Reviews (3)

Medieval Fighting for Fun!
In Tournaments, Richard Barber and Juliet Barker set out to trace the development of tournaments from the early melees to the later elaborate spectacles.Barber and Barker believe that tournaments were an important part of medieval society as well as a form of training for knights.They also believe that while tournaments certainly had a strong influence on romantic literature, the tournaments were themselves influenced by romantic literature.
Excellent
Easily the best general book on Tournaments available. Some people might have wanted to more detail in certain areas buut when you concider what the authors are trying to achieve I feel they found an excellent balance.

Everything you wanted to know about tournaments...
While books about tournaments usually just describe what tournaments generally were like .., this book takes a look at the actual historical events themselves. It describes many historical tournaments, famous participants, the backgrounds and the changing nature of the events from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance etc. In fact, the book tries to cover almost everything related to tournaments (from public disorder in tournaments to the time of day). Even so, the book holds together well and is easy to read. It is illustrated with fine historical paintings and drawings from books of the time with only a couple of photos (no modern or dismal 19-Century historical sketches). Read more

Subjects:  1. Customs & Traditions    2. Europe    3. General    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Horseback riding    8. Knights and knighthood    9. Medieval World History (Circa 450 - Circa 1450)    10. Tournaments, Medieval, in lite    11. Tournaments, Medieval, in literature   

Subjects:  1. Bibliographies & Indexes    2. Bibliography    3. Customs & Traditions    4. Europe    5. Europe - General    6. Festivals    7. History    8. History - General History    9. History: World    10. Pageants    11. Processions, Religious    12. Reference    13. Social History   

Subjects:  1. Customs & Traditions    2. Developmental - General    3. Developmental psychology    4. Gender Studies    5. Initiation rites    6. Psychological aspects    7. Rites and ceremonies    8. Sociology   

Reviews (5)

Unique!
Are you looking for a special blessing for a wedding?Chances are good you will find something that is perfect right here in this book. In the book, WEDDING BLESSINGS by June Cotner, you'll find page after page of unique blessings to add a special touch to your occasion. I've included numerous derivatives of what I've found in this book in many of the weddings I have performed.
Excellent!
This book is great!! There are so many beautiful poems and quotes in here. There are a few very well known and many that are very different. Very highly recommended!!

A Gem of a Book
Wedding Blessings is a lovely book to give or own. I bought it looking for readings to use for my wedding and found much more. A beautiful volume of verse that will soften even the hardest of hearts and move you emotionally. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Prayers    2. Reference    3. Sociology    4. Vows    5. Weddings    6. Reference / Weddings   

Reviews (3)

Not what I expected
When I first started this book I was hoping that it was one that would give some insight into the life of Anne of Cleves, what she was like as a person etc.I was also hoping that it would touch on the controverstysurrounding the portrait done of her by Hans Holbein (it mentions thescandal briefly to say that he did not misrepresent her in the portrait). Instead it focuses on marriage and uses Anne as its example.Not to saythat this topic was not interesting, I just felt as though the title wasmisleading in terms of the book's subject matter.It really does not talkabout her until you are half way through the book.I would recomendreading this book but only after it has become a paperback or if you wantto know about the history of marriage within the Church.

