Messages Of The Governors Of Michigan: Pingree, Bliss, Warner, Osborn, Ferris, Sleeper, And Groesbeck

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Powerful story of finding one's self against all odds

shared wisdom

Awesome book!

A warm encouraging book which I would enjoy giving to others

A MUST-READ for the m2F Lesbian

Mirrors: Portrait of a Lesbian Transsexual
Geri Nettick
Manufacturer: Rhinoceros Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Wrapped In Blue: A Journey of Discovery

ASIN: 1563334356

Book Description

The alternately heartbreaking and empowering story of one woman's long road to full selfhood. Born a male, Geri Nettick knew something just didn't fit. And even after coming to terms with her own gender dysphoria, and taking steps to correct it, she still fought to be accepted by the lesbian feminist community to which she felt she belonged. A fascinating, true tale of struggle and discovery.

Customer Reviews:

Powerful story of finding one's self against all odds.......2006-07-10

This is a somewhat hard to find title, but well worth aquiring. It details the personal struggles of the author, who was born male but identifies as not just female, but lesbian as well.

While the book tends to follow the usual formula typical of an autobiography, it does so with such detail and clarity that most readers will find it for the most part very entertaining and educational at the same time. The author's experiences are presented in a fairly chronological way, beginning with her first early childhood experiences as they related to her feelings of being different and moving through her teens and early adulthood into her present day life.

What makes this book very unique compared to other transgender autobiographies is that the author is lesbian as well. She deals quite harshly with the bigotry faced not just in mainstream society, but by the lesbian community as well. While Nettick does get into some of the technical aspects of being transgendered from her first person perspective, she doesn't bore you with too many details, something others transgendered autobiographers could learn from.

The author is also atypical from other transgendered authors, in that she isn't some famous celebrity telling her life story after having been "outted" in order to justify her existance. As such, her experiences are far more relevant to the transgendered community than tales of tennis stars and singers. This makes the book far more relevant not just to the majority of transgendered individuals, but to the public in general, most of whom aren't celebrities. As such, the book doesn't come across as some sort of lame apology to society for being born. Instead, the author tries to help the reader understand who she is as a person, and does so unapologetically and in a way that demands respect and gets it.

What won me over with this book is how Nettick addresses the bigotry and intolerance within her own family and as well as the lesbian community and feminist movement. She tells of how she was marginalized and isolated, and how she eventually won acceptance by her peers. While Nettick's specific situation is very unique, her experiences and how she dealt with them are very relevant to anyone who faces discrimination and bigotry.

This book is clearly a must read for those who work or deal with the transgender community, and should be required reading for health care professionals who have transgendered clients. It is also highly recommended for transgendered persons, as well as for those in the LGBT community who wish to gain a better understanding of what a typical transgendered individual deals with.

shared wisdom.......2000-06-09

first, I hope you will forgive my poor english, but It's not my first tongue. well, since I have said it. I was facinated by this book, I couldn't take my hands of it, even geting late at work for a few days, 'cause of the night reading. for this is a book with so much to say, I mean, it's a book with a historical and socioligical look at the San Francisco area during the hippie emergence to our days; it's a book telling and teaching a lot about love, love of ourself, and love of the others; it's an in depth look at the lesbian comunity; it's a brillant feminist perception of the world; and finaly, it's a wonderfull book about a combat, a combat to survive, to become who we are, to express our deep self, to come to terms with our first suffurings to a more brillant life, it's the book of hope, reminding us that we don't have to give up when we stand firm in the recognition of our true identitie. and last but not least, it's also a book of wisdom, teaching the do's and don't about transition (hmmmm, did I mention I am myself a Lesbian Transsexual). Again, sorry for my poor english

Awesome book!.......2000-03-31

Geri Nettick has absolutely "nailed" the transsexual lesbian experience. She describes her own experiences in a very articulate and moving way.

In addition to telling her story well, Geri presents a very intelligent, informed analysis of the transsexual phenomenon in the context of our culture and a larger world view. She also dissects the lesbian community's discomfort with lesbian transsexuals and presents a resounding rebuttal to the hostile, anti-transsexual "thinking" of certain radical lesbian separatists.

Geri also includes a list of resources for transsexuals which would be enormously useful to anyone going through transition.

