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For decades 714 was the holiest number in baseball. When Hank Aaron began closing in on Babe Ruth's career home run record he also began receiving racist hate mail and death threats: "You are not going to break the record established by the great Babe Ruth if I can help it. My gun is watching your every black move."

In the midst of all the anger and hate, a white teenager named Sandy Tolan wrote a letter to Hank Aaron. "Don't listen to them, Mr. Aaron. We're in your corner. You're my hero. I believe in you." To his great surprise, several weeks later Tolan received a reply--from Hank Aaron himself. Tolan kept the letter, taping it into a scrapbook he was keeping to follow Aaron's home run record chase.

Twenty-five years later, Tolan, now a journalist, had the opportunity to finally meet Aaron. He recounts the meeting, and his decades-long admiration for the man in Me and Hank. No mere hagiography, Me and Hank lingers on a difficult question: Why was Hank Aaron's home run record less celebrated than Babe Ruth's? Or as Aaron himself put it in 1979, "Isn't it funny? Before I broke his record, it was the greatest of them all. Then I broke his record and suddenly the greatest record in baseball is Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak." Tolan uses Hank Aaron and the Babe's home run record as a prism through which to examine racial tensions in America--both in the 1970s and in the 1990s. Along the way he visits the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown (where Ruth has a room all his own while Aaron has "a wall and a locker"), meets Charlie Danrick, who sells audio tapes of old baseball games (the tape ofnumber 715 "doesn't sell. It just lays there. People don't buy it."), and befriends a homeless black man from Atlanta who was in the stands on April 8, 1974 ("And when I seen him hit the ball ... it felt like he passed the civil rights bill to me.") At times angry but always thoughtful, Me and Hank provides a much-needed window into baseball, race relations, and even American history. --M. Stein ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Very sad story of reality in America
I have to say this is the saddest baseball book that I've ever read.This book really is about the reality of sharp division between two Americas --- the main stream one that belongs to whites and another that belongs to blacks.

Being an avid Hank Aaron fan, the author Sandy Tolan does have a strong --- could even say a bit biased --- opinion about how Aaron has not been given proper credit he deserves.As an earlier review points out, he sounds angry at times, but really the whole point in the end is that racism doesn't even take active hatred like those manifested in tons of hate mail Aaron received in his quest for the homerun record.That the main stream America has had so little interest in Aaron's great feat shows the reality of human's natural tendency to unconsciously discount "others."In this sense, I don't think Tolan intended to blame the main-stream America for not giving Aaron enough respect; the white people in the States never truly understand what someone like Aaron had to go through and what he meant to those who are considered as "others" simply because they cannot experience it in today's America.And sure they don't wish to experience if given a choice.I saw much more resignation than accusation in Tolan's narrative.

It is only relieving because Tolan, who is white, does treat Aaron's achievements and deeds with such a profound respect and passion.Yet even Tolan could not break ice with Aaron, whose emotional scar has not been healed.It is too sad Aaron had to go through so many negatives for what everyone should feel happy for.But the book tells what he did really, really meant a lot for those who cared about him, and Tolan made sure that those won't be forgotten.

Great book that could have eased up on the bitterness
Don't get me wrong -- this was a great read and a provocative book aboutmy favorite ballplayer of all-time. But I thought Tolan was at his bestdescribing the people who experienced Hank Aaron's home run chase firsthand(including himself) and at his worst when his personal memories shiftedfrom fact to opinion.

The tale of his encounter with a homeless Atlantaman who attended the game where Aaron hit No. 715 is beautifully told andmoving. His personal friendship with a Babe Ruth admirer ignores racism inhis hometown and praises Aaron for his accomplishment illustrates how weneed inner strength and conviction not to simply march in tune with thosearound us. Tolan's interviews with Aaron, his daughter Gaile and formerteammates reveal the depth with which Aaron had to endure racism as aballplayer, and his historical portrait of the racial tension in hishometown of Milwaukee is thorough and fascinating.

But the more Tolandiscovers about how unappreciated Aaron truly is, the more preachy -- andless effective -- he becomes. He hits a low point when he grills threeadvertising executives on their lack of knowledge of Aaron's hardships asthey prepare to pay homage to Aaron in a MasterCard commercial. Are they tobe blamed for that? All of these people clearly respect Aaron, and they allinterviewed Aaron in preparation for the commercial. If he'd really wantedthem to know what he endured, he probably would have told them. He alsotakes some unnecessary shots at the Hall of Fame because they have chosento pay tribute to Babe Ruth with an entire room, while Aaron gets only awall. Sure, Aaron deserves a room to himself, so do Jackie Robinson, BobGibson, Curt Flood, and many of baseball's other African-American pioneers.They don't. Deal with it.

One need not be a walking encyclopedia ofAaron's life, as Tolan is, to appreciate his accomplishments achieved underextreme duress. Let those who appreciate Aaron for who he is -- a greatballplayer and a great man -- simply be. The irony is, I'm with Tolan onhis central argument, that Aaron is one of the greatest and mostunderappreciated Americans in history. I'll even go far as to say you can'tprove Ruth is better than Aaron, because Ruth played an all-white game anddidn't necessary play against the best. But Ruth made the game popular. Ifnot for Babe Ruth and what he did to make baseball America's pastime,Aaron's chase wouldn't have inspired the rancor that it did. Peoplewouldn't have cared.

Sandy, let's enjoy being Hank Aaron fans by notwasting our time beating up those who don't appreciate him to the extremedegree we do.

Must read !
Sandy Tolan did a good job interviewing many people, including Hank Aaron, to do this book. Hank Aaron is a wonderful person who deserves much more recognition for what he has done both on the field and off. The book isvery well done. It makes you think.

Wonderful and moving
What a wonderful book!This is a fitting tribute to a man who has been shamefully underrated in American life, as well as a probing look at race relations in the past forty-plus years, seen through the prism of baseballand Hank Aaron's breaking of Babe Ruth's record. Like the author, I grew upin Milwaukee, although I am a bit older and so I saw Hank Aaron hit many ofhis home runs.His dignity and grace are a precious memory of my youth. Also like the author, I wrote Hank Aaron a letter when I learned thatracists were hounding him for challenging Ruth, and received an eloquentletter in reply from Mr. Aaron. This book, with its highly personalapproach to the subject, is a multifaceted view of a revealing part ofAmerican life.I couldn't recommend it more highly. ... Read more

Book Description

Winner of the Dartmouth Medal for Outstanding Reference Publication of 1994, the first edition of Black Women in America broke ground-pulling together for the first time all of the research in this vast but underrepresented field to provide one of the strongest building blocks of Black Women's Studies. Hailed by Eric Foner of Columbia University (for a Lingua Franca survey) as "one of those publishing events which changes the way we look at a field," it simultaneously filled a void in the literature and sparked new research and concepts regarding African-American women in history. Since the first edition was published, a new generation of American black women has flourished, demanding this landmark reference be brought up to date. Women such as Venus and Serena Williams, Condoleezza Rice, Carol Mosley-Braun, Ruth Simmons, and Ann Fudge have become household names for their remarkable contributions to sports, politics, academia, and business. In three magnificent volumes, Black Women in America, second edition celebrates the remarkable achievements of black women throughout history, highlights their ongoing contributions in America today, and covers the new research the first edition helped to generate. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is a "must-have" reference source
Those serious about African-American and women's history MUST include this encyclopedia in their reference collections. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (31)

A spirit free behind bars
This is one of those very rare books that can change your life forever. I was so rapt by this story that I only put it down once (to sleep) and called in sick to work the next morning in order to finish it.

