5 comments about Climbing Higher.

1. I thought Montel's book was contradictory. On one hand, Montel talks about his growth and empowerment as a result of having MS, while at the same time he comes off as whiny, negative and bitter. I've got MS and although it's not always easy, focusing on the positives in life is extremely important in order to stay as healthy as possible (true in general)!.
   
   I do agree with the other reviews talking of Montel's candor and honesty, which is the book's strongest statement. Overall, a rather boring "all about me" celebrity memoir. Disappointing from a man of Montel's stature and influence.



2. I absolutely love this book. It shows a new side to Montel and shows that no matter what we are facing, we can overcome. It has changed my life and opened my eyes to MS and the symptoms. Thanks Montel for writing this book and getting MS into the mainstream.



3. Very easy book to read and kept my interest, however, I found it a little too self-serving at times. Having been diagnosed with MS 4 years ago, I could relate to some of the experiences Montel went through, and the frustrations and fears he felt at the time of his diagnosis. I appreciated the appendix which included various questions asked of several different doctors regarding the diagnosis and treatment of MS. There were times when he just came across as a bit arrogant and aloof. This may be more a result of his style of writing and his choice of words when describing certain situations and experiences, rather than the reality of who Montel is. I appreciate his candor and honesty when describing various events in his life, but I just had a feeling that he's still removed from the majority of people with MS. Truly, how many of us can fly to Sweden or other places around the world to get a 2nd opinion? How many of us can travel all around the world snowboarding the winter months away? I just found it hard to relate to him at times.



4. I have known for many years bits and pieces of Montel's story. I find his battle interesting. He gives me inspiration with all he struggles with daily. Since I facilatate a Support Group for MS I am always looking for inspiration and like to learn from others. I shared the book with my group.



5. I liked this book the BEST out of all Montel William's books!! It was a very personal story that can help a lot of people.
   
   I recommend this book, especially if you love Montel.

5 comments about Made in Detroit.

1. I am also a white male who is part of the Detroit diaspora. In my case I simply left for better economic possibilities elsewhere. Much like author Clemens I find the city and its dominant African American culture to be a great part of what has shaped my world view for a lifetime.
   
   Unlike author Clemons, I find America's racial barriers to be much greater beyond the boundaries of the city of Detroit, than within the friendlier confines of them. The older I get the more I find myself longing for the place, and the plain speaking warmth of its people. Because I consider the city of Detroit to be my home, I often return to visit.
   
   I wish I could recommend this book. I just can't! I think there is a dark space in Mr. Clemens soul that he is struggling with, but still refuses to confront. Call that dark space anything you like.



2. For the record- I grew up in East Detroit, right over the border from 8 Mile around 8&Kelly.
   
   I'm white, and I had plenty of white relatives who lived in Detroit. I went to an integrated private school on the border between Detroit and the suburbs, and had lots of black acquaintances with whom I got along with really well. I'd say, "I don't consider myself a racist," but the phrase doesn't benefit anyone. The people who would assume I'd say that, and who would judge me based on my skin- they'll presume I'm a racist no matter what I say.
   
   I'm here to say that I love this book- I was given it for fathers day last year, and I only picked it up to read in the past few weeks. I'm just finishing it and I can say without any doubts that this is a wonderful book that really pegs the thoughts and feelings of the author accurately. His thoughts and feelings on growing up in Detroit, and as a minority white in a black majority city are typical of my friends and families experiences.
   
   I love the city, and I love its people; although the majority of Detroiters seem to suffer from a "seige mentality" that leads them to make rather poor political choices. It seems- all you need to be successful as a politican in Detroit is highlight the troubles of the city and point North of 8 Mile indicating the problems were caused by outsiders. Or, at least that's my feeling- and this book captures that sentiment accurately.



