From Southern Wrongs to Civil Rights: The Memoir of a White Civil Rights Activist

Customer Reviews:

I loved this book.......2005-09-27

Sara Mitchell Parsons was one of the true heroes of the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta. As a white woman from a privileged background, she took on the racist status-quo of Atlanta as a school board member and constantly and intelligently challenged the city to provide quality education for black and white students alike and to integrate the schools. She knew when it was time to leave her hidebound racist husband and she knew when it was time to leave the Civil Rights Movement though she continued to work for equal education for her entire life. She was a courageous and forceful influence for many young men and women of the 60s in Atlanta. I was one of those.

Collapsing the Cathedral of Bigotry, Southern-Style.......2002-02-22

I'm standing in the Great Hall of one of Birmingham, Alabama's largest cathedrals, chatting amicably with two nicely-dressed white women who are pillars and patrons of their church. Wonder how it is possible that these two genteel ladies turned out to be so very, very different form their contemporary, Sara Mitchell Parsons.
These three women are Privileged White Class people, educated in the ways of the Old South, conversant with all-white country clubs, free from racial persecution of any kind.
What made Parsons reverse direction, give up social standing and become an Atlanta civil rights activist in a day and time when to do so was actually a life-endangering act?
Why did the other two women remain placid and content in their social roles and blatantly disdainful of all civil rights activities of black people, even to this day? "They (Those Black People) just aren't grateful. They don't appreciate the fact that we (White Folk) gave them good livings and brought them up from the savages they were."
This book is a plain-spoken narrative about a white person's journey through the confines of bigotry, racism, intolerance, hatred and concrete-solid Tradition. Parsons comes out on the other side feeling a lot better about herself and a lot less tolerant herself--intolerant toward the status quo of Southern White Bigotry.
Take a look at this modest book. It came out at a time when the McWhorter book about Birmingham got lots of well-deserved attention, occluding the release of smaller books like this. But this, too, deserves your notice. It tells a similar story, but without all the spice, lenghthy detail and scholarly overstatement. Both books should be issued together in a slipcase.
(For a copy of the entire review of this book, contact me at jimreedbooks.com)

THE MAKING OF AN ACTIVIST.......2000-11-15

Sara Perry was raised as the typical southern white lady. She was to assume the role of dutiful wife, devoted mother and hostess for her husband's social set. As Sara Mitchell she carried out her role of the southern house-wife which included a lovely home, Negro maid and status in the upper class community of Buckhead in Atlanta, GA.

All was going well for this southern white matron but the seeds of discontent stirred in her life. She wanted more out of life than a role. Slowly but surely a change was to occur which would change her life and the fabric of the world in which she grew up.

Contained in these pages in the memoir of a woman who had it all but made the step to get involved in the battle for civil rights regardless of the cost. Her battle ground was the Atlanta school board, her church, family and marriage. Caught up in the fervor of the Civil rights movement we see how a woman of privilege made the steps of becoming an activist.

Parsons' story is an eye-opener of the role southern white women played in the movement. Her being a part of the affluent class makes her story all the more remarkable due to the pressures she would endure. Her tale is one in which everyone should read to get an understanding of the thoughts and feelings of a woman who put her status at risk.

What I find most interesting concerning her tenure on the Atlanta school board are the issues she addresses concerning education in addition to the integration question. The issues she addressed in the 1960s are the same ones with us in the year 2000. You will get an idea about how "concerned" the majority of the board was with education.

This dynamic woman broke the rules of convention of her day. She of course is not a saint but an example to follow in having the courage and fortitude to step out for what is right. I highly recommend this as a primary text for those studying education, civil rights, and female empowerment.

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From Southern Wrongs to Civil Rights: The Memoir of a White Civil Rights Activist.: An article from: Journal of Southern History
Dennis S. Nordin
Manufacturer: Southern Historical Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008FBNXU
Release Date: 2005-07-30

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Southern History, published by Southern Historical Association on May 1, 2002. The length of the article is 518 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: From Southern Wrongs to Civil Rights: The Memoir of a White Civil Rights Activist.
Author: Dennis S. Nordin
Publication: Journal of Southern History (Refereed)
Date: May 1, 2002
Publisher: Southern Historical Association
Volume: 68 Issue: 2 Page: 509(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

FROM SOUTHERN WRONGS TO CIVIL RIGHTS: THE MEMOIR OF A WHITE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. With a Foreword by David J. Garrow

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FROM SOUTHERN WRONGS TO CIVIL RIGHTS: THE MEMOIR OF A WHITE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. With a Foreword by David J. Garrow
Sara Mitchell. Parsons
Manufacturer: Univ. of Alabama Press,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N7JWBI

Book Description

The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel is the definitive biography of the explorer Lawrence Durrell called "the most astonishing woman of our time." Alexandra David-Neel was the first European to explore Tibet at a time when foreigners were banned; few have led a life of adventure to equal hers or made so much of it.

In Tibet and Sikkim, David-Neel lived among hermits and shamans while studying first hand the secret mystical practices of Tibetan Buddhism, including out-of-body travel, telepathy, vampiric shamanism, and tantric sex. After returning to France, she wrote more than thirty books, among them My Journey to Lhasa and Magic and Mystery in Tibet. She has had a profound influence on Beat culture and the emergence of American Buddhism.

