Book Description
A fascinating account of vaccination's miraculous, inflammatory past and its uncertain future.
In 1796, as smallpox ravaged Europe, Edward Jenner injected a child with a benign version of the disease, then exposed the child to the deadly virus itself. The boy proved resistant to smallpox, and Jenner's risky experiment produced the earliest vaccination. In this deftly written account, journalist Arthur Allen reveals a history of vaccination that is both illuminated with hope and shrouded by controversy—from Jenner's discovery to Pasteur's vaccines for rabies and cholera, to those that safeguarded the children of the twentieth century, and finally to the tumult currently surrounding vaccination.
Faced with threats from anthrax to AIDS, we are a vulnerable population and can no longer depend on vaccines; numerous studies have linked childhood vaccination with various neurological disorders, and our pharmaceutical companies are more attracted to the profits of treatment than to the prevention of disease. With narrative grace and investigative journalism, Allen explores our shifting understanding of vaccination since its creation. 16 pages of illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Rather good read.......2007-10-06
Books about biology that have journalists as authors tend to be less than desirable, often including instances of exaggeration for effect (such as in Hot Zone). Fortunately, this book appears to keep its subject material truthful and accurate, yet still manages to make it engaging enough for the reader.
Of course, those without a background in biology might find the book somewhat tedious, but the information provided can be of significant interest to those in the biological sciences, as well as those faced with the current social dilemma of vaccination vs anti-vaccination.
Pro vaccine propaganda.......2007-07-28
Readers should beware of the author's point of view as expressed in this book. Contrary to mass public belief, vaccines are not safe. They contain live viruses and neurotoxins, and are often contaminated with animal viruses from the culture mediums (i.e. cancer causing simian virus 40.) They are given to infants at a time when their brains and neurological systems are undeveloped and in combinations that have never been tested for safety. We are now giving 48 doses of 14 different vaccines to children by the time they reach kindergarten. Forty years ago, children received between 8 and 10 doses of 5 different vaccines. Instead of our children experiencing greater health as a result, we have more chronic illness among children than we did 40 years ago when we had far fewer vaccines. Asthma, severe food allergies, autism, ADD/ADHD, and diabetes were almost unheard of when I was a child, but are now affecting children at epidemic proportions. If these changes could be attributed to toxins in the environment, then the same proportion of adults facing these ailments would be in evidence, as adults have been exposed to and accumulated more toxins than infants and young children. Adult ratios of these ailments are still relatively low, so science must examine carefully what common denominators may be affecting children. An obvious answer is to look toward the toxic excessive vaccine schedule that is legally mandated by governments. More, rather than less, confidence would result in the vaccine system if careful long term studies could prove they were safe. Unfortunately studies comparing the overall health outcomes of vaccinated VS. unvacinated populations have never been done, nor have studies proving the safety of giving vaccines in combination with one another. Toxic ingredients including mercury and aluminum have also never been studied for safety.
The critical thing for parents to know is that vaccine manufactureres are exempt from liability for their products, and manufacturers are able to pay the FDA to fast track approval of their products, which has resulted in weakening the regulatory function of the agency. We now have a system that gives immunity for flawed or dangerous vaccines and which lacks oversight to prevent failures, while at the same time legally requiring parents to vaccinate without recourse. Every parent should be frightened out of thier minds at the prospect of injecting their babies with products that have undergone such inadequate scientific scrutiny and that are exempt from liability.
This author does a great disservice to the hundreds of thousands of parents who have taken a perfectly healthy baby with all of the potential and promise of a healthy and productive life to the pediatician for a well baby visit, and who has come home with a child that within hours or days is seizing, experiencing severe chronic diahrea, feverish, listless, comatose, drifting away into the world of autism or at worst case, dead. These parents know that it was the vaccine, not some phantom gene, that caused their babies harm. Their concerns cannot and should not be dismissed, as it is they who are sounding the alarm for the rest of society.
It is the advent of good sanitation, good nutrition and better access to healthcare which has resulted in reduced incidence of disease. Ask yourself - are children healthier today than they were 40 years ago? Do I feel comforatable giving my tiny baby 6 or 7 vaccines in one visit? Am I comfortable with the skyrocketing rates of autism, allergies and other chronic illness in children that can not be addressed adequately by current medical or scientific knowledge? Are the medical establishments ignoring the legitimate concerns of parents in light of strong evidence that there is a problem in the system? A better book to read about this topic is by Dr. Richard Halvorsen called "The Truth About Vaccines."
Revealing the history of the first 2 1/2 centuries of vaccination.......2007-06-07
XXXXX
"In telling the story of vaccination, this book makes an assessment that is as fair as I can make it, based on the available evidence. I [the author] am neither a scientist nor someone with personal experience of a severe vaccine reaction [vaccines carry some measure of risk to the patient]...This book deals with preventive vaccines [that produce an artificial immunity] against infectious diseases [smallpox, polio, measles, whooping cough, etc.)...a vaccine's success as a public health measure relies on three legs of support: (1) the public, which must be confident of the safety and worth of the procedure; (2) manufactures, who seek to generate profits by making vaccines; and (3) government and public-health [workers] who...[help] further population-wide health goals. As [the reader] will see throughout this book, none of these legs is entirely stable."
The above is found in the introduction of this well-researched, easy-to-read book by writer Arthur Allen. Be aware that the author also says in the introduction the following: "I do...bring personal agendas to this book." The book itself is divided into three parts.
In the first two parts, Allen describes the history of the development of vaccines in a time when there were no clinical ethics boards or informed consent laws, the defeat of such infectious diseases as smallpox & polio, and public resistance to widespread vaccination. There's a lot here to disturb both proponents and opponents of mandatory vaccination.
The author devotes the third and last part of his book to the vaccine controversies of the last few decades. I found that this relatively brief analysis was not well connected to the first two parts. Actually, I can't understand why Allen added this third part except to "bring [his] personal agendas" to the "controversial story" of vaccination.
Allen does, in my opinion, highlight the crux of the vaccination issue by quoting somebody else:
"As in all wars, some soldiers are injured...At present, the draftees [mainly babies and small children] injured in the war on infectious diseases are in effect told by conscripting authorities, `Thank you for your contribution to the war effort, and best of success in coping with your [life-long] disability [caused by the vaccination].'"
There are two sets of black and white pictures or "plates" found in the book consisting of fourteen and sixteen pictures respectively. My favorite picture has the following caption:
"Six million New Yorkers were vaccinated within a few weeks after smallpox appeared in the city in 1947. Contemporaries were struck at the willingness of Americans to accept vaccination in this postwar period--even though the [smallpox] vaccine killed and maimed far more people that did smallpox itself."
Finally, those readers seeking a comprehensive treatment of the vaccine debate and history of vaccination outside the United States should go elsewhere.
In conclusion, readers seeking a solid history of the first 2 1/2 centuries of vaccination will find a lot to think about in this book!!