3. Also being a white kid in a black city, I can relate to this book, as I too was sent to private schools to avoid the "dreaded" public schools in the Motor City.
   CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRL by Michelle Kane is another good book set in the city of Detroit, although the main character is from a broken home and not as lucky as Clemens to have both parents to turn to in confusing times.Confessions of a Catholic Schoolgirl



4. When I ordered this book, I thought that it might be about someone closer to my age (64) who grew up in the City of Detroit. It turns out to be a much younger man: one who grew up during the years just after I moved away from Michigan in 1972.
   Although this book is somewhat different than what I expected, it turned out to be a thoughtful read. Yes, there is a lot of Detroit history and visits to places I recall, but you do not have had to live in Michigan to enjoy this book. It covers family life, religion, schooling, racial issues and much more. I think that the book does bog down a bit near the end. This is where the author is trying to resolve much of his upbringing and beliefs. Nevertheless, MADE IN DETROIT is very worthwhile. Particularly wonderful is the description of the author's dad and his continuing episodes throughout the book. Reminded me a lot of my old man and many other Detroit relatives and acquaintances of my parents. The occasional glimpses into the personality of Coleman Young (Mayor of Detroit for many years) are quite humorous. Mr. Young was a real genuine character.



5. If the author had spent more time telling us about Detroit and less time telling us how literate he is then it would have been a lot better book.

5 comments about Redemption Song: Muhammad Ali and the Spirit of the Sixties.

1. Marqusee succeeds in putting Cassius Clay's transformation to Muhammah Ali in the rhythms and images of the times. An excellent cultural history.



2. This is a fascinating book - looking at Ali in a historical, social and political context.
   
   It is not a typical sporting biography - there is very little focus on boxing. This is not even a typical biography - Ali is the central character but there are many digressions - Malcolm X (and Elijah Mohammed), Martin Luther King, Paul Robeson, Jackie Robinson, Bob Dylan and Don King feature heavily. The real focus is on the social & political upheaval of the sixties.
   
   This is also a reclamation project. The Ali who is now an almost universal hero is not the Ali that inspires Mike Marqusee. Marqusee loves the Ali who said "I will not be what you want me to be", the fascinating, flawed man - one of the most controversial, divisive but important men of the 1960s. The man who transcended his nationality and embraced the world, which in turn embraced him back. He wants to remind us what an extraordinary man he was. I think that he succeeds admirably.
   
   This is not a hagiography - it is prepared to look Ali's flaws and contradictions directly in the eye. However, the book is fundamentally very sympathetic to Ali and the whole black power movement of the 1960s, particularly Malcolm X. This is not a problem, as Marqusee's politics never get in the way of the book.
   
   Recommended



3. This is nothing less than the story of an African American man's struggle to define himself within the context of the 60's US black power movement exploited by a white Englishman. Mike Marqusee brings nothing new to the story of Muhamed Ali other than stilted prose and an uncritical eye. It fails as a book about boxing and is equally weak with respect to Ali's struggle with the white establishment of his day. Marqusee's attempt to embrace Ali's story serves only to water down the true struggle of an entire generation against the evils of institutional racism.



4. I'm not a boxing fan, but after seeing the recent "Ali" movie, I was inspired to take Mike Marqusee's "Redemption Song" off my bookshelf and read it. I got the book because I heard Marqusee last year in a radio interview about Ali and the Black Power movement of the sixties and I was very interested in the culture and politics that both shaped Ali and was influenced by him.

   I found "Redemption Song" a powerful and well written book that gives so much more depth than the new movie. The depth of Marqusee's research and analysis made me realize that the Ali movie would have needed to be a trilogy in order to do justice the champ's life. Ali's defiance of racist draft policies could have been an entire movie in and of itself. While "Ali" movie focuses on Ali's defiance, Marqusee's book provides the context for Ali's anti-war stance. His description and analysis makes the movie's focus a mere footnote to this part of Ali's history. When Ali argued, "Man, I ain't got not quarrel with them Vietcong," he was taking a religious and political stance on a personal, cultural/racial, and class level. He was not only echoing the developing anti-war movement, but giving voice to it, even though he never sought to be a leader within the movement. He was in sync with civil rights activists like John Lewis who complained, "I don't see how President Johnson can send troops to Vietnam...to the Congo...to Africa and can't send troops to Selma, Alabama," [where the civil rights of Black people were systemically and violently denied civil rights on a daily basis.] He was in line with Martin L. King who boldly declared and preached that the war "morally and politically unjust." His refusal to participate in the bombing of thousands of innocent children and women in Vietnam and Cambodia was a part of many anti-war demonstrations in which Stokely Carmicheal described Selective Services as "white people sending black people to make war on yellow people in order to defend land they stole from red people."

