A Marine's Lapse in Synapse: More Unbelievable, but True Short Stories

Book Description

In the mid 1980s, Bob Roberts was a successful dentist, stunt flyer and racecar driver. While undergoing marital counseling he was fascinated by the psychological process and pursued his own doctorate in psychology.

Intrigued by the community-building work of M. Scott Peck, Roberts' doctorate research consisted of applying and testing Peck's community-building model in an environment where it seemed only a distant possibility-the prison system. It was there, in Louisiana's Dixon Correctional Institution, where Roberts' life was forever transformed, as would the lives of hundreds of inmates and former offenders. What started as a literacy program evolved into sessions of shared soul searching, group therapy and a celebration of the prisoners' roots.

Although prison officials sabotaged his project, Roberts went on to found Project Return, the most successful aftercare program for former offenders in the country. Aimed at breaking the cycles of addiction, crime and violence, Project Return is the only prisoner rehabilitation program in the country funded by the U.S. Department of Justice.

This memoir is Roberts' adventure into his heart and his conscience. It explores the darkest terrain of violence and human suffering, and the brightest terrain of redemption, human dignity and hope. It will leave readers deeply inspired, encouraged and impassioned-in awe of the human capacity to survive and recover from cruelty and hardship.

Customer Reviews:

Loved It.......2007-08-16

I recently had the privilege to attended a workshop with Robert. The experience left me with a desire to know more about him and his work. I purchased his book and could not put it down. Robert's personal journey to follow his calling and heartfelt relationships are inspiring. This book allowed me to look deep inside myself, explore my biases and feelings about humanity in general. This book is a must read and will change the way you view our prison system.

Inspiring is an understatement..........2006-09-08

When I first participated in one of Bob's community building workshops I left wondering what potential the process held in other situations. It all makes sense after reading this book. A simple idea -- be vulnerable and take ownership of your opinions and your past, don't judge, listen intensely, and don't be afraid to grieve for your past failures, sufferings and pain ... and those of others. This process has changed the lives of so many individuals that the rest of society has given up on too easily. You won't look at innmates and former convicts the same. You hopefully won't look at yourself the same either. Read it and it will open your eyes and heart. Thank you Bob!

My soul said to me.......2005-11-28

I found this book by accident when i was searching for more infos about life in Americas prisons. I got this book with the intention to read sometimes a few pages because my time is very limited . it turned out that I had to run to work for to be not too late because always when I spent my time with this book I forgot everything else around me.
That's just how interesting this book is. Fascinating to me was the fact that with each page I read, I found my own thoughts or a proof of the things I already knew .
I spent the last 6 years with communicating with prisoners in America. Often it is hard to believe what's going on in these places. Some people may find it hard to believe what Mr Roberts has to tell within this book but I can assure everybody that everything you read is true and based on real life .
Mr Roberts changed his whole life for to bring some changes to a few people .I hope everyone who reads this book gets an idea of how serious the criminal and justice problem in America really is and starts to help to make a change
PS: For everyone from Germany , you can order the book by amazon.de.

A human take on a complex subject.......2004-11-25

Heartbreaking in its simplicity and insight, Dr. Robert's journey is one every tax-paying American should take. From his personal committment, establishment of Project Return which pushed his career in radically different directions, to his work with indiginous populations, Dr Roberts casts himself as very much the student. This is a position very few 'civilians' have experienced. I know. I'm just finishing my 30th year in law enforcement.. This is must reading for professionals and citizens alike. You will finish this book as a changed person.

