5 comments about The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother.

1. This is a remarkably unsentimental portrayal of a black man's white, Jewish mother who finds a life with those of another race more sustaining than staying with her own.



2. This book had been on my shelf for a long time. Having just finished it, I can only wish that I would have read it much, much sooner.
   
   This book alternates chapters between the author's voice (the son, James McBride) and the mother's voice. He uses italics for those chapters in his mother's words and, while it seems this would be clear enough, I still got very confused in the first half of the book. I would begin a chapter knowing it was in the mother's voice because of the italics but, once I was heavily into the chapter, I would get confused about the family history because both her chapters and his chapters are written in first person. This is the only reason I gave this book 4 stars vs. 5, because it was otherwise an outstanding and truly touching read.
   
   This is the story of a white Jewish woman who marries a black man and raises 12 children (a combination of his children and her second husband's). Despite the fact that the family was desperately poor during much of their lives, all of her children went to college and most went on to be doctors, teachers, nurses, etc. She wasn't exactly the picture of a smiling, perfect Donna Reed-like mom; she was a tough cookie, but she fiercely loved her children and raised them to be good people. All of this while being completely shunned by her own family because she married a black man and left home against the wishes of her tyrant father.
   
   In my earlier adulthood, I definitely had a chip on my shoulder about my own childhood not being a piece of cake but, when compared with this woman's ordeal, my family was something out of a happy-go-lucky TV sitcom. I think anyone who is in a "my life is so hard" mindset would be well served by reading this book. Sometimes what we need is a healthy dose of someone *else's* reality to remind us that our own is not really all that bad.



3. I wanted to love this book. And I almost did. I was hooked at the beginning, but the further I read, the more discouraged I became. I could not really like any of the people and I was not impressed at all with "Mommy" or at least the portrayal of her. I think the story was good, but the telling of it was weak, unclear and toward the end, rambling. There were several spots where it could have and in my opinion should have, ended. Indeed, I set it aside for over a week with only 50 pages to go and only finished it when I had nothing else to read.



4. This book was recommended to me by a friend who also happens to be an English professor. I won't go into the story line as others have done so here already. Suffice it to say that it is a beautifully crafted book about love and the human spirit. Don't miss it!



5. I read this book when I was in the 11th grade, I simply love it. I actually had to reread the first 4 chapters twice, because I was so confused at first. Tha authors style of writing and they way the book was split leaves you a little confused, but then u realize it is his life and then his mothers. I simply enjoyed this book. It not only discusses what life is like for a black boy, but for a white woman engaged in an interracial relationship and the struggles she faced. We so often hear about the Black struggle...its good to see boths sides for once!

5 comments about Black Boy - ABRIDGED.

1. Very good read, his experiences keep you reading and you want to find out what happens next in his life.



2. Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you know there is a GREAT event coming up almost a week away in New York City. The American Place Theatre's Festival: Literature to Life is performing a theatrical adaptation of BLACK BOY by Richard Wright on September 20th, 2008. Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to see this moving autobiography come to life. Here's the information and can't wait to see you there!
   
   The American Place Theatre's Fourth Annual Literature to Life Festival
   Citizen and Censorship: Raise Your Civic Voice!
   When: September 20th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
   Where: The Scholastic Auditorium Landmark Soho Building
   577 Broadway between Spring Street and Prince Street
   Tickets: Single Show Pass $20, Single Day Pass $55, Full Festival Pass
   $100
   To reserve tickets contact The American Place Theatre at
   212-594-4482 x10 or for more information logon to
   www.americanplacetheatre.org



3. I read Black Boy years ago and wanted to refresh my memory of the book. The author has a way of taking you into his world. I was rivited to the pages as I was all those years ago when I first read the book. I would recommend this book to anyone, young or old.



4. Often when you see books written about the life of black people in any point and time before the 1960's its main message is "My life was hard because white people are terrible," and that gets very redundant. However this was quite refreshing, as he did not harp on racism on every page. This is a very well written and intresting account of this man's unique life experiences and all the strange, crazy people he encountered within his family and outside them as well. People who have a few or several nuts on their family tree will be able to relate to Black Boy.



