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"Hutus kill Tutsis, then Tutsis kill Hutus--if that's really all there is to it, then no wonder we can't be bothered with it," Philip Gourevitch writes, imagining the response of somebody in a country far from the ethnic strife and mass killings of Rwanda. But the situation is not so simple, and in this complex and wrenching book, he explains why the Rwandan genocide should not be written off as just another tribal dispute.
The "stories" in this book's subtitle are both the author's, as he repeatedly visits this tiny country in an attempt to make sense of what has happened, and those of the people he interviews. These include a Tutsi doctor who has seen much of her family killed over decades of Tutsi oppression, a Schindleresque hotel manager who hid hundreds of refugees from certain death, and a Rwandan bishop who has been accused of supporting the slaughter of Tutsi schoolchildren, and can only answer these charges by saying, "What could I do?" Gourevitch, a staff writer for the New Yorker, describes Rwanda's history with remarkable clarity and documents the experience of tragedy with a sober grace. The reader will ask along with the author: Why does this happen? And why don't we bother to stop it? --Maria Dolan
Book Description
Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction.In April 1994, the Rwandan government called upon everyone in the Hutu majority to kill each member of the Tutsi minority, and over the next three months 800,000 Tutsis perished in the most unambiguous case of genocide since Hitler's war against the Jews. Philip Gourevitch's haunting work is an anatomy of the war in Rwanda, a vivid history of the tragedy's background, and an unforgettable account of its aftermath. One of the most acclaimed books of the year, this account will endure as a chilling document of our time.
Customer Reviews:
Compelling.......2007-09-22
My prep for going to Rwanda was reading this book. This is a snapshot of the state Rwanda was in during the 100 days and the aftermath. However, much has been done to repair the damage. This is a time of reconciliation and healing. Go to Rwanda and see for yourself. It will change your life.
Will really let you see into this tradgedy........2007-05-29
What a great book. Such insight and it really helps you understand what happened in Rwanda. Especially the history of all the long ago violence and things that have happened over the years. Great book and a must read for everyone.
This could happen everywhere or anywhere in the world. Can really open your eyes into how much we all could be killers or saviors at any one time.
Highly recommended.
The Heartbreak of Hate.......2007-04-10
Gourevitch's jarring telling of the atrocities of hate hit with an imact of severe sorrow. The overwhelming scale of the murders in Rwanda are incomprehensible. It is sad to realize that in this age people allow hate and propoganda to rule their lives.
Excellent Book.......2007-03-27
This book was very well written and informative about the genocide that occurred in Rwanda.
Heartbreaking stories from Rwanda.......2007-03-19
This is a superb book, a collection of interviews and incidents from the genocide in Rwanda. There are portraits of unimaginable betrayal, brutality and horror, but also of heroism--the owner of the Hotel Rwanda, for instance. The description of the conduct of the "refugee" camps is particularly useful as a warning on what is likely to happen in the next crisis, and should force us to re-examine our ways of providing relief for people in distress across the world.
Book Description
"As I've traveled our great country, I have been struck again and again by its beauty and variety and reminded of how rich our history is. Travel a few miles in any direction, and you'll encounter an amazing story that helps explain all the multitude of ways our country came to be." -- Lynne Cheney
Lynne Cheney and Robin Preiss Glasser, creators of the bestselling America: A Patriotic Primer and A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women, take you on an unforgettable tour of America -- from the Everglades of Florida to the grasslands of Kentucky to the Sierra Mountains of California.
Listening to her grandchildren's enthusiastic account of all they saw and did on a family road trip inspired Lynne Cheney to collaborate with Robin Preiss Glasser and create Our 50 States -- the greatest family vacation imaginable. Pack your bags and celebrate our diverse heritage state by state and sea to shining sea in this treasure trove of America's people, places, and history.
A scholar of American history, Mrs. Cheney has drawn on a lifetime of study and travel for Our 50 States. Robin Preiss Glasser has brought her inimitable wit and exuberance to every illustration. Together they have created a joyful book that reminds us how fortunate we are to call America our home.