An inspiring journey for all to take.......2004-01-09

A moving account of one man's search for a path to truth, a path by the following of which society as a whole can benefit. While this book is subtitled: An Unlikely Journey Behind the Walls of Justice, it is so much wider in its applicability than to the insitutions wherein it was born. In his exploration of 'community building', Mr. Roberts has written a remarkable prescription for society as a whole to adopt and apply to heal the profound wounds caused by the segregation of its members into disparate islands of fear, hurt, and hate. As for the application of this process to both the incarcerated and returned prison population itself, truly remarkable results have resulted from so doing. Mr. Roberts has addressed a core concern: "Without proper support, however, transformation is a long hard road. Because most of (the incarerated) are unprepared, most of them fail [become recidivists upon being paroled or pardoned]." Robert's combination of community building and techniques developed from his insights into the human social condition garnered while studying prisoners directly should be seriously examined by all states concernd with reformation of those who offend its rules. The results from so doing offer a path to real freedom, the transformation of a person rather than the brutalizing perpetuation of antisocial behavior consequent from incarceration as it is currently administered. Finally, this is a remarkable and inspiring read.

Raising Good Children: From Birth Through The Teenage Years
Average customer rating:

great book

Scientific Grounding and Comfortable Reading

Great no non-sense book.

Raising Good Children: From Birth Through The Teenage Years
Thomas Lickona
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Child Development | Babies & Toddlers | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

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ASIN: 055337429X
Release Date: 1994-09-01

Customer Reviews:

great book.......2001-04-05

I just recently purchased this book,i found it to be realistic and very helpful,i have read several parenting books and i think this is one of the best i have read so far.

Scientific Grounding and Comfortable Reading.......2000-06-27

I recently reviewed several parenting books for a thesis paper to see how the advice stacked up against the all research articles on parenting that I could find. I read the books first and found myself really liking this one due to its readability and grounding in research. Also, it has sound philosophical teachings and specific advice that is appropriate to every age and stage. It combines the fields of Child Development and Psychology with morality and good common sense to lend the reader a practical guide. It leaves plenty of room for readers to fashion our parenting philosophy combining the information given with our own intuition, experience and views. Anyway, I also reviewed three other more popular books (bestsellers), some of which cited research of their own. What I found when I compared the advice given in these books with the findings of popular current studies on parenting is that Lickona's book was the most detailed, most grounded in research, least repetitive book of the four, AND it was very well-supported with the current findings I encountered. Hooray! If only the chapter on babies were more detailed (including more information on the most healthy philosophies for feeding, sleeping, etc.), I'd be even more thrilled. (I have a 4-month-old.) However, as a mother and scholar, I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to raise moral, thinking children. I would also recommend it to teachers.

Great no non-sense book........1999-06-15

I received this book some time ago thinking it was just another "others doing a better job than me" book. I recently starting reading it and found it very good for providing a sound approach to raising my own children.

Raising Good Children From Birth Through the Teenage Years

Average customer rating:

Raising Good Children From Birth Through the Teenage Years
Thomas Lickona
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WQURXC

Mediterranean Vegetables: A Cook's ABC of Vegetables and Their Preparation
Average customer rating:

A Culinary Reference of the First Order

Recipes from countries around the Mediterranean...

200 recipes for using vegetables to maximum advantage

An ideal addition to regional recipe cookbook shelves

Recipes and a Good Read Too!

Mediterranean Vegetables: A Cook's ABC of Vegetables and Their Preparation
Clifford Wright
Manufacturer: Harvard Common Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Mediterranean | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Vegetables | Vegetables & Vegetarian | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1558321969

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

First born as a simple appendix to Clifford A. Wright's bestselling A Mediterranean Feast (the 2000 James Beard Cookbook of the Year), Mediterranean Vegetables has grown up to be a stunning and useful guide in its own right. Part cookbook, part scholarship, part gardening guide, this A-to-Z reference encompasses the entire Mediterranean region and is sure to interest food scholars, those who grow vegetables, amateur cooks, food industry professionals, and foodies of every stripe, and open up the American kitchen to a whole new world of vegetables. Each of the more than 200 alphabetical entries--from Acanthus-Leaved Thistle to Zucchini--describes a vegetable; explains its origins, its culinary history, how to grow it, and where to get it; and provides recipes that range from simple to downright exotic.

