This book, written in the 1930's is as timely today as it was 60 years ago. The mis-education of black children in segregated America now reads as a national indictment of our entire education system. I highly recommend this book.

This book, written by an African American, was the first one to show that we Africans have a different soul than whites so that white education isn't fit for us and most of us can't cope with it. That the book was written in 1933 should make it a shame that Black-haters like David Horowitz spend all their energy abolishing Black studies and positive discrimination (in his racist, anti-Black books (Hating Whitey ; The Race card, etc.) Now there are many other books by African authors, some quite deep such as P. C. Luthuli's The Philosophical foundations of Black education in South Africa. And even some book by some friendly whites who accept to understand the problem and the need for a separate, all-black education system, I mean Jacqueline Irvine's Black Students and School Failure. A good recent African and practical book is Wilson's Awakening the Natural Genius of Black Children. Let's praise people like Woodson, he showed the way for freeing us from the slavery of our minds and souls. Read this book and you will understand that slavery is not only physical, legal, but also a question of imposing us white education, thought, from which we also need liberation.

This book ought to be required reading for every teacher, educator, administrator, and parents who intereact with children of African descent. Woodson's work helps us understand that African peoples are truely mis-educated. We largely receive an Eurocentric or White middle class, elitist education that by and large does not serve the needs of our communities. This mis-education creates a serious identity crisis on the part of African youth and it causes many Black "educated" middle class people to spend more time trying to reach the consumer American Dream rather than working toward a real self-determination agenda of African peoples. Thus it's of little suprise today that most African students never enroll in a course on African/African-American studies. In fact, these courses are becoming more rare in high school and colleges across the nation. Even with the current renaissance of Black literature in this country, the study of African/Black culture, politics, and spiritual life are rarely discussed. In Woodson's words: "Real education means to inspire people to live more abundantly, to learn to begin with life as they find it and make it better, but the instruction so far given Negroes [and still today] in colleges and universities [and elementary and secondary schools] has worked to the contrary. In most cases such graduates have merely increased the number of malcontents who offer no program for changing the undesiriable conditions about which they complain. " Woodson's book is clearly not out-dated. In fact, it reads as if it were published last year, instead of 1933. I would like to close this response to Woodson's work with another classic quote from him: "If you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his action. When you determine what a man shall think you do not have to concern yourself about what he will do. If you make a person feel that he/she is inferior, you do not have to compel him/her to accept an inferior status, he/she will seek for it. If you make a person think he/she is a justly outcast, yoiu do not have to order that person to the back door, that person will go without being told, and if there is no back door, the very nature of that person will demand one."

Excellent account of the planning and execution, and ultimate failure, of Operation Eagle Claw. This book is just as good as Charlie Beckwith's "Delta Force," but much less famous. It covers the overall planning of Eagle Claw at a joint-forces administrative level above Beckwith, and covers the joint-forces command of the actual mission, since Kyle was the overall commander at Desert One. The mechanical and personal failures of the helocopters and their crews are also discussed, as well as Kyle's conclusions on why the mission failed. Beckwith's book covers SFOD-Delta issues more closely, but Kyle's book examines why Eagle Claw failed.

I was the commander of the MC-130 squadron chosen to participate in the mission. Jim Kyle, author of "The Guts to Try", was my boss throughout the preparation for the mission. I had kept detailed notes on all the training, rehearsal, etc., with the intent to write my own book. I am the one mentioned on page 7 in the "guts to try" story that lead to the book's title. I was the commander of the 5 Air Force fatalities at Desert One. Col Kyle and I were raked over the coals by the US Senate and House military committees with Kyle taking most of the heat over the accident. I went on to be the chief air planner for preparation for the second attempt buy Kyle was replaced by General Richard Secord as the senior Air Force member of the task force. I therefore surrendered by notes to Kyle and helped him put together the book rather than pursue my own. He did a remarkable job in telling the story correctly. Out of the ashes of Desert One has emerged a capability to do Special Ops better and with few casualties. "The Guts to Try" is an important accounting of the bottoming out and rebirth of Special Ops. Few people realize how much our capability improved during the 5 1/2 months of preparation--this book helps the reader realize that there was more to be proud about associated with Desert One than is apparent. Special Ops would have achieved its current high capability eventually---but Desert One and Jim's book got us there quicker. Roland Guidry,...