   Marqusee reminds us most in his book that boxing in this country was linked to issues of race and power representation. Thus, Black boxers and other sports figures like Jackie Robinson were measured, promoted, and criticized by how patriotic they were to the White power structure in this country. They were expected to be like Joe Louis who stood "as a role model--for white America, for the black middle class and for much of the left--by enlisting for military service in World War II," or an anti-communist like Robinson. But Ali becomes a bug in the system. Guided by Black nationalist ideology of the Nation of Islam and Malcolm X specifically, Ali rewrote the script for how Black sports figures were to behave. He proclaimed, "I'm free to be what I want." But as Marqusee points and shows, "he did not invent himself out nothing. In his search for personal freedom he was propelled and guided by a wide array of interacting social forces." This search and influence is the heart of Marqussee's book.

   I would imagine there's much that Marqusee leaves out his book. And at times he seems too apologetic about Ali's break with Malcolm X, his relationship with the conservative tide of the Nation of Islam, and the inherent contradictions between his religious convictions and his views about marriage. Marqusee could have also provided specific references for his research. His bibliography is simply not enough.

   Despite these criticism, "Redemption Song" is a much needed work to offset efforts to depoliticize Ali's past. Read it before or after you see the movie.




5. This book isn't so much about Ali as about Black radical politics of the 60's and 70's and the way Ali's public life reflected them. An excellent, thoughtful book that reads more like a monograph than a work of popular non-fiction (cf. David Remnick's "King of the World", a more accessible book with a different focus and scope). If you are interested in the Nation of Islam, the Black Panthers, the Black Power movement and the ways boxing historically has reflected the racial realities of its time, you will find this book engrossing and informative. If you are looking for a conventional "boxing book" (whatever that is), you will be disappointed.

5 comments about Space Between the Stars: My Journey to an Open Heart.

1. I did something I rarely do: read a book in one sitting. I started around ten p.m. and ended up staying up until the wee hours of the morning.
   
   I was curious to read a book written by the wife of Carlos Santana. I remembered reading in the news that Deborah Santana (born Deborah King in 1951) had filed for divorce last fall - after the book was published. My curiosity however was mostly sparked by the desire to read about the life of a woman that I confess I knew nothing about until I picked up this book.
   
   It's said that behind every great man is a great woman. After reading this book, it's clear that Carlos is one lucky man - Deborah is quite a woman. (Most likely his infidelities was the reason for the seperation and - last I heard - impending divorce.)
   
   I give the book four stars because for the most part it's a brave, eloquent tale of a woman's life. It doesn't matter that she was with two famous men (Sly Stone, then Carlos Santana) - I could easily identify with her feelings and her struggle as a woman who is still finding her way.
   
   At times her writing is lyrical and moving - other times it veers into New Age & Pop Phychology Land, but thankfully she gets back on track before losing the reader (this reader anyhow).
   
   I obviously would not have stayed up late with a book I didn't like and I highly recommend it. (She also writes about the subject of being a biracial child).
   
   In all fairness it would be interesting to read a bio by Carlos himself in which we hear about the same years shared, but from his POV. Not that the infidelities didn't happen - he has not denied them - but still, it would make for great reading to hear his side of the story. Alas, I doubt we're going to see that book anytime soon.
   
   Together since around 1972 and married since 1973 and with three children, one wishes they could have made it.
   
   NOTE: Deborah's parents, her black musician father Saunders King and her white (Irish-American) mother Jo Frances were married for many years (he lived to be 91) and had what sounds like a very happy marriage. The passages about her parents made me want to read a book solely about her their life and marriage. It is when she writes about her father that her prose is the strongest - very "Alice Walkeresque". Maybe that will be Deborah's next book?



2. I enjoyed this very candid memoir by Deborah Santana. I found myself experiencing her joys, pains and understanding her need for a spiritual connection. I cried during her disappointments and smiled as she experienced a re-birth or a self-discovery if you will. I related to her loyal and committed spirit to those she loved and her family values. I truly appreciate Deborah Santana as an accomplished writer. This is a very well written piece of work and a great read.