5. The best autobiography EVER, in fact I am not even sure it should be called autobiography because it is much more than that for many reasons. Autobiographies are often flat and either self pitying or glorifying, but this one is completely at another level. I was so impressed by the brilliant mind that shines through all obsacles, and his writing is just so natural, logical and insightful, not just about his personal life experiences, but about human suffering, senseless oppression, and unyiedling human spirit. Wow!

5 comments about Horse of a Different Color: A Tale of Breeding Geniuses, Dominant Females, and the Fastest Derby Winner Since Secretariat (Audio).

1. Just finished reading Jim Squires' outstanding book "Horse of a Different Color" which details his experience breeding,raising and racing Kentucky thorobreds, plus other bits & pieces of interesting lore. Haven't enjoyed a book this much in years. If you want to learn about the thoroughbred horse business, in general, and Kentucky horses in particular, and how Jim and his wife Mary Anne went about it, you won't find a more intertaining book anywhere.



2. Jim Squires provides a very unique approach to writing about an industry few have had the luxury of being on the inside of. "Horse of a Different Color" is intelligently presented and cleverly written. What a refreshing way to present information on a "culture" which exists in and of itself that few will ever have an opportunity to learn of otherwise. If you are at all interested in the horse racing industry, this book is a must read.



3. "Horse of a Different Color" shines when it shines the spotlight on Monarchos, winner of the 2000 Kentucky Derby. It sinks when the author looks at himself.

   Somewhere along the line, an Editor should have warned the author against using a second person narrative style. It just gets annoying after a while. And his dubbing of his wife as "The Dominant Female" is kind of cute at first, but after 300 pages it really grates on the nerves.

   Cutesy writing has no place in a book for adults.




4. Jim Squires, Horse of a Different Color (Perseus, 2002)

   Horse of a Different Color is an autobiographical account of Jim Squires getting into the horse breeding business and, three years after he started, breeding 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos. Whether that was a stroke of luck or breeding genius remains to be seen, but following Monarchos through the eyes of his breeder is engaging enough to make a decent book.

   Where it falls short is in Squires' writing style. First, note the word "autobiographical" in that first paragraph. Squires insisting on using the third person would have been an amusing trick for a chapter or two, but he persists throughout the novel. It gets old after a few pages. Also, there's something vaguely disquieting about his attitude towards women here; it almost seems too deferential to be real (and thus, a cover for something else). This could certainly be a literary device; the book's subtitle does mention that there are an excess of dominant females within these pages. Still, some of the descriptions in here made me read twice.

   When he focuses on the horse, though, everything works just fine. Even the annoyance of the insistent third person narrative fades into the background. Monarchos was one hell of a horse, and Squires' book captures that well enough. Not as well as Hillenbrand captured Seabiscuit or Farley captured Man o' War, but enough for the Derby-and-Breeders' Cup horse fan to relive some good memories.

   Recommended, though it won't make the top twenty-five list this year. ***




5. I really enjoyed Seabiscuit, so I figured I'd give Horse of a Different
   Color a try. This book focuses on the money and the dumb-luck of the
   breeder (and author) of Monarchos, Derby winner from a few years back.
   The author uses self-depricating humor and name-dropping en masse to
   turn an undoubtedly exciting story into a painful, annoying tale. In a
   few paragraphs of unwisdom, author Jim Squires mentioned
   Seabiscuit, only compounding my fury at what this book is not.
   Instead of interesting characters (although I imagine they were there,
   Mr. Squires just didn't let us know them), we got names and
   generalities. Instead of heart-pounding tales of horse races, we got
   ho-hum descriptions of only two races.

   I will admit that there were a few worthwhile pages. I was unaware of
   the foreign interest in horse racing nor the internal politics of racing and
   breeding, but I would have rather read that in a short magazine article.

   Maybe this book is selling to all the hopeful newspaper editors turned
   lucky breeder. If that's not you, I'd stay away.

No comments about George and Elizabeth: A Royal Marriage.

5 comments about The MESSENGERS CASSETTE: A True Story of Angelic Presence and the Return to the Age of Miracles.