Drawing from rare source material, including information obtained from the secret files of the India office, Barbara and Michael Foster have written a vividly detailed chronicle-of both David-Neel's quest to conquer her personal demons and of the outer journey that made her one of the most celebrated figures of her day.

Customer Reviews:

A woman explorer .......2005-09-21

Alexandra David-Neel is reputed to be the first Western woman to reach the forbidden city of Lhasa, Tibet. She did so in 1924, a small woman in her mid-50s, disguised as a beggar and accompanied only by her adopted Tibetan son. This was the highlight of a life that lasted until 1969 when she died at age 100.

As the authors point out, however, practically nothing can be said with surety about Mme. David-Neel. One biographer has even claimed that she fabricated the whole story of visiting Lhasa. Probably not -- although she fabricated a lot and was hardly of unimpeachable character. As a matter of fact, although the authors are very respectful of her, she seems a thoroughly selfish, self-centered and repellent person.

David-Neel was a serious student of Buddhism and wrote many books on the subject. One of the juiciest parts of the book concerns the question of whether she participated in group Tantric sex rituals. The authors conclude she probably did.
David-Neel's religion had nothing to do with morality, and it seems unlikely that she ever found inner peace from her Buddhist rituals as she suffered from an endless variety of mental and physical ills. Still, living to be 100 is quite an accomplishment...

Alexandra David-Neel was an opera singer, a hardy and determined traveler, a student of religion, a writer, and a public figure of some note. Some of her papers are still unreleased so the final word about her character and achievements is still to be said. In the meantime this is an entertaining and well-researched biography.

Smallchief

Read Alexandra's own 'My Journey to Lhasa'.......2002-12-24

The best chapters of 'The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel:'
owe much to Alexandra's own account of her journey to Lhasa. Her own books are wonderful to read, all of them , but in particular her 'My Journey to Lhasa' Beacon Press republished it as a paperback in 1993, ISBN 0-8070-5903-X
I can guarantee you will have a most enjoyable read.

Fascinating Biography.......2001-11-01

It is my great pleasure to let Amazon readers know about the exploits of Alexandra David-Neel, the explorer of Tibet, which the Fosters chronicle so vividly in the biography, THE SECRET LIVES OF ALEXANDRA DAVID-NEEL. This bio reads more like a novel or adventure tale due to the wonderfully-detailed scenes with such authentic touches I felt as if I were truly there, and often worried about David-Neel's ability to survive. Obviously the Fosters have done their research incredibly well and write graceful,lucid prose; I was captivated from the first sentence and actually resented having to put down the book to take care of chores. This is is one of the best biographies I have ever read. The story cries out to be told visually on the big screen.

Unique Woman Explorer at Turn of Century.......2001-09-16

Little known crossdressing Victorian Frenchwoman undertakes a dangerous journey of discovery in forbidden country disguised as a monk and lives to tell her tale to the world. Thoroughly well researched,and well crafted The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel is the biography of a remarkable woman. A woman born to the mannered and circumscribed Victorian era who chose to strike out on her own initiative to explore the spiritual secrets and she was among the first Europeans to report about it from inside to the rest of the world.
I found it a fascinating read about a remarkable woman of whom I knew nothing, a woman who accomplished amazing things in her life. I recommend this biography by Barbara and Michael Foster to anyone interested in tales of high adventure in exploration, in the golden age of exploration and of unknown exotic lands. If the story of resolutely fearless woman pursuing her dream of exploring Forbidden Tibet whets your appetite I recommned you read this well crafted biography. I can recommend it without reservation. ZaneMason

Unique Woman Explorer at Turn of Century.......2001-09-16

The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel; a Biography of the Explorer of Tibet and Its Forbidden Practices

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The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel; a Biography of the Explorer of Tibet and Its Forbidden Practices
Barbara and Michael Foster Foster
Manufacturer: The Overlook Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N3C4QW

Average customer rating:
Analysis of the Presidentªs Budgetary Proposals for Fiscal Year 2004

Manufacturer: Diane Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0756733421

Book Description

Tea gowns, yards of flannel and pillow-case lace, stereoscopes, books of gospel hymns, the New Improved Singer Sewing Machine, side saddles, milk skimmers, straight-edged razors, high-button shoes, spittoons — some 25,000 items in all, most illustrated. A true record of an era.

Customer Reviews:

Also makes a great gift for the over 60 crowd..........2006-01-27

I've given away several of these reproduction catalogs as gifts and they're always a big hit. Instantly, the recipients open the book and start studying its pages, remarking at the prices and oohing and ahhing over the more curious items of the day.

This book gives a detailed and accurate picture of a typical "day in the life" 110+ years ago. Think about that for a moment. Can you really imagine someone looking at a 2005 newspaper in the year 2,110?!

Buggy whips and patent medicines and cook stoves (fired by kerosene, wood or coal!) and portable bathtubs and cream separaters and more were featured in this catalog.

This is a wonderful resource and a fun read. You can lose yourself for hours reading about life "back in the day."

A little trivia: There's a story (as told on PBS's documentary, "Mr. Sears' Catalog") that the Sears Roebuck catalog was a tiny bit smaller than the mail order catalog offered by his competitor, Mr. Aaron Montgomery Ward.

