Reviews (11)

Memories...
Death is one of the most traumatic experience in our lives.Even the deaths of strangers affects us in unusual, sometimes unpredictable ways.The death of those close to us, family and friends, can leave us with questions, emotions and emptiness hard to comprehend.Yet, there are ways to deal with these; religion has rituals, families have traditions, cultures have cycles, allowances and expectations, yet we still need more. An essential book for anyone who has to create a funeral
Sarah does an amazing job of giving guidelines and suggestions for creating truely meaningful memorials and funerals. Been there, Done that, Thanks!
Having been someone who has done group memorials for individuals of a separate organization with people who have passed on from AIDS, this book give me new insight.I am looking to put together another ceremony in September.Comparing the past events with Rev. York's book, I find that the past events contained many of the elements that she suggests.However, she gives some wonderful insights and ideas that I have not thought of before.I am only about 1/3 of the way through the book I am about ready to change the original structure of the memorial service.All that I can really say is:"Sarah, thank you for your wonderful writing and imput.Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Ritual & Practice    2. Customs & Traditions    3. Death And Dying (Sociological Aspects)    4. General    5. Manners And Customs    6. Memorial service    7. Religion    8. Religion - Church Music    9. Sociology - General    10. Spirituality - General    11. Coping with death & bereavement    12. Customs    13. Religion / Inspirational   

Reviews (20)

Opinionated, but insightful
Ms Walmsley clearly grinds her axe on both sides, but there's a lot of food for thought here, both as comparisons between the two English-speaking populations and as "if the shoe fits" mirrors

Racist, libelous, misguided, UNTRUE account of the British
I cannot believe this book was actually published.This is THE MOST racist (if not entirely xenophobic) book I have EVER had the misfortune to read.I am so thankful that I myself didn't buy this book (it was bought as a present, and has since been swiftly returned to the store, good riddance) and therefore give money to this revolting, despicable American woman who obviously has serious issues with her British husband - of whom has probably divorced her since she wrote the book.Or maybe whom divorced her prior to her writing, hence why it is so morbidly bitter about the British.
Don't Waste Your Time or Money
Brit-think, Ameri-think is extremely outdated in its information about and analysis of the British population.At times it borders on xenophobia.I would strongly recommend avoiding this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1945-    2. 1971-    3. Customs & Traditions    4. Europe - Great Britain - General    5. General    6. Great Britain    7. Humor    8. Manners And Customs    9. Social Science    10. Social life and customs    11. Sociology    12. Special Interest - Business Travel    13. United States    14. United States - General    15. British Isles    16. Cultural studies    17. Humour    18. Places & peoples: general interest    19. Travel / Special Interest / Business    20. USA    21. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Reviews (12)

It sealed the deal on being a vegetarian
This book was so amazing!I had become a vegetarian several months before reading it, but after reading it, there was no question in my mind- I'm never touching meat again!
Better Books out there
The problem I have with this book, as well as a lot of other Rifkin's books, it's not the message that is being conveyed, it's how it's being conveyed.Rifkin's research style is a mile wide and an inch deep.I pined to have some of the chapters be at least a couple pages longer so there was more substance.He makes wide, sweeping generalizations with the minimum of hard data to back it up.
As timely as ever regarding out of control corn and animal fat
Important book outlining the culture of animal consumption (beef), it's devastating effect of the environment and natural resources, as well as afflicting human health.
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Subjects:  1. Beef    2. Beef cattle    3. Beef industry    4. Cattle    5. Customs & Traditions    6. Environmental Science    7. Environmental aspects    8. General    9. Politics - Current Events    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Sociology    12. Nature / General    13. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (2)

Interesting Read
This book has lot of informative history of tobacco and tobacco smoking.The stories incouded were not only interesting but also full of intrigue.It includes a description of different pipes and their uses.I very much enjoyed learning about the humble beginnings of the Dunhill family.It does make a wonderful coffee table book.VERY WELL PLEASED!!