3. I was so impressed with the book I bought copies for all my sisters and mother. We all loved the book and my 81 year old mother reads reads regency romance novels exclusively. A miracle ocurred and she read this book and didn't want to put it down! We all loved it. The book gave us courage and opened our hearts. THANKS Deborah.
   Sincerely,
   Karen Gravina Hull, Massachusetts



4. Deborah Santana opens her heart and life in this book much the same way a musician such as her father or husband does on stage. Truly a great writer Deborah chronicles a period of Rock and Roll as an insider. We are lucky to have an account from this period of two famous bands to which she was connected. But Space Between the Stars isn't just about Rock and Roll. It is a story of a strong woman who has survived that era and come out stronger. The Music on The Cds is incredible. Her son Salvador is likely to be a force in the music world, admired and respected as were his father and grandfather.



5. This is an amazing book full of truth and wisdom. "You house the truth of God's essence inside yourselves, to be heard in the wisper of silence". "Really, all brokenness is a lack of oneness with one's own spirit and light". For those unfamiliar with Carlos's wealth of music and message, we learn; "every note is chosen with the hope that in the listener it will sing a story, spark a journey to goodness and mercy". I laughed, I cried, I loved it! I am a middle aged white guy who honestly thinks Carlos Santana is a Prophet, chosen and inspired by God. Just listen to his music (all of it!). Deborah Santana is a gifted writer, who tells her story in a magical and compelling narative. The message is truley inspirational. Thank you.

5 comments about Aaliyah : More Than a Woman.

1. The author constantly goes off-topic, and the book is very boring. Aaliyah's life was not this boring, nobody's life is this boring!!
   
   Same thing goes for her another bio. HOW BORING WAS SHE???



2. I was very disappointed in this book. The author seemed more interested in writing about who he knew than about the rising star.



3. Aaliyah:More than a Women,written by Christopher John Farley,tells about the life of Aaliyah from when she first started acting and singing until her tragic death on August 25,2001.This book really tells the reader about Aaliyah's determination to become the best that she could be, and the way she strived to reach to the top .It explains about how she went to a school of the performing arts, and how she started acting when she was in the first grade in a production of Annie, and she would rehearse three hours a day, four days a week.Also the book tells how Aaliyah went to from a singer to an actress. The book also has quotes and stories,and memories about Aaliyah from many famous actors, producers, video and movie directors, music artists, and family members. I would recommend this book to Aaliyah fans. But I would also recommend this book to people who never thought about reading about Aaliyah because her life is really interesting. The only thing that I did not like about this book was that the author sometimes went off topic. The book is about Aaliyah, but he also started writing about other people, and subjects that didn't have anything to do with Aaliyah. But, besides that the book was pretty good.



4. For anyone who still feels the world's loss of Aaliyah, but isn't in to reading a long book, this is a great synopsis of her short life and all her accomplishments. I recommend to all of her fans.



5. Although, I thought that his Aaliyah Bio was'nt as bad as Kelly Kenyatta's, The downfall of Farley's book was that he failed to stay on the topic of Aaliyah-who was supposed to be the main subject of this book! It seemed liked veered off the subject to either fill pages because of lack of research; or because he just wanted to brag to the reader about all the rich and famous people that he knows. The highlight of this book was that the author was somewhat detailed about the details regarding the day of the crash and provided some nice publicity stills of Aaliyah-esp the ones from her last movie, "Queen of the Damned". I thought that he exaggerated a bit about this movies reviews, though.It may have earned alot of money in the first week, but ticket sales soon dropped after that when it was heard through word-of-mouth that although Aaliyah was playing the title role, her part was rather small, and she does'nt come into the story until towards the end and her character was then killed off. I'm a writer myself , and with the right "connections" and research, I know that I could 've written a much BETTER BOOK than both the authors Farley and Kenyatta put together. Bottom line: Check the book out of the library, But don't but it! It will be a waste of your money!

5 comments about Succeeding Against The Odds.