Warnicke's "The Marrying of Anne of Cleves" an Engaging Read
Dr. Warnicke's latest book is quite enlightening. I admit that I didn't know much about Anne of Cleves or how she came to be married to Henry VIII, but learned that what I had read was largely inaccurate. Dr. Warnicke makesAnne's situation quite clear, much as she did in her book about AnneBoleyn. The Marrying of Anne of Cleves: Royal Protocol in Early Mode
Excellent!Lots of detail and background.Ms. Warnicke provides details from many courts and now I finally understand just how Anne of Cleves ended up in England.I enjoyed this as much as her previous book on Anne Boleyn. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1515-1557    2. 16th century    3. Anne,    4. Biography    5. Customs & Traditions    6. England    7. Europe - Great Britain - General    8. Great Britain    9. Great Britain - History - Tudor And Stuart (1485-1714)    10. History    11. History - General History    12. History: World    13. Marriage    14. Marriage customs and rites    15. Marriages of royalty and nobil    16. Marriages of royalty and nobility    17. Queens    18. Western Europe - General    19. of Cleves, Queen, consort of H    20. Anne    21. Anne,--of Cleves, Queen, consort of Henry VIII, King of England,--1515-1557--Marriage    22. British & Irish history: c 1000 to c 1500    23. British & Irish history: c 1500 to c 1700    24. Henry    25. History / Great Britain    26. c 1700 to c 1800    27. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (21)

Brilliant - Helps the Coping Process
For any would-be-bride, this book is a must. Humurous at times, tearful at others, this book helps remind us that calling off the wedding is not the end of the world. A wonderful combination of advice with antecdotal stories from other would-be brides. After cancelling my own wedding 12 days before the event, I was searching high and low for something to help me through the grieving process. The book was IT! A wonderful find.

A life-saver
I can't say enough good things about this book.I found it about 2 weeks after my wedding was called off and a year later, I still get something out of it.If you just called off your wedding, or are thinking about it, this book will let you know that you are not alone in the myriad of emotions.I have recommended this to so many people, even those who went through the end of a serious relationship, not necessarily an engagement.It will sit next to your bed and you will pick it up at 4 in the morning for comfort.

Great book
From someone who went through a broken engagement, I can tell you that this is a great book.I found the book supportive and comforting during a time of great struggle for me. I would recommend anyone who has doubts to read this, and if you have already called it off - buy it!Read more

Subjects:  1. Betrothal    2. Customs & Traditions    3. Family & Relationships    4. Family/Marriage    5. General    6. Interpersonal Relations    7. Love / Sex / Marriage    8. Marriage    9. Psychological aspects    10. Psychology Of Special Subjects    11. United States    12. Weddings    13. Family & Relationships / Marriage    14. Self-Help & Practical Interests   

Reviews (3)

Morbid But Curious!
Bought this for my father-in-law who's in the business. We loved the books, it was fasicnating. Many photos of photos, apparently there's a market for photos of funerals. I thought the book might have something on another collecting area, photos form the 19th century of deceased individuals propped up with relatives. This seemed to be popular at a time when many persons, especially children, died before ever having a photo of themselves taken, so families would prop them up as if they were alive. This gave the family a last memento. Anyhow, we enjoyed the book very much.

Title should be "Collecting Postmortem Photographs"
I have been collecting postmortem objects for several years and was very excited to find this book in print.However, I was greatly disappointed to discover that, far from being a comprehensive identification and price guide, this book focuses almost exclusively on photographs - not the items in them.Picture after picture is generically described.Most of the photos are ascribed values in a generic range.None of the items pictured in the photos are identified or priced. Only five or six pages are devoted to collectible objects in the field. This book was misadvertised and, for me at least, a waste of money.

FASCINATING
This is the first comprehensive book on collecting funeral and death related items, and is not morbid at all. It covers most of the major types of collectible items and has beautiful post mortem portraits,which I collect and must admit are my favorite items in this book.The author has an extensive collection of these and I wish he would publish more of them.

Subjects:  1. Antiques & Collectibles    2. Antiques/Collectibles    3. Death & Dying    4. General    5. Antiques & Collectables    6. Medical diagnosis   

Reviews (3)

Exhaustively Researched
Like a typical Westerner, when I first encountered the story of bound feet Chinese women, I was horrified.How could someone actually do something like that?But my initial disgust grew into interest, and I found I wanted to learn more than simply see the results of the practice of binding feet.The world is full of misinformation of this custom.
wonderful book for chineses women's history
It's a wonderful book for chinese women's history, let you learn about the history of footbinding in feminism perspective.