*** 1/2
(first published 2007; introduction; three parts or 10 chapters; epilogue; main narrative 440 pages; acknowledgements; notes; index)
XXXXX
Vaccines can kill.......2007-05-29
My sister received a flu vaccine last year. Within days she was in the hospital and came within inches of losing her life. She was diagnosed with myotitis brought on by the flu vaccine, a rather common illness which is infrequently discussed. Further readings found that the increasing level of flu shots has not improved mortality rates for the flu (which are small to begin with) and enforced shots in the military have killed and handicapped many of our nation's soldiers. Of course, these kinds of stories and this science are left out of Allen's one-sided account. Vaccines can save lives, but they can kill too.
An engrossing read.......2007-05-21
I am interested in all aspects of science, particularly recent controversies. This book covers the mixed history of vaccines in a very thorough way. The author does not hesitate to criticize vaccines, and points out with great clarity those problems that did occur with shots in the past. I especially enjoyed how he was able to bring the personalities of the characters so vividly to life. But his overall conclusion is that vaccines are presently safer than ever before. And that's not because he is a "pharma tool", but because he has really looked at this issue and has made a rational, realistic conclusion.
This book deserves to be read by everyone, and in particular by those parents hesitating over the question of whether to vaccinate their children.
Average customer rating:
- Finally, toddler recipes with some taste!
- First time Mommy
- One of the best!
- Not what I expected
- The Big Book of Recipies for Babies, Toddlers & Children
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The Big Book of Recipes for Babies, Toddlers & Children: 365 Quick, Easy, and Healthy Dishes ("The Big Book of...")
Bridget Wardley , and
Judy More
Manufacturer: Duncan Baird
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
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Quick Meals for Healthy Kids and Busy Parents: Wholesome Family Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less From Three Leading Child Nutrition Experts
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The Healthy Baby Meal Planner: Mom-Tested Child-Approved Recipes for Your Baby and Toddler
ASIN: 184483106X |
Book Description
More than a cookbook, this indispensable kitchen companion not only offers delicious recipes for every day of the year, but also contains a wealth of information on child nutrition—from weaning and introducing solids to packing lunches and serving up party foods for older children. It emphasizes an easy approach to food preparation, with no complicated measurements or methods. Most important of all, there’s a wide variety of recipes for every stage of childhood development, complete with 50 "first food" recipes, 7-day meal planners, and sound snack ideas. Practical tips accompany the dishes, including methods for promoting healthy eating habits that support brain development and a strong immune system.
Customer Reviews:
Finally, toddler recipes with some taste!.......2007-10-09
I have a 2 yr. old, and he is like his Mom and Dad. He likes food that has some taste, he even will eat food with a little spice in it. These recipes are good for him and for us too, and they fill you up, even a hungry husband.
First time Mommy.......2007-08-13
I am 20 years old and a first time mother. I don't know how to cook, but as soon as i opened this book, I fell in love with it, every dish on this books looks very tasty, and even i was wondering how good these foods must taste.
One of the best!.......2007-07-14
We love this book and I often make the recipes in large quantities for the whole family. IMO the seasoning was bland so I always bump it up a bit, but I've been feeding my triplets heavily seasoned food from from day one (via breastmilk). They won't eat jarred food, but LOVE the Moroccan Lamb with some extra cumin and added cinnamon.
My only complaints would be the recommending of solid foods by age rather than a child's readiness (teeth, pincher grasp, sitting up), the feeding of purees (please research the benefits of self-feeding!) and the small bit of translation involved because the book is written by a Brit.
I highly recommend this book and have added it to my list of gifts for new moms.
Not what I expected.......2007-05-18
The recipes are definitely not quick and easy and they are strange combinations of foods that I question if I'd even eat. This was a BIG disappointment. Wish I could've returned it.
The Big Book of Recipies for Babies, Toddlers & Children.......2007-05-13
Not only were the recipies far from user friendly, I do not know of many babies or toddlers who would enjoy them. I was hoping to find some basic recipies but these were for a more developed palate than that of a child.
Amazon.com
Mother Nature: A History of Mothers, Infants, and Natural Selection should be required reading for anyone who happens to be a human being. In it, Hrdy reveals the motivations behind some of our most primal and hotly contested behavioral patterns--those concerning gender roles, mate choice, sex, reproduction, and parenting--and the ideas and institutions that have grown up around them. She unblinkingly examines and illuminates such difficult subjects as control of reproductive rights, infanticide, "mother love," and maternal ambition with its ever-contested companions: child care and the limits of maternal responsibility. Without ever denying personal accountability, she points out that many of the patterns of abuse and neglect that we see in cultures around the world (including, of course, our own) are neither unpredictable nor maladaptive in evolutionary terms. "Mother" Nature, as she points out, is not particularly concerned with what we call "morality." The philosophical and political implications of our own deeply-rooted behaviors are for us to determine--which can be done all the better with the kind of understanding gleaned from this exhaustive work.
Hrdy's passion for this material is evident, and she is deeply aware of the personal stake she has here as a woman, a mother, and a professional. This highly accomplished author relies on her own extensive research background as well as the works of others in multiple disciplines (anthropology, primatology, sociobiology, psychology, and even literature). Despite the exhaustive documentation given to her conclusions (as witness the 140-plus-page notes and bibliography sections), the book unfolds in an exceptionally lucid, readable, and often humorous manner. It is a truly compelling read, highly recommended. --Katherine Ferguson
Book Description
We are tempted to think of maternal instinct as a quality a woman has or lacks. But the belief that mothers instinctively nurture their offspring--one of the West's most cherished ideals and a view widely accepted even in scientific circles--has become increasingly controversial.
Mother Nature presents a radical new way of understanding how mothers act and why, and how this new understanding is changing the way scientists think about how evolution works.
Drawing on anthropology, history, literature, developmental psychology, and animal behavior, Sarah Hrdy examines the distinct biological and genetic elements that constitute maternal instinct. She strips away the biases implicit in conventional stereotypes of female nature to give us very different and provocative perspectives on maternal ambivalence, the links between maturity and ambition, mother love and sexual love, and why age-old tensions between the sexes persist--and are being played out today in efforts to control women's reproductive choices.
Combining decades of research with her own experience as a mother, Hrdy makes clear in this remarkable book what it means--from a historical and evolutionary perspective--to be a mother and explains how this knowledge has transformed our understanding of human development and behavior.
Customer Reviews:
A Triumph!.......2007-05-13
Utterly fascinating and, when it comes to understanding what makes human beings tick, is of greater reality, to my mind, than the phantasmagorical reaches of psychoanalysis, and more fundamental. Painstakingly researched. A scholarly book written in an accessible and engaging style.
