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Readers may well find themselves looking nervously over their shoulders after finishing this memoir by Candice DeLong, who met a lot of Hannibal Lecter's soul mates during her 20 years as an FBI agent. An early practitioner of profiling, the analysis of crime data for what it reveals about the perpetrator, DeLong handled such ugly cases that she and her partner at one point were known as "the Gruesome Twosome." Her arrests included child molesters, rapists, and serial killers; among the book's useful features are her tips on what to do if you or your child is attacked. (Yell "Fire!" rather than "Help!" she advises; it attracts more attention.) Not that human nature's darker side was a surprise to DeLong, who came to the FBI from a job as head nurse in a maximum security psychiatric ward, where a violent paranoid schizophrenic crooned at her, "You better pray I never get out of these [restraints]. I could cut your head off. Or do you want me to tear your heart out?" The frank, conversational text ably captures the forceful personality of a female pioneer. The bureau had only been accepting women for eight years when DeLong joined in 1980, and her training at Quantico included brutal harassment by instructors determined to "wash out" any female applicant. Yet she had the toughness to survive and the good sense to know when to ignore her male colleagues' barbed jokes and when to kid them right back. Ultimately, she made friends and got ahead. As well as chronicling a stream of fascinating (and often deeply disturbing) high-profile cases such as the Unabomber, DeLong's narrative portrays a changing FBI, now valuing the special perspective contributed by female and African American agents it once scorned. --Wendy Smith
Book Description
Candice DeLong has been called a real-life Clarice Starling and a female Donnie Brasco. She has been on the front lines of some of the FBIs most gripping and memorable cases, including being chosen as one of the three agents to carry out the manhunt for the Unabomber in Lincoln, Montana. She has tailed terrorists, gone undercover as a gangsters moll, and posed as the madam for a call-girl ring. Now for the first time she reveals the dangers and rewards of being a woman on the front lines of the worlds most powerful law enforcement agency. She traces the unusual career path that led her to crime fighting, and recounts the incredible obstacles she faced as a woman and as a fledgling agent. She takes readers step by step through the profiling process and shows how she helped solve a number of incredible cases. The story of her role as a lead investigator on the notorious Tylenol Murderer case is particularly compelling. Finally, she gives the true, insiders story behind the investigation that led to the arrest of the Unabomberincluding information that the media cant or wont reveal. A remarkable portrait of courage and grace under fire, Special Agent offers a missing chapter to the annals of law enforcement and a dramatic and often funny portrait of an extraordinary woman who has dedicated her heart and soul to the crusade against crime.Candice DeLongs Top Cases: 1. TYMURS-(Bureau acronym for Tylenol Murders)8 victims, 1982. 2. F.A.L.N. Terrorist Organization, 198184. 3. Melissa Ackerman kidnap/rape/murder, 1986Serial child killer Brian Dugan (Illinois). Brian Dugan was the most prolific serial killer Illinois had ever encountered. 4. The Burlington Rapist (Illinois serial rapist), 1984. 5. The Lecherous Landlord was the first and most significant Discrimination in Housing case in the history of the Chicago FBI. 6. Undercover work on UNABOM, including an afternoon with Ted Kaczynski on his arrest day, April 3, 1996.
Customer Reviews:
Solid story-telling with humor.......2007-05-12
This isn't the best book I've ever read but it's a fun and interesting read about her career in the FBI. She wisely chose stories from her career (which must have been difficult with so many years of experience) and always included down-to-earth humor and humility when appropriate. When she entered, the FBI was still adjusting to having women agents but she remained strong, taking the high road on many occasions when she was not treated fairly. As a result, her career flourished and her life is a story worth hearing. She is truly a trailblazer. Just nobody call her Candy.
Waste of money unless you want pure fiction.......2005-10-15
This book should be listed under "fiction," because that's what it is. Ms. DeLong is a legend in her mind and her mind only. Anyone who reads this and believes Ms. DeLong actually did the things she claimed to do is living in a dream, just like Ms. DeLong. Don't waste your money. Ms. DeLong is as much a real life Clarice Starling as Barney Fife is Elliot Ness. I would recommend the book if you are looking for a good laugh. I rated this garbage one star because I wasn't given the choice of zero or negative stars.
It Takes a Woman to do a Man's Job!.......2005-05-15
This was an interesting book about Candice Delong written by Elisa Petrini. Before becoming connected with the FBI, she'd been a nurse in a psychiatric ward. She was a divorced mother then, still something of a stigma in the early 1980s. In the late '80s she was assigned to the cocaine trafficing in Chicago.
There was a drug pipeline which stretched from the South American country of Columbia, then the cocaine capital of the hemisphere, up through Mexico into Texas; from there to Chicago. I've been told that it went through Lawrenceburg, TN on the way North.
There is a manadatory minimum 20-yr. sentence for anyone caught with ten or more kilograms of cocaine (about 22 lbs.). Each kilo is the size of a brick and worth $15,000 - 30,000 depending on the quality of the drug. Heroin is a lot more. She had some interesting times working with DEA in narcotics, even being tricked into babysitting for the informant on her first case.
She was involved in the Unabomber case and the way they discovered it was a former University of California at Berkley (where Savage (Weiner) may have found his cocaine) professor. She was in on the specifics in Montana,trapping Ted Kaezynski in 1996. Then back to San Francisco, where Savage settled.
She gives good pointers on how to handle home invastion or sexual assault. Always yell "Fire." There are almost twice as many sex crimes against women over sixty as certain killers go after the older women to act out their anger toward the strong female figures in their lives and the fact that elderly women are easier to control. Compliance is by no means the same as consent.
Rape is all about power, not sex. A woman's goal is to survive the attack. About 41% of rapes and sex assaults are committed by acquaintances of the victim. Sex offenders don't think like normal men and are always on the alert for what they think of as "provacative" behavior or dress.
After twenty years, she became a private citizen again and went on the lecture circuit. She is proud of her achievements and the privilege to work as a 'public servant' in the FBI.
Candice gives as good as she gets!.......2003-12-23
What an excellent read! The characters and relationships are very intriguing-the author's world is filled with both obvious and subtle villains, as well as obvious and subtle heroes. Candice herself is fun, likeable and strong enough to give as good as she gets. Though she is being constantly second-guessed, undermined and underestimated, she ends up turning her "weakness" into advantage time and again. The author sets up the rivalry between the FBI and the DEA and her unique role walking between the two. Highly recommended.
