Book Description
Susan Page's groundbreaking approach to relationships gives readers the tools and encouragement they need to bring positive changes to their relationship, even when their partners are unwilling to do the work. Based on the premise that what you do in a relationship makes changes faster than anything you discuss, Page introduces the concept of "Loving Leadership" and offers fourteen empowering and doable strategies for recapturing the positive feelings, including how to:
Overcome resentment and move beyond blameSolve major problems--one at a timeRecapture lost intimacy
Step-by-step, Page demonstrates that with tangible goals, and new ways of thinking, one partner can bring new levels of harmony and love to a relationship.
Customer Reviews:
This book is a breath of fresh air!.......2007-08-23
What a relief it is to consider that you alone, without the cooperation or consent of your spouse, can work to improve the quality of your relationship...Wow! I found this book to be very empowering and uplifting...forcing me to focus on the good rather than the negative aspects of my relationship.
This book has fabulous insight into the male versus female habits, needs, tendencies and desires. I consider myself to be an optimist and a spiritual person, and most relationship books just don't "fit", and usually bring me down. I definitely plan to read more by this author, and I hope my spouse will as well.
When you read this book, make sure that you don't skip the "In Conclusion" section at the end...it brought me to tears, and truly put into words how I feel about my husband, and about life! We need to stop focusing on our problems and how to solve them, and just focus on the moment and the journey. Enjoy life...Begin now!
Helpful.......2007-04-11
If you are frustrated with not getting enough effort out of your partner when it comes to getting a derailed relationship back on track this book will help. I can't say it is the best written book ever, but the ways it tells you to cope and take charge are enough to make it a worthwile read.
Saved my marriage.......2007-02-03
I really didn't believe that I could change my relationship, by only working myself. Boy, did Susan Page show me I was wrong. Take note, this book is not for the lazy or the faint of heart. She has "exercises" that you must actually DO, many of which involve writing about yourself and your partner. She requires that you do some hard and sometimes painful analysis of your situation. It's not always easy, it's not always fun. But if you are willing to do the work, you will find that you CAN bring you and your spouse together.
Can This Marriage Be Saved?.......2005-12-22
I wish I'd had this book when my first marriage ran into trouble. My counselor at that time told me the marriage could be saved only if both persons were willing to work on it and that one person could not save it alone.
The focus of this book is on developing fresh perspectives about the relationship, overcoming resentment, recapturing lost intimacy and solving major problems, one at a time. Don't give up without first trying these techniques.
very insightful.......2005-09-27
This book is very insightful. I just got the book and couldn't stop reading it. It points out many things that I've been doing was wrong and teach me new techniques to due with issues. I am the person that often spend a lot of energy being angry and felt like there were no way out because my partner and I are both very bull headed. But this book taught me many techniques to manage my anger (to release them but not venting them on my partner.), and deal with the problem.... not putting it off and felt more and more bitter and angry for months and finally there was the big blow up! These are good techniques to learn even if you are in a good relationship. I can't wait to try these little experiments and see how they work out.
Book Description
In this thoroughly updated edition of his classic book, Hargrove introduces you to Masterful Coaching, the method, Hargrove draws on his in-depth experience of coaching leaders at all levels gained since writing the first edition. The book provides guiding ideas, tools, and methods that will empower you on your own journey to Masterful Coaching. You will learn to empower people to transform who they are as leaders and at the same time their ability to produce results that were previously considered impossible by applying triple loop learning. This is about ripping the blinders off so that people see that who they are, the goals they set, and the plans they make, and actions they take are often part of historical winning strategies that are the source of their past success but that limit them from achieving what's possible or playing a much bigger game.
Customer Reviews:
Essential For Your Library!.......2007-01-10
For anyone who is a coach, considering becoming a coach, or curious about coaching, this book is a MUST read! Hargroove clearly distinguishes between a coach and a "Masterful Coach" - one that gets results. It's a different paradigm and different way of being with coaching clients that gets results. He shows that coaching is about serving others from the perspective that they are whole and complete; it's not about fixing or helping them.
Coaching + Systems Thinking = Transformation!.......2005-12-15
The author integrates coaching with systems thinking and the learning organization popularized by Peter Senge's book "The Fifth Discipline". This revised edition shows the Hargrove's approach is still fresh and surprisingly unique, given all the recent books published on coaching.
One unique contribution is Hargrove's model of triple-loop learning. It is a model of reflection. The first loop is reflecting on the outcome of actions for incremental improvement. The second loop is reflecting on assumptions that led to the decisions about those actions. The third loop is self-reflection on the core identity of the decision maker. This acknowledges that who we are influences our assumptions about the world and thus our actions. This type of reflection has become the core of quality coaching.