Sears (a marketing genius) knew that the farm wife would probably have both the Sears and Ward's catalog in her home. Sears made his catalog a little narrower and shorter than the Ward's catalog, so that when the little lady was tidying up the house, the Sears catalog, being smaller, would end up stacked on TOP of the Ward's catalog!

Rose Thornton
author, The Houses That Sears Built

Essential for historians and a priceless piece of Americana.......2004-08-17

How nice that someone has preserved both a piece of history and a part of the legendary and much-missed Montgomery Ward stores. If you study or write about history, you'll find this a fabulous reference of period styles, furnishings, and common items. Fun to read as a curiosity piece, too.

A time capsule of what they wanted out on the farm in 1895.......2002-11-09

This "Montgomery Ward & Co. Catalogue and Buyer's Guide" from Spring/Summer 1895 is better than a time capsule. Most of my ancestors were still on the far side of the Atlantic that year, but for my maternal grandfather's ancestors here are 25,000 items (most of which are illustrated by woodcut) that they could have either had in their homes or dreamed about owning. From straight-edged razors and high buttoned shoes to tea gowns and the New Improved Singer Sewing Machine. Historically, Montgomery Ward prided itself on being the friend of farmers and the official supplier to the Grange. Ward was the first to offer a product guarantee that became the key to earning the respect of rural consumers and building the business. However, in 1887 Ward's main competetior Sears put out his first catalog and upped the ante by showing the customer what they would be buying before they bought it (okay, he also offered lower prices). By the time this 600-page catalogue came out in 1895 Ward was following suit. Flip through it and see what sort of amenities were making their way out to the farms at the end of the 19th-century. You could buy a buggy for $60 or spend $200 on a piano. Here you can get a bathtub, chairs, watches, hats, and even a Star Raisin Seeder. How about a solid-gold eighteen-karat wedding band for only $5? Looking through these pages will give you a sense what it was like in 1895, when the average worker had to put in 16 hours to earn enough money to buy a hair brush or 260 hours for a one-speed bicycle. Just looking through the pages of books you could order was enlightening. Actually, this is more like a time machine than a time capsule.

Another Treasure Trove of Late Victorian Culture.......2002-10-10

Like the Sears Roebuck catalogue, which sits beside it on my shelf, this unabridged reprint is an indispensable tool for anyone who wants to know the kinds of items that might have been found in a typical middle-class home a hundred-odd years ago. In some ways it's even superior: the illustrations have reproduced more clearly, with their details better visible, and the type, though you may still want a magnifier to read it, is also more easily made out. Prices are of course included, though you'll want to allow for the fact that MW was at that time not a conventional retail house, but confined to mail-order, which allowed it to undercut the "traditional" merchants just as Net sellers can today! There's a full index right at the front, where you can easily look up whatever you may be interested in at the moment; or you can simply open the volume at random and start browsing. And, unlike Sears, it even has a toy section! Like all Dover books, its paper and binding are superior in quality, and will doubtless last very well. Since the items listed don't duplicate exactly, I strongly suggest purchasing both catalogues. As a writer of historical fiction, I use both frequently. Highly recommended.

A fascinating book to read.......2002-06-12

This wonderful book is a reprint of the 1895 Montgomery Ward & Co. catalogue. Everything is there, along with the pictures for each item, looking just the way they did more than one hundred years ago! My family and I had a high old time thumbing through this book, laughing at the funny styles of clothing, the strange items our forbearers needed (or thought they needed), and generally being amazed at the prices. This is quite a fascinating book to read, one I recommend to any history buff!

MONTGOMERY WARD & CO. 1894-1895 CATALOGUE & BUYERS GUIDE NO.56

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MONTGOMERY WARD & CO. 1894-1895 CATALOGUE & BUYERS GUIDE NO.56
Joseph Schroeder
Manufacturer: Follet Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JJODSM

Montgomery Ward & Co. Catalogue and Buyer's Guide No. 57, Spring and Summer 1895

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Montgomery Ward & Co. Catalogue and Buyer's Guide No. 57, Spring and Summer 1895
Montgomery Ward and Company
Manufacturer: Dover Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MYWBAQ

Average customer rating:

Limitless ideas for a great price, with some small frustrations

Bumper book of patchwork blocks!

Great book for drawing inspiration from.

This book ROCKS!!

lots of block patterns

5,500 Quilt Block Designs
Maggie Malone
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Quilts & Quilting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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501 Quilt Blocks: A Treasury of Patterns for Patchwork & Appliqué

ASIN: 1402720475

Book Description

A must-have for every quilter: the ultimate pattern resource, with an astounding 5,500 blocks

With 5,500 blocks to copy, adapt, and combine in countless ways, no quilter will ever have to run out of patterns anymore. Some designs are classics and taken from museum collections, handed from friend to friend, or kept in a family for many years. Each pattern is drawn on a grid showing the number of squares to the block which makes it easy to mix-and-match, because they all draft to the same size. The dazzling choices include a Premium Star, Double Pyramid, Strips and Squares, Farmer's Puzzle, Sunburst, Beggar's Blocks, and countless more. They're arranged by type--including 4-, 5-, and 9-patch patterns; circles and curves; octagons; diamonds; and 8-point stars--and all indexed alphabetically by name. There's even information on each block's source. As a special bonus Maggie Malone has included a section of Alphabet Patch Patterns to use for personalizing every block. No quilter can do without this book.

