The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club)

Book Description

"I have no wish to play the pontificating fool, pretending that I've suddenly come up with the answers to all life's questions. Quite that contrary, I began this book as an exploration, an exercise in self-questing. In other words, I wanted to find out, as I looked back at a long and complicated life, with many twists and turns, how well I've done at measuring up to the values I myself have set."
—Sidney Poitier

In this luminous memoir, a true American icon looks back on his celebrated life and career. His body of work is arguably the most morally significant in cinematic history, and the power and influence of that work are indicative of the character of the man behind the many storied roles. Sidney Poitier here explores these elements of character and personal values to take his own measure—as a man, as a husband and a father, and as an actor.

Poitier credits his parents and his childhood on tiny Cat Island in the Bahamas for equipping him with the unflinching sense of right and wrong and of self-worth that he has never surrendered and that have dramatically shaped his world. "In the kind of place where I grew up," recalls Poitier, "what's coming at you is the sound of the sea and the smell of the wind and momma's voice and the voice of your dad and the craziness of your brothers and sisters...and that's it." Without television, radio, and material distractions to obscure what matters most, he could enjoy the simple things, endure the long commitments, and find true meaning in his life.

Poitier was uncompromising as he pursued a personal and public life that would honor his upbringing and the invaluable legacy of his parents. Just a few years after his introduction to indoor plumbing and the automobile, Poitier broke racial barrier after racial barrier to launch a pioneering acting career. Committed to the notion that what one does for a living articulates to who one is, Poitier played only forceful and affecting characters who said something positive, useful, and lasting about the human condition.

Here is Poitier's own introspective look at what has informed his performances and his life. Poitier explores the nature of sacrifice and commitment, price and humility, rage and forgiveness, and paying the price for artistic integrity. What emerges is a picture of a man in the face of limits—his own and the world's. A triumph of the spirit, The Measure of a Man captures the essential Poitier.

Customer Reviews:

Nice man, wandering story..........2007-10-04

I had to force myself to finish this book, simply because I didn't want to waste my money by leaving it when I was tempted to. It was interesting to realize that an actor whose work I had appreciated came from such a spare beginning, but by halfway through the book, the continuous wandering asides and disclaimers of the author so overwhelmed the narrative that I could barely tolerate it. It seems to me that the story could have been told to greater effect with half the words!

****LOVED IT****.......2007-09-24

Kept me interested...I really enjoyed this book...I couldn't put the book down until I finished reading it!!!!

MEASURE OF A MAN does not measure up.......2007-09-21

Wow, a book about Sidney Poitier. An outstanding actor with a book that just does not give him true justice. The reading tends to be dry and lacks substance. His life struggles could have been the story of any man or woman, black or white. The writing and editing are weak in some sections.

You should rent or buy one of Poitier's movies instead. His movie roles show his true skills.

SPIRITUAL "Of, Relating to, Consisting of, or Affecting the Spirit" MERRIAM-WEBSTER.......2007-08-30

I've always been smitten with Poitier's voice--his diction and control on film, the flow of his words as they travel in and around ideas during interviews--so I read THE MEASURE OF A MAN with an ear for his voice. I wondered, Is it translatable to print? It is, but that means allowing Poitier's thoughts to meander until they find their point, and that his thoughts are less formulated (or formal) and more "in his own words," than they might be if they were written by a biographer. (I read just enough "You know?"s "You hear me when I tell you?"s and "You follow?"s to feel like he was talking to me, but not too many to be annoyed.) I read to imagine what it might be like to have a conversation with Poitier. The book reinforced what I already knew--I'd be as intimidated as heck--but it also gave me the courage to think I'd be able to speak my mind.

As an editor, I read Poitier's book because I wanted to know how he defines a "spiritual" autobiography. Is it a I-Was-A-Sinner-But-I-Found-Jesus-And-Now-I'm-Saved chronology? Is it about how Christianity or another faith influenced his life? Neither. Poitier examines the people, events, circumstances, beliefs, and so on, which have related to, consisted of, or affected his "spirit," and, in doing so, he writes about childhood experiences in the Bahamas, his changing perceptions of his parents, how he adapts to living in the United States, his approach to acting and filmmaking, and his attitude toward fatherhood. He also shares a debate a friend and he had about the Basic Truth of Nature, a debate worth every second of reading it takes to get to.

Is THE MEASURE OF A MAN going to satisfy readers interested only in Poitier's film career? No, but I urge them to read it anyway, if for no other reason than to find out how his "spirit" influenced the films he starred in.

Books.......2007-08-21

I purchased this book for my daughter and she loved it!
She is a teacher and plans to teach this story in her English class fall 2007.
A great story with a great moral.

Makes Me Wanna Holler: A Young Black Man in America

Average customer rating:

What is up the profane language?
Good book that tells it like it is
Walking in other shoes
The reality in the race relationships in the United States
Suburban Shakedown

Makes Me Wanna Holler: A Young Black Man in America
Nathan Mc Call
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679740708
Release Date: 1995-01-31

Book Description

In this "honest and searching look at the perils of growing up a black male in urban America" (San Francisco Chronicle), Washington Post reporter Nathan McCall tells the story of his passage from the street and the prison yard to the newsroom of one of America's most prestigious papers. "A stirring tale of transformation."--Henry Louis Gates, Jr., The New Yorker.