Vision- not Revisionist!
Dorothy Ko locates the core of interpretation for footbinding lost in so much that has been written on the topic for the last 150 years.Ko has written extensively on the topic, feeling that such a complex phenomenon cannot be adequately explained by a book or two.Not content with prevailing feminist writings which privilege "oppressive patriarchy" as the only worthwhile conclusion, Ko frequently attracts critics who often suggest she glorifies footbinding and undoes strides towards gender equality.It's even been implied she undermines advancements made since the May Fourth events which empowered Chinese women almost 90 years ago.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Asia - General    3. Beauty & Grooming - General    4. China    5. Customs & Traditions    6. Diet / Health / Fitness    7. Footbinding    8. Gender Studies    9. History    10. History - General History    11. History: World    12. Women's Studies - General    13. Women's Studies - History    14. Customs    15. History / General    16. Social history    17. Women's studies   

Reviews (15)

Traditional Vows
This book offers many "traditional vows". And choices from all types of faiths (most are Christian).Readings are also traditional. I would have liked to have seen more choices in all faiths.

Not Just Because My Vows are in this Book....
Diane Warner did a wonderful job compiling all different and personal wedding vows to help couples planning their weddings. The reader will find a varied and very diverse listing of vows and promises that will bring beautiful memories to any wedding. This book even includes vows for combining families and bringing children into the marriage from previous relationships. If this is your first wedding or your 7th, no doubt you will find something you can borrow from this book.

Compare first
I compared a few wedding vow books and although I thank all the authors for their efforts, the one I found the most useful, comprehensive, progressive in thinking, and with a generous mix of both spiritual and secular vows is "With These Words...I Thee Wed". Guess that's why it's been around the longest. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family & Relationships    2. Family/Marriage    3. Love / Sex / Marriage    4. Marriage    5. Marriage service    6. Weddings   

Reviews (2)

At last, somebody shows empathy, not just sympathy.
Muggleton's biggest strength is that he tries to understand subjective experiences of subculturalists in their neverending conquest for differentiating themselves from the conventional. Unlike Birmingham scholars, Muggleton does not start with a pre given, dichotomous assumption about materially opressed subcultures against a totalizing dominant culture, but rather has a nominalist cultural orientation. So, if you are a materialist or structuralist, his perspective might put you off.
Reviewings hard...
Well i don't have much to say on this one. I ordered it as a help for my media assignment. Found it useful but a little long-winded and a little too specialised in terms of examples.Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Beauty & Grooming - Fashion    4. Customs & Traditions    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Anthropology    8. Fashion design    9. Postmodernism   

Subjects:  1. Birth customs    2. Childbirth    3. Customs & Traditions    4. Ethnic Studies - Native American Studies    5. Health & Fitness    6. Health/Fitness    7. Miscellanea    8. Motherhood    9. Parenting - Motherhood    10. Pregnancy    11. Pregnancy & Childbirth    12. Self-help groups    13. Sociology    14. North America    15. Pregnancy, birth & baby care   

Reviews (13)

Don't Waste Your Money!!Buy 2 Knot books Instead!!
When I read the first few pages of this book on Amazon, it peaked my interested enough to buy it.But upon receipt when I had the chance to read through it more thoroughly I found that there was NOTHING interesting or even remotely useful in this book.It has all the traditional vow stuff (even though in the introduction it touts the whole untraditional-wedding horn) and then wierd things like Druid weddings.All the vows included in this book sound similar to one another.Nothing stuck out as being especially interesting.
Good starting point, but you'll need other references
This book is a good starting point for ideas for an alternative wedding, but you'll end up needing other references to flesh out your planning.I bought this and read it only once; I wish I had just checked it out of the library instead.
Helpful, but Chock full of Errors
While the general idea of this book was invaluable - I used it to help plan my own "alternative" wedding - the number of obvious errors in the book became a bit tedious after a while. Read more

