Gates is an A+ reference book of Black historical figures who have contributed to and have transformed the life of the Black American in the making of America over the past 100 years. Decade by decade the authors give memorable history "sessions" about some of the greatest achievements made by these Americans in shaping a Democratic society, despite issues of racism, bigotry and the mere struggle to survive. I would recommend this book to anybody as an addition to your collection in your family library because in a true light, it embraces a positive understanding and influences made by even the most controversial figures or role models throughout the 20th century. I bought this book as a gift, but I'm glad I kept it for myself!

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