Other particularly helpful sections are the chapters on stretch goals and breakthrough thinking. Pushing for breakthroughs, rather than incremental change, requires the use of stretch goals. Hargrove tells us how to coach through the process of setting stretch goals. He says you first must decide what would be a breakthrough, then dig inside for motivation by examining why it is important to achieve and what's in it for me? Finally, learning and acting differently is essential to reaching stretch goals.
Hargrove's combination of systems thinking and learning organization principles with coaching is a real winner. Other books might be more thorough on the "how to" of coaching but his theory and tools for transformational change are excellent and unique.
Every coach should read this book!.......2003-05-03
In the last ten years since I started coaching managers and leaders, I have read almost everything out there on the subject. This book stands out! The distinctions Hargrove makes about coaching provide clarity, while being very useable and transferable to others. He also writes in a very readable style, and balances profundity and humor to get his points across. Some points that I found especially useful were:
How to generate a powerful coaching relationship by clarifying what each person needs to bring to the party. I found this extremely helpful in re-igniting an ebbing coaching relationship.
Hargrove writes that a leader needs to "be the source" of their impossible future or what it is that they want to create. He shows how to coach someone to do this.
Thinking drives behavior. Hargrove provides clarity and examples on how to coach people in a more profound and deeper way than the usual tips and techniques that novice coaches give.
Hargrove also writes about getting feedback for the coaching client by doing interviews rather than using the typical 360 degree feedback forms. He says, "If more than one person calls you a horse, saddle up!"
I recommend this book to coaches, managers and leaders who want to up the level of their game.
Fantastic revision of an already great book!.......2003-05-03
I found Hargrove's book inspiring, insightful, and useful. I had read his first book - which was pivotal for me in creating my own coaching business-- and have found that he has taken this work to another level-a very compelling, as well as easy read. The two parts that I found most applicable to my own coaching clients were his step-by-step approach to coaching executives and the part on creating a "laboratory" that fosters collaboration within a group. I was able to bring these principles to a client who was wowed by what we were able to generate for her business. I would recommend this book to any coach, internal and external to a company, as well as to any leader who wants to create an "impossible future."
New Paradigm For Werner Erhard's Est?.......2003-04-23
Are people still being fooled by this same hash and rehash of Werner Erhard's "est," which is going by a new name "The Landmark Forum?" Hargrove's work looks to have been lifted wholesale from the Landmark Education so-called "Curiculum For Living." One wonders if he pays royalties for the use of Werner's, what he himself liked to refer to as, technology. Of course, no one told Werner there were lots of people around who would recognize his use of the word "technology" in this context as having come from one of his inspirations, L. Ron Hubbard and his "Philosophy for Living." And that is what characterizes this book, made all the more obvious by the long list of glowing testimonials, all using thoses tried-and-true estie buzz-words and phrases, the copy-cat, unimaginative litany: transformation, paradigm, empowerment, mastery, extraordinary results, tools for living, taking a stand, blah, blah, and blah. So here is my question. Is Mr. Hargrove shilling for Landmark Education or has he struck out on his own as so many of L. Ron's and now Werner's followers using the same formula and the same ideas? Rick Ross and Steven Hassan's websites have anough background on the "coaching" phenomenon to get you started, if you are curious about the dubious roots of this practice.
Book Description
Nearly 60 percent of remarriages end in divorce. What can people do to beat the odds?
David and Lisa Frisbie share the fruits of more than 20 years of speaking, teaching, and counseling. Having talked to hundreds of couples, the authors use many real–life examples and speak with hope and humor about the challenges. They point to four key strategies to help bring long–term unity:
- forgive everyone, including yourself
- regard remarriage as permanent and irreversible
- use conflict to get better acquainted
- form a spiritual connection centered on serving God
With further step–by–step marriage–saving advice about forming a new family unit and helpful discussion questions, Happily Remarried makes a great how–to recipe for a successful, happy remarriage.
Customer Reviews:
An Invaluable Handbook for Marriage.......2007-09-21
I enjoyed reading this book. I have given several copies away and am happy I have. As a married man I feel that it has helped me in my marriage. It is inciteful and direct. I loved all the true stories and examples. These guys know what they're talking about!
Uplifting for anyone considering remarriage.......2007-08-27
With all of the marriages ending in divorce today, this book is timely and needed. Anyone considering remarriage needs to read this book! With time-tested, practical advice, David and Lisa show how to build a love and family that lasts.
Best Blended-Family Book I've Seen.......2007-03-26
Anyone thinking about remarriage hopes for the "happily" part. But is that a realistic expectation? Everything I read tells me that remarriages are breaking up faster than first marriages.