Subjects:  1. Marriage customs and rites    2. Marriage service    3. Reference    4. Weddings   

Reviews (1)

What does China taste like?
Farquhar has written a very good book in Appetites.Drawing from conversations, anecdotes, advertising, and--above all--novels, Farquhar is somehow able to convincingly trace a changing subjectivity in China.Never grandiose in her claims, Farquahar addresses this fact: China is changing rapidly, and with its political and economic realignments Chinese personhood is changing too.Careful never to construct a unified "Chinese" experience, the author instead describes mere footprints of an untrapable beast.Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Body, Human    4. China    5. Customs & Traditions    6. Food habits    7. Sex customs    8. Social Science    9. Social aspects    10. Sociology    11. Cultural studies   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Customs & Traditions    5. Entertaining    6. General    7. Government - U.S. Government    8. History    9. Sociology    10. United States - 20th Century (1945 to 2000)    11. Upper class women    12. Washington (D.C.)    13. Women in politics    14. Women's Studies - History    15. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Anthropology - Cultural    3. Customs & Traditions    4. Essays    5. Food habits    6. Food supply    7. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    8. Social Science    9. Social conditions    10. Social life and customs    11. Sociology    12. Sociology - General    13. United States    14. Food & Drink / Cookery    15. Food manufacturing & related industries    16. Popular culture    17. Social Science / Anthropology / Cultural    18. USA   

Reviews (4)

Interesting, but not terribly original or detailed.
This is a fun little volume, written by a psychologist who clearly loves food. Rappoport hits many of the high points in academic research on the subject, from an interdisciplinary perspective. He writes clearly and with an up-beat, entertaining style. As another review mentioned, this would be a good book for a holiday at the beach; and if you're interested in a quick, light read on food, or a nice gloss on the subject of food from academic perspectives, this is a decent choice.
A Feast for the Mind
An excellent read for anyone who eats food. You will gain a greater understanding of the complex relationship you have with food. The author has a wide background and has done extensive work in many fields. But hey, this is not a dry read. Wise humor peppers the pages making this book deliciously entertaining, insightful and helpful. I devoured it and would recommend it for gift giving, your summer vacation or weekend at the beach.
Interesting exploration of an under-researched topic
This book is both thought-provoking and entertaining.As the author argues, despite the large role that food plays in our lives, there appears to be no unifying framework that can explain eating behavior.Despite the complexity, the author does a nice job of blending theory, empirical findings, history, and personal anecdotes.In the end, more questions are raised than are answered- a characteristic of a topic worth exploring. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Customs & Traditions    2. Food Science    3. Food habits    4. Gastronomy    5. General    6. History    7. Popular Culture - General    8. Psychological aspects    9. Psychology    10. Psychology Of Special Subjects    11. Social Psychology    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. Cultural studies    15. Customs    16. Technology / Food Industry & Science   

Reviews (1)

THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR PERCEPTION OF MADNESS
Destined to become an immediate classic, Joao Biehl's Vita: Life in a Zone of Social Abandonment unfolds like a mystery and reads like a novel.Extraordinary is the way in which the author examines a single, tragic woman as a lens through which the ills of society become visible. With compassion tempered by acuity, Biehl introduces us to Catarina, an impoverished migrant in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre who pedals feverishly in a static bicycle within the confines of Vita, a clinic of sorts where diseased and insane people are abandoned. Catarina is struggling to become part of life, regain affection and recapture social connections after more than 12 years of erroneous diagnoses and perilous medicalization.Is she really insane?To give out the answer would betray much of what makes the book extraordinary.The reader is led into a world of market forces, inefficient bureaucracies and decomposing family ties in which no one and everyone is responsible for Catarina's fate. Although the book focuses on a Brazilian city, it's lessons transcend national boundaries--it is as meaningful in the U.S. as it would be in Turkey.Other authors have masterfully written about the poor and excluded but very few have been able to etch in detail a life worth living while at the same time unmasking the larger forces that shape ndividual fates. With this book, Biehl joins a small number of ethnographers who have successfully achieved that feat. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Brazil    3. Customs & Traditions    4. History - General History    5. Institutional care    6. Latin America - General    7. Latin America - South America    8. Marginality, Social    9. Porto Alegre    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Vita (Asylum : Porto Alegre, B    13. Social & cultural anthropology    14. Social Science / Anthropology / General    15. Social issues    16. Social, group or collective psychology   

