5 comments about The Prince of Frogtown (Random House Large Print (Cloth/Paper)).

1. Rick Bragg is a story par excellence. So simply written [not simplisticly... then I would not bother to write this], yet capable of painting a mental picture that brings you into whatever the author is writing about. I hung out with guys like Rick and his cast of characters back in the day. Each line brings me back to where I used to be and into the new stories as the pages fly by. Great stuff!



2. I wanted to love this book. I was ready to. All Over But The Shouting is one of my favorite books of all time. Ava's Man was good but not great and the same can be said for The Prince of Frogtown. Not nearly as good stories as the first book. And it's kind of difficult to follow the characters. Not the switching back and forth from present to past. That was dealt with well using the shading on the chapter's about the boy. But during the chapters about his dad all the people telling stories and who they were talking about was confusing. And there just didn't seem to be the magical prose of All Over But The Shouting. This book is definitely worth buying and it's good but just not Great like I hoped.



3. With this title, The Prince of Frogtown, one expects a story akin to the tall tales of Uncle Remus, and Rick Bragg does not disappoint. He is a consummate storyteller in the southern tradition of "pull up a chair, and let me tell you about the time...." Here he closes the circle of family stories in which his "father occupied only a few pages, but lived between every line."
   
   Marrying late, and instantly acquiring a ten-year-old son, prompted Bragg to look at himself as a father, and finally to explore the father he hardly knew as anything more than a drunken caricature. He goes in search of the real man that lived between the lines of his life's story.
   
   Bragg journeys back and pulls up his chair beside those who remember to hear the stories of his father's life and times. To those stories, he adds his own recollections.
   
   A vignette, "The Boy," prefaces each flashback chapter. These vignettes give us glimpses of Bragg as he learns to be a father to the boy. As he awkwardly makes his way in unfamiliar territory, he remarks, "The woman is mad at me a lot. I make her mad, being me. The boy never is. I walk in the door and the boy never seems disappointed in me."
   
   The two stories running in tandem work well. I enjoyed seeing the Bragg of now in "The Boy" juxtaposed with the Bragg of then, seeing the father he is compared to the father he had.
   
   In the stories of life with his wife and his step-son, we see the tug-of-war between the civil society he now inhabits with the harsh brash past of his and his family's past.
   
   It is interesting to see him vacillate between accepting the boy with one breath and in the next describing him as one of those boys--the soft, spoiled, privileged ones--he remembers from his youth with disdain.
   
   It is not always because of, but sometimes in spite of our life experiences that we become who we become. It is always a choice. I'm glad Rick Bragg chose to write for his life and share it with us.
   
   The final chapter, "The Circle," is both preceded and followed by "The Boy" and the story stops on an up note. His mother and brother stand amid wildflowers on their garden's path. Rick and the boy are flying down the road in the old silver sports car, and we have one last look at Bragg still growing into being a father to the boy.
   
   Perle Champion is a writer, artist, and photographer. Contact: [...]



4. Having read Rick Bragg's other works, I can say that this book not only didn't disappoint me in any way - it is as beautifully written as All Over But The Shoutin' and Ava's Man - but it also fulfilled a curiousty created by All Over But The Shoutin, in particular. It dug in to just who Rick's father was and created a three dimensional man, giving those of us who have followed this family saga an understanding of what made that man tick. There is tremendous sadness in this understanding, but Rick manages to weave in humor that will simply touch your heart. Watching the relationship develop with The Boy through passages so descriptive it was as if I could see the two of them together...more than once I found myself with a lump in my throat...and more than once I beamed with joy (particularly at the church league basketball game)! These "characters" are so rich, you'll forget that these are real people and not some beautifully crafted works of fiction. Very well done!



5. Rick Bragg never fails to mesmerize and entertain...and oh, what a way with words! 'Prince' is my favorite in this trilogy, but I'd heartily recommend any of them. A truly remarkable memoir, touching, engaging, laugh-out-loud funny, and tender in its portrayal of Alabama.
   I live in Florida now, and travel back and forth to a mountain place we have near my birthplace in Anniston. Rick Bragg never fails to make me wish I were there...

5 comments about 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life.

1. This book was amazing. I could'nt put it down. His strength and determination was uplifting. His life lessons are something we should all learn from.