This exhaustive description of the planning and execution of Operation Eagle Claw, the attempt to rescue the Iranian hostages, gives the reader a sense of how complex the mission was. There is an old aphorism about the military that says, "The amateur talks about tactics and strategy while the professional talks logistics." This is one of the few military books I have read that provides enough (almost too much depending on your taste) detail about what it takes to carry out a mission deep in enemy territory. At the beginning, after realizing the problems they faced, I could not see how they could succeed. That they came as close as they did is what is truly amazing. It also speaks to the decrepit state of the military seven years after the end of the Viet Nam War. They had the men but lacked adequate resources. Fortunately changes were coming. This story helped to lead the way.

There are only two real reasons to buy this book: 1) If you're a fan of the television series, you'll enjoy the numerous pictures (some of which are quite good actually)from the show and the comments upon specific episodes. 2) You are a novice to anything paranormal and thus in need of a book that covers the basics in a simplified matter. That said, the buyer should understand that there are many better books on the supernatural/paranormal (such as Unexplained!); certainly you are paying for the book's tie-in with the series rather than any scholarly criticism.

A great book. You can see there's been some thorough research conducted for this book. It was an absolute pleasure reading this book. Being the avid science and X-files fan I am, it was interesting to see XF to be presented in the light of "real" science. Really a must read for any XF or science fan.

This review is for both volume 1 and 2. After reading both books in their entirety in less than two weeks, I can honestly say that they opened up my eyes. The material was fascinating, and the tie-ins with the episodes provided a nice sort-of jumping off point into some of the more bizzare subjects, such as comet-spawned venus-flytraps, human hibernation, seemingly intelligent ball-lightning, the truth about zombification and succubusses and other hypnogogic terrors. The reading is fun and smooth and there are pictures throughout. The whole layout of the book is great, and the author, Jane Goldman never insists on the truth. She leaves it to us to come to our own conclusions. Some of the more fascinating chapters were Reincarnation, Wierd Nature (Book 1.), Perchance to Dream, Looking Into The Abyss, Voodoo, Mass Hysteria and the Belief Engine and Urban Legends (Book 2.) Even if you are a total sceptic, there is a lot to enjoy and learn about in these books. As you read ! the book, you'll discover that no matter what the truth is, you will inevitably learn something, about yourself and about humanity. The way these two books delve not only into the alien world outside, but into the unexplored depths of our own minds is astounding. I highly recommend these books to anyone who considers and contemplates.

My first introduction to Steven Carter was his book "He's Scared, She's Scared" which a friend recommended to me upon the dissolution of a relationship. While that book was a great help, it wasn't strong on what to do about it. That is where this book excels. Like many psychological issues, it is not a matter of whether or not we have the condition, it is only a matter of degree. This book has helped me identify my trigger points for commitmentphobia (fear of commitment) and how to manage them. By taking self-responsibility I am able to deepen intimacy in my life. This book would be helpful to anyone seeking to improve or work on relationships.

A very worthwhile read for anyone in any type of relationship. Book covers topics to make you more aware of the motivations for your own behavior and reactions to other people. Good for men and women, people who don't think they have relating problems and for those who know they do. Just read it, it is worth your time.

"Getting to commitment" moves beyond Carter's previous book ("Men Who Can't Love") in two significant ways. First, he recognizes that commitment issues are not just a "guy" problem. Both sexes have them, frequently for the same reasons that are often deeply rooted in our childhood or adolescence.To Carter, these negative experiences hinder development of a mature, whole "Self", and are the basis for insecurities that become barriers to commitment. Second, Carter moves beyond simply identifying symptoms -- the warning signs for potential partners -- and meaningfully addresses proactive steps those with commitment problems can take to overcome the barriers to a fulfilling relationship. Significantly, Carter has traveled this road himself, which lends credibility to his prescriptions. The basis for his solutions is that those with commitment problems must take responsibility to be totally content with themselves and their own lives before they seek a relationship with someone else. A must read for anyone afflicted with commitment issues or involved with someone who is.