More of a reference guide to pipes throughout history...
While this book is filled with fascinating drawings of strange and unusual pipes from around the world, it is certainly not one of those "just sit down and read it from cover to cover type books." Think more of an "a to z" dictionary of pipes. As a novice pipe smoker, I was hoping for something more informative on the actual mechanics of pipe smoking. I would highly recommend The Perfect Pipe by Jeffers or, if you can find a copy, Weber's guide to pipes and pipe smoking. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiques & Collectibles    2. Antiques/Collectibles    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining - General    5. Reference - General    6. Tobacco pipes    7. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (2)

I've never read this either....
However giving the book a one star review based on the fact that you had a bad experience with Amazon is unacceptable. Your poor rating hurts the author much more then it hurts Amazon. Many a casual browser will not even browse further past a one star rating. And despite your experience many a writer makes a great deal of money from sales on this site.

I don't know, I never recieved my order
I would have no idea how to rate this product since I never recieved it. I do know however, that I will never be ordering from Amazon.com again. It was the poorest internet experience I have ever had, and I had heard such amazing things about this company. Live and learn I suppose. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Movements - Humanism    4. Philosophy    5. World - General    6. Social Science / Customs & Traditions   

Reviews (31)

Dignifying

Interesting stories, but weak analysis
Feiler's book is entertaining at times and tiresome at others. The entertaining parts are the stories he tells about his experiences; however, his attempt to analyze Japan sound too much like a regurgitation of other books that purport to introduce Japanese culture.
Interesting read,but dated and exaggerated.
As one who logged a few years teaching in Japan around the same era, the subject matter certainly interests me, and this is an interesting study of Japanese culture and the experience of AETs as existed in the late 1980s.
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Subjects:  1. 1945-    2. Asia - Japan    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Customs & Traditions    5. Education, Secondary    6. Educators    7. Ethnic Studies - General    8. Feiler, Bruce S    9. Japan    10. Multicultural Education    11. Social Science    12. Social life and customs    13. Sociology    14. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (1)

it makes you feel good!
The intimate travel details and encounters with prospective project developers in Bolivia are revealed in this book. You read about the many projects that the IAF has sponsored, successful at times and not, it is great to know that these projects have been throughly researched by IAF employees. Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Bolivia    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Cultural animation    5. Customs & Traditions    6. Development - Economic Development    7. Indians of South America    8. Latin America - South America    9. Rural Economic Development    10. Rural development projects    11. Social Science    12. Social conditions    13. Sociology    14. Sociology - General    15. Development economics    16. Economic history    17. Multicultural studies    18. Social history    19. Civil society   

Reviews (12)

best all-around history
This history is the best around for telling the story of Halloween in America in a fun (e.g., not academic) way. The distant Celtic past is not really the focus of the book, and its treatment here looks like a summaryof sources available at the time this book was published (1990--Newer editions correct some common misunderstandings, I notice) The strengths of this book have to do with the folklore of Halloween, both in the colonies and throughout young America, and with the holiday's Victorian celebration. A Halloween History surveys life in the colonies and the sorts of beliefs that existed there to make an American celebration of Halloween possible, like ghost lore, traditions of some ethnic groups (Scots, Germans, etc.), religious backgrounds (All Saints and All Souls celebrations) and evidence of certain kinds of superstition: of magical black cat bones, listening at the crossroads to hear the future whispered in the wind, of wandering jack-o-lantern lights that can lead you astray, etc. Moving on through the 18th and 19th centuries, Halloween symbols are described in terms of folklore recorded both in the old world and the newso we can see the parallels--which was really fascinating for me. The Victorian chapter examines 19th-century mass media to translate what Halloween looked like and meantat the time when it emerged as a full-fledged American holiday. The book finishes with a decade-by-decade coverage of 20th-century celebration (up through the 80s, and publication). A treasure for Halloween fans in my opinion!

Fun read.
I enjoyed this book.It wasn't as in depth and as scholarly as I thought it was going to be, but don't let that keep you from buying this book.It's a fun and accurate story about how Americans have had such an great holiday passed down to us.If you want a quick read that gives you a clear hisroty about this awesome holiday this book is for you.