1. Angels really do exist, but I probably never would have read this book had it not been for the fact that I too began to "notice" some oddly recurring numerical sequences about a year ago and then experienced various Angelic "occurrences" which are continuing to this very day!
   
   Then, some of my friends began to report some very "interesting" things. Being a professional reporter and editor for many years - Hearst, CBS and NBC affiliates, numerous other papers - and a College-Bowl (like "Jeopardy") All-Star player, and having some truly remarkable friends around the world, it did not take me long through research and personal contacts to find out that Angels were involved; and that's what led me to "The Messengers" which is the true story of a multi-millionaire Jewish businessman in Portland, Oregon named Nick Bunick who not only begins to "notice" the "Divine Numbers" but also has high-level business associates who also "notice" them and soon begin to encounter Angels.
   
   Yea, it was just like my deal, except Bunick and associates experienced a few things that, so far, have been even wilder than my own experiences. Wow!
   
   Among other things, Bunick, it turns out, also has been told by several psychics over the years, friends of friends, that he "walked with the Master Jesus" in a previous life. Well, old Nick, a tough but open-minded man, finally is "prompted" to visit another friend's past-life therapist just to see what happens. Remember, Bunick is a real-life, top-notch businessman who also is Jewish. He doesn't need money, he really doesn't want the publicity, and why would a modern-day Jewish entrepreneur want to stick his neck out for Jesus? What he does want are some answers to some very nagging questions. Something money can't always buy, so why not give hypnosis a try?
   
   Enter Julia Ingram who, over many sessions, finds that Nick Bunick not only walked with Jesus but was none other than Saul of Tarsus who later became known as "The Apostle Paul."
   
   Interestingly enough, I also have read "Sleeping Prophet" Edgar Cayce's "Story of Jesus" which was written long before "The Messengers," and information about Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Paul, and the Apostle Lucius provided by Cayce fully supports information about the same that is found in "The Messengers." The latter book, however, sheds a lot more positive light on Saul "Paul" and provides additional details about Jeshua "Jesus" and his ministry, contemporaries, and followers.
   
   I believe Nick Bunick deserves a lot of credit for having the curiosity, persistence, and courage to see this book through to completion; and I also applaud Julia Ingram, G. W. Hardin, and all the others who were part of the amazing story and/or contributed to the volume's success.
   
   To appreciate this book, one only must have some faith and an open mind, but it helps to be knowledgeable about Christianity and metaphysics (or at least the concept of reincarnation); and it really, really helps if the Angels start "prompting" you. Smile.



2. I admire the author of this book as I have been in her presence
   at a Women's retreat and am inspired by her and her book.



3. This is a book that I have owned for many years and I found that all the information written about remains a wonderful research book in understanding why we are all here.



4. Makes you aware of what's going on around you. There really are angels near to help and guide us - we only need to stop and listen.



5. a true revelation. g.w.hardin can certainly be classified as one of our chosen light workers on earth. this book certainly renews our faith in the angels. it was so captivating i couldn't put it down. thanks for the messages.

5 comments about Bootlegger's Boy.

1. I never really had a Grandfather. One died the day I was born, and the other one died when I was about 7. I don't remember them, and I don't remember talking to my one Grandfather.
   
   Listening to Barry Switzer has always felt like listening to what I imagine listening to a Grandfather is like. Does that make sense?
   
   He has a very calm, matter of fact way of telling a story. Seeing him talk on TV or live in person is a delight. He seems to have such control of himself, and he has always appeared composed and respectful. One thing I have always liked about the King is his way of telling it like it is, he won't pull punches if there is something controversial to talk about. He attacks conspiracy and controversy with a straight face, and a cool head.
   
   Bootlegger's Boy is a great autobiography in that it tells a very complete story. Barry does a good job of describing the important events in his life that shaped the man he became, and the man he continues to be. He knows that he is no saint, and I appreciate how he is a man about things. Barry's philosophy is one of taking responsibility for your words and actions, and also holding others to that standard as well.
   
