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This book faithfully recreates the world of Frazier Robinson and the Negro Leagues. Outstanding and fascinating. It would make a perfect gift for any baseball fan. Paul Bauer inserts nothing between you and his subject. It is a must have book for any serious fan of the game.

This is a wonderful book that needed to be written. I had the opportunity to meet Frazier while living and I am so glad that his stories live on in this book. It brings back the memory of the time when players played the game for the love of the game and not for what they were being paid. And worrying about what deal they could acquire in the off season. Also in a time when color mattered over talent it should remind us that never again should we engage in human exclusion

Being a baseball history buff (addict) for the past 42 years, I've read just about everything I could get my hands on. I cannot now think of an autobiographical book to which I could attach a higher recommendation that "Catching Dreams" by Frazier "Slow" Robinson. This true gentleman travelled the dusty roads that connected the sites of Negro League baseball during the 30's, 40,s and even the 50's. Although produced by the University of Syracuse press, there is no attempt to make the book erudite or complicate it with an assortment of exotic literary techniques and obscure words. Instead, the publisher and co-author, Paul Bauer have presented the story of Slow Robinson in language truly spoken by the man himself. When you read this book, you will feel that you are seated beside Mr. Robinson as he speaks with words, terms and expressions uniquely those of a man with little formal education, who gained his lessons in life on the fly and had to learn his own language. His ability to recall a voluminous list of names and anecdotal material from his experiences, and to relate them descriptively, suggest a man who would have had little trouble dealing with a formal post-secondary school education. His relationships with such Negro League stalwarts as Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Leon Day and Satchel Paige are detailed with humour, insight and compassion. He is forthright without offending his old friends, as in Ball Four by Jim Bouton. In his own words, his goal in life was to be remembered as a nice guy; he passed with flying colors. If you choose only one book to read on this subject, you simply cannot go wrong with Catching Dreams.

Brugh Joy (a wonderful Kahuna himself) knew Nana and said that she was such an embodiment of the spirit of ALOHA, that when she would stand before a crowd and merely speak that one word "ALOHA", her spirit was so strong that many in the audience would spontaneously begin weeping with joy. Incredible to imagine...but this marvelous little book captures much of that magic.

I am so happy Nana's book has not disappeared from circulation. I found my first copy at a small bookstore in upcountry Maui a decade or so ago, when it was then out of print. I have been particularly enriched by Nana's wisom regarding silence -- and yes, as she claims, one can begin to understand the language of the natural world if one is silent long enough to listen!!

Enjoy this gem from Kahuna Nana!

This book is an autobiographical story of her search for belief, faith and meaning.

First she was taught the traditional Hawaiian belief, then "christianity (Presbyterian if memory serves)", Science and Mind, Zen Buddhism, and various metaphysical traditions.

If you have a desire to learn about Hawaii, and various practises of Hawaii (working with nature, Ho'oponopono, etc) This is a good beginning, but incomplete.

In my opinion; the Hawaiians had effective prayer down to a science, and were far more spiritually grounded than the bible thumping "christians" that outlawed the spiritual practises of Hawaiians. Two Bears

Aloha nui loa (I love you very much)

When it comes down to the wire, managing change is really all about balance, something the Japanese treasure and express in the art of Zen, and passion. Passion without direction and focus is just a bunch of energy, like an Italian lover. Passion, with focus and balance, can be like a laser beam--very powerful and significant.

The first part of one's life is usually spent chasing success, and the second half chasing significance. Nana's Change We Must is working to see that we all get an early start on the second.

Here we have a wonderful book by one of the most successful law-enforcement officers in the entire world. Chief Gates became known around the world as a founder of a first SWAT team, as someone who initiated an International DARE program, and did so much for his department. His career is a good proof of that almost everything is possible in your life.

Gates gives in his book a realistic account of what it is to be a police officer on the street, what it is to feel the pressure from "upstairs", and he also gives negative feedback so realistically that I felt like I had been standing next to him while he was explaining things.