As a lesbian transsexual, all I can say is that I wish this book had been around when I was transitioning!

Oh well. At least I don't have to write a book about my transition story because Geri has already done it! The details are different; the story is the same.

A warm encouraging book which I would enjoy giving to others.......1999-07-17

As a Lesbian Transsexual myself, this book has come closer than any other in catalyzing my own understanding and appreciation for myself. It has also helped significantly to clear the mental and emotional confusion that to date, has been my life inheritence. Geri's story helps to elucidate and cystallize in down to earth fashion the unique anxieties and prejudices that us Lesbian Transsexuals share in a supposedly modern twentieth century society. I was so impressed by it that I recently gave it to my mother when she visited, in the hope that she too would come some distance in understanding me. I am only sorry that Geri's mother never managed to bridge that gap in understanding her own daughter.

A MUST-READ for the m2F Lesbian.......1998-09-02

Both my partner and I enjoyed this book highly. Geri Nettick has written a story that could be my own. Definitely read this one!

Book Description

The Value Express 2001 User Manual is for those clients that prefer a traditional software manual in addition to the online manual, which is provided with the program. Wire bound to keep open manual flat. The material is presented in an easy-to-follow format, and augmented with countless illustrations.

How to save money on this and other ValuSource products:
Call 800-825-8763 today! You may be eligible for a discount, or we might be running a special promotion.

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This is an excellent book for the beginning gemstone buyer

Great book for beginners

Great Book!

No More Mistakes

This Book Makes A Difference

Jewelry & Gems the Buying Guide: How to Buy Diamonds, Pearls, Colored Gemstones, Gold & Jewelry With Confidence And Knowledge (Jewelry and Gems the Buying Guide)
Antoinette L. Matlins , and Antonio C. Bonanno
Manufacturer: Gemstone Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Gem Identification Made Easy, Third Edition: A Hands-On Guide to More Confident Buying & Selling

Colored Gemstones, 2nd Edition: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide: How to Select, Buy, Care for & Enjoy Sapphires, Emeralds, Rubies and Other Colored Gemstones

Gemstone Buying Guide, Second Edition: How to Evaluate, Identify, Select & Care for Colored Gems

Gemstones (Smithsonian Handbooks)

The Jeweler's Directory of Gemstones: A Complete Guide to Appraising and Using Precious Stones From Cut and Color to Shape and Settings

ASIN: 0943763444

Book Description

Know What You Want, Know What You're Buying, Learn the Secrets to Get the Most for Your Money

Easy to Read • Easy to Understand Practical • Complete Instant Answers ... to All Your Questions Completely Updated & Expanded 6th Edition!

Purchasing gems and jewelry can be a magical experience, filled with excitement and anticipation. But lack of information, error, or misrepresentation can make the thrill of buying a gem or piece of jewelry confusing, intimidating, overwhelming, and costly.

To help you avoid the pitfalls and keep the magic, two internationally respected experts on buying gems and jewelry put their inside knowledge to work for you in this easy-to-read, easy-to-use guide. It is filled with practical advice and is designed to make it easy for you to have all the information you need to buy gems and jewelry with confidence.

Recommended by consumer and jewelry trade reviewers around the world, it is already in use in over 100 countries and has been translated into Spanish, Arabic, Greek, Hungarian, and Russian. Over 300,000 copies are now in print and this revised, updated, expanded edition covers even more: buying and selling on the internet, dazzling new diamond cuts, recently discovered gems … and new treatments and trickery to look out for. There are fascinating mythical and magical tidbits, and practical tips that could only come from an insider.

In simple, straightforward terms you'll learn about the four Cs and how to juggle them to get what you want, at the price you want to pay; what to look for, and look out for; all about gold and platinum, jewelry design, and some of the country's leading designers. You'll learn what questions to ask and what to get in writing, and even how to select the jeweler, appraiser, and insurer. The authors leave no stone unturned to give you everything you need to know—whether you are a novice or a connoisseur. With Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide, you'll find the experience can be a joy, and the gems and jewelry you select a source of lasting pleasure!