Qarac bi'l-Tahina (Pumpkin Spread with Sesame Paste) is a pleasingly lighter and infinitely more intriguing version of the ubiquitous chickpea hummus, flavored, like its cousin, with sesame tahini, plenty of garlic, lemon juice, and freshly ground cumin seeds. The Syrian dish Bamya bi'l-Zayt (Okra with Olive Oil), flavored with 40 cloves of garlic, an onion, a bit of lemon juice, and fresh coriander, is made distinctly Middle Eastern by the pomegranate molasses that sweetens it. Carciofi con Mollica, or Artichoke Hearts in Citrus Sauce, harks back to the 19th century, when French-inspired Sicilian chefs of the aristocracy invented fabulous baroque recipes. The earthiness of the artichokes is drawn out by the tangy sauce, while salty anchovies and crunchy bread crumbs add welcome layers of complexity.

While most American cooks will never be able to get some of the vegetables and herbs listed (when was the last time you saw paper pumpkinseed or skirret at the local market?), the majority of the most popular vegetables in the Mediterranean--and of those included in Mediterranean Vegetables--are easily found in American markets. --Robin Donovan

Book Description

Wright presents an original and comprehensive A-to-Z culinary reference.

Customer Reviews:

A Culinary Reference of the First Order.......2003-11-22

Clifford Wright is one of the leading writers, along with Elizabeth David, Paula Wolfert and Claudia Roden, on the cuisines of the Mediterranian. He describes this volume as an expanded appendix to his monumental, award winning `A Mediterranean Feast'.

I believe this book would be of interest to anyone with more than the most minimal interests in food. At the very least, it is a highly accessible catalogue of good vegetable dishes. Although some dishes do contain meat, fish, or meat stocks, it can also serve as an excellent resource for enlivening vegetarian diets, as the author does minimize meat ingredients.

These types of books are not commonly written in English by British or American writers. It always seems to be the Germans and the French who write the great compendia volumes for various interests. Unfortunately, good German and French and Italian works like this are hard to come by, even at the local Borders or Barnes and Noble. So, I am immensely grateful that Wright has rescued us, at least in the specialized world of Mediterranean cuisine.

Some people may find issue with his selection of vegetables. Wright's strategy is to be as broad as possible, including both vegetables only found in the wild and vegetables which have been imported to the Mediterranean shores from the orient or from the new world. I am very happy with this choice, especially since entries indicate the most likely point of origin for each plant and it's current distribution. There is nothing more annoying than looking for an entry in a reference book, not finding it, and wondering why it was left off, out of laziness or because it did indeed fall outside the scope of the book. With this book, that question should never arise. I also endorse the vegetable classification done by commercial criteria rather than by scientific criteria. Who could imagine this book without the tomato! My only disappointment here was that mushrooms were all lumped together under a single heading. Culinarily, this makes some sense, as most mushrooms are interchangeable in dishes, but I have to believe the distribution and ethnic uses of morels is quite different from portobellos.

One of the great joys of the book is that it's emphasis is both culinary and scholarly, in that much material, such as scientific names and common names in many different languages is available here along with very useful recipes. One direction in which the book is not exhaustive is in the choice of recipes. For vegetables such as artichokes and tomatoes, only a small representative sample is included. Whole books could be dedicated to the dishes of these vegetables. What we find is interesting, tasty examples which may not be found elsewhere.

I find the culinary contents of this book to be truly amazing and of tremendous value in any foodie's library. Surprisingly, I find several problems in the more scholarly content of the book. There are at least two statements on artichokes I find very surprising. One is that the choke is edible and the second that the stalk of the choke is not eaten. I rely on the authority of Mario Batali to believe both of these statements is incorrect, at least for Italians, who, Mario reports, regularly buy artichokes with long stems, peel, cook, and eat them with the heart. Another statement says that white asparagus is actually normal green asparagus, blanched before it is picked. `Blanched' is simply the wrong word, as it indicates a brief heating in water. A better word may be `bleached', although that has misleading associations as well. The fact is that they are whitened by mounding soil around the stalks to keep them away from sunlight. No heat of chemical is involved. The book would have been well served by a really good copy editor. Well, all the blurbs on the back cover are from culinary stars. No Nobel laureates here.

