From the symbolism of braiding and hairstyles in Africa to the customs and traditions of African American women and their hair there is so much history which connects all of us to our ancestors. Tenderheaded takes perspective from a diverse audience of authors- writers, anthropologists, beauticians, hiphop historians, poets, doctors, mothers and fathers share their stories and just how entangled hair is into every single facet of black life.

Definitions and explanations with detailed pictures and inspiring quotes are featured throughout Tenderheaded providing a vast array of entertaining and educational lessons. This book will evoke feelings varying from childhood nostalgia, passion for rights, romantic interludes, and a cultural solidarity. From natural hair to relaxed from wigs to weaves from afros to bald fades and every hair style in between no aspect of black hair is left untouched. Excellent read and thorough resource for every possessor, scholar, and admirer of all types of black hair.

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Black women and their hair -- it's a loaded feminine topic, say Juliette Harris and Pamela Johnson (respectively editor of International Review of African-American Art and a columnist at Essence Magazine), in Tenderheaded, a wise, joyous anthology. All their sisters are "tenderheaded," or sensitive about their hair one way or another. Some could never stand the heat of a curling iron, while others feel their scalps sting at the mere sight of a fine-toothed comb. Others, reading W. E. B. Du Bois' comment that a woman "black or brown and crowned in curled mists" is "the most beautiful thing on earth," pat their own misty crowns and mutter, "mailman's hair: every knot's got its own route."

Reading this anthology feels a little like talking with your girlfriends, grown daughters, or favorite aunts on a lazy afternoon. Now and then a simpatico male drops by--maybe Peter Harris, gloating at finally having learned how to box-braid his six-year-old daughter's curls, or maybe Henry Louis Gates musing on the "kitchen," which isn't just the place at home where your mother and her sisters tended each other's hair but the place at the nape of the neck that's "Unassimilably African" because, says Gates, nothing can "de-kink" it.

Kinks can be a trial in a world where the fluid, silken tress is beauty's trademark. From the Sixties through the Eighties, if a black woman straightened her hair or wore extensions or a weave she was routinely accused of hating herself or insulting her race--the righteous and the rappers loved to diss fake or processed hair. Having naturally straight "good hair" has never been a picnic, either. Even if the "lucky" woman's friends weren't resentful, she missed out on the intimacy and catharsis of hair-wailing sessions, and if she decided on a short style she was said to have thrown her luck away.

Opinions are still divided, and everyone in these pages has a different one, whether the writer is Alice Walker or the great-great-granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker, America's first black woman millionaire, whose hair care system gave dignified employment to thousands of impoverished women during Jim Crow times. Angela Davis discusses the Afro that made her a media icon, and bell hooks argues that hair-straightening is not about wanting to be white but about longing to grow up--the practice marks the graduation from braided girlhood into womanhood. Art historian Judith Wilson links the pompadours, hair extensions, turbans, and long fingernails popular in some American communities to African aesthetic traditions in which the self is ritually extended through deliberate overabundance and artifice in bodily decoration. Cherilyn Wright, in "If You Let Me Make Love to You, Then Why Can't I Touch Your Hair?" offers the hilarious survey she took among her friends, male and female, about how they handle lovemaking when a hot, damp breath can snap a woman's expensively sleeked hairstyle right back into its original "b-b's."

The book has a marvelous array of photographs, from archive-quality portraits of 19th-century toddlers to Topsy cartoons and Aunt Jemima ads, to Ugandan foreign minister Elizabeth Bagaaya in splendid basket-braids. A New York City matron wears a Muslim head-wrap, and Grace Jones a gorgeous fade. Whoopi Goldberg sports a spoofy yard-long platinum wig.

Best of all, Tenderheaded brings to life the millions of women who give each other their touch and their attention (if sometimes also heartaches or a headache) through the intimate rituals of washing, combing, trimming, oiling, braiding, pressing, winding, wrapping--caring for--each other's hair.