Praise for Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide

"Restores the magic! [Will] entertain and enlighten all its readers and save some from heart-break. Recommended reading." — Paul Harvey, Paul Harvey News

"Includes all kinds of fun facts to know and tell ... an essential resource for the gem buyer." — Art & Antiques

"Takes the guesswork out of this important decision ... obtain the best value for your money." — Modern Bride

"A book designed to build trust between jewelry retailers and consumers." — National Jeweler

"An appropriate book for the uninformed public, but more than that, it is a good reference book for jewelers and their staffs, gem collectors, students of gemology, travelers, teachers, and even those who know gemology but want a state-of-the-art review." — Lapidary Journal

"We have seen no work more practical and accurate than [this book] ... the investor, or engagement ring buyer, who follows the dictates ... which are well explained and illustrated, will surely avoid being burned ... the best of its kind and likely to be of enormous value to anyone." — Frederick H. Pough, PhD Former Curator of Gems and Minerals, American Museum of Natural History, N.Y.C.

"Most certainly achieves its aim of helping consumers buy gems and jewelry with confidence and knowledge ... highly recommended." — Asian Jewelry

"Especially useful to service members shopping overseas." — Financial Planning Guide Supplement to Army, Navy and Air Force Times

Customer Reviews:

This is an excellent book for the beginning gemstone buyer.......2007-08-13

Excellent! This is hands down the best book on the market for the beginning gemstone buyer.

Great book for beginners.......2006-12-08

If you are buying jewelry/gems for any occasion and don't exactly know what you are doing, this book is a great start. The section on colored gemstones was particularly helpful, as it is harder to find good information on them. The book is definitely a keeper as it can be used for many different purchases.

Great Book!.......2006-09-20

A friend recommended this book and I'm so glad she did! So informative and easy to understand--even for a novice like me! I now have more confidence when I buy jewelry and know what questions to ask a jeweler before I decide to buy. Great book!

No More Mistakes.......2006-09-03

With the help, guidelines and information from this incredible book I finally felt I could shop for jewelry with confidence and a "sense of experience".

This Book Makes A Difference.......2006-09-02

I am not a geologist or gemologist but I am very interested in gems and jewelry. After purchasing and reading several other books on the subject of gems and jewelry, this was the most informative! I could not put it down. I buy jewelry of all sorts for re-sale, and this book is the only book that tells me all my choices whether buying diamonds, colored gemstones, or pearls. It is also the only book that describes the many clever ways that one can be deceived. I especially like their price charts for diamonds and colored gem stones because they are organized in a way that focuses attention on the impact of quality factors on value. The colored gem stone charts are organized so that it is easy to compare numerous stones of the same color. For example if my customer wants a green stone this book lists all of the stones available, and how they compare to each other in terms of price, durabilty, and availabilty in different sizes. No other book does this. I could go on and on, but I will sum it up in three words: It's the BEST!

Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide--How to Buy Diamonds, Pearls, Colored Gemstones, Gold & Jewelry With Confidence and Knowledge (5th Edition)

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Wealth of Knowledge
Perfect Starter Guide
Book pays for itself many times over
Jewelry & Gems The Buying Guide
ALL THE TITLE

Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide--How to Buy Diamonds, Pearls, Colored Gemstones, Gold & Jewelry With Confidence and Knowledge (5th Edition)
Antoinette Matlins , and A. C. Bonanno
Manufacturer: Gemstone Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Jewelry | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Reference | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0943763312

Book Description

Completely Updated, Expanded, Revised.New edition of the "unofficial bible" for jewelry and gem buyers. Explains how to buy diamonds, pearls, precious, and other popular colored gems, gold, and jewelry with confidence and knowledge.This authoritative book includes new sections on design and style, pearls, gold, and platinum, as well as full coverage of recently discovered new gems to look for...and new treatments and trickery to look out for. Easy to read and understand, Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide covers every aspect of purchasing and enjoying jewelry and gems.Selected contents:Retail Price Guides for Diamonds, Colored Gems, and Pearls.Getting to Know Gems.Diamonds: How to Determine the Value of a Diamond.The Four C's - Treatments - New shapes & old - How flaws affect diamonds - How to read diamond grading reports - How to spot fraud & misrepresentationColored Gemstones: New Stones Add Exciting Choices.Mystery & Magic - Determining value - New treatments - Synthetics - Fraud & misrepresentation - Misleading names - Gem alternatives by colorPearls: Types - Factors that affect quality and value.Gold & Platinum.Choosing the Setting.Important Advice Before You Buy; Questions to Ask.Selecting a Reputable Jeweler, Appraiser, & insurer.Gemstone Investment.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Wealth of Knowledge.......2006-08-22