Customer Reviews:

What is up the profane language?.......2007-10-04

I was not to moved by this book. I asked my son to read it out loud to me and of course he paused the majority of the time because of the profanity in the book. Young black men have a tendency to grow up around profane language and circumstances that are not accomodating to their life and the writer should have took into consideration that if their are a lack of black male role models for young males that makes them seek something or someone that they can relate whether that is good or bad. The title "A young black man in America" with this type of language is promoting profanity which promotes mental negativity and the lack of need to broaden their language and keep a limited vocabulary. This book is a written confirmation that not only should you think before you speak but think before you write. Their is not enough respect among young males to begin with and the writer can relate to them without nurturing their profane vocab or disrespectful mentality. We need writers that have a positive impact on the reader and not one that promotes the typical behavior I see from most young black males.

Good book that tells it like it is.......2006-06-25

Follow the life of Nathan Mc Call in this book, see how America works through his eyes. This book was thought provoking, eye opening and sad.

You feel for Nathan and what he goes through but you don't really end up liking who he is as a person. This book allows you to see what it is like growing up as a black male in America.

Education, jail, work, crime, children, friendships with white people. This book is open and honest and I recommend it to anyone who wants to begin to try and understand and see what it is like growing up as a black male.

It certainly opened my eyes!

Walking in other shoes.......2006-06-20

This book hurts to read. So much pain in so many lives. But what McCall does is put you in his shoes--this is no easy task for someone who is both white and female. It opens a huge door of understanding. It is not a book for the immature or the fearful. I read some of these reviews and wondered, "What book did they read?" Definately not light reading. Powerful, frightening, enlightening. Needs to be read.

The reality in the race relationships in the United States .......2006-04-25

I have read this book over and over and I still find parallels in the life of Nathan McCall and my own life. Mc Call calls it as it is, the society that we live in is not leveled and only one group that gets all the privileges. That there is no recognition that the success of the whites was made on the backs of African Americans that worked for free, and gave that wealth that even today whites get to enjoy. To many people who think that racism is a thing of the past this book is a revelation and goes deeply into the inherit truths of racism and its consequences. Many people think that black teenagers are "ready" for a life of crime, but the truth is that a hypocritical racist society has designated a path for those teenagers, to see a prove of this just look at school systems in white and black neighborhoods. It is like we are living under two separate states, same flag, same country but different standards of living and I'm not talking about 1862 or 1963, I'm talking about 2006. This book is very powerful with a strong sad message.

Suburban Shakedown.......2006-01-21

Nathan McCall shares his personal story as a "wild child" of color, becoming a man in a racially prejudices country; his crimes and imprisonment, gang warfare, street smarts and wisdom, and finding his way to truth and sanity.

Not diminishing responsibility for his own life choices, McCall's story is very real and honest. It challenges America's institutional establishments of prejudice and cruelty, illustrating the imbalances in a white dominated world.

I loved it!

Average customer rating:

Informational and Focused
Still Feels Current 19 Years Later
Absolutely brilliant book for men
A complete guide with clear color and selection advice
A great money saver, a solid value.

Color for Men
Carole Jackson
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345345460
Release Date: 1987-05-12

Book Description

Based on the same system that has already worked for millions of women, COLOR FOR MEN is foolproof and scientific and works for every part of a man's wardrobe, from his business suit to his jogging suit. Using basic principles to understand the subtleties of skin, hair, and eye color, you match yourself to one of four seasonal palettes. Then you'll discover which shades of color in clothes complement your natural coloring. COLOR FOR MEN is the complete wardrobe system no man afford to miss.

Customer Reviews:

Informational and Focused .......2007-01-24

I was introduced to the book in the 80's when it first came out, and actually attended a seminar when it was something people did. I have been looking for the book since. I still have my identifiers and color swatches from when I went through the seminar to discover the best colors for me to wear.

I would recommend reading the book and really putting it to use. Typically there are shirts and items we all wear that we love. Usually these are the items that hold a key to what you really should be buying in color and style. I would also recommend the book.. "More Dash than Cash" since it is a good way to take the practices into the arena of usage and style.

Still Feels Current 19 Years Later.......2003-03-04

I have not quite finished reading this book but am very excited about it. It really is a good comprehensive guide for men. These are difficult lessons for men to digest and they are presented fairly straightforwardly and in a manner that is simple to understand. Despite the fact that the book is almost twenty years old, it is one of the few where I find the illustrations do not seem particularly out of date. On one point I may have to disagree with Ms Jackson. She states that a man should not mix three patterns when wearing a suit, shirt, and tie. I find that in modern dress, this can distinguish the men from the boys. I do agree that this is somehting that not all men will be able to do effectively so it may be best to avoid it (which may be the authors point in discouraging it). If you want to go one step beyond this book, pick up Alan Flusser's Style and the Man. With these two resources, you will have no excuse for not looking your best every day.

Absolutely brilliant book for men.......2001-03-24

This is a great style book for men since there are few good ones out there for us and, if we spend too much time thinking about it, some people think we're you know what!

The main thrust of this book is: different color and shades look best on certain people depending on their skin coloring but that isn't limited to race either. The four areas are: winter, spring, summer and fall. Few variations in each one, too.

Now, that alone would give this a four star but the author goes beyond that: she covers hair styles based on face shapes, combining colors, clothes to buy based on your dressing style (these are broken down, too) and advice for what to seek out based on your color styles and your dressing styles. For instance, a more formal type gets certain types of jackets and slacks whereas a casual type gets more jeans and the like.