There are many stories of the white man's greed and injustice towards Native Americans, but this is more than just that. It is the story of a man unbowed by years of brutal imprisonment. This man's story transcends race and speaks to the freedom-loving soul in us all.

Through his art, writing, political activism, and spirituality Peltier has accomplished more in Federal Prison than most free men do in a lifetime. His courage and determination as a spirit-warrior are undeniable.

Reading this book makes it clear that this man's imprisonment does not bring justice to the families of Ron Williams and Jack Coler. Two agents who sadly lost their lives in what can only be described as a tragic and brutal blunder by the FBI.

This book proves that there are places in the human psyche that no prison can hold. If this book were required reading for every high-school aged child it would go a long way to repairing America's soul. His life is a lesson to us all.

Write to Leonard at:
Leonard Peltier #89637-132
PO Box 1000
Leavenworth, KS 66048

Stirring...a must read if you have any compassion
This well written book not only makes you have more compassion for Leonard Peltier, it also boils the blood to know he is still incarcerated for a wrong he has not committed.

I could not put this book down once I started reading it. In one day it was finished. It also reminded me of a saying of my generation, "Question Authority."

Leonard has in these writings opened his soul and presented the reader with a look into his life as U.S.P. #89637-132. The reading saddened me, but at the same time it stirred emotions of anger.

The documented lies that led to his arrest and conviction have done nothing to speed his release. Mr. President, you have the power with the touch of your pen to right this terrible wrong.

In the Spirit of Leonard, ho!

AIM
I have read every (just about) American Indian book that has meaning and truth to it. Leonard Peltier is a man who means a lot to just about every Indian and every non Indian who knows his story. I would do some online research about him and what was going in South Dakota during the 70s prior to this book in order to understand the magnatude of BS this man has endured (not only him but American Indians as well). He tells his story, his feelings and his thoughts. He had my upmost respect prior to reading this book and this book has helped me "get to know" him.
It's a great book. You won't be disappointed.

Moving
A moving account of being in prison. Leonard Peltier, despite being in prison, is still a force to be reckoned with. His words are painful and truthful. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the truth.

Conformity, assimilation, and opression
What the land of the free whoever told you that was your enemy!Since the first spaniar set foot on turtle island this country has never been the same.Manisfest destiny was there excuse, but that just what it was, an excuse.Leornard Peltier is a prime example of the opression that has kept the native americans under the steeled toe boots of the US government.Me bieng part native american myself this book is a huge inspiration to me.It gives me pride for my culture and the strength to fight the racism in our society that i face every day.Peltier has been incarcirated for nearly 25 years and is still as pacient as he was from day one.The governmaent's attitude towards Peltier is one of complacence.They dont care.This book is basically one of the saddest but at the same time most inspirational story's ever written.No matter what race you are this is a must readand hopefully it will open peoples eyes to the corrupt US government. ... Read more

Book Description

A shocking true story of contemporary slavery: a young girl, snatched from her tribal village in Africa, survives enslavement in Sudan and London before making a courageous escape to freedom.

Mende Nazer lost her childhood at age twelve, when she was sold into slavery. It all began one horrific night in 1993, when Arab raiders swept through her Nuba village, murdering the adults and rounding up thirty-one children, including Mende. .

Mende was sold to a wealthy Arab family who lived in Sudan's capital city, Khartoum. So began her dark years of enslavement. Her Arab owners called her "Yebit," or "black slave." She called them "master." She was subjected to appalling physical, sexual, and mental abuse. She slept in a shed and ate the family leftovers like a dog. She had no rights, no freedom, and no life of her own.

Normally, Mende's story never would have come to light. But seven years after she was seized and sold into slavery, she was sent to work for another master--a diplomat working in the United Kingdom. In London, she managed to make contact with other Sudanese, who took pity on her. In September 2000, she made a dramatic break for freedom.

Slave is a story almost beyond belief. It depicts the strength and dignity of the Nuba tribe. It recounts the savage way in which the Nuba and their ancient culture are being destroyed by a secret modern-day trade in slaves. Most of all, it is a remarkable testimony to one young woman's unbreakable spirit and tremendous courage. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

'My life as a modern-day slave'
By Joseph Winter
BBC News Online

On the surface, Mende Nazer is a bright, bubbly, confident young woman, quick to break into a beautiful infectious smile, which lights up her whole face.

Nothing to suggest that she spent eight years of her life as a slave after being captured from her village in Sudan's Nuba Mountains.

But the smile soon disappears when she talks about her past and her eyes start to well up with tears.

"I still have nightmares," she told BBC News Online in London three years after she managed to escape to freedom.

She was just 12 when one night her village was targeted by Arab slave raiders, who snatched her away from her loving family to be a slave in far away Khartoum.

The story of her capture and life in servitude, published in her book Slave, reads like something from the Middle Ages but it happened in the early 1990s and she says this is still the lot of many young girls from southern Sudan.

She worked from first thing in the morning until late at night, washing, cleaning and ironing, without any pay or days off, sleeping in a locked shed in the garden. At first, her mistress thought she was unclean and diseased, so she wouldn't let Mende touch the children.

But after a while, looking after the children and cooking for the family were added to her list of duties.

She only ate the scraps left by her mistress' family - "like an animal," she said.

Eating these leftovers on her own in the kitchen was particularly demeaning for her, as sharing food is a central part of her Nuba culture, where no-one eats alone.

She was often beaten and on one occasion, after preparing fried eggs instead of poached eggs, her mistress "seized the ladle out of the frying pan, and thrust the burning hot metal against my forearm.

"I cried out in agony, as she ground it, sizzling, into my skin," she wrote.

Her left arm is still badly scarred.

'Terrified'

This is the life she was leading at the start of the 21st century.

Then, a train of events began which would eventually lead to her freedom.

Her mistress's sister, married to a Sudanese diplomat in London, had twins, so she was "given" to her to help her out. "Well, it's easy for us to get you another abda [slave]... whereas I understand it's impossible for people to find one in London," the wife of a slave-dealer told her mistress.

Her new "owners" returned on holiday to Sudan, leaving her in the custody of some colleagues and she realised this was her chance to escape.

But she spoke no English and had no concept of claiming asylum or how to survive in a bustling city of eight million people.

She went up to anyone she saw on London's streets who looked like they could be from southern Sudan and greeted them in Arabic.

After receiving endless quizzical looks and dismissals, she found someone working in a garage from Sudan and who knew someone from the Nuba Mountains.

