In the Waters of Time / Bette Lischke - Book Review

The intensity of In the Waters of Time lies in its exploration of the pathways taken by two women who live life in the same body, one, Elizabeth, who finds a meaningful existence in the arms of her lover, despite the grim surrounds of a Victorian workhouse, and the other, Jane, who flees her unfulfilling life in the modern-day corporate world to find a more personal sense of contentment in reshingling a friend’s home. Both of the characters have much in common, including a love for children, who are described in joyful detail, and their yearning to express themselves creatively. Elizabeth encourages the poverty-stricken and abused children in the workhouse to draw in colored chalk on the walls of their school room, while Jane finds an innate sense of accord in the world of interior decoration and design. No wonder, then, that one finds that the author of this metaphysical novel, Bette Lischke, is a well-known dowser and watercolorist who takes a keen interest in all things spiritual. Like Jane, she, too, has worked as an executive recruiter, and her own love for children is shown by the fact not only did she once work as a nanny, but also by her writing of numerous songs for children.

The Jungian influences on Lischke’s work are clear, in that the narrative is primarily focused on Jane, who lives in modern-day Portland, Maine, and who is able, first through dreams, and then by means of a steadily increasing emergence of her subconscious through her waking moments, to become ever more emotionally and spiritually in touch with what one assumes to be her previous life, as the initially socially constrained and duty-bound Elizabeth. As the flashbacks to her earlier existence become increasingly more powerful, Jane’s awareness of her own innermost conflicts in the present day develops in its intensity. By being open to her presence in this world on an earlier occasion, Jane is able to reconcile herself to the demands that are made on her in the present day.

In the Waters of Time is a genre-crossing (containing elements of history and mystery, as well as romance) and deeply sensitive portrayal of the role of women who wish to avoid the constrictions and restrictions that society has, for so long, sought to impose upon them. Lischke’s poetic use of imagery mirrors her depth of feeling, and anyone who appreciates the lyrical descriptiveness of the English language is bound to be sensitive to the nuances of this text. Do not expect the commonplace and mundane from In the Waters of Time, and you will not be disappointed. This novel is for all lovers of romance and the unexpected, who can appreciate sound character development and a well-written exposé of the human spirit as it travels through time.

The Lovers' Tango / Mark Rubinstein - Book Review

Smooth-flowing and fluid as silk,The Lovers’ Tango: A Novel (Thunder Lake Press; ISBN: 978-0-9856268-2-2) by Mark Rubinstein is a fast-paced read that one would dearly love to consume in a single sitting—the sensuality and suppleness of the text are ideally suited to the intimacy of the subject. In retrospect and through timely glimpses, the reader is invited to witness the attraction between the male lead, Bill Shaw, and his beguiling partner, in the dance of life that has now become one of death, in which Bill is ensnared as the most likely suspect.

Central to the core theme of the work is the image of the Argentinian tango, the nature of which is described in the Preface to the novel. The dramatic nature of the dance is a fitting symbol of the life and death struggle that occurs in the sick room, which is later painfully borne witness to in the courtroom. Elements of the dance have much in common with the unfolding drama of the novel. The fact that the tango was originally danced only by women foreshadows the close relationship between Bill Shaw and his lawyer, and longtime friend, Ben Abrams, who comes from a working-class background, as, too, does the dance. The thrust and parry of the courtroom brings to mind the head-snapping action that characterizes the South American dance. The exotic nature of the tango can be seen as being embodied in the sensuous Nora Reyes, with the riveting first encounter between the lovers, which is described early on in the novel, totally sweeping Bill off his feet.

The sensuality of the imagery (“Her skin appeared moist; I inhaled deeply, her essence filling my nostrils.”) draws the reader into the intensely lived moments between the lovers, but with the continuously present sense that they are living on borrowed time, as one is aware from the start that their love is doomed, with Nora ultimately succumbing to the depredations of MS (and perhaps to the willing hand of her ostensibly loving partner). Just as the romance of the tango liberated the poor from the squalor of the Buenos Aires slums, so, too, does the loving and erotic relationship between Bill and his wife lift them out of the mundane and banal to a transcendent state of ecstatic intimate union, albeit one that ultimately ends in her tragic demise.

The Lovers’ Tango: A Novel should intrigue a broad spectrum of readers across the genres of medical thriller, courtroom drama and romance. The characters are so well described and have such appeal that the novel should attract a wide range of adherents from young to old. Mark Rubinstein is a well-known author of both fiction and nonfiction, with an extensive background in medicine and psychotherapy, which enables him to give great depth to his writing. His work deserves to be prescribed for creative writing courses, as many a novice author could well benefit from acquiring his economy of style, coupled with his breadth of theme.

When Eagles Roar: The Amazing Journey of an African Wildlife Adventurer / James Alexander Currie, with Bonnie J. Fladung; Illustrated by Margo Gabrielle Damian - Book Review

Selected as "one of the best nature books of 2014" by The Guardian's science blogger, When Eagles Roar: The Amazing Journey of an African Wildlife Adventurer (Ukhozi Press;
ISBN-10: 0990766004; ISBN-13: 978-0990766001) is a memoir of James Currie’s experiences as a game ranger and birder in Africa, in which he tells of many a narrow escape from the jaws of death, whether they be those a puff adder that literally catches him with his pants down, or those of a lioness charging him while out birding.

Each chapter in When Eagles Roar is prefaced by a few lines of poetry from the renowned Zulu poet, Mazisi Kunene, whose literary goal was the retelling of African history in a way that he believed would make it relevant and authentic to the non-African.  In such a way does Currie, with the assistance of Bonnie Fladung, share the wonders of life in the bush (including a great deal more than just the Big Five) with those of us who have only limited awareness of what such a life entails.

Currie prides himself on his ability to tell stories well, which he certainly does. His acute awareness of both the dangers and the lyricism of the African bush comes alive in these pages, which are illustrated with many an artful line drawing by Margo Damian. The threats to which those living in Africa are subject not only come from the never-ending cycle of predator and prey, of which humans form an inevitable, and largely dominant, part, but also from the onslaught of one of the most deadly of modern-day scourges, AIDS. Currie’s solid bond with his trackers, who come from the local African communities, is made heartbreakingly real in his telling of how they and their families are affected by this dread disease. His ability to make close connections with them can, to a large extent, be attributed to his knowledge of their native isiZulu language. Although Currie does not dwell on politics, one is made aware of his opposition to the apartheid regime of yesteryear, which has left so much poverty in its wake, to which the country as a whole is still subject, in the form of its depredatory legacy.