....Tenderheaded, while long-winded and self-indulgent at times, is a great testament to our history and our hair. Not only does it traces our ever-changing styles, images and hair idols, but it's a wonderful timeline for our progress. If you or someone you know has hair issues, or you want to head off the tide of BS before it takes root in a new generation, this book is a must!!

I have spent many years reading books, talking to counselors, and talking to friends about relationships. Reading Johnson's book was a real eye opener, to put it very mildly. I have enjoyed the author's style in his other books where he presents a myth and discusses it's psychological meaning. This book is no exception, except that it's relevance is way off the charts. Before reading "We" I had all but thrown my hands in the air in frustration regarding relationships. The author's beautiful style drills deep and answers the many questions I had. Johnson's use of the Tristan myth told me what I did not want to hear, but the pain I have experience in relationship told me that Johnson was right on the money. The author's analysis of romantic love and the distinction he makes between passion and true love (which is more low key and may even come across as boring sometimes) spoke loud and clear. He made me realize that I have been searching out there in vain for so many years for lady soul, because lady soul lurked within my unconscious mind. Since reading this book I was able to connect with lady soul and have that symbolic marriage that Johnson talks about.

I highly recommend this book to each person who has a lot of questions about why relationships in our cultures are in a state of epidepic crisis. The author's answers may not be what you want to hear if you are a "zealous" romantic. If you are willing to stretch yourself and change, then Johnson's words are an excellent catalyst for changing your ways and heading in the right direction.

I consider "We" among the most relevant books by Robert Johnson, and among the most relevantt books by any author!

This classic work gives us a simple story and model for how men think, what they secretly want, and how men can see what it is they really need.

I've incorporated a lot of this book in my own work (a hidden resource that I don't really mention or credit).

At only about 100 pages and less than [$$], how could anyone miss out on buying this book.

I found this volume almost impossible to put down once I started reading it.
Author Robert A. Johnson has a very fluid writing style, and does a superb job
of exposing the archetypal aspect of romance and love relationships by discussing the implications of
the myth of Tristan and Iseult. I found myself strongly moved
by this volume, and it helped me work through some live and
at the time previously unexplored aspects of my own psyche.

This book doesn't leave you feeling torn apart as many analytical
works on love do. It analyzes the emotions and expectations of
lovers in such a way as to allow one to re-examine one's own
love relationships and ultimately one's understanding of what
a love relationship should be. This is a timeless volume, which
transcends the stereotypical types of responses one has to love and love relationships. Western media and folklore have so thoroughly dwelt on this topic that I find it remarkable that this Jungian philosopher is able to significantly add to the tradition, by allowing one to consciously break down the archetypal influences that seem to so powerfully motivate us when we are in love. I found this book illuminating enough that after finishing it I had to purchase a copy for a close friend.

Be aware that this type of progress doesn't happen in a vacuum, so this book may be somewhat troubling if you are a person who has
long cherished views that you do not want to question about love and romance. But if you are willing to subscribe to the author's thesis that love and love relationships can be improved by understanding their core motivations as reflected in myth and allegory, you will absolutely love this book as I did and possibly this book will change the way you look at love and life. Definitely a must-read if you are someone like me who is always falling in love and not knowing why.

The somewhat haunting photographs of the interior of the asylum makes one try to imagine how life was for those souls who lived there. The beautiful architecture of those majestic buildings and well-manicured grounds is a testament to an era of compassion. There is one photograph in particular that caught my attention, on page 185 that has what appears to be a ghostly image of a man standing in the doorway of room 50. A book you can look at over and over again and see new things in the detailed photographs.

This book should be required reading in Psych 101 classes. Photography classes as well.

The author gently uses her camera and prolific writing style to tell a story that both inspires and shocks you at the same time. There are incredible amounts of patient and staff histories both touching and surprising. The book inspires one to ponder the life of each person profiled.

One can only hope that Johnson continues along the same lines and creates another masterpiece like Angels in the Architecture.