Must-read for any woman or parent (especially working moms!).......2005-11-18
I find myself raving about this book to every woman (and man) I know. This is the most astounding and thought-provoking book I've read in recent years. Professor Hrdy is an emeritus professor of anthropology at UC Davis who puts the behavior of mothers and infants into an evolutionary context, using a comparative approach and drawing from sociobiology, anthropology, and psychology. I enjoyed this book from my perspectives as a student who did doctoral research in behavioral ecology; as a scientist who's tired of the superficial stereotype of instinctive, selfless maternal devotion; and most profoundly as a mother who's trying somehow to balance the equation of doing good for my family, myself, and the world as an ecologist with a conservation group. I appreciated the fact that she did not just rely on her own research on langur monkeys, but extensively reviewed other studies (and pointed out the dearth of studies that challenge societal assumptions that all mothers should care for every infant under any circumstance). She also entertains different hypotheses instead of just staking out a prescription based on an idealized version from one point in human evolutionary history (i.e. romanticizing hunter-gatherer societies), as seen in anthropologist Meredith Small's "Our Babies, Ourselves", which is also a wonderful book, but lacks the breadth of Hrdy's scholarship.
I frequently read this book as I rocked and nursed my infant son, which made everything more vivid to me. Hrdy writes with grace and humor about topics such as the origins of lactation (the rapture and thrall of oxytocin), the sensual (and hormonal) appeal of infants (so luscious you want to eat `em up). I was fascinated by the many ways that mothers seek to secure resources for their children (such as the tradition of godparents, or women's "unnatural" ambitions in the workplace). But reading the tragic chapters in European history of unsuccessful wet-nursing and wholescale infant abandonment while nursing my baby was almost more than I could bear.
One theme Hrdy reiterates throughout the book is how mothers throughout history forge workable compromises between infant needs and maternal ambition. She shares her experiences as a mother and scientist, and reflections from other women in the field. I found myself cheering "Yes!" in her final chapters, when she steers the debate of working mothers away from the gender politics of "Is it bad for infants when mothers work?" to the more critical question "How can we ensure that infants are cared for as lovingly and securely as kin?" whether that's by the mother or 'allomothers' [relatives or helpers who care like mothers]. "All early caregivers become the emotional equivalents of kin. Any caretaker is capable of communicating the message infants desperately seek - `You are wanted and will not be set aside'. (p. 509)" While the mother is uniquely equipped to meet that need, with her physical contact, her scent, her milk, she's not the only one who can answer when an infant seeks "the meeting eyes of love." Hrdy has written a passionate and scholarly book that is both an engaging read as well as a profoundly enlightening look into human nature. I cannot recommend this more highly.
A must read for any evolutionary psychologist.......2004-02-20
So many great little factoids. My favorite topics include family planning (abortion, infanticide), maternal bonding, the adaptiveness of menopause, females in social structure, and lots of other tidbits I wish more authors would cover. The most fascinating thing is that these topics come up in the animal kingdom, not just with us.
Only complaint might be that it's a dense read, and doesn't have a nice "backdrop" to organize it like Robert Wright's books (which I highly recommend). For this reason, you might need to read it twice to get everything. The facts themselves are tremendous, however. This book illustrates many more complexities about females that her male contemporaries might gloss over. Hrdy offers balance to anyone who's read other books on the same topic -- albeit great ones -- by male authors. (Come on, they can't help it.)
One more interesting thing that Hrdy adds is that science in her field is limited because neither feminists nor conservatives want to explore the evolutionary basis of womanhood. For conservatives, they know they are baby machines. For feminists, all that matters is that women are now free. Hrdy takes issue with both camps.
Evolution from a female viewpoint.......2003-11-13
This is a fascinating look at evolution with particular reference to the female of the species. Packed with fascinating information about female behaviour through the ages. Descriptions of life among hunter-gatherer groups are particularly interesting. Subjects like infanticide, wetnursing, abandonment of infants, etc are gone into in great detail. I learnt a lot from this book. I particularly enjoyed the splendidly bloodthirsty lullabye from the Napoleonic era printed at the end of this book, my children love it. One small complaint, at one point in this book Ms. Hrdy compares housewives to laboratory rats. Now, I am used to the abuse routinely heaped on housewives, but this is really going a little too far. The big difference between a laboratory rat and a housewife is that I, a housewife, can leave my house any time I like (maybe it's different in America, perhaps housewives are kept locked up there, I don't know), and I frequently do. i have alot more freedom of movement than I would if I were, say, stuck in an office all day long. I quite accept Ms. Hardy' point that children do not have to be cared for full-time by their mothers, but it would be nice if she could refrain from abusing those of us who actually enjoy being full-time carers.
An Honest Search For Truth.......2003-07-01
Biology has an agenda. Squirrels, whales, and crickets do not have our language facility, thus they do not have self-help books, preachers, or legions of well-meaning advisors. Yet they are born with the genetically provided rules (feelings) that allow them to be successful squirrels, wonderful whales, and competent crickets. We too have genetically provided rules, which sociobiologists and such are trying to discover. This wonderful book is the author's attempt to explain some of the conditions of motherhood, the relations between mothers and babies, and sometimes tough choices mothers have to make. This work is, in my opinion, magnificent.
NOTE TO REVIEWERS: If one starts off a review with phrases like "goofy liberal", "ranting conservative", or "clueless libertarian", readers like me read no further. Plus my estimation of the reviewer's intelligence is halved.
Book Description
A provocative new perspective on female history, the history of American medicine and psychology, and the history of child-rearing unlike any other.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting but dry.......2007-03-15
I enjoyed this book although I found the style slightly less engaging than Barbara Ehrenreich's more recent Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. Compared to Nickel and Dimed it is slightly dry and repetitive. However, for those who think feminism is still cool and relevant, there are some interesting themes.
A real education for women of our time.......2005-09-19
As a "baby boomer" woman, I really appreciated the chance to look back and review the history leading up to the changes we saw in our generation regarding women's rights and women's choices. It was particularly illuminating to have the transformations I myself experienced since childhood encapsulated in such a clear format; it helped me understand how my own grandmother and mother saw their roles. I enjoyed the authors' pithy and practical writing style.
Amazon.com
Filled with great ideas and enthralling art activities, Young at Art introduces parents and caregivers to a fascinating world that Montessori teachers will find wonderfully familiar. Author Susan Striker created the delightfully different Anti-Coloring Book series and now turns her considerable talents to explaining concepts of child development in a manner that all of us can enjoy. She passionately believes that children can use artistic tools and methods as gateways to all forms of learning, from vocabulary building to early math skills and improved dexterity, and cautions parents to rethink the way we look at art materials. Pipe cleaners form wire sculptures far more detailed than their typical role as bug antenna, and toddlers can have a better experience painting with only one or two colors than they would with an entire palette that instantly turns a muddy brown. Including a wide range of group and individual activities for all age ranges (and even songs to sing during cleanup time), this book is a priceless addition to an art-loving family. Jill Lightner
Book Description
An inspiring guide to encouraging creativity in preschool-age children. Young at Art is the first and only book about the value and impact of art on very young children. Directed toward parents and educators of one-to five-year-olds, Susan Striker explains why childrens art is not a frill but the very foundation upon which all later fundamental skills are built.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent resource if you can get past the preachy tone.......2007-10-07
I got this book because I am very interested in developing my toddler's artistic and creative abilities. There are some great things about this book. And some very bad things.