Excellent book. Highly recommend.

A complete guide with clear color and selection advice.......1999-11-23

I'm excited about this book. I love to buy clothes and I often dislike what I have bought almost right away. This gives a comprehensive guide to choosing colors and designing a complete wardrobe. It allows up to 2 years to phase out old and unmatching stuff. The book allows for people who dress casually and are on a moderate budget.

A great money saver, a solid value........1999-08-17

Avoiding to buy wrong colored clothes you never end up using easily saves up the price of this great book! It is very nicely written with excellent photos. I only wish they had included a more complete tear-away palette for shopping! My initial response was that many colors especially in the spring and summer palettes appeared very bright and kind of "feminine" (say bright orchid, raspberry, lavender), but perhaps I'll get used to the idea. I bet the only one's really using those colors are the guys that have read the book!?

My main complaint is the discussion about facial color or tone and other problems related to determining one's own season. It is confusing. The book distinguishes between blue and yellow (golden) based facial prototypes, but also maintains that "cool types" (blueish) may appear yellowish in appearance ("sappy"). Then how can I tell whether yellow or orange clothes harmonize with my own (natural) yellowness or produce the exact opposite, i.e "make me look even more sappy"? How can I tell a "sappy summer" or a "pastel autumn" from a "olive-skinned winter"? Help! The differences seem very subtle indeed. It seems like there actually was a need for more intermediate palettes for all us "between-seasons" types?

I found the manly styles discussion in the end of the book a bit silly. Those prototypes seemed very unreal to me.

Book Description

“Wonderful . . . a rousing dramatization of history’s greatest sea battle.”
–James D. Hornfischer, author of The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

“I shall return” is General Douglas MacArthur’s promise to the Filipinos. It will take 165,000 troops and 700 ships in the bloody battle of Leyte Gulf to do it.

Among them is the destroyer USS Matthew and her skipper, Commander Mike Donovan, a veteran haunted by earlier savage battles. What Donovan doesn’t know is that Vice Admiral Takao Kurita of Japan has laid an ingenious trap as the Matthew heads for the treacherous waters of Leyte Gulf. But Donovan faces something even deadlier than Kurita’s battleships: Explosives secretly slipped on board American ships by saboteurs are set to detonate at any time. Now the Matthew’s survival hinges on the ability of Donovan and his men to dismantle a bomb in the midst of the panic and the chaos of history’s greatest naval battle.

“Gobbell’s sea tales . . . will have you looking up your nearest Navy recruiter.”
–W.E.B. Griffin

“[John Gobbell is] a first-rate storyteller.”
–Stephen Coonts

Customer Reviews:

This is such a great book!.......2007-06-03

This is such a great book! I will admit I was surprised ... because it is so much better than so many books I have picked up that are novels at the top of the best seller list. This is an exciting story and because it was filled with such a wide variety of interesting facts ... historical as well as not .... it made it such a book of substance for me, so that I did not want the story to end.

At first I was daunted that I might not get into it, but immediately I realized I should not have been thrown off by the attention to detail that this author pays in his organization of this story. By that I mean he has done exactly what it is that I have so wanted to be done in a book that I might be reading that has many interesting characters and takes place over many areas, as well as from different perspectives. He has laid out a brief character cast description in the beginning of the book. The few maps are perfect for referring to and I used them constantly to understand the logistics of the events that were happening. I was so surpised by how enthralled I got. It is a story set somewhat from a Naval perspective during World War II but boy, the narrative goes all over the place in personalizing each and every character - as if you were right there with them. And this is with characters extending from General MacArthur to Japanese Naval Admirals! Not my every day cup of tea in the past that I would have thought I would have been interested in. But he does not write in a boring way at all so that it was wonderful to read about men in the Japanese navy from such a REAL perspective. There are characters on both sides of varied enlisted status but also civilians living in California towns surrounding the railway transportation routes. There is a wonderful female doctor who plays a good role in the story because she lives right near this important rail line. I was enthralled learning a little about the history of the Northern California railroad development because of the way that he made historical facts so accessible to me. I avoided history in school but this book wove facts into such a great story that I became eager to read on about the escalation of naval battles that were taking place and I kept on being able to sense where everything was taking place because of the 2 maps. It just was great that the story encompassed a wide geographical area and a wide variety of facts.

It is a very knowledgeable novel that remains exciting through out. And unlike so many best sellers that are knee deep in murders and swarmy facts that make me always feel a bit down, this story is uplifting and the facts are so interesting. There are numbered notes in the back to explain terms that come up. You remain hooked into the story even though it is a far reaching array of characters. It's a cliche I know but he truly has a gift with bringing his characters to life - their dialog .. their descriptions. I was captivated and I really regretted it ending this week. I definitely now want to read another of his earlier novels. The Neptune Strategy

The Worst Book That I Have Ever Partly Read and I Have Read a Lot of Books.......2007-03-30

I got to page 129 and gave up so this book might get very good after that but I just couldn't force myself to go on. I had actually tossed it the trash around page 85 but since I knew I wanted to express my feelings about this book I forged on. I have read the other reviews of this book before I baught it and they were great but after reading some of it I feel that the authors mother and a few other relatives must have written them. By page 129 there was no combat but plenty of dental patholog (you would have to read the book to understand this statement but I don't encourage that you do so). The book is dull and poorly written but my biggest objection was that the book glorifies smoking. A paragraph doesn't go by that someone doesn't light up of have a conference in a smoked filled room. In no way does it add to the story. The topic and cover would appeal to young males and they are a group very susceptible to what is being portrayed.