This book is a must have for anyone, novice or expert! I was looking for something that would educate me in my new "hobby" of gem collecting and ran across this valuable book. It contains sections from how to purchase great diamonds to colored gemstones (my favorites!). The first part of the book deals with examining stones, how to hold the stone when examining it, using a loupe (those round magnifying glass-type things that are used by jewlers), identifying the parts of a gem (yes, there are parts of gem such as a table, a girdle, a crown, a pavilion and a cutlet) , and the different cuts of stones (round, trilliant, pear, Marquise, oval, emerald, etc.). The second part of the book deals exclusively about diamonds, the importance of the cut and proportion, body color and grades, faulty cuts, girdle faults, popular and nonpopular shapes, desirable colors, diamond flaws, clarity and how it's determined, V, VV, S, I explained, weight, spotting frauds, and comparing diamond prices. Section 3 is about colored gemstones, determing value, gemstone treatment, fraud, purchasing colored gems, and pearls. Part 4 is about Design and Style and offers important advice before buying. Part 6, the final chapter, offers important advice after you purchase a gemstone. There's even a section that gives retail prices, by carat, on each type of gemstone! Lots of important diagrams too! My next book to purchase that will compliment this book is Gem Identificatin Made Easy by Antoinette Matlins and A.C. Bonanno. This book will explain how to use pocket, portable and laboratory instruments to identify diamonds and colored gems! Yeah, baby! No more guessing!

Perfect Starter Guide.......2005-07-28

This book is exactly what I needed to substantially increase my knowledge of colored gemstones. It contains several 4 to 5 page sections of colored gemstone pictures with identification and a very informative section that gives general price per carat ranges for a large variety of gems. I've just added loose gemstones to my retail stock and I've referred to this guide so often that I know many of the page numbers by heart.

Book pays for itself many times over.......2003-06-02

One thing that retail jewelers count on is that the public is unwilling to do its homework.

And if you've got tens of thousands of dollars to spend and don't much care where it goes, don't buy this book (but feel free to send me some of that money).

On the other hand, if you're like most of us, you want to get the best value for your money, and this book will definitely help by giving great tips when buying diamonds and other gems.

Not only that, this book can give you some creative ideas. Looking for something beyond the cheap "frozen spit" diamonds that are being sold all over these days? For the same money, you can buy a colored stone or cultured pearl that will look better and be a better value. Want a nice, bright green stone but haven't got $10k for an emerald? This book can give some affordable alternatives, like maybe a tsavorite.

This is a tremendous resource, written in an easy-to-understand style, and organized in a way that makes referring to it inviting.

Jewelry & Gems The Buying Guide.......2003-03-18

I have been buying jewelry for many years, and my biggest regret is that I have not taken the time to learn about the different types and quality of gems available. This book has certainly taught me a lot of things that jewelry store sales people never told me. I am sure that the information that I learned from this book will be of great help in my future purchases.

ALL THE TITLE.......2001-08-28

MY NAME IS ZARIS119 .I HAVE MANY COLLECTIONS OFF GEMS STONE, SOME OF THEM ARE POWERFULL AND SPIRITUAL THIS BOOK I THING TO MUCH GUIDING LINE.

Average customer rating:

FANTASTIC BOOK

Five Stars ++ for This Great Collection of Afghans

Great Afghan Book

Real winner

Heirloom Afghans to Knit & Crochet
Rita Weiss , and Jean Leinhauser
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Crocheting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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100 Afghans to Knit & Crochet

Under Cover: 60 Afghans to Knit and Crochet

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200 Ripple Stitch Patterns: Exciting Patterns to Knit & Crochet for Afghans, Blankets & Throws

7-Day Afghans

ASIN: 1402723059

Book Description

Crafters who wish to showcase their skills, pamper themselves or someone special, or mark an occasion with a one-of-a-kind remembrance, will love knitting or crocheting the luxurious afghans in this new book. All are heirloom-quality afghans--displayed in breathtaking color photos--featuring deluxe yarns such as silk blends, mohair, or cashmere. And it's an anything-but-ordinary collection that includes new takes on classic afghans, afghans with hundreds of bullion stitches, and those that look like the finest lace. You'll be proud to give any one as a gift for a wedding, christening, anniversary, dedication ceremony or whenever you want to show love or appreciation with a gift well worth the time and cost--one that will be cherished for a lifetime!