The good:
- The descriptions of projects in the book are fantastic. The projects are innovative and really designed to allow children to freely express themselves. The projects made me think about art, and even about the world, differently and helped me to understand how the world looks from a toddler's perspective.
- There is a lot of detail given about why a particular activity is important, or why it should be done a certain way. In general, there's a lot of detail in the book, and the author does a great job suggesting variations on projects or ways to look at materials in a different way.
- The author clearly delineates which supplies you should use and how you should use them. The book is more or less a comprehensive curriculum for preschool art - there are suggested books to read, songs, recommendations on where to get art materials, etc. This would be an awesome resource for a homeschooling family, or for a preschool teacher looking to break away from the traditional way of looking at and teaching art.
Okay. That's what's good about the book. And believe me, there's a lot that's good. However. What's bad about the book would probably turn a lot of people off, and away from using the excellent activities in the book with their child. The bad:
- The author's tone is extremely judgmental, holier-than-thou, snarky, etc. It gets extraordinarily tiresome after the first few pages. The laundry list of things you should NEVER EVER EVER do is miles long and goes on for page after page after page. Let me sum some of them up for you - basically, everything you have ever done with your child in regards to art is wrong and everything they've done in daycare, preschool, with their grandparents, at the babysitter's, etc. is also wrong and has almost certainly irreparably damaged their fragile self-esteem, their creativity, and their budding artistic talent. Having kids make "holiday themed" art is wrong. Telling a child a picture is pretty is wrong. Giving kids more than one color of crayon at a time is wrong. Speaking sharply when a child draws on your wall, table, priceless heirloom Sargent portrait, etc. is wrong - you should speak calmly and redirect the child to draw on some paper without telling them drawing on the wall is wrong because hey, the kid was just trying to express him/herself. Altering your child's artwork in any way is wrong. Throwing even a single piece of artwork out is wrong and you are an insensitive parent if you do that. Putting kids' art on the refrigerator is wrong; you should take it to a frame shop and get it framed. Thinking you know what art is or what's best for your child is wrong; in fact, the author states that the more parents think they know about art, the more likely they are to "damage" their child by doing the wrong thing. The "wrong thing" is anything that the author didn't tell you to do. Oh, and never, ever give your child a coloring book or draw on a piece of paper with them or the Holy Gods of Art (and apparently the author thinks she is one) will smite you, with great vengeance and furious anger.
Exhausted yet? I could go on with the ways the author thinks parents permanently cripple their children's creativity by doing things people have done for decades - the selection above is from the first 20 pages of the book, before the author's even talked about any projects. Unfortunately, the scolding and proselytizing doesn't stop. Throughout the book the author takes any and every opportunity to point out to you what a crappy parent you are because you do X which is not the way the author would do it. It really, REALLY gets old.
- There's not a lot of backup provided for any of the author's claims. She's taught elementary school art for 25 years. She's not a child psychologist, a developmental specialist, a physical therapist, a special educator, a Ph.D. in education, or someone with an advanced degree in fine art. She apparently has done no studies or academic research on childhood art instruction, or at least she doesn't cite it in this book if she has. Yet she makes claims that really only have credence if they're provided by someone who has some kind of credential or who has data from a controlled study. Some of the claims are so outrageous, they are just begging for some kind of citation or backing evidence from some kind of expert source. She doesn't provide any of that. In the back of the book she thanks a few people who seem to have educational credentials but the majority of supporting cites in the text are unrelated to the counterintuitive and incredible-sounding "facts" she presents as the indisputable, gospel truth.
- The author does an awful lot of inappropriate projecting, claiming that kids feel this way or that way when X happens after they make art. Maybe she felt insulted when someone referred to her art as "pretty," or her kid was overly sensitive to being told not to color on the wall. But that doesn't mean all kids are that way and claiming that it's a simple equation of "you do X, and therefore your child's confidence and self-worth is destroyed" is both inappropriate and irresponsible. I am a little unsure how a parent drawing with a 2-year-old, who does not fully understand that other people exist as separate entities from him, will kill his creativity and artistic confidence at a young age. The two-year-old is not really aware that other people even have feelings, and is certainly not capable of seeing a parent making a line on a piece of paper as a negative value judgment about their own work. There's a lot the author claims that doesn't jive with contemporary research about how a child's self-concept or their relationships with others develop.
It's really tough to give this book the recommendation it probably deserves, because there's no way the average parent is going to read this and not either a. roll their eyes so much that they stick that way in their head eventually or b. feel terribly guilty about all the ways that they've doomed their child to life as a corporate accountants payable clerk instead of encouraging them to be the next Picasso. I think if you can read the book from the perspective of "I want to encourage my child to make art, and I'm not really sure how" and read the project descriptions, and skip all the holier-than-thou preaching, it is a great book and a wonderful resource for any parent. Let's face it, just by reading something like this, you are obviously a caring and involved parent. Having your kid carve a Jack O' Lantern on Halloween isn't going to permanently warp their creativity and their sense of self-worth, despite what this author says. You know that, and I know that. So take what's good from this and take the rest with an enormous grain of salt. Some amazing artists out there started out making "hand turkeys" at Thanksgiving and using the whole box of 64 crayons. A child's creativity and sense of self-worth are a whole lot more resilient than this author seems to think.
A book that I've found more helpful, which has the same themes about valuing the process of making the art over the product of the process is "First Art" by Maryann Kohl. The philosophies of Striker and Kohl are very similar but Kohl's book is a lot less preachy, and has the advantage of being VERY user-friendly (easy to read, supplies for projects clearly outlined, much less wordy, more focused on enabling parents to get their kids involved in art projects and less concerned with long-winded philosophizing, etc.), a lot more so than this book. All in all, I'm glad I read this but I think I'm going to use "First Art" a lot more on a day-to-day basis.
An excellent how-to book.......2007-03-15
If like me, you are a young mom trying to encourage your child's creativity to blossom, or even a preschool teacher, then this is definitely a worthwhile read...it comes with helpful strategies, and useful tips on how to promote creativity in young kids...and some ideas are common sense, but its upon reading the book that you really begin to see how other useful ideas might be implemented.
Valuable insights and info on how to teach art to kids.......2006-08-12
I found this book to be very valuable even though I do not agree with 100% of her theories. She gives a great overview of several medium and as well as the actual products she recommends and the best way to teach children how to learn through art. I can see how my kids have already benefited.