2. This book is a wonderful story of what a man experienced when he was dead for 90 minutes, and eventually pulled back from heaven by paramedics. It is a short, great read. Consider giving it as a gift to someone who has just lost a spouse, a relative or a friend. It makes the death experience seem very real and something for all to look forward to.
   
   It is an awesome book.



3. Not what I expected. Did not find it to be inspiring or moving which was what I was hoping for.



4. I found Don's book very rivoting. A similar thing happened to me and truly know what he went through. What bothered me was the editing sloppyness, where sentances were broken up badly, and few new sentances began with a capital letter. I'm detail oriented and wanted to find a way to make the corrections myself. Had I known how to make the corrections I would have done so.



5. This is a great illustration of how God's plans are so much bigger than ours. It shows how he uses us to further his kingdom in ways that we can't understand sometimes. It's a short read that you don't want to miss.

5 comments about The Ride of Our Lives: Roadside Lessons of an American Family (Random House Large Print (Cloth/Paper)).

1. I couldn't put this book down. It is so touching, and profound. At times I would put the book down and laugh out loud! What a family to belong to, I bet everyone who read the book was jealous, and wants to take a month trip of their own!



2. The PBS series based on this memoir is entertaining, but the book is so much more. It's poignant, it's deeper, and it's much, much funnier -- laugh out loud finny. Marge and Jack emerge in the book as three-dimensional people, not just the target of jokes that the TV version focuses on. You'll also learn heart-rending details of their childhoods, the pervasive sadness that both have coped with, and you'll understand why Mike Leonard thinks he leads a charmed life.



3. A good quick read. The book is funny,sad,and so much like most of our lives. The family is a say it like it is. We are just as we come take us or leave us. I would take them, read the book it was very enjoyable.



4. This was a wonderful real life account of a family's journey
   through life's many turns.A story all family's can relate too!
   Bought young and old will enjoy it. I liked it very much.
   
   Brian Klune, Colchester,CT.



5. I enjoyed the book so much. Mike Leonard has written an amazing book about a trip with his parents and how much he learns about them. The book makes you feel like you are riding along with them in the RV experiencing every mile of the trip. I laughed out loud and even cried like a baby in spots. I am now watching the series on the PBS channel on Thursday nights. If anyone can tell me how to get in touch with Mike Leonard (ie) email. Please let me know by emailing me at rangersfan5@optonline.net. I would love to let him know how great his book was.

5 comments about All Creatures Great and Small.

1. Mr. James Herriot is an uncommon writer, possessed of extraordinary skill and a mastery of the English language. When speaking of works of fiction, he is my favorite writer. His ability to choose perfectly appropriate and descriptive words, phrases, and metaphors to verbally illustrate unique characteristics, landscapes, feelings, and situations still has me mesmerized.
   
   "All Creatures Great and Small" is autobiographical in that Mr. Herriot is the central character of the book, though James Herriot is the pen name of the real author, Jim Wight. However, since the work is defined as a novel, then one may assume that Mr. Herriot took certain liberties in relating many of the tales he unfolds. Mr. Herriot is a veterinary surgeon, and much of his novel specifically involves dealing with particular cases of sick livestock and ailing house pets. One should not quickly conclude, however, that this story is merely about the ramblings of a country animal doctor who at times finds himself in interesting situations, as some reviewers would suggest.
   
   Instead, my feeling is that Mr. Herriot utilized his visits to multiple and varied farms and residences in the British countryside to highlight the individual conditions, attitudes, and distinctive persons he discovered at each location. The book becomes absolutely delightful and poignant, for instance, when Mr. Herriot kindly sits at an aging woman's bedside and tenderly comforts her with his voiced belief that her devoted, loving dogs and cats are indeed possessed of souls and that she need not fear that they will again be her companions in the afterlife.
   
   And I do not believe I have laughed out loud so frequently while reading one book. Some of my personal favorites are when his brakes go out on his car and he must navigate a steep and winding descent to the bottom of a low valley, where his next veterinary visit is scheduled, and when he finds himself on his first date with the woman he is destined to marry and the only respectable dress suit he owns is several years out of fashion and far too tight-fitting, which is partly why he becomes far too nervous and a bout of awkward conversation and actions follow. Additionally, much might be said here about the quirky relationship Mr. Herriot has with his unpredictable and explosive yet perfectly harmless and generous employer, a Mr. Siegfried Farnon, and Siegfried's younger brother, Tristan. Farnon's demanding attitude regarding his veterinary business affairs, especially in the face of Tristan's irresponsibility in mishandling assignments and responsibilities, is often the basis for much of the hilarity in the book.
   