This book --- chock-full of real life stories and examples --- looks at why some remarriages "make it" and go the distance. There are examples here of 40- and even 50-year remarriages that are healthy, thriving, successful. I am not sure about remarrying (I'm divorced, and a single mom) but if I do, the principles in this book will definitely help me.
This is the best blended-family book I've seen.
Barbara Sheldon, M.S.W.
Currently reading: Surprised by Remarriage: A Guide to the Happily-Even-After
Thank you, Dr. and Mrs. Frisbie!.......2006-08-07
This book has touched my heart in so many ways. My dad's father walked out on grandma when my dad was five, and it impacted our family even through my teenage years. I grew up not really understanding why Daddy's heart was still hurting, and I didn't realize until my own marriage that I had inherited that same pain--a fear of being abandoned, divorced and rejected. Happily Remarried has given my husband and I the ammunition to destroy those fears, protect our marriage, and understand the hearts of those we love who have suffered through the pain of divorce. A HUGE thank you to David and Lisa for sharing their wealth of experience in this sensitive area! It is so beautifully written, I felt like they were in my living room, sharing iced tea and having a long heart-to-heart conversation. Bless you for writing this book.
Why My Stepkids Don't Like Me.......2006-07-24
It may not be good news, but it sure is helpful. This book is showing me why my stepkids still don't seem to like me, after 18 months of being married. I've read the chapter called "Who's The Boss?" two times and I need to read it again. I wish I had read this book before the wedding, but at least I am reading it now. I like the stories in this book; I can relate to most of them. Vicki and I are going to make it work, but it hasn't been easy. Her kids don't like me most of the time. Now I know why, and now I know what to do about it. So far, it seems to be working, too.
Book Description
Whether you are beginning a new career in automotive sales, have been in the business since birth or are a customer seeking insight into what is behind the smoke and mirrors, Cars and People; How to Put the Two Together, is for you.
There is more to sales than basics; journey through the behavioral side of the deal. Learn how to control your customer. Understand what a real commitment is. Be prepared to get dirty. You'll be digging up old stereotypes, planting seeds and building rapport.
There is no reason for the sale to be so difficult. It's only cars and people. Congratulations! Now you are armed with the tools to put the two together.
Download Description
Whether you are beginning a new career in automotive sales, have been in the business since birth or are a customer seeking insight into what is behind the smoke and mirrors, Cars and People; How to Put the Two Together, is for you.
There is more to sales than basics; journey through the behavioral side of the deal. Learn how to control your customer. Understand what a real commitment is. Be prepared to get dirty. You'll be digging up old stereotypes, planting seeds and building rapport.
There is no reason for the sale to be so difficult. It's only cars and people. Congratulations! Now you are armed with the tools to put the two together.
Customer Reviews:
Nothing New, But a Good Refresher.......2007-03-08
Ziegler certainly gives an inside look into the business, but for me, having been to two Joe Verde seminars, it came as nothing new. For someone new to the business, I'd certainly recommened it. For someone with several years in the business, it'd still be a very good refresher course. It's all too easy to get into a "rut", and this book can help you see where your mistakes are possibly being made, so that you can correct them. It would also be a good read for a car buyer, as it would give them a lot of insight into how SOME dealerships conduct business.
A MUST READ FOR WOULD-BE CARS SALESPEOPLE.......2007-01-13
This is the blood and guts of the business!!! It gives would-be salespeople a great idea of how they would have to "mutate" so as to be an effective car sales professional.
AND it also gives would-be car buyers a great peep-hole into the business so as to differentiate between having the wool over their eyes and/or having a B-52 dive bomb them with a load of sheep!!!
Very nicely done. The one book I'd encourage for newbees........2006-06-15
In the business of selling cars there were no choices prior to this book. If you wanted to have something to read that would give any introspection for what the car sales professional would go through or could expect you had very few choices.
This book does a fantastic job of describing the steps to the sale. It is easy to read and follow. The examples are real world. I will definitely have all my staff read this one as well as every person I consider hiring in the future.
I am a bit jaded perhaps. I had purchased this book prior to having eLead Training in my dealership. When he came in as the trainer it was strange once I put two and two together and realized he was the author. He does a fantastic job of painting the picture and getting salespeople to follow.
If you are considering entering the automotive sales profession do yourself a favor and start here. You will not be disappointed.
Real life info.......2006-03-01
I have read a few of the popular books on automotive sales and this has to be the best. This book is full of great how-to information, in addition it is presented in a comical easy to read format with lots of interesting stories about dealership life. I really connected being a ex-service employee of a dealer myself. I miss those days and want to get back in on the sales end. I can say this book will make not only getting a automotive sales job that much easier, it will help me from day one with all the how to advice..