This book is likely to have widespread appeal to both old and young, and should especially be made available to youngsters who are intent on choosing a worthwhile career path for themselves. However, those who are prurient of mind should be aware that they might find some of the wording in When Eagles Roar offensive, as this is a tale that does not pander to the euphemistically inclined, but which is rather one of nitty-gritty existence in the bush, despite much of it revolving around the trials and tribulations of a game ranger living on the five-star Phinda Game Reserve in the more rural areas of northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

In short, this memoir roars with the pulsating life of Africa, which, although under threat, nevertheless has a magic all of its own. The humanitarian nature of this work gives it a power that transcends the individual magnetism of the author, with it having a transcontinental appeal that should prove a true draw card worldwide not only among conservationists, but also among all those who are intrigued by other life forms that hopefully will continue to share our planet for eons yet to come. 

Unintelligent Humans…: Questions to Stimulate Your Soul / Richard A. Singer Jr. - Book Review

Singer describes his work, Unintelligent Humans…: Questions to Stimulate Your Soul (Author House;

ISBN 13: 978-1-4490-5623-0),  as a “little book of important questions” which are intended to open the reader’s mind and to allow the accessing of wisdom contained within one’s soul. He regards his brief guide as a tool by means of which to gain access to “that inner part of ourselves that contains infinite wisdom and divinity”. The book is divided into two sections, with the first (“Are You Living Intelligently?”) comparing our behavior to that of other living creatures, and the second (“Approaching Life’s Questions with an Open Mind: An Internal Quest”) containing essays providing insight into certain issues that, once resolved, may contribute to leading a more peaceful and meaningful life. As emerges from the personal interview conducted with the author by Sue Vegan of BookPleasures.com, with which the guide ends, Singer is a clinical psychologist, based in Grand Cayman, who holds with the teachings of Carl Rogers and Irvin Yalom.  

“Are You Living Intelligently?” consists of a series of questions, each of which is illustrated with a highly amusing cartoon featuring a wide array of animals, ranging from ants to whales. The two pivotal questions with which the section starts are “Are human beings really more intelligent and wise than all other living creatures? Are you?”. The questions reveal how unintelligent humans are in the way in which they act prejudicially and hurtfully towards one another, in contrast to the cooperation and understanding that prevails in the animal kingdom. By starting out in such a humorous way, Singer gains the empathy of his readership, so that one finds oneself opening up to the rest of what he has to say.

 In “Who is Your Soul Mate”, Singer offers six suggestions for embracing and nourishing your relationship with yourself and others, including “Practice mindfulness” and “Acknowledge impermanence”. In “What is Truth?”, Singer provides three steps by means of which one can get in touch with one’s own inner truth.  In “What are Your Core Beliefs?”, Singer reveals the eight core beliefs or principles that he utilizes as guidelines for the “How” and “Why” he lives, urging readers to adopt them as their own guideposts for daily living. In “Does Heartache Suck?”, Singer explores five specific actions that we can take to deal with emotional pain, based on his own direct experience and coming to grips with his own personal pain. In “How Important are Children?”, Singer describes some actions that you can take for honoring your own children, based on his experiences with his twin boys. In “Are Certain Human Beings Helpless”, Singer advises that one should “Never, Never, Never, Never give up on a human being”.

One of the most impressive aspects that I found about Unintelligent Humans was the way in which Singer was unafraid to reveal the nature of his own troubled past, as he has had to suffer through addiction, depression, anxiety and countless other difficulties. A key aspect of this work is that he has been able to recover from a position in which he was basically homeless, and estranged from his own family to where he is now, a practicing professional living in one of the most beautiful island groups on the planet. Clearly, he did not make this transition alone, but with the assistance of the spiritual guidance of a wide range of mystics, philosophers and spiritually enlightened leaders, from whose work he quotes widely. For those who are struggling to come to terms with the meaning of life and the importance of self-worth, Unintelligent Humans: Questions to Stimulate Your Soul is a must read. Brief it may be (consisting of only 60 pages), but the insights that it offers may well serve to revolutionize your life.        

Young Michelangelo: The Path to the Sistine / John T. Spike - Book Review

The biography Young Michelangelo: The Path to the Sistine (Vendome Press;

ISBN: 978-0-86565-166-8) covers the years in which Michelangelo was striving for public recognition of his artistic genius, so should be of interest not only to all those interested in Renaissance art, but also to all up and coming young professionals. In those days, prior to our current unprecedented levels of mass media hype, how did one gain widespread publicity and attain elevated levels of self-promotion? How, in brief, did one make a name for oneself? Starting by drawing over his master’s drawings so as to improve the latter and challenging the older students in the sculpture studio was not bound to win him any popularity with either his instructor, or with members of his peer group, though it did start Michelangelo on his way to greatness. In short, he was lacking neither in talent, nor in ambition, having much in common with many of our modern-day winners of “Idols”. After the initial rejection of some of his early work, most notably that of a Bacchus reeling from drink, he restores his own credibility by unleashing the virile David from a ruined block of marble. His obsession with the telling of his own story is also not unique to his time – how many aspirant hopefuls are not obsessed with the telling of their own tale? Underwriting Ascanio Condivi’s biography of his life, as well as two editions of Giorgio Vasari’s The Lives of the Artists, sounds all the more familiar in the modern age of ghost writing and vaunting by publicists of the greatness of artists’ work.

However, the truth will out, and that is exactly where John T. Spike’s biography excels. Through painstaking research and a determination to get to the bottom of things, he reveals the reality of both the life and times of the young Michelangelo. His writing exposes to us the vulnerability of the great man, as well as the fallacies and foibles of his age – a heady experience. Spike also does not stint on illustrations of Michelangelo’s work in this fascinating 312-page biography, containing 60 illustrations, many of which are in color. His 17-page bibliography attests to the extent of his research and to the depths of his insight into the life and early artistic emanations of this master of the Italian Renaissance. As critic, curator, and art historian, Dr. John T. Spike is eminently suited for the task of unraveling the intricacies of the past. With more than twenty culturally significant books on Renaissance, Baroque, and contemporary art to his name, and a career during which he has lectured at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Oxford, Spike has established himself as a leading expert in the field. Not only that, but he’s also a damn fine writer too, who will have you glued to the page from start to finish.

Labeled by Rosa King, author of Brunelleschi’s Dome and Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling as “one of our most astute and readable authorities on the Italian Renaissance…[who] approaches the artist through a compelling blend of solid scholarship, animated storytelling, and shrewd insight”, Spikes does merit to the artist and his work.  Young Michelangelo: The Path to the Sistine should be prescribed reading for all with an active interest in Renaissance art, whatever their level of knowledge and expertise on the subject.   