That aside, this is a wonderfully useful book. I wish many more of this type from Wright and other English speaking authors.

Recipes from countries around the Mediterranean..........2002-02-24

MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLES is misnamed. Many of the vegetables Clifford Wright lists in his book are not native to the Mediterranean, but rather hail from the Western Hemisphere. I was slightly annoyed when I realized this as I am a gardener and naively thought this book would get back to some "original" foods, but it does not. However, that being said, the book does contain some rather good recipes, and unlike other books on the various cuisines of the area, this book contains a nice selection of dishes that include eggplant. I am an eggplant nut, so for that reason alone I'll keep the book. Not only does the book include 10 recipes with eggplant as the star, all the recipes are tasty--although some are a bit spicy and not all are low-cal (maybe none of them are).

There are plenty of other good vegetable dishes. I also fancy okra, and Wright has included a delicious recipe "Okra with Olive Oil" that uses pomegranate molassas. Another dish Wright describes as a "guiless dish from Apulia" is "Oven-baked Potatoes and Mushrooms" with portobello mushrooms and pecorino cheese.

Wright says he is not a vegetarian, so don't buy this book if you're opposed to animal products in your vegetables. However, if you're an "ovo-lacto" veggie, you might check it out.

200 recipes for using vegetables to maximum advantage.......2002-02-09

Mediterranean vegetables range from eggplant and fava beans to lentils and swiss chard, and Clifford Wright's superbly presented vegetable book provides 200 recipes for using vegetables to maximum advantage. There are no color photos, but the dishes don't need much embellishment: just access to a range of fresh vegetables.

An ideal addition to regional recipe cookbook shelves.......2001-11-11

Clifford Wright's Mediterranean Vegetables truly lives up to its title in offering more than two hundred delicious and inspiring recipes drawn from the such diverse Mediterranean bordering nations and regions as Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, North Africa, and the Middle East. From Umak od Hren sa Jabukom (Horseradish and Apple Sauce); Harisa (Hot Chile Paste); and Spinaci alla Genovese (Genoa-Style Spinach); to Yogurtin Salgam (Fried Turnips with Yogurt); Ardi shawki Maqli bi'l-Taratur (Fried Artichokes with Tartur Sauce); and Potage au Cresson (Watercress Soup); Mediterranean Vegetables is an ideal addition to the regional recipe cookbook shelves of anyone who enjoys culinary enhancements of daily meals or party menus.

Recipes and a Good Read Too!.......2001-09-29

Clifford Wright's Meiterranean Vegetables presents a complete collection of history, recipes and also growing information. Mr. Wright's historical insight and deep culinary knowledge gives the reader a view of the whole region and the connections between cultures. Particularly interesting are the contributions made by the arabic peoples to region that are usually ignored or given minor attention. For most there will be new flavors from old recipes.

The Official Beckett Price Guide to Baseball Cards 2005 Edition #25 (Official Price Guide to Baseball Cards)
Average customer rating:

misleading and incomplete

Not enough entries

Huge holes in the guide

Not the right thing

The Official Beckett Price Guide to Baseball Cards 2005 Edition #25 (Official Price Guide to Baseball Cards)
Dr James Beckett
Manufacturer: House of Collectibles
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Baseball | Sports Cards | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books
General | Sports | Subjects | Books
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The Official Beckett Price Guide to Football Cards 2006 Edition 25 (Official Price Guide to Football Cards)

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2005 Baseball Card Price Guide

2006 Standard Catalog Of Baseball Cards

ASIN: 0375721002
Release Date: 2005-04-12

Book Description

Over 10 million copies sold!
Written by the leading authority on sports card values, this collectors' classic is the definitive guide to organizing and pricing baseball card collections. A bestseller for over 25 years, The Official® Price Guide to Baseball Cards continues to cover all major baseball card manufacturers, including Bowman, Donruss/Playoff, Fleer, Topps, and Upper Deck.