An incredible profile of dedication and compassion.......2003-10-09
Candice Delong tells it like it is. This book held me riveted and page turning. I could not put it down. Ms. Delong exemplifies a woman who is dedicated to justice and the right thing to do. At great personal expense Delong did her job. However, as a mother, she had her priorities clearly defined. Delong's son was her greatest priority. The part about the Unibomber wearing her son's coat touched me deeply. This lady is indeed a national hero. In all the turmoil that America is involved in, it is wonderful to read about a woman who has made a difference in so many lives. Courage, integrity, and ethics all apply to this amazing woman.
Book Description
From the award-winning author of the best books on puberty — A completely new book written especially for 8-11-year-old girls, playfully illustrated in an appealing, two-color design.
Young girls before the onset of puberty have a curiosity about their soon-to-be changing bodies that needs addressing in a simpler way than for their older sisters. In the proven, trust-worthy, Madaras-friendly voice and style, this entirely new book now brings them the same kind of thoughtful, down-to-earth information—but at a reading and understanding level that's just right for them.
Responding throughout to real-life questions and observations from younger girls, Madaras explores the strange and thrilling changes that are happening, or about to happen, to them, including: the development of breasts, body hair, and body fat; the changes in their reproductive organs, both inside and out; their first period and all the complex feelings surrounding it; the unwelcome appearance of acne and new body odors; and, perhaps most important, how to respect and celebrate their unique bodies, even when the outside world is not always so accepting.
Lively cartoon drawings throughout make the book not only helpful, but fun to read, too.
Customer Reviews:
Good As it Gets For Me.......2007-09-24
It was a very hard decision for me to choose a book and this ended up being the one I chose for my girl. Mainly because it has alot of information and fun graphics that help make this serious topic a little more light hearted. Some of the info is a bit much for my 9 1/2 yr old but I can see her referencing back to this book later. My important focus was for my DD to understand her menstrual cycle and what is happening. It's a bit detailed regarding the female reproductive organs which I think is just a bunch of big words for her now, but like I said can be something she can reference back to as she gets older. I did like it's recognition of how these changes can make you feel awkward but the author encourages her young readers to feel proud of themselves. This book could have been better if the author had explained intercourse but apparently she has a different book for that.
There were so many books and so many varying reader reviews from not enough info to porn for the same book! For example the reviews on the American Girl My Body book are glowing but for me there was no detailed explanation as to why a woman has her cycle, there was alot of fluff that was okay for younger girls but not a girl approaching puberty. I think that shows that this is a very individual choice for each family. My reccomendation is to browse here but go to your local library or a bookstore and look before you come back to Amazon to buy. I think the best book is the one you write yourself, but since that's not going to happen it's important you have a chance to look cover to cover for the book you know your child will be reading cover to cover several times over the next few years - good luck!
Don't Forget Your Son!.......2007-09-15
I purchased this book for my 11 year old son so that he could have a better understanding of what makes girls tick. He already has a good bit of knowledge on boys body development and we wanted him to know more. This was a good general information book that explains the changes he is already seeing in some of his classmates.
"Ready, Set, Grow: A What's Happening to my Body? Book for younger Girls.......2007-08-24
Great Book! Lots of good solid information for a younger girl of 8yrs.
We did not read the whole book because it was not information she needs right now.
Good Book to start talking about growing up and changes.......2007-05-11
I notice some changes in my daughters appearance and I knew it was time to start to have some discussions. We have worked our way through two chapters reading together and talking about stuff. A heck of a lot more than I got when I was growing up. Hopefully this will help her get through these changing times
Must have for mom/daughter "TALK".......2007-04-11
This is the best book to help explain puberty to your young daughters. I did a lot of research and even purchased 3 books, and this is the only one I used. This book is very imformative while at the same time it is light and fun. It covers absolutely everything from breast growth, pimples, moodiness, body changes, sensible eating habits, periods, how to use a tampon, explanation of sex (without being too graffic), Q & A's with young girls, and finally, the last chapter deals with sexual harrassment and abuse and how a girl is to deal with either of these situations should they need to. I have twin girls that just turned 9 and I wanted to be sensitive to their young age (but also informative) as girls are maturing earlier all the time. They couldn't get enough of this book (we read it together) and noone was imbarassed or felt uncomfortable. This book turned a sensitive issue and talk into a relaxed and fun bonding experience that helped my girls prepare, without anxiety, for their future growth both emotionally and physically. I will save it for my 3 year old daughter and purchase other books from this author. Laureen E. Defiance, MO
Average customer rating:
- A Dark Ugly Book
- Pimp
- Vivid and raw but dated and bumpy
- Far and away the best of the pimp books
- Good But Underwritten
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Pimp: The Story of My Life
Iceberg Slim
Manufacturer: Holloway House Publishing Company
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ASIN: 087067935X |
Customer Reviews:
A Dark Ugly Book.......2007-09-28
"Pimp" is a dark, ugly book. It's author Robert Beck, aka Iceberg Slim spent much of his life as a pimp. It's written to leave a bad taste in your mouth. That is the intent of the author. This is a chronicle of how he wasted twenty-five years of his life.
Maya Angelou's brother told her a pimp is one of two kinds of men. Either he hates women or he fears women. The process of encouraging, enforcing a woman to sell her body is neither sexy or romantic. The life of a hooker, especially one working the streets is harsh and degrading. A `good' pimp only cares about using his women until they have no more left to give. Only someone who hates or feels the need to control women would make a `good' pimp.
Iceberg Slim hated women.
His father deserted them while he was a baby. Bobby and his mother lead a hand-to-mouth existence for his early years. Early on he is sexually abused by his babysitter. Stability came into his life when his mother marries an older man who was a successful businessman. Young Bobby loved his stepfather. They lead a comfortable upper middle-class existence until his mother runs off with another man.
The image of his stepfather crying in the street begging his mother to stay is repeated throughout the book. He took his hatred of his mother out on women - as a pimp.