   Sooners will never get tired of the King, for he was a great coach, and he continues to be a great man. A very inspiring book in my opinion. If you want a book that will get the hairs all over your body to stand on end and light a fire under your tail, look no further.



2. As a rabid Oklahoma fan, I had this book for some time before I actually read it. Whether the reader loves Barry or hates him, after reading this book, admiration and respect will develop for this popular coach.
   
   I chuckled as I read some of the stories, and cried when I read others. Barry holds nothing back and his personality comes through. This man is Hall of Fame anyday, in my book.



3. Love him or hate him, Barry Switzer is a college football icon. Published a year after his banishment from the University of Oklahoma (following a series of turbulent off-the-field incidents), Switzer tells all in his rousing autobigraphy, BOOTLEGGER'S BOY.

   The title is not an exaggeration; Switzer's father was a womanizing, hard-drinking Arkansas bootlegger, while his quiet mother battled mental problems and an addiction of her own. Able to overcome such dysfunction (and some of his family tales are fascinating), Switzer was able to utilize his athletic ability to play football at the University of Arkansas under legendary coach Frank Broyles. When his college career was over, Switzer realized his calling was coaching; Broyles gave him the opportunity by letting the young lineman join his coaching staff. In the mid-60s firebrand coach Jim MacKenzie was hired to restore the football "monster" at OU, a monster that the great Wilkinson had created. MacKenzie offered Switzer a position on his coaching staff; Switzer became a Sooner, and the seeds of destiny were sewn.

   Chuck Fairbanks, succeeding MacKenzie (who died tragically after just a year on the job), promoted Switzer to offensive coordinator. Switzer writes he was looking for an offense to revolutionize college football; an unorthodox, high-risk option offense, known as the "wishbone," captured his attention. Switzer installed the offense and the Sooners took off, figuratively and literally, as NCAA rushing records were shattered. When Fairbanks bolted in 1973 to go to the NFL, Switzer was handed the keys to the OU program, and the rest, as they say in the Sooner Nation, is history.

   For sixteen seasons, Switzer commanded a college football powerhouse; during his tenure the Sooners captured twelve Big Eight championships and three national championships. Switzer attributes his success to his Arkansas upbringing; growing up, most of his friends and neighbors were African-Americans. As a result, Switzer was more than comfortable approaching black athletes--at a time when other major programs were tentatively recruiting minorities--while reassuring parents that he would take good care of their sons. His recruiting redefined collegiate athletics, opening the doors for black athletes nationwide to participate in Division One football.

   Switzer's affection for his players is genuine. Page after page, account after account, the King (as he's known by Sooner diehards) fondly recalls his relationships with a plethora of All-Americans: the Selmon brothers; Joe Washington; Billy Sims; Tony Casillas; J.C. Watts; Keith Jackson; Brian Bosworth. Switzer was no stern disciplinarian, he readily admits it, and this "lack" of discipline created a perception of an outlaw program--a perception that came home to roost in 1989, when he was forced to resign by the OU administration during a series of troubling incidents that ultimately put the Sooners under NCAA probation.

   Switzer defiantly addresses the NCAA allegations, refuting some and pleading "guilty" to others. To enhance his arguments, he points to antiquated NCAA regulations (and keep in mind, this book was written years ago), regulations that, Switzer maintains, permeate a double standard. As an example, Switzer argues, why is it permissible for a chemistry professor to dig into his pocket and buy an airplane ticket for a homesick student during Christmas break, but not an athletic coach? Switzer's defense, along with his account of the events leading up to his ouster, make for fascinating page turning.

   Praise him or revile him, Barry Switzer's mark on college football is eternal, and BOOTLEGGER'S BOY is the King at his good ol' boy best. I only wish he would come back with a second edition describing his four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Three national championship rings and a Super Bowl ring. Not bad for a bootlegger's boy.
   --D. Mikels




4. This book is something to be revered by Sooner fans. Barry's recounts of the great games and great people around OU's glorious runs in the 70s and 80s bears reading. I just re-read the book after keeping it down for a few years, and it just gets better with time. If any of you out there need ammo for those Barry bashers, you need this book. Barry Switzer is a great man, and every Sooner fan should remember that.