Life in the Hothouse: How a Living Planet Survives Climate Change / Melanie Lenart - Book Review

Award-winning ex-journalist turned academic, Melanie Lenart sets out in Life in the Hothouse: How a Living Planet Survives Climate Change (The University of Arizona Press; ISBN: 978-0-8165-2723-6) to see what lessons from the past, including from the two especially hot periods of the Cretaceous and the Eocene, can teach us about our present-day situation and about how we can prepare ourselves for our future on what promises to become an increasingly hot planet. Her intention is to show how we can work with the planet to limit some of the potentially disastrous impacts of global warming. Though she is convinced that life on Earth will survive, no matter what humans do to it, Lenart’s key concern is that many species and individuals might not.

True to her previous role as an investigative reporter, Lenart relates personal experiences of those affected by natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina. She includes quotes from interviews conducted with leading experts in the field, as well as excerpts from relevant e-mail exchanges. Her skill in expressing the most scientific and complex phenomena enables her to convey her message so clearly that even someone with only a very basic knowledge of how the planet functions will be able to understand what she has to say. No surprise, then, that Lenart also teaches environmental writing at the University of Arizona (check out her webpage on their site, which contains details of her schedule), as well as conducts workshops in her field. 

In this comprehensive and entertaining text, Lenart helps to bring contemporary thinking in America in line with the age-old thinking of the Native American people, citing many of the latter’s strongest voices. She shows her humane side as a scientist by revealing anecdotes of how her own life has been affected by climate change, whether it has meant cowering under an overturned couch during a hurricane or sweating profusely on an unexpectedly muggy July day.

Though she refers to leading bodies that are concerned with monitoring climate change, such as to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), she does not overwhelm one with countless names. After all, this is not an academic treatise, but rather a text that sets out to explore the implications of global warming for the average person. In straightforward, jargon-free prose, Lenart simply and objectively tells of life-threatening climate changes, such as that of rising winter temperatures in Alaska, which is leading to the need to relocate entire river-side towns.

By assuming that the average reader has sufficient intelligence to be able to understand the implications of what she has to say, Lenart establishes a certain rapport with her audience, which makes her arguments all the more convincing. She contextualizes the writings and work of those researchers to whom she refers, citing many popular articles than can be found in such magazines as Science and the New Scientist, which are widely available. Those who find that they wish to read further on the topics that she covers can, therefore, easily do so.

Life in the Hothouse does have some failings. The chapters could have been better signposted with subheadings, replacing the curlicues that currently are used between the subsections of each chapter. The text might appear daunting, as it contains no illustrations, which are always a powerful way of communicating any message, but specifically one that is scientific in nature. (Witness, for example, the transformation of the once print-dense National Geographic magazine over the years into a medium that is currently dominated by illustrations. In an age in which sound bites have become the desired mode of communication, it would be wise to follow their venerable example.)

I also found the index not to be as comprehensive as it should be. For example, it omits any reference to the Tribal Lands and Climate conferences and to the MIT, as well as to some of the researchers whose research is briefly described in the body of the text.

However, overall this work is highly relevant, especially given the chaos that can occur due to the onset of unanticipated and unprecedented climate-related events. Witness the five-day grounding of all air traffic throughout Europe that occurred in April 2010, due to the clouds of volcanic ash spewing from a volcano that erupted under one of Iceland’s larger glaciers. The publication of Life in the Hothouse could not have been timelier.

Almanac: Poems / Austin Smith - Book Review

As we all know, the best of poetry transcends the immediate to become universal in its scope, not only of its imagery, but also of its essential poetic spirit. Such universality can be found in Austin Smith’s debut collection of poems, entitled Almanac: Poems (Princeton University Press; ISBN-13: 978-0-691-15919-5). Though grounded in the earthy, rugged landscape of the rural Midwest, in keeping with the poetic instincts of his own father, Smith reaches out to the communal human spirit that has so much to do with the mutual sharing of experiences that are united across both time and space.

Smith’s narrative poetry has a power and a cogency that not only leads the reader along the path of everyday life on a northwestern Illinois dairy farm, but which also empowers, while, at times, fringing on the nostalgic. The poignancy of personal revelation and recall shared with others comes across strongly, for instance, in “The Key in the Stone”, with Grandma Mary “staring out the window with such immense / longing at the snow falling into the lake”.

The virility of the farming landscape can be seen in such poems as “The Silo,” with the immediacy of childhood fears and traumas centering on “a great hook” from which slaughtered game was hung. The ghastliness, and yet, obversely, the sanctity, of it all is rivetingly conveyed in the final lines of the poem: “I found tracks / where deer had stepped gingerly / around this blighted ring like children / who knew not to walk on graves.” That Smith’s background was not pure farm boy is evocatively conveyed through his comparison of the ritualistic hanging of the lifeless and despoiled carcass to Mark Antony’s hoisting aloft of the “blood-stained wax effigy” of the once mighty Caesar “so the crowd could see / his twenty-three wounds and believe him / dead”.

Smith’s close familiarity with the everyday tragedies of our human existence is recorded in diction that is readily accessible to the average reader, but which has a depth that is capable of resounding through the hearts and souls of his audience, facilitating their response, even if they come from an essentially non-poetic background. When river waters flood through people’s homes, leaving devastation in their wake, he personifies such an elemental force, piling images of this intrusive behemoth one upon the other, so that one comes to feel that one’s own self is ravaged by the irresistible power and momentum of the catastrophe: “that it had thumbed through the diaries of their daughters, / that it had drunk all the liquor and replaced it with sand, / that it had put on the women’s clothes like a cross-dresser”.

For any reader who is sensitive to the nuances of the changing rural landscape, Smith’s Almanac: Poems should not only help you relive half-buried memories, but also help to rouse you to greater awareness of your present surroundings. Smith’s work is well worth investing in, so do consider acquiring yourself a copy—he is clearly a modern-day poet who deserves your attention. 

Making Your Wisdom Come Alive: A Guide to the Source of Your Wisdom and Joy / Michael Gluckman - Book Review

Making Your Wisdom Come Alive: A Guide to the Source of Your Wisdom and Joy (Light Up Your Life; ISBN: 978-1-4507-2240-7) is divided into two sections. The first, which deals with self-discovery, mainly consists of a series of questions and answers, relating to where you can find happiness (the answer, unsurprisingly, is “inside”), how you can turn suffering into freedom, exploring your own self-nature, and how to recognize and question assumptions. In the second section of the work, Gluckman, with the aid of quotes from a range of sages who lived at different times in different places and cultures, shows how wisdom is reasonable and experiential. In order to encourage the reader to meditate, Gluckman suggests that we read just a little of this section each day, and attempt to come to an understanding of the true significance of the words for our lives. In this way, we should come to grow in our awareness of our own being and happiness.