A lotta trick, a little treat
Halloween is a fascinating time, and there is not enough written about it, as yet. That's why I have to give this book 4 stars, just because it addresses Halloween. Otherwise, with all its faults, I'd probably go 3 stars only, maybe even 2.
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Subjects:  1. Halloween    2. Holidays (non religious)    3. Social Science    4. Social life and customs    5. Sociology    6. Sociology - General    7. United States    8. Customs    9. Leisure   

Reviews (5)

Love the animals - especially when nicely cooked
I read this book 13 years ago and it was in many respects an eye-opener to me: A common man's view of this enlightened work.
I have become increasingly interested in nutrition of late and although this book deals less with the issue of nutrition and more with the issue of culture.I found it extremely useful in putting my developing nutritional beliefs in perspective.Harris does a brilliant job of answering many of why(s) in a manner that removes the hocus-pocus and the just-because(s) that we've been fed growing up.I consider myself fortunate to have read this book and have since recommended it several of myof my friends.There is a caveat to this book.The author cares nothing for religious reservation or social delicacies.He tells it like it is and if you can't approach this book with your mind wide open then you probably shouldn't approach it at all. I intend to read the rest of his work because I respect his method of thought.

Good to Read!
As with anything by Harris, a thoroughly enjoyable read. It is mind-boggling that Harris's work and his cultural materialist theories are not better known than the sociobiological garbage so beloved of the media and academia these days. In spite of the sociobio claims that virtually anything that humans do is based on genetics, Harris consistently trumps their arguments with examples of the variability of cultural beliefs, from refusing to eat foods because the gods don't want us to, to beliefs that perfectly edible foods are disgusting, to the belief that the gods want us to eat human flesh. And he demonstrates how all that talk about the food preferences of the gods is really a smokescreen for (originally) practical survival issues. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Customs & Traditions    3. Health & Fitness / Nutrition    4. Social Science    5. Social Science / Anthropology / Cultural    6. Sociology    7. Cultural And Social Anthropology    8. Diets    9. Food habits    10. Nutrition   

Reviews (2)

Festive
This is a fun book and I would recommend it to anyone interested in Christmas.The book looks at 12 countries around the world where Christmas is celebrated on a national scale.One reads brief, but detailed, summaries of the Christmas events and traditions of those countries.From religious celebrations to marketplace customs, and from tasty foods to fun crafts, one is presented with a vivid and enlightening picture of how poeple around the world celebrate the holiday. Wonderful! Appropriate for all ages!
As a third grade teacher, this book was a useful tool in teaching about Christmas Around the World.There are so few good books on this topic, and my students enjoyed the one page synopsis of Christmas for each of thecountries discussed (about 10).The illustrations for each country arewonderful and vivid.We were able to learn about customs from thesecountries not usually presented in other books. I would recommend this bookto any teacher, parent, or child seeking information about Christmascustoms in countries around the world in this enjoyable and fact-filledbook. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Sociology    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Christmas    5. Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas    6. Holidays & Festivals - Christmas    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Social Science - Customs, Traditions, Anthropology    10. Social Studies - Customs, Traditions, Anthropology    11. Christianity    12. Folklore    13. Juvenile Fiction / General    14. Religious festivals & pilgrimages   

Reviews (15)