   Barry covers his childhood, personal struggles, and his years at Arkansas. He then talks about those great 70s teams that we know get to see on ESPN Classic.

   Probably the most interesting part is his line item by line item response to every NCAA violation that OU was found guilty of. Barry pulls no punches and is not afraid to admit guilt where he saw it. His candidness is something special.

   You might find this book hard to find, but try your hardest and hit the auction sites, etc, you should be able to turn it up, and you won't be sorry.




5. As a rabid Nebraska football fan, I was given this book as a gag gift. It sat, unread, for months until I opened it up this Summer. In the course of reading the book, I have gone from loathing Barry Switzer, to respecting and even liking him. Most important was the way he described the crazy recruiting regulations of the NCAA. There were some real eyebrow-raisers in his accounts.

5 comments about Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned.

1. As a lover of M*A*S*H I jumped at this book and I'm glad I did.
   
   Alan Alda paints the portrait of his life with beautiful detail. I learned about the relationship he had with his parents. I didn't find the relationship he had with his dad to surprising. I sensed that a lot of who he is today comes from the foundational relationship he had with his dad.
   
   His mom on the other hand was very interesting to read about. I could sense his pain as he described what their relationship was like and at times how he wished it could have been.
   
   I wish he had spent more time on MASH memories and such, but I don't think he should have taken out anything that was in there.
   
   In short you sense the person he was that made him the person he is. I really enjoyed it. Anyone who loves MASH, or is just an Alan Alda fan should grab this book.



2. First of all, let me start out by saying that I have been in love with "Hawkeye Pierce" since girlhood. I grew up watching reruns of M*A*S*H and wishing I was a nurse, girlfriend, or anyone who could be close to this dynamic persona that was Alan Alda. I purchased the book, eager to know more of my childhood crush and was not disappointed. Alan Alda has a sincere writing style that makes you feel like you are in his living room as a trusted friend--rather than as a mere reader trying to find out more about his life. Many times, I laughed out loud at his wonderful stories and recollections. I am very eager to start his next book--which could not be disappointing if only half as good as his first. Thanks Alan Alda--but you will always be Hawkeye to me.



3. This tale contains much more about lessons of life than a famous TV star's autobiography. Alda discusses everything from his best moments on the road with his father's traveling stage-show to dealing with the mental illness of his mother. This is a must for any MASH fan who wants to know the unique journey of its star. You will not want to put this one down.



4. Alan Alda titled his new book Never Have Your Dog Stuffed -- and Other Things I've Learned. But rest assured he didn't write it as a guide for self-improvement. He doesn't aim to be your guru. "I tried to tell as good a story as I could," he sums up. The resulting narrative, at 224 pages, is as lean as its author, and as engaging, and as flush with ideas and observations. "There are things that were very, very difficult to put into words," says Alda, at 69 an entertainment veteran actor who had written numerous screenplays but never a book. "That was what I had the most fun with - the things that don't want to go into words. "But the hardest part was how to take a life and make it one simple story, not just a bunch of anecdotes. I didn't like the idea of writing a memoir or an autobiography. I only put in stuff that moved the story forward." The story: One man's advancement toward accepting the uncertainties of life. Letting go, notes Alda, is a drawn-out process, "so you don't just decide to do it. You have to creep up on it. Practice it. Get used to it. "I think the guy who winds up at the end of the book would say, 'Destiny is just what happens. " Alda should know. A lot has happened for that guy this year. He got an Oscar nomination for his role in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator, a Tony nomination for his Broadway performance in David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross, and an Emmy nomination for The West Wing, in which he plays flinty Republican presidential hopeful Arnold Vinick. He continues this season on the NBC political drama, and, for its Nov. 6 episode, Sen. Vinick will square off against the Democrat (Jimmy Smits) in a debate aired live. Which candidate will succeed President Bartlet (series star Martin Sheen) by season's end? " I wouldn't spoil the surprise even if I knew," Alda replies when pressed for details about his contractual commitment to the series. But then, flashing his incandescent grin, he pledges to remain "as long as necessary to turn this great country around." When he isn't shuttling to Los Angeles to shoot the series, Alda leaves his Long Island home to hit the campaign trail for Never Have Your Dog Stuffed. Its first sentence establishes the book's matter-of-fact, often darkly witty tone. "My mother didn't try to stab my father until I was six, but she must have shown signs of oddness before that," Alda writes. He was the son of a mentally ill mother and an actor father, Robert Alda, who was subject to the vagaries of show business during a career that ranged from the hardscrabble vaudeville circuit to Broadway in the original production of Guys and Dolls. All in all, it was a dizzying childhood for Alan. But by age nine, he had decided he would be an actor, too, setting the stage for his push-pull life of embracing make-believe while defiantly inquiring into how things really are. He is a man in love with facts and verifiable truth (his decade as the gung-ho host of Scientific American Frontiers makes that clear). But he has also studied what it means to yield control to forces beyond reason.