 

Starting with an introduction to the Buddhist Masters, who specialize in telling stories, Gluckman proposes that we begin our meditation with self-discovery and not with self-purification. In this respect, he covers the Sutra of Hui Neng; Bankei, The Unborn, which deals with the life and teachings of Zen Master Bankei; the Shurangama Sutra; the Sutra of Flawless Purity; the Zen teachings of Huang Po; and an excerpt from Milarepa, The Song of a Yogi’s Joy. In order that we might approach our essence more closely, Gluckman then takes us through excerpts from the following Hindu masters: Shankara; Nisargadatta Maharaj; Kabir; and Anandamayi Ma. Before exploring aspects of Sufi wisdom, Gluckman provides some quotes from Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu. He then rounds off this section with excerpts from the Christian masters, for which he provides a few guidelines on how to unravel their meaning. Gluckman ends his work with supportive words of inspiration that serve to reinforce the message that he has conveyed throughout the book.

 

Illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs of the sages and their works, Making Your Wisdom Come Alive should be a worthwhile investment for anyone who is interested in exploring their full potential as a loving and caring creature of God, no matter who he or she is conceived to be. Ultimately, the true answer lies in self, to which one can only have access if one is prepared to put a great deal of effort into the exercise. As a starting point for those who are interested in exploring their innermost being, the work is an ideal launch pad to growing self-awareness.

How Dare You Say How Dare Me! / Pat Cooper; as told to Rich Herschlag and Steve Garrin

Pat Cooper’s sensitivity and insightfulness shine out from behind his ostensibly brash and offensive style in this memoir of six decades and more in show business. As he says, “When I’m standing in front of a microphone, I may seem angry, but I’m not in a hate mode. I’m angry because of the sadness. There’s so much of it, and most of it is what we do to each other. When I’m ranting and raving up there, I’m releasing sadness. I’m saying that if we talk about it—or yell about it—maybe we can turn that sadness into laughter.”

 

Just as with the great Lenny Bruce, Pat Cooper’s presentation may initially strike one as acerbic and overly in your face, but Cooper has strength and vision that go far beyond his rapid-fire answers and his smart aleck “Don’t try to put me down, ’cos I’ll put you down first.” His snappy rejoinders are legendary, and, yes, he doesn’t hide the uglier side of show business. But he’s no whiner, and fights back to his last monosyllable. Guts? Cooper has plenty of them, and they sometimes do spill. But he’s also a survivor, and I admire him greatly.

 

In How Dare You Say How Dare Me! (Square One Publishers; ISBN: 978-0-7570-0363-9), Cooper shares both the ups and downs of being an Italian comedian in a profession in which he was often thought to be Jewish. Having to mask his identity with a name change from Pasquale Caputo was one of the least of his problems. Surviving life surrounded by the Mafiosi seems sometimes to have been a greater challenge, not that many such were not close to him—the family connections come with the territory! His memoir reads a bit like a Who’s Who of Show Business since the mid-20th century: Tony Martin, George Burns, Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett, Anthony Quinn and Robert De Niro being but some of those with whom he worked.

 

The great Jerry Lewis, in his brief foreword to this raconteur’s dream of an autobiography, sums up Cooper’s talent in the following words: “he has this fantastic capacity to challenge the art form [of comedy], and has done so with an exquisite approach to the human condition.” What makes this memoir stand out, though, is its raw honesty. Cooper never minces his words and sure ain’t no patsy, although, on occasion, his kindness and generosity have been taken advantage of. For those who aren’t shy of reading a gut-wrenching biography that pulls none of its punches, try How Dare You Say How Dare Me! Believe me, you won’t be sorry.   

Christian Encounters: Winston Churchill / John Perry - Book Review

Based largely on Winston Churchill’s own writings, Christian Perspectives: Winston Churchill (Thomas Nelson; 

ISBN: 978-1-59555-306-5) describes Churchill’s life and times from a Christian perspective. Ranging from what appeared, to all intents and purposes, to have been his premature birth, though many doubts have been raised in that regard, to the posthumous summation of her father’s outlook on life by Churchill’s younger daughter, Mary, Lady Soames, the biography relates the most significant moments of his political career, as well as of his home life and religious convictions (despite his overt lack thereof). 

Though born into an aristocratic setting, emotionally Churchill was neglected by his parents as a child. Asserting himself against such odds, he came to lead Britain through the most devastating onslaught that that nation has had to experience in modern times. Overcoming a speech impediment and a scholastically faltering career, his oratory was responsible for buoying the spirit of a people who refused to give in, even when all the odds seemed to be against them. Although Churchill often insisted that he did not believe in God, he often called upon Him in times of crisis. His persistence and moral rectitude, even when at odds with his own people, the British nation, won him widely given respect. Churchill’s devotion to his nation even limited the time that he spent on publicly grieving the death of his own daughter, Marigold. Despite being ill towards the latter end of his life, he persisted in his role as prime minister until he was voted out of office at the end of the Second World War.

Christian Encounters: Winston Churchill reveals the emotions and thoughts of one of the greatest heroes of all time. Perry’s biography is informative and accessible, providing much food for thought. His text contains many quotations and excerpts from writings both on, and by, Winston Churchill. Perry’s insight into Churchill’s approach to Christianity is striking, ranging from his perception that his reading and analyzing the works of such great historians as Edward Gibbon, Thomas Macaulay, Blaise Pascal and Charles Darwin must have prompted him to ask himself probing questions about religion, to Perry’s consideration of the assertion made by Winston’s younger daughter that he considered himself to be a Christian.

In addition to extensive notes on all the chapters, the biography ends in a two-page bibliography, including references to the works of many other of Churchill’s biographers, including Martin Gilbert and John Lukacs. A Reading Group Guide to Christian Encounters: Winston Churchill is also available at http://www.thomasnelson.com/rgg.

John Perry has also published biographies of Charles Colson, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, and Sgt. York.

