5 comments about Sweet Summer: Growing up with and without My Dad.

1. Campbell does a fantastic job recounting her childhood memories of growing up in Philadelphia with her mother and grandmother and spending her summers in Elizabeth City, North Carolina with her father. As Campbell ages, she yearns to have her father and mother in a traditional living situation, but learns to cope with life as it is. She also learns things about her father's past that have a negative affect on their relationsip, but she soon figures out how to let the past be the past and love her father for the man that he is.
   
   Having been raised in the south, the chapters about Campbell's North Carolina summers really struck a chord with me. Her paternal grandmother reminded me so much of my own - the passage about the chickens was dead on! Campbell also celebrates the other men in her life, her uncles and neighbors, and shares her warm and touching memories of these relationships.
   
   A positive and uplifting story that shows just how influential and beneficial men are in young girl's lives. 4 stars!



2. Once in a great while - about as often as Halley's Comet - a book comes along which stirs the soul and rattles your heart; a book which can transcend race, gender, age, place and time. This is such a book. Moore-Campbell is a magnificent writer; her verses poetic, her theme universal. Her autobiogrophy tells the story of growing up black and young without a full-time father, and the affects it can have on a child. It's not just her story; she shares this life with her cousin Michael (again, young and black without a full-time father), their Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts, and assorted 'father figures': Dads, Uncles, Reverands, Neighbors. One child (BeBe) can learn to adapt graciously, while the other (Michael) has a tougher time, as they each learn difficult 'truths' about their patriarchy. Beautifully written, the reader hangs on every word, as this wonderful story unfolds.



3. This is a wonderful book and I recommend it to any one out there living or growing up with and without a father.



4. Bebe Moore Campbell writes from personal expierance in the novel, Sweet Summer. Campbell tells about growing up as an African American girl living in the South during the 60's. Through this story I learned the prejudice of racism, the struggle of growing up with a divoraced family, and the will to live life. This story touched my heart, because it provided me to a differnt point of view about life.



5. This was a well written story detailing accounts of her childhood and early adulthood with class and style. BeBe made me think twice about the men in my life who were ordinary superstars. kudos!

5 comments about He Talk Like a White Boy.

1. While I enjoyed Joseph C. Phillips book and agreed with alot of what he had to say about fatherhood and the family, his political views spack of Republican rhetoric. He may be a conversative, but he is not a proud black man as he states. How any intelligent black person can align themselves with a party that shows allegiance to people like Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Tom Delay, Trent Lott, need I go on. People who if not blantently racist, are outright hostile to African American, or minorities in general. Their bigotry is evident everyday, despite their attempts to disquise it as political satire or rhetoric. All you have to do is google those individuals and you can find their contempt for African American. But it's not just them, to which points to my disapppointment and disgust with Mr. Phillips, Clarence Thomas, Shelby Steele, Ward Connelly and other so-called black conservatives. They have aligned themselves with an ideology that despises their existence. While I don't believe blacks should be beholding to Democrats, there is no sane reason to align yourself with a party that is outright hostile to us. Look at the three leading Republican presidential candidates. They refused to attend a debate at Morgan State University because the audience was mostly African American. They blamed it on scheduling conflict. Of course black conservative like Mr. Phillips either make excuses for them or refuse to even address the issue. It is a moderate to liberal ideology that was the backbone of the civil rights movement and forced the federal government to act on behalf of all citizens. Mr. Phillips is another example of a lost black man who has been manipulated into believing that somehow the GW Bush's of the world really understand the plight of the poor and minorities in this country. Look at what Bush has done to the Justice Department, specifically the civil rights division. Look at how his administration refuses to take on the issue of the disparity between crack and powder cocaine. Mr. Phillips allegiance to G.W. Bush is sadly misguided and selfish.



2. "...pleasantly surprised by the writing skills and command of the English language that Mr. Phillips demonstrated..."
   
   Ouch...
   
   It's like two sides of the same coin, I tell you...



3. The hard thing about reviewing books like these is figuring out what context to put it in. For all intents and purposes, this is a book about Mr. Phillips. It's about his perspective on family, the state of the world, and religion, among other things. Since it's about him and how he views the world, it would be hypocritical for anyone to review the book based on his views and personality (no one can say that they are perfect in every way).
   