Customer Reviews:

FANTASTIC BOOK.......2007-05-14

GREAT BOOK...HAS LOTS OF PATTERNS FROM THE SIMPLE TO THE COMPLICATED. THESE PATTERNS USE WORSTED WEIGHT YARN AND MOST ARE DONE ON SIZE 7-8-9 NEEDLES, SO THESE ARE NOT "QUICKIE" PATTERNS. I HAVE MADE TWO AFGHANS FROM THESE BOOK AND THEY WERE WELL WORTH THE TIME THEY TOOK. CHECK OUT THIS BOOK IN YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE THEN BUY IT FORM AMAZON, THAT'S WHAT I DO - THAT WAY YOU WILL KNOW IF YOU REALLY LIKE THE PATTERNS.

Five Stars ++ for This Great Collection of Afghans.......2006-12-16

"Heirloom Afghans to Knit and Crochet" contains 40 inspiring afghan designs. The designs are about evenly split between knitted and afghans and crocheted ones, so if you do both crocheting and knitting like I do, you'll find this book to be a gold mine of ideas!!

As the title implies, these designs are a few steps above beginning skill levels in knitting and crochet, as each afghan is truly a masterpiece. Each design is bursting with color and texture, yielding a beautiful afghan to be treasured for many years.

Another thing that I really like about this book is that the yarns called for are inexpensive and easily found at your local craft store or even Wal-Mart. Almost every design calls for standard worsted weight yarn or baby weight yarn. The beautiflly photographed samples are made in staple yarns for afghan knitters such as Plymouth Encore, Patons Canadiana, and Red Heart Super Saver.

If you love to create beautiful afghans, this practical book is a must have! There are so many gorgeous designs in here, I will be busily knitting and crocheting for quite some time.

Great Afghan Book.......2006-10-01

Great book for serious afghan lovers. Although I don't knit afghans, the ones in this book are Very Nice. All in all, this is a great collection of Beautiful afghans.

Real winner.......2005-12-05

I collect afghan books in both knit and crochet stitches and this one ranks at the top with a few others. There are 40 projects of which 17 are knit. The crocheted afghans are much more interesting as some of the knit ones are ho-hum. The first afghan, Rosy outlook, shows that the editing was a bit slapdash(colors not given for the panels). Also not all the afghans have attributions and others, although quite good, came from Patons Design Staff . Standouts are the 2 tunisian crochet afghans, hexagon wheels, and pretty pinwheels. Most of the yarns are knitting worsted. For the serious knitter or crocheter (no beginners) this book is highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Heirloom Afghans to Knit and Crochet
Jean Leinhauser
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K44YG2

Book Description

Far from being passive elements in the landscape, plants have developed many sophisticated chemical and mechanical means of deterring organisms that seek to prey on them. This volume draws together research from ecology, evolution, agronomy, and plant pathology to produce an ecological genetics perspective on plant resistance in both natural and agricultural systems. By emphasizing the ecological and evolutionary basis of resistance, the book makes an important contribution to the study of how phytophages and plants coevolve.

Plant Resistance to Herbivores and Pathogens not only reviews the literature pertaining to plant resistance from a number of traditionally separate fields but also examines significant questions that will drive future research. Among the topics explored are selection for resistance in plants and for virulence in phytophages; methods for studying natural variation in plant resistance; the factors that maintain intraspecific variation in resistance; and the ecological consequences of within-population genetic variation for herbivorous insects and fungal pathogens.