A few days later, they waited for her outside her owner's house and told her to run away.

What was that first taste of freedom like?

"I was terrified that they would come and capture me again," she says.

After eight years of being beaten and threatened into submission, physical freedom was one thing, mental emancipation would take far longer.

Family reunion

When she first escaped, her family was taken to Khartoum and told to try and persuade her to return home.

They were told she had been kidnapped and forced to renounce Islam and convert to Christianity.

But once the family spoke to her, she was able to tell them her true story and is now in regular contact with them.

But she can't go to Sudan and so once every three months or so, her mother makes a day-long trip by lorry from her village to a town where there is a telephone, so they can talk. She hopes one day to meet them again - if she can get them to another country.

Although Slave has already been published in Germany, she says she is worried that the publicity surrounding its release in the UK might cause more trouble for her family.

"I could keep quiet because I've had my freedom but while others are still in slavery in Sudan, a part of me is, too," she says.

Launching the book and traipsing from one media interview to another, stoking up all the painful memories, is hugely stressful but she says this is the one thing she can do to help those she left behind.

Last year, a study estimated that more than 11,000 southern Sudanese had been abducted in 20 years, many of whom probably remain in bondage.

A struggle to freedom
When I bought 'Slave' I just thought it would be a fun read that I could put down and pick up anytime, but it ended up only taking a few hours because of the intensity of it and the none-stop action. It's about Mende Nazer, her life as a slave, and her struggle to freedom. Reading about slavery and the abuse that came with it horrified me to the point I couldn't put the book down until finding out whether she gains her freedom or not, and for that matter, even lives or not Mende spent most of her life as a slave and even now still hasn't fully adapted to a world of freedom, although it's only been a few years.

As Mende struggles through every day life, which is basically chores and beatings: mental, physical and sexual, she always finds something to bring her back to a good, peaceful place. Whether it be thinking about her Nuba tribe, which was her home for only about 12 years, and village stories, or even the masters kids which are the only people who treat her nicely and equally. In fact, they are the only people who even recognize her as a walking, talking human. As she talked about her life I realize that other slaves had/have an even worse life than she. Mende had a big advantage over many of the other slaves because she could speak some English already and was older so she had more good memories to hang on to.

While reading this I thought of all the times I got mad over doing laundry or getting hurt in a fall, but this was nothing compared to Mendes world. When first getting her period she didn't know what was happening and had no-one to help and guide her on this important new stage in life. And when a little boy tripped her and she fell, dropping some glasses on the way, she wasn't scolded like many of us would be; she was beaten and put to blame. There are so many slaves in the world today but many people just pass it by or are oblivious to it and even those who do know don't educate others. . Until reading this book I could honestly say I would be in the category of 'oblivious people,' but now I understand much more about slaves and there lives from getting captured to brutal beatings from there "masters."

'Slave' gives a voice to all those who had none and were being held captive. It is an up-to-date account of a girl who lost her freedom and her strain to get it back. It opens your eyes to the world of slaves, slave trade, and the authenticity of it all. 'Slave' is an eye-opening book that you won't be able to put down.

Horrific and educational
Female genital mutilation, current active slave trading, crushing abuse, coupled with courage, faith and hope are clearly depicted in this story. A must read for those who want to be informed about the horrors that enslaved children have sufffered.

I picked this up idly not realizing it was about a current ongoing situtation and could not put it down until I finished reading.

It¿s all over the news; this takes you right in the middle¿
Most of us associate slavery with the days of the American Civil War. Yet, in many parts of the world today, slavery isn't dead. In this novel, we meet Mende, a young Sudanese tribal girl growing up happily with her family. The first third of the book explores Mende's childhood among her tribe, the Karko of the Nuba Mountains. Then one night, everything changes. Her village is attacked by Arab raiders. Huts are torched, men killed, women raped and children rounded up to be sold off later as slaves. Mende is among them. We see how Mende struggles to survive as a slave girl and horrors she was forced to go through. Eventually, Mende travels to London as a slave, where it is that she is finally able to make a break for freedom. While Mende's first hand account is great, describing a young woman's life as she matures from a child to an adult under horrible circumstances, something I disliked about this book was that towards the end, Damien Lewis seemed to take over the writing and this made it seem less personal. Also, because of Mende's age at certain points of the novel, I feel like some spots were not as detailed as later chapters. These two minor gripes shouldn't deter you from reading an unbelievable story of a resilient young woman.

My review
I thought that Slave was a very good read, because I enjoyed it and couldn't put it down, which to me makes a good book. I would recommend this book to anyone, it is the compelling story of a girls struggle to survive in a world of modern day slavery, being deprived of seeing her family for 8 years eventually overcoming the abuse and humiliation of being regarded as dirty, and diseased. Beaten and starved, Mende Nazer makes her escape, and tells her brave tale. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1967, the black boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and a young acquaintance, John Artis, were wrongly convicted of triple murder by an all-white jury in Paterson, New Jersey. Over the next decade, Carter gradually amassed convincing evidence of his innocence and the vocal support of celebrities from Bob Dylan to Muhammad Ali. He was freed in 1976 pending a new trial, but he lost his appeal -- to the amazement of many -- and landed back in prison.Carter, bereft, shunned almost all human contact until he received a letter from Lesra Martin, a teenager raised in a Brooklyn ghetto. Against his bitter instincts, Carter agreed to meet with Martin, thus taking the first step on a tortuous path back to the world. Martin introduced him to an enigmatic group of Canadians who helped wage a successful battle to free him. As Carter orchestrated this effort from his cell, he also embarked on a singular intellectual journey, which led ultimately to a freedom more profound than any that could be granted by a legal authority. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Balanced viewpoint
This is an "authorized" biography, meaning that its subject (boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter) cooperated in its production, but that doesn't mean that it's a hagiography. Hirsch produces a book that generates a sense of outrage at the injustice Carter suffered without minimizing Carter's difficult personality.

Carter's story is familiar to many. Accused of triple murder in Paterson, New Jersey, in the late '60s, he was convicted, despite dubious evidence, and imprisoned for nearly 20 years before his conviction was overturned. With the help of Bob Dylan, he became a cause celebre in the mid-'70s, won a new trial, and then, incredibly, saw his conviction upheld, forcing a return to prison, at which point he became nearly a forgotten man.

Nearly forgotten, but not entirely, because of the efforts of an obscure and enigmatic commune in Toronto that championed his cause and worked tirelessly for a decade in the cause of his relief. Hirsch effectively documents Carter's ambivalent relationship with this group, particularly its leader, with whom he became spiritually and romantically involved.

Hirsch chronicles in his book Carter's journey through a legal system that abused him and through his own psyche. He was at times an unreasoning, violent man who battled not only opponents in the ring, but alcoholism, fits of rage and purposeless impulses to battle the system through criminal acts.