   That said, I found this book to be very engaging. At times, I found myself laughing out loud about situations that occurred between him and his kids and wife. I found that I could relate to situations that he went through (as a matter of fact, the reason I bought the book is because the title is something I've heard a number of times before), and even when I couldn't, I still found that I had to keep reading at times. I do not completely agree with a number of his views, such as his religious stance and Republican affiliation (I view myself an independent). But he did get me to think about a lot of issues, and that is one of the most important things to get out of a book. This book is probably not going to go down in history as one of the greatest books of all time, but, because of how personal the book was for him, its unique perspective, and its humor, it is something that you can pick up and enjoy at any time, and maybe learn a thing or two.



4. I saw Mr Phillips on C-Span talking about this book. It should not be entitled "He Talk Like A White Boy", it should be "He Talk Like a Dittohead".
   
   His prescription to what ails us? Why "America-first, UN bad, the world hates us, believe in God, moral relativism is bad, my country right or wrong" Blah, blah, blah, Republican talking points, blah blah and some more blah.
   
   Oh, if stealing is ALWAYS bad, ALWAYS wrong - Mr Phillips quotes this to be a moral absolute, why coming from Nottinghanm in the UK was I brought up to revere Robin Hood? Why is the US a Republic and not still under the Crown? I'm sure one of Mr Phillips' moral absolutes is "respect your leaders".
   
   Sorry Mr Phillips, we're not buying this brand of political pap and homily today.
   
   Please note I didn't say "Shut Up And Act".



5. HE TALK LIKE A WHITE BOY: REFLECTIONS ON FAITH, FAMILY, POLITICS AND AUTHENTICITY comes from an actor, writer and social commentator best known for his role on the Cosby Show, who is tired of the limits impose on black individuality and the pessimistic vision of black America. He's not a politician or an academic, but a father, an actor, and a conservative black man: his opinions, observations and reflections paint quite a different view of the black male in modern America than many titles and provides many candid assessments a wide audience will appreciate.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

5 comments about Satchmo (Da Capo Paperback).

1. Bought and read it twice in a couple weeks. Terrific imagery into old New Orleans. Get it- you'll love it.



2. This book is a quick and enjoyable read, but the reader needs to be ready for a very simple and unpretentious telling of Satchmo's early years. Some of his writing is charming in its simplicity, but some of it is pretty clunky.
   
   For example, here is part of the dialog he documents between him and his mother, after he abruptly got married without her knowledge. Armstrong, defending his decision, says to his mother, "You must realize that I didn't go any further than fifth grade in school myself. But with my good sense and mother-wit (sic), and knowing how to treat and respect the feelings of other people, that's all I've needed in life. You taught me that, mother." A fine philosophy of life, put in humble and concise manner. But then he goes on to write, "Then she said, 'You must bring your wife to me; I want to meet her.' With a palpating heart I gave a big sigh of relief and said: 'Oh, thanks, mom.'" (page 160)
   
   Adding some additional information, such as notations explaining some of the other characters and some of the background to the colorful scenes he describes, would make this a great book. As it is, it is a fun and quick read that fans of jazz shouldn't miss.



3. What shines through this recollection of Louis Armstrong's youth in New Orleans is the essential positive outlook this man seems to have been born with despite the hardship of his early years. This "life-force' for lack of a better term is what drove his musicianship to such heights that he is the most revered American musician of the 20th century. While this is no scholalry biography it is written with the feel of an oral history and reading it is much like having Satch relate these tales over a few drinks. Not only does it shed much light on the real person that Louis Armstrong was but it also reflects an era in old New Orleans that is absolutely fascinating to read about in the words of someone who lived there. This is a hugely enjoyable book on numerous levels and for fans of Armstrong it is indispensible.



4. I have always believed that Louis Armstrong was one of the more animated and vibrant characters in 20th century culture. "Satchmo," Louis's semi-auto-biography, does nothing but reaffirm this belief. He goes into great detail about his childhood memories, recapping on the rough, New Orleans street life and the beginnings of his musicianship. Little else is covered however, which I thought to be rather dissapointing; after all, it was written later in his life. If a childhood expose is all you're after, pick up this book. The writting is fine for someone who only got through the 5th grade.



5. You left you music to carry on so majestic, so elogant. Your music makes the song bird sing, while traveling in rainey and sunny New Orleans skies. Your music makes southern bees dance and fly. When I here your music, I just let my mind give over to your music. When I want to relax, your music, I choose it. It's jazzy, calm and cool. Your music makes me feel like I'm retiring on a raft in a pool. Your music is a real jewel.