Of course things go down hill for his mother. Eventually she gets her act together. But even though stability is restored in his life, Robert wants to be a pimp. Possessing a superior I.Q. (175), he was a straight-A student. In a time of blatant racial discrimination (the 1920s, 30s, 40s) he is given a college scholarship. But his path is set, the seeds of hatred planted years before take root and flourish.
For more details about his descent into depravity and his redemption - read the book.
His writing style is not polished. His language is not refined. But his imagery is stunning. He induces mood and feeling brilliantly. Mood and feeling are enhanced by his lack of polish.
The reader may have trouble with his slang. It's been out of style for 80 years. For example, "vines" means clothes. A woman "georgias" a man when she uses him for sexual gratification without paying. A "square" is a cigarette, etc.
I have noticed a disturbing trend. The black pimp is a role-model for some segments of society. Performers such as Ice-T extol the pimp lifestyle. Iceberg Slim is 'the man'. Whenever this book is discussed as a movie project, the gangsta rappers start lobbying for the part. These guys want to be like him. But not the man he became but the man he was - a depraved parasite. Some of them talk about this book as though it's the Bible.
While this is an excellent book, it is ugly. Richard Beck wanted it that way. He wanted to send a message against pimping and it's lifestyle.
Sometimes I wonder if these pimp wannbes can read.
Pimp.......2007-09-23
I just finished reading this book for the second time, cover to cover in 2 days this time, it is possibly one of the best books I have ever read and keeps you enthralled throughout the whole read.Everyone should read this book because it really gives an insight into a world that most will never see.I have read all of the man's books and this is by far his best work although Mama Black Widow and Trick Baby are up there as well they just don't equal this masterpiece.They only have a 5 star rating but if I could this book would rate 10 stars.
Vivid and raw but dated and bumpy.......2007-09-05
Wanted to like this book better than I did. I was hoping for something great but instead found the tale merely lurid.
Iceberg Slim's tale of pimping in and around Chicago in the 40s is raw and vivid. His life is twisted and he revels in showing us its brutality.
If there is moral clarity anywhere here it must be at the end. I ground to a halt after 75 pages of beatings, betrayals, kinky sex and drug use. The 40s ghetto slang is almost impenetrable at places, a fact acknowledged by the publisher's placement of an (inadequate) dictionary at the end of the book.
Far and away the best of the pimp books.......2007-08-30
Isn't it funny how pimps and pimping are totally mainstream pop culture terms and attitudes among young people these days? From multitudes of 18 year old white boy "pimps" on Myspace, to several HBO documentaries about pimps, to grown white men saying things like "keep your pimp hand strong" and dressing up as parody pimps trying to be funny (this has to be the most tired joke on the planet at this point) to Uncle Toms like Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent doing their modern day minstrel show on Mtv, to those who have "game", the con artists, deceivers, and criminals being the heroes to a good portion of the black community. Those enlightened social engineers and producers of our pop culture sure do enrich our society don't they!?!?
I also notice there are multiple books about pimps and "how to be a pimp" type books on Amazon which at casual look seem so ridiculous that they almost seem to be comedic parodies reminding me of those books written for losers that tell you how to bed beautiful women. If you want a good laugh just read some of the Amazon reviews of the pimp books.
Excluding Magic Don Juans book which is somewhat entertaining Iceberg Slims book is probably the only one worth reading and is head and shoulders above any other books by or about pimps. He doesn't try to glorify himself or being a pimp and while he does give glimpses in the life of being a pimp, drug addict, criminal and eventual prison inmate this book is just as much a self analysis for him as a look into that lifestyle. He states most of the stuff that he experienced and did matter of factly but you get a feeling that writing this book served as therapeutic introspective for Robert "Iceberg Slim" Beck. He does a good job of showing what a scumbag he was but he doesn't get preachy or come off as an attention seeker. Its like he took a step back and made an appraisal of what he once was and put it down on paper. He does a good job of painting a picture of the times in which all this occured and situations he was in. I have to be fair and give the guy credit he really was a good writer.
Good But Underwritten.......2007-02-20
This is a very entertaining, fairly informative novel that is worth the read, particularly if you have a novice interest in the subject matter. The problem I have is that some important aspects of Slim's "life story" are too sketchily described. He writes in sufficient detail about the lessons he learned on how to pimp (from Macks he befriended). He effectively pulls you into the story with his vivid anecdotes of the drug abuse, crosses and petty crime that plague urban street life. He goes into the life of a prison convict. Although it's set in the early 20th century, it doesn't read back as dated even with some of its old-fashion slang. It has a contemporary, almost timeless feel which I appreciated. It also has its fair-share of humor and I found myself laughing several times.
But as stated before, it's glaringly underwritten in many places. All of the female characters lack clear personalities traits; this is even true for women he had for many years like "The Runt", Chris, and Rachel. They should've been made more dimensional and distinct from each other if only to provide a more beneficial read. It also would've been intriguing if Slim had depicted the daily life of his stable, to show what being a part of that group was like and how they interacted and co-existed. I realize that the book is entitled "Pimp" but the lives of his ASSETS, on the streets and off, were never described. It almost leads me to believe that Beck had no clue about that part of the life, and that raises my misgivings.
It's also just a little too convenient that he never turns out a normal but troubled, fresh square with finesse and true manipulation. Every woman he cops is a brainless nymphomaniac who's already in the game to begin with (or headed there anyway) and all too happy to work for him after a weak rap or a nasty reproach. To me this is just uninspired and not wholly credible.
While his youth in the first half is painstakingly detailed at a steady pace, some parts of his life in the second half were rushed that shouldn't have been, like his endeavor to get off of heroin. That takes up only about a page. The circumstance of a love-struck girl bent on murdering him is almost mentioned in passing. I would've rather read about these things than about his Tuskegee years or his Georgia affair with the cop's mistress. I saw a lot of wasted potential with this book. As good as it was, it could've been even better- a definitive masterpiece.
All that being said, it's recommended for being intelligently written, somewhat informative, and above all entertaining. Read if you are curious about the subject matter and like hard-boiled, unapologetic fiction.