Reviews (4)

Great photography
The photos in this book are absolutely marvelous. If you are interested in making your own regalia, this will help you get ideas for the finer details. Most of the colorful "outfits" use contemporary as opposed to traditional materials, and with great ingenuity. Very nice bit
This book falls shy of a couple stars for me for one reason: Pow Wow:Images Along the Red Road
I highly recommend this visually stunning book for anyone with any interest at all in Native American pow wow culture.The color photographic portraits are riveting and the commentary from the dancers themselves iscompelling. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Customs & Traditions    2. Fiction    3. Indians of North America    4. Manners And Customs    5. Native American Anthropology    6. Photoessays & Documentaries    7. Photography    8. Pictorial works    9. Powwows    10. Rites and ceremonies    11. Ethnic studies    12. Pageants, parades, festivals    13. Photographs: portraits    14. Social Science / Native American Studies    15. USA   

Reviews (4)

fine for higher level students
The pictures are a tad cheasy, but the concept here is smart and fun, and the entries are short (a mere paragraph in length) and would work well as a warmer, or an addition to a larger discussion on birthdays, weddings, family, holidays, etc.
Great coverage
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It has far more material in it than I expected. There are eight sections: special occasions, courtship and marriage, body language, enjoy, all in the family, let's have fun, red letter days, and the icons of America. Most of them are not customs per say but cultural aspects and oddities. It includes such diverse topics as the tooth fairy, separate phone lines for teens, and demolition derbies. Each topic includes an example of how it would be talked about. There is also a cartoon which is cute but unrelated to understanding the custom.
"I Give it a 3" <--- from the old American Bandstand Days.
This book is fun, informative but lacks depth as far as a real source of topics. And, the dialogues/jokes? at the bottom of every explantion page are a bit lame.But the cartoons are cute....... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1971-    2. Customs & Traditions    3. Dictionaries - Idioms & Slang    4. English language    5. Foreign speakers    6. Language and culture    7. Reference    8. Social Science    9. Social life and customs    10. Sociolinguistics    11. Sociology    12. Study and teaching    13. United States    14. Customs    15. Foreign Language Study / English as a Second Language    16. USA   

Editorial Review

In the mid-1970s, an American graduate student in anthropology joined the ranks of white-powdered geisha in Kyoto, Japan. Liza Dalby took the name Ichigiku and apprenticed in the famed Pontocho district, trailing behind "older sisters" bemused by this long-legged Westerner intent on learning their arts and customs. In Read more

Reviews (41)

geisha
This book by Liza Dalby is the most comprehensive book on geisha I have seen.Also, very readable.

Insightful
Picked this one up years ago after seeing the moving starring Pam Dawbar which I enjoyed.
geisha
In "Geisha" Ms Dalby invites the reader to wander, with her, through ancient and modern day Japan.Through her eyes you meet and greet people from all walks of life.With dignity and honour she introduces you to her Geisha friends.Before you are aware you a transported into the world of Geisha, a world so different and yet so like your own.When you finish the last page, there is a sadness and a wish to know that the people you've come to care about "live happily ever after".Thank you Liz, your book opened my eyes and touched my heart. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Asia - Japan    3. Cultural And Social Anthropology    4. Customs & Traditions    5. Geishas    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Women's Studies - History    9. Cultural studies    10. History / Asia    11. Japan