Hirsch's thoroughly researched book ultimately sounds a cautionary note. Carter succeeded in his quest for justice, but only with the help of extremely dedicated attorneys and friends. Thousands of hours were expended in battling state power. One wonders how many, without benefit of such resources, have languished in prison, unable to muster the resources to mount a legal counter-offensive.

Hirsch's clean, powerful prose renders an unflinching portrait of a flawed, but brave man. Recommended reading.

Inspiration from the Least Likely Sources
I bought this book and read it in one day. I literally could not put it down.

The story of Rubin Carter, who began his early adulthood as a violent predator in the ring, learned an ever-increasing lesson about power, injustice, and ultimately, humility. This is the predator's tale of learning what it feels like to be the hunted one, and is one man's journey to self-actualization, albeit at the hands of an inhuman society.

While the movie gave a semi-authentic account of the legal transpirations, it gave very little detail as to the actual dynamics of the Canadian commune, particularly as to Rubin himself once he had gained his freedom. This book fills that void, particularly as to Rubin's relationship with Lisa and her domination of all in the group. What stands out in my mind is Skeet McClure's statement to Rubin about his relationship with the group -- "You've traded one prison for another."

This book is dynamic, moving, and unforgettable.

Skip the movie, Read this Book
I read this book and then saw the movie. This is a familiar formula for disappointment. The book is much better and richer than the movie. The movie portrays Carter as some kind of saint, deeply-principled, who is railroaded by the justice system. As the book reveals, Carter was a deeply troubled individual during the 1960's. Carter was a very angry person who seemed to antagonize authority. He was also an alcoholic and had selfish, chauvanistic attitudes towards women. These traits are overlooked in the film. In fact, the movie shows Carter a suave, kind person. The filmmakers probably skipped these aspects of Carter because they wanted the viewers to like Carter and root for him. In reality, Carter didn't seem a likeable person.
HOWEVER, the fact that Carter was a troubled, angry person doesn't mean he's guilty of murder. Some people seem to invest their dislike of "hollywood justice" and the "cause celeb" aura surrounding this case, into convicting Carter for the murders. Don't confuse the issues. Carter was not a saint but he's still entitled to justice. Part of this book is the story of the unraveling of the prosecutor's case. As a federal district court found, the prosecutors withheld vital evidence from the defense - evidence which the defense was legally entitled to. The prosecutors also resorted to prejudice during the trial to persuade the jury of Carter's guilt. This is the so-called racial revenge theory advanced by the prosecution.
The other important and most fascinating part of the book is the transformation of the man. During his prison sentence, Carter transforms himself, with the help of others, from an angry, troubled individual to a much kinder and complete human being. The movie, by overlooking Carter's bad traits, robs the viewer of this incredible growth of one person.
My advice is to skip the movie and read this excellent book.

Here comes the lie of the Hurricane
Hurricane: Intriguing Hollywood story; oppression of the black man; total fricking lie. Rueben "Hurricane Carter" was a scum-bag, plain and simple. Granted, I too was intrigued by the movie which left with with an hunger for more knowledge on the subject. I buy this book. I read this book non-stop until I arrive at the part where the prosecutor handling one of his appeals tells Rueben that he will be set free, from prison, if he takes and passes a lie detector test. Rueben "Hurricane" Carter refuses this on principle! If i am innocent and i am offered release, from federal prison, upon satisfactory completion of a test, I would be falling over my feet trying to get there. But not the Hurricane, a life-long criminal refused a test based on 'principle'. I then turned to secondary sources to squish these evil thoughts i am having like "This story is a big fricking lie." I found myself at http://graphicwitness.com and staring at a mountain of inconsistencies. The afformentioned web-site is where all of this information comes from. RUEBEN "HURRICANE" CARTER WAS NEVER SET FREE BECAUSE OF NEW EVIDENCE, HE WAS SET FREE BECAUSE OF A PROCEDURAL ERROR. Ahh, i will not bore you with all of the other details that scumbag-Carter left out of his made for hollywood story. Feel free to go to this site.

He was robbed of Freedom but never lost his principles
Rubin Hurricane Carter is really one of my greatest idols. What he went through was a mixture of discrimination, racism and hate. He was robbed 22 years of his life for something he didnt do and was denied several appeals. This book displays Carter at his very best. Not only did Carter manage to find true love in a prison where he was filled with hate he also manages to have such inner strength that he was able to block out the prison from his mind and refused to co-operate with the so-called legal system. Through the time Rubin suffered in prison he began to stop training his body and began training his mind and read books by ghandi, malconX, nelson mandela and ouspensky. When Rubin was freed (with the help of a loyal canadian commune) he began living his life in peace and speaking out against wrongs. He now doesnt support boxing and believes its barbaric. Rubin was once said to never have a strip of fat without 10 layers of muscle around it. But now Rubin is even stronger then before. Using the saying "Mind over matter." This book isnt just for boxing fans as it goes far beyond boxing it speaks loud about discrimination, one man against the world, and about finding inner strength. This book tells a miraculous journey in the most full-filling way. ... Read more

Book Description

"Succeeds more than any previous book in bringing Ali into focus . . . as a starburst of energy, ego and ability whose like will never be seen again."--The Wall Street Journal

"Best Nonfiction Book of the Year"--Time

"Penetrating . . . reveal[s] details that even close followers of [Ali] might not have known. . . . An amazing story." --The New York Times

On the night in 1964 that Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) stepped into the ring with Sonny Liston, he was widely regarded as an irritating freak who danced and talked way too much. Six rounds later Ali was not only the new world heavyweight boxing champion: He was "a new kind of black man" who would shortly transform America's racial politics, its popular culture, and its notions of heroism.
        No one has captured Ali--and the era that he exhilarated and sometimes infuriated--with greater vibrancy, drama, and astuteness than David Remnick, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Lenin's Tomb (and editor of The New Yorker). In charting Ali's rise from the gyms of Louisville, Kentucky, to his epochal fights against Liston and Floyd Patterson, Remnick creates a canvas of unparalleled richness. He gives us empathetic portraits of wisecracking sportswriters and bone-breaking mobsters; of the baleful Liston and the haunted Patterson; of an audacious Norman Mailer and an enigmatic Malcolm X. Most of all, King of the World does justice to the speed, grace, courage, humor, and ebullience of one of the greatest athletes and irresistibly dynamic personalities of our time.

"Nearly pulse-pounding narrative power . . . an important account of a period in American social history." --Chicago Tribune

"A pleasure . . . haunting . . . so vivid that one can imagine Ali saying, 'How'd you get inside my head, boy?'" --Wilfrid Sheed, Time ... Read more

Reviews (71)

Ali as agent of social change?
I found David Remnick's story of the rise of Ali quite compelling, and that's coming from someone who doesn't even like boxing. The brash young confident kid is portrayed in great detail but the portraits of the other major figures: Liston and Patterson are just as engrossing. Remnick writes well, mixes the story with telling anecdotes and chronicles Ali's rise in the context of the social changes of the time.