The Littles are people who are under six inches tall and have tails. They live in the wall of the Bigg's house and have a secret door in the kitchen. I liked this story because it has good characters. They had good ideas about how to get rid of the mice. I didn't like Uncle Pete very much because he only likes weapons.
I would recommend this book to other kids.

Dear John Peterson We are reading The Littles Go Exploring. We just finished the book! This is the first Littles book I have ever read. My favorite part was when they packed the food. The little corn flakes box was funny. My favorite weapon was the firecracker. I got excited when the Littles launched the firecracker.

The Little's is a wonderful book. I loved it.They had the best act.It was funny, but really sad because Tim died.It was not scary, but it was totally sad. Tom was the main character in the whole story.

Carter's stories are so beautifully-written I find myself wanting to read them aloud. If only five or so collections of short stories existed in my library, I would make sure "Burning Your Boats" is among them. Carter was fantastic at bringing sexual tension and the macabre to the surface of fairy tales and folklore. Overall, this book is a fine investment of both time and money.

These stories are extremely engrossing. Carter puts her unique spin on familiar fairy tales, while creating a few new ones of her own. These aren't your grandmother's fairy tales. Carter's work is filled with contradictions and mutations of beauty, profanity, humor, and the macabre, whether told richly as in "The Loves of Lady Purple", or more subtly as in "The Fall River Axe Murders". These dark, beautiful, magical stories are more akin to what fairy tales were originally like before they got all cleaned up.

I've always considered Angela Carter to be perhaps the best short story writer who ever lived. Gorgeous language, adjective upon adjective, almost purple prose, with such beauty and darkness, that it's almost impossible to believe that anyone can have such command of the English language. I've read this book over and over again, pulling it out periodically to get my Carter fix.

The book is a little uneven towards her later work, but up until the American Ghosts collection, it is almost perfect. Even if it weren't, the book is worth owning if only for Master, The Executioner's Beautiful Daughter, The Fall River Ax Murders, Black Venus, The Tiger's Bride, Puss-in-Boots. Wait. The list of perfect gems in this collection pretty much encompasses everything up to American Ghosts.

Many of these stories are most beautiful read aloud, where the cadence and rhythm of her writing really show themselves.

I wish her novels were as good. Unfortunately, such dense language does not lend itself as well to longer forms and becomes almost oppressive. But the short stories - just beautiful.

Mark Zwonitzer traces the history and musical evolution of one of the World's most productive and loved Country Music families.

While the all 'original' members of the Original Carter family are no longer with us, this book will make you miss them as if they were your lifelong friends. This book is a must read for anyone with even a passing interest in American music and its roots.

Thanks Mark!

"Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone" is not only an exceptional history of the Carter family but also a fine history of rural America in the 20's, 30's and 40's. From the mountains of Virginia, the powerful radio stations in Mexico across the river from Texas, the great depression, and life in the 60's and 70's. If you have the slightest interest in country music this book should be on your must read list. You will not only read a great history of the Carter family but find stories of Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, Tom T.Hall, Hank Williams and others. I have read this book three times thus far and each time I find it hard to lay the book down.

There is not a dull page in this 397 page account of The Carter Family. The writers manage to strike a happy medium between a scholarly treatise and a popular biography, something I find very appealing. In addition to being a biography of the Carters, the book also is a history of country music in the first half of the Twentieth Century roughly and a statement on rural Southern sociology of the time as well.