"A comprehensive review of the theory and information on a large, rapidly growing, and important subject."—Douglas J. Futuyma, State University of New York, Stony Brook

Biochemical Aspects of Plant Disease Resistance: Preformed Inhibitory Substance 'Prohibitions' (Biochemical Aspects of Plant Disease Resistance)

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Biochemical Aspects of Plant Disease Resistance: Preformed Inhibitory Substance 'Prohibitions' (Biochemical Aspects of Plant Disease Resistance)
A. Mahadevan
Manufacturer: Scholarly Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

A groundbreaking perspective on Nature's plan for full human creativity and intelligence during the teen years

â€¢ Shows what is at the core of today's serious social and psychological problems

â€¢ Explores the sexual and spiritual stage of adolescent development

â€¢ Details the connection between adolescent brain and heart development and the issue of nature vs. nurture

â€¢ By the author of Magical Child (250,000 copies sold)

Something is supposed to happen during the adolescent years--something greater than MTV, video games, and the Internet. Joseph Chilton Pearce describes this something as the natural mandate for post-biological development--the development of the sexual and spiritual senses and expansion of our growth process outside of our bodies and into the physical world that surrounds us.

Though first written in the mid 1980s, the message of From Magical Child to Magical Teen is even more compelling and helpful today--especially for those who live with and work with adolescents. Drawing on the stages of development outlined by Swiss biologist Jean Piaget and the brain research of neuroscientist Paul MacLean, Pearce demonstrates how nature has built into us an agenda for the intelligent unfolding of our lives. He offers a powerful critique of contemporary child-rearing practices and a groundbreaking alternative to existing perspectives on adolescence so we can unleash our greatest potential, as well as that of our children, in order to experience our fullness in the manner nature intended all along.

Amazon.com

During his 1960s prime, jazz guitarist Grant Green was overshadowed by rivals Wes Montgomery and George Benson, two immensely talented players who made successful forays into the pop world. But although Green passed away in 1979, the 1990s have seen a Grant Green renaissance, thanks to the birth of acid jazz, the reemergence of soul jazz, the jazz-reissue boom, and, most importantly, Green's distinctive guitar style--steeped in his R&B roots and boasting a clear, biting, soulful tone that makes him attractive to rock fans. When she met and later married Grant's youngest son, journalist Sharony Andrews Green stumbled into an admirable mission: to shed light on the life and music of her cult-favorite father-in-law. Green-the-author delivers an engaging, casual remembrance that adeptly balances many aspects of Green's life while never delving deeply into any of them. Green-the-guitarist lived in service to an uneasy triumvirate--music, Islam, and heroin--and the author, despite her ties to her subject, pulls no punches in detailing his drug habit and dark side. The book relies on heartfelt anecdotes from friends, family, musicians, and historians to tell his story and provide a clear and compelling picture of the mindset of a black jazz musician. We learn, for example, how many St. Louis jazzmen began to use heroin in admiration of Midwestern idols (and users) such as Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, and how Green himself yearned for a wider audience in the late 1960s and changed musical directions in search of it (only to be even more frustrated when it did not come). The easy-going, conversational writing style mostly makes for a warm, emotional memoir, though it loses sophistication when the focus moves toward the author and her biography process. Still, adding a comprehensive sessionography, Green offers a useful primer for a talented musician, opening the door for more thorough investigations of Grant Green's unique guitar technique and stylistic innovations. --Marc Greilsamer

Book Description

Now in softcover! This heartfelt biography celebrates the life and music of unsung hero Grant Green, the late jazz guitar genius who played on nearly 100 albums from the early '60s to the late '70s, but narrowly missed celebrity. Today his music has inspired numerous acid-jazz and hip-hop recordings and his legend continues to grow. A straight-ahead jazzman turned funk wizard, Grant is best known for his rhythmic and driving tone as a session leader and sideman for Blue Note Records. The book paints a personal portrait of Grant's internal struggles through the eyes of his family, friends, and fellow musicians.

Customer Reviews:

A Valuable Book for Grant Green Fans.......2006-11-20

This is the only biography of the great Grant Green thusfar, a valuable collector's item for all Grant's fans. The author interviewed family members, fellow musicians and others to develop a picture of the premier guitarist. Although the author has no musical background, she includes selected reviews, a complete discography and informative critical essay by TJ Jundt.