•Close to 300,000 prices for individual cards and complete sets issued from 1948 to the present
•Professional advice on buying, selling, grading, and storing cards
•Valuable coupons for discounts on Beckett Grading Services and Beckett magazines

Customer Reviews:

misleading and incomplete.......2006-06-03

ever heard of pacific trading cards or donruss?apparently beckett
hasn't!

Not enough entries.......2005-08-20

I have a very large baseball card collection, and am using the book to rate the cards. So far, after going through several hundered cards, I have had a very difficult time finding many of the cards listed in the book. It is very frustrating. I expected more from Beckett.

Huge holes in the guide.......2005-04-29

Comprehensive: "So large in scope or content as to include much."

The guide does indeed include a lot of cards. The guide states "...provides easy-to-use listings from all baseball manufacturers from 1948 to the present." and it's true that it does contain listings from all manufacturers. However, anyone planning on buying this guide should realize that there are enormous gaps. The guide often has gaps that span a half dozen or more years for major card companies like Upper Deck. When I bought the 2004 price guide I complained in a previous review that many of the sets I wanted to price were missing. In my naivety I figured that the 2005 price guide would fill in many of the gaps. I thought that Beckett would likely swap out some sets and replace them with others that were missing the previous year. My mistake.

If you want listings for 1988 and 1989 Score traded sets you're in luck since they're in both the 2004 and 2005 price guides but if you want the regular sets too bad. So what does Beckett have against 1992 Upper Deck and 1991-2001 Fleer. Yes, the guide is missing 11 straight years of Fleer however 1990 Fleer appears in both guides. My 1988 Donruss set is MIA still I'm lucky that I didn't collect during the years from 1991-2001 for Donruss `cause they don't exist. I should give the guide a one star out of spite but I'll give it a two out of generosity.

Not the right thing.......2005-04-17

I bought this thinking that it was Beckett's annual baseball card price guide that lists and prices every card ever made. I have bought such price guides in the past, so there was nothing to lead me to think otherwise. However, when I finally received it and started looking up prices, I was stunned to find a lack of listings. There are no insert cards listed, period. Also, there are only select sets listed as well. Needless to say I was very displeased with this book. I have since looked on Beckett's own web site and found that there is such a 2005 edition of their price guide. It is, however, listed as #27. What is the deal here? Is Beckett purposely running two editions concurrently to confuse people like me?

Stenciling & Embossing Greeting Cards: 18 Quick Creative, Unique & Easy-To-Do Projects
Average customer rating:

The title of this book is "RIGHT ON"..

Stenciling & Embossing Greeting Cards: 18 Quick Creative, Unique & Easy-To-Do Projects
Judith Barker
Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Embroidery | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0891349979

Amazon.com

Stenciling is one of the easiest ways to add a personal touch to handmade cards that are sure to be treasured by recipients. The 18 projects in Stenciling & Embossing Greeting Cards by Judith Barker showcase a wide range of styles, occasions, and skill levels. Most are relatively easy, though, and the excellent instructions--complete with individual step-by-step color plate--help ensure that anyone really can achieve these designs. Each project also features a photocopy-ready stencil pattern that can be enlarged and cut out, or choose a readymade stencil for even easier crafting. Embellishments include various paints, glitter, embossing, cutouts, even polymer clay and shrink plastic. A good resource list rounds out this nice presentation. --Amy Handy

Customer Reviews:

The title of this book is "RIGHT ON".........2001-07-08

I have watched stenciling and dry embossing on many craft shows and wanted to give it a try. This book helped me to do it quite simply and to create some great looking cards. Each card project has a list of the supplies you will need including stencil cream colors and gives you the name of the stencil company, item number of the stencil and where to purchase them. Each sample has step-by-step instructions -- both written and a picture of that step. At the end of each project they show you the card finished. ALL in color. I highly recommend this book to someone who wants easy to follow instructions, a great "visual" of each step and a look at how your finished card is going to look.