The book is full of information that I suspect is told for the first time as well as trivia many of us knew but had forgotten: For example, there was a time when soft drinks were called "dopes" in East Tennessee. I had forgotten that and that my aunt wore Blue Waltz perfume. (There is a funny account of Maybelle's breaking a bottle of this dreadful perfume she was using as a slide for her guitar in a recording session.) I laughed out loud to learn that Helen Carter, who could learn to play any instrument almost immediately, was having trouble with her first accordian. It took Pee Wee King's telling her she was playing the instrument upside down to get her on the right track. The Original Carter Family was the first group to let the women lead as opposed to being backup singers. The less than admirable Ralph Peer of the recording industry coined the term "hillbilly" for the kind of music Carters and other country Southerners played in the early part of the 20th Century. There is a good account of A. P.'s collecting mountain songs all over the South. That contribution alone would make him a giant in folk/country music. Finally we learn a great deal about both generations of this great family, from A. P., Sarah and Maybelle to "Mama" Maybelle and her daughters. I was pleased to learn, for example, that Maybelle was as good and kind a person as she always seemed to be. (She even sat with sick people for part-time employment at one point in her later life when country music was in an eclipse.) There is a poignant contrast between what apparently was the long and happy marriage of Maybelle and A. P. Carter's brother Eck and A. P. and Sarah's marriage that ended in divorce. Certainly there is nothing more heart wrenching than Sarah's dedicating a song over the radio (apparently in the presence of A. P.) to the man she married after her divorce. The song was "I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes." Coy Bays, the intended recipient, heard the song all the way in California and came to Texas for his woman. In the many years that A. P. lived alone thereafter, he never stopped loving Sara. She was preceded in death by him. Both of them are buried, however, only two rows from each other (even though Sara died in California and had been divorced from A. P. for many years) in Mount Vernon Cemetery in Maces Springs, Virginia with identical tombstones. Above their names and dates in beautiful pink marble are perfectly round 78 records and the words "Keep on the Sunny Side."

This is a really fine book. Even folks not interested much in this sort of music should find it fascinating. It is the one by which later biographies of the Carters will be judged.

I ordered this book and then returned it. I did not find it very helpful at all as far as restoration goes. I have read many many books on flea markets, garage sale finds. This book truly was about' junk'. If you like gaudy kitchy stuff you may like it, but to me it was all about clutter (and not interesting clutter either). it did have many places listed to find junk at, though. But then again you can find those in the paper and the yellow pages. i do not recommend this book.

American Junk is not a how-to book as its subtitle suggests. Far more specific advice about hunting and haggling is available in flea market directories, and there really is no rescue or transformation involved: items acquired move directly to the table top, shelf, desk, floor, wherever. This is a celebration of cheap old stuff that others might ignore or take pains to avoid, an annointment of its value by someone of influence (the author is a vice president at Ralph Lauren, I believe). It's a quasi aesthetic, with loving photographs of the items in assembled in haphazard tableaus. It is of an innocent age, published before e-bay seized collectibles from the trash, before absolutely everybody got into flea market hunt, before Antiques Roadshow--and that was less than 10 years ago! The author does not explain to a doubter's satisfaction how one lives and cleans with so much stuff. Not all of it is really junk, of course--a vintage set of Zane Grey novels, some folk art carving, old textiles are not what I'd call junk. Dirty old Tupperware or small harvest gold appliances that no longer work are what I call junk and they are not to be found in this book. Ah, well; it is fun to give or receive, but take the author's approach and try to get it cheap.

It is a great idea and so much fun to think about as you travel around. A lot of objects maybe junk for some people and poetry to others. A kind of "Poems a Penny Each". A well done book about personal adventure. You can define yourself.

A heart warming story of a little girl and her family living in the early 1800's without the father. Based on actual accounts from written diaries, the authour introduces us into the life of Caroline Lake Quiner Ingalls as a little girl. The family's hardships are illustrated as well as the secret feelings and emotions that a little girl feels when dealing with stained, worn hand-me-downs; shoes with holes that pinch your toes; forgotten birthdays; empty tummies and bitter cold. An enjoyable, consuming, well written book that will be enjoyed by readers of any age.

I loved "Little House in Brookfield," talking about the struggles and the hardships as well as the joys and the triumphs of frontier farm life. I only wish Caroline could come to life. Was she really like that? I can understand as an adult, but to me, it seemed like (and I know it sounds stupid) it wasn't Caroline in the book, it was Ma. I liked it when Caroline showed a little spark with her sister. Other than that, the book was well-written and great. I LOVED Martha. She's awesome! Overall, this book is, though not as classic as Laura and Rose, one that is fun to read.