Don’t Change the Channel: Make the World a Better Place / Jenn Snyder & Betsy Thorpe - Book Review

This ennobling text was written, according to its author, Jenn Snyder, “to help inspire people to seize moments in their lives to help others. In one moment, you can change someone’s life forever. In one moment, you can change the world.” Don’t Change the Channel : Make the World a Better Place (Foot Soldier Publishing; ISBN: 978-0-9830782-03-3) tells of how Snyder had an epiphany watching CNN coverage of how a two-and-a-half-year-old boy, Blake, was found by his grandmother alone in his house after the disappearance of his pregnant mother. When the news conference revealed that his mother’s body had been found, and that her boyfriend, Blake’s father, was being charged with double murder, she felt compelled to spring into action. As she describes it, Snyder “heard the call, felt the conviction and that there was no turning away. There was no going back to my busy life without making an attempt to alleviate some of this family’s suffering.”

 

Based on such an outpouring of empathy rose Snyder’s commitment to the cause of Don’t Change the Channel, which is a movement for promoting awareness of the importance of engaging in community-enhancing projects for every age, from pre-school through retirement. Snyder has clearly felt the call not only to become involved in social upliftment projects on a personal level, but also to help inspire others to respond to needs that are so evident in our society today. Part of her response has involved the writing of this book. Don’t Change the Channel is a clarion call to those of us who have, up until now, felt the occasional twinge of conscience that we are not doing enough for our communities, but who, until now, have put off such feelings by telling ourselves that we are just far too busy to do anything more.

 

Most of us really have to be honest with ourselves and admit that if we sacrificed some of the time that we spend watching TV or participating in some other form of leisure activity could be spent on helping others, which does, after all, ultimately help us as well. The reduced levels of anxiety and the boosted sense of self-esteem that almost inevitably result  from showing that we care for people other than our nearest and dearest, which also makes our own lives much more meaningful, are rewards in themselves. One of the most inspiring aspects of this work is that Snyder points out, most cogently, that you are never either too old nor too young to impact positively on those around you.

 

Don’t Change the Channel is clearly written and powerfully presented, illustrated with real-life anecdotes and black-and-white photos of people’s involvement in a range of programs and activities. The chapters are carefully signposted throughout with helpful headings and short excerpts from the text given in bold. Snyder ends the work with a list of online resources for each of the chapters concerned. This work is ideal as a starting-point for those of us who feel that we really could do more, if only we knew how.  You could make a start by reading her pointers on “5 things you can do today” that she includes with each chapter. Come on, now, you really have no more excuses…   

Guide to France for History Travellers / Bob Fowke - Book Review

Wish to obtain insight into the history of France sans the tedium of wading through the copious minutiae of detailed tomes that provide you with way too many dates, let alone barely pronounceable names of people and places? Bob Fowke, in his latest ebook in the series Guides for History Travellers, may just fulfil your desire. Guide to France for History Travellers (YouCaxton Publications; ASIN: B008657Y64) provides a painless introduction to the history of this grand and imposing country in just 141 pages. With a style that disguises erudition with a lively and raconteurish approach, he supplies the reader with an overview of the illustrious nation’s history that has its first traces back in 90,000BC, up until the time of its latest bling-bling Nicholas Sarkozy (bringing the scandalous overconsumption of the French court, which is notorious for the overindulgence practised by such royals as the Sun King and Louis XVI, right up to date).

Fowke’s lighthearted approach to centuries of history enables him to convey a great deal of information without leaving his audience feeling drained of any wish to hear more. In fact, he whets the appetite, so that one tends to yearn for added details. The author has been criticised for not citing his sources, but he clearly did not wish to weigh down the smooth flow of his text with unnecessary allusions that might merely have served to alienate some of his audience. Fowke has journalistic-type banter down to a fine art, as befits a columnist for the Guardian Online. His clear intention of writing with the tourist in mind is borne across by the subtitle to this book: “The perfect travel guide and rough history for tourists who like their guides and histories short and entertaining, with travel tips on places of interest.”

In addition to the narrative text, Fowke includes guide tips for the different regions of France that are of particular relevance to the tale that he tells. He includes not only numerous amusing line drawings, but also outline maps of the areas concerned. For each section of the text, Fowke provides travel guide timelines for the period covered. Appended are a list of the rulers of France, divided up into their respective dynasties (Merovingians, Carolingians, etc.), and a list of important dates, stretching from prehistoric times up to 2002, when the Euro replaced the franc.

Bob Fowke, renowned author and illustrator, is surprisingly modest and unassuming, considering his prolific output of over sixty largely science and history books, the majority of which have been published by leading British publishers. He is also amazingly versatile, as, in addition to the previously mentioned accomplishments, he is also an entrepreneur with a keen interest in the cause of those who wish to become self-published, having started up the YouCaxton venture a year ago in order to assist fellow writers with preparing their books for self-publication.  

The Irresistible Fairy Tale: The Cultural and Social History of a Genre / Jack Zipes - Book Review

In Kenn Bannerman’s interview with Professor Jack Zipes, a professor emeritus of German and comparative literature at the University of Minnesota and the author, translator and editor of dozens of studies and collections of folk and fairy tales, the latter shared his attitude towards fairy tales, stating that “I think I am very knowledgeable about fairy tales. I think I have a deep interest in fairy tales and I may even be obsessed by them. I feel driven to uncover tales that few people know and to share this knowledge and pleasure with other readers.”

In his latest book, The Irresistible Fairy Tale: The Cultural and Social History of a Genre (Princeton University Press; ISBN-13: 978-0-691-15338-4), Zipes asserts the oral origins of fairy tales, and, drawing from the fields of, among others, cognitive science, evolutionary theory, anthropology, psychology and literary theory, he sets about expanding on his own approach to the genre, as well as exploring new research by such renowned scholars as Michael Tomasello, Michael Trout and Kate Distin. How and why tales were told and came to form the basis of culture is explained in terms of his own understanding of the evolution of the genre. After exploring the French school of fairy tale writing that emerged in the late 17th century, Zipes focuses on Catherine Breillat’s reinterpretation of Perrault’s Bluebeard, followed by a discussion of tales about witches such as Baba Yaga. The focus on the female is continued in an unveiling of 19th century folk and fairy tales told, collected, and written by women, which leads into a discussion of the role played by great collectors of folk tales in the 19th century. Zipes then rounds out his latest research into the genre of fairy tales by showing how such tales have now crossed over into other forms of artwork, including drawings, paintings, sculptures and photographs.

In showing how and why fairy tales have become a core part of our central being, Zipes reveals his extensive scholarship in the field, as well as his skill in expounding profoundly about his key interests and concerns relating to the fairy tale genre. This scholarly masterpiece, which has emerged from decades of thought on the subject, deserves a place in all literary collections, as well as consideration by all those concerned with this particular genre.