This book is absolutely wonderful, and as a someone who plans to become a law-enforcement officer -- it is MUST! Gates has written a book of the time. It is very informative and covers all the major turns on his career including WATTS riots, 1982 Olympic Games, and Rodney King case.

Thank You Chief for writing such a nice account on your life!

Don't believe everything that the media tells you about the LAPD. If they worked their beat and walked in their shoes, they might think different.

Chief Gates gives the insight of 42 years with the LAPD, complete with the backstabbing and infighting that has become common with several department in this country (Denver, San Francisco, etc.) When Chief Gates was replaced, the status of the department suffered greatly.

A must read for ALL police officers.

A really good read that gives incite into whta Gates is all about. I also liked "BOOT: An LAPD Officer's Rookie Year" by Dunn. That's a must read for any law enforcement fan!

I've never cried and laughed so much in the space of so few pages. Ms. Joseph has captured the heart of a writer in Ana Maria's lush, colorful words flung against the backdrop of the Dominican Republic. I have no critique or summary, only gratitude. This book wounded me sweetly.

The Color Of My Words By Lynn Joseph is a great book for all ages this book is about a Ana Rose who loves to exress her feelings by writing poems. She is has a crush on her brothers friend Angel. Her parents cant afford money to buy her a notebook so she steals her brothers. In this book Ana Rose goes threw lot from finding her real father and her brother dieing i gave this book 5 stars because it really makes you think of life in a diffrent way.
I would read this book over and over again i am hoping for this book to get lots of awards.

After travelling to the Dominican Republic, my mother bought me this book for Christmas. Of course it's for a younger audience, but none the less I enjoyed it thoroughly! It may be surprising to some, but it is quite an accurate depiction of typical Dominican life in some respects. The desire for the simple things, and the longing for some hope for tomorrow affects so many families in the Dominican. Many issues that plague this country, such as marriage and the family-unit, alcohol consumption, gambling, employment, and economics surround this story. But amongst the struggles, you see the love of a family, finding simple beauties that we as Americans tend to forget. You see into this little girl's heart as you experience the sites and sounds of the Dominican that she SO accurately describes! I can feel, taste and see all that I experienced just by reading this book.

I hope that Louis Zamperini's story becomes required reading for our children one day. This man's amazing story of survival against all odds during WWII is truly miraculous. To describe Louie as merely "lucky" misses the mark somehow. He should have died many times over before and during the war, but through God's grace and Zamperini's formidable willpower he survived to tell his story. And what an incredible, page-turning saga it is! I couldn't put this book down and after reading it, I was a changed woman. I had a new respect for my grandfather, and the men of his generation who suffered unimaginable horrors on the battlefields of Europe and Japan during the 1940's.

In this exciting and epic book, author Louis Zamperini describes his life from a child through adulthood and the growth he experienced as a person during that time. Louis was a typical young child; full of mischief and adventure, and he always seemed to be getting into trouble for one thing or another, but thanks to his older brother Pete's love and encouragement, Louis' life began to change for the better.

Pete was an outstanding track and field athlete and he encouraged Louis to do the same. Soon, Louis was a world-class middle distance runner and held the national collegiate record for the mile run. He qualified for the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin and placed eighth in his race. Even though he didn't win a medal, he still accomplished what the large majority of people never will.

A few years later, Louis joined the army as a navigator on a B-24 Liberator heavy bomber. Based in Hawaii, his crew participated in the bombing of Japanese-held territory as well as search and rescue missions. It was on one of these rescue missions that Louis' own plane became disabled and forced to crash. What happened next can only be described as a miracle, as Louis and another crewmember survived for forty seven days on a rubber raft, while eating small fish and even seabirds while collecting rainwater to drink.