A real page turner.......2007-01-10

This is a really nice yarn about WW II in the Pacific with enough subplots to keep you interested. I thought Gobbell did a really good job of tying all the pieces together and keeping the story compelling. A good read for all history buffs.

So-real ficitonal account.......2006-11-15

(Historical fiction)

The Battle of Leyte Gulf took place on October 24 and 25 in 1944. Without a doubt it was the final battle in the history of the world where naval surface combatants were in actual physical sight of each other.

In John J. Gobbell's A Call To Colors he takes us back to that tenuous time late in the war when most of the strategic minds within the U.S. and Japanese militaries were certain of one thing. The Japanese had lost the war. The questions that remained were, how would the remaining resources of the Japanese armed services be used.

Gobbell has constructed a fictional account of an American destroyer and her crew and placed them in the unenviable location of the famous squadron of ships known to most World War II historians as Taffy 3. The under armed, outnumbered men of Taffy 3 faced the most powerful force of Japanese warships ever assembled, all centered on the super battleship Yamato. Gobbell's account of the battle concentrates on Commander Mike Donovan, Captain of the destroyer USS Matthew, taking us through the events that lead Donavon from his terrifying experiences during his first engagement with the enemy to his taking command of the Matthew.

Interspersed are two side stories. The first involves the U.S. military railway and how it underwent some determined foreign sabotage. This story does deviate from the Donovan story--just when you want to know more. From a historical standpoint, the military railway story is very interesting, and Gobbell does use it to tie a lean parallel story concerning an estranged friend of Donovan's now back into his life, however the book could have stood alone without it. The second perspective is a Japanese point of view and is helpful because the Japanese simply don't write about their failures in WWII. I have no doubt this is a fictional account, but without the real thing, this is a great addition to the book.

The writing is good; and the character development is paced well. From a historical standpoint, everything appears to be in the right place.

Armchair Interviews says: Anyone who likes a good historical WWII fiction can't go wrong with A Call to Colors.

Run up the battle flag (and drink to the foam!).......2006-10-08

John Gobbell wrote four enjoyable novels about naval officer Todd Ingram. Set in WWII, each was better than its predecessor as Ingram and the war matured, and Gobbell became a better and better author.

Now there is A Call to Colors: A Novel of the Leyte Gulf. It has a new set of characters and is about half again as long as Goebbell's earlier books.

Most of the first half takes place in the San Francisco Bay-Sacramento area: along the railroad line bringing war munitions across the Sierras, with some bits and pieces at Port Chicago, and later, briefly, aboard the presciently named ammunition ship, USS Mount Saint Helens. (The details about the huge steam locomotives used to haul loads across the mountains are a bonus and a treat.)

The strategy that led to the battles of Leyte Gulf is laid out by Japanese naval officers, who are treated in the narrative with respect. The naval Battle of Leyte Gulf is a terrifc story in itself. But this is a novel and not a history lesson. The action at sea is outstanding (and on track in California) and the end of the story is very satisfying.

The romance is fine and does not get in the way. She is beautiful. And he, the hero of the story, is not so tortured by nightmares from an earlier surface engagement that she can't calm him down. The finale of part one, as the USS Matthew leaves Mare Island, is an imaginative delight.

This is a good book and it is highly recommended. I particularly enjoyed it as a fictional story played out against a massive sea battle that really happened, involving tens of thousands of brave sailors and dozens of ships.

Male Colors: The Construction of Homosexuality in Tokugawa Japan

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Informational and Interesting Read!
the cut sleeves of Tokugawa
A major academic work that was a pleasure to read
Amazing history of homosexuality.....
Thorough Research--Excellent Result

Male Colors: The Construction of Homosexuality in Tokugawa Japan
Gary Leupp
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0520209001

Book Description

Tokugawa Japan ranks with ancient Athens as a society that not only tolerated, but celebrated, male homosexual behavior. Few scholars have seriously studied the subject, and until now none have satisfactorily explained the origins of the tradition or elucidated how its conventions reflected class structure and gender roles. Gary P. Leupp fills the gap with a dynamic examination of the origins and nature of the tradition. Based on a wealth of literary and historical documentation, this study places Tokugawa homosexuality in a global context, exploring its implications for contemporary debates on the historical construction of sexual desire.
Combing through popular fiction, law codes, religious works, medical treatises, biographical material, and artistic treatments, Leupp traces the origins of pre-Tokugawa homosexual traditions among monks and samurai, then describes the emergence of homosexual practices among commoners in Tokugawa cities. He argues that it was "nurture" rather than "nature" that accounted for such conspicuous male/male sexuality and that bisexuality was more prevalent than homosexuality. Detailed, thorough, and very readable, this study is the first in English or Japanese to address so comprehensively one of the most complex and intriguing aspects of Japanese history.

