History & Criticism Books - Page 2

Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

Anthony Bourdain

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 583 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

New York Chef Tony Bourdain gives away secrets of the trade in his wickedly funny, inspiring memoir/expose. Kitchen Confidential reveals what Bourdain calls "twenty-five years of sex, drugs, bad behavior and haute cuisine."

Last summer, The New Yorker published Chef Bourdain's shocking, "Don't Eat Before Reading This." Bourdain spared no one's appetite when he told all about what happens behind the kitchen door. Bourdain uses the same "take-no-prisoners" attitude in his deliciously funny and shockingly delectable book, sure to delight gourmands and philistines alike. From Bourdain's first oyster in the Gironde, to his lowly position as dishwasher in a honky tonk fish restaurant in Provincetown (where he witnesses for the first time the real delights of being a chef); from the kitchen of the Rainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center, to drug dealers in the east village, from Tokyo to Paris and back to New York again, Bourdain's tales of the kitchen are as passionate as they are unpredictable. Kitchen Confidential will make your mouth water while your belly aches with laughter. You'll beg the chef for more, please.

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

Anne Fadiman

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Total reviews: 224 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction

When three-month-old Lia Lee Arrived at the county hospital emergency room in Merced, California, a chain of events was set in motion from which neither she nor her parents nor her doctors would ever recover. Lia's parents, Foua and Nao Kao, were part of a large Hmong community in Merced, refugees from the CIA-run "Quiet War" in Laos. The Hmong, traditionally a close-knit and fiercely people, have been less amenable to assimilation than most immigrants, adhering steadfastly to the rituals and beliefs of their ancestors. Lia's pediatricians, Neil Ernst and his wife, Peggy Philip, cleaved just as strongly to another tradition: that of Western medicine. When Lia Lee Entered the American medical system, diagnosed as an epileptic, her story became a tragic case history of cultural miscommunication.

Parents and doctors both wanted the best for Lia, but their ideas about the causes of her illness and its treatment could hardly have been more different. The Hmong see illness aand healing as spiritual matters linked to virtually everything in the universe, while medical community marks a division between body and soul, and concerns itself almost exclusively with the former. Lia's doctors ascribed her seizures to the misfiring of her cerebral neurons; her parents called her illness, qaug dab peg--the spirit catches you and you fall down--and ascribed it to the wandering of her soul. The doctors prescribed anticonvulsants; her parents preferred animal sacrifices.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's the Great Gatsby (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1124 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Easily one of the best books I've read 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I found a copy of this book in a very small, very messy book store in my area and decided to give it read. Fitzgerald from the start is extremely descriptive yet brief and poetic. What I find so very impressive about this book is it's ability to make you understand the depths of both the 1920's and the place this story has in it; yet the story and themes are not just easy to relate to, they are fresh even after 90 years. I am an actor and while reading the last 4-5 pages I found myself reading aloud from the book because the conclusion and final thoughts of the character telling the story are written in a profound way; one that makes me feel they should be spoken so that the meaning won't be lost.

Editorial Review:

Self-made millionaire Jay Gatsby epitomizes the decadence of the 1920s Jazz Age in this tale of rise and decline, told with detached curiosity by his neighbor and confidante Nick Carraway.

The title, Ernest Hemingway’s The Great Gatsby, part of Chelsea House Publishers’ Modern Critical Interpretations series, presents the most important 20th-century criticism on Ernest Hemingway’s The Great Gatsby through extracts of critical essays by well-known literary critics. This collection of criticism also features a short biography on Ernest Hemingway, a chronology of the author’s life, and an introductory essay written by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University.

The Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2795 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Book is very interesting and very easy to relate with... 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I read this book in 4 or 5 hours I think, and I can honestly say this is a great book. I always remember there being so much fuss about this book (although I am only 22), so I wanted to read it for myself and see how it was. To tell you the truth, I didn't think the language was very bad, and the sexual content was minimal. I have read books and seen movies that were much worse than this book. This story is all about a young teenage boy that does not know what to do with his life. It was a great book, because I was able to relate in so many ways. I was able to relate to Holden because I was once troubled.

I was unable to put this book down when I started reading it. The way the author writes is unique to me, although I have not read many books so that may not say much. I was able to paint very vivid pictures in my mind such as in the dorm room, in the hotels, at the bar talking to the 3 women... I was definately expecting this to be more vulgar, only because that is how it was portrayed to me. I guess the book could have possibly influenced people to act out in violence, however I find it hard to believe.