Customer Reviews:
Turns my stomach.......2007-09-24
I'm very sorry I purchased this book. At the time I didn't realize it was written by Lynn Cheney. The entire time I read the book all I could think about was that I'd put more of my hard earned money into Dick Cheney's pocket and supported his propaganda. It makes me sick to have made such a purchase.
Geography & History.......2007-08-04
Teachers will love this book! It puts facts into a child's perspective
instead of just memorizing facts.
Our 50 States: A Family Adventure Across Amreica.......2007-07-27
This is a great book to learn many interesting things about America and all the pages are done in colored drawing form which is great for children. I have gone through the book several times and my 7 year old grandson has viewed and read it more. A very good format to learn many of the facts you never knew about America's states.
Our 50 States.......2007-05-23
What a great way to teach young children about US Geography. My daughter loves the map in the front of the book to trace out routes to new and exciting adventures. When she gets to the state her adventure ends, we read that page together. At 4, she really loves to learn about the states.
The Best Book of the Fifty States.......2007-05-13
I bought the book for my grandchildren and they love it. It is both entertaining and informative. Recommended it to several friends and now they have also purchased the book for their grandchildren. I am am planning to order another one of these books to keep in our home. Not only for when the grandchildren or other children visit but also for our own adult pleasure.
Book Description
Most of us can trace the shape of our lives back to a physical place--a childhood home that played an enormous role in defining how we see ourselves and how we choose to make our way in the world. In Home, John Edwards has collected nearly 60 moving stories that reflect how these places, in many ways, are the blueprints of our lives. Home features uplifting, touching, and engaging narratives from all kinds of people across the country--everyday Americans with deeply inspiring stories share the pages with well-known figures from entertainment and religion, from politics and sports.
American Homes
Visit the childhood homes of four contributors to Home:
Eadie Churchill |
Kathryn Cline |
Tommy Franks |
John Glenn |
In the pages of Home, you can visit the early homes of:
Mario Batali
Benicio Del Toro
Bob Dole
Tommy Franks
John Glenn
Danny Glover
Nanci Griffith
Sugar Ray Leonard
Maya Lin
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Steven Spielberg
Vera Wang
Rick Warren
... and many more.
Through words, photos, and illustrations, Home paints a moving picture of America at its best--a country where people, no matter their background, no matter their circumstance, can build a great future. One by one, these different stories reveal our common story--a story that begins with the home we grew up in, the values it gave us, and the hopes that we share.
Customer Reviews:
Down Home Reminisce.......2007-05-02
This is not an analysis of home, or the concept of home. It is a series of essays that reminisce on what childhood homes were like. Some of the essays are by famous people, others by less famous average people types.
Although the book provides a few insights into personal meaning for each of these people, it does not approach the larger issue of Home and what it might mean to us as a people. This is a coffee table book at best, not one for reading through and through.
It's not that the book is bad, it's just that I found little meaning in it apart from understanding these people's history a little better. It didn't challenge me to examine, to understand, it was listening to friends reflect on the smell of bread in the kitchen. Not a bad activity at all, but don't expect great significance to arise from such a down home exercise.
If you want something that explores the subject deeply, I highly recommend "House As A Mirror of Self."
Nice, family type book.......2007-02-19
I enjoyed reading about the family of well known people and seeing snapshots of their growing up years.
LOVELY BOOK.......2007-02-11
THIS IS A LOVELY COFFEE TABLE BOOK. THE STORIES THAT ARE RELATED ARE PRICELESS AND BRING BACK CHILDHOOD MEMORIES.
Wonderful Book........2007-02-05
Heartwarming and poignant stories told by people from all over America about their childhood homes and what the home and the family means to them.I loved this book.