Customer Reviews:

Limitless ideas for a great price, with some small frustrations.......2006-12-30

For me, the sheer number of blocks in this book are well worth the price. Just flipping through the book always gets me thinking about my next project or ten. If anything, I get too many ideas from looking through it.

Echoing what the others have said, this book really needs better editing. In addition to the mistakes other reviewers have pointed out, the chapter titled "Octagons, Diamonds, and Eight Point Stars Patch Patterns" also includes basket blocks, trees, flowers, animals, houses, "apple core," miscellaneous borders... huh? I also don't get why there are separate chapters featuring only a few eight patch patterns and twelve patch patterns when the chapter on four patch patterns is HUGE and includes a bunch of 4x4, 8x8, 12x12 and 16x16 patch blocks. The book is well-indexed, though, so if you are looking for something specific, it's easy to find. One feature I like is that, where possible, she has indexed the patterns that came from particular publications. If you are looking for Kansas City Star patterns, for example, you'll find a long list of them back there.

Overall, it's a really fun resource. In a book this mammoth, I'm willing to overlook the goofy editing mistakes. (Especially considering that my quilting projects are pretty much a series of goofy mistakes!)

Bumper book of patchwork blocks!.......2005-08-26

This hardbacked volume contains a huge collection of patchwork blocks each of which is carefully drawn and appropriately coloured on the computer. The author's source and a pattern name is given in each case and the blocks are sorted into the usual patchwork categories of four patch, nine patch etc.

There is a very wide range of different styles and the blocks are fully indexed at the back of the book.

This book is absolutely superb and once it is in your collection you will probably not need any other collection of patchwork block drawings.

Beginners will need another book to complement this one because no actual finished quilt patterns are provided nor are there any instructions on how to make a quilt; Lynne Edwards's "Sampler Quilt" series would be an excellent partner as her books cover many different techniques.

Great book for drawing inspiration from........2005-06-22

I purchased this book and it is one of the best buys I have ever made. When I did the math, each quilt block design cost me .0036 cents in USD. This may not be the book for a beginner but for those of us looking for inspiration, this is a must have book. With color designs, the possibilies are endless of what a person can imagine creating.

This book ROCKS!!.......2005-01-22

This is exactly what I was looking for! It's not a How-To book - it's just the blocks. The author summed it up perfectly, "As I became more proficient at quilting, I realized I didn't need the entire pattern, just a sketch of it." I was doing the same thing Maggie Malone was doing, collecting and filing patterns, and now she has put together this terrific book of just that - the patterns. Each pattern falls into a grid (3x3, 6x6, etc), and with drafting experiencing, can determine how to cut the pieces/templates. So this book is not for the novice, but with experience of making quilts from instruction books, you'll get the hang of how to make your blocks from just the patterns, too!

lots of block patterns.......2004-07-28

I purchased this book because I am making a queen-size sampler quilt for my mom and wanted to find block patterns that would pay homage to the many wonderful aspects of her personality and life - and in three different sizes! This book has given me many ideas and options.

The book has a small preface, and a great index, but otherwise is all blocks! It is broken up by unit format (four-patch, nine-patch, picture blocks, etc.) It is a terrific service that Ms. Malone has done by gathering all these patterns into one place.

Unfortunately, there are a number of things that could have made this book fantastic that were overlooked. First, besides the format (there are over 1100 nine-patch blocks), there is no apparent order to the blocks. They could have been organized alphabetically, by complexity, number of pieces, similiar blocks together... Also, there are many blocks that are repeated, (some with the same name!) but just in different colors. Example, pg. 132, the first two blocks are identical except for the colors used, although the color *pattern* is the same. In my opinion, they are the same block and it is up to the quilter to put in the colors s/he wants. If all such repetitions had been eliminated, there might be many less blocks, making this book less mind-boggling to flip through, and also would be easier to find ALL names for the same block in one list. Many of these identical blocks are NOT on the same page so it is hard to say how many there are, but I've come across several.

Even more troubling, I have seen blocks that are colored incorrectly, traditionally speaking. It makes me wonder whenever I see a symmetrical pattern with asymmetrical coloring, whether is accurate or a simple error. My guess is that this is due to the drafting program used; many of these spaces were probably simply not clicked on with the correct color.

As the previous reviewer mentioned, it would be nice to have a little more background on individual blocks, and many of the blocks are hard to draft. I also was disappointed that there are no layouts and it is hard to imagine how a block will look as a completed quilt.

Of course, there is no way to include every pattern in a single book, since more are being created every day. However, this book makes a good attempt and is a great resource for quilters who are looking for something new to try. I have used several blocks from this book and will continue to flip through it for new ideas and inspirations.

Hopefully there will be a second edition with more comprehensive editing!!!