Why Did God Give Us Emotions?: A Biblical Perspective on What Science Has Discovered about Emotions / Reneau Peurifoy - Book Review

Why Did God Give Us Emotions? A Biblical Perspective on What Science Has Discovered about Emotions (Lifeskills Publications; ISBN-13: 978-0-929437-16-3. ISBN-10: 0-929437-16-0) is most definitely not an overnight read, but rather a spiritual workbook that requires effort and insight – after all, you can’t expect an epiphany in the form of instant gratification, can you? The most outstanding characteristic of this book is its clarity. The author, Reneau Puerifoy, uses an allegory of how six blind men “see” an elephant as being a completely different object, depending on which part of its body they each feel:  a leg; its tail; its trunk; its ear; its side; and a tusk. From what they feel, they, in turn, perceive the elephant as a pillar; a rope; the thick branch of a tree; a big fan; a huge wall; and a spear. In short. They all get it wrong.

So, too, are we likely not to be able to understand ourselves and our own emotions if we focus on only one aspect of our being. Peurifoy considers our subjective, physical, mental and spiritual emotions, in terms of how they relate to our entire being, as well as how they relate to one another. A thoroughly God-centered work, this guide to emotional well-being guides you step-by-step through the healing process. And this is where your work comes in. Rejecting the role of the reader as passive bystander, Reneau asks of us that we unpack our emotions as we go, in the form of a journal. By doing so, he helps us to relate his sound advice, gleaned from many years as a practicing Christian marriage and family therapist specializing in anxiety disorders, to how we perceive the world (and, oh boy, can we sometimes see it in strange ways – see the analogy above!). He also provides suggestions on how to find a good church, how to develop a regular prayer life, and how to seek help when you really need it. For all the chapters, Peurifoy also gives several small group discussion questions, so that you can transform your personal encounter with his text into a small group therapeutic setting.

Packed with biblical references and checklists, Why Did God Give Us Emotions? stimulates us to grow, not only inwardly, but also in the relationships that we have with others around us. If you feel emotionally troubled and would love to undergo a spiritual facelift, why not buy a copy of Why Did God Give Us Emotions? It’s the equivalent of hours of therapy (and who among us can afford to pay for other forms of face-to-face counseling these days?).

Guide to Spain for History Travellers / Bob Fowke - Book Review

Turning his talents from writing numerous well-received history and science books for children, Bob Fowke has once again come up with a real treasure – this time with the international traveller in mind. Adding to the three other books in the series of Guides for History Travellers (with the previous destinations being France, Turkey and Greece), Fowke has now turned his attention to a land that is regarded by some as austere, and by others as bathed in blood of both the human and bovine kind, namely Spain. But don’t expect an overly portentous or sombre work – far from it, in fact, as Guide to Spain for History Travellers (YouCaxton Publishing; ASIN: B007NZLV3U) is a rollicking overview of the history of that much troubled and wartorn (historically speaking) land, geared towards the traveller who seeks relief in transit from those dreaded intercontinental flights. This relatively short, but clearly well-researched, book should provide you with ample thought, while tickling your funny bone all the way there.

A very far cry from dull academic treatises, Guide to Spain for History Travellers takes you from the huntsman (or woman, as Fowke takes care to point out) of Altamira all the way through to the last unsuccessful attempt made at a coup that “diehard supporters of the old Francoist regime” launched in February 1981, rounding it all off with a helpful timeline and list of rulers, together with their dates. In addition to highlighting the most important aspects of Spanish history over the centuries, which Fowke presents in narrative sequence, the chapters contain numerous maps and line drawings that reflect not only Fowke’s multisided talents, but also his warm and highly accessible sense of good humor. He titillates our desire to venture into the unknown, while refraining from boring us with a plethora of detail, but yet having the foresight to provide us with helpful guide tips along the way.

Clearly keeping his target audience in mind, Fowke makes what might be a daunting task of trying to come to terms with another culture into a great deal of fun. For instance, after exploring the etymology of the country’s name (which he attributes to the Carthaginians’ sharp-eyed observation that the peninsula was overrun with rabbits, which they called “sphan”), he saucily adds “not to say that ‘Spanish’ means ‘rabbit like.’ That would be unfair to one of the world’s great languages.” Definitely one for fair play (as well as for a tongue in the cheek), Fowke gives us much to think about inGuide to Spain for History Travellers – that is, when you can take a break from rolling around in the aisle laughing.

Cat Sayings: Wit & Wisdom from the Whiskered Ones / Bradford G. Wheler (Compiler) - Book Review

If you love, admire and respect cats, which, all cat-lovers would be prone to admit, is only their due, then an excellent way of paying them the most appropriate homage would be to acquire a copy of Bradford G. Wheler’s composite of fine written and visual images:Cat Sayings: Wit & Wisdom from the Whiskered Ones (BookCollaborative.com; ISBN-13: 978-0-9822538-4-2). Having already gained experience of how best to present a finely illustrated collection of wide-ranging quotations on animals that he, and countless others, love, in his two works Horse Sayings: Wit & Wisdom Straight from the Horse’s Mouth and Dog Sayings: Wit & Wisdom from Man’s Best Friend, Wheler was clearly in his element when compiling this work.

Despite his slightly anthropomorphic titles, his inherent appreciation of fine writing and fine art place Wheler in an ideal position to share with his animal-loving audience not only words of wisdom from the past, but also an array of artworks from around the world, ranging from Paris, France and Germany to New Zealand and South Africa. The art media used to portay this most sinuous and graceful of beasts, both domesticated and wild, are just as varied as are the multiple sources from which Wheler draws his quotations, describing in rhetorical finery the quirkiest and quaintest of this most unique and exceptional animal. For anyone who is keen on wildlife photography, there are some fine examples of the feline race that are presented in full color, of which some of the most remarkable are by the avid traveler and explorer, Roland Anderson, for whom the rich savagery of the African plains resounds in noble contrast to its verdant background. Oils, watercolors and ceramic art are just some of the other media that are illustrated in this eclectic mix. Wheler provides very handy short biographies on all the artists, containing their contact details, so, if you like their work, you can easily access more of it. The quotations themselves are from a wide range of authors, stretching from Alexander the Great right up to such authors of the modern day as Jim Davis and Tony Ross.

Ideal for both a juvenile and an adult audience, Cat Sayings: Wit & Wisdom from the Whiskered Ones should bring a great deal of pleasure and might inspire some deeply probing thought about not only the feline race, but also about our relationship with such a delightfully eccentric and idiosyncratic animal of note. 