Bland and boring like cardboard.......2007-01-30
I agree with most reviewers who have said they expected more and found the book to be boring. I want to add that if you are like me, someone who is into place and space, architecture and homes/houses, Bachelard, Casey, etc., this is NOT a book for you. It could have been better if the writers were all on the same page with a unifying theme. I suggest you seek out a library copy and save your money.
Book Description
A warm, accessible, step-by-step guide to creating precious personal histories from the memories of older people, by the best-selling author of Hang Time and his sister, journalist D. G. Fulford.
Customer Reviews:
Useful, Helpful, Good Book!.......2007-09-01
Not only is this a thoughtfully written and organized book, but this is also a handy little book. It's small size easily fits into a backpack or overnight bag. I put the book and a really good gel pen and a pad of paper into a gallon-sized Ziplock-type baggie so that I can write anytime, anywhere. I always take it with me to the beach and often take it with me on overnight trips, too, finishing one question per trip. I randomly open the book, choose an appropriate question, close the book and start writing whatever comes to mind about the subject.
It is surprising how the questions in the book really make one think back. One time I took my 18-year-old son to the beach with me. I showed him the book, we each chose a question and wrote for over an hour, sitting amongst the grasses in the sun and wind. I discovered he was definitely not too young to write down his history! Yes, I hand-write the entries and then transcribe them later with a word processor. A workbook or journal would be too space-restricting for me, and no way can I do a question per day!
I'm okay with not answering all the questions in the book. It is nice to know that even if I don't get very far in the book, my three children and my siblings will know me a lot better than if I never answered one. If I had no children, I would write anyway because you just never know who would be touched by your life. This is a must-have book for anyone wanting to pass some history down because it makes it so much easier to do. This book made it easy enough for me, the single mom with two jobs, to start a personal history!
To Our Children's Children - Preserving Family Histories for Generations to Come.......2007-06-27
To Our Children's Children Book A stranger told me about this book and I became interested in purchasing a copy. Recently cleaning out my father's house found old pictures, WWII, Boy scouts, VFW memorabilia. I am fortunate to be able to ask my dad a lot of the questions in the book. It is an excellent start to preserving those precious family histories for other generations to come. Now I am taping and writing down the information which will be placed in archivalbe scrap book to be tresured for years to come. Pleas take the time to pick this book up and start own family history.
Unmining The Gems.......2007-06-09
Simple and easy questions to guide anyone through writing details about their life. I interviewed my parents using this book and was surprised at what I learned. Mom, when asked if she lived on a busy or quiet street as a child, said "It must have been a busy street because I remember hearing the traffic light change." That very detail bespoke of an era -- a time when traffic lights had arms that popped up to say STOP or GO and would ding in the process. I've recommended this book to many people and have given it as gifts.
Use Professionally.......2007-05-29
This book (purchased 4) is an excellent guidebook for my customers
whom I film as I video their life histories. Customers use this as a tool
to to revisit memories they'd like to share with their families. Some folks not sure what to talk about, yet when they read through the many questions they really reconnect with how faceted and fascinating their lives' really are!
To Our Children's Children.......2006-11-04
As a member of the DAR, preserving my family's history is extremely important. This book asks questions most people might never think about, such as "can you remember any stories you heard about your grandparents when they were children?" It is important to document our pesonal heritage for our grandchildren, and this book makes that easy. I would highly recommend it. In fact,I have purchased several copies for other family members.
Book Description
Everybody Loves Raymond is the most consistently funny program on television today -- and also one of the most widely watched and hihgly praised shows of all time. Now, Ray Romano and show creator Phil Rosenthal have made an official companion to the series. This insider's look at Raymond's world features a lively introduction by Ray and Phil, where they tell the stories of how they met, how Raymond came to be, and how the first episode was made. The next eight chapters follow the show season by season, with candid photography by Tom Caltabiano, one of the show's writers, who has informally documented the cast and crew from day one. Accompanying the photos is hilarious running commentary from Ray and Phil, as they describe memorable moments, fun facts, and tales from behind the scenes. Along the way, interviews with the cast reveal humorous and insightful anecdotes from Patricia Heaton, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, Brad Garrett, and Monica Horan. And the conversation with the show's award-winning writers show how their personal family dramas provide inspiration for the on-screen stories.