I thought it was interesting how Holden thought so many things were phony. That is something that I will always remember with this book. That and the word "goddam". Not even sure it is spelled like that any more... Seems like Salinger used that word preceding everything.

Editorial Review:

Holden, knowing he is to be expelled from school, decides to leave early. He spends three days in New York City and tells the story of what he did and suffered there.

Exercises to Accompany a Writer's Reference

Diana Hacker

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 70 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A WRITER REFERENCE 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

THE PRODUCT IS VERY GOOD TO USE IN ENGLISH 101 IN LOS ANGELES PIERCE COLLEGE

helpful reference for high school and beginning college students 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Book is divided into sections that make answers easy to find. Provides rules for grammar and punctuation.

Excellent resource 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

As an English professor I highly recommend this. I use this in my classes as well as it being one of the books recommended to me for my ph.d. studies. Easy to use and contemporary.

Great Guide 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is a must have for any type of writing project. I use it for both school essay writing as well as business writing at work.

A Writer's Reference 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The book is great! It is in good condition and I received it in a timely manor after purchasing it.

Editorial Review:

A proven success. The best-selling college textbook of any kind. Thoroughly class tested and enthusiastically endorsed by millions of students and their instructors at more than 1300 colleges and universities across the country. Updated with MLA's 1999 guidelines. Spiral.

Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 536 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Things Fall Apart 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

It's rare to find a book that can be at once so severe and so touching. This is a fantastic and emotionally charged book of a view of Africa that is not always revealed to the world in such a way in suh honest color. While Achebe clearly cares for the culture, he is not afraid to hide what is true about it. The result is a deeply moving look into the way of people and how they relate themselves to the rest of world as it changes.

Erm.... 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I absolutely HATED reading this book. I respect it as a very popular piece of literature, but in truth I spent more time sounding out all of the names in this then actually reading it!

Editorial Review:

Okonowo is the greatest warrior alive. His fame has spread like a bushfire in West Africa and he is one of the most powerful men of his clan. But he also has a fiery temper. Determined not to be like his father, he refuses to show weakness to anyone - even if the only way he can master his feelings is with his fists. When outsiders threaten the traditions of his clan, Okonowo takes violent action. Will the great man's dangerous pride eventually destroy him?

Machiavelli's The Prince

Niccolo Machiavelli

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Total reviews: 284 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Poor Translation 2 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This review was submitted on the web page presenting Mansfield's translation.

I have been using Wootton's translation of The Prince in a university program where the texts are set by the faculty. This year we changed to the Mansfield translation and I've requested that we return to Wootton's.

In his attempt to provide an "accurate" translation of the Italian, Mansfield made the mistake of many translators in overlooking the clarity of his English prose.

For example, where Wootton writes, "he increased the strength of one of the most powerful Italian states," Mansfield writes, "he . . . increased the power of a power in Italy." (15) There are other odd uses of diction in Mansfield, for example, where Wootton speaks of a "founder," Mansfield uses the word "introducer." (23) And though concise in places, Mansfield has a tendency to write long sentences, perhaps in imitation of the Italian, where Wootton is more to the point.

If you're still not convinced, compare the following passages:

Wootton: "So, too, with those who, having been private citizens, were made emperors of Rome because they had corrupted the soldiers. Such rulers are entirely dependent on the goodwill and good fortune of whoever has given them power. Good will and good fortune are totally unreliable and capricious."

Mansfield: ". . . as also those emperors were made who from private individual [sic] attained the empire through corrupting soldiers. These persons rest simply on the will and fortune of whoever has given a state to them, which are two very inconstant and unstable things."

Editorial Review:

Widely read for its insights into history and politics, The Prince is one of the most provocative works of the Italian Renaissance. Based on Niccolo Machiavelli's observations of the effectiveness of both ancient and contemporary statesmen, the rules for governing set forth in his manual were considered radical and harsh by his contemporaries and shocking to many others since then.This major new edition combines an accurate and accessible new translation with important related documents, many of which appear here in English for the first time. In his clear yet comprehensive introductory essay, William J. Connell offers fresh insights into Machiavelli's life, the meaning of his work, the context in which it was written, and its influence over time. Document headnotes, maps, a chronology of Machiavelli's life, questions for consideration, a selected bibliography, and index provide further pedagogical support.