Book Description

Cover a wall or a fence with an elegant, evergreen curtain. Cultivate a trailing garden in a window box. Harvest the fruits of climbing gourds and grapevines. Hardy and flexible, vines are the problem-solvers of the plant world, and this valuable guide suggests abundant ways to both utilize them creatively and show them off. Page after page of easy, practical instructions for choosing and growing vines of every conceivable shape, color, and variety invite even the beginning gardener to enjoy the satisfaction that these rewarding plants can provide.

But for a Season: Finding Peace After the Loss of a Child
Average customer rating:
But for a Season: Finding Peace After the Loss of a Child
Dan M. Quinn
Manufacturer: Quinn and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1591097177
Release Date: 2003-07-15

Book Description

How to find peace in life after the loss of a child.

Book Description

George Gershwin is one of the giants of American music, unique in that he was both a brilliant writer of popular songs ("Swanee," "I Got Rhythm," "They Can't Take That Away From Me") and of more serious music, including "Rhapsody in Blue," "An American in Paris," and "Porgy and Bess." Now, in The George Gershwin Reader, music lovers are treated to a spectacular celebration of this great American composer. The Reader offers a kaleidoscopic collection of writings by and about Gershwin, including more than eighty pieces of superb variety, color, and depth. There is a who's who of famous commentators: bandleader Paul Whiteman; critics Robert Benchley, Alexander Woollcott, and Brooks Atkinson; fellow musicians Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Alec Wilder (who analyzes the songs "That Certain Feeling" and "A Foggy Day"), Leonard Bernstein, and the formidable modernist composer Arnold Schoenberg (who was Gershwin's tennis partner in Hollywood). Some of the most fascinating and important writings here deal with the critical debate over Gershwin's concert pieces, especially "Rhapsody in Blue" and "An American in Paris," and there is a complete section devoted to the controversies over "Porgy and Bess," including correspondence between Gershwin and DuBose Hayward, the opera's librettist (a series of excerpts which illuminate the creative process), plus unique interviews with the original Porgy and Bess--Todd Duncan and Anne Brown. Sprinkled throughout the book are excerpts from Gershwin's own letters, which offer unique insight into this fascinating and charming man. Along with a detailed chronology of the composer's life, the editors provide informative introductions to each entry. Here then is a book for anyone interested in American music. Scholars, performers, and Gershwin's legions of fans will find it an irresistible feast.

Customer Reviews:

Gershwin to the core.......2005-02-25

As compiled by Robert Wyatt and John Andrew Johnson, George Gershwin springs to life in this book as much as his music. Told from the inside out, the authors allow Gershwin, his contemporaries and those who followed him to create a picture of the composer and how he lived and breathed music every day. This is a beautiful book.

Chief among the contributions in "The George Gershwin Reader" are letters between Gershwin and those with whom he came into contact. We read Gershwin's letters describing how he composed, reactions from him to those who challenged his compositions (especially questions about his own orchestrations) and his eternal boyishness as he wrote friends and family regarding his daily pleasures. His early demise only strengthened the views of so many that Gershwin was a musical genius and that he, more than any other composer, captured the essence of America in transition between the two world wars.

Although "The George Gershwin Reader" can occasionally get overly detailed in musical theory, the pages flow easily. The brief summaries that the authors give before each numbered entry are most helpful for explanation in setting the stage for what ensues. The timeliness of Gershwin's life mirrored by these entries is the authors' best contribution.

It is easy to see why, more than eighty years after George Gershwin's first big success, "Rhapsody in Blue", his music has so long endured and is so endeared. This book is a great tribute to Gershwin and one I hope other readers will enjoy thoroughly.

