Customs & Traditions Books - Page 12

Catholic Customs and Traditions: A Popular Guide (More Resources to Enrich Your Lenten Journey)

Greg Dues

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

An arm's length look at Catholic tradition 2 out of 5 stars.
16 of 18 people found this review helpful.

Some interesting information, but overly hostile to traditional Catholicism. The book claims we fasted because of "an exaggerated devotion to the real presence" [p.153]. It says we were overly attentive to the needs of those in purgatory [p.130]. It repeatedly puts the word "souls" in quotes[pp.34,130]. It demeans kneeling as the position of "servitude and slavery" [p.176]. It disparages "confession in a dark closet" [p.146].

The whole book has an odd flavor to it. It uses BCE/CE for dates, instead of BC/AD. It refers to "Orders" instead of "Holy Orders" and too often portrays clergy as either out of touch with the laity or indistinguishable from them. The book often makes it sound as if pagan practice was uncritically adopted by the church.

There is good material here, too. But before you purchase this book, you might want to consider one of the following books, which treat the Catholic faith less skeptically:

The Book of Catholic Customs and Traditions
by Ronda De Sola Chervin and Carla Conley

Catholic Customs: A Fresh Look at Traditional Practices
by Regis J. Flaherty

The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions: Everything You Need to Know but No One Ever Taught You
by Mike Aquilina and Regis J. Flaherty

Why Do Catholics Do That?
by Kevin Orlin Johnson

The Catholic Source Book
by Peter Klein

The Year and Our Children
by Mary Newland

A Continual Feast
by Evelyn Birge Vitz

These books are the products of a living Faith, and helpful for faithfully following Christ in the 21st century. Mr. Dues seems to have some of the Faith as well, which is a great thing, but I fear his book would be damaging to a reader not already unusually-well grounded in Catholicism.

Drifters

James A. Michener

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 53 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Drifters 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book really gives the reader a feel for the Sixties! Written in 1971, `The Drifters' is set in America, Europe and Africa in 1969. The plot centers on six young people from around the world, the ways in which their lives become intertwined, and the adventures they have while traveling. All the music and politics of the Sixties make this a really groovy read.

Bridging the generation gap? Sort of... 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Plot-wise, this is one of the weaker Michener titles I've read. Six teenagers from various corners of the world meet up in a Bohemian enclave in Spain in 1969? No problem. Some of them have been in trouble with the law? It happened then and it happens now. They travel through Europe and Africa in a minibus? Nice work if you can get it. They're guided on their travels by a man old enough to be their grandfather with an ultra-establishment career, whom they all love like an uncle? Not so convincing a twist in any generation, and especially not that one. The old man has already met four of them before they happened to meet each other, and he's known two of them all their lives? Well, it IS fiction, after all. At the height of the generational divide over Vietnam, they also make friends with a middle aged ex-Marine? Please.

But for all that, it's an epic, realistic adventure story by a man who knew everything about how to write them. It's also gritty enough to avoid romanticizing a lifestyle that really isn't as nice as it sounds. I admit that the early chapters had me wishing I could join the gang in Torremolinos, while the later ones made me thank my lucky stars I never tried what they did. Along the way, there are the usual vivid depictions of a wide variety of real places and times (and, this time around, a couple of fictional ones as well), tackling such uncomfortable issues as war, police brutality, murder, drug abuse, radical politics, and life in a third world commune.

As usual, the attention to detail and character development are good enough to justify the fact that the book does go on for a long time. I am especially impressed with the knowledge Michener (then in his mid-60s) managed to amass on the music of the era. He does slip up once and refer to "the latest recording" by a band that only ever made one album, but overall he not only shows a remarkable command of what songs came out in what year, but also of the controversies surrounding some of them and what they all meant to his younger characters. (His 61 year old protagonist's pontifications on "Macarthur Park" are especially amusing, whether intentionally or not.)

As for the ending, you'll probably see it coming a mile away. But you'll also enjoy the ride.