Book Description
The definitive guide to vermicomposting-a process using redworms to recycle food waste into nutrient-rich food for plants. Newly revised and updated, this 162 page manual provides complete illustrated instructions on setting up and maintaining small-scale worm composting systems. Topics include different bins, what kind of worms to use, sex life of a worm, preparing worm beddings, how to meet the needs of the worms, what kinds of foods to feed the worms, harvesting worms, and making potting soil from the vermicompost produced. A 63 page bibliography, 24 annotated references, a glossary,and comprehensive index make this a valuabe reference book as well as a practical manual.
Customer Reviews:
All you need to know to start your own compost.......2007-08-26
I must say that I knew most of the stuff contained in the book, since the web contains a LOT of information. Nevertheless, the online info is quite dispersed. Here you can have all the knowledge in one book. Also, I did not give it 5 stars, because I think it still lacks a bit of professionalism; the author indeed knew a lot from decades for worm composting, but still, a lot of her knowledge was empiric and seems unsure of some of the causes. For instance, she emphasizes a lot on cold climates and gives little info on hot climates.
Good Instructions.......2007-07-04
This book had very compete instructions on the worm composting system. In fact, it was so good, that after reading it, I decided that the amount of care they would need was more than I wanted to take on.
Recycling to the Max.......2007-06-09
More and more people are developing an interest in non-toxic methods of horticulture and agriculture. Not only that, but the limitations of landfills, the expense of fossil fuels, and the growing body of evidence showing a relationship between human activity and global warming is leading us to consider the wisdom of recycling. Everything. So here we are with a natural, inexpensive method of enriching our soil, and making it disease and pest resistant. This book is a great introduction to the topic of vermiculture. It may take a while before you actually get up the courage to do it, because the book does not adequately dramatize and address the fears and revulsions most people have to rotting, decomposition, and the like. But still, it's a good book.
Hurray for Worms.......2007-03-09
This book is very informative. My only negative comment is that sometimes the information is hard to find when going back for reference.
I've had my worms for 3 days now and a few have escaped. Overall they seem happy to eat the food I've put in the home I made for them, but plastic tubs the size and shape that she recommends are pretty impossible to find. I don't know if this is why some of them are trying to leave. I hope to get an upgrade in worm housing for an upcoming birthday and perhaps this will eliminate the wanderlust some of them are feeling.
How I rate "Worms Eat My Garbage" by Mary Appelhof.......2007-01-04
This is a great book! Not only was it easy to read, I found everything I needed to know and more. The book is filled with a nice blend of scientific information presented with a light-hearted often amusing approach.
Book Description
If you could send a letter back through time to your younger self, what would the letter say?
In this moving collection,
forty-one famous women write letters to the women they once were, filled with advice and insights they wish they had had when they were younger.
Today show correspondent Ann Curry writes to herself as a rookie reporter in her first job, telling herself not to change so much to fit in, urging her young self, “It is time to be bold about who you really are.” Country music superstar Lee Ann Womack reflects on the stressed-out year spent recording her first album and encourages her younger self to enjoy the moment, not just the end result. “Your hair matters far, far less than you think,” is the wry advice that begins the letter bestselling mystery writer Lisa Scottoline pens to her twenty-year old self. And Maya Angelou, leaving home at seventeen with a newborn baby in her arms, assures herself she will succeed on her own, even if she does return home every now and then.
These remarkable women are joined by Madeleine Albright, Queen Noor of Jordan, Cokie Roberts, Naomi Wolf, Eileen Fisher, Jane Kaczmarek, Olympia Dukakis, Macy Gray, and many others. Their letters contain rare glimpses into the personal lives of extraordinary women and powerful wisdom that readers will treasure.
Wisdom from What I Know Now
“Don’t let anybody raise you. You’ve been raised.” –Maya Angelou
“Try more things. Cross more lines.” –Breena Clarke
“Learn how to celebrate.” –Olympia Dukakis
“You don’t have to be afraid of living alone.” –Eileen Fisher
“Please yourself first…everything else follows.” –Macy Gray
“Don’t be so quick to dismiss another human being.” –Barbara Boxer
“Work should not be work.” –Mary Matalin
“You can leave the work world—and come back on your own terms.” –Cokie Roberts
“Laundry will wait very patiently.” –Nora Roberts
“Your hair matters far, far less than you think” –Lisa Scottoline
“Speak the truth but ride a fast horse.” –Kitty Kelley
Customer Reviews:
thought provoking and worth a read - share with a young woman.......2007-01-20
The main review dissed two of my favorite stories in the book - Barbara Boxer and Eileen Fisher. Different strokes, I guess. This is a quick and easy read but I find myself still thinking about it and mentioning it to friends. After I get it back from the friend I loaned it to, I'm going to write my own "what I know now" and tuck it into the book, and then send it off to my teenage nieces.
If nothing else, it is good to be reminded that we do learn much about ourselves and others over time, and that for the most part, struggles that seem insurmountable are usually survivable. Even if it hurts.
A Guide for Self-Exploration.......2007-01-10
Most of us have wondered at some time in our lives, "what if....." Letters to My Younger Self provides insight into the lives of other women and offers the reader the opportunity to ask herself: What would I write to my "younger self"?
disappointing.......2006-12-24
A book full of fluff, nothing of substance...
a good book to have on the shelf but nothing else.
Something to pass on!.......2006-06-04
I just Read Spragins amazing collection of letters and had to post this message about it. If you're looking for a meaningfull thought provoking gift this is it! This book will be cherished not just because it reveals the inner thoughts of some amazing people on our planet, but because it confirmations the inner voice in all of us that is often ignored.
This book is wonderful for young people who could use the sage advice of a mentor. It's great for people thinking about the changes they want to make in their life. It's also a good way to stimulate you to write your own letter.
After reading "Letters to My Younger Self" I wrote a letter to myself about what I wished I'd known 20 years ago. The experience was very helpfull. It allowed me to think about the past and contemplate the future in a way I hadn't before.
A Lesson in Reflection.......2006-05-12
I found this book as I was looking for a gift for my daughter's college graduation. The concept seemed incredible to me so I grabbed it up and brought it home. Reading the letters inpired me to write my own letter. I wrote a letter to myself 23 years before, pregnant with my daughter. The process of reflection was intense for me. I cried as I remembered the fears I had--the uncertainty. My sister called as I was writing this letter and the two of us went even farther back than 23 years. We remembered each other as children--when we were unable to communicate our fears. Our conversation helped our relationship and helped me to finish my letter to myself. In the end, my letter to me became my gift to my daughter. Without this book, all this reflection would be lost.