Imagine getting up every morning at the crack of dawn to a day full of chores and work. This is the life that Caroline Quiner knows. She is in charge of checking to see if the corn is ripe, feeding the chickens, collecting eggs, working on her sampler, and many other jobs. Although her life is full of hard work, she and her siblings Martha, Henry, Joseph, and Eliza still manage to have fun. They love playing games outside, especialy fox and geese, which they play in the snow.
Snow, however, is just the thing the Quiners are dreading. Many of their vetables were killed by an early frost, and their isn't much flour left in the house.The Quiners are determined to survive the winter though, and nothing is going to get them down!
I enjoyed reading this book because it was realistic and the description was great. It was interesting to read about Laura Ingalls Wilder's mother. If I could change one thing from the book, it would be to make it longer!

The author, W. Hodding Carter, has a dream. He wants to re-create the voyage of Viking Leif Eriksson who, in the Year 1000, sailed from Greenland to North America in an open Viking Longboat. Carter has no ship. He has no crew. And he doesn't know much about sailing. But, after three years and a whole series of misadventures, he finally does it. This book is the result.

Somehow, he convinced Land's End to sponsor the journey, but he still had to get the boat constructed, find a crew and handle the thousands of details to make it happen. His first attempt ended in defeat but he tried again the following year. He had learned a lot by then and while the crossing wasn't exactly easy, he and his eight-man crew reached their goal.

Of course Carter's crossing wasn't exactly like the crossing for the Vikings. The Vikings, of course, didn't know where they were going and certainly weren't able to have e-mail on board. And they didn't have the modern food supplies and ability to cook the gourmet meals that this modern-day crew enjoyed daily. But the sea was the same, the frustration of days without a good wind, the hard physical labor, the beauty of visiting some remote islands, and the camaraderie among the crew.

The style of writing is light and sometimes comical. The Viking lore is interesting and the descriptions of the surrounding sea and the physical experience of living on an open boat are well done.

But I never really got the differences between the eight crew members. This should have been an automatic reflex by the end of the book. But even though the author tried his best, and even had some photos of the men, with the exception of Rob, the eccentric boat builder, they all had a certain sameness to me.

Also, this trip was never life threatening. I didn't bite my fingernails with worry about them. When in trouble, the Coast Guard was there.

Basically the book is a pleasant read about an interesting experience. And I did learn a bit about sailing and the experience of living in an open boat. Too bad Leif Eriksson never wrote a book. THAT would have been quite a story. Lacking that, however, I guess we just have to settle for W. Hodding Carter.

As one directly involved in publicizing the second - and triumphant - voyage of the Snorri, and privileged enough to witness in person, its arrival on the shores of L'Anse aux Meadows, I found the book captivating and could not read it fast enough!

Hodding Carter paints an original and incredibly entertaining picture of the voyage and managed to keep me in suspense the entire time - even though I already knew the outcome!

I was riveted by Hodding's vivid descriptions of the crew's first nights at sea, and touched by his words of devotion to his wife and children.

However, I am a little disappointed that the book does not contain any color pictures of the Snorri at sail or the landing at L'Anse aux Meadows (where hundreds of local Newfoundlanders gathered to greet the conquering crew). Sounds nitpicky, but to see the Snorri and crew at full sail was awe inspiring -- almost relegating Hodding and crew to second billing!

Nonetheless, the book was skillfully written and thoughfully assembled. The only question I am left with is, how in the world was Hodding Carter able to maintain such a detailed account of the journey considering the Arctic conditions?

Finally, a real adventure with a sense of humor and some humility! I just picked up this new book by Hodding Carter and read it straight through. It's the story of Carter's admittedly crazy idea to build a Viking cargo ship ("knarr") and retrace Leif Erikkson's historic voyage discovering North America ("Vinland"). From it's conception as an eccentric lark, born mostly of boredom from working at a post office, to it's successful completion -- Carter raised half a million dollars, built the 50 odd foot boat and sailed all the way from Greenland to Newfoundland over the course of two summers with a mostly inexperienced crew -- the story is hilarious and, at times, moving. Carter's style is uniformly informative, unpretentious and graceful. It was a pleasure to read and got me interested in history in a whole new way! I highly recommend this book. It was especially refreshing to see an addition to the adventure genre completely free from the macho posturing of the so-called adrenaline junkies.