   In speaking of his relationships with those to whom he is closest on a personal level and the frequently visited owners of his animal patients, Mr. Herriot has an especially profound gift when it comes to praising the best characteristics that are found in the human race. He speaks with eloquent fondness when describing the beautiful traits he sees in his lovely Helen, his soon-to-be wife. And when he stumbles upon a man or woman who he feels is in ownership of certain admirable exceptionality, such as industry or thrift or honesty or discipline or gentleness, his written accolades of such persons is heartwarming and deeply inspiring.
   
   Thus I would say that this book has everything. It touches upon the topics of death, faith, humor, love, devotion, stewardship, human strengths and frailties, prosperity and poverty, work and idleness, occupation, and the list goes on. Given that these interesting topics are handled so capably by Mr. Herriot's writing talent, I doubt that any sensitive reader would find this book to be anything but delightful and praiseworthy.



2. One of the best books I've read in my life. A must read. Very well written. Makes you want to write like him.
   
   I remember seeing my high school biology teacher reading this book at her desk while she had some time to herself, while we did our thing with dissections, etc. It seemed that she couldn't get her hands off this book. And I'd wonder what the book was about. Something about creatures. Maybe it was about GOD and church and religion.
   
   Now that I've had a chance to read this book, twenty years later, I can say that it is a wonderful book! You don't want this book to end. And now I understand why my biology teacher was so hooked on it.
   
   This is a nonfictional book about an English veterinarian writing about his funny and sometimes dramatic profession. From how he started, to his everyday events in a small town (away from the big city such as London) to how he meets his future wife, and his gradual establishment of his veterinary life. This book is filled with funny moments that makes you pause with a smile on your face. And has its poignant moments that makes you realize its wonderful writing.
   
   This book gives you a glimpse of what the veterinary world is like on his side, on the countryside of life, with real people and real stories, and of course, with real animals. Animals and people and veterinary work that you will come to love.



3. I can't add much more than the previous reviews. How many books on Amazon have a 5 star rating with 100+ reviews? Missed this one during school and read all three of Herriot's books in my 40's. Truly lovely, wise, and transporting. I will make sure my children don't wait as long as I did to discover these classics.



4. Wonderful and inspiring stories of a country vet are humorously written but also deliver a good amount of practical veterinary insight. It's nice to read from the point of view of a kind-hearted yet practical country animal lover.



5. I bought this edition as a gift for a graduating vet student (every vet needs a copy in his or her office). The book is a classic, and the hardcover is suitable for gifting.

5 comments about Twelve Extraordinary Women: How God Shaped Women of the Bible And What He Wants to Do With You (Walker Large Print Books).

1. I could only get through the first two chapters before I had to put it down. I sought this book out for inspiration, but found it was sexist and insulting. I write this not because I one of those "new fangled feminist types", but because I posses a brain - a God given one. What I glean from the way the stories are presented is that the author's belief is that women exist only through men and have no real intrinsic purpose or value to God or the world, except through men.
   
   Eve is portryaed as a pathetic figure, the author writes patronizingly about Eve's sin: "As the weaker vessel, away from her husband, but close to the forbidden tree, she was in the most vulnerable position possible..." and "...Adam's sin was deliberate (when he took the apple) and willful in a way Eve's was not. Eve was deceived". So, the author doesn't even think she deserves equal billing in the "downfall".
   
   In chap. 2 about Sarah, when explaining how Sara and Abraham lied when they entered Egypt, saying that Sara was his sister so other men would not kill Abraham for her the author concludes: "...Abraham's motives were selfish and cowardly, and the scheme reflected a serious weakness in his faith. But Sarah's devotion to her husband is nonetheless commendable, and God honored her for it..". So, she is not a whole person in this author's view - they both lied, he calls it "cowardly" on Abraham's part, but believes God commends Sara, because she it was good she supported him - EVEN when he did something "selfish and cowardly".
   
   As a Christian I found the simplistic and ridiculous for the 21st century.
   I cannot recommend this book to anyone with a brain.