This is a very well written book on a very hard subject........2006-02-04
I believe that most car guys are alot like me; detail oriented control freaks. Though this books fault is the fact that it reads simply it is also its greatest strength. It is written as if the author is chatting to me over a beer. He is thorough and deliberate. His passion for what he beleves in is obvious. At times I found the book almost too simple. However, I am pleased to have read it as it reminded me of the things that I should be doing. I don't know about the other reviewers, their reasons for slamming this book or others, or their motivations. I do know what I enjoy and I enjoyed this book very much. The reason I cannot give it 5 stars is for the fact that it can be improved. There is always room to improve.
I will say that I liked the glossary as well as the fact that the author gives help on how the reader can get ahold of him if there are any further questions. I tried to reach the author and was pleasantly surprised at how fast he responded. We spoke for nearly an hour on the phone.
If you are now in, or are thinking of joining the rest of us in the car business, I strongly encourage that you read anything you can find on the subject. This book should be at the top of your list.
Book Description
Half about Relationships half about financial planning. You will learn to communicate, negotiate, set up systems to resolve frustration and conflict leading the married couple to make attainable financial goals leading to a strong financial future.
Customer Reviews:
Good for beginners, maybe.......2007-02-25
There is helpful information in this book, but I still didn't like it.
It's targeted at people about to marry, including the very important principle of figuring out whether you're as matched financially as you are in other ways. Since money is one of the hugest sources of arguments in marriage, knowing what attitudes you're marrying is crucial.
Unfortunately, it seems to be targeted also at very young couples, and the patronising, overly simplistic tone does not leave much room for argument. I don't like books where the author tells me "you should" this and "you should" that. It smacks too much of arrogance; there are just too many shades of gray. There's plenty of this tone in this book, and I found it off-putting. I also note the amount of psychobabble and the number of sweeping generalizations about men and women found in its pages. I don't know how much research this author did, but I know one thing: he's a CPA, not a therapist. It shows.
So saying, the actual *financial* information is useful. Just about everything is at least touched on, though being somewhat out of date now there's no mention of anything online. He looks at trusts, ways to teach children about money, wills, retirement funds, investments...a very wide range. Especially to a couple coming to marriage starry-eyed and naive, this book contains things to discuss and think about.
I might well have benefited from something like this when I married. I just feel that the psychobabble is too rigid, too one-size-fits-all, and doesn't really add much of anything to the mix. I would encourage a reader not to make this their only book about money and/or relating inside a marriage.
Found Deeper Love.......1998-06-17
My husband and I have read this book together. It has been very helpful and eye opening for us. We have struggled to provide and introduce our children to the type of life we have wanted them to know. This book has helped take a lot of the roadblocks to our success as a couple out of the way and we are more in love with each other than ever before. We have learned to be able to deal with difficult issues and we have learned how important it is to be looking for ways to improve our relationship skills. Now discussing small, difficult or money issus in our life are no longer difficult or agonizing. We have learned to calmly and politely sit down and talk with one another and work through together the issues of managing our household. We are sure glad we found this book and we refer it to our friends often.
Pleased that we can talk.......1998-06-12
My husband and I have read this book and it has been so helpful to us. We have been married 12 years and we have had a lot of tense moments when it comes to managing and speiding money. We learned so much from this book about why we are different and what to do to smooth things out between us. We would like send our complements to the author...our relationship is so much closer and happier now.
No help.......1998-05-18
If you are planning to get married, this book would be wise reading to open your eyes to potential problems with your future spouse. If you're already married, it is very hard to move above the preachy, condescending attitudes of the author in order to find the bits of wisdom to help your marriage financially. It is too late to choose one's mate carefully (lest we jeopardize our potential net worth) unless we divorce and start all over again with someone else (not an option for me).
This is an extremely important and useful book/tool for life.......1997-11-14
"Money and Marriage - Making it work together" was an easily accessible book that guides people through the obstacles that finances bring to a relationship. The book councils and directs the reader down a well lit path of information and understanding. Mr. Pybrum, the author, does not promise to get you rich quick or make you skinny in a week but he does try, and I believe he accomplishes his task, to point out problems both fiscal and emotional that a bankruptcy and divorce laden culture such as ours needs to be aware of. What's more he show methods and mantras by which a couple can guide themselves to a more harmonius love life and monetary future.
I recommend the book whole heartedly to all young couples or as a great gift for a couple, especially a honeymoon gift!.