5. I've been a fan of Alda's work for a long time. The man is so talented it's unreal. Now to be able to see where he came from and how he got into the spotlight is amazing. He uses certain elements in his life where, had it happen to you or someone you know, it would be depressing, and turns them into amusing learning experiences. I am a constant reader, however 99% of what I read is fiction, nonfiction never grabs my attention. But I could not put this one down. Please read it. You wont regret it.

5 comments about Goat: A Memoir.

1. I picked this book up for my husband, but ended up reading it before him. If he had listened to my warnings, he wouldn't have wasted his time slogging through it.
   
   Another reviewer here mentioned that any patience you might have with the author runs out after page 120. Frankly, mine didn't last nearly as long. By page 30 I was sick of his self-criticism. Throughout the entire book all he focuses on is how he's not good enough, broken, damaged. It gets old very quickly. Every chance he gets to improve his situation he uses to show how he effectively sabotages himself. Then, he whines on about how he hates himself for it. And while the things that happened to him were undoubtedly unpleasant (and his initial attack was terrible), he was just facing events that millions of other youths, myself included, have gone through without nearly as much theatrics. And none of us have the money from book deals to help us get over it.
   
   I actually managed to read the entire book, so I must be a masochist. My husband barely got through it and he's really ticked off that he didn't heed my warnings. We're planning a trip to our home in SC this summer and we're going to burn this while we're down there - I won't even donate it, because it would be cruel to subject anyone else to the torture of reading this drivel.



2. This book is about a pledge that couldn't cut it. I am sorry the author suffered through what he did in the beginning of the book, but I am sick of people whining about how terrible hazing is. Hazing is the only way fraternities can keep out the guys who aren't serious about joining. If you want to read a book that confirms your beliefs that fraternities are bad, then read this book. If you want to read a book that shows you both the good and bad of fraternities, then read COLLEGE LIFE EXTREME: Lies, Sex, Drugs and Violence or Epsilon Zeta.



3. I went to a small college so I enjoy reading about the college lives of students who went to big party schools. This book is decently written and the storyline is fairly interesting, if somewhat limited by the loner personality of the author. I think this was the author's first book so you can't be too critical with his James Freyish writing style (no quotations). It's a little annoying at first, but you get used to it.
   
   Goat is a good first-person account of college life, but there is not as many stories about binge drinking, drugs and sex that you would expect from a kid who attended a big party school like Clemson. Again, I blame this on the author's tendency to be a loner which obviously reduces the quality of his stories when compared to a book like College Life Extreme. However, if you're not an alpha male frat boy type, (I'm not!) you might like Goat better because you can sympathize with the author who is not a jerk.
   
   In spite of its shortcomings, I'm going to give this book four stars because it is much better than most of the other junk college life books out there and this one has feeling behind it.



4. Goat is the story of a college Junior who, kidnapped, terrorized and humiliated a year and a half before, is now faced with the daunting prospect of pledging a fraternity in order to feel a part of the lives of others. Written as a memoir, it reads more like a novel, and provides an interesting perspective on what it means to feel like an outcast, a victim, in a community to which you're supposed to belong, a community of "brothers" whose souls are as lifeless as the debris the protagonist collects to prove he exists. Touching, if chilling, and steadfastly non-redeptive.