Customer Reviews:
If you love the series? You would like this one........2006-08-18
Oh!! i just cant get enough of the series. This book brings you inside stories, pictures and what not. Yeah, it does not cover all 9 seasons, but is still a great buy @ Amazon. Because they sell it pretty cheap here.
Go ahead and get one. You would love it.
PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-06-29
I just got this book last week and I was amazed at how many pictures of the show were in there and they even put how they make an episode,now I know It's kind of weird a kid watching elr but everytime i watch the show I crack up, I have seen ATon of episodes and I also own seasons 5&6 on dvd.if you are addicted to everybody loves raymond like me and watch the show everytime It's on than this is definintly 1,000,000% the book for you there Is only on con about the book and here It is.
CON:the book only covers seasons 1-7 and a tiny bit of 8.
terrific book, but does not cover the entire series.......2006-04-25
"Everybody Loves Raymond: Our Family Album" is an ideal companion for the classic sitcom that ran for 9 successful years and continues to be loved through daily reruns.
Written by Ray Romano and series creator Phil Rosenthal, this book contains extensive information about the show, the cast and crew, and the individual episodes. It really is the perfect thing for fans who can't get enough of the show and want something a little more. This book includes an interview from everyone in the main cast (as well as some crew members), they talk a little bit about the Sweeten kids (who, of course, played Ray and Debra's three children on the show), and hundreds of color photos fill every page (both stills from the actual episodes and candid behind-the-scenes pictures). There are highlighted sections for some of the most popular episodes from each season, which are accompanied by photos and lighthearted comments from Romano and Rosenthal. There are even pictures and information about some of the cast and crew's real-life family members, which die-hard fans will love to see. Then, at the end, there is a complete episode guide for the first 7 1/2 seasons, which lists a brief synopsis and a "memorable moment" from each episode.
The only problem with this book is that, as I mentioned above, it only covers Seasons 1-7 and half of Season 8. I personally don't understand why they didn't at least wait until the entire Season 8 wrapped up before publishing this. Hopefully, though, they will come out with a revised edition that goes all the way through Season 9. Despite that, however, this is still a very valuable book to buy if you are an avid fan of "Raymond." It offers a lot of insight from everyone involved with the show, and it is more than just a short book with some pictures. It's very precise and informative, and you really get a feeling of what a special group of people worked together for those 9 years. It is sad that they could not continue the series for at least one more season, but they certainly went out on top and have deserved every bit of the credit they have received. "The sitcom of our times," it is indeed!
A Great Show and a Great Book.......2004-09-15
Everybody Loves Raymond has to be the one of the funniest comedies on TV today. It has been playing since 1996 and is still fresh and funny in it's brand new episodes.
The cast includes:
-Ray Romano as Ray Barone, the overall star of the show. He has a house, a job as a sports writer for Newsday, a wife Debra (Patricia Heaton), and three children- two twin boys (Jeffrey and Michael) and a girl (Ally). Ray's ignorance is quite funny!
-Patricia Heaton as Ray's wife, Debra Barone. she is much more intelligent than him and is always tolerating Ray's family. She's the only "normal one" of the bunch!
-Brad Garrett as Ray's older brother, Robert Barone. Robert is always insanely jealous of his younger brother and how "lucky" he is for living Robert's dream of having a house and a family. Robert, for a time, lives with his and Ray's parents, but eventually moves out and gets his own apartment. Robert is always visiting Ray's home and is also always craving attention from his mother, Marie, since Raymond is undoubtedly her favorite child.