Average customer rating:

cottages to die for

epitome of English eccentricity, cosiness, and charm

English Country Cottage: Interiors, Details & Gardens
Sally Griffiths
Manufacturer: Friedman/Fairfax Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Style | Interior Design | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Classic Cottages

ASIN: 1567997082

Amazon.com

With a decided emphasis on cozy country charm, The English Country Cottage explores 25 delightful old cottages that have been updated with all the comforts of modern life and yet manage to retain much of their period flavor. Even the names ring with the unmistakable sound of the quaint English countryside: Smuggler's Haunt, Mustard Pot Hall, Wealden Close, Rose Cottage. Most are relatively traditional, though no less appealing, with lots of plump chintz cushions, botanical prints, nautical themes, pleasantly weathered furnishings, and hutches overflowing with crockery. But a few are refreshingly different, such as the vibrantly hued Cider-House Cottage, where the owner painted fanciful designs all over each room to warm the cold look of the stone walls, or Folly Cottage, with its bright red walls and many Gothic accents. The clear photographs display plenty of good ideas for mimicking the style, but by and large readers must extract these ideas themselves since the text focuses much more on examining these particular cottages (what renovations were needed to make the old structures livable today; descriptions of garden designs or color scheme choices) than on analyzing the key design elements or explaining how to re-create the specific effects. --Amy Handy

Customer Reviews:

cottages to die for.......2007-09-04

u can feel the charisma with each breathtaking picture of charming cottages and gardens.it makes u want to jump in and get warm and cozy.even from across the room this book relaxes u.a 100% certifiable coffee table legend.

epitome of English eccentricity, cosiness, and charm.......2001-08-01

This truly delightful book shows cottage interiors that reflect the pasttimes, habits, and way of living that one likes to believe are essentially "English". These homes look as if they are actually lived in and all exhibit that special British propensity for comfort blended with eccentricity. The ubiquitous Aga is featured in a number of the kitchens, but there are also enough 'jolts' in the form of colour use and collections to make this book memorable and somehow fresh. A book I refer to again and again and well worth adding to your collection - almost a reference on English cottage style. Very good value.

English Country Cottage, The: Interiors, Details, and Gardens

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English Country Cottage, The: Interiors, Details, and Gardens
Sally Griffiths
Manufacturer: Friedman/Fairfax
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KX6UU6

Book Description

Titles include: 1979 * An Ode to No One * Beautiful * Bodies * Bullet with Butterfly Wings * By Starlight * Cupid de Locke * Farewell and Goodnight * Galapogos * Here Is No Why * In the Arms of Sleep * Jellybelly * Lily (My One and Only) * Love * Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness * Muzzle * Porcelina of the Vast Oceans * Stumbleine * Take Me Down * Tales of a Scorched Earth * Thirty-Three * Thru the Eyes of Ruby * To Forgive * Tonight, Tonight * Where Boys Fear to Tread * We Only Come Out at Night * X.Y.U. * Zero.

Customer Reviews:

Good for Starting Guitarist .......2005-02-28

Helps you get those hard to learn tabs right that those guitar tsb sites can never get right. I'd sit for hours on end tryinh to get one song, why waist you time when you can get it right now? This is my favorite musical book printed

Helpful, Sometimes.......2002-08-24

Tab books have their place. Unfortunately, much of the time they are either flat-out wrong or the tabs themselves, while correct-sounding, are impossible or near-impossible to play.

What would be nice is if, instead of a ridiculous attempt to tab the songs "exactly how the album sounds," which is pointless because you lose that little pipe dream early on by the simple necessity of having to downsize multiple layers of guitar tracks into 2-4, the tab book writers instead presented tab books that were the best way to play the songs live.

Aaron Stang does not do this, and as a result the Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness tab book is only marginally helpful.

Good even for Beginners.......2001-10-26

I got this for Christmas several years ago. I only had an acoustic guitar- no electric, but it didn't affect my learning of the music. The songs are well wrote and playing them even by yourself is fun.
The best songs in the book to learn are "Zero" and "Stumbeliene."
Zero shows you how to get the awesome musical sounds that James Iha plays on the song. Really really awesome.

A Beautiful work of pure Art.......2001-01-16

The cover art alone would be worth the price of this exceptional selection, and the music far surpasses that. "Tonight tonight" is, of course the big draw, but you can not over look other great selections. It starts with an instrumental that can bring a tear to the eye, and ends with a soft song bidding you goodnight. In between, with songs like "Bullet with Butterfly Wings", "An Ode to No One", and "Beautiful", you have an exceptional album here.

If you play guitar, this book is a must!.......1999-07-09

I first got this book just to see if I could learn a few Pumpkins songs on a whim. I really wasn't as big of a fan of them then simply because I hadn't matured as a musician. I bought the book, took it home, and started checking it out. Wow, I had no idea how intelligent Billy Corgan is, actually, I think that his advice in the first few pages has helped me to mature as a musician, and his words on style, inspiration, and gear have helped me every step of the way. The tabs were terrific as well. Billy, unknowingly, has taught me that, with practice and faith in myself, I can do anything! Thanks Billy!