5 comments about Black Profiles in Courage: A Legacy of African-American Achievement.

1. I bought this book in hardcover when it first came out and since then have bought several copies to give to other people, both black and white, both young and old. Without fail, this book has impacted people, and every one of them has told me how much they learned from this wonderful book.
   
   Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did a masterful job in gathering these inspiring stories from what has been, unfortunately, the footnotes of history, if they were acknowledged at all. The achievements by black Americans and their contributions to this country have been largely ignored by historians until recently. And even today, many black Americans who were not taught as young people about their heritage remain oblivious to what should be a matter of great pride.
   
   We have taken great steps to equalize human rights, but we still have a way to go to completely obliterate the racial prejudice many of us grew up with. Books like this by people with the stature of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will help get us to where we should be--respecting people of all races, colors and creeds.



2. I found this book to be very informative and very well writen! I particularly enjoyed learning true historical facts that have long been misrepresented, or clouded with partial information. I highly recommend this book to any reader who enjoys history and is interested in learning truth.



3. What's more remarkable than the informative nature of this text is how it came to be...
   An African American sport icon who gained success through one of the primary avenues African Americans have to reach affluence (sports and entertainment) just to use it as an avenue to actually uplift the intellectual level of his community. Well done!
   I can't tell you how many tears it brings to my eyes to see a brother who achieve greatness through the stereotypical avenue of sports and actually use his greatness to do the truly great...uplift his people. Though there have been lists and books previous to his on the same subject, it has rarely been done by a person with such influence among youth, and for that I credit him unlike other past atheletes who simply use their stardom to sell grills, orange juice, or try and become rappers.
   
   Peace to the God



4. I don't know about the book, but the author brings an entire new meaning to the term, "head up".

   Call me Ishmal......




5. Simply put, I love this book. I like the fact that it summarizes the lives of so many African Americans including the famous and the still unknown. I highly recommend this book to any reader seeking information about the lives and consequent impact of some of our heroes.

5 comments about Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn.

1. The backbone of Duke Ellimgtons music was his association with Billy Strayhorn. Where such genius came from emanates from poverty and rather ordinary family roots. This is a fascinating and beautifully documented story that completes any previous knowledge of the beauty that is Ellingtons music. Strayhorn was obviously an unrecognized genius deserving of notoriety and equal prominence.



2. one of the most interesting biographies I've ever read. When Billy Strayhorn was growing up in Pittsburgh he met Duke Ellington in the back of the theatre after a concert Duke performed at. He blew Duke away when Billy played the piano for him. Years later Duke would remember him and asked Billy to come out to NYC to see him. When Billy asked for directions Duke would write on a piece of paper, take the A train. While on the A train to Upper Manhattan to see Duke, Billy wrote the music for 'Take the A Train". So it goes the great collaboration between Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn would begin. Always in the background and never given the proper credit for all the music he wrote Billy Strayhorn would live a lush life. Travelling the world and meeting the kings and queens of the jazz world, he could be the life of the party but the applause for Duke Ellington's music would bypass him. Being black and gay back in those days was not acceptable behavior so Billy stayed in the background and Duke kept him. Billy wrote the music and Duke played it, his own personal muse. Billy loved the 3 am hour the best, it was the happiest hour of the day when you're too exhausted to care anymore and numb to everything else. A wonderful book.



3. i find myself always enjoying Books on People&this is no exception.very well detailed Book on a Important Composer&His Many Demons&Surroundings.I heard a few years back that Will Smith was considering doing the Bio Movie on Billy Strayhorn.it would be really interesting to see how things would come out on the Big screen.this book reflects on Music Talent&whole Life.very well done book.



4. This book has a lot going for it. Do you like music, swing and jazz? Do you like intersting people? Did you live through the 30's, 40's and 50's? Do you enjoy reading about that era? Do you enjoy reading a well written biogratphy? If the answer to any of these is yes, you'll like this book, it the answer is yes to several of these questions then you'll LOVE this book. David Hajdu has done an exemplary job of documenting the life of Billy Strayhorn. I really felt like I knew the man after reading this. He has done his research and he also writes with a very smooth style that keeps you intersted. I love music and I've read bios of Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, BB King, Chuck Berry, Led Zepplin, Allman Bros. on and on. This is one of the best if not the best music bio I've read.