A Bible of Aristotelian-Like Virtues
This book is highly relevant to Japanese society today, and I'm glad that at least some reviewers have noted that fact.Nitobe writes in a style one would expect from a man educated in the manner of Edwardian England, but that does nothing to detract from what he says.It may give the impression that his message is dated, but the opposite is true: he writes clearly and directly and his laconic gems of expression lead straight to a solid undertanding of the modern Japanese heart.He manages to pull off this feat by using apt comparisons to our Western pre-Christian heritage, primarily comparisons to pagan Rome and Greece, writers like Tacitus, Polybius, and Aristotle.Nitobe also often quotes Shakespeare and the likes of Carlyle, Nietzsche, and Emerson, but almost always as an extension of his use of classical literature. If a Western reader wants to know what Western culture would have looked like without the Judeo-Christian ethic, this book is likely a window directly into that alternate universe. Under the best outcomes, Bushido appears as something like a combination of the spirits of Athens and Sparta in harmony.
Not only historic Japan, but also Japan at present
I am a Japanese graduate student, aged 24, who studies molecular biology. I would like to add to the excellent reviews so far that this book is full of insights to understand not only historic Japan but also Japan and Japanese people at present.
elegant, concise and informative
Not only does this book provide the philosphy behind Japanese culture, this philosphy still offers a reasonable ethic to live by. Certainly I do not recommend seppuku (ritual suicide) as component of a healthy value system. But rectitude(justice), courage, benevolence, politeness, veracity, honor, loyalty, education, and self-control are healthy values which Bushido is based on.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Asia - Japan    3. Customs & Traditions    4. Eastern - General    5. Philosophy    6. Sociology    7. Ethics & moral philosophy    8. Japan    9. Oriental & Indian philosophy    10. Oriental martial arts   

Editorial Review

This brief, eloquently presented book offers a simple and inviting strategy for handling the most complicated holiday of our times--Christmas. Reacting to the commercialization and overspending that has come to define it, author Bill McKibben(Read more

Reviews (6)

interesting take on Christmas
But it's awfully simplistic and in some cases, wrong.For example he claims based on some survey that we all consider time more valuable than money.I disagree.I think many people do consider time more important, while others, such as those struggling to get by on low-wage jobs and affluent workers who do a lot of overtime, value money more.Very ambitious people also tend to value money, both for themselves and for their children.IMO, that's part of why so many upper-class children have lives crammed with extracurricular activities:so they can be "balanced" and go to Harvard, get a great job, and make good money.
Thought-provoking
This book is a call to reconsider our Christmas traditions, where they came from, and what we want from them.The book is extremely short, and can be read in only an hour or two, but the ideas in it are profound.McKibben begins by describing some of the details of how the American commercialization of Christmas came about in the early 1800s.At that time, wassailing was getting a bit out of hand, so some upper-class New Yorkers decided to reinvent the holiday around some more wholesome traditions of family celebrations and gift giving.As part of this movement, in 1818 Clement Moore brought St. Nicholas into the picture complete with reindeer on the roof with his famous "Twas the Night before Christmas".From there, the idea of centering the holiday on gift-giving grew and grew, much to the delight of department store owners, who were eager to add their own contributions to the holiday pantheon (such as Rudolph, courtesy Montgomery Wards).
Just make sure you know what you are getting
I read a newspaper article on financial planning at Christmas that recommended this book as a helpful guide to paring down holiday spending.Based on that, I expected a how-to book of recipes, craft instruction, and volunteering ideas.Though the last chapter does present these, it is short and very generalized.Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Christmas    3. General    4. Holidays - Christmas    5. Inspirational    6. Personal Growth - Happiness    7. Religious aspects    8. Self-Help    9. Simplicity    10. Social life and customs    11. United States    12. Literary Criticism & Collections / General   

Reviews (4)

Very informative.
The best book I've seen on the subject!