Customer Reviews:

Informational and Interesting Read!.......2004-02-25

I bought this book last year when I was doing a study on the construction of modern Japan, and I saw this book and thought it looked interesting. I didn't end up reading it until a few months ago, but once I started it I didn't put it down. This is a really interesting and accesible book. Although it is filled with lots of information, it is well written so that it flows along like a novel. It is easy and interesting to read, without being clogged down with lots of scientific and research terms. Although the topic of Japanese homosexuality isn't one that I have studied too intensly, I found this novel to be very interesting and I think it gives an excellent over-view to the subject.

the cut sleeves of Tokugawa.......2003-06-27

This is an extraordinary book. The author begins telling the reader that even in today's Japanese studies circle there is still bias against those who research such things as this book. With that in mind, I delved into this fascinating book. Before going into the book's contents I want to say that Dr. Leupp writes in a style that is very easy to read while conveying a great deal of information. Before I started reading this book I was worried that he was going to write in such an academic way that it would leave the subject matter quite sterile. That definately is not the case. The author begins the book at first with an explanation of the long hitorical trends of homosexuality that can be found in the histories of China and Korea and he places these histories of homosexul cultures beside those of Greece and other European countries. He then delves into the homosexual tradition of early Japan mainly focusing on the Imperial Court, Buddhist and Shinto monks and priests, and finally Samurai. After setting this precedent, he goes into detail of Tokugawa homosexuality, mainly focusing on Kabuki actors and Prostitutes. He uses examples from both historical records and literature. This is a great book that should be read by those who are interested in not only homosexual history, but those who are looking for a fuller understanding of Japanese hitory.

A major academic work that was a pleasure to read.......2002-11-11

Not many scholarly works read well, but this one does. Even if you are not a student of Japanese history and culture, "Male Colors" is a pleasure. Yes, there are sections with a lot of Japanese names (particularly when the author cites a string of sources), but by and large, this work is very accessable to us mere mortals who are interested in the history of same-sex love.

Initially, as the author describes, same-sex love in Japan was something practiced by elite groups: first the Zen Buddhist monks who are believed to have imported the practice from China (a curious notion because this also carries the connotation that homosexuality came from "some place else") and then the samuri elite. While factors such as the lack of eligible women may have contributed to the general acceptance of bisexuality, many, if not most, of the practicers of nanshoku had deep emotional ties to their partners. But as urban life began to grow, nanshoku was popularized through a combination of the kabuki theater and the commercial sex enterprises that cropped up.

Also interesting were all the examples of art depicting nanshoku, some of it quite ribald and most of it graphic. But that just lends more weight to the notion that there was no stigma attached to boy love during this period in Japan, at least not a universal stigma; it was quite nearly universally tolerated and any effort to control nanshoku usually was to control violent fights over popular boy prostitutes rather than a governmental decree against homosexual sex.

The book is heavy on male sexuality with little mention of lesbianism, but that's hardly a surprise considering most cultures tend to be strongly patriarchal and it is the men who record history. And as usual, it appears that it was through contact with the West, particularly with Christian missionaries, that the practice of nanshoku was eventually shunned into the crepuscular corners of Japanese culture. More evidence that if there is harm caused by same-sex activity, the harm is caused by a prudish societal mentality orignating in a rigid Judeo-Christian ethic that thrives on domination and guilt.

Amazing history of homosexuality............2001-07-08

The history of Japanese homosexuality is full of references to males dressing up as girls and serving powerful men in submissive relationships. Evidently bisexuality was the prevalent norm for Japanese MEN as almost every shogan has several 'beautiful boys' in addition to the women they kept. Many were exclusively devoted to beautiful young men---almost always dressed and acting like girls. This theme practically defines homosexuality in ancient Japan...the Japanese word for homosexuality was NANSHOKU which is loosely translates to english as "Male Colors". Nanshuko was so consistent in it's expression for so many years that it almost qualifies as a artistic expression or preference.

"Bishounen means not only cute, harmonic, lovely boy features but refers to the open feminity of a boy, and the way he can be associated to feminine beauty and delicacy. It involves the heavenly face whose beauty is deeply androgynous though boyish enough to remind us of his male gender, the curvy hips, legs and butt the standard bishounen soprts and make him attractive to both sexes, the evident delicacy of manners and personality and, most important of all, the homosexual tendencies the boy shows by liking other, more masculine males."

It is amazing that this expression of homosexual desire would exist so long in Japanese history even into a modern Japanese anime genre called "Yaoi"

Thorough Research--Excellent Result.......2001-05-21

Gary Leupp's research was clearly thorough, and his end-result benefitted greatly from it. Although I already knew of both the monastic and samurai traditions of same-sex pairings, to see the extent to which this permeated Tokugawa society was fascinating. It also gave strong argument to the constructivist theory of homosexuality, which, when considered alongside biological factors, makes for a coherent picture of sexuality in society. It's clear from the work that more research can and should be done: same-sex pairings among women, and the shift from the Tokugawa to the Modern era in Japan and the resulting changes in sexuality would make for excellent books as well. One curious thing is the appendix of glossed terms in Japanese, Chinese and Korean. I for one would have appreciated more than a vocabulary list; if the notes in the text had contained the original language versions of his text, I'd have been happier.

World's Great Men of Color, Volume I: Asia and Africa, and Historical Figures Before Christ, Including Aesop, Hannibal, Cleopatra, Zenobia, Askia the Great, ... and Many Others (World's Great Men of Color)

Average customer rating:

HUGE ERROR
World's Great Men of Color Vol 1 and 2
Just say no to angry critics
J.A. Roger's Best Book: A classic
Ahead of his time

World's Great Men of Color, Volume I: Asia and Africa, and Historical Figures Before Christ, Including Aesop, Hannibal, Cleopatra, Zenobia, Askia the Great, ... and Many Others (World's Great Men of Color)
J. A. Rogers
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0684815818

Book Description

An eye-opening account of the great black personalities of world history.