"Angels in the Architecture" is a first-rate homage to a former asylum, the Traverse City State Hospital of Michigan. Heidi Johnson has masterfully combined her hauntingly beautiful photographs with both archival material and first-hand reports from the trenches. The result is a powerfully compelling journey into the soul of a once vibrant institution that provided care to thousands of its wards.

Robert Johnson was my first introduction to Jungian psychology. His simple, yet profound little books (He, She, We, Ecstasy, et al.) impacted my life deeply. In this his memoirs, Johnson relates a moving account of a life and all that it encompasses. The suffering, joy, and those wonderful "grail castle" experiences. If you are aquianted with Johnson's previous work, then this book will be all the more enjoyable. However, it may be a good starting point into learning more about Johnson's previous, more scholarly work on Jungian psychology.

....insightful, humbling, stated simply, an eloquent autobiographical piece by the well-known Jungian analyst. Memorable items include his clash with Jolanda Jacobe and his frustration with Krishnamurti.

My soul (as my mind percieves it) has not yet found the thread of enlightenment. I accept the path to stumble, fall, rise up and down and to reach into the oblivion of understanding. I have seventeen short years behind my eyes, and strive to become an old woman. I thank Robert Johnson and his writings in "Balancing Heaven and Earth", as it is of great comfort to known although I am alone in my personal journey, I am not alone in my attempt to find a middle path between the extremes of human despair and joy, and the truths behind it. I have often gazed upon the world in realization that I do not, in fact, understand it in the least! I cannot comprehend the forces behind the companies which constructed the buildings and the societies that mesh and become urban life (although the boundaries between urban and sub-urban, country, city, town and household have been blurred beyond recognition). Yet it is of comfort to me to have the opportunity to read Robert Johnson's biographical writings...as I have great respect for him. I shall further indulge in his other works!

This is THE book to own if you're interested in fancy goldfish. The section by Erik Johnson really gives a modern update to goldfish husbandry i.e disease treatment et al. Richard Hess and Erik Johnson have put together a fantastic book containing so much info assembled from a wide variety of sources that it makes a great reference book- both to the novice and the pro. The section on ranchus also is top notch. This great book isnt just a picture book; it's packed full of valuable information that anyone can use!

I couldn't keep Goldfish without this book! It's incredible - the general, species and medical information contained within is absolutely comprehensive. The photos are gorgeous, and cover every type of Goldfish you could dream of. The history section is interesting as well. Breeding information, basic tank care... you can't ask for more!

If you're going to buy one book on fish keeping this year, make it this one!

This is the book the goldfish hobby has been waiting for! Clear and accurate information on keeping fancy goldfish. Excellent information on disease and treatment of goldfish ailments. Glossary of varieties of goldfish and terms commonly used in the goldfish hobby, including Japanese terms. PLUS!! the best darn goldfish picture book ever! -This is the premier "go to" book for goldfish keepers.

I love purses and this little book is fantastic! The pictures are colorful and gorgeous! It's like a little wish book for grown-ups!

I highly recommend this cute little book. It's packed full of pictures and interesting information regarding the history of handbags. It's very inspirational if you're looking to going into the handbag business and want to read about some of the famous designers and their start in the business, and see all the different styles of handbags throughout the years.

Wao! I have collected purses and shoes since I was 13. This book is incredibly complete. The photographs are awesome and the descriptions incredibly accurate! I would buy to give as a very very good present to anyone that enjoys handbags, purses and shoes!

Pam Johnson-Bennett offers excellent, common-sense advice for dealing with feline behavioral problems. The situations and solutions discussed in this book suggest that, no matter how bad your kitty's behavior, there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel. We humans just need to pay better attention to what our cat companions are telling us and to learn how to think like a cat. Johnson-Bennett is one of the best feline behaviorists around and this would be a great book to read if your cat has any issues. Highly recommended

A wonderfully funny, easy to read book. Oh how true these stories and experiences are for cat lovers.