2. This book is phenomenal and is filled with scripture. John MacArthur does a great job of making these women's lives parallel to our current culture and easy for anyone to relate. Each woman has her own personality but all have lessons to learn from. I have just started the book and am about half way through already and each page has spoken to me that most of the book is underlined and commented on. If you're looking for God to move in your life and teach you some great lessons pick up this book!!!



3. We have been studying this for the past few months slowly due to only meeting once a week. We have discovered fascinating new details about some of the women of the Bible that we did not know. While we have found a few discrepancies, they are minor and we talk it out as a group. Overall, we are finding this study to be enlightening and are looking forward to the rest of it.



4. I have led numerous Bible studies, and this book has been a real disappointment. The writing lacks balance, is often disorganized, and even has an "anti-women" tone to it. I find myself having to work all week to plan our study, to supplement what he's written. I would not recommend this book.



5. It helped me so see and understand how important these women really were in the lineage of Jesus. How God can change the seemingly impossible. Wonderful book!

5 comments about Faith of My Fathers (Random House Large Print (Hardcover)).

1. This is not a political book but should be read by all who will vote in the upcoming election, like John McCain or not it does present an excellent picture of who he is. Interestingly it has me reseaching deeper in to my family history to see if there are correlations with who I am. The story was very intriguing and I read the book in just a few short days.



2. I recently decided to read four books; one written by each candidate, and another written about each candidate. This I feel will better prepare me for the November 2008 election.
   
   I read Faith of Our Fathers and enjoyed it. There are some sections that I found boring though, including a lengthy discussion of the McCain linneage, and lots of stories about John McCain's parents and their lives in the various places they lived.
   
   For someone who wants to learn more about life in a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp, the book will provide a lot of good (yet scary) information.
   
   I feel that the book gives an excellent perspective on John McCain the man. It is not a political book, so someone wanting to get a feel for McCain can peek into his psychology without the pretense associated with a book written as propaganda.
   
   I definately did come away with understanding about John McCain's philosophies, values, and personality. I won't tell you what I think of McCain. That is the purpose of this review; to let you know that the book provides information that will allow you to understand the man. I think this book might allow you to do so better than perhaps any other source.
   
   I give it five stars in the "now I have a real handle on John McCain" category, and 2.5-3 stars in the "gee this is a great book" category.



3. I bought the audio cd version of this book. To listen to John McCanin tell the story of his life, in his own words, gave me insight into this man. The inflection of words the words most important to him, was worth the price of the book.
   Whether or not you agree with his politics, this tells what makes him tick.



4. John Sydney McCain, III, the presumptive Republican nominee for President of the United States in the upcoming 2008 presidential election, penned Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir, along with Mark Salter (1999). I purchased the book in March of 2008 to learn more about McCain based on his early memories.
   
   I was pleased to find two especially remarkable McCain memories in this readable and rather engaging book: one at the beginning of Chapter 7 and one at the beginning of Chapter 9.
   
   Both memories contain a number of similarities, including that both mention a naval officer. Both also reference anger, an explosion, sharing information, a surprise attack, as well as an act of war, water, the loss of control, abandonment, a reference to black, and teaching someone a lesson.
   
   With these two memories alone, we learn a great deal about John McCain, most significantly that his worldview is anger empowers. To be sure, even as young as two-years-old, McCain is using "anger power" on himself (chapter 9), showing us the grit of a determined individual spirited enough to one day endure torture at the hands of the North Vietnamese.
   
   We also learn that McCain was reared as a middle child - an often difficult position. In a family of three children, the second child, who once had the distinction of being the adored baby, has been dethroned and is now the middle child. This dethroned middle child suddenly discovers that he doesn't have the advantage of being older, nor does he any longer have the privilege of being the baby - resulting in a feeling of being slighted and abused. He has the impression that life and people are unfair, and he may be provocative in order to feel even more justified in his assumptions. It is well-documented that McCain has gone to great lengths to create himself as a unique person - seeming to take pride in going against the majority when possible and frequently doing the unexpected.
   
   In addition, we learn in a second earliest memory that after a naval officer informs the family that the Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor, McCain's father is rarely seen by his family for four years. Thus from the time McCain is in kindergarten (age 5) until the fourth grade (age 9), war is foremost in his family's mind - and in the minds of all the people with whom his family associates. In time, war becomes tolerable, even comfortable - the expected.
   
   Throughout the book McCain lays out the pathway to his current thinking. To learn more about his memories, see Thinkwriter, a blog about earliest memories, and to understand McCain and how he will likely lead the United States if elected, read his telling book.