-Doris Roberts as Marie, Ray's mother. Marie lives across the street with Ray's father (Frank) and is an unbelievable cook. She is not particularly fond of Debra, and always finds some flaw with anything Debra is doing or cooking. She loves to make fun of Debra's housework and cooking. She is constantly made fun of by her husband, Frank, who obviously cannot stand her even though they have been married for 45 years. She undoubtedly favors Raymond over Robert, and even openly admits it a few times, such as in one of my favorite quotes: "I knew something was wrong with that meatloaf, I should have thrown it out or given it to Robbie." However, despite her unfriendly sides, she loves her family truly and always attempts to act out of love (though it doesn't always appear that way).
-And finally, Peter Boyle as Ray's father, Frank. Frank is a truly disgusting man who doesn't show love well and totally lacks taste or class in public. According to Ray, he once "peed in the yard" and "threw his shoe at a flamingo to protect his sandwich". Frank's comments to Marie are hilarious (as are Marie's comments to Debra). In one Thanksgiving episode, Frank admits that he truly loves Marie, which is obviously why their relationship has lasted 45 years. Frank thoroughly enjoys all types of food and cooking and also watching TV with his pants unbuckled.
So, there you have it. ELR is truly a great show. And while the upcoming season ('04-'05) will be it's last, this book is the perfect companion to the show, including lots of show information and pictures. If you love ELR, you should get this book.
Also, check out ELR: Season 1 on DVD here at Amazon.
Book Description
"I can't imagine having a plain old sister," writes Ryan Clearwater, age ten, in one of the 45 essays in Views from Our Shoes. Ryan and the other boys and girls whose essays are featured in this collection range in age from four to eighteen. They share their experiences as the brother or sister of someone with a disability-the good and bad aspects, as well as many thoughtful observations.
Customer Reviews:
good, but no stories with spina bifida.......2007-01-16
Overall I was pleased with this book. There is a great range of sibling ages and conditions in the book. That being said, I was surprised that there was not at least one story that was specific to a child with spina bifida. There were several children with various rare conditions, kids with Downs, cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness, mental retardation, autism, etc, but no spina bifida kids. The closest they came is a child who has hydrocephalus.
The market for children coping with a disability is sadly lacking in resources- books like this one are rare- and I would still recommend it to a family who had siblings, cousins or friends with any disability, including spina bifida, but I am disappointed that it was not included.
Helped my 11-year old daughter with her feelings.......2006-06-29
My 11 year old daughter read this book and even asked if she could read some of "her favorite essays" to us - she is the older sibling of our 2 year old little girl who was born 17 weeks early and she has cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness, is tube-fed and chronically ill. Her favorite stories were of the ones that she could most relate to - like the little boy who said he did not understand why his sibling was so ill when she was born. I think it made my daughter feel like it was okay for her to have bad and good emotions about her little sister. I think it validated them.
Excellent book for everyone........2006-06-20
Donald Meyer has compiled a wonderful book of essays from siblings of disabled children. My thirty year old son bought me this book for my birthday. Growing up, I too was one of these children and would have truly benefitted from anything that would have explained what happened to our family. As one of these sibs, I had to grapple with guilt, embarassment and also neglect from my parents due to the resources, both financial and emotional that were poured into my sister's handicap. My heart goes out to both parents and siblings of exceptional children. It is so much pain to bear for them and they feel even worse about complaining because they are "normal."
Now this is what I call the perfect book for siblings!.......2006-04-18
My 8 year old son loves reading me stories written by other siblings. Each story describes how challenging and rewarding it is to have a sibling with special needs. Thanks to all the wonderful kids who wrote in. My son is going to write his own story just for our family!
I would recommend this book highly!
Edie
Excellent Sibiling book!.......2005-07-27
My daughter has severe autism and it has been very hard on my oldest son (Almost 9yrs old). I bought this book with the hopes that he could read about other kids who had to live with the same kinds of stresses that he lives with having a special needs sister. He really liked the short stories written by other 'special kid' siblings and best of all, it has opened up a new world of communication between us. I highly recommend this book for any sibling who may be struggling with the role of being a brother/sister to a 'special needs' kid.