5. Great Book... if you're an Ellington fan and like "Strays" music this is an absolute must. Very informative and interesting and also great reading. The author was here in Seattle for an Elllngton concert with Earshot Jazz and I met and chatted with him.... a very charming and informed man. cmm

5 comments about Let the Trumpet Sound: A Life of Martin Luther King, Jr..

1. MLK was indeed a brilliant man. I first purchased this book while in college. My Social Science prof was allowing us to debate whether or not MLK's birthday should be a national holiday. I chimed in with "aw, what'd he do besides march and give speeches?" The prof looked at me and very quietly said "He changed the country." That got me wondering .... how'd he do that? What did he change?
   
   After reading the book i was forever changed. The book did not gloss over his human frailties. On the contrary, it's a frank portrait of MLK the man, not MLK the angel. His human frailties can never diminish his extraordinary achievements in that most noble of professions- leadership.
   
   Ghandi gave his nation the gift of enduring equality. Lincoln gave his nation the gift of civil peace. MLK gave his nation both.
   
   Let the trumpet sound!



2. For many of us, the Civil Rights era happened when we were too young to understand. This is a good overview of the man and his times. Many people who were just names before, became people to me.
   
   Although, I believe King made some serious mistakes, I understand for the first time why he should have a national holiday. I had no idea he was such an impressive person. Keep in mind, this book was written by a serious historian; not just someone who wished to canonize King.



3. As a student activist during my college years, I was introduced to this book by one of many mentors. They said that this was a detailed account of how Dr. King and his soldiers pushed forward their agenda for change in America. It was more than that. It was a powerful testament of the conviction of Dr. King and the gameplan for dealing with racist America. He did not work alone but his analysis of each situation proved to be very timely and accurate. Later on, of course, his effectiveness lost a little of its punch but you can not change the success that came from his branch of the Movement. Stephen Oates so elequently noted the techniques and strategies used during the turbulant sixties. It gave me information on how to handle the media, the powers that be, other members of my allies and prepare for possible backstabbers. That was my reason for reading the book. However, I got SSSOOO much more.
   
   Martin Luther King Jr. was a revolutionary. His faith in God was the driving force behind in nonviolent stance. His studies of Gandhi and Martin Luther further solidified his position. Destined for greatness from the time of his birth, MLK was always preparing himself (and being prepared) for that big moment. He was intelligent, charismatic and thorough in approach to segregation. A family man, a minister, a scholar and an activist. This book is a good starting point for not just learning about King but understanding him. He IS (not was) bigger than "I Have A Dream", bigger than boycotts, bigger than nonviolence. Thanks to Oates and this masterpiece, he can be celebrated for what he was, an instrument of change and the Prince of Peace.



4. Stephen Oates writes a masterful biography of one of the pivotal figures of the twentieth century. Today we view Martin Luther King Jr. as a saint, and a model of what the human spirit can achieve. In his day, he was viewed by many in the South with fear, hatred and loathing.

   It is easy to view this situation in hindsight, and assume that everyone was just ignorant. Oates writes of the complex history, the battles within and outside "the movement" and how divided the nation was at the time. Oates also does not shirk away from many of Martin Luther King's personal weaknesses. In this sense, he humanizes the great leader, instead of canonizes him.

   In the end, I am left with three conclusions:
   1 - Martin Luther King Jr. indeed found a way to overcome hatred with love, and in doing so helped America avoid a race war.
   2 - The message of civil rights was both religeous and personal. Despite today's views of the right being the party of religeon, in his day the southern liberal movement was galvanized in the church.
   3 - Despite this, he was a flawed individual. His human weakness does not diminish his accomplishment.

   The book is not light reading. Read it. Let it soak in. And comprehend.




5. This book was about a big part of our United States History. It was about Civil Rights. Martin Luther King Jr. was a big Civil Rights activist in the 1960's. I learned quite a bit about Martin Luther Kings's life that I did not know before I had read this book.
   Martin Luther King was one of the most important people of our country's history. He fought for African-Americans Civil Rights. He was a very determined man, who was alwyas put into jail numerous times for his "peaceful protests". He had given several speeches as well. The author of this book is Stephen B. Oates. He is a good writer, who has written 16 books.He has also won many literary prizes such as the Christopher Award. This book is very well written. He clearly tells the story as if he had experienced it. His strenghts include: Getting actual quotes from the people that were important in this time, having pictures of Mr. King and others, and having footnotes that explained the story more in depth. I can not think of many weaknesses that he has. However, the book was long but I did not expect it to be short due to the importance of the topic. I would reccomend this book to many people. The reason why is because it tells you in depth stories about Martin Luther King Jr. and his life, but it does have profanity and innappropriate content for young children. All in all, this was a very good biography and taught me many things.