Nice attempt, but it's been done more colorfully before.......2005-02-01

Certainly this is a worthy effort in the realm of Gershwin scholarship, and received deserved attention with an unusually long Gershwin piece, citing articles reprinted in this book, that appeared in the New Yorker magazine on Jan. 10, 2005. Nevertheless, readers should be aware that in 1998--and still available on Amazon--the first book to reprint these amazing primary-source articles by Gershwin and his associates, contemporaries, critics, etc., was published: GERSHWIN IN HIS TIME. Its focus was to provide an overview using original sources and writers (including both Gershwins, DuBose Heyward, Alexander Woolcoot, Olin Downes, Paul Whiteman, Brooks Atkinson, and other critics; also reprinting newspaper and magazine reviews of the major Gershwin symphonic and theatrical productions) of ONLY the contemporary accounts of the composer's works, as they were written and premiered.
In addition this was and is the first and only full-color book on Gershwin, and it augments the articles with page after page of reproductions of original sheet music, programs, magazine art, photos, posters, and pertinent memorabilia, all published during the composer's lifetime. It would be a shame not to acknowledge the groundbreaking nature of this first book to present the contemporary materials of Gershwin's life and career. Readers who are fascinated by this subject, and would like to see color visual counterparts to the original articles, are encouraged to seek out a copy of GERSHWIN IN HIS TIME.
However, readers should understand that the new GERSHWIN READER expands on the materials in GERSHWIN IN HIS TIME by also including significant letters by the composer and his associates, as well as criticism and discussions of the works by authorities and fellow composers in the years following Gershwin's death in 1937--extremely important materials, and a must for anyone interested in all of the 20th century's opinions of the composer. GERSHWIN IN HIS TIME remains valuable as a scrapbook of contemporary accounts and color images that present a complete "you-are-there," year-by-year (1919-1937) overview of Gershwin's career and works.

Both informative and enjoyable reading.......2004-01-27

Having four biographies of George Gershwin (GG) already in my collection, I wondered if something called "The George Gershwin Reader" would be of any value. I needn't have wondered! Reading it cover to cover has been one of the more pleasant tasks I have encountered as a reviewer.

This Oxford University Press book retails for $30. Edited by Robert Wyatt and John Andrew Johnson, it is organized into eight sections: Portraits of the Artist, The Growing Limelight (1919-1924), Fame and Fortune (1924-1930), Maturity (1930-1935, Porgy and Bess, Last Years: Hollywood (1936-1937), Obituaries and Eulogies, and As Time Passes. There are 83 reading selections in all. Some are contemporary reports, essays, letters, biographies; some are backward looks written since the composer's death.

In short, this can be used as a sourcebook for those studying various aspects of Gershwin's life and works (practically the same things) or read for pure enjoyment. My favorite anecdote that so wonderfully reveals the innocent egotism of GG is the story told on pp. 181-182 about a remark he made to composer Harry Ruby and his reaction to being reminded of it two years later. Priceless.

Each selection is introduced by the editors, who give background information about what is to be discussed and the persons involved. There is no dearth of negative criticism about GG's "classical" compositions; and they have even included one which states that Gershwin could not have written the music attributed to him. (The implication is that no Jewish composer could have done that well, a strong echo of Wagner's identical claim, and then contradicted by the writer's claiming the music is bad anyway!)

This OUP book is the very model of what a "reader" should be-and teachers and students of the history of American music, I will be making great use of the information therein.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Notes, published by Thomson Gale on June 1, 2005. The length of the article is 2238 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 George Gershwin Reader.(Book Review)
Author: Larry Starr
Publication: Notes (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 61 Issue: 4 Page: 1015(4)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Average customer rating:

GEORGE GERSHWIN READER
Robert Wyatt
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKOTBW

Customer Reviews:

When Time Ran Out.......2000-02-25

This was a very good book about a jewish boy and his family in Germany during the rising of the Nazi's and Hitler. It shows what some of the regular people were doing and how they felt, not to mention how people's views and feelings change.

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