Editorial Review:

In his triumphant best seller, James Michener unfolds a powerful and poignant drama of six young runaways adrift in a world they have created out of dreams, drugs, and dedication to pleasure. With the sure touch of a master, Michener pulls us into the dark center of their private world, whether it's in Spain, Marrakech, or Mozambique, and exposes the naked nerve ends with shocking candor and infinite compassion.
"A superior, picaresque novel...and a revealing mirror held up to contemporary society."
JOHN BARKHAM REVIEWS

Geisha

Liza Dalby

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Subjects -> History -> Asia -> Japan

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 43 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

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 Geisha, this observant ethnographer paints an intoxicating picture of the "flower and willow world" to which she gained entry. "Why are you studying geisha?" asks one slightly belligerent older sister. "Geisha are no different from anybody else." Not quite, says Dalby dryly, pointing out that geisha and wives play utterly divergent, though complementary, roles in traditional Japanese society. "Geisha are supposed to be sexy where wives are sober, artistic where wives are humdrum, and witty where wives are serious." While hardly feminists, they reap freedoms unknown to other women. Dalby illustrates broader cultural differences, too, with a million tiny details about boisterous customers, how many hundred-weight of tabi (split-toed socks) geishas go through, what defines iki (chic), why maiko (young apprentices) are drawn to the life, and what geisha wear, from the skin out. Acknowledging that her growing personal stake in the masquerade prevented objectivity, Dalby frees the reader to enjoy a fluid and fascinating look at one aspect of Japanese culture. --Francesca Coltrera

The Roman Triumph

Mary Beard

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Subjects -> History -> Military -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Listen to a short interview with Mary Beard
Host: Chris Gondek | Producer: Heron & Crane

It followed every major military victory in ancient Rome: the successful general drove through the streets to the temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill; behind him streamed his raucous soldiers; in front were his most glamorous prisoners, as well as the booty he'd captured, from enemy ships and precious statues to plants and animals from the conquered territory. Occasionally there was so much on display that the show lasted two or three days.

A radical reexamination of this most extraordinary of ancient ceremonies, this book explores the magnificence of the Roman triumph--but also its darker side. What did it mean when the axle broke under Julius Caesar's chariot? Or when Pompey's elephants got stuck trying to squeeze through an arch? Or when exotic or pathetic prisoners stole the general's show? And what are the implications of the Roman triumph, as a celebration of imperialism and military might, for questions about military power and "victory" in our own day? The triumph, Mary Beard contends, prompted the Romans to question as well as celebrate military glory.

Her richly illustrated work is a testament to the profound importance of the triumph in Roman culture--and for monarchs, dynasts and generals ever since. But how can we re-create the ceremony as it was celebrated in Rome? How can we piece together its elusive traces in art and literature? Beard addresses these questions, opening a window on the intriguing process of sifting through and making sense of what constitutes "history."

(20071101)

Chicken Soup for the Tea Lovers Soul: Stories Steeped in Comfort (Chicken Soup for the Soul)

Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Patricia Lorenz

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Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Self-Help -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Is enjoying a cup of tea the favorite part of your day? Is the brewing of a 'cuppa' a ritual that centers and calms you? Then let Chicken Soup for the Tea Lover's Soul help you reconnect with yourself in the silent intimacy and introspection experienced while sipping tea.

Chicken Soup for the Tea Lover's Soul is the perfect accompaniment to that English Breakfast, delightful Darjeeling , French Vanilla, spicy Chai, or comforting Chamomile. Nothing soothes the soul like a cup of tea and a good book, so curl up and wash away the tensions and troubles of the day.

Learn about tea's ancient history and discover the many choices of tea available from the most exclusive to the tried-and-true favorites. Included are tips on buying, storing, and preparing tea, and even a few ideas on how to host a tea party. You'll also discover:

• The best-tasting and most popular teas

• The proper way to steep tea

• The health benefits of tea

• The difference between black and green tea, and much more.

Nothing soothes the soul like a cup of tea and a good book, so curl up and wash away the tensions and troubles of the day.

Dinner with a Cannibal: The Complete History of Mankind's Oldest Taboo

Carole A. Travis-Henikoff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Presenting the history of cannibalism in concert with human evolution, this account takes readers on an astonishing trip around the world and throughout history, painting the incredible, multifaceted realities of cannibalism. Focusing on how cannibalism began with the human species and how it has become an unspeakable taboo today, this study answers questions such as Where, when, and how did shame and secrecy become connected with cannibalism? Why did some cannibals consume their enemies while others consumed their dead relatives? Did the eating of human flesh make them crazy? and What does it taste like? With careful anthropological and archaeological analysis and the telling of fascinating stories from around the world, this remarkable resource also includes details on the most famous real-life instances of cannibalism—including the Alive! incident in the Andes and the German Butcher of Hannover—and facts on infamous fictional cannibals such as Hannibal Lecter.

A Daughter of Han: The Autobiography of a Chinese Working Woman

Ida Pruitt

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Slice of Life 5 out of 5 stars.
15 of 15 people found this review helpful.

Ning Lao Ta'i-ta'i. _The Autobiography of a Chinese Working Woman. Translated and Transcribed by Ida Pruitt. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1967.