Where do I disagree? While I agree that children need to be creative and explore on their own - I do not believe that the occasional coloring book or craft project is going to squash the child's creativity. My children definitely know the difference between their art time and the crafts they do at pre-school to learn about the American flag, holidays etc. And these craft projects that center around topics do reinforce concepts and help them learn - something the author is opposed to (she explicity says that children do not learn about holidays through craft projects where they make Christmas trees etc.)
In spite of disagreeing on this point I found the book to be excellent and would recommend it.
excellent book from wonderful woman.......2006-07-08
Living near Susan Striker, I have had the opportunity to meet her on several occasions including having my oldest children (only at the time) participate in workshops with her. She is fabulous! The ideas in the book are easily incorporated and make a huge difference I think in inspiring children to work at their own level and enjoy the process. It has also helped me as a parent and home educator to feel more confident in guiding the process as well as selecting those rare excellent programs for children in art. Too many even "art schools" focus too much on the outcome or product. Doing it at home actually allows the children to be more of themselves. I also have personally witnessed the effects education wise on my children. My oldest is now 7 and reading at a junior high level. I followed this book and he was, on his own, writing his letters, name, etc at age 3 (well before his personal peer group) and I think this is because of the freedom giving to him in experimenting before then. His early markings were deemed valuable by us and so he kept wanting to do more and then copy us. I am purchasing another copy of this book for my sister and her just turning one year old son so they can enjoy art together as well.
this book is an absolute must.......2006-04-27
quick but to the point: this book is an excellent resource for parents and teachers, of which i am both. it is developmentally appropriate and her theories can be used in any setting of children ranging from special needs right up to gifted. this book allows me to never say "what do i do now with my 2 1/2 year old daughter?"
Book Description
Candi Jensen, whose adorable designs were featured in Candy Tots and Candy Blankies, is back with something special for babies. From a too-cute denim-inspired jacket and a delicate wrap cardigan to whimsical South-American poncho and faux-shearling hat and booties, this stylish collection of designs will fit the younger set just fine. Beautiful full-color photographs and basic instructions accompany each project, but don’t be afraid to experiment with different yarns and colors. Warm baby up in a Pastel Parfait hat and vest set, inspired by vintage fashions; dress an All-American Girl in a red-white-and blue tank top and matching shorts; and put a little princess in the pink with a pint-sized cardigan. A complete list of yarn resources is provided in the back. The author lives in Oakland, CA.
Customer Reviews:
Candy Babies crochet book.......2007-09-26
Absolutely adorable patterns in this book! The yarn they recommend you use can be a little pricey, but it can be subsituted with other yarns.
Easy and uncomplicated patterns.......2007-01-12
This book has a nice variety of crochet patterns, updated, in style for babies. The instructions are clear and any one who can crochet can create one of the delightful pieces in the book. The pictures are a must see, and the authors choice in yarns is very tasteful. I made a pair of the Ugg Booties and was thrilled with the outcome.
Was she in the dark when she picked the colors?.......2006-07-31
I know, I know...to each his/her own. but I'd really like to buy Ms Jensen a color wheel for Christmas.
There are some cute designs in here, but quite a few left me cold. That may have just been because of the really strange color combos Ms Jensen selected.
There are also a few designs that will require additional sewing to complete, which did not make me too happy either. If I wanted to sew baby outfits, I'd buy a sewing book.
For the few cute designs that are included, I'd save my money and look for the book at the library or Half Price Books, etc.
Single Crochet.......2006-05-10
The color suggestions are nice, and the babies are adorable. But it's mostly single crochet with little pattern variation. If you can adapt patterns, it makes a good reference book, as all the schematics are included.
Perhaps I'm spoiled, as I have a Jack Frost original book... that I use to adapt to the new yarns.
As I love the author's other book, Candy Tots, I have to admit I was somewhat disappointed with this one.
Wonderful, easy-to-crochet clothing for babies.......2005-12-27
I have to say that the baby on the front cover sold this book to me. How can you resist those eyes? And I'm glad because if I hadn't bought it -- I'm a knitter, not a crocheter -- I'd have missed out on some wonderful, adorable baby clothes. My niece is due any day now, and I've been whipping up ponchos and silly hats, and booties like a mad person. These patterns are remarkably easy, and have a kind of goofy charm that just works with babies.
If you have a baby to make clothes for and you're handy with yarn at all, even if you're not big on crochet, I suggest you take a look at this book. You can't fail to create memorable clothing items in almost no time at all with these patterns.
Book Description
A daring examination of the foundational event
of Christianity, and an inspiring vision for
reconciliation between Jews and Christians.
Using approaches from the Hebrew interpretive tradition to discern the actual events surrounding Jesus' death, Bishop Spong questions the historical validity of literal narrative concerned the Resurrection. He asserts that the resurrection story was born in an experience that opened the disciples' eyes to the reality of God and the meaning of Jesus of Nazareth. Spong traces the Christian origins of anti–Semitism to the Church's fabrication of the ultimate Jewish scapegoat, Judas Iscariot. He affirms the inclusiveness of the Christian message and emphasises the necessity of mutual integrity and respect among Christians and Jews.
Customer Reviews:
Is Spong's book a myth or reality?.......2007-10-12
John Shelby Spong asks the question, "Can something be real, yet not occur in history? This of course is in reference to the resurrection of Jesus. The answer is a resounding, no. He believes this is a possibility that every Christian should inquire about. He adds that the experience is real, but should not be taken literally. Why does Spong make such a strong assertion? Where does he obtain his information? Will the evidence be credible?
Spong believes that the origin and destiny of Jesus was derived countless times from every religious system. He gives one example of the Egyptian god, Osiris as a parallel to what happened to Jesus. However, when carefully examining his claim, we have excellent reasons to believe and know this cannot be the case. Osiris was killed by his brother and chopped up into fourteen pieces, which were scattered throughout Egypt. Concerning Osiris' apparent resurrection, the goddess, Isis, found only thirteen pieces and put him back together. Secondly, it is extremely questionable as to whether or not anyone saw Osiris. Third, he was given the status of the god of the underworld. Fourth, Osiris is not even the hero of the story, Isis or his son Horus was given this title.
In no form whatsoever can the story of Osiris be considered a parallel to Jesus. First, Jesus (his full body) appeared to as many as five-hundred people after his resurrection. Second, Jesus was given authority over heaven and earth, not the underworld as Osiris. Third, Jesus is the hero of the story where people worship him as their Lord and their God. Fourth, the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus far surpasses any evidence that other religions claim. Therefore it is easy to see that the resurrection of Jesus cannot be considered a parallel to other ancient religions or mythologies.
In chapter 19, Spong asks, "But what actually happened?" Spong believes that Jesus being crucified on the cross is a historical fact, but no one actually knows how he died. If this is the case, then how does Spong know Jesus was crucified? Where is the data he uses to promote this idea? Spong surprisingly offers none. There are an ample amount of resources, both Christian and non-Christian to historically show the death of Christ as an indisputable fact. Non-Christian sources include Tacitus, Lucian of Samosata, Mara Bar-Serapion, and the Jewish Talmud.