5. John Sidney McCain III is running for President, using his experience as a POW as a credential. This book, if closely read, shows exactly how poor a credential his POW experience and conduct is. Two examples (there are more): Within four days of being captured, he specifically admits that he first offered and then provided valid military information so that he could get treatment other POWs in his position didn't get. He details at last two propaganda broadcasts/interviews he gave. Both of those are in direct violation of the Military Code of Conduct that he swore to uphold (and he was not being either tortured or coerced when he did those things -- he did them of his own free will and for his own purposes).
   
   McCain is not the hero he portrays himself as being -- at most he is just a survivor, who survived in a less-than-honorable way. The American public really needs to learn the truth about this McCain. This book, if closely read, is a good starting point. I recommend it for that purpose.

5 comments about Not Fade Away: A Short Life Well Lived.

1. I just finished reading "Not Fade Away" for the second time. The first time I read it a couple of years ago I remember taking it very slowly because I felt each word was so important. Usually a very fast reader, I would stop and go over sentences because I didn't want to miss anything. Impactful ideas were there in every sentence.
   
   I just finished reading it again because I wanted to see how it stood up against "The Last Lecture." And it held up very well. The two books are by (and about) similarly energetic, optimistic men dying of cancer, but they tell very different tales in different styles. I'm glad to say that there's an honesty in this book that wears well with time. Re-reading it again made me very glad that I recommended it last year to a friend whose brother was dying of cancer. They say the best gifts come in small packages, and that's certainly true here. Powerful and enjoyable! Read it.



2. As a leukemia survivor, married to a wonderful spouse and with three young children, Peter's memoir rings almost too true to me. I actually met Peter a few times in the 80s through one of his dearest friends whom I dated for a short time. Peter was never so enthusiastic as he was when talking about Laura, his soon-to-be bride. You could tell that family devotion, and a strong conscience was deeply rooted in him from an early age.
   
   The basic values given to him by his parents, particularly the sacrifices his mother made, were at the heart of this book. He sacrifices his own personal privacy and makes a gift to his children and others coping with cancer. He shows us what the process feels like. Knowledge, however sad, is somehow empowering.
   
   As a cancer patient, I have plenty of time to reflect and read. If you don't, then I say read it. You won't regret it. This book is at times intoxicating and high-flying, philosophical and deadly real. It is about life, much more than it is about death.
   
   Peter may have not thought that he was a survivor, but he was--every day he lived. Here's hoping that Peter's life, however brief, will never fade away in the hearts and minds of all he loved.



3. My father passed away in the fall of 2006, from cancer, at age 58. I found this book during the winter, it was out of place and I picked it up. Maybe I was looking for meaning, I don't know. But I have read it cover to cover twice, and pick it up often to browse. It is beautiful, poignent, raw with honesty. On the surface, my father was nothing like Peter Barton, but as I read the book I saw my father in every page. Much of what I witnessed in his final months were hard to articulate, yet Peter Barton and Laurence Shames gave me the words I could not find.
   
   A beautiful book about death and dying, about life and love and lessons. Read this book. It's more joyous than sad, more beauty than darkness.



4. I happened upon an advance uncorrected proof of this book quite by accident. I read a few sentences and thought, "Why not give it a read?" Well, I have to say that the book - both the writing and the content - are absolutely wonderful. Laurence Shames gets all the emotion and humility and pride down flawlessly in the pages of this book. You can't help but wish you had known Peter Barton after reading this.



5. Mr. Shames wrote a poignant and very real account of the disease that took his life at a very early age. I read this a couple years ago, and just re-read after hearing the story of a "younger" person stricken with cancer. This book will inspire, but will also force the reader to consider; "What would I do? Would I have that much grace and zest and enthusiasm?" The dirt-nap gets us all, this book demonstrates how one man dealt with his impending demise---and teaches valuable life-lessons that we could all use. Highly recommended.

2 comments about Why Women Should Rule the World LP: A Memoir.

1. 
   I loved this book; anyone against war and for communication among
   law makers and world leaders, as well as fiscal responsibility will want to see what real change could do.



2. 
   We women are often afraid of our own power. Afraid to be thought of as pushy or bitchy if we assert ourselves willfully with the force of our passion. But wise women wield power wisely and the planet is in desperate need of our wisdom. The time couldn't be more crucial.
   