Smashing Pumpkins: Tales of a Scorched Earth

Average customer rating:

A GOOD DEPICTION OF THE BAND, A LITTLE DRAWN OUT AT TIMES
Even for SP fans this was painful to read
Dry and pretentious
EXCELLENT!!!
I LOVED THIS BOOK

Smashing Pumpkins: Tales of a Scorched Earth
Amy Hanson
Manufacturer: Helter Skelter Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Entertainers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1900924684

Book Description

Initially contemporaries of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Billy Corgan's Smashing Pumpkins outgrew and outlived the grunge scene with hugely acclaimed commercial triumphs like Siamese Dream, which legitimised heavy metal, and number one album Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness. Unlike many of their contemporaries, the Pumpkins were able to withstand internal problems and keep selling records, emerging as the longest-lasting and most successful alternative band of the early '90s. Though drugs and other problems led to the band's final demise, Corgan's recent return with Zwan is a reminder of how awesome the Pumpkins were in their prime. Seattle-based Hanson has followed the band for years and this is the first in-depth biography of their rise and fall.

Customer Reviews:

A GOOD DEPICTION OF THE BAND, A LITTLE DRAWN OUT AT TIMES.......2005-03-25

This is the first, and only (that I know of) biography on the band. The book itself is good and covers much of the formation, keys gigs, singles and other elements. Like past reviewers have said it does make you wanna play the singles as you read, and provides alot of details. However at times the author does become to descriptive on some events and occurances, and it would have been better to cover more, perhaps with a bit less descriptive elements. I was a bit dissapointed, because alot of the end of the book is simply drawn from specials and shows that any serious fan would have already seen or heard. The earlier sections are good though and give a lot of insight into the bands quick rise, and all that came with it. Overall the book was good, but not perfect. I would recommend it more so to those who no little about the Pumpkins, but also to avid fans.

Even for SP fans this was painful to read.......2004-12-19

My girlfriend bought me this book for my birthday and I couldn't wait to get started on it because I'm a huge Pumpkins and Corgan fan. After about the fifth page I was already disappointed. I could hardly stand reading the author's long, drawn out, overly dramatic way of informing the reader. Every sentence felt like work to read because the author goes out of her way to try and impress with her large vocabulary and endless, dragging, dry descriptions on every single event.

I couldn't agree more with all the bad reviews written before me. If you strip all the dry filler from this book you wouldn't have much left, and of that most SP fans probably know 75% of it already. Don't be fooled by the good reviews that attack the intelligence of the people criticizing this book. I understand the words the author uses, but it makes for difficult reading that doesn't flow well at all. Like I said, reading this was like work. I'm very disappointed. I've never liked/disliked a book so much that I would actually write up a review, but I don't want others out there to go through what I did and waste their (or their girlfriend's) money. You can get better information about the band by studying their lyrics and finding interviews with them online.

Dry and pretentious.......2004-11-23

Given the lack of Smashing Pumpkins biographies that exist in print, I approached this book with enthusiasm. However, this feeling evaporated within the first couple of chapters. Although I agree that it's important to understand the context in which the Pumpkins' music was created, I quickly found myself skipping over the author's self-indulgent and frankly boring examinations of topics that should have remained marginal at best. More disappointing was the fact that these tangents were at the expense of any in-depth study of the personal influences behind the music - surely a band biography cannot completely detach the musicians from their music? Not wishing to pry into an individual's private business is admirable, but the emotive aspects of the Smashing Pumpkins' story are part of their appeal. However, this has largely been ignored in this book, and instead it is comprised of dry chronological information that displays little passion or enthusiasm for the band. I don't feel that I know any more about how the music was written or what the inspiration for it was. The author doesn't offer an opinion or even a description of most of the songs. There is surely an interesting biography of Smashing Pumpkins waiting to be written; sadly, this is not it.

EXCELLENT!!!.......2004-10-22

I bought this book after reading the great reviews in "Classic Rock" and "Record Collector," and Iwas't disappointed. This is one of those books that is impossible to put down, with every page turning up new information and ideas, and not only about the Pumpkins. There's some great material on the 90s rock scene in general, especially the rise and fall of the grunge scene. But the book's strong on every aspect of the Pumpkins' history, while the writing is so descriptive that you can't resist digging out the CDs to play along with the chapters.

I LOVED THIS BOOK.......2004-10-16

I'd not heard this book was coming out until I found it on Amazon, so I ordered it immediately. I was not disappointed. It tells the story of the Smashing Pumpkins in fast and flashy style, and you really feel like you know the band members better at the end. I especially enjoyed all the information about the earliest years, and the Scratchy Records story, but the book is strong all the way to the end. There's also an excellent discography so we can catch up with any Pumpkins/Billy music we might have missed.

Average customer rating:

Great!
MY FIRST AND BEST
another great album
The Pumpkins' Siamese Dream guitar tab book is very cool.
Siamse dream a great book for a great band

Smashing Pumpkins: Siamese Dream

Manufacturer: Warner Brothers Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 089898825X

Product Description

One of today's biggest and most respected rock bands. Our album-matching folio features a special introduction and analysis by "Guitar World's" Andy Aledort. The 13 titles are: Cherub Rock * Disarm * Geek U.S.A. * Hummer * Luna * Mayonaise * Quiet * Rocket * Soma * Spaceboy * Sweet Sweet * and more!

Customer Reviews:

Great!.......2004-07-27

This was also my first. It is a great book to learn from. I gained more knowledge from this book than I ever could have from a teacher. It covers different styles from textured melodies (Soma) to all out rock (Geek U.S.A - wanna learn a pentaconic scale?). Aside from the much lauded teaching abilities, this book faithfully reproduces every song from the album for a live performance of 2-4 guitars. It is wonderful. Get this and the album for your son or daughter that are just starting to get into playing music. The musical score included with the tabs also makes for a fun time with a piano and other instruments the book wasn't intended for.