Average customer rating:
- My Life With The Chimpanzees
- Excellent autobiography for young people as well as adults.
- A Heart-warming Adventure
- Boring!
- never forgotten!
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My Life with the Chimpanzees
Jane Goodall
Manufacturer: Aladdin
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Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey
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Africa in My Blood: An Autobiography in Letters: The Early Years
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Through a Window
ASIN: 0671562711 |
Book Description
From the time she was a girl, Jane Goodall dreamed of a life spent working with animals. Finally she had her wish. When she was twenty-six years old, she ventured into the forests of Africa to observe chimpanzees in the wild. On her expeditions she braved the dangers with leopards and lions in the African bush. And she got to know an amazing group of wild chimpanzees -- intelligent animals whose lives, in work and play and family relationships, bear a surprising resemblance to our own.
Customer Reviews:
My Life With The Chimpanzees.......2007-07-29
This book is a great introduction to Dr. Goodall, physical anthropology, and primatology. Because it is written by Jane, the insight into the lives of the chimpanzees and the environment in general gives us her own personal message of hope and preservation for all creatures and places.
Excellent autobiography for young people as well as adults........2004-03-12
My 8 year old was assigned to do her monthly book report on a biography. She wanted to read about Abraham Lincoln... until she found out she had to dress up as the book's subject! Regrouping with a week to go and a driving vacation looming, I rushed to ...to find a children's biography available in audio download... and stumbled upon this gem. We all listened to the (abridged) audio version on the trip, and I do think that hearing it read by the author added a great deal. My daughter read the unabridged book with fascination when we got home, though I suspect she might have had more difficulty relating to the book had she not heard Jane Goodall speak her own words first. At any rate, the report (outfitted with khakis, a notebook, and a velcro-handed stuffed chimp) was a great success, and my daughter has met a role model of determination, compassion, and wisdom.
A Heart-warming Adventure.......2004-01-22
An excellent book! Reading about the extraordinary life Jane Goodall has led is fascinating in itself. Add to it the personalities of the chimps you get to know as you read the book and the adventures Jane Goodall has experienced, and you have a fascinating read. Other reviews recommend this book to children, I recommend it for adults as well. I am thirty-something years young and cried when I read parts of this. Dr. Goodall's love for these animals really comes through.
Boring!.......2001-11-13
This book was so broing I couldn't even get through the whole thing. She was putting me to sleep!
never forgotten!.......2000-06-08
This is a beautiful book, grasping your atention and holding your hand thru a fantastic journey into Africa, and into the chimpanzes of the Gombe. You will get to meet all of them, and even see how they are like, observing the individual diferences of their behaviour. Parents: please purchase it for your kids! Kids: get your parents to buy it for you! Inspiring! I am now 22, but I must have been 10 when I first read this book (not this edition of course!). I still purchase Jane Goodall's books...and I'm following the dream she helped inspire: to go to a place no one can pronounce to study an animal few people care about...
Book Description
This, the long-awaited third volume of the Cosmic Trigger series, includes Wilson's witty and humorous observations about the widely spread (and, happily, premature) announcement of his demise. And, of course, what Wilson masterpiece would be complete without synchronicities, religious fanatics, UFOs, crop circles, paranoia, pompous scientists, secret societies, high tech, black magic, quantum physics, hoaxes (real and fake), Orson Welles, James Joyce, Carl Sagan, Madonna and The Vagina of Nuit.
Customer Reviews:
A nice ending to the trilogy of wickedly entertaining brain food.......2007-09-26
If you enjoyed the first two Cosmic Trigger books, pick this one up. I would recommend reading the first two books initially but you don't have to in order to get a lot out of this one. RAW makes me laugh and think and laugh again. I like to keep a notepad nearby to jot down people, subjects etc. he mentions, for more research later on. His writings have opened up many doors for many people.
I found this third book to be easier to follow and more focused on it's thesis than the previous volumes. For me, reading all three in sequence seemed to work very well. Enjoy!
Wilsonian Romp.......2003-01-15
There really is not much for me to say on this one. It's just a fun ride. The kind you come to expect with Wilson. It is book you can read without having read the Cosmic Trigger books, but it helps.
What a conclusion.......2002-04-23
How many books can begin with their author dieing? Well, it seems that nothing is impossible to Robert Anton Wilson. Finding out about his death on the internet, Wilson takes us along another journey of self discovery and an examination of belief systems.
The story takes us to Ireland and unveils a host of new story lines to help you question the way you look at the world and help you to expand your mind. While this book comes close to the second book in the series, it falls just short of being equally as excellent. Wilson again attacks his topic through the intertwining of several story lines and does not disappoint. For anyone new to Wilson, you may wish to start with the second book in the series. If you have read the first two books, this one is definitely an excellent ending to the series.
OK, HERE'S THE DEAL...........2002-03-14
I feel that Wilson might be a genius. He seems to me to be smart enough to realize that his opinion isn't necessarily the best one. He's careful to state that his opinions are just that, OPINIONS. This colors everything he does. {People looking for answers should run screaming the other way.)
This is a set of essays, strung together in a manner that will make you think. His style as an essayist is engaging. In fact, I enjoy his essays more than his novels. Even when I disagree with Wilson (which might very well happen if you read with an open mind), I still find something to think about and consider.
I think that his books are designed to be mind-openers, not mind closers...I actually met a RAW-Dogmatic guy once, and after I finished laughing, tried to show him that (in my opinion) he missed the message.
This seems to me to be a fantastic book. I hope you enjoy it, too.
Brilliant "mid-wing" essays........2001-03-16
I think it's impossible for Robert Anton Wilson to write a non-interesting book. (Unfortunately he's gone into virtual retirement since the death of this wife.) While "Trigger III" has very little to do with the first book, (actually none of them have any connection other than title ) it's just a spellbinding read. To me, only RAW can write about what would be considered incidental and trival to most people and just make one gasp at the taken-for-granted mysteries and subtleties of existence. Such as, why IS the Mona Lisa cannonized as a masterpiece while works of equal of vast superioriority not? Here(as in all his books)he absolutely blasts away both materialistic dogma (Carl sagan, CISCOP, politicans)and religious dogma ( all of 'em ).