1 comments about Lay Bare the Heart: An Autobiography of the Civil Rights Movement.

1. I was able to sit in a lecture class of Dr. Farmer at MaryWashington College. Dr. Farmer was able to to convey to us thestruggle that he and other civil rights leaders went through. His powerful voice, coupled with his compassion for the subject made it the best class I have ever taken. Dr. Farmer is a tribute to all Americans.

5 comments about A Man of Letters.

1. Thomas Sowell is one of the best writers of modern day condition that I have read. From his columns in the local paper on occasion to his books, which I have all of his publications.... I just cannot get enough of this man's wisdom.
   
   To have a full education in economics and the greater understanding of what potential we have Dr. Sowell is number one on my reading list.



2. I am a long time T Sowell fan. My rating would no doubt be prejudiced. This book shows him to be a regular guy. His letters are straight forward. No big words, everything easy to grasp



3. Thomas Sowell is a really great writer. This "auto-biography" told by his correspondence over the years was most enjoyable.



4. Dr. Sowell continues his personal revelations through a series of letters sent and received. Because of Dr. Sowell's clear thinking and uncompromising honesty plus his sense of the ridiculous, these letters are a joy to read. However, they also offer a view of the evolvement of parts of society (i.e. the academic life) seldom examined so closely. Read this book! It will lead you to his other works which you will want to read. My favorites are "Conflict of Visions" and "Black Rednecks and White Liberals". I encourage everyone to read this book. It will awaken young people to new views and reassure the over 50 crowd that what they suspected was true.



5. His letters of the past 40 years gives us a glimpse to one of the greatest modern thinker's life. I have read Mr. Sowell's editorials many times and always find his commonsense to be refreshing. This book takes us through history as he recounts the current events of the time, from his unique perspective, with colleagues, students and policy-makers.

5 comments about Vernon Can Read!: A Memoir.

1. A fantastic book detailing the magnificent journey of a tremendous American! This book is packed with historical facts about the lives of Black people in America. Vernon Jordan was born in 1935 and although he did not live through slavery, he certainly lived through the Jim Crow days. However with a good father and a strong mother, he didn't just survive - he flourished. Yes, Vernon could and did indeed 'read'. The names of people mentioned in this book are dizzying. This man dealt with a wide range of people in his career.
   I loved the potent messages that came through with great clarity. Such as "never expect defeat before making an honest effort" pg.2 or pg. 277 his beliefs in concerted efforts..."each person or group using their abilities, contributing what they can to move things forward." I must also mention how happy I was to note Jordan's love for the women in his life; his mother, his invalid wife Shirley - who died at age 48, and his daughter Vickie - the apple of his eye.



2. I also never heard of Vernon Jordan before the Lewinsky scandal. I am very glad I read this book. It is a shame that many Americans never heard of his interesting and enlightening story about coming of age in the civil rights era. That seems to me to be the theme of this book, that the civil rights era opened the doors to places of power not dreamed of before, if only one had the ambition and the character to find them.
   
   Like a few other reviewers, I also wish that the author revealed more about the period between when he was in charge of the Urban League. This period is when he made his contacts with very many powerful people in charge of corporations and institutions, received a fellowship at Harvard Business School, and started on his way to become a 'power broker'. I guess if you read between the lines the corporate/foundation contacts made him beholden to the business community, and then retiring from the Urban League to work for a powerful Washington law firm gave him a 'power broker' title. But its not really enough to make the connection, is it? And what about those Bilderberg meetings, Vernon? We would like to know more.



3. Read this book. Mr. Jordan not only provides insight and anecdotes about many events and individuals in American civil rights history, his words also give us a glimpse of the workings of an incredible mind. His memoirs are filled with stories and recollections proving that desire, determination and accountability to self and others are crucial for success in any of life's endeavors. Simply stated, I'm inspired.



4. This book is an unfortunate piece of near puffery: much form, much superficiality, little substance. But what does one expect from a Power Broker? Truth or Dare?