Pam Johnson-Bennett is an expert on cat behavior and gives great advice on raising healthy, happy cats. But in this book, she relates sixteen cases of bizarre behavior by cats. We have a cat attacking its owner only on Sunday, or a cat carefully biting an owner's boyfriend in an embarrassing place, or a cat launching itself headfirst against a wall, or - well, you get the idea. Are these cats mentally unbalanced? No! Pam, the Sherlock Holmes of the cat world, uncovers the basis for each cat's strange behavior in sixteen entertaining mysteries. We cat owners know that cats actually behave in an amazingly logical fashion. It's cat owners that are mixed up, until our calculating cats train us to their satisfaction. This wonderfully-entertaining book illustrates these characteristics. Some of the stories are hilarious. One may bring tears to your eyes, but all of them will entertain you and are well worth reading.

As a mixed race Mexican/Anglo myself, I saw my own childhood as well as parts of my adult life in Dean Johnson's writing. While reading like an autobiography, this book is not lacking in scholarship. The numerous and current scholarly references for each chapter provide a wealth of resources for those who desire to learn more about the topics of which Dean Johnson speaks. I am enriched by having read this book.

I am an American born Hispanic, from a large family. Like a great percentage of families in this country, my siblings and children have married non-Hispanic partners, thus we have experienced several of the issues raised by Dean Johnson in his poignant history. This book was begging to be written. It was a treat to read things that have long remained unsaid, or possibly said by those who have not lived its sad truths. Since massacres of innocent multitudes by racially intolerant psychopaths are becoming commonplace, this book should be included in every school library.

As a person of Latino/Anglo heritage, I was quite excited when I saw this book at my favorite bookstore. We do not often hear about us when racially-mixed people are discussed. Johnson's experiences mirrored many of my own and I found myself verbally agreeing with him as I read the book! As a future scholar in the area of multiracial identity, I will certainly utilize this book in my classroom!

I agree it's a fine "Kids book for Adults", with simply beautiful illustrations, and wity prose. But as far as a book for kids, I've found that the advanced vocabulary actually gets in the way of successfully conveying the story to young elementary children. Unless your child can handle words such as truckle, pate, and manse, you will find yourself stopping on every page to explain what's really being said. This tends to quickly take away from the enjoyment of reading the story aloud.

This retelling of the prodical son story based on a runaway cat is one children's book that moms and dads will love, maybe even more than their kids. Garrison Keillor's poem is a joy to read and the artwork so is beautiful you won't even want to let your children get their hands on it. The story is rich in sarcasm and symbolism for adults and funny rhymes and sound effects for the kids.

Cat lovers, Keillor fans and children alike will enjoy this book for its beautiful art, rich and colorful writing and endearing message. But it's not necessarily about cats. Keillor hides behind the cat as Minnesota's prodigal son who finally came home. You can see the world. Become famous! You can even get rich but you can't take the -oh out of a Minnesota boy. We're glad you came home, Garrison.

I purchased this book when I bought the Sony Clie T-655. Even though this book is mostly about the NR70v it helped me understand how my clie funtioned tips, websites, suppliers it has it all. I have upgraded to NX70v and It is just as helpful if not more then before. There is nothing that this book does not cover and I even mean the dumb mistakes beginners make and what the Clie book doesnt have in it. So if you own a sony clie it is worth every penny for all the info is used in every aspect of your clie. Now I hope they come up with a newer version for the OS.5. thanks Guys for a great book. would be lost without it.!! Dr.

I've enjoyed this book. Much easier to read than a boring manual. I would buy other books from these authors.

I bought my first PDA, a Sony Clie SJ-20 on Amazon a few months ago and saw where someone recommended buying this book along with it, which I opted to do. This turned out to be a great decision! This book is great for a novice PDA user. It does a great job of covering the basics, which the Sony Clie instructions really don't, as well as tons of advanced (and well explained) suggestions and additions of other software and hacks that you can add on to make your Clie using experience even better.