From a medical standpoint, it is much more difficult to assume that Jesus didn't die on the cross, than to logically conclude crucifixion as the cause of his death. After Jesus had 5"-7" nails driven through his hands and feet, and then being raised on the cross, he would have to push up on his feet in order to breathe. Most crucifixion victims would eventually become exhausted and would lose the energy to push them up for the precious oxygen. Fluid would build up around the heart and the lungs therefore Jesus would have died from asphyxiation.
Spong attempts to avoid Jesus' death by cruxifixion on page 241 of his book that everyone close to Jesus would have fled, therefore they wouldn't have known what happened (How does Spong know the disciples fled, yet question the disciples didn't know? No data is provided). However, John 19:34 states that blood and water came from Jesus when his side was pierced by the Roman soldier (Roman soldiers made sure their victims were dead, or they would be put to death). Only an eyewitness account could confirm what happened given the limited medical knowledge of the ancient world. Probably the most amazing statement concerning the death of Jesus comes from a non-Christian source. The Journal of the American Medical Association said, "Clearly the weight of historical and medical evidence indicates that Jesus was dead before the wound to his side was inflicted and supports the traditional view that the spear, thrust between his right rib, probably perforated no only the right lung, but also the pericardium of the heart and thereby ensured his death. Accordingly, interpretations based on the assumption that Jesus did not die on the cross appears to be at odds with Modern Medical Knowledge" (March 21, 1986, 1463).
The evidence clearly shows that Jesus was killed by crucifixion, but did he rise from the dead? Spong says on page 228 that if there was a tomb, it was not empty. This begs the question once again, how does he know? Once again no evidence is provided. The Jewish authorities wanted to demolish Christianity. Wherever Jesus was buried, all they had to do was to produce the body to show there was no resurrection. The new religion would have ceased to exist. Instead they had to invent stories in order to hopefully explain away the resurrection.
Unbelievers such as James and Paul were transformed upon the visits of the resurrected Christ. Critical scholars of the Jesus' resurrection claim the improbability of that the early church would have included such unbelief from one of their leaders such as James. Concerning Paul, Jesus Seminar critic, Roy Hoover says that Paul's testimony is the earliest and most historically reliable evidence for the resurrection.
The rest of the disciples went from being cowards, to boldly and confidently proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus Christ and salvation for the world. Spong even admits this, but he asks the question on page 27, "Why?" Thus, by identifying tremendous support for what he hopes to refute! Eleven of the twelve disciples died horrendous deaths for their beliefs. They were in the position to have first hand knowledge as to whether or not Jesus rose from the dead. It is commonly known that many will die for what they believe to be true, but no one will die for what they know is false.
In conclusion, Spong offers no real historical evidence of his theory. I'm afraid all he can offer is "Spong-speculation."
Essential Reading.......2007-01-04
John Shelby Spong is an Episcopal Bishop and the author of several books, among them Born of a Woman, Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, and This Hebrew Lord. In the current book Spong examines the most minute details about the Resurrection in an attempt to re-visit the "Easter" story that is at the core of Christianity. Spong's unique contribution to this analysis is his deep familiarity with Hebrew literature and the midrash tradition, the lens through which the all Jewish people of the first century interpreted the gospels.
Part One (Chapters 1-3) is a 40+ page introduction to the study of the gospels, the use of words, and the midrash method. Part Two (Chapters 4-9) is a detailed study of each of the gospels as well as the epistles of Paul. Part Three examines some of the major images present in the Resurrection story (e.g., the suffering servant, the son of man. In Part Four (Chapters 14-18) Spong provides his own interpretation of what the gospels really say, and in Part Five he provides us with an idea of what the resurrection story means to him on a personal level.
This book is a monumental work of scholarship and it will completely revise your idea about biblical research as well as the story of the resurrection. Literalists beware, this is not the book for you. But anyone with an open mind who has ever questioned the inconsistencies in the gospel accounts (e.g., did Jesus appear to the disciples in Galilee or in Jerusalem? Did one, two,three or more women go to the tomb?) or wondered about the strange and impossible to explain issues (e.g., cursing the fig tree, the cowardly disciple who becomes the Rock upon which the church is founded) will find this book a true eye opener.
The book is well written, but the notes are sketchy and far too few. There is an extensive bibliography and a detailed index of topics. The book will appeal to beginning students as well as the most advanced scholars.
Bottom line - there is no more engaging or provocative book on the resurrection. This book belongs in everyone's library.
RENEWAL OF FAITH: Myth or Reality?.......2006-12-15
When I read this piercingly insightful book I was, for all intents and purposes, a former Christian turned atheist. So, I was both wary and skeptical when I finally read it. Page after page brought idea after idea cascading into my mind. Ideas and insights and facts that I did not know at the time and hence had not considered. After reading Resurrection through several times I came away with a renewed and transformed faith in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I now know the true nature of the Resurrection experience and how to enter into it. I know what it meant to the first Christians, and that is now what it means to me. I now identify with the Risen Christ, and with him I have been raised. Raised from time into Eternity, into the eternal Fact of the Resurrection, and of Life and Light in the immanental yet transcendent Kingdom of God!
Resurrection, Myth or Reality is a spiritual detetive story, a story that wiil take you deep into the Biblical texts, Christian history, psychology, Mythology, and the Nature of God. Not in any of the shopworn and powerless ways you were taught (and perhaps forced) to believe, but in a new way, an authentic way, a way that is in actual fact the Original Way. I have never read any other book by a so-called "liberal" scholar that exalts the Risen Christ as does Bishop Spong in this remarkable volume.
Are you an intelligent, educated, 21st century person whose faith is in exile? Do you yearn to return to the faith of your fathers, but in a way that enables you to keep your intellectual integrity intact? Yes? So was I. God brought Bishop Spong to my attention and with the Bishops help, my faith was both restored and transformed. CHRISTOS ANESTI! ALITHOS ANESTI! (CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!)
In the Grace of the Eternal Logos of God,
Rev. Nathaniel J. Merritt
You will also enjoy I WAS A TEENAGE JEHOVAH'S WITNESS and JEHOVAH UNMASKED, my first two published books.
VISION OR PHYSICAL RESURRECTION.......2006-09-25
According to John Shelby Spong, Jesus did not literally rise from the dead. Jesus was crucified, died, and was thrown in a common grave. Some time after Jesus' crucifixion, an event occurred that created the Christian movement. The heart of the Christian message is that the "crucified one lives." This alleged truth arose in Peter spontaneously. The moment that convinced the Apostles of this truth occurred in Galilee and Simon was the primary person in whom this truth first dawned. To call that idea (hereafter the resurrection vision) that allegedly popped into the mind of Peter a "truth" is quite a surprise. Spong tells us Peter saw "a realm of God from within which Jesus appeared to Simon. Was it real? Yes...Was it objective? Spong does not think that Peter's vision was objective. Spong's thesis is subject to serious epistemological challenge. Peter did not observe any objective event upon which to conclude that Jesus (the crucified one) was alive. There was no corresponding factual basis upon which Peter could believe that Jesus was alive. On this view, Peter had no justified true belief. Spong's thesis is a subjective and speculative house of cards that cannot stand.