1. After reading Earl G. Graves's bitter autobiography, I fully expected John H. Johnson's manuscript for success to be riddled with distain. I was pleasantly surprised however to find that Johnson; through such works as, Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill, and How to Win Friends..., by Dale Carnegie, made a fortune turning social negatives into profitable and professional positives. Having met eight U. S. Presidents along the way, Johnson's autobiography is a refreshing treatise on determination. It should be noted that much of Johnson's success came about before integration, when the African American community lived by the, "it takes a village," mentality. The nurturing he was provided during the early years provided for a favorable turn of events ultimately guiding him; not without the requisite obstacles, toward a life of success. John H. Johnson's, `Succeeding Against the Odds,' is a testament to the spoils of desire, determination, delayed gratification and a strong belief in ones self. Bravo Mr. Johnson, well done! I issue this glowing review however with a caveat; there are a few grammatical errors; thus, my conservative rating, nevertheless, this was a fun read.



2. I bought this Book way back in 1992.I always Admired Mr.John H.Johnson for all that He overcame&also for providing Ebony&Jet into my early childhood all the to the present. what He overcame&what He Accomplsihed is truly incredible. He created magazines that spoke&gave Black America a Fair shake at the Newsstand&also showed our world in a up-lifting light. John H.Johnson is a true Pioneer who trail-blazed so much for the better.RIP&this is a Must have Book.



3. This book uplifted the self esteem of me and many other African Americans. It was the story of a black man raised in rural Arkansas who had a dream. He figured out at an early age that African Americans wanted to know about what was happening in their community. There where only so many if any stories about us in Life Magazine. And if they did publish something about us it was negative. Why couldn't African Americans have a magazine of their own? One that told stories, positive stories about our lives, our heroes, and our history. This book gave me hope to know that even a lower middle class, African American boy from the Bronx like myself could grow up and strive for greatness amongst our people and the rest of society. John H. Johnson's publications are over 50 years old now and are still giving us stories that uplift our minds, bodies and spirits. Reading this book is not only a joy and a honor but it should be required reading for all African Americans and focal point of reading for all others.



4. In his book, Johnson states "There is an advantage in every disadvantage, and a gift in every problem" and "I believe that the greater the handicap the greater the triumph." By this he means to say that disadvantage creates opportunities and forces one to do more with less. He believed that disadvantages were "...challenges to be overcome and not facts to be accepted." A disadvantage provides a challenge that, with the proper motivation and mindset, forces one to try a little harder and work a little smarter.

   Two distinct disadvantages that Johnson cites are early in his life: 1) Arkansas City (his birthplace) did not provide a high school education for African Americans, and 2) The economic depression stemming from the Great Depression. These two disadvantages, when taken together, provided a sort of "critical mass" that propelled Johnson on the trajectory that is his story -- his move to Chicago and subsequent business endeavors.

   The fact that the disadvantages cited above were realized so early in life is worth note. There is a scientific discipline known as "Chaos Theory" that, among other precepts, states that the time evolution of a series of interrelated complex events is extremely sensitive to the system's initial condition. The analogy that may be drawn to Johnson's life is this: had he not moved to Chicago due to his ambition and his Mother's tremendous sacrifices for her son's education, it would have become increasingly difficult for Johnson to have succeeded to the extent he did, as chronicled in his autobiography.

   This statement is supported by the many references he makes in the book about the seemingly random events that led to his success as a businessman; Johnson states, "I'm scared someone with pinch me and wake me up." Thus, it seems that the many disadvantages the author faced throughout life, most notably (in his words) early in life, created an advantage, which led him to great wealth and notoriety.




5. I could definitely related to Mr.Johnson's story. It is inspiring, insightful, and truly a guide to those of us on the often obstacle laden road to success.

   Never allow your personal feelings or emotions to close the doors of oppourtunities. Where the is a will there truly is a way. His story is remarkable and his book enables you to understand that yours is too.

   Think and Grow Rich...

No comments about Making Malcolm: The Myth and Meaning of Malcolm X.

1 comments about Abolitionist Politics and the Coming of the Civil War.

1. In the early 1800s, slavery's values were as widely promoted as buying American cars are in today's world. "Abolitionist Politics and the Coming of the Civil War" is a complete and comprehensive examination of America's early years and its politics regarding slavery - and how a few fledgling activists turned America around and against this mindset, beginning a chain of events that freed an entire people. A story of how even the smallest minority can set events in motion, "Abolitionist Politics and the Coming of the Civil War" is highly recommended for both American history and black studies collections alike.

No comments about The Two Lives of Sally Miller: A Case of Mistaken Racial Identity in Antebellum New Orleans.

No comments about Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion: Including the 1831 "Confessions".