   In keeping with the unwritten Power Broker Creed, Mr.Jordan reveals very little about the inside mechanations that made him who he is (as opposed to who he was). That is to say, the book speaks volumes about those life experiences that made Vernon Jordan the moderate civil rights leader he was years ago, but says exactly nothing about the transition from that leadership role, to the man who had the president's ear (not to mention the man who kept his secrets)and the ear of the REAL powerful people in this global econonmy: the corporate mavens for whom Vernon was (is?) paid handsomely to dish out advice and counsel to.

   We never hear in any detail about how Jordan quietly but persistently accumulated the power he achieved and, indeed, what motivated him in this pursuit. And no, I was not interested in any Monica dirt: Monica and the whole presidential thing, was (and is) beside the point when it comes to a rigorous Jordan analysis. That whole episode merely served as a template (and not a particularly good one) for the kind of back scratchery at high level that Jordan has been doing for years.

   But then again, what does one expect? People like Jordan (and mind you, I am a big fan of his)live by the aforementioned unspoken creed: power is best accumulated and exercised quietly. Thus, one does not reveal the secrets of the kingdom to just any average reader (by the way Vernon, what really does go on at those Bildeberg confrences?).

   We will not get the whole unexpurgated version of Jordan's life until some biographer decides to swim against currents and put one together.

   Those of us interested in reading something much more telling than Jordan's superficial telling of the story of his life will have to wait. Just as we similarly anxiously awaited biographical treatments of other quiet power brokers in the Clark Clifford, Tommy "the cork" mode (the wait is soon over for those of us interested in Tommy the cork and, thanks to the same author, was over several years ago for a good analysis of Clifford's life. CLifford's own biography, Counsel to the President, left much to be desired, too).

   As a high school to college level autobiographical treatment of the life of an important figure in post-world war II america, Vernon Can Read suffices. As anything deeper, it does not.

   Vernon can certainly Read, but what Vernon wrote certainly leaves alot to be desired.




5. I listened to the unabridged audio cassette version of Vernon Can Read! This is a wonderful book. It has many dates and events in African American history of which Mr. Jordan contributed to, experienced and/or witnessed. These events are not only significant in the life of Mr. Jordan but also in the history of African Americans. The book is well written and easy to read and/or listen to. I told my five year old son about the experience of young Vernon Jordan and Mr. Maddock. It was inspiring to my son and we often listen to that portion of the tape while driving home from school. Mr. Jordan wanted the book to inspire his children and grandchildren and I suspect that it has. The book has also inspired my son. I highly recommend this book.

5 comments about Ethical Ambition: Living a Life of Meaning and Worth.

1. "Why do lawyers carry their certifications on their car dashboards? So they can park in handicapped spaces---it's proof of moral disability."
   Sounds like lawyer-slamming doesn't it? But that line was picked up from a legal website where such jokes are collected, either to say, "yes, we've heard them all" or perhaps as a form of dark humor designed to remind members of the bar that their principles are under constant scrutiny.
   
   Unfortunately, many of those designated to interpret the law, are the first and most proficient manipulators of it. As Lord Acton famously put it, "Power tends to corrupt." And it does not require a despot to accomplish this, only a well-trained intellect seduced by scheme or greed. We want---no, demand---that attorneys, doctors, clergymen, and scientists be above all those rather pedestrian pursuits involving materialism, i.e. to function beyond the pale of human shortcoming.
   
   We elevate them to temporary deityhood only to discover that they are, like ourselves, somewhat special but ultimately flawed. Even Olympus was populated by a motley lot.
   
   In "Ethical Ambition" respected legal scholar and civil rights activist Derrick Bell attempts to identify for members of his profession, as well as for the rest of us, what is involved in personal and professional ethics. This is no easy task because a) ethics can be a good deal like art, highly subjective, and b) it is an intangible force similar to gravity. The definitions turn into descriptions of what it is not.
   
   Professor Bell constructs his argument by breaking the matter down into six manageable portions. In Part 1 he examines whether the passion for both integrity and success can coexist within the individual. In Part 2 he discusses courage, "... a daily decision to wake up and try to do the right thing, no matter how big the reward or how great the fear." Such choices must, he warns, be tempered with the ability to evaluate the risks involved against what may, or may not be accomplished. Confrontation for its own thrill is ludicrous.
   