Following Peter' resurrection vision, the need arose to reinterpret the life of Jesus Christ as a faith story. According to Spong this was done by the method of midrash.
Although he acknowledges midrash as a method for interpreting scripture, Spong brings new meaning the conception midrash by positing it as a method by which Scripture writers affirmed events and transcendent experiences into symbolic forms with no concern for linear time or literal events. Spong blames the western mind for insisting that the details of the Gospels were actual, historical events. Early in its history, the Church lost touch with its midrashic origins and claimed too much through literalizing scripture. With the dawn of the enlightenment, Spong suggests that the literal reading of Scripture was proven to be fantasy. Today, evangelical and fundamentalist elements of the Christian church, Catholic and Protestant, cling to the fading possibility of a literal truth being present in the details of their faith story. However, we need not fear, Spong's methodology will restore the original meaning of the midrashic message.
Applying his methodology, we cannot be, in the least bit, certain of the historicity of the Old or the New Testaments. Spong applies his midrashic method to show that whatever events the disciples experienced were set forth in the Gospels as non literal myths or legends. Specifically, since he places the location of Peter's resurrection vision in Galilee, it follows that the entire burial tradition must all be dismissed as not factual, including the female visitors who discovered the empty tomb. Jesus' appearances that purport to be the physical manifestations of the dead body that somehow was enabled to be revivified and to walk out of a tomb are also myths and legends. After disposing of the resurrection narratives as legend, Spong then embarks upon what he calls his speculative reconstruction of the events surrounding the resurrection while admitting that no one "can finally do anything other than speculate!"
Spong's concept of vision is not unique. For Spong, Jesus appeared to Simon from the realm of God. What Peter saw was not objective and yet it was real. Both subjective and objective visions have been refuted by scholars. The objective vision includes the experience of some literal minimal light phenomen with a corresponding mission. Spong speaks of a species of subjective vision also called hallucination. Gary Habermas offers an excellent treatment and refutation of the subjective and objective visions of resurrection. (see, Geivett, R. Douglas, Habermas Gary R. In Defense of Miracles, Downers Grove: Illinois, InterVarsity Press, 1997, pages 262-267) Hallucinations are private events that are not contagious to the masses and are not likely to inspire dying for one's vision. Spong's version of the vision transfer from Peter to the Apostles is ludicrous at best: "He tried to open their eyes. His tortured mind poured out his words in torrents...until light dawned in James, John, and Andrew." (p. 257) Spong wants us to believe that the Apostles faced the threat of certain death on the basis of a subjective vision. However, the New Testament reveals that the early church faced both threats and death for testifying to a literal resurrection.
In stark contrast, the Apostle Paul made the claim of the historical fact of Jesus' resurrection in no uncertain terms. He presented the fact of the resurrection as the litmus test of the Christian faith. The resurrection is the primary basis for Christian faith. Paul stated in no uncertain terms in 1 Cor 15:14-17 that if Christ was not raised, preaching and faith in the bodily resurrection is useless making professing Christians false witnesses for making such declarations. By positing the resurrection to be a legendary invention, he removes the basis upon which Christianity stands: salvation from sin through faith in a literal resurrection of Jesus Christ. Spong's postmodern approach might score high marks in a university literature class, however, rejecting the miracle of the resurrection with this midrashic method would score him low marks with theologians, historians, and philosophers who support the veracity of the New Testament.
I BECAME A CHRISTIAN AGAIN!.......2006-09-16
When I read this piercingly insightful book I was, for all intents and purposes, a former Christian turned atheist. So, I was both wary and skeptical when I finally read it. Page after page brought idea after idea cascading into my mind. Ideas and insights and facts that I did not know at the time and hence had not considered. After reading Resurrection through several times I came away with a renewed and transformed faith in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I now know the true nature of the Resurrection experience and how to enter into it. I know what it meant to the first Christians, and that is now what it means to me. I now identify with the Risen Christ, and with him I have been raised. Raised from time into Eternity, into the eternal Fact of the Resurrection, and of Life and Light in the immanental yet transcendent Kingdom of God!
Resurrection, Myth or Reality is a spiritual detetive story, a story that wiil take you deep into the Biblical texts, Christian history, psychology, Mythology, and the Nature of God. Not in any of the shopworn and powerless ways you were taught (and perhaps forced) to believe, but in a new way, an authentic way, a way that is in actual fact the Original Way. I have never read any other book by a so-called "liberal" scholar that exalts the Risen Christ as does Bishop Spong in this remarkable volume.
Are you an intelligent, educated, 21st century person whose faith is in exile? Do you yearn to return to the faith of your fathers, but in a way that enables you to keep your intellectual integrity intact? Yes? So was I. God brought Bishop Spong to my attention and with the Bishops help, my faith was both restored and transformed. CHRISTOS ANESTI! ALITHOS ANESTI! (CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!)
In the the Grace of Christ,
Rev. Nathaniel J. Merritt
You will also enjoy I WAS A TEENAGE JEHOVAH'S WITNESS and JEHOVAH UNMASKED, my first two published books.
Amazon.com
In Family History, Dani Shapiro has written such a nail biter of a plot that it's easy to overlook just how good--and how literary--a novel this really is. Narrator Rachel Jenson is a housewife and art restorer married to Ned, a one-time painter. They live with their two children, 13-year-old Kate and 2-year-old Josh, in the small New England town where Ned grew up. In an elegant series of flashbacks, we learn of the emotional devastation teenage Kate has wrought. She was a perfect child growing up, but once Josh came along, her dark thoughts and tragic actions nearly destroy her family. As secret after secret is revealed, Shapiro gets perfectly Rachel's horror of daily life: how can you chat with the other moms at preschool when your world is falling apart? But what makes Family History a fine novel is its utter freedom from stereotype. Kate is bad, but she's never the bad seed; Ned's a failure, but he's not a total wash; Rachel's a narrator mired in tragedy, but she's a wry, slightly unreliable narrator mired in tragedy. Shapiro knows just how much hope to give her characters. In the end, their redemption is so slight that we actually believe in it. --Claire Dederer
Book Description
From the prodigiously gifted author of the acclaimed memoir
Slow Motion, a stunning and brutally honest novel about one family’s harrowing recovery from devastation.
Rachel Jensen is perfectly happy: in love with her husband, devoted to their daughter Kate, gratified by her work restoring art. And finally, she’s pregnant again. But as Rachel discovers, perfection can unravel in an instant. The summer she is thirteen, Kate returns from camp sullen, angry, and withdrawn. Everyone assures Rachel it’s typical adolescent angst. But then Kate has a terrifying accident with her infant brother, and the ensuing guilt brings forth a dreadful lie—one that ruptures their family, perhaps irrevocably.