Wilson is a philosopher who can see the beauty AND the B.S. of life. He intelligently explains having mystical expericences as a STARTING point to exploration, not a new dogma to shove down people's throats. In my opinion, no other writer is better in explaining and exposeing how the world is with more honesty, knowledge and HUMOR. ( This applies to litterally ALL his books, not just CT III)
To my knowledge this is the last book Wilson has released. I sure hope he writes another before he "moves on". His works have literally transfromed me into, I think, a far wiser person. Hopefully for you as well.
Book Description
For a generation of teenage girls, Sassy magazine was nothing short of revolutionary—so much so that its audience, which stretched from tweens to twentysomething women, remains obsessed with it to this day and back issues are sold for hefty sums on the Internet. For its brief but brilliant run from 1988 to 1994, Sassy was the arbiter of all that was hip and cool, inspiring a dogged devotion from its readers while almost single-handedly bringing the idea of girl culture to the mainstream. In the process, Sassy changed the face of teen magazines in the United States, paved the way for the unedited voice of blogs, and influenced the current crop of smart women’s zines, such as Bust and Bitch, that currently hold sway.
How Sassy Changed My Life will present for the first time the inside story of the magazine’s rise and fall while celebrating its unique vision and lasting impact. Through interviews with the staff, columnists, and favorite personalities we are brought behind the scenes from its launch to its final issue and witness its unique fusion of feminism and femininity, its frank commentary on taboo topics like teen sex and suicide, its battles with advertisers and the religious right, and the ascension of its writers from anonymous staffers to celebrities in their own right.
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant concept, but not the memory lane I was looking for........2007-10-05
Seriously... I *CHERISH* Sassy Magazine.. all of the back issues, xeroxes of back issues... It did change my life...and when I got this book, there was no pictures, except for some on-the-cover-spineline-shots, and artsy rolled magazine shots... I really wanted to reminice, and I got gossip, and analysis and it kinda made me sad. For such a visual magazine... there's nothing to look at in this book.
Once Upon A Time.......2007-07-27
Long, long ago (not really, just the early 1990's, but it feels like forever!), there was the most fantastic teen magazine ever: SASSY!!! For girls like myself (this is William's wife Jen writing, by the way, in case anyone is wondering "Huh?") who were not the upper class WASPs of America with money to burn, perfect tans and bleached hair and New Kids lust, Sassy was such an amazing outlit for our social, political, and emotional frustrations. I was a girl who didn't gave a darn about 90210, Debbie Gibson, Prada, Calvin Klein, social conformity, and Sassy really helped to open up a whole nother world. The staff at Sassy became like our cooler older sisters in the hip underground: they knew all of the cool bands, fashions, actors, etc before the mainstream media had a clue. Also, I must add, that Sassy was the first place where I had read about Wicca which is now my spiritual path in life. In a time which I was an outcast demiJew interested in paganism and Buddhism but forced to going to a very Conservative Catholic school full of the standard cheerleader types (their solution to life was just to follow whatever nonsense the nuns and their parents proclaimed, no matter how braindead, and never to think for themselves), Sassy was literally a Goddess send where I finally felt connected.
On another note, I was very happy to see that they added a bit about how many girls felt alienated by the ultra- underground and alternative aspects of Sassy. Towards the end of the magazine, it seemed to me (and after reading, I'm glad I'm not the only one) that if you liked any song that managed to get on the radio, any show that had appeared in TV Guide, or wanted to dye your hair with Clairol instead of funky Kool Aid colours, then you were deemed terminally uphip (I remember as if it were yesterday how they trashed my then favourite band Roxette). I think that that exclusiveness, rather than any boycotts about the sex columns, were the cause of Sassy's demise. Still, it was an amazing magazine and so uplift and often soulsearching for its readers and sadly no magazine has come close to filling that void for today's young women (although B*tch is great. Check it out if you can).
Media Revolution Girl Style.......2007-07-01
Before female adolescents in America had Oakland/Portland's Bitch or Chicago's VenusZine for feminism 101, there was New York City's Sassy. In How Sassy Changed My Life, readers are given a magazine-size book that reads like a nostalgic love letter chronicling one of women's crucial marks in journalism's history. Known as the 80s lovechild of founder Sandra Yates of Australia's Dolly and then 24-year-old Jane Pratt, the youngest editor-in-chief of a magazine, Sassy shunned the "come get me boys" themes of teen publications with blonde, blue-eyed, bulimic models. For the first time, two female writers carefully analyze Sassy's impact on insecure, teenage girls seeking refuge from YM and Seventeen through interviews with former staff members and the many readers that created an online cult following.
How Sassy Changed My Life starts off by answering the frequently-asked question: why would anyone write a book about a teen magazine? While Jesella and Meltzer give a brief, but convincing explanation for exploring Sassy's rich, cultural history in American media, the chapters remain faithful in giving an in-depth look behind the magazine's main competitor. With Seventeen's "Where to Spy Guys" and "Learn How to Be a Secretary" ads, Walter Anneberg, the publication's owner (who had a gold-plated toilet seat in his private plane), surely wasn't risking his sales with features on homosexuality, AIDS and premarital sex. Yet, when Sassy arrived at 1 Times Square in 1988, they covered "The Dirty Scummy Truth on Spring Break (or, Where The Jerks Are)," included ads for Doc Martens and featured pixie-haired models with bandanas. Jesella and Meltzer manage to successfully show with crisp, tight language, the staff's many personalities that collectively provided a voice for those wanting to learn about their inner girl power with "13 Reasons Not to Diet." Former reader Sarah Kowalski commented, "The magazine was so personal it felt like a community, like people that you hung out with-that was very important. I was kind of an outsider type. I didn't have a lot of friends in school. You wanted to find your people."