Too Much Politics, Not Enough Biography.......2006-03-02

I like Grant Green. I always thought he was one of the four or five top jazz guitarists of his day. He deserves a true biography, rather than the immaturish writing and same old liberal rationalisms for why Mr. Green failed and died young. His career failed and he died young becauee of drugs---no one's fault but his own.

needs some more critical perspective.......2001-03-15

Sharony Green is trying something interesting here, a biography which is also something of an autobiography. She does a nice job of letting the various people who knew Green speak, and you do get an interesting sense of the man from the book. I have two criticisms. The first is that it goes on and on about how forgotten and unappreciated Green is, which gets tiring after a while. After all, most people who read this book will already think green was a great guitarist. And the guy is one more records than anybody but Milt Hinton--he was hardly unappreciated. He was never as famous as Wes or Benson, but they were more marketable than Green was

The other annoying thing about the book is that it goes on and on about how Green was ripped off. It's true that the white controlled industry is doubly tough on African Americans, and musicians get exploited frequently. But Green never lacked a gig--he worked ALL the time. He had more work in a year, more high quality work, with first rate musicians, than some people get in a decade. So he had money--he was well paid by the standards of his profession. He blew it all in addiction--his sad end came through his own doing. He was a lousy father and husband, and ... his success away. I don't know why, and the book can't say--maybe nobody can. It'd be easy and wrong to understate the power of racism to twist and warp lives, but it's hard to pity Green in some ways. He never lacked for work or recognition in his lifetime, he had prodigious gifts, stunning intelligence and fire (i've spent all afternoon working on his solo on "Speak Low," and I'm more amazed as I go along), but he did himself in, which was maybe nore of a tragedy than if he was done in by racism

It's an interesting and evocative book, that conveys a good sense of the world Green came up in and the world of jazz in the 50s and 60s Worth a read for any jazz fan or lover of Green's great playing

needs some more critical perspective.......2001-03-15

The other annoying thing about the book is that it goes on and on about how Green was ripped off. It's true that the white controlled industry is doubly tough on African Americans, and musicians get exploited frequently. But Green never lacked a gig--he worked ALL the time. He had more work in a year, more high quality work, with first rate musicians, than some people get in a decade. So he had money--he was well paid by the standards of his profession. He blew it all in addiction--his sad end came through his own doing. He was a lousy father and husband, and pissed his success away. I don't know why, and the book can't say--maybe nobody can. It'd be easy and wrong to understate the power of racism to twist and warp lives, but it's hard to pity Green in some ways. He never lacked for work or recognition in his lifetime, he had prodigious gifts, stunning intelligence and fire (i've spent all afternoon working on his solo on "Speak Low," and I'm more amazed as I go along), but he did himself in, which was maybe nore of a tragedy than if he was done in by racism

Fair amount of info, not much insight........2001-01-21

While a good book, and admittedly the only source out there from which one can gain much info about Grant Green, the style is a bit cramped and extremely subjective making it a tough read. Sharony Green conveys a good deal of information about Grant, but at the same time presents it in a stale and not very insightful style. There is a wealth of unwarranted speculation that does little to forward a view of Grant Green, and instead of "Rediscovering the Lost Genius" of Grant Green, the reader feels more as if the author feels a need to validate Grant Green. For that, just pick up "Idle Moments" or "Matador" or any of the other great Green recordings. This validation seems a bit irreverent and at times, didactic.

That being said, the subjectivity of the book lends a viewpoint that is worth noting and there is a vast amount of information regarding Grant collected in the book, though at times it is less than completely accurate (eg. At one point, the author refers to Grant's "I Want to Hold Your Hand" recording as a collection of Beatle and other pop tunes. In fact, the title track is the only pop tune on the LP). The book's discography approaches a comprehensive survey of the recordings available, and the reviews offered at the end of the text are particularly helpful. If this book were part of a larger literature devoted to Grant Green it would be a valuable addition, but as the only extant source for info on Grant Green it misses its mark.