The book is accurately called 'the rise'; you don't get a lot of the mature Ali and his fights after his comeback. My main question about the book, and it's one the book doesn't answer; exactly HOW did this sometimes loathed figure; an outsider in a religious and racial sense from the authorities, become such a modern day hero? Exactly how did that happen? There's a book there waiting to be written.

In the meantime enjoy this one.

Good book, even if you don't like to read
This book I would recommend to all the people who either like boxing or Muhammed Ali. I would also recommend this to people who don't like to read because you would enjoy it and keep reading until its done. This book is about Ali at his best. From his childhood days to his greatest boxing match ever. This a nonfiction book that tells about Ali's career and the other boxers of his time, which include Floyd Patterson and Sonny Linston. Their fights took place in the 1960's. The best fight ever in this book was held in Miami Beach against Sonny Liston. This fight was exciting because Ali was the underdog of the fight and won it when Sonny Liston just gave up. The worst thing about this book is that it didn't fully describe all the other fights in his career.

The Titans Reigned Supreme
The Titans Reigned Supreme

Fantastic book - more than just the Ali Story -

This is one of the best-written and thought out books of the happenings amongst a small circle of the greatest heavy weights.

You get a rare insight into the lives and minds of Floyd Patterson, Sonny Liston and Cassius Clay - and the awakening/becoming of Muhammad Ali

I went into this book wanting to feed my hunger for knowledge of Muhammad Ali and came out of with a craving for more Sonny Liston - I now want to know all I can about him.

Only a brief period in time is covered - but it's an in-depth look at that time and the people and the places that made up boxing and some of the world outside boxing.

This is a great book for anyone interested in these titans - for anyone interested in Patterson, Liston and Ali - for anyone interested in the history of legends.

One of the best books I've experienced - I truly felt like I was there at times - in that era - that energy of the people and the times

This is one of those books where you wish there was a part 2

muhammed ali discussed
the author is a very good writer and his style here makes this book a good read. impressive. the location of the photographs are well placed--not all in the center as in most books--but advantageously placed at the beginning of some chapters. a good read.

Liston, Patterson.
Covers three fights: Liston, Liston, Patterson. Much discussion of those opponents. More sport and less deadening Black Muslim/Malcolm X would have been better. Mentions Patterson's "vacances au soliel." Who the hell do you think is reading this book? ... Read more

Amazon.com

While The Big O: My Life, My Times, My Game will not disappoint basketball purists longing for Oscar Robertson's play-by-play of favorite games, the attraction of this autobiography is Robertson's perspective on the evolution of the sport and on the racial struggles that were the context of his formative years. Called by many basketball experts the greatest all-around player ever, Robertson earned an astonishing array of honors including an Olympic gold medal, 12 NBA All-Star appearances, the NBA Rookie of the Year award, and the 1964 NBA MVP award. Most remarkably, Robertson remains the only player in basketball history with a triple-double season (double-digit averages for scoring, rebounds, and assists).

While Robertson could have easily candy-coated this impressive record for his retrospective, he devotes large sections of his book to the racial battles he faced off court, and his final chapters recount his controversial efforts as an NBA union leader to create free agency, a pension plan, and disability protection for players. In telling his life story, he lays bare the racism and mistreatment he suffered at the hands of individuals and institutions throughout his career, from the Mayor of Indianapolis and Cincinnati University to the NBA and CBS Sports. At times, his critiques can seem excessive (e.g. his discussions of the distortions in the film Hoosiers, while interesting, are repeated a bit too often), and some sections (like his attempts to compare himself to contemporary players) border on self-indulgence. Yet, he seems justified in arguing that his achievements--largely accomplished on second-rate teams, against a back-drop of unprecedented racial strife, and before the modern era of sports-media saturation--are easily underrepresented. In the end, The Big O offers a complex, human portrait to complement a spectacular sports career. --Patrick O'Kelley ... Read more

Reviews (4)

BUT ONLY FOR BASKETBALL FANATICS - LIKE ME!
TO READ, MUCH LESS REVIEW, THE "BIG O" YOU HAVE TO BE, AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, A TRUE LOVER OF THE GAME. IT IS AN AUTOBIOGRAHY OF THE IDIVIDUAL I HAVE ALWAYS CONSIDERED TO BE THE GREATEST OF ALL BASKETBALL PLAYERS - PAST & PRESENT. HIS EXPLOITS BOTH ON AND OFF THE COURT ARE REMARKABLE. IT'S A BOOK FOR EVERY BASKETBALL JUNKY, AND FOR OTHERS WHO WANT TO LEARN A GOOD DEAL ABOUT WHAT'S REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE IN ANY FIELD OF ENDEAVOR.
SINCE I CAN'T FIND REFERENCE TO A "GHOST WRITER, OR ANYONE ELSE INVOLVED IN WRITING THIS BOOK, I WILL ASSUME THAT OSCAR WROTE IT HIMSELF. IT WOULD BE WRONG TO JUDGE THIS BOOK ENTIRELY ON "EDITORIAL" GROUNDS, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT BAD. OSCAR STYLE OF WRITING IS SIMILAR TO THE WAY HE PLAYED BASKETBALL - HE TAKES IT RIGHT TO YOU! "HERE IT IS, DEAL WITH IT IF YOU CAN." HE DOESN'T MINCE WORDS, TELLS IT LIKE IT IS, AND WAS, AND TO HIS CREDIT DOESN'T SEEM TO REALLY CARE, WHAT YOU OR I THINK ABOUT HIS OPINIONS - USUALLY NOT A GOOD IDEA, BUT COMING FROM HIM, AND GIVEN THE SUBJECT MATTER IT'S ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

A Class Man and Player
At 50 I'm a little young to have followed Oscar Robertson's career other than the Milwaukee Bucks period. I have run into Robertson at Cincinnati ballgames and hotels when in the city although have not spoken to him. This is a biography written in typical form, "Here's what I did growing up, here's the influence of my parents and others, here's what I did that you know me for and here's what I'm doing now." But the difference is Oscar really has something to say and he's rattled a few cages saying it.

While many people come from poor backgrounds, particularly basketball players, Oscar's is particularly interesting due to the very rural nature of his upbringing in Tennessee. Most of his early life was centered on working in fields, church and family. A move to inner city Indianapolis was significant in his development as a basketball player. And this is where the book becomes very interesting as Oscar conveys the first noticeable slights from racism. Oscar has always been very well mannered projecting a great image. And maybe in many ways this hid the hurt he was feeling from racism or maybe I was just too young to hear about it.

After rising to a top star, Robertson commits to a smaller school, U of Cincinatti, amid rumblings of improper recruiting. He dispels most of this and introduces boosters or mentors who took his best interests at heart and helped him grow as a man. He also meets his wife who he describes in glowing terms, clearly a very strong marriage that eventually yields two daughters. This is another interesting part of the book as one of his daughters suffers from a disease requiring an organ transplant.

Robertson starts his pro career in his hometown of Cincinnati with an under funded team which creates conflicts throughout his career there as money and a good supporting cast is always short. Discussing his pro career you can really see his bitterness with the pre-free agent market and how he had to fight for his money and was often blamed for putting himself above his team. This for a man that averaged a triple-double. If you follow the NBA today, you will almost find the numbers thrown around as comical.