   In a society strangled by consumerism, me-ism and torqued definitions of personal achievement, it is comforting to learn (Chapter 3) that we do not have to depend totally on traditional religion to nudge us down the ethical highway; that, indeed, ethics is a measure of both a true, highly evolved individual, as well as, the civilization from which he/she springs. Morality may be at least a little "easier" for those like Bell who are proud, professed Christians. But, as he notes there are "many ethical people who want nothing to do with organized religion, but (who) view life as a gift with an obligation to uplift the lives of those around them . . ." Certainly, this provides us with a broader base from which altruism can spring.
   
   In the fourth section, Dr. Bell takes on the dynamics of personal relationship. "Just as the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, shared intimacy demands constant effort." And, "it is no exaggeration to say that an intimate committed relationship is the crucible of ethical action . . . " Even when money is not the foremost goal in one's life, there remains the need for balance because there is a point where virtue can become just as overpowering and obsessive as the search for success.
   
   Part 5 focuses on the kind of people who can inspire future generations, even when it costs them everything for which they have worked. His personal favorites run the gamut from the famous (Martin Luther King, Jr., W.E.B. Du Bois and the poignant Paul Robeson) to the lesser known, Dr. Jeffrey Wingard, the former tobacco executive whose testimony undermined the industry's claim that smoking did not cause fatal illnesses, and University of Tennessee Professor Linda Bensel-Myers, who has incurred threats from ribald sports fans for exposing a college system that permits good athletes who are bad scholars to coast through exams and courses.
   
   Lastly, the author deals with what may be the most difficult virtue of all: humility. Learning to accept that even the purest of intentions may not bestow the innate ability to make appropriate choices in every instance, can take the better part of a lifetime.
   
   Do not expect this to be an "entertaining" book---at least not in the way we regard novels or movies as entertainment. Neither is it light reading to be done with only 50% attention. It requires focus and mindfulness to derive its intended message and perhaps, effect a shift in personal perspective.
   
   That is not to suggest that it is dry, statistical reading. Bell sprinkles it with delightful anecdotes from his own experiences and from the lives of well-known friends---Bill Cosby, Thurgood Marshall, Alice Walker and the like.
   
   He also provides a simple, carry-it-with-you-at-all-times definition of ethics: the choosing of "right" over "easy." Following through will be the demanding part.



2. I read this for a graduate class and so far it is the best book we have read. The author writes in an entertaining way and also has many important messages.



3. Professor Bell shares with us deep personal insight into how people struggle to reconcile their ambition with their ethics. He relates his triumphs, and his failures. Most importantly, he teaches us how to think about how much more we will enjoy our life if we put our ethics first, and then shape our ambitions around those ethics. As a young attorney only 6 years out of law school, I appreciated the life time of wisdom in this book -- it was just what I needed. Highly recommended, but an excellent gift for a law student or young attorney.



4. i read this book feeling jaded about social justice. i finished the book feeling that many of the frustrations i had were put into words by prof. bell, which was very heartening.
   what i appreciate about this book is that it does't make social justice work glamorous and glitzy, getting at the real and often serious sacrifices that people have to make. his decisions were not easy, yet amazingly, good things sometimes happen to good people.
   while definitely he is a man who has sacrificed much to the struggle, there were points in the book where i felt the limitations of his standpoint (as a male and as an academic elite) came through. still, i am glad that messages like this exist, as they help people who are also struggling to deal with privilege and systemic change.
   i think the key to getting the most out of this book, however, is not to take it as a prescription, but more as thoughts to meditate on as one makes decisions about one's career/life and what "success" really means. some interesting things to think about, especially as a person from a younger generation are: how do we as younger people try to create change after the era of protests, sit-ins, etc. when inequalities are a lot more subtle and more embedded? we can contrast our experiences with prof. bell's, remembering still that we all have to find our own paths.
   this book also tackles the issue of faith, which i also appreciated, because so much of the Left today automatically eschews religion, thinking it's a tool of the conservative Right. however, this book therefore might not be for everyone.



5. The stories within these pages makes my so-called ethical struggles pale in comparison but the message is clear. Your ethics will be challenged and upholding an ethical choice will most likely require sacrifices that are necessary if you are to adhere to choices that you can truly live with.
   I liken the meaning of this message to "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but suffer the loss of his own soul." I hope and pray that more people will respond ethically if for no other reason than they want to do the right thing; reading this book may help you in that endeavor. God Speed!