Family History is a mesmerizing journey through the mysteries of adolescent pain and family crisis.
Customer Reviews:
A Searingly Important Book.......2007-10-10
Family History is not only beautifully written, it is a searingly accurate look at life inside a troubled family. There are no cliche's or easy answers provided to the reader. As a psychotherapist who has worked extensively with families in pain, I can tell you that this story goes straight to the core of the nearly impossible task of being the parent your child wishes you to be. It will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.
RIVETING, SERIOUS READING!!.......2007-09-16
This is a serious book which realistically portrays a family dealing with incredibly sad situations. This should be read by a mature audience, as well as by people who think that they may wish to enter into social services. Shapiro deftly writes about how a family could easily disintegrate. She writes with uncanny realism. I don't view this as a "fast read." Shapiro offers much info in a rather brief book -- and gets the job done! Very sad reading... it's always sad when children are not well. This is especially true when parents feel [and are] helpless as to how to provide a remedy.
It's sad but still an excellent read........2007-07-22
This was the first book I read by Dani Shapiro. Depending on my mood I may read Jude Deveraux, Sandra Brown, Lee Child and others. I thought this was a book that everyone would enjoy. The author's writing is so engrossing that you can't wait to read the next page. Overall, this is an excellent read and I would recommend it.
Her best book yet.......2007-06-25
Great writing on a family falling apart. Sharp and precise portraits of the daily life of all characters surrounding this fall. Beautiful writing and hopeful story.
Compelling ..........2007-01-15
As dark and depressing as the first few chapters were, it was amazing to see the light at the end of the tunnel by the time I finished this book. It is about family. It is about fractured lives and how one incident changes a family's life forever. It is about love and unredeemed love. It is about selfishness and unselfishness. It is about life in today's world. It is about mental illness and coping. It is about a family. It is about how nothing is how it seems.
This book is about Rachel Jensen, who has it all: a husband who adores her, a new baby boy and a teenage daughter. She lives in a beautiful house that she and Ned built when she was pregnant with their daughter. Life was almost perfect and she was very content. Till her daughter came home from summer camp. Till something happened to her baby son, and her daughter gets sent away. Lying in bed all hours of the day, Rachel tries to avoid the nastiness that has become her life. Ned's gone and working in a job that he hates since he got fired from his prestigious job as a teacher in a private school. Her daughter's gone, sent up to an institute for troubled girls. Her little boy's too young to understand what's going on. Rachel went from having it all to having nothing.
Sounds depressing, doesn't it? Don't give up on this book. It really is a beautifully written novel on how sometimes in the midst of the deepest despair, life continues to give you strength to move on; that eventually, it will all get better. Yes, you will continue on as a fractured family, but perhaps the Jensens will continue to build on the fractures and make themselves stronger for it. It is a moving thought as well as a moving tribute to today's society and its pressures on families. It is a well-written book, thoughtful and provoking.
1-14-07
Average customer rating:
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Save The Babies: American Public Health Reform and the Prevention of Infant Mortality, 1850-1929 (Ann Arbor Paperbacks)
Richard A. Meckel
Manufacturer: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN PRESS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Book Description
Today fewer than one in a hundred American babies die in infancy. But a century ago, as many as one in six did. Historian Richard Meckel analyzes the efforts of American reformers who mounted a campaign to reduce infant mortality, from its "discovery" as a social problem in the 1850s to the limited success in securing federal funding for infancy and maternity programs in the 1920s. In a substantive epilogue, he also traces the evolution of American infant welfare policy from the 1930s to 1990.
Meckel depicts a reform movement that had a single overriding goal but was made up of professional groups with often competing ideas and agendas. He shows how interaction between these groups, as well as changing social and medical theories, propelled the movement through three overlapping phases. In the first phase, infant welfare activists sought to reduce infant mortality through general environmental reform. In the second, they attempted to upgrade the quality of commercial milk. And in the third, they turned their attention to improving mothers' abilities to carry, bear, and rear healthy infants.
By placing this movement within an international context, Meckel also illustrates how and why the United States, virtually alone among the industrialized nations, stopped short of establishing a comprehensive, government-sponsored infant welfare program.
Drawing upon medical, demographic, social welfare, political, and women's history, Save the Babies will be of interest to historians and policymakers alike, and provides context for a contemporary understanding of many health issues that are still with us today.
Richard Meckel is Associate Professor in the Department of American Civilization and the Department of History, Brown University.
Book Description
A Social History of Wet Nursing in America: From Breast to Bottle examines the intersection of medical science, social theory, and cultural practices as they shaped relations among wet nurses, physicians, and families from the colonial period through the twentieth century. It explores how Americans used wet nursing to solve infant feeding problems, shows why wet nursing became controversial as motherhood slowly became medicalized, and elaborates how the development of scientific infant feeding eliminated wet nursing by the beginning of the twentieth century. Janet Golden's study contributes to our understanding of the cultural authority of medical science, the role of physicians in shaping child rearing practices, the social construction of motherhood, and the profound dilemmas of class and culture that played out in the private space of the nursery.
Customer Reviews:
A bit academic, but fascinating.......2006-03-23
Formula had a predecessor: the wet nurse. Golden tracks her down during the 18th and 19th centuries in America, and documents in some detail how wet nursing was supplanted by formula and why. This is a great source of information for those who wonder about the early history of formula, and also for those who wonder why we don't have more human milk banks. Golden describes the forces pushing the ages of partial and full weaning down through the nineteenth century in all classes.
It's fascinating to hear how a lot of breastfeeding myths we think come from other parts of the world were alive and well in our own country as long as breastfeeding was alive and well. And at least in some contexts, they weren't myths at all. Breastfeeding women in the nineteenth century, particularly wet nurses who were tandem nursing, needed much better nutrition than the other servants, for example.
The ideas and information in this book deserve a larger audience.
Books:
- Voices from the Underground: Insider Histories of the Vietnam Era Underground Press
- Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination
- Watchdogs of Democracy?: The Waning Washington Press Corps and How It Has Failed the Public
- What's the Deal
- Without a Map: A Memoir
- Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance
- 1776
- A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1900
- A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future
- America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It
Books Index
Books Home
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- Pete Ellis: An Amphibious Warfare Prophet, 1880-1923
The American Plague: The Untold Story of Yellow Fever, the Epidemic that Shaped Our History
The Demon Under the Microscope: From Battlefield Hospitals to Nazi Labs, One Doctor's Heroic Search for the World's First Miracle Drug
Vaccinated: One Man's Quest to Defeat the World's Deadliest Diseases
The Cigarette Century: The Rise, Fall, and Deadly Persistence of the Product That Defined America
The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World