Clearly, this book has generated controversy as Robertson has alluded to racism throughout the book. While it didn't match the impression I had of Robertson, I found he supported his positions well even though you may not agree with the outcome.

Overall, I found this to be an excellent book of a basketball icon in the late 50s to 70s. If you have interest in sports in those periods, life in America in those periods, or a short view of race relations at that time, I think you will enjoy this book as much as I did.

Fantastic
the Big O is One of the Greatest Talents in any sport Period. Wilt Chamberlin is to Me the Greatest Player in the NBA Ever but I could Put the BIG O right there with Him.He was unstoppable&One of the Game's true Ground-Breakers.in His Book He pulls no punches&Brings it here. He is a very down to Earth Soul brother&a Class act. He should Be running a Team in the NBA or something that showcases just How Important He was&is to the Game.Fantastic Book&strong read.

a worthwhile read
I was a big fan of the Big O growing up. He was the most complete player on the basketball court. This book is very well written and well rounded, covering his triumphs and conflicts during the racially charged 50's and 60's. I highly recommned it, as it discusses college and professional basketball history extremely well - particularly the seminal period of the NBA in the 60's which I now only vaguley remember - but also discusses the societal environment in which the Big O' incredible career took place. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Williams, a founding member of the legendary Motown group the Temptations, tells the story of the group's formation and its years of musical success. ... Read more

Reviews (51)

A Wonderful Book!
Once I saw the movie, I wanted to know more about David, Eddie, Paul, Otis and Melvin, so I decided to get this book so I could learn more about one of the most incredible, talented, groudbreaking not to mention classiest groups of all time. This book has a lot of info that isn't in the movie, so it was wonderful to read an account of how things really went down, especially at Motown in the early days. I finished this book in less than a week, I just couldn't put it down. This book has definitely made me a Temptations fan for life. I admire all of them and what they went through, and I especially commend Otis Williams for writing a book that discussed the good times and the bad, with class and grace. I am saddened by the fact that Eddie, David, Melvin and Paul (my favorite) aren't with us today, but their places in music history will always be remembered. A wonderful book!

One Of The Best Biographical Books On Music
When I first saw this book, I thought to myself "What can be so different between this and the NBC mini-series." I was wrong. In fact, this book gives more information than the movie, that in some ways it tells a little different version in the story of how one of the most famous R&B groups, in history, had started. For instance, in the movie it shows Elbridge Bryant singing lead on a song called 'Come On'. In Otis's book, he writes that Richard Street sang lead on that song.
It tells all about the countless changes in the group lineup. From day 1 until today, Otis mentions every Temptation that evr stood on stage with them. Also, he writes about Motown, when it was in it's early days, when Mary Wells and the Contours were making hits.
About this book, I give it five stars. It tells more details on the history of Otis Williams, and the Tempations, than any other source. I think Otis Williams tells the story wonderfully. I would recommend this book to any music lover.

A Big Fan from Old School!
I read the first edition of this book(in "88"). I borrowed it from the Library.Read it in four days, it was so informative on
life within the group and I loved the pictures. Wished there were
more of them. Being grown in the sixties, you know, I know of them.

I broughtjust about all of their 45's(smiles) and quite a few of
their albums,and now cd's. My loves were David and Eddie.
Otis's account of the group is one that he lived, whether we
like it or, we have to respect him as a living monument to the
group."REALITY CHECK," AS ONE REVIEWER SAID, Otis has a right to
have some bitternes.He put a lot of heart, sweat and tears into
keeping the group together. I also have the dvd of them and the
"Standing In The Shadow of Motown dvd, the Funk Brothers Band's
story, behind Motown's Music. I recomend this one too. Read other
performer's story about Motown for more history.I'll buy this book, for my self and WILL read it. If you don't buy, get it from
the library. God bless you Otis! you must be doing something right!I saw Their Movie, but the book is actuall.

Disgusted with Otis
I have read the 1988 version and the updated version of the Otis book. I even went out and bought the DVD. Okay, Otis if you want to hurt your soul brothers you have achieved! Why the hate!! According to you, Melvin and you did not do anything but become true Temps and everyone else was there for personal reasons. I totally agree with one of the reader, I will not buy anything that YOU publish!! Moreover, if you come to my town I will not spend a dime to see the show. Your true hate should be Barry Gordy not four uneducated men who did not understand how to become successful. I don't blame Eddie, Paul, David, and Dennis for their demons however; I blame the one who made 5 million dollars off of Temptations Barry. Yes, the producers wrote the songs but, Temptations brought the songs to life. You were all great in your own special way why do you hate your brothers because you are mad at BG.

BG used five talented men to get what he wanted and it is a shame you did not get that!! When I read the book, I cried for all of you guys not just you Otis!! With little or none education, you guys did not understand that you were being used to point that Paul had to drink; Eddie had to increase smoking, and David bad behavior. Next time you get in mood of bashing your brothers, please ask yourself why they acted like that!!

I am so sorry I bought the 1988 version, the updated version, and the movie. Otis, when you guys were at the top I was a baby I did not get an opportunity to share in the Motown excitement. All I can do just wonder what it was like in that era but after reading your materials I wish I would never pick up the book. I wish Eddie, Paul, Melvin, and David was around so they can help me understand what it was like being a temptation. In the movie, you were referring to David success brings out the worst in people. I think you were talking about yourself.

Recomendation to readers if you are looking for a book that will bash all the members please feel free to buy Otis version. If you want to celebrate the lives of the classic 5, seach for a book that will give a fair balance of each member.

Otis's Version of the Tempts
I love this book and I am grateful that Otis Williams wrote it. But I strongly suggest to all Motown fans to do your own research and read other books because things don't add up with Otis's version of the Temptations. I am not calling the man a liar because I admire him and I think he believes his own story, but I feel that he's trying to add importance to himself by taking away from David, Paul (my favorite), Eddie, Dennis and even Melvin. I didn't like the way he protrayed any of them. Yes, its true that David, Paul, Dennis and Eddie had both ego and personal problems, but I am sure that Otis had his demons too. In fact, from what I hear he wasn't the best person either. But he doesn't show that side to you in his book. The only bad thing he admits to is cheating on his wife and at times, I felt like he was bragging about his relationships with certain women. Although he was kinder to his friend Melvin, he protrayed Melvin as a follower and not a leader. I wonder why? One of the most disturbing tales in his book is about Paul's drinking problem. Its true that he had a problem, but Otis doesn't really talk about Paul's bout with Sickle Cell which made his problem even worst. Also Paul's "suicide" his rather strange and things don't add up (but do the research). I also found it odd that he didn't talk alot about how Berry G. ran Motown and why alot of the artists lived terrible lives after their Motown's glory years and why most died broke. By now, everyone knows that Berry was a cheat, but Otis seems to forgive him more than he forgives his brothers. Part of the reason why they died so young has something to do with Berry. Now, I am not blaming Berry for everything. I have read books that put all the blame on Berry (which I don't agree with), but its doesn't take an expert to realize that the Motown story is mostly sad. We will never hear David, Paul, Eddie, and Melvin's side of the story...and that is why you shouldn't take this book as 100% fact. Maybe the still living Dennis will write his own version. Excellent book, but not perfect. ... Read more