Book Description
It costs a lot of money to build a well in Africa - a lot more than Ryan Hreljac had thought. Still, the six year old kept doing chores around his parents' house, even after he learned it could take him years to earn enough money. Then a friend of the family wrote an article in the local newspaper about Ryan's wish to build a well to supply people with safe, clean water. Before long, ripples of goodwill began spreading. People started sending money to help pay for Ryan's well. Ryan was interviewed on television. He appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, twice. His dream of a well became an international news story. In Agweo, Uganda, villagers were used to walking a long way every day in search of water. What they found was often brown and smelly and made a lot of people sick. But when Ryan's well was built, life in the village changed for the better. A young orphan named Akana Jimmy longed for a chance to thank Ryan in person for this gift of life - clean water. When they finally meet, an unbreakable bond unites these boys from very different backgrounds, and a long and sometimes life-threatening journey begins. Ryan and Jimmy is a true story of friendship and compassion in which a simple wish to help others brings focus to the necessities that unite us all.
Customer Reviews:
Action.......2007-05-29
Every person - child or adult - should read this book. Ryan is the perfect example of someone who saw a need and took action. As a teacher at an International Baccalaureate - Primary Years Programme, this book stands side-by-side with the profiles and attitudes of a reflective learner.
A much needed resource for a shrinking planet.......2007-02-28
The story begins with a teacher telling her classroom of young children about the plight of children in Africa who are without clean drinking water. A boy saves up money from household chores to help. But the book is far more than just a story about bringing a well to an African village. There are enough twists and turns in the plot to keep everyone on the edge of their seat. Not only do Ugandan children drink unclean/unsafe water, but their very lives are at stake because of roving bands of kidnapped children who were forced to become soldiers. A thoroughly engrossing book suitable for classroom read-aloud time.
Book Description
On Our Own, Together describes the inner workings of eight successful peer-run services for mental health consumers, including drop-in centers, educational programs, and peer support/mentoring programs. Written by people who developed such programs, it reveals these services as a valuable resource within the mental health system and a precious necessity for many consumers.
Customer Reviews:
book ok, binding loose.......2005-07-10
The book was in good shape and came quickly, but the binding was a little loose. I glued it with superglue and now it is ok.
Something About Us.......2005-07-06
This book is written by and for people who are consumer/survivors of mental health treatment. We have adopted the disability rights slogan, 'Nothing About Us Without Us!'. We are part of a movement to transform a failed healthcare system through peer support and advocacy. We seek to create programs 'on our own,' together with all people who aspire to help others as they help themselves.
Average customer rating:
- Almost useless...
- Excellent guide with real life advice on budgeting
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Financial Planning for Couples: How to Work Together to Build Security and Success
Adriane G. Berg
Manufacturer: Newmarket Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Public Finance
| Economics
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Financial Planning
| Personal Finance
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Personal Finance
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1557041660 |
Book Description
Over 25,000 copies sold--This completely updated edition includes the latest on the new tax laws, college planning for children, and caring for aging parents. Here's everything partners need to know about setting financial priorities, getting organized as a team, and investing for a comfortable retirement. With checklists, worksheets, and real-life case studies, this updated edition helps identify the sources of money conflicts, avoid the 25 most common syndromes that cost couples money, eliminate fight patterns, and with Berg's 10-step system couples can learn everything about record-keeping, goal setting, cash flow, budgeting, investment and tax planning, calculating net worth, housing, insurance, and handling credit.
Customer Reviews:
Almost useless..........1999-10-18
I didn't take a thing away from this book except that couples fight over money, that couples fight over money, and that couples fight over money.
I was hoping to find information and advice that would help my transition from being a single person to a married one, but didn't get anything beyond suggestions like keeping a "Fight Diary" so that we can see trends in our fighting habits.
"Personal Finance For Dummies (2nd Edition)" was much more useful.
Excellent guide with real life advice on budgeting.......1998-07-07
If you've been looking for a guide on controlling the money flow in your household that goes beyond the elementary suggestions of setting up categories and recording expenses, something any good PC home finance program can handle, this is it. Adriane G. Berg's experience as a divorce attorney has exposed her to every kind of squabble possible between spouses over money. In this book she has laid out concrete suggestions and a methodology of handling money that will preserve each partner's self esteem and minimize arguments. So often after reading other texts, I am tempted to ask, "Yeah, but how you really do that with your spouse." Here are the answers. I would recommend this to anyone who like to improve budgeting and funds control in their household.
Book Description
In Gather Together in My Name Maya Angelou continues her stunning autobiography. By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, passionate and mellow, she fills the pages with both wisdom and wonder as she brings us along in her struggle and dance through life.