Mere Christianity - UK Gift Edition

C. S. Lewis

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 449 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

You better read this book. 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I like reading books on apologetics. It's one of my favorite subjects. I also really dislike buying a book and getting halfway through it and realizing it has nothing to offer me. To avoid this, I always get online and read book reviews. I also find top 10 lists very helpful. I will google something like "top 10 Christian books" or "top 10 books evangelism." After doing this for a while, I noticed something curious. "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis is almost always near the top of any top 10 list. And it's usually number 1. I avoided reading this book of a while. I thought, "Well I know C.S. Lewis is a great writer. He wrote the Narnia series. But it's just so old, it's probably dry, high theology." Finally, I broke down and bought it, drudgingly. As soon as I began reading it though, I was immediately mad at myself for not reading it sooner. It is by far the best book on Christianity besides the bible itself. Lewis is so humble in his writing, but is clearly one of the most brilliant minds ever. You will find yourself following a line of thought and then suddenly he'll end it with something absolutely profound. He does it over and over again throughout the whole book. This book will bring you closer to Christ whether you're a beliver or not. If you're a Christian it will challenge you and help you to grow stronger in your faith. If you're an athiest or agnostic it will blindside you and cause you to question your logic.

Just go ahead and read it. I've read it three times in a row.

Editorial Review:

This work brings together Lewis's legendary broadcast talks of the war years, talks in which he set out simply to "explain and defend the belief that has been common to nearly all Christians at all times". Rejecting the boundaries that divide Christianity's many denominations, C.S. Lewis provides an opportunity for believers and non-believers alike to hear a powerful, rational case for the Christian faith.

Fight Club: A Novel

Chuck Palahniuk

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Total reviews: 647 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

. 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The First rule of FIGHT CLUB IS You do not talk about FIGHT CLUB.
The Second rule of FIGHT CLUB IS You do not talk about FIGHT CLUB.

A sacred, unique snowflake of special unique specialness. 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Here's a word to describe the pervasive resonance this story has enjoyed.

Confrontational.

Fight Club is a pugnacious challenge to examine your life, in the form of a blunt instrument. If you want to get peoples attention these days, best be prepared to bludgeon them upside the head. We the ADD generations have no time for study and meditation. You have 5 seconds to deliver the message in an original and exciting way. Check and check.

Take a massively concentrated answer to the existential dilemma, throw in a couple themes of timely relevence, a sense of urgency, twisted humor and wrap up the whole enchilada in a transgressional tortilla and voila! A quintessential 90's literary masterpiece. Fight Club is the successor to Clockwork Orange.

"This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time"

Consider yourself challenged.

Editorial Review:

The first rule about fight club is you don't talk about fight club.

Chuck Palahniuk's outrageous and startling debut novel that exploded American literature and spawned a movement. Every weekend, in the basements and parking lots of bars across the country, young men with white-collar jobs and failed lives take off their shoes and shirts and fight each other barehanded just as long as they have to. Then they go back to those jobs with blackened eyes and loosened teeth and the sense that they can handle anything. Fight club is the invention of Tyler Durden, projectionist, waiter, and dark, anarchic genius, and it's only the beginning of his plans for violent revenge on an empty consumer-culture world.

Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon

Melissa Anelli

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Total reviews: 49 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Product Description:
***Featuring a Foreword by J.K. Rowling***

The Harry Potter Books Were Just the Beginning of the Story. . .

During the brief span of just one decade, hundreds of millions of perfectly ordinary people made history: they became the only ones who would remember what it was like when the Harry Potter saga was still unfinished. What it was like to seek out friends, families, online forums, fan fiction, and podcasts to get a fix between novels. When the death of a character was a hotter bet than the World Series. When the unfolding story of a boy wizard changed the way books are read for all time.

And as webmistress of The Leaky Cauldron, one of the most popular Harry Potter sites on the Internet, Melissa Anelli had a front row seat to it all. Whether it was helping Scholastic stop leaks and track down counterfeiters, hosting live PotterCasts at bookstores across the country, touring with the wizard rock band Harry and the Potters, or traveling to Edinburgh to interview J. K. Rowling personally, Melissa was at the center of the Harry Potter tornado, and nothing about her life would ever be the same.

The Harry Potter books are a triumph of the imagination that did far more than break sales records for all time. They restored the world’s sense of wonder, and took on a magical life of their own. Now the series has ended, but the story is not over. With remembrances from J. K. Rowling’s editors, agents, publicists, fans, and Rowling herself, Melissa Anelli takes us on a personal journey through every aspect of the Harry Potter phenomenon—from his very first spell to his lasting impact on the way we live and dream.