Arctic Voices: Resistance at the Tipping Point / Subhankar Banerjee - Book Review

Arctic Voices: Resistance at the Tipping Point (Seven Stories Press; ISBN-13: 978-1-60980-385-8) is a wake-up call to the dire threats facing the Arctic due to the exploitation of the area’s natural resources. As the world-renowned environmentalist, Subhankar Banerjee, states in his introduction to this lengthy tome: “through [the over 30] stories, in this volume…we talk about big animals, big migrations, big hunting, big land, big rivers, big ocean, and big sky; and also about the big coal, big oil, big warming, big spills, big pollution, big legislations, and big lawsuits. And we talk about small things, too…”. It comes as no surprise that Banerjee, who specifically became a US citizen so that he could have a legitimate say regarding conservation issues in the US, has focused this volume largely on Arctic Alaska, although the developing problems and risks described have bearing on the whole of the Arctic, as, indeed, they have on the rest of the world. Other areas in the Arctic that are specifically covered are the Nunavut, Northwell and Yukon Territories in the Canadian Arctic, as well as Siberia, Greenland, Svalband, and Iceland. The text is supplemented by two full-color photo inserts, containing drawings as well as photos, portraying the beauty of this magnificent landscape that was left untarnished by humankind for so many centuries prior to the depredations brought by modern exploitative practices, which are also pictured here.

Arctic Voices: Resistance at the Tipping Point, therefore, reflects, in all its somberness, the seriousness of the situation on a global scale, with all its potentially devastating impact relating to both pollution and climate change. But yet there is joy in this work, too, as the native inhabitants of these lands recount their experiences at firsthand of living harmoniously with the wildlife that peopled these vast expanses of ice long before any human set foot there. Telling the story of both the people and the organisations that are set on protecting this natural wilderness from commercial greed, Arctic Voices exhibits the strength that lies at the core of humankind when the major motivation of our behavior is not mere lust for power and avariciousness.

Indeed, it is the wish of Banerjee that the power of the voices that fill this volume should not only resonate across the miles of physical space involved, but also across the intellectual caverns that so often exist at corporate level. If strength lies in numbers, the wide-ranging nature of the multiplicity of contributors to the volume should be capable of arousing a global consciousness and awareness that there is still sufficient energy and will to activate the policymakers and the governments involved (and who among us is not) to contribute to the sustainable evolution of this planet, before nature itself rebels, and the very continued existence of mankind itself is threatened. The spirit of this work is exemplary in its brave commitment to maintaining the rightful balance on this Earth of ours—let us all learn, and be moved, by it.

What W. H. Auden Can Do for You / Alexander McCall Smith - Book Review

Sheer delight in the written and spoken word beams forth from Alexander McCall Smith’s overview of the life of the one of the greatest 20th century poets, the Anglo-American poet, W. H. Auden, and his work in What W.H. Auden Can Do for You (Princeton University Press; ISBN-13: 978-0-691-14473-3). The fluency and vigor of McCall Smith’s writing gives a strength and momentum to the text that encourages one to read the whole book through without pause. The accessible way in which the author introduces even some of the most complex topics that are covered in Auden’s poetry makes this a gem for non-academics and scholars alike.

The relatively informal nature of McCall Smith’s descriptions of the great poet is to be expected if one considers what other earthy, and yet ethically well grounded, texts the author has produced over the years, including his No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and his Isabel Dalhousie series. Unlike with his fictional writings, and no doubt partly because of Auden’s homosexual leanings, the work tends to be male dominated throughout. In contrast to the rapidity of relationship turnover that is thought by some to characterise the male gay lifestyle, Auden’s respect for the longevity of true friendship comes across strongly, in McCall Smith’s revelation of the nature of Auden’s close and long-lasting relationships with both Christopher Isherwood and Louis MacNeice. Indeed, McCall Smith appears as loyal in his devotion to the work of Auden as Auden was to his own close group of fellow writers and poets. Not that Auden’s association with the so-called literary elite of the day in any way sequestered him from the company of his fellow man, upon which he thrived—his compassion and empathy for others sounds loudly throughout his work, as it does throughout the work of McCall Smith. In short, if you already appreciate the work of either of these writers, What W. H. Auden Can Do for You is, most eminently, the book for you.

The lilting nature of What W. H. Auden Can Do for You radiates the sincere and well-intentioned approach that McCall Smith takes in all his work, fictional and otherwise. Remembering Auden’s contribution to his own formation of self provides invaluable insights into both writers’ work, with the former being remembered with a sense of gentle humor and quiet pathos that clearly resonates throughout McCall Smith’s work as well. Clearly, this is a most worthy addition to the Writers on Writers series so lovingly produced by Princeton University Press. And be aware that there is no buddy-buddy system in place here, the absence of which can be seen in McCall Smith’s exploration of some of Auden’s key poems, including “Spain” (which he describes as “[a]t one level…not much more than a piece of political propaganda”) and “In Memory of Sigmund Freud” (in relation to which he emphasises Auden’s fallacy, by stating “He said that poetry had nothing to teach us, but he was wrong about that…”). McCall Smith is also not afraid to criticise the occasional non-sense of Auden’s wording, showing that the latter was, at times, so fond of the lyricism of his writing that he surrendered the importance of meaning to the seductiveness of sound, as he explains in some depth in relation to a poem appearing in Letters from Iceland (to which he refers as “one of Auden’s oddest books”).

From the Sahara to the Samarkand: Selected travel writings of Rosita Forbes, 1919—1937 / Rosita Forbes (edited with an introduction by Margaret Bald) - Book Review

In From the Sahara to the Samarkand: Selected travel writings of Rosita Forbes, 1919—1937 (Axios Press; ISBN: 978-1-60419-030-4), it is somewhat ironical that Rosita Forbes is proudly and reproachfully informed by a daughter of the Hadramauti in Madi, that “I was born in this room [of the harem] and I have never left it! Women should be taken care of and given all that they can desire, but of what use is freedom?” Forbes was the archetypal adventurer in an age in which followers of the suffragette movement were still having militantly to assert their rights to female emancipation. 

Often taking on the guise of a local or Muslim woman, she traveled extensively through Arabic/Islamic lands stretching from the legendary lost city of Kufara in the Sahara to Samarkand, the capital of Tamerlane in Central Asia. From the Sahara to Samarkand: Selected Travel Writings of Rosita Forbes, 1919–1937 also includes some of her travel writings from Java and Sumatra, as well as China. Her incredible courage, with her apparent implacability in the face of often daunting odds, including horrendous weather conditions and what often threatened to be the insurmountable curiosity, if not the blatant animosity, of the locals among whom she traveled has one spellbound from start to finish of this remarkable anthology.