   Thank you, Dee Dee Meyers for your insights, as well as for being such an inspiring role model. You are right! I agree completely. Women SHOULD rule the world!
   
   Now is the time for all women to acknowledge and explore our stature and our strength. It is high time to exert our influence and the power of our moral convictions and authority. We have held back long enough. Starting here, starting now, we must claim our rightful duties as powerful leaders. We have the whole world in our hands.
   
   Hell may have no fury like a woman scorned, but women standing together side by side, autonomous, proud, and empowered can create heaven on earth.
   
   There will be no heaven unless we make it.
   -Florence Nightingale

5 comments about Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia.

1. This is my favorite book. It's hilarious and deeply spiritual at the same time. It changed my life. I read it through once, and then I immediately read it a second time. I've never done that before!



2. I was really excited to hear about this book. The title is catcy and seems to invite readers to what could be an inspirational book about the true meaning of life. I received it from a good friend as a gift and although it was written very well I could not have disagreed more with the author about the "meaning of life". The main character (or author) seems to be very self absorbed and almost possessed by selfish and self-defeating thoughts. Why would you leave a perfectly great marriage because it no longer suited your needs (the author didn't want kids!!!) then have the nerve to write a book about it? I think its great the things the author realizes throughout her journey but in this case the ends does not justify the means.
   
   Here is my advice to the author:
   -Notice some people live to eat but many others eat to live...
   -If you want to pray please don't do so in the bathroom.
   -Love is not just about loving yourself or about your human need for love, love can be about loving someone else so as to sacrifice sometimes. As first lady Nancy Regan said relationships are not always 50/50...sometimes they have to be 100/0.
   
   The only reason I'd suggest reading the book is to find out for yourself on which side of this controversial book you'd be on...



3. What a waste of time. This woman needed a hobby or better yet, to get out and do some volunteer work!
   
   She is so stereotypical of what's wrong with America!



4. I loved this book! It's written like your sitting and chatting with an old friend. Easy, comfortable and interesting. You feel like you know the people and care about what happens to them. I loved the part about her riding her bike past the monkey and what she said! Hysterical!!!
   
   The places the author talks about are very seldom seem by the average person, making it all the more interesting! What a wonderful adventure that most of us can only dream of. Great Summer Book!!! (I can't wait for the continuing story, due out next year!)



5. I tried reading past the point of Italy but i couldn't. the vague nature at which she describes the end of her marriage leaves me suspicious of her and her motivation. this is a book, this is YOUR BOOK. this book is supposed to be about YOUR spiritual journey as a result of YOUR DIVORCE and circumstances that surround the journey you've chosen to share, how could you not what to talk about that? impossible! reading this made me so upset.
   
   overall, i came to the realization that any drivel can be published and, if marketed right, become successful. I have never returned a book but i did return this one, and the attendant didn't seem very surprised to see it back.

5 comments about Life Beyond Measure LP: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter.

1. Life Beyond Measure is a series of letters to Poitier's great-granddaughter, to be read as she matures from infancy to young womanhood. As such, it is not a straight biographical narrative, rather a compendium of grandfatherly advice intermixed with real life examples from Poitier's marvelous and challenging life.
   
   It seems some of the events are skimmed over - he mentions finding the love of his life in his second wife, but fails to detail the divorce from his first wife and the suffering involved in that. He treats everyone very resepctfully, obviously retaining a good relationship with the first wife, but I think a few lessons detailing that type of event would have been beneficial to his intended audience.
   
   The writing style is fluent and easy to read - it moves best when Poitier is relating tales from his youth on Cat Island or Nassau, or his individual struggles against unemployment or racism. It bogs down some near the end when he begins to wax philospohically on the great mysteries of the universe, and I am not certain all the background information he throws in on society and science was that useful, but still he manages to convey his basic point that mankind needs to be a good steward of this planet and of each other.
   
   All in all, an enjoyable read with a lot of valuable advice couched in warm and accessible prose.



2. This book was purchased for my 83 year old Mother as a gift for Mother's Day. She usually sticks to cookbooks, or psychology self-help type books, but I knew she always admired Sidney Poitier as an actor, and as a human being, so I thought she might enjoy this book. Turns out I was right! Even though she can only read a few pages each night due to vision problems, she has already told me how much she is enjoying reading this book. It is extremely well written, with a true human interest style that is holding her interest. Bravo, Mr. Poitier! (I'm going to borrow it from her when she's finished!)