The Skeleton at the Feast
I bought this book several years ago at the Museum of Mankind, in London.It was the book for the exhibition, which featured incredible paper sculptures of skeletons and demons. a comprehensive look at a bizarre custom
As an anthropologist who teaches classes on Mexico, I use this book often. The "day of the dead" in Mexico exemplifies, for me, the difference between the U.S. culture and that of Mexico. Just as othercultures might find our U.S. Halloween celebrations strangely at odds withnormally conservative Judeo-Christian religious observance, this bookillustrates clearly the almost unfathomable blending of pre-Columbian cultsof death and sacrifice with Spanish-Catholic traditions. Starting with itsorigins in Mexico's ancient civilizations, the book discusses andillustrates this observance through modern times, and takes the readervicariously to the areas of Mexico in which it is most enthusiasticallyobserved. Sit down with a cup of chocolate' and some "pan de losmuertos" (bread of the dead), and enjoy a book whose topic you mighthave thought too morbid for your taste, but which you will probably end upfinding much more compelling than repulsive. Unfortunately for me (butbetter for the publishing company!), I am about to order my 3rd copy of"Skeleton at the Feast"--apparently the students to whom I loanit find it too interesting to return! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. All Saints' Day    2. All Souls' Day    3. Customs & Traditions    4. Death And Dying (Sociological Aspects)    5. Folk festivals    6. Holidays (non religious)    7. Holidays - Christian    8. Latin America - Mexico    9. Mexico    10. Social Science    11. Social life and customs    12. Sociology    13. Christian rites & ceremonies    14. Customs    15. Religion / Holidays / Christian   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Industries - Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    5. Management    6. Management - General    7. Special events    8. Business & Economics / Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    9. Project management    10. Sport, Travel and Leisure Interests   

Reviews (1)

"A lovely garden was the spirit of the housewife"
In this charming book, Sophie Hodorowicz Knab answers all of the questions that anyone might have about the use of herbs in Poland.She starts by informingus about an archaeological site that dates back to 550-400 BC. The site was discovered in the Bydgoszcz province in1931.It was determinedthat the early inhabitants grew several types of grain and used herbs in medicinal preparations andfor flavoring foods.Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Customs & Traditions    3. Flower gardening    4. Flowers    5. Herb gardening    6. Herbal Medications    7. Herbs    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Therapeutic use    11. Cultural studies    12. Poland    13. Traditional medicine & remedies   

Subjects:  1. Appalachian Region, Southern    2. Country life    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Customs & Traditions    5. Education / Teaching    6. Folklore    7. General    8. Georgia    9. History - U.S.    10. Hobbies/Crafts    11. Non-Formal Education    12. Rabun County    13. United States - State & Local - General    14. United States - State & Local - South    15. Crafts & Hobbies / General   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Americas (North Central South West Indies)    3. Customs & Traditions    4. Diet    5. Food habits    6. General    7. History    8. History - General History    9. History: American    10. United States    11. United States - General    12. Diets & dieting    13. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    14. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    15. Second World War, 1939-1945    16. Social history    17. USA   

Subjects:  1. Comparative Religion    2. Cultural And Social Anthropology    3. Customs & Traditions    4. General    5. Religion    6. Religion - World Religions    7. Ritual    8. Sociology Of Religion    9. Anthropology    10. Cultural studies    11. Religion / General    12. Religion: general   

Reviews (3)

You will LOVE this book!!!
We have bought dozens of this book for friends and family and they all love it! Great Little Book!
I have been collecting trivia for a lot of years, and have collected a lot of interesting facts and info about Christmas and holiday music. I didn't expect to find much that I didn't know when I ordered "Christmas Trivia", and was blown away by the range and depth of the information. It is set up in quiz form, with two hundred questions about various aspects of the holiday. The answers are all in the back. This is a great source of holiday fun and quizzes for your friends and family. Teachers will also find this to be a valuable reference to keep students entertained as well as teaching them some fun and interesting facts and legends. It's an inexpensive little book that you'll refer to again and again.

Sparked the holiday conversation
This book broke the ice at the office/spouse holiday party!and gave the in-laws and ex-es some good laughs at the family dinner.Lots of information loaded into a stocking-sized prize. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas    2. Holidays - Christmas    3. Miscellanea    4. Questions and answers    5. Reference    6. Trivia    7. Reference / Trivia    8. Sale Books   

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Customs & Traditions    3. Family farms    4. Farm life    5. Film & Video - General    6. Food habits    7. History    8. History: American    9. Kentucky    10. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    11. Sociology    12. United States - State & Local - South    13. Agriculture & Farming    14. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    15. Local history    16. Second World War, 1939-1945    17. Social history