After drifting for two thousand miles, Louis was finally picked up by the Japanese, where he was imprisoned on the Japanese-held island of Kwajalein. During his time in prison on Kwajalein and later in Japan itself, Louis was subjected to numerous beatings and very little food. One particular guard called "The Bird" was especially cruel.

The war finally ended in September, 1945, and slowly, Louis managed to return to civillian life. However, he had accumulated a great amount of hatred, and he suppressed his feeling with alcohol and carousing. Finally, Louis met a woman named Cynthia and fell in love. However, their relationship was anything but easy. Louis' drinking and harsh worlds nearly drove Cynthia and their newborn daughter away, but she decided to stay.

Cynthia met a neighbor who was a Christian and started attending meetings, but Louis was reluctant to go. After some nudging from his wife, Louis finally attended and a transformation began; Louis began to have feelings he never had before; feelings of forgiveness. Louis accepted Christ into his life and began working as a Christian missionary. He even travelled to Japan, met his former captors face to face, and forgave them for what they did to him.

This is a truly uplifting and inspiring book. Louis' life has been truly remarkable in every sense of the word. I was drawn in to his story and found myself cheering for him when he became a Christian. Read this great book and experience the growth of an unruly young man into a messenger for God.

If you are into adventure, tragedy, and ultimate triumph, you NEED to read this book. It is inspiring and is VERY hard to put down. Buy it, read it, and then give it to a friend!

I try to get all of Bill Burk's books. I enjoy his writings about Elvis so much.
I also have all his Elvis World Magazines. He only writes the truth. You will find no lies about Elvis in his books so they will sell.

This is the longest-running, best-selling book in the Graceland shops since its first printing in 1987! The author -- a personal friend of Elvis' and a journalist who wrote almost 400 stories and interviews on Elvis during a 20-year span -- paints an insider's picture of Elvis, the human being behind the glitter. He was the lone journalist allowed on Elvis' private train car coming home from the Army and the first to take Elvis aloft in a small airplane and allow him to handle the controls. Follow the ups and downs of Elvis from 1957 to 1977, including their last private conversation while parked behind a donut shop near Graceland after midnight just 3 months before Elvis died. The author -- well-known to Elvis fans around the world, and widely "researched" by more famous writers -- has always been sensitive to the private Elvis.

This book is one of the most comprehensive looks at a legend ...an inside look by Mr. Burk who was the only journalist allowed inside Graceland to interview Elvis. I was fortunate enough to have a friend to loan me the first edition years ago, and I contacted Mr. Burk to try to obtain a copy which was out of print at the time. I'm so grateful that he had another printing done and I was able to obtain a copy for myself. Just one in a series of works from Mr. Burk about his favorite subject. I will always buy Mr. Burk's books.

...or maybe a bit of both. This is a simply fabulous book that talks about John Peabody Harrington's noble fight to record the dying languages of the dying Southwest Indian cultures -- and his utter lack of understanding when it comes to the needs of humans, particularly his wife. It's got love, sex, drama, linguistics -- what more can you ask for in a book? I've read it over and over, yet I will read it again, I'm sure.

I picked up this book not really knowing what it was about, but as soon as I began reading, I was hooked. This true story was written when the author was in her 70s. She depicts the life of a student of anthropolgy early in the 20th century, and the indiginous people on the west coast whose history she and her famous husband were trying to preserve. More fascinating, however, is the love story which creeps into the narrative almost without the reader realizing it. It is an intimate story of two people who, according to the culture at the time, should never have been together, but who found a simple and profound joy in being together. The author's strength of character shines through this book.

I was married to Carobeths grandson. I disagree with the other 2 reviews. Carobeth was a proud, highly intelligent woman who's special ability to learn language was just what Harrington was looking for. He set her up to record the languages and moved on to the next village. The two of them compiled the only known documentation of many California Indian languages and mythology. True, he was obsessed, but aren't all researchers?