One of the major concerns in How Sassy Changed My Life was Pratt's portrayal in the magazine's birth and downfall. Pratt, initially viewed as "the extremely charismatic leader," who made her writers "go through as many as 15 story drafts," was detested by Sassyites for the betrayal known as Jane magazine. Jesella and Meltzer spoke with Jane's arch-nemesis, Lisa Jervis from Bitch, who retaliated against Pratt's vision for a more girl-friendly periodical that even included a column by Pamela Anderson. In responding to Bitch's "10 Things I Hate About Jane," Jervis explained, "Those of us salivating in front of the newsstand were hoping for something that took Sassy's early vision of self-confident girl power and critical thinking a step forward." Ultimately, How Sassy Changed My Life concluded with Pratt being a pretentious publisher whose feud with Bitch magazine seems more appealing than her celebrity-fueled glossy. While the conclusion leaves readers torn, Jesella and Meltzer lets their audience decide whether Pratt should be celebrated for her role in leading Sassy or hated for her false promise in keeping the dream alive.
Whether you grew up reading Sassy or are just discovering its famous April 1992 cover of grunge's Sid and Nancy, How Sassy Changed My Life is a cultural tour de force that embodies the best of modern feminist writing. Readers will finish Jesella's and Meltzer's testimonial feeling confident about their femininity and hopeful for womankind's future, just as Sassy did for six years.
One to check out from the library.......2007-06-04
Read it in two sittings - it's fast, with more gossip in it than I expected. It was surprisingly balanced in terms of pointing out how Sassy may have just promoted a new alterna-girl conformism with their backlash against the Seventeen ethos.
I am sort of surprised that there was no mention that lots of readers' political views matured beyond the ones pushed by Sassy. Perhaps that's because the authors' views are still stuck in teenage years, too? (The tone of approval given by the authors to Ian Svenonius's Marxism was another cringe-worthy moment.)
My only wish: A scrapbook of clippings from various issues, or at least pictures of the staff, and a where-are-they-now? chapter. Okay, that was three wishes. With those features, the book would have been worth purchasing. Now I just wish I'd sent the money to charity instead.
A celebration of the magazine which influenced a generation of liberal, activist young women.......2007-05-21
The central thesis of How Sassy Changed My Life is that the one-of-a-kind teen magazine created a club of kindred spirits during its short 6-year tenure, and that it has had a lasting effect on a generation (or two) of American women. Authors Jesella and Meltzer write "Upon meeting a fellow Sassy fan, we feel like we understand something essential about that person: their life philosophy, what their politics might be like, what their artistic preferences are, what they were like in high school, what kind of person they wanted to grow up to be. (By contrast, we find non-fans of a certain age slightly suspect.)"
Since this title is about how Sassy changed our lives, it is necessary for me to reflect on my own Sassy readership. I picked it up for the first time at age eleven, when the magazine was just two years old. My best friend and I were immediate converts, and even created our own short-lived dozen-wide-circulation `zine in the Sassy tradition. I have all my Sassy back issues. When the magazine was sold to the owners of Teen magazine in 1994, the editorial staff was fired, and the name was repackaged as standard bubblegum fare, I never knew why my magazine died such a horrible death. I cancelled my subscription to the "Stepford Sassy" and every time I got a renewal notice, I would write an angry letter about my disgust with the new magazine (my boyfriend at the time could never understand why I had such passionate distaste for renewal notices).
Finally, the story of the rise and untimely death of Sassy is told, in this fine collection with chapters about the conception of the magazine, its rise, its relationship to the competitors, the lives of the staffers, the feminism of the publication, and its catastrophic fall from grace.
Sassy was the first magazine in which I read bylines, in which I reflected on what I knew about the writer of each piece, and how his or her personality and life experience played into the end product. Sassy poked fun at the celebrity worship and body-flaw fixing so central to other teen magazines. It talked frankly about sex in a voice completely opposite from that of your curmudgeonly gym teacher. Jesella and Meltzer's book is not only a delightful trip down memory lane, it also reveals important behind-the-scenes tensions and political maneuverings, as well as the cultural significance of the periodical. Highly recommended.
Book Description
Helen Boyd's husband, who had long been open about being a cross-dresser, was considering living as a woman full time. Suddenly, Boyd was confronted with the reality of what it would mean if her husband were actually to become a woman — socially, legally, and medically. Would Boyd love and desire her partner the same way?
Boyd's first book, My Husband Betty, explored the relationships of cross-dressing men and their partners. Now, She's Not the Man I Married is both a sequel and a more expansive examination of gender in relationships. It's for couples who are homosexual or heterosexual, and for readers who fall anywhere along the gender continuum.
As Boyd struggles to understand the nature of marriage, passion, and love, she shares her confusion and anger, providing a fascinating observation of the ways in which relationships are gendered, and how we cope, or don't, with the emotional and sexual pressures that gender roles can bring to our marriages and relationships.
Customer Reviews:
a unique look into trans marriage.......2007-07-08
She's Not the Man I Married is a smart, in-depth look at being a woman whose husband is transgendered. Boyd is candid and brave as she talks about the strain of loyalty and desire, the confusion, questions of sexuality and identity and, most of all, the emotional reality of being married to someone who needs to make the biggest change that a person can possibly make.
A sequel to the more detached in tone novel, My Husband Betty, Boyd wrote She's Not the Man I Married specifically to talk more openly about her feelings. Boyd is articulate and has clearly thought about this topic a great deal, in addition to her research. Her writing is fluid and moving. It has its academic moments, but is always accessible. I can imagine other writers who deal with this subject turning it into something sensational and lurid, but Boyd never writes to the lowest common denominator.
She's Not the Man I Married is a book about gender, but it's also a memoir. Boyd succeeds in her project; the perspective is intimate, and the facts are interesting for those who can personally relate as transgendered people or those married to transgendered people, as well as outsiders. It's special to get to peek into the private space of any marriage, particularly a marriage that faces such unique challenges. She's Not the Man I Married sustains this glimpse for 300 pages, and it is a fascinating read.
Fantastic for a sense of the emotional impact on partners.......2007-06-08
While many books on the subject deal with the individual struggles the transgendered individual encounters on their voyage, this book gives a very thoughtful and emotional depiction of sharing a life with a transgender partner and has questioned gender roles and identity in a variety of ways all her life. For trans-identifying individuals, it provides an excellent insight into some of the struggle any partner they may have is certainly experiencing, and the sacrifices they make out of love if they support the trans partner. It concludes in a way that is to be expected for a book on a work in progress, and in a very touching way.