Book Description
All Our Kin is the chronicle of a young white woman's sojourn into The Flats, an African-American ghetto community, to study the support system family and friends form when coping with poverty. Eschewing the traditional method of entry into the community used by anthropologists -- through authority figures and community leaders -- she approached the families herself by way of an acquaintance from school, becoming one of the first sociologists to explore the black kinship network from the inside. The result was a landmark study that debunked the misconception that poor families were unstable and disorganized. On the contrary, her study showed that families in The Flats adapted to their poverty conditions by forming large, resilient, lifelong support networks based on friendship and family that were very powerful, highly structured and surprisingly complex.
Universally considered the best analysis of family and kinship in a ghetto black community ever published, All Our Kin is also an indictment of a social system that reinforces welfare dependency and chronic unemployment. As today's political debate over welfare reform heats up, its message has become more important than ever.
Customer Reviews:
ok for an anthro book.......2001-12-23
I was made to read this book for my anthro class. It was interesting to read about teh family situations, I read all of this book. This book contains a lot of diagrams and charts, so there is even less text to read. A little outdates perhaps though!
Carol B. Stack isn't as boring as I thought.......2001-11-04
By looking at the cover.. you'd think this was the most boring book available at the bookstore. I dreaded reading this when it was assigned to my Anthropology course.. however when I finally got around to reading it is insightful and interesting. It brought up facts that I've seen around me but failed to recognize as part of a culture.
One question I do pose though, when the family which inherits a large sum of money decides to share it among the poor community. Wouldn't the community be better off if that one family decided to move out of poverty, enabling the poor community to become smaller and thus have more items being able to rotate within the community? Eventually the community can become richer because of this instead of dragging those around them down.
Interesting book..
Carol B. Stack isn't as boring as I thought.......2001-11-04
By looking at the cover.. you'd think this was the most boring book available at the bookstore. I dreaded reading this when it was assigned to my Anthropology course.. however when I finally got around to reading it is insightful and interesting. It brought up facts that I've seen around me but failed to recognize as part of a culture.
One question I do pose though, when the family which inherits a large sum of money decides to share it among the poor community. Wouldn't the community be better off if that one family decided to move out of poverty, enabling the poor community to become smaller and thus have more items being able to rotate within the community? Eventually the community can become richer because of this instead of dragging those around them down.
Interesting book..
Truly enlightening & moving portrait of poor black culture.......2000-04-26
This book was assigned reading for an introductory anthropology course, however, once I started reading the book, I simply was unable to put it down. This is one of the most enlightening books I have ever read, detailing every aspect of working poor African Americans in the 60's. Carol Stack immersed herself in this culture and was able to learn all aspects of their daily lives and convey to the reader a vivid and detailed portrait of truly difficult lives of a group of people that make up only 1% of African Americans in this country. As a white woman, this book was especially enlightening to truly understand a completely foreign culture. This should be required reading for all.
Book Description
Kate O'Beirne is fed up with women who make the world worse.
Fueled by their persecution fantasies, modern feminists have been calling for radical social engineering to eliminate any differences between the sexes. They insist that any sex differences are the result of social construction, not biology. So they want boys and men to be reprogrammed and treated for their “pathology.”
Many of these women are public figures who use their notoriety in acting, pop music, television, or politics to spout unfounded bad ideas and harebrained schemes: Jane Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg, Hillary Clinton, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Maureen Dowd, and many more.
Kate O'Beirne captures the radical feminists in their own words, explains why they've got it all wrong, and shows why they have to be stopped—before they do even more damage to our schools, families, workplaces, and sports. BACKCOVER: “Anyone still operating under the delusion that `feminist' is synonymous with `pro-woman' should find this [book] a useful reality check.”
—The Wall Street Journal
“Thank you, Kate O'Beirne! With wit and smarts she drives a stake through the heart of radical feminism, naming names, and takes down the modern sisterhood in a fearless, funny, and factual way. And it's long overdue. Know your enemy. Buy this gutsy book!”