Book Description

Daughter of the River is a memoir of China unlike any other. Born during the Great Famine of the early 1960s and raised in the slums of Chongqing, Hong Ying was constantly aware of hunger and the sacrifices required to survive. As she neared her eighteenth birthday, she became determined to unravel the secrets that left her an outsider in her own family. At the same time, a history teacher at her school began to awaken her sense of justice and her emerging womanhood. Hong Ying's wrenching coming-of-age would teach her the price of taking a stand and show her the toll of totalitarianism, poverty, and estrangement on her family. With raw intensity and fearless honesty, Daughter of the River follows China's trajectory through one woman's life, from the Great Famine through the Cultural Revolution to Tiananmen Square. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

One of the better autobiographies of recent Chinese life
I have read many accounts of life in China, and I found that Hong Ying's autobiography is outstanding. Most autobiographies have been written by Chinese intellectuals, but Hong Ying grew up in abject poverty. Her very survival is a testament to incredible perseverence. That she not only survived, but became a talented writer, is nothing short of miraculous. This book has been termed a "Chinese Angela's Ashes," and I believe that that is an apt comparison.

Wonderful reading...
Daughter of The River is a story of a young woman dealing with the many adversities that she faced in the slums of China. Hong Ying writes this book from her perspective as an 18 year old although she was in her 30's when this was written. Her family was extremely unemotional and unattached to her throughout her childhood, and as young as she was she always wondered why. It wasn't until she turned 18 that she found out the "secret" as to why everyone in her family treated her as if she was invisible. Of course everything was about "face" and protecting the family name which only compounded her troubles.

Ms. Ying has overcomed her many stuggles to become a successful writer, yet from her book you can feel how deep the scars truly are. My only complaint would be that she tends to jump around in telling her story, but overall it is a sad, yet delightful read knowing that with determination and a strong will she made it out of the slums.

If you must read it, borrow it from the library.
I just had a hard time reading/understanding/finishing this book. I did finally finish it because I wanted to know the mystery behind the author's father, but in the end the whole book was disappointing. I guess it's a matter of the book's structure. The author jumps from one time setting to another so often, it gets totally confusing! Also she intertwines different stories of different family members and other people in her life, that it's easy to confuse the characters. Some of the language sounds awkward, the curse words seem...forced. Also after a while, the author's unceasing bitterness towards life tended to grate on my nerves.

This is the second book that I've been unable to finish
Rarely have I been unable to finish a book, even when it's quite terrible. However, this book was unreadable to me.

There is no rhyme or reason to this book. There's no linear progression. It's more of a "This happened when I was 5. This happened when I was 15. This happened when I was 12. This happened when I was 5." The book goes nowhere and there is no plot to follow.

After reading the glowing reviews here on Amazon, I was very much looking forward to reading this book. However, after reading half of it, it's in a box in the closet...

P.U.
a totally fictionalized auotbio/memoir. author was 2 yrs old, yet recalls events as if she was really there. The prose is vapid and purple. far from being a non-person, she and her family were part of the old elites/reactionaries. of course they suffered; that was the point of the popular revolution. save your m,oney, this book is an awful bore and poorly written ... Read more

Book Description

First published in paperback by UNM Press in 1976, The Way to Rainy Mountain has sold over 200,000 copies. This re-designed edition includes a new Preface.
“The paperback edition of The Way to Rainy Mountain was first published twenty-five years ago. One should not be surprised, I suppose, that it has remained vital, and immediate, for that is the nature of story. And this is particularly true of the oral tradition, which exists in a dimension of timelessness. I was first told these stories by my father when I was a child. I do not know how long they had existed before I heard them. They seem to proceed from a place of origin as old as the earth.
“The stories in The Way to Rainy Mountain are told in three voices. The first voice is the voice of my father, the ancestral voice, and the voice of the Kiowa oral tradition. The second is the voice of historical commentary. And the third is that of personal reminiscence, my own voice. There is a turning and returning of myth, history, and memoir throughout, a narrative wheel that is as sacred as language itself.”—from the new Preface
“Written with great dignity, the book has something about it of the timeless, of that long view down which the Kiowa look to their myth-shrouded beginnings.”—New York Times

“I know nothing quite like this book, and nothing of the Indian that is at once so authentic and so moving.”—Wallace Stegner ... Read more

Reviews (12)

This book changed my perspective on life
The Way to Rainy Mountain is one of those rare books that changed my whole persepective of the world. The beauty of his style and simplicity of his stories show what a firm grasp and love of the language Dr. Momaday has. I had the priviledge of hearing Dr. Momaday speak recently. Much to my joy, he speaks much the same way he writes--in clear, simple phrases. He doesn't take language for granted. Instead he cherishes every syllable, every sound. But not only did this book teach me about the language, but about a culture. The way Dr. Momaday views the world, nature, and other people is truly fascinating and insightful. He is a spokesman for a rapidly diminishing world of orators and storytellers. This book will live in the hallowed halls of literature for countless generations.

A timeless journey
The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday; illustrated by Al Momaday. Highly recommended.

Rainy Mountain, a "single knoll [that] rises out of the plain in Oklahoma," is an old landmark for the Kiowa people. It is a land of bitter cold, searing heat, summer drought, and "great green and yellow grasshoppers." It is a land of loneliness, where the Kiowa were drawn after a long journey from the northwest through many types of lands.

The Way to Rainy Mountain is about the journey-in myth, in drawings by Momaday's father Al, in reminiscences, and in historical snippets. All reveal aspects of Kiowa culture, life, philosophy, outlook, spirituality, and sense of self-the beauty and the desolation, how the introduction of the horse revolutionized Kiowa life, the story of Tai-me, and the richness of the word and the past. It is a literal journey as well; Momaday, in Yellowstone, writes, "The Kiowas reckoned their stature by the distance they could see, and they were bent and blind in the wilderness."

This is a small gem of a book, beautifully written, illustrated, and designed. It has moments of insight, beauty, and sadness, as the ending of the Sun Dance, telling as the sun is at the heart of the Kiowa's soul-a soul that survives in every word and drawing of The Way to Rainy Mountain.

Diane L. Schirf, 3 March 2002.

Beautifully Written Story
In his writing, Momaday creates a vibrant sense of how stories are expressed through living words within vital communities. His brillant blending of mythology, folktales, oral history, historical descriptions, and personal reflections all connect in a fascinating story about finding one's way in life's journeys. The writing is so vivid and the book is so animated that patient readers will connect with what Momaday presents, provided that they choose to share in the reflective silence that he offers on the way to Rainy Mountain.