MY FIRST AND BEST.......2002-10-07

This was my first guitar book, but by far the best one I've had. It's especially great to learn to play anything since Billy used so many basic chords and progressions. In all, it teaches some invaluable guitar lessons.

another great album.......2001-11-30

In my personal opinion, I think this album is one of their best. The lyrics take you away, almost acting as a requiem. It;s very good kick back music, as well suitable for parties and what not. I think this is the only cool band my parents actually listen to. :)

The Pumpkins' Siamese Dream guitar tab book is very cool........1999-02-15

I got this book when I first started playing the guitar. It is VERY helpful and I strongly recomend it. Billy Corgan's advice on playing the songs is great. All in all, this is one of the best guitar tabs money can buy.

Siamse dream a great book for a great band.......1998-12-23

I have this book and let me tell you its worth it. It is complete with all tabs and and intro of the band. It also icludes tips on how they reproduce the songs live. Itis real helpful and complete

Smashing Pumpkins Anthology (Recorded Version (Guitar))

Average customer rating:

Play like the they do
Finally...

Smashing Pumpkins Anthology (Recorded Version (Guitar))
Smashing Pumpkins
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Songbooks | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0634079557

Book Description

The Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most influential '90s alternative rock groups. This folio transcribes 19 of their best note for note: Bullet with Butterfly Wings - Cherub Rock - Disarm - Geek U.S.A. - I Am One - Landslide - 1979 - Quiet - Rhinoceros - Siva - Thirty-Three - Today - Tonite Tonite - and more.

Customer Reviews:

Play like the they do.......2007-01-10

The tabulature is very well written. it definately corrected my version of "Zero" when i couldnt figure out what was wrong. the only thing that would make this better is if it had "Stand Inside Your Love" and the string parts tabbed out for "Disarm" and "Today".

Finally..........2006-07-10

This should have been released years ago. A decent selection of Smashing Pumpkins hits all crammed into one book. For all of us who learned these songs by ear years ago, this anthology would have made it alot easier. It's also published by Hal Leonard, which is awesome because their tablature/sheet music is always superbly done and very true to the artists original music. Perfect timing for the return of the greatest band of all time. Many people are going to re-discover their music within the next few years. Long reign The Smashing Pumpkins!

Adore: The Smashing Pumpkins (Authentic Guitar-Tab)

Average customer rating:

Billy at his best
Great book to learn from.

Adore: The Smashing Pumpkins (Authentic Guitar-Tab)

Manufacturer: Warner Brothers Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0769263968

Book Description

Latest release from one of the most important groups of our era. Certified platinum, the album includes two Top 5 singles: Perfect and Ava Adore. Contents: To Sheila * Ava Adore * Perfect * Daphne Descends * Tear * Once upon a Time * (Flat 1630) * Crestfallen * Appels + Oranjes * Pug * The Tale of Dusty and Pistol Pete * Annie Dog * Shame * Behold! The Night Mare * For Martha * Blank Page * Seventeen.

Customer Reviews:

Billy at his best.......2002-08-19

Is it possible for an album to be better than the Smashing Pumpkins' masterpiece _Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness_?

Apparently. And Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, with _Adore_, has pulled it off, composing not only a brilliant album of soft, emotional songs, but an album for the ages.

From the lilting guitar picking of "To Sheila," to the crashing electronica of "Ava Adore," from the sad intimacy of "Annie-Dog," to the gentle grandness of "Behold!The Night Mare!" the album flows through songs that range in sound, yet sound similar all at once. As if this is the last desperate plea from a lost romantic, ready to jump off a cliff.

Say what you will, Billy Corgan's musical genius is unparalleled. _Adore_ proves it.

Great book to learn from........2000-11-05

The Tab book for the Smashing Pumpkins album Adore is another excellent book continuing the trend from the previous Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie Tab books. The book is easy to follow for beginners as well as advanced players. The book contains several full page mini posters of artwork from the CD cover as well as some of the images found in the liner notes. If you like the Smashing Pumpkins and you liked Adore, then i'd get this book right away.

Best of the Smashing Pumpkins for Easy Guitar Tabulature

Average customer rating:

Best of the Smashing Pumpkins for Easy Guitar Tabulature

Manufacturer: Music Sales Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

The New Best of Smashing Pumpkins for Guitar: Easy Tab Deluxe

Average customer rating:

The New Best of Smashing Pumpkins for Guitar: Easy Tab Deluxe

Manufacturer: Alfred Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Songbooks | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1576237567

Average customer rating:

Smashing Pumpkins
Jim Stapleton
Manufacturer: Carlton Books, 1994
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000J0W4IW

Average customer rating:

Long on photos, short on info
Take it for what it is.
Only Read This Because You Have To
Well...
P.I. traded for this book.

Smashing Pumpkins
Nick Wise
Manufacturer: Omnibus Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0711941661

Customer Reviews:

Long on photos, short on info.......2003-07-21

This impressive collection of Smashing Pumpkins photos is only marred by the occasional shred of text that annoyingly gets in the way of a full view of the band. Even taking into account that this bio was written in 1994, this is a very general account of the band's beginnings. The hasty update describing what happened from 1994 to 1996 is even more glossed-over. As a biography, it only provides the basic facts that every Smashing Pumpkins fan should know. Of course, it isn't meant to be an in-depth biography: it's meant to be a collection of pictures, strung along by a thread of storyline. And to that end, it succeeds spectacularly.