I am only 13 and lately I have been interested in the Holocaust. Although i am catholic reading this book gave me a total diffrent look to the Holocaust. I read this book in only 3 days. This was so because just the details about the book made me think over how lucky they are to be here today. I finished the book today and thought to my self wow, i can't believe people would be treated in such a harsh way. I was so relieved when i read the ending with such intensity and could not be more happy for Bezo. If you are interested in the Holocaust then i suggest for you to read the book because it is awesome.

This is a great book. The plot is very interesting and keeps you reading. I wouldn't have thought that this was a true story. There is so much action and conflict in it, that it just doesn't seem possible, but it is. It's a miracle how these 45 people survived underground for such a long time when so many things couldn've gone wrong. It's a true story about survival and life during the hardest of times. I had to read this for English in 6th grade, and I usually don't like the required reading, but this is one exception. Mr. Mayer even wrote it in a way we could understand. I never had to use a dictionary once while reading. ;) He is a nice guy (he came to our school) and he really made this book a really great read.

Hi ...and i rate this book great .It has it all and i want it to be #1 in the world i have met the author my self. The book is about how 45 jews survived the holocaust in a under ground bunker beneth house of a kind gentile Ivan Bur .After the war bernard the author was libarated but unfortaly Ivan died fighting jews in Germany... and it's a true story

I liked this book, especially because you went in to Jason and his iguana, Quincy. I think that when they harass Paige, the way she gets back at them is hysterical. Thanks for all the books, please make more, and keep the good work up. ~Brittany~

I loved this book! It was just one hilarious comic strip after another! Absolutley a must-have.

I get so engrossed in all foxtrot books, but I think this one defenitly topped my list. It was hysterical from cover to back. Keep up the good work!

Please note that the Ingram description shown above is for a different book. The Carnal Prayer Mat is about a lecherous Chinese scholar, not the memoirs of some Viennese schoolteacher.

This is a bona fide world classic in literature. It stands as a classic both in erotica and pure (if such a thing exists) literature. This fable follows the sexual exploits of Scholar Vesperus who learns to find wisdom on the Carnal Prayer Mat so to speak. He refuses to learn spiritual wisdom through earnest prayer and hence learns his lessons the hard way. (pun not intended) He has his many affairs and shamelessly cheats on his wife. He even becomes a bigamist with a second wife in another town. The trickery involved is hysterical. It is reminiscent of The DeCameron of Boccaccio in the sneakiness of the characters. The humor is also a fabulous trait. Honest Quan gaining revenge is the moralistic turn. The Golden Rule was never so funny. Vesperus steals Honest Quans wife so Honest Quan debauches Vesperus wife. Li Yu strikes a moralistic posture in telling this tale but one can not help but feel that he had a smashing good time writing this book. Each chapter ends with a moral to the action. It merely adds to the humor. One can not help but feel that Li Yu is yanking the readers chain. The names for sexual positions and the numerous jokes on penis size are exquisite. He is having too much fun with the story. The reader also is having too much fun to be preoccuppied with the morals of each chapter. Of course, Vesperus does ultimately come to wisdom in the end. We should be grateful that he did learn the hard way. It was a lot more entertaining for us. This book will really dispell a lot of Western prejudices that hold the Chinese to be demure and asexual. (Well, there are over a billion people in China so they must know something about sex, but I wont go there.) I suggest this book to anyone interested in erotica and to anyone smallminded enough to doubt the wonderful sensuality and sexuality of classic Chinese literature.

The best thing about THE CARNAL PRAYER MAT is not just that it's sexually adventurous -- it's that it's one of the FUNNIEST, craziest works of its kind. There are moments that are strikingly sophisticated and "modern", followed up by sexual antics that are as outrageous as anything in a Franz von Bayros print. Hong Kong's movie industry took the hint and has put out a series of (very) loose film adaptations (SEX AND ZEN, I-III), but the book remains forever tongue-in-cheekishly brilliant. A great choice for people who are getting fed up with acres of drippingly solemn Anne Rice-derived nonsense.