Average customer rating:
Grant Green : Rediscovering the Forgotten Genius of Jazz Guitar
Sharon Andrew Green
Manufacturer: Miller Freeman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O5ROCS

Average customer rating:
Grant Green Rediscovering the Forgotten Genius of Jazz Guitar
Sharony Andrews Green
Manufacturer: Miller Freeman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PRV9XA

Book Description

This is the story of a young man caught in the whirlwind of the Holocaust, who survives a chain of events so harrowing they almost defy belief. As a boy, Joe Rosenblum watches as the Nazi overlords tighten their grip on his small Polish town. Narrowly escaping mass executions that take his own brother, Rosenblum is first sheltered by a local Gentile family, then takes refuge with Russian partisans. Once captured by the Germans, he begins a journey through three concentration camps--Majdanek, Auschwitz, and Dachau. Living by his wits, a courier for the camp underground, Rosenblum is able to help other prisoners, and even to save children "selected" for the gas chambers. Eventually he finds himself working for the infamous Dr. Mengele. In a bizarre twist of fate, the "Angel of Death" is persuaded to perform life-saving surgery on Rosenblum--perhaps making him the only Jew to be saved by the deadly doctor's skills. A remarkable man who danced on the razor's edge of history, Rosenblum did not merely survive the Holocaust, but rose above it by radiating hope and humanity--by defying the darkness.

Customer Reviews:

Remarkable Man, Amazing Story.......2005-03-26

Defy The Darkness is the story of the author's (Joe Rosenblum) life before, during, and after World War II. After the Germans invaded Poland, he was, due to his Aryan looks, able to survive by working on the farm of a Polish family who were very kind to him. As a result, he was able to bring food to his own family which helped to prolong their lives. Rosenblum was a very remarkable man. He took his father's place on various slave labor details, he spent time with Russian partisans, and he survived around eighteen months in Birkenau at a time when the average person might have survived eighteen minutes. He had wits; he had strength of character, and, as with most camp survivors he had, as odd as this may sound, luck on his side. The two most indelible images in the book; the gauntlet that the prisoners were continually forced to run at Majdanek, and the prisoners at Birkenau stuffing whole frogs in their mouths due to their incredible hunger. This is a story that had to be told and a book that must be read.

Unforgetable Account of Horror, Suffering and Bravery.......2004-08-29

This book is fantastic. Joe Rosenblum's story is inspiring. I have shared this book with many people and every one of them found the book intriguing. Mr. Rosenblum went through hell and emerged a hero and a very decent man. Very well written with co-author Mr. Kohn.

Heartwrenching Acts of Bravery & Wit.......2003-12-29

This book was a page turner that I could not put down. It went straight to my heart and I wondered if I could do the same things to survive. Joe's thoughts and actions were absolutely amazing, thinking about my 14 yr old nephew the whole time. Unimaginable acts of bravery and the things he has to overcome just to stay alive. Giving kindness to anyone he could even though it could mean death in an instant. Watching and telling his stories of death all around him and of his family. The work he had to endure, the pain, and the hopes to keep him going.

This book is an excellent read and really opens your eyes to his life and the lives around him.

Remember Before It's Too Late.......2001-09-30

There is no shortage of writing about the Holocaust, fortunately, because nothing so evil should ever be forgotten. In addition to the dry historical accounts, we have many novels, military assessments and first-person accounts.
What Joe Rosenblum gives us is a closeup look at his hometown of Miedzyrzec, Poland, as it is swallowed up by the Nazis, the effects on its mostly Jewish population and the terrible events that upend and destroy his family. Equally important, he tells us how he survived his hellacious odyssey through Nazi death camps, his techniques for survival and the pure luck that kept him from destruction.
I found the writing a little choppy and some of the material was a bit repetitious. The book sometimes read more like an interview with someone eager to spill out the details before it's too late. So what? This is not literature, this is humanity, set down on paper so that we'll all remember and, if we're lucky, have just a little of the courage of this survivor.

Truth be told.......2001-07-26

This book is one of the best suvivor accounts I have read. The authot lets you into his life and lets you see things through his eyes. Once you are in - it's hard to leave. The author has such an amazing memory of his life that the pages beg to be read. I happen to have been fortunate enough to meet Mr. Rosenblum and hear him tell his story to my students. Truly an amazing man. I highly reccomend this book for it's truth, honesty and heroism.

DEFY THE DARKNESS: A TALE OF COURAGE IN THE SHADOW OF MENGELE

Average customer rating:

DEFY THE DARKNESS: A TALE OF COURAGE IN THE SHADOW OF MENGELE
Joe with David Kohn Rosenblum
Manufacturer: Praeger
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J3TO7S

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