Every now and then I read an entire book in one for one or two reasons a) I have to read a book that I have put off for the time period in which I had to read it b) I become completely engrossed in it. I must say that, in the case of this book, it started off as the former and it ended up being the latter, although I still have to write a paper on it by tuesday.

This memoir was was orally transcribed by Ida Pruitt over a two year period in which Mrs. Ning visited her from 1936-38. Pruitt was forced to leave Beijing in 1938 when the Japanese invaded the series. In the brief introduction of the book, Pruitt informs the reader that she does not know what happened to Mrs. Ning after she returned to America. The brutallity of the Japanese army was not as great in Beijing as in such areas as Nanjing and Shanghai,but one can not help wondering about Mrs.Ning who the reader, or at least I, becomes quite attached to.

Mrs. Ning begins her tale by detailing how her family became established in the town of P'englai her family history is both entrenched in history and folklore and makes for a fascinting read. The book continues following her life from her childhood, marriage, hard times, working both for government officials and missionaries, and finally living in Beijing. The greatest thing about this book is the extraordinary detail Mrs. Ning goes into describing her everyday life. One can almost see oneself removing the fourth wall of the past and being able to see late Ching China. One gets to see a good picture of opium addiction and the dealings inside yamen, political offices, that are no longer controlled by skilled officials. A great book.

Material World: A Global Family Portrait

Peter Menzel, Charles C. Mann

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 54 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

In honor of the United Nations-sponsored International Year of the Family in 1994, award-winning photojournalist Peter Menzel brought together 16 of the world's leading photographers to create a visual portrait of life in 30 nations. Material World tackles its wide subject by zooming in, allowing one household to represent an entire nation. Photographers spent one week living with a "statistically average" family in each country, learning about their work, their attitudes toward their possessions, and their hopes for the future. Then a "big picture" shot of the family was taken outside the dwelling, surrounded by all their (many or few) material goods.

The book provides sidebars offering statistics and a brief history for each country, as well as personal notes from the photographers about their experiences. But it is the "big pictures" that tell most of the story. In one, a British family pauses before a meal of tea and crumpets under a cloudy sky. In another, wary Bosnians sit beside mattresses used as sniper barricades. A Malian family composed of a husband, his two wives, and their children rests before a few cooking and washing implements in golden afternoon light. Material World is a lesson in economics and geography, reminding us of the world's inequities, but also of humanity's common threads. An engrossing, enlightening book. --Maria Dolan

Kiss, Bow, or Shakes Hands Asia: How to Do Business in 12 Asian Countries (Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands)12

Terri Morrison, Wayne A. Conway

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Kiss Bow or Shake Hands Asia 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I bought this for my daughter who does a lot of business travel. She said it is an awesome resource and a must for those doing business abroad.

Editorial Review:

Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: Asia reveals the subtleties of interaction, negotiation strategies, and professional skills you need to keep poised for success in your business travels. This comprehensive guide to Asia contains up-to-date information to lead you through social situations, business meetings, and understanding local culture.

Americans must now consider how economies are continuously shifting all over Asia, and how Asian countries interact with the West and each other. Learn about business practices, cognitive styles, negotiation techniques, and social customs. Give the right gift; make the right gesture.

Includes:

• Cultural IQ tests
• ÒKnow Before You GoÓ tips
• Alerts on international security issues

Countries profiled are China (Hong Kong), India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The Japanese Bath

Bruce Smith, Yoshiko Yamamoto

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

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

This book helped me design my Japanese bath and provided a wonderful resource for my ofuro-Sea Otter Woodworks in Alaska. I love the book and my new bath.

Beautiful Baths! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Delight your every sense by checking out this book. The beautiful photography will help you design your relaxing bath space.

Sources problem 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Beautiful pictures and instructional text. However, one wonders why the authors included some of the "Resources" they did. Some of these have no website or catalogue. Example: Soko Hardware in San Francisco. So, if you don't live in the Bay Area, including them was almost useless. I would have liked to have seen more sources with which one can view and buy items.

Editorial Review:

In the West, a bath is a place one goes to cleanse the body. In Japan, one goes there to cleanse the soul. Bathing in Japan is about much more than cleanliness: it is about family and community. It is about being alone and contemplative, time to watch the moon rise above the garden.< BR> Along with sixty full-color illustrations of the light and airy baths themselves, The Japanese Bath, delves into the aesthetic of bathing Japanese style and the innate beauty of the steps surrounding the process. The authors explain how to create a Japanese bath in your own home. A Zen meditation, the Japanese bath, indeed, cleanses the soul, and one emerges refreshed, renewed, and serene.< BR>