From the Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
a must read.......2007-04-12
What an inspiration that Maya Angelou is to the world. Her story shows there is hope for everyone in any circumstance to overcome and make a difference to this world. If you don't know her story, this is a must read!! You'll love it.
Inspiring and unapologetic read!.......2007-01-03
Maya Angelou continues her life story in Gather Together In My Name. She candidly describes her experiences being a young mother, experimenting with the temptations life presents, and her mistakes. Through it all the reader grows from her experience alongside her. Another page turning examination of the experience of life written with boldness, beauty, and simplicity.
A Difficult and Bitter Lesson.......2006-07-19
GATHER TOGETHER IN MY NAME is a difficult book to read. Oh, not because of Angelou's syntax, vocabulary or sentence structure. On the contrary, she writes in a clear, direct style that, if anything, may be a little too unembellished for some readers' pleasure. Now and then, to convey an effect more distinctly to the reader, her words suggest the patois of the speaker whom she is quoting. But no, the difficulty does not lie in the words, but rather in the message. It is painful to experience, even vicariously, the feelings of entrapment, abandonment, and repeated failure that Angelou presents to us. It is frustrating to see her heading from one failed endeavor to another, from one jilting to another, from one desperate attempt "to find her niche" to another.
How could anyone be so naive? How could anyone be so gullible? How could anyone be such a victim? The reader must remind himself, however, that, at the time of her life depicted in this book, Angelou is not the accomplished writer and poet of her later years. She is a confused, culturally lost teenager with a child and has experienced little besides rejection for her entire young life. She is very much an innocent girl with a growing resentment of the world around her but with a trusting optimism and an over-developed faith in her own worth, all of which combine to make her quite vulnerable to those who would prey upon her.
She is the product of a failed marriage and was sent by her father to be raised by his mother in Stamps, Arkansas in the 1940's, a location and era in which being Black was not a positive attribute. Though GATHER TOGETHER deals with her later teenage years, we do get a few glimpses of the segregated society into which she had been born. After having sampled the bitter workaday world of menial jobs in California, she returns to her Southern childhood home without the necessary subservience required of a Black and insults the supercilious clerks in a store in the white part of town, after which she must be hurriedly sent back to California to avoid the inevitable vengeance of the "white boys." The effect of growing up in this kind of hostile, demeaning environment must be kept in mind if the reader is to have any hope at understanding the formative influences that produced the attitudes that we witness in the Angelou of this book.
One quite understandable result of her upbringing is that the young Angelou (though not yet known by that name) has no social relationship whatsoever with Caucasian society. To say that she distrusts that society is not quite accurate, for the word "distrust" suggests that she has examined the society and found it deceitful. However, at this point in her life, she has not even examined it. Black and White society and culture are so different, so mutually exclusive, that they exist on different worlds or in different dimensions, and "never the twain shall meet." Because, perhaps, of her total alienation from Caucasian society and culture, the young Angelou seems to trust Blacks uncritically, even though other Blacks are the consistent source of her painful lessons in life--used by one while his girlfriend is elsewhere, maneuvered into prostitution by another, her baby stolen by a third--Angelou still clings to Black society. But, then, what other option had she?
I worry somewhat that younger readers who cannot relate to the legally segregated United States that endured into the 1960s will not find this personal history very believable. I worry also that those who have not lived in the South (even in the 21st century!) or near a ghetto will find the cultural stigma and limitations of being Black extreme and unrealistic. There are those readers who, not understanding the very real social, cultural, economic, and even legal shackles that bound Blacks long after the physical shackles of slavery were shed, will feel that Angelou is, at the very least, exaggerating the conditions which she had to endure and will place more blame upon her for bringing about her own tribulations than is warranted. However, those readers are the very ones who should take the book to heart, for it may help them comprehend just a little bit more of America's dark underbelly than white, middle-class America normally sees. They will find the message difficult and bitter to assimilate, yet it is a part of our country's history and needs to be learned.
"Find your innocence..." And never lose it again!!!.......2005-10-15
There were times as I was reading this book that I cringed and thought to myself "How could she be so stupid." But I had to remind myself of her tender age in this story. She did a lot of things at a young age that many of us may never do in our entire lifetime. Prostitution, Pimping and drugs. This book had so much purpose and that's why I call it "One of the best book that I read all year". It's written like a novel so it doesn't come off preachy or like a self help book. Maya Angelou tells a portion of her story. She uncovers layers of clothing and bares the naked truth of her young adulthood. To me this is not just a story of a black woman and a black womans struggles; this is a story about hard knocks and people of all races and nationalities experience them. "Rita" felt like she had to make her own way, she felt like she needed all of the answers at once. No one was going to take care of her and son. And at the same time, while she felt the burdens of independence, she also felt the emptieness and lonlieness that we all feel some time or another just because we are human. "Rita" made a lot of poor decisions, but that's not the reason that we know her today. We don't know her because she was once a madam on the West Coast, or a prostitute in Stockton, or a cook in Oakland. We know her because she found God's plan for her life and stuck with it.