Given the Pumpkins' - and specifically, Billy Corgan's - fascinating life story, I'm surprised that this generic magazine-style photo book from the mid-90's is still the best biography we fans have. Three years after the band broke up, you'd think unofficial biographies would be coming out the wazoo. Oh well. If you want real information, feel free to wait around with me for a biography that does this great band justice. Meanwhile, the best use of THIS chronicle is to cut out your favorite pictures and pin them up on your wall.

Take it for what it is........2002-04-03

It was written in 1994, so I don't know why everyone is saying it leaves out so much info. By the time it was published they'd only had 2 albums. I do hope that someone writes a real biography of this band. They are one of my favorites and they were very important to the 90's alternative scene. For what the book is, a bunch of pictures and mediocre info, it gets 3 stars. Nick has written similar books about other bands. If you find it used, get it, otherwise don't worry about it being out of print.

Only Read This Because You Have To.......2002-02-15

This is a somewhat limited account of the beginnings and rising of Chicago's alt-rock legend, The Smashing Pumpkins. Nick Wise takes readers into the lives of the four band members and their quest to perfect the ultimate indie sound; the background voice to an over-hyped genre (or should I say generation?). Unfortunately, his fact finding only scratches the surface and his analysis is only as strong as his exposure to the band will let it be. 5 stars? Yes, because it's the only book in publication right now. Read this book because you have to. If you're an alternative rock fan, or a product of Generation X (latter and former terms for lack of better words), this book is on your syllabus.

Well..........2000-06-14

Actually I reviewed this book after I bought it, but the review never appeared. Maybe it was too cutting, or maybe it sounded like I was against the author too much. Anyway, only because there aren`t many books available on the Smashing Pumpkins, is this book worth buying. If you have a few spare bucks and you want to know the basics about the band, sure buy the book. I didn`t know some basics, so that`s why I bought it, but you could probably get the basics from good radio programmes like those on CFNY in Toronto. It also has some pictures that you may have not seen before. It`s too bad that someone hasn`t written a proper book about the band. Well, I`m busy, so I guess I can`t. There`s not much to do other than wait. But, then again, isn`t it nice to keep our myths and idols less analyzed sometimes? Just don`t think that this book is authoritive, that`s all.

P.I. traded for this book........1999-08-16

I recieved two Pisces Iscariot CD's for my fifteenth birthday. I traded one in for this book. Aside from a few mistakes in the discography, it was worth it!

Average customer rating:

SMASHING!
Not the biggest SP fan? Read this book and become one!
It was pritty clear of what I wanted the viewers to hear !
A must-have for any Pumpkins fan
It rocked

Smashing Pumpkins
Jim Stapleton
Manufacturer: Music Book Services Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 1858680689

Customer Reviews:

SMASHING!.......1998-10-02

great Cd and book! It covers all the things that you want to know about the smashing pumpkins. listen up, want to know more about the smashing pumpkins? buy this cd/book. ;-)

Not the biggest SP fan? Read this book and become one!.......1998-09-14

This is a great book for SP rookie fans. Loaded with info. Become a bigger fan than me. :) (the cd is great too.)

It was pritty clear of what I wanted the viewers to hear !.......1998-05-31

This book Rocked ! This book answered all of my misterious questions of the band. This book was really worth the money. I respect the pumpkins way more than what I did before. They are my favorite band.( beacuse of the book !) If You're a pumpkins fan, and you didn't read this book. YOU SHOULD, YOU WILL LOVE THEM, ALSO YOU WILL RESPECT THEM AS WELL AS i DO ! ROCK ON MY FELLOW PUMPKIN FANS - - - -

A must-have for any Pumpkins fan.......1998-05-12

I think this is a great interview with the Pumpkins (well, only half of them) and the book is pretty rocking, too. Two thumbs up.. :)~

It rocked.......1998-02-11

I loved this book it told in detail everything to the lives of the samshing pumpkins provign they are a very well organized band and work very hard

Book Description

Alongside the cowboys, miners, railroad builders, and soldiers whose role in the settlement of the American West is well known there was another, equally important figure: the pioneer merchant who supplied the rapidly growing towns of the West with manufactured goods. In Taming the West, Jerry Stanley tells the story of Lionel and Barron Jacobs, who in 1867 set out from California for Tucson with a wagonload of canned goods. After a two month trek across the desert, they arrived in Tucson--then a lawless one-street Wild West town--and set up shop. Within a week they were sold out; within two years, they had established a prosperous mercantile business. As Tucson grew, so did Lionel and Barron's business, expanding first to money exchange and loans and finally into the Arizona Territory's first formal bank.

From their gritty beginnings in an open wagon to their eventual role among Tucson's wealthiest and most influential citizens, Jerry Stanley tells Lionel and Barron's story with vigor and an eye for colorful period detail. Weaving threads of Jewish history and immigrant history, and the settlement of the frontier, Taming the West is a rich and fascinating look behind the scenes of the American West.

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