3. What loving letters these are! The chapters about his youth are the most interesting & delightful; those in which he philosophizes about religion are a little less clear, but very heartfelt & humanitarian. I wish we all could have such a large family network. Poitier's writing is truly elegant and articulate -- I think I'd read the phone book if he'd written it!



4. It really takes a man of great internal fortitude to look back on his life with such a critical eye toward informing the future, but screen legend Sidney Poitier has proven to be such a man. He first made an impression in his pioneering role as a top-flight film star in the 1950's and 60's and then through his profound role in the civil rights movement and more recently, on more global political commitments. He has conveyed his evolving passions in a series of increasingly reflective books - first his candid, straight-ahead autobiography, 1980's This Life and then his sometimes fiery, always revelatory memories of being caught in the crossfire of expectations among his racially divided audience in 2000's The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography. His latest book finds the actor, now 81 years old, in a more philosophical mood as he writes a series of letters to his great-granddaughter Ayele.
   
   Ayele was just born in 2005, so it's clear that Poitier wrote this book as a legacy to her and quite a legacy it is. Far less interested this time in opening old wounds, he brings a genuinely inspirational tone to his ruminations on the broad topics he covers here - love, faith, life, death. Yet, he manages to use his expansive personal history when it proves relevant to a topic. Poitier realizes that he is well beyond the age where he needs to document his life purely in chronological, milestone-achieving order. At the same time, he knows he played an essential role in breaking down barriers heretofore closed to blacks despite the limitations put upon him on the big screen. The actor had to be hopelessly idealized, articulate and sexless. Even when he was allowed to be romantically involved in films like For Love of Ivy, it was handled in the most antiseptic manner. And when he spoke out against injustices in films like In the Heat of the Night or Pressure Point, Poitier kept his passions in check with calculated responses that turned into classic set pieces like the argument with his belligerent father in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.
   
   Barack Obama owes a debt of gratitude to Poitier whose charisma and dignity paved the way for the first serious Presidential run by someone who is not white. However, the actor seems more resigned than enthralled by his pivotal place in history. That must explain why he deals more directly with questions about the existence of a higher power since he worries that the world his great-granddaughter inherits will be continually threatened by religious conflicts. Poitier wants to prepare her for the threats ahead, and in doing so, he shares his hard-earned wisdom in deceptively simple terms. There is a pervasive sense of mortality in the book, and one gets the sense that he is preparing himself for the world beyond. You would think the net effect would be sad, but he manages to give a strong sense of affirmation to the life lessons he shares. I still prefer the comparatively angrier "Measure of a Man" for pure revelation about his legend, but this lucidly written book provides a most fitting coda.



5. Although The Los Angeles Times reviewer gave Mr. Poitier a generous accolade as "a national treasure," those lofty words are nevertheless incomplete. This fine actor, and the roles he has played as a leading man, taught a generation of men and women the most important lessons possible about racial equality and social justice. He led our collective thoughts at a time when we were most impressionable.
   
   Through his authoritative lead characters for timeless movies -- such as "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" and "In the Heat of the Night" -- Poitier gave the Baby Boomer generation palpable and enduring context for their cultural revolution around equal rights. Martin Luther King delivered the moral imperatives for change: Sydney Poitier enacted the stories that made King's lessons tangible, comprehensible and personal.
   
   This generation is now rapidly passing the hallmark birthdays of 50 and 60 and can learn again from Sydney Poitier, the author. Today's generational zeitgeist includes the pressing need to assess our collective legacies; to leave future generations a more inclusive, humane and just world; and to bequeath our successors a better society than the divisive nation of our youth.
   
   Again, he speaks to a generation that has also admired him since our teen years, a generation that has listened to him as a wise mentor. He taught us right from wrong without a single lecture or admonishment. He just demonstrated what a nation built on equality needed to become.
   
   This book challenges each of us to consider our heritage, not just for the next generation, but for generations yet to be born. Mr. Poitier's bravery, tenacity and humanity are worth further consideration, study and reflection, as inspired by this new book.
   
   Read this masterwork if you're a Boomer. It will remind you of why we sacrificed much and worked hard to help transform Poitier's revolutionary acting roles into mainstream cultural norms today.