Possibly the Best Biograhphy I've ever read.......2005-06-21
I always as a little girl looked up to Maya Angelou, I always thought she was wonderful. But I didn't know why she was such a wonderful person. Now I understand why. So what if she was a prositute , she had a good reason . She was in love and young. You only live once.I look at life differently now since I read the book. It showed me just because somebody does something it doesn't make them a bad person but they have a reason.
Amazon.com
Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee met in 1945, when they were both performing in the same play on Broadway; Davis, resuming an acting career that had been interrupted by a World War II tour of duty in Liberia, was cast as the male lead, while Dee was originally hired as understudy to the female lead and soon found herself taking over the part. Three years later, still working together, they took advantage of a rehearsal-free day in their schedule to get married--and have been together through thick and thin ever since.
Trading turns with one another, Davis and Dee discuss the high and low points of more than a half century in each other's company. With Ossie & Ruby has enough stories for at least three books, covering the world of stage and film, the history of the civil rights movement, and the endurance of love and marriage. Their telling, in alternating first-person narration, is unflinching in its portrayal of the hardships they endured for being black-skinned and "left-wing" political activists--and equally firm in their continued dedication. This is a first-rate memoir by a man and a woman--each with a thriving career--who have collaborated to form a union even greater than the sum of its parts.
Book Description
This is the captivating, inspiring autobiography of a star couple who've celebrated 50 years of marriage.
Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee are legendary stars of the American stage, television, and film, a beloved and revered couple cherished not just for their acting artistry but also for their lifelong commitment to civil rights, family values, and the black community. Now they look back on a half- century of their personal and political struggles to maintain a healthy marriage and to create the record of distinguished accomplishment that earned each a Presidential Medal for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.
With Ossie and Ruby overflows with consummate storytelling skill developed by decades in the spotlight. From their early years as struggling actors in Harlem's black theater to Broadway and Hollywood stardom, they regale the reader with colorful, entertaining tales of the places they've been and the people they've met. But their charming humor is leavened with a more serious side, as they share their experiences of keeping a family together in a world where scandal and divorce is the rule, and of being artists and political activists in an era of intense racial ferment. Born into the struggle, their characters were shaped by the dynamic collisions of life, politics, and art; and from those experiences, they achieved some sense of their worth as married people, friends, and lovers.
Warm, positive, and compelling, this is a book that will surprise and challenge readers everywhere -- black and white, male and female, young and old. Lifting the veil of public image, media hype, and mystique, Ossie and Ruby speak of the real-life dilemmas and rewards of their lifelong search for purpose and value.
Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee are legendary stars of the American stage, television, and film, a beloved and revered couple cherished not just for their acting artistry but also for their lifelong commitment to civil rights, family values, and the black community. Now they look back on a half- century of their personal and political struggles to maintain a healthy marriage and to create the record of distinguished accomplishment that earned each a Presidential Medal for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.
With Ossie and Ruby overflows with consummate storytelling skill developed by decades in the spotlight. From their early years as struggling actors in Harlem's black theater to Broadway and Hollywood stardom, they regale the reader with colorful, entertaining tales of the places they've been and the people they've met. But their charming humor is leavened with a more serious side, as they share their experiences of keeping a family together in a world where scandal and divorce is the rule, and of being artists and political activists in an era of intense racial ferment. Born into the struggle, their characters were shaped by the dynamic collisions of life, politics, and art; and from those experiences, they achieved some sense of their worth as married people, friends, and lovers.
Warm, positive, and compelling, this is a book that will surprise and challenge readers everywhere -- black and white, male and female, young and old. Lifting the veil of public image, media hype, and mystique, Ossie and Ruby speak of the real-life dilemmas and rewards of their lifelong search for purpose and value.Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee are legendary stars of the American stage, television, and film, a beloved and revered couple cherished not just for their acting artistry but also for their lifelong commitment to civil rights, family values, and the black community. Now they look back on a half- century of their personal and political struggles to maintain a healthy marriage and to create the record of distinguished accomplishment that earned each a Presidential Medal for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.