In this first volume: outstanding blacks of Asia and Africa, and historical figures before Christ -- including Akhenaton, Aesop, Hannibal, Cleopatra, Zenobia, Askia the Great, the Mahdi, Samuel Adjai Crowther, and many more.

World's Great Men of Color is a comprehensive account of the great Black personalities in world history. J. A. Rogers was one of the first Black scholars to devote most of his life to researching the lives of hundreds of men and women of color. This first volume is a convenient reference; equipped with a comprehensive introduction, it treats all aspects of recorded Black history. J. A. Rogers's book is vital reading for everyone who wants a fuller and broader understanding of the great personalities who have shaped our world.

The companion volume covers the great Blacks of Europe, South and Central America, the West Indies, and the United States, including Marcus Garvey, Robert Browning, Dom Pedro, Alexandre Dumas, Joachim Murat, Aleksander Sergeevich Pushkin, Alessandro de' Medici, St. Benedict the Moor, and many others.

Customer Reviews:

HUGE ERROR.......2007-05-20

Cleopatra was of the Ptolemaic dynasty, therefore she was of Greek descent. The family was in-bred, brother wed sister. She was Greek, certainly not Egyptian (black).

World's Great Men of Color Vol 1 and 2.......2006-09-13

I have owned both of these books for over 15 years. I have lectured at Harvard University, MIT, Umass Amherst, Amherst College and other places citing references from J.A. Rogers exhaustive research. He was greatly ahead of his time and any one of his books are worth their weight in gold. I am a self-taught historian and have been lecturing for 16 years now and consider J.A. Rogers' easy to read,informative style the best ever. He tells his readers about many Africans and others of African descent that achieved great feats while many Europeans were still in savagery. He discusses the first recorded Dr. Imhotep. Hatshepsut (Queen ruler who has a temple that still stands). Makeda, Clitus (General with Alexander the Great), King Taharqa (mentioned in the Bible) and many other great figures. I have all 14 of his books and would not trade one for a bar of gold. His research vastly improved my confidence in the achievement of Africans the world over that have been hidden from general knowledge for lifetimes. If anyone doubts the works of J.A. Rogers I would debate them any place using his research and embarrass you with the research you bring.

The great thing about his works are he just calmly states the facts without tearing any other race or civilization down. How many other works do that? Also with his vast research he could have berated many other races and civilizations, but chose not to waste his time and just stated the facts.

We all greatly benefit still from what he dedicated his life to!

Just say no to angry critics.......2006-05-23

The revisnist history, appears to come from ppl like this new orleans critic who doesnt know much about history or its remaining artifacts... The old kingdom and predynasty clearly shows so-called African negro's as the rulers of Egypt not the fantasy semitci nonsense born of 17th/18th western racist... As far as Cleopatra, there were quite a few Cleopatra's through different dynasty periods... of course one would know this if they cared to research properly... Also, Hannibal was always described as being a Afrikan... regardless of in mulatto traits... Its funny how europeans when they can't take Afrikans out of the area which would give us high regard, they must somehow convince others they would should be seen as sub-human, stock, negro, primitive, simple minded, etc... This is clearly white male dogma, since these particular white males are obviously suffering from a inferiority complex, [...] envy, etc.. which activates some defense mechanism within them as they can only see themselves in a competition with other males outside of their circles... Of course this also reflects on what most women desire as well... But, thats too obvious to point out...

Anyway, J.A. Rogers has done a excellent job of putting Afrikans back into the civilize arena where we belong... Of course any fool who would listen to the empty ramblings of angry insecure white males as being some say all authority of what is legit, needs a wake up call...

Notice that racism over a 2,000+ period has been the perpetration of white males or indo-aryans who try to justify such uncivilized behavior through their socio-political opinions, their empty spiritual system (religion), and psuedo-science of survival of the fittest... I guess the latter makes sense for these groups who have genetically undergone a mutated change do to hardship of having to survive with limited resources in areas that did not produce enough edible vegetation... Which led to heavy consumption of eating animals and stealing from others... a habit the europeans are still practicing... as a badge of honor... p.i

J.A. Roger's Best Book: A classic.......2002-04-23

Although this is old, it provides good insights about famous men of African Heritage

Ahead of his time.......2001-10-23

JA Rodgers was ahead of his time when it came to historical reserch. He exposed alot of things that even in our xenophobic world we are afriad to talk about. He discovered through his reserch many of the great people of the past was infact blacks,and that they had been covered up by white wash over centuries. People should read these books with an open mind,because it explains alot in our soceity that are very race conscious people. I learned about Al Jahiz though him and he taught me about many great people I had never even heard of. I never knew about lokman the southern Arabian sage that was considered one of the wisest men. I never knew about the black vikings in this book called blaumen. The book also discussed how many people of the royal family have indeed black ancestry and how they have tried to hide these facts. Get this book to expose the truth and check out other JA Rodgers books.

Tally's Corner: A Study of Negro Streetcorner Men (Legacies of Social Thought)

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Great Example of qualitative research
RELEVANT THEN...RELEVANT NOW...
Tallly's Corner: A Study of Negro Streetcorner Men
Provides an excellent sociological perspective!