Honest and Touching.......2007-05-29
This wise, witty, wonderful book--at turns compassionate, exasperated, hopeful, and resigned--should be considered the gold standard for memoirs of the partner of a transperson.
Ms. Boyd's fierce feminism and remarkable intellect shine through in her original analysis of transgenderism from the perspective of a woman not always comfortable with her own gender yet feeling no desire to ever change it. Using the lens of her partner's transgenderism, she examines the central question of feminism--should gender matter?--with surprising and sometimes disturbing results.
Perhaps her most fascinating accomplishment is the exposure of her own turmoil and ambivalence about Betty's transness and potential transition; whether she realizes or not, Ms. Boyd's emotions are a mirror for those of many transpeople, and the feeling of being torn inside is common to both transpeople and their partners.
A fascinating study of gender in its many surprising forms, I highly recommend this book.
An impressive, touching memoir.......2007-05-26
"She's Not The Man I Married" is, at once, a wrenchingly honest memoir of the author's own sometimes painful relationship with her gender (and with the cultural expectations and standards that those who grow up female are subjected to), and a perceptive, witty, and always-interesting commentary, from a feminist perspective, on many of the seemingly insurmountable complexities that lie at the intersection of gender, transgender, and relationship issues. Ms. Boyd makes no attempt to wrap things up neatly with pat solutions or easy answers -- because there are none -- and takes an unflinching look at the difficulties that a gender transition presents, not only for transpeople themselves, but, just as importantly, for those who love them. This is a worthy follow-up to "My Husband Betty," and, I think, is equally destined to be a classic in its field.
Incredibly Moving.......2007-05-26
Helen's first book, My Husband Betty, was very focused on sharing information about crossdressers and their partners. As someone who had little to no experience with crossdressing or crossdressers, that book was highly educational for me.
She's Not the Man I Married is less about information and more about Helen's experiences as the partner of a trans person. She addresses her fears, her frustrations, her own discovery of what gender means in her life. Mostly what comes through is the tremendous love that she and Betty have for one another, and the surprising impact of gender on their relationship.
This book is smart, articulate, and heart-wrenchingly honest. Go and buy it right now.
Book Description
For the first time, a first person account of life inside the jihad...
Between 1994 and 2000, Omar Nasiri worked as a secret agent for Europe's top foreign intelligence services - including France's DGSE (Direction Générale de la Sécurite Extérieure), and Britain's MI5 and MI6. From the netherworld of Islamist cells in Belgium, to the training camps of Afghanistan, to the radical mosques of London, he risked his life to defeat the emerging global network that the West would come to know as Al Qaeda.
Now, for the first time, Nasiri shares the story of his life--a life balanced precariously between the world of Islamic jihadists and the spies who pursue them. As an Arab and a Muslim, he was able to infiltrate the rigidly controlled Afghan training camps, where he encountered men who would later be known as the most-wanted terrorists on earth: Ibn al-Sheikh al-Libi, Abu Zubayda, and Abu Khabab al-Masri. Sent back to Europe with instructions to form a sleeper cell, Nasiri became a conduit for messages going back and forth between Al Qaeda's top recruiter in Pakistan and London's radical cleric Abu Qatada.
A gripping and provocative insider's account of both Islamist terror networks and the intelligence services that spy on them, Inside the Jihad offers a completely original perspective on the ongoing battle against Al Qaeda.
Customer Reviews:
A Great Read!.......2007-08-08
In my opinion, Inside The Jihad was a great book. It read like a good spy novel. I could not put it down. In addition, the book provided great insight into the minds of the Jihadist and the newtorks in which they operate. Moreover, I was shocked at the amount, and quality, of training the author mentions. As a former soldier, I was amazed at the vast topics of training these "soldiers" receive: weapons, documents tampering, infantry tactics, ect. Overall, a great book. I would, and have, recommended it to others.
Interesting, but not credible.......2007-08-01
Overuse of trivialized Muslim forms of address and the juvenile
nature of the writing make this book "incredible".
I'd bet it was written by someone with limited knowledge
(probably gained via internet gossip).
Described handler behavior was incorrect in many particulars.
Tradecraft descriptions were, at best wishful thinking.
Good novel, worth reading, but not at all believable.
Strong Narrative From An Insider. .......2007-07-12
In "Inside The Jihad" author Omar Nasiri (not his real name) spins a very readable narrative about his life as a spy for the British and French intelligence services, including a year-long tour in a terrorist training camp in Pakistan.
I was struck by the readability and clear understanding of the complex issues that surround the recruiting of terrorists and the real boots-on-the-ground, day to day life and training in the terrorist camps. Much different of course, than the prospective of Western outsiders looking in, even the very experienced ones like Bob Bair (23 years Middle East, CIA operative).
The readability of this book deserves special note. Even serious readers of the subject struggle with retaining the alphabet-twisting, dash-filled names common in the Middle East. But Nasiri helps with this by outlining each major character and his association with them, plus, re-outling in a separate section who they are. I found myself only having to refer to this outline on one occasion, a credit to the author's clear foundation of the characters the first time.
Nasiri reinforces two major facts known to serious students of the subject, but unknown to most citizens and, of course, the Main Stream Media who are basically both lazy and clueless: 1. Most terrorists are not downtrodden, slum dwelling thugs, but rather middle class, college educated individuals who are not dumb. 2. The CIA procedures, directed by the Left-leaning Administration during the '90's of not even contacting informants who are bad guys, left our intelligence forces grossly under-informed during that critical decade. Informers inform for many different reasons, many times far too complex to clearly understand, but that doesn't mean the information does not have value.
The reader caught drifts of self-serving narrative in the book, but this is common in books of this type and can be accepted or rejected as you see fit.
In both style and content, I found this book a solid 5-star effort and well worth the reader's time.
A Good Read.......2007-06-28
The book is told in first person, storied format, which made it really enjoyable to read. I could care less about whether or not it's non-fiction (which the author claims), it's a good, suspenseful espionage type story, that teaches you a little something.
I didn't read it looking for political knowledge for debate, I read it to have something to read, and it was good, plain and simple.
Great book .......2007-06-18
Great book! Easy read the author is a really good writer, he should write more. this book is so good that it has made want to learn more about the muslim religion and since I have ordered more books about it.
Get it!!!
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