5. i grew up in the south and went to the university of georgia, where i learned to hate fratboys. bought this book and was sorely disappointed. you eventually start wondering who the hell this guy is and why he's such an idiot that he would pledge a clemson frat, in the first place? no small point, believe me. maybe he's just actually kind of a dumb guy. as you read, he really starts seeming that way. his 'style' is thoroughly annoying, and yes, it is 'faux hipster.' but eventually, i started thinking he did this on purpose so he would have something to write about. i think he joined the frat so he could write about the brutality of frats, juxtaposed with his assault--another first-hand thing he could write about. patch those two subjects together and voila, you've impressed all the kids in your creative writing class. bottom line is it's impossible to enjoy a memoir when you discover 50 pages in that you really dont much like the narrator.

No comments about The Yangtze Valley And Beyond (Classic Books on Cassettes Collection).

5 comments about In Black and White: The Life of Sammy Davis Jr..

1. Maybe the definitive biography of Sammy Davis Jr. can never be written. Or maybe it simply hasn't been done. This book is a mixed bag.
   
   The book filters the story of Sammy Davis Jr. through race, everything is either black or white. As a result, you do get some interesting concepts, that Davis did not want to "be" black, as if all blacks (or for that matter, all whites) had something in common.
   
   You do get extensive thoughts about his love for blonde women, and his affairs with Kim Novak is given a prominent amount of space.
   
   You also have a wonderful portrait of Will Mastin, a man who is ignored in every other book about Davis.
   
   But other things are glossed over, his drug and alcohol abuse, his Rat Pack days, even his marriage to May Britt.
   
   Oh, do not expect anything about his music in here, absolutely nothing about any of his records.



2. A must read! Wil Haygood's book, In Black and White, The Life of Sammy Davis, Jr. not only captures the mesmerizing and oftentimes daunting physical movement of the man- Sammy- in the seemingly separate worlds of black and white but unapologetically captivates the reader with Sammy's human quest for love and approval.
   
   The author skillfully provides the reader with a historical landscape to navigate the multidimensional aspects of the making of "Sammy" from his vaudeville childhood days to the inscription on the headstone of his final resting place--
   Sammy Davis Jr. "The Entertainer" He Did It All...and indeed he did.
   
   After reading the book, I can't wait to see Sammy "in living color" thanks to Denzel Washington's insight to purchase the screen rights.
   
   Written by Deleso Alford Washington, J.D., LL.M.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   



3. This book does not reflect the spirit of the life of Sammy Davis, Jr. I'm afraid that it relects the spirit of the life that the author, Wil Haygood, unfortunately must have led.
   
   I am very familiar with the details of Sam's life, I have heard it in his own words. Sam was a very pragmatic optimist who imagined the world in a very color-blind way. This is where Mr. Haygood leads the un-informed reader very far away from Sam's actual beliefs.
   
   Sam didn't want to be white, he wanted to be the best. That is what he constantly strived for. Sam stood up to racism so many times, in so many ways. How many times was his nose broken in race baited fights from his hitch in the Army ? Sam experienced the ignorance of racism many, many times, from many different people. But for every racist he had to battle, he also saw many more people who he loved, trusted & repected, and who he knew felt the same way towards him.
   
   Almost all of the material in this book is 'lifted' from the books co-written by Sam and Jane & Burt Boyar. These works are the true story. These people were there when these events happened, they witnessed them first hand. Not only has Mr. Haygood taken what actually transpired and twisted it to fit his agenda, he berates the people who daily lived through these experiences with Sam.



4. This is well written, thorough, entertaining, and really a superb history lesson. Great Job Mr. Haygood.



5. Wil Haywood, staff writer for the Washington Post, won the 2004 Hurston-Wright Legacy Award in Nonfiction, plus a host of other awards for In Black And White: The Life Of Sammy Davis Jr., so it's only fitting his impressive and entertaining biography of the life of Sammy Davis Jr. be reprinted in paperback to reach new generations of audiences with his award-winning life of one of America's most popular and versatile performers and entertainers of the 20th Century.