Tally's Corner: A Study of Negro Streetcorner Men (Legacies of Social Thought)
Charles Lemert
Manufacturer: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0742528960

Book Description

The first edition of Tally's Corner, a sociological classic, was the first compelling response to the culture of poverty thesis--that the poor are different and, according to conservatives, morally inferior--and alternative explanations that many African Americans are caught in a tangle of pathology owing to the absence of black men in families. Elliot Liebow's new introduction to this long-awaited revised edition bring the book up to date. Visit our website for sample chapters!

Customer Reviews:

Great Example of qualitative research .......2007-06-25

This work, aside from all useful insight into inner city culture, is able to offer the perspective qualitative research a good example of how to construct observation and insider knowledge into one. When writing-up qualitative research it is often hard to determine what balance between observation and insider language must be presented to convince the reader. This book, by its example, provides a very successful model that can be used by almost anyone. Simply stated, you must get this book in order to improve your qualitative research. Good luck!!!

RELEVANT THEN...RELEVANT NOW..........2001-08-28

This study of Black streetcorner men by noted anthropologist, Dr. Elliot Liebow, was his doctoral dissertation. It became recognized as one of the more important sociological treatises, at the time it was written; a time during which Blacks or African Americans were still referred to as Negroes. Dr. Liebow's year and a half long study of a group of disaffected Black males, who routinely frequented a streetcorner in Washington, D.C.'s inner city, provided the basis for the dissertation that gave rise to this book. His analysis of this particular societal subculture, in the context of the overall social milieu in which it exists, is still relevant today. While scholarly, the book is written in an engaging conversational tone, which makes for easy reading. This book should be read by all those with an interest in the social sciences.

Tallly's Corner: A Study of Negro Streetcorner Men.......2000-11-08

Admittedly, I first read Tally's Corner almost three decades ago -- and it still has a hold over me. In those 30 years, I went from studying sociology to making films to doing start-ups in Silicon Valley. I am now in the process of ordering more copies to distribute to friends. Tally's Corner is an exceptional work. It had its origins in a doctoral thesis and yet it reads like a novel. Its powerful message aside, Tally's Corner is marvelous reading. Anyone who wants to write something important and lasting should look to Liebow to see how it is done. Tally's Corner defies the contrary logic which says "no pain, no gain" -- that all things profound must to be impossible for everyman to understand.

Provides an excellent sociological perspective!.......1998-02-09

This book was assigned as part of a course taken on Oppression and Poverty in America. An excellent book for anyone interested in learning about life in the inner-city. Written in 1967 as a field study by the late Elliot Liebow, it offers a view of life that is not seen by most college students. I have assigned it to my Intro to Sociology class as a stepping off point for discussion about American culture, poverty, and family life. Very easy reading and truly a book that should be read by anyone who wants to begin to understand and accept diversity among people.

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (Dover Thrift Editions)

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Useful for HS coursework & for real life
worth the read
Johnson's Classic Novel of "Passing"
Wonderfully woven plot that holds your interest
Fantastic!

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (Dover Thrift Editions)
James Weldon Johnson
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 048628512X

Book Description

This remarkable novel documents the life of an American of mixed ethnicity who moves freely in society — from the rural South to the urban North and eventually, Europe. A revolutionary work which not only probes the psychological aspects of "passing for white" but also examines the American caste and class system.

Download Description

As soon as we landed, four of us went directly to a lodging-house in 27th Street, just west of Sixth Avenue. The house was run by a short, stout mulatto man, who was exceedingly talkative and inquisitive. In fifteen minutes he not only knew the history of the past life of each one of us, but had a clearer idea of what we intended to do in the future than we ourselves.

Customer Reviews:

Useful for HS coursework & for real life.......2007-06-30

Teaching this novel to 10th graders in Chicago has not been the easiest task but the storyline is the draw...that and my constant reminders that "This is the hardest book you will read all year...it's a book I read in college...If you can get through this book you can get through everything else we do this year!" And it's true...most students did well in the unit and the course which forces them to step outside their confort zone when looking and talking about the origins of race and racism. I use this in conjunction with RACE & MEMBERSHIP (by Facing History & Ourselves- collection of readings related to Eugenics Movement in USA) and with the film, "Imitation of Life" (the color version, not not the original black and white). Be mindful that it's high-end vocabulary as the author, like many Black writers of the day, sought to not only show that the main character wanted to impress those he came in contact with but that the author himself may have been trying to prove his own intelligence in writing the novel. James Weldon Johnson is best known for his song, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" - the Black National Anthem.

worth the read.......2007-01-17

I am taking a class on Harlem renaissance literature and this was the first book assigned. It is easy to read and an enlightening story, the background information provided was interesting as well.

Johnson's Classic Novel of "Passing".......2005-04-12

Many novels of the African-American experience in the United States use the theme of "passing". These novels generally involve a light-complexioned African-American who can "pass" for white. Among other things, novels based on a theme of "passing" allow the character and the author to comment upon black-white relationships in the United States from both sides -- from the black experience and from the white experience.

Both white and black authors have made extensive use of the theme of "passing". The earliest novel involving "passing" of which I am aware is by William Dean Howells in his short 1891 book, "An Imperative Duty" which dealt with an inter-racial marriage. The African-American novelist Nella Larsen wrote a novel titled "Passing" set in the Harlem Renaissance. More recently, Philip Roth's novel "The Human Stain" involves the story of Professor Coleman Silk, a distinguished academic and student of the classics who passes for many years as white.