—Rush Limbaugh
“What a romp of a book. Funny and smart and typical of the shrewd, informed analysis we relish from Kate O'Beirne.”
—Peggy Noonan, author of John Paul the Great
“Once again, Kate O'Beirne's insights on politics and the culture make us think, laugh, and stand “up and cheer. Rolling back the influence of the false prophets of feminism and `grrrrrl power' takes facts, passion, and intellect—all of which we find in this important book.”
—Laura Ingraham, author of Shut Up & Sing
“Some women protest,`I'm a feminist, just not a radical feminist.' Kate O'Beirne is impatient with such qualifications. She is not any kind of feminist, and when you finish her sparkling new book, Women Who Make the World Worse, you won't be one either.”
—Mona Charen, syndicated columnist
“Women Who Make the World Worse is, to be sure, an entertaining, often humorous exposé of the modernist feminist movement, but at the same time, it's a sober wake-up call.”
—David Limbaugh, syndicated columnist
“O'Beirne brings wit and common sense to bear on the weird and rancorous world of orthodox feminism… she has written a rousing, scintillating, and badly needed book.”
—Christina Hoff Sommers
Book Description
Since the 1997 release of J.K. Rowling's first novel--HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE--no series of children's books has been more incredibly popular or widely influential. How do we explain the enormous appeal of these stories to children? Should parents welcome this new interest in reading among their kids or worry, along with the critics, that the books encourage either moral complacency or a perverse interest in witchcraft and the occult?
In this original interpretation of the Harry Potter sensation, Edmund M. Kern argues that the attraction of these stories to children comes not only from the fantastical elements embedded in the plots, but also from their underlying moral messages. Children genuinely desire to follow Harry as he confronts a host of challenges in an uncertain world, because of his desire to do the right thing. Harry's coherent yet flexible approach to dealing with evil reflects an updated form of Stoicism, says Kern. He argues that Rowling's great accomplishment in these books is to have combined imaginative fun with moral seriousness.
Kern's comprehensive evaluation of the Harry Potter stories in terms of ethical questions reveals the importance of uncertainty and ambiguity in Rowling's imaginative world and highlightrs her call to meet them with virtues such as constancy, endurance, perseverance, self-discipline, reason, solidarity, empathy, and sacrifice. Chidren comprehend that growing up entails some perplexity and pain, that they cannot entirely avoid problems, and that they can remain constant in circumstances beyond their control. In essence, Harry shows them how to work through their problems, rather than seek ways around them. Despite the fantastical settings and events of Harry's adventures, children are quick to realize that they are just a fictional reflection of the confusing and disturbing circumstances found in the real world.
Kern also shows adults how much they can gain by discussing with children the moral conundrums faced by Harry and other characters. The author outlines the central morals of each book; considers the common critiques of the books; discusses Rowling's skillful blend of history, legend, and myth; and raises important questions for guiding children through Harry's adventures.
This fresh, instructive, and upbeat guide to Harry Potter gives parents a wealth of useful and educational information for discussing the moral implications of this continuously popular series of books with their children.
Customer Reviews:
A Great Defense of the Series, Offers an Intriguing Moral Analysis.......2006-02-11
"Harry Potter" is a popular, but very controversial series. From accusations of encouraging witchcraft to complaints about the book's social themes, there has been much criticism of the series, despite its massive appeal. In "The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Hero Teaches Us about Moral Choices," Edmund M. Kern presents a defense against the criticisms and succeeds brilliantly. His defense is comphrensive, thoughtful, detailed and well-organized. He even goes further, providing background on the series and offering his own analysis of the books' themes. Although his references to the books occasionally contain small errors in detail, it is obvious that he has read them and it helps that he is also a parent. (Although he stresses that his book is not just for parents, but anyone who's interested in a thorough analysis of the series' themes.) He has also held discussions of the series on the radio.