Forbes’ writing is remarkably fluent for the era in which she wrote, with the major difference from that of contemporary writing being the exceptional length of her sentences, which, however, in no way obscures the clarity of her meaning and the vividness of her descriptions. The sumptuousness of the settings into which she so often interjected herself evokes the exotic nature of her surrounds so lusciously that one can often imagine oneself immersed in a painting depicting the utmost luxury of finery and fabric. Her complete lack of pretentiousness is clearly evident in the way in which she occasionally admits being at a loss for the right word in one of the many languages which she mastered in her way across those areas of the world into which few women, at that stage in or history, were willing to venture. She also avoids name-dropping to such a degree that she puts other writers to shame, and is quite up to poking quiet fun at those westerners who were more biased in their colonial outlook on those races over whom they arrogantly thought that they reigned supreme at the time. One example of such is her encounter with Colonel Lawrence when she was dressed in traditional garb, who, being unaware that she was a Briton, stated to a companion that, despite her pleasing appearance, she was probably diseased, as were many tribal women.

The text is supplemented by a photographic album of a range of well-produced black-and-white photographs depicting Rosita Forbes and some of the vast array of characters whom she encountered on her travels, in settings ranging from that of a gate of Angkor-Thom in Cambodia to outside Buckingham Palace, after an audience with the royal couple in 1921. 

An inspiring volume for modern-day travelers, whether of the armchair variety or of the more adventurous kind, this book is not to be missed. If you have a yen to explore foreign lands in a way that is hard to come by these days, do read these travel writings of a most remarkable woman, who was able to approach other cultures with an openness that is exceptional even for the modern day. She is a lesson to all of us who think that whatever is foreign to us is inevitably inferior. 

Practice Safe Stress: A Guide to Using Your Inner Sense of Humor to Minimize Day-to-Day Stress / Barry Roberts - Book Review

Practice Safe Stress: A Guide to Using Your Inner Sense of Humor to Minimize Day-to-Day Stress (H.A.H.A Associates; ISBN: 0-9700246-1-4) is unremittingly positive in its outlook. How else can one regard a work that treats “LIFE” as an acronym for Laughter, Introspection, Five minute fun fling and Energy, enthusiasm and enjoyment? Trust a motivational speaker and trainer, who also happens to be President of the H.A.H.A. Association, to be able to convey in a sensible, down-to-earth style the basics of how to overcome life’s hurdles with spunk, spirit and plenty of sass!

Above all, Roberts is keen on imparting the numerous techniques that he has developed over the years for not only coping with, but indeed for reveling in, stress. After exploring the value of humor in minimizing the negative impact of those stressors that we encounter in our daily lives, he describes several well established techniques for stress relief, including those of visualization and imagery, as well as journaling.  Seeing productivity and creativity as two of the major benefits to be gained from using our sense of humor, Roberts advocates the use of such humor in the workplace to boost levels of productivity, job satisfaction, morale and employee loyalty.

Part two of Practice Safe Stress provides more than 210 possible Five Minute Fun Flings, which is Roberts’ term for brief time outs, for introducing humor into your day. Though some such suggestions relate directly to those in an office environment (such as ‘Create new, fictitious job titles for people at work’ – a good one that, especially when you wish to bring your seniors down a notch or two!), others, if you wish to retain your gainful employment, would be better off practiced at home (one such is ‘Turn on your favorite music and dance like mad’). What I also find pleasing about this light-hearted self-help manual is that Roberts acknowledges the contributions that others have made to it. (The latter contribution, for example, came from Patty of Anduska in New Jersey.) His recommendations for fun flings are illustrated with several humorous drawings, which help to bring the pages to life.

Roberts’ approach is well illustrated throughout with examples of situations in which he has successfully been able to defuse tension. Who amongst us, for example, has not at some stage been involved in some form of automobile accident? Roberts shows how, even when many of us might stand there cursing (or, at least, muttering to ourselves), by cracking a joke at what most of us would consider to be the most inopportune of times, one gains the necessary breathing space that allows one to place the incident in perspective – far better than having a flaming row in peak hour traffic!

In brief, Roberts lays all his cards on the table, being unafraid to reveal personal encounters with difficulties. Practice Safe Stress is highly recommended for all those who sometimes feel overwhelmed by the plethora of urban mishaps that threaten to infringe on one’s sense of individuality, let alone to undermine one’s very sanity, in the rush and scurry of today’s cosmopolitan lifestyle.

Hitchhike the World. Book I: America, Europe, Africa / William A. Stoever - Book Review

Hitchhiking is not the ideal means of transport for many, but when you are young and intrepid, it is a way of gaining self-confidence, as long as you approach it sensibly and clearheadedly. As Stoever points out in Hitchhike the World. Book I: America, Europe, Africa (CreateSpace; ISBN-13: 9781461173977), “most people couldn’t adjust to the uncertainties and discomforts I experienced. I’m tremendously glad to have done the things I did, but they wouldn’t be right for most people.”

What Stoever did was to travel through 86 countries by the time that he was thirty, and, since then, to have visited 21 more. During his 20’s, he got around mainly by hitchhiking, on a strictly limited budget, staying at some of the cheapest accommodation available. In the two volumes of Hitchhike the World, Stoever relates how, in order to master “the excitement of going new places, seeing new things, having new experiences” he took to the road, first in the U.S., and then later in Mexico, Europe, and Africa (descibed in Book I), followed by in the Middle East and Asia (described in Book II). On the way, he came to learn a great deal about himself, about his fellow travelers (including many an apostolic Bible-thumping missionary, as well as some fairly risque mavericks), and about the places through which he traveled. This he regales his readers with at some length, recounting verbatim many of the conversations that he had with those who gave him lifts, as well as with those he met at the numerous stopovers where he stayed.In addition to the multiple instances of dialogue, with some pleasant, and some not so pleasant, people whom he met along the way, he conveys a great deal of advice to youngsters on how to handle different situations that they might encounter if they decide to make use of this form of transportation. The topics covered most notably include toilets, dangers, photography (the only part of Book I that contains several photos is that on East Africa, although Stoever does provide rudimentary maps, on which all his journeys described are traced), meals, prices, and weak currencies and black markets, among many others.

Half reminiscence, half guidebook, Hitchhike the World makes a truly worthwhile read, whether you are interested in recalling similar experiences that you might have had in your own youth, or whether you are still young and adventurous in both mind and body, and wish to embark on such exploits yourself. Even though Stoever’s travels mainly occurred in the 1960’s, he has included many asides updating the details that he provides with salient information concerning the modern-day situation in the countries that he describes, so the work is still relevant today.