Coleman Silk is the successor to the protagonist of James Weldon Johnson's only novel, "The Autobiography of an ex-colored Man" written in 1912. The unnamed protagonist of the book is an individual, like Roth's character Coleman Silk, with great intellectual and artistic gifts who is torn between the opportunities open to him as an, apparently, white person and his strong sense of black identity. Like Coleman Silk and the characters in most novels involving the theme of "passing", Johnson's protagonist marries a white woman and lives a life plagued with guilt regarding his abandonment of his heritage as an African-American. Johnson's short novel is, to my mind, the best written on the theme of "passing", and it is a fine novel indeed. The book initially was published anonymously. The writing is so powerful and believable that many readers took the book for a true autobiography until Johnson acknowledged his authorship in 1914. Many years later, Johnson wrote his own autobiography, titled "Along This Way" in part to show that the story of his own life was not the story of the protagonist in the "Autobiography".

Johnson's story shows how his protagonist goes back and forth, both internally and in the outward events of life, about whether to make his way in the white or in the black world. He ultimately finds himself successful but unhappy. In addition to the story line of the book, Johnson uses the "passing" theme to allow many reflective passages by characters in the book on racial relationships in the United States early in the 20th Century. The most famous such scene occurs as the protagonist travels in a "smoking car" for whites on a train in the segregated South. He participates in a discussion among several white men of varied backgrounds on the "race question" as it was viewed at the time. There is also a chilling scene in the book involving a lynching, the burning alive of a black person. Johnson worked fervently in the latter years of his life to secure the passage of anti-lynching legislation in Congress.

But Johnson's novel includes a great deal more than a consideration of race issues. The book offers an outstanding picture of life in early twentieth Century America -- in the South and in Johnson's beloved New York City. The book is filled with pictures of dives and gambling dens and of the trade of cigar making in both South and North. It is filled with the love of the piano and of classical music. Most strikingly, the book has the spirit and feel of ragtime, which reached the height of its popularity during the years in which the book appeared. Johnson shows great appreciation for this product of American culture.

The book also illustrates some universal themes. The protagonist is troubled, specifically, by the conflict between his identity as an African-American and his wish to succeed as a white person. But the broader themes of the book are the consequences of lack of self-knowledge, the role of chance in human life, and the consequences of a certain sense of purposelessness and frustration, which plague many individuals separately from any consideration of race. Johnson develops these themes eloquently and ties them in well with his theme of "passing".

Johnson's novel is an important work of American fiction which deserves to be read.

Wonderfully woven plot that holds your interest.......2004-03-12

I absolutely loved reading this book, and would eagerly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn of Johnson's America through the eyes of a man caught between two worlds. The sometimes humorous passages and vivid details held my interest and fueled my imagination. I have countless sections of the book underlined in red.

Though written years ago, it is highly relevant to life in America today, and the self-effacing nature ('invisibility') of the narrator makes it even more intriguing as you follow what goes on in the class and race-defined society through his eyes.

A short but captivating (one of my favorite autobios) 'must-read'.

Fantastic!.......2001-10-01

James Weldon creates a story line of unimaginable magnitude! This complex book makes the reader almost sympathetic for a character who may not deserve it!

Architecture Colors (Preservation Press)

Average customer rating:

no recognizeable buildings
Well done!
An elegant board book.

Architecture Colors (Preservation Press)
Michael J. Crosbie , and Steve Rosenthal
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0471143596

Customer Reviews:

no recognizeable buildings.......2007-07-20

as architects and parents to a young child, we were excited to discover this series of books. however, we were left feeling a little disappointed when it arrived and the buildings used to illustrate the colors were unidentifiable and rather blase examples of architecture when there are so many high-profile buildings out there that would not only teach, but open a child's mind to what a building can be.

Well done!.......2007-01-19

The children's heavy cardboard book demonstrates a wonderful idea well executed. My grandson at 3 loves it!

An elegant board book........1997-02-10

This small cardboard book features photographs of buildings and architectural details. The photographs are beautiful - curious subjects in luminescent hues; there is no text other than the names of the colors. If you are a parent bored to tears with green frogs and red balloons, this book is a lifesaver. It is not clear to me what aspect of this book interests my two year old son, but it has been among his top ten for the past four months

The Middle Horn Leader 2006: (Color Version)

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The Middle Horn Leader 2006: (Color Version)
David C. Welch
Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Lorin Solo

ASIN: 1419647709
Release Date: 2006-10-11

Product Description

Featuring art by Don Daber and perspectives from members across generations, The Middle Horn Leader 2006 also chronicles the entire 1984 tour of the Garfield Cadets from the eyes of rookie mellophone player David Welch. This 1984 West Side Story production is now considered a "cult classic" in the history of Drum Corps International.

"If you have ever been a part of a group beyond your family that so significantly defines your very being, then you will be consumed by this. A real coming of age story." - Doug Rutherford

"...an example of the way drum corps' unique combination of music, athletics, passion, and discipline transcends time and space to bring together people from all walks of life." - Rachel Anderson

"Every year brings a new generation of Cadets and Middle Horn Leaders to continue our traditions." - Christen Juel

"Learn the history of The Cadets inside and out because it is like no other. This IS an experience that will change your life and one that you will never forget for as long as you live." - Paula Hyman

"It shows the pains, and sometimes tortures, that (members) will endure to be a small part of something great." - Kristie Staton Tharpe

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