Edmund M. Kern posits to great effect that the themes of the books are an example of modern-day Stoicism. He develops this theory nicely in the first three chapters, while also touching on other themes and other critical analysis of the books. The fourth and fifth chapters tackle both the religious and social criticisms of the books. Kern exposes many flaws in arguments against the series. uses examples from the books along with intelligent commentary to reassure those who don't know what to make of the idea that the series corrupts readers or demonizes them somehow.
Kern shows that imagination is the key to this series greatness. While it may not present a perfect society, it is very real in many ways, and readers can relate to it. I recommend this book for any "Harry Potter" fan interested in a well-written defense of the series.
I hope this book is someday updated, because right now, it has only a brief analysis of "Phoenix" and, of course, nothing on "Prince."
Delightful & Intelligent for Adults who love Harry & Kids.......2005-05-21
Kern's easy-to-read, educated analysis allows us to relive the stories while seeing how they build confidence and self-understanding through Harry's choices, based on values rather than outside pressure. 50-some years old, left brained and typically interested in non-fiction, I started reading the Harry Potter books because I admired so that they made kids interested in reading. I believe reading is the key to a child's futures and I wanted to understand the motivation these books were giving young people. So far, I've loved 5 of the Potter books and the 6th one is on order. I also gave the Potter fever to my 74-year-old Dad and brother, a tough 34-year-old in prison who read and then passed them around to other inmates! He said, "Now I see why Mom loved to read." Then I found and read the Wisdom of Harry Potter by Edmund Kern, drawn by the great art on the cover, subtitle and Table of Contents - not to mention Kern's credentials and Introduction. The Wisdom of Harry Potter made me feel great for "choosing" to delve into Rowling's stories. Mr. Kern deserves 10 stars for sharing his brilliance so delightfully!
Should your child read Harry Potter? This book can help you........2004-10-31
I thouroughly enjoyed this book by Edmund Kern. He does a great job of encapsulating the morality of Harry Potter. Excellent use of resources and summarizing other books written on Harry Potter. The book is written in easy to read sections and is understandable to those who have not taken philosophy courses. Great for parents who enjoy the stories and want to explain to their children what moral decisions Harry must make and the morality of the decisions he does make. Though one hasn't had to have read the HP books before buying this one since Kern's book summaries of books 1-5 are excellent. This is a great starting point for any parent who has wondered, "Should my child read Harry Potter?"
A brilliant work.......2003-11-29
This is a wonderful work, well researched and fascinating...
An Excellent Resource.......2003-09-13
This book is the most carefully studied, in-depth look at Harry Potter that I've found. It not only discusses the books' morality, but relates it to Rowling's use of history, legend and myth. It is a must for Harry Potter fanatics, but if you haven't read them yet and still want to, save this one for last.
I would recommend it to anyone who prefers to read books with substance and without platitude. It's clear, concise style would make it a useful tool for any teacher whose students are reading the Harry Potter books. "The Wisdom of Harry Potter" has a wonderful way of showing how philosophy can be interwoven with literature.
Any parents who've had doubts about their children reading Harry Potter will find this an excellent resource. And I would go so far as to challenge any of those people who want to ban these books from their children's libraries to find fault with the logic of this book.
Customer Reviews:
Great Memory book.......2007-07-26
This beautifully made srapbook is a great way to preserve your family history. In the front it has some space for family pictures and then it gives you enough space to write down all vital information about your family.It even comes with a preprinted family tree poster where you can add pictures, frame it and put it on the wall.
Makes a great gift for any scrapbooking fan!
Family History Book.......2007-06-27
Beautiful well presented book - great for family historians, you can house all your information and your favourite photographs in one place. Unlike many other books of this style, the photograph frames in the book are not labelled, eg 'Paternal Great Grandmother' which is a problem if you don't have a picture of her, but this book allows you to use the photo templates as you see fit - an exquisite heirloom to be kept and admired for future generations. A very good buy.
Very Nice.......2000-05-13
This book is very nice. I especially like the Record book - the pictures in it are adorable. I wish there was more room for photographs though.
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