With Ossie and Ruby overflows with consummate storytelling skill developed by decades in the spotlight. From their early years as struggling actors in Harlem's black theater to Broadway and Hollywood stardom, they regale the reader with colorful, entertaining tales of the places they've been and the people they've met. But their charming humor is leavened with a more serious side, as they share their experiences of keeping a family together in a world where scandal and divorce is the rule, and of being artists and political activists in an era of intense racial ferment. Born into the struggle, their characters were shaped by the dynamic collisions of life, politics, and art; and from those experiences, they achieved some sense of their worth as married people, friends, and lovers.
Warm, positive, and compelling, this is a book that will surprise and challenge readers everywhere -- black and white, male and female, young and old. Lifting the veil of public image, media hype, and mystique, Ossie and Ruby speak of the real-life dilemmas and rewards of their lifelong search for purpose and value.
Customer Reviews:
Good read.......2007-07-09
Good read for anyone that wants to see what can keep a marriage together for a few decades. Also, great perspective on why they are both of historical significance and should be more praised as icons.
Truly inspiring!.......2007-02-05
I love Ossie and Ruby. Their story is inspirational. They are true survivors. I loved hearing them tell their story in their own words. It was funny, touching and at times heart wrenching what they went through. They are true icons of not only African American history, but American history.
a great book written by two extraordinary legends............2006-10-31
I am so glad I read Ruby Dee's biography on the internet or I would have never known that she and her (late) husband, Ossie Davis, had written memoirs together, recounting their 50(+) year relationship. This book is a combination of genuinely warm and humorous passages, as well as insightful, deeply profound and moving chapters. They literally have a dialogue together, at some points of the book, even gently (and not so gently) correcting each other on stories and minute details that the other omitted.
Not only is this book wonderful from an historic point of view (it delves into the Civil Rights Movement and Dee's and Davis' role in that, as well as their experiences with racism, discrimination and the struggle to succeed in their craft, as actors of color--particularly African-American actors), but we also get a sense of how these two great individuals came to be the amazing actors/writers/producers/directors that we know today. While Dee always knew she was going to be on stage, Davis was initially going to become a playwright (though, fate had different plans). Together, they had children, grandchildren, and multitudes of life adventures (with plenty of bumps and u-turns along the way). Some may be surprised (and shocked) by the fact that Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis had an open marriage, when their jobs took them on the road and away from each other. Surprisingly, this brought them closer together. This was unexpected, to me, and it was intriguing to read their take on that (controversial) marriage choice that they made mutually.
I really reccomend this book, and I think more people should know about it. These people are legends in their craft, and they are not only wonderful actors, but very talented writers. I look forward to reading Ruby Dee's "My One Good Nerve" from which she adapted a touring show by the same name, in 1996.
Candid look at the theater, Hollywood, marriage and America.......2006-06-30
Legendary husband and wife actors Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee tell, with much seriousness, whimsy and candor, their respective humble beginnings, their ultimate meeting and romance in the theater, and the struggles they faced as actors, as well as African-Americans in a time of civil and political change. Though they both sought success on the stage and screen, they were also influential in achieving rights for actors, as well as African-American during the Civil Rights Movement.
The pair mingled with the powerful on the Broadway stage (Howard da Silva, Lorraine Hansbury, etc.), rising stars of the movies (Sidney Poitier, Marlon Brando, John Cassavettes, Richard Widmark, to cite a few), and political powerhouses like Paul Robeson, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Never afraid to voice their political views, the pair even became "persons of interest" during the Communist "witch hunts" of the fifties.
Davis and Dee also reveal interesting tidbits about their married life. Speaking of their "open marriage" is quite a surprise but as one reads on, it is discovered that "infidelity" was not something that was not the norm, just an understanding that should something occur outside the bonds of marriage, it would be honestly admitted.
The book's format allows each of the actors to reveal his/her take on common events in their lives. Both come across as truly unique yet complimentary and complementary of the other.
An informative appendix at the book's end provides the reader with all the theatrical, television, and stage productions, along with audio performances, made by them individually or together. Of course, it is incomplete, considering that that book was published six years ago, and both have had additional performances to add to their lengthy career.
Even though Ossie has since passed on, this reminiscence is a fitting tribute to him, as well as homage to both their marriage and their talents as thespians.
The Black King and Queen of the Arts.......2005-02-26
I just had the pleasure of reading this marvelous book. This book is done with class and shows celebrities do not have to write memoirs that are full of trash. I have always loved Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. I have always said people who have been married for many years usually have had many ups and downs in their relationships. It just goes to show if you have faith and are not willing to give up easily you can have a relationship of longevity and is an inspiration to others. An excellent book. They may have made mistakes but in the end they are truly role models. My heart and prayers go out to Ruby Dee in the loss of her lover, friend and colleauge Ossie Davies. Ossie Davis and Ruby together were a class act and they have written a celebrity memoir with class.
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