Unique
This book is deceptively short: it can be read in about an hour, but you find yourself going back and reading its various passages and thinking about them long afterwards. Momaday tells a story of the Kiowa Indians by tying in three aspects: folklore, actual historical events and his own family history. The book's format underscores this, with the first, folkloric item printed on one page, and the historical and personal reflections in separate paragraphs on the facing page, all set in different fonts. Not meant to be a comprehensive account of the Kiowas, it is rather an attempt to express the author's own feelings and his own view of his heritage. In this he largely succeeds, as he writes poetry in a simple yet powerful prose form. The only shortcoming for me were the illustrations (done by Momaday's father), which seemed to add little to the overall narrative. Otherwise, "The Way to Rainy Moutain" is a very unique and worthwhile book.

rich in history and image
Momaday spins together pieces of Kiowa myth and image interweaved with tales he heard as a boy. Poetic, tragic, unforgettable. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Whatever happened to Zora Neale Hurston? In the 1930s her stories, novels, folklore studies, and plays were all over the bestseller lists. By the '60s she was forgotten--a reversal of fortune captured in the extraordinary collection Zora Neale Hurston: A Life in Letters.

Why did Hurston's star fade? Simple weariness, her correspondence suggests. She was happier, it seems, tilling her Florida garden than revealing her soul to the world. She was also not shy of crossing swords with the likes of W.E.B. Du Bois and Langston Hughes, and in a time of growing militancy and the awakening civil rights movement Hurston became increasingly conservative, developing political stances that, editor Kaplan writes, "have often baffled her admirers." Hurston developed a pen-stilling, probably ungrounded suspicion that anything she wrote would be stolen by other writers, who would "then hate me for being alive to make their pretensions out a lie. And then take all kinds of steps to head me off."

Having enjoyed early fame, Hurston died alone and in poverty. This well-assembled and very welcome book traces her sad path, and it adds much to our understanding of the once-neglected writer. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Adventurous life-journey captured in letters
Kaplan's collection of Hurston's letters provides her fans with a first-hand intimate view into the mind of the author which has previously been restricted to the perview of scholars. For the first time, readers can draw their own conclusions about Hurston's often contradictory, enigmatic, and adventurous life.
The letters are logically organized in chronological order with a comprehensive and lively introduction to each decade. Kaplan's painstakingly thorough research, evidenced in her footnotes and glossary, help guide the reader's interpetation and understanding of events in a way that a biography cannot. For this reason, I have read Valerie Boyd's excellent biography in tandem with Kaplan's collection of Hurston's letters. I was also impressed with the "new" research in Kaplan's book that sheds light on some of Hurston's social and political stands, such as her involement in the first black doll to be produced in the U.S. In addition to the many new facts she presents, I also found Kaplan's editorial comments to be extremely enlightening and well-founded. I beleive that most fans who read this collection of letters will most likely feel the same way toward Kaplan as I do . . . deeply grateful for the gift of insight.

Hurston Fans Rejoice!
This collection of Hurston's letters not only offers insight into the life and thoughts of this fiercely independent and enigmatic writer, it also lends clarity to the historical and cultural context in which they were written. Kaplan's lively introductions to each decade are laced with intelligent commentary and fascinating details that define the complexities of Hurston's life and time.

a new fan
I wasn't a Hurston fan when I started reading, but now I find myself fascinated by her life and her times. This book was such a detailed and compelling introduction to both. And so well written!

Great Book
An illuminating collection of letters and biography about one of our best American writers. Her rise in scholarship through sheer guts and tragic fading from popularity and opportunity will leave you feeling both sadness and respect for her audacity.

Zorz Neale Hurston - A life in Letters
What a great way to write a biography. Through Hurston's letters, Kaplan traces Hurston's life. Her annotations are through and so full of the story of this extraordinary woman. I loved it. ... Read more

Book Description

As a teenager raised in L.A.'s inner city without a father, Michael Datcher had already committed theft, learned the ways of the street, and developed a mortal fear of police. But Datcher had a dream about a very different kind of life-and a second chance to make good on a promise to himself. ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Hope for Black Love Relationships....
This book was unbelievably refreshing. In fact I was so impressed with the level of honest reflection and emotional depth in Raising Fences that I have discussed it with almost every man I know. Datcher's willingness to let us see inside his soul had provided a context
for Black men and women to discuss the issues that are plagueing our relationships. He gave me hope for Black Love and also set a new standard for communication between the sexes. I may start a book club just to keep talking about how good it is. The icing on the cake is the beauty of the poetry and prose throughout the book. I predict that this is a classic that will keep people coming back again and again. Beyond the love story, we have a basic "coming of age" formula within a battleground of tumultuous experiences that could easily have shaken the foundation of anyone's belief system. Yet, Datcher captures the struggle and creates a jewel for his readers to enjoy. Buy two. Read one and share the other.

Compelling look into a Black Man's mind
I generally don't care for memoirs. They seem so self absorbed. However, I am pleased to say Raising Fences is a well written and interesting. I read the entire book in five hours, and I can recommend it to my friends. It talks about experiences from a brother's perspective that have not been shared. The experience with his ex-girlfriend, Camille tells a story from a different viewpoint than is common, and really helps to see things from the other side. It made me understand a little better why so many Black men are so involved in their male friendships. And isn't that what a good memoir should do?

A mixed bag
I found this book to be a mixed bag. At times too corny and over-emotional (the poetry), at times too vulgar and graphic for my taste (like the way his goatee smelled after sex) but a true masterpiece of what it means to be a black man in America these days. It was a great learning experience that will only teach tolerance and understanding in between all races. I am of Latin origin and feel that our feelings and challenges as a culture are often misunderstood. Overall, I thought it was an average book, but a must-read to increase the understanding of the reality of the African-American community in the America.

Time FIller
This book is good for a time filler. Example...I read it before bed and during my breaks at work. However, I didn't find it a serious, mindblowing, fascinating read. There were some interesting parts of the story, but I was mostly bored. Maybe it's not my style, but, I'd rather not spend my time on boring poetry and an overdramatic portrayal on life.

I couldn't put it down!!!
Michael Datcher is a very gifted writer. He was so honest in detailing his mistakes as well as the triumphs he has had in life. I think by reading this book, women will get a better understanding of what men want in a relationship. Some younger women in particular think that all they have to be are good bed partners. But men want the same things women want: someone who can relate to them on a spiritual, mental and physical way. Without giving the end away, I will say that the book has a happy ending for Mr. Datcher. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The myth has always been that Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington shared an identical approach to music. In Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn, David Hajdu dismisses that notion from the very beginning. Schooled in Debussy and Ravel, Strayhorn brought a sensitivity and complexity that was missing in the Ellington oeuvre. Although he had talent enough for a career without Ellington, Strayhorn lacked the confidence. Being both black and gay forced him to take a back seat to his partner's celebrity. Denied greater public recognition, he sought solace in a "lush life" of his own, smoking and drinking himself to an early death in 1967. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

very detailed book
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.

A very enjoyable read
This book has a lot going for it. Do you like music, swing and jazz? Do