Product Description

What is the design of the mind? What does that design imply for education? This comprehensive and engaging introduction to human learning and its applications to education focuses on these vital questions by exploring the theories of knowledge, complex cognition, and human intelligence, presenting a clear and interesting overview of the human mind through multiple theoretical lenses. The author delineates how the mind has a clear design, or architecture, that explains simple acts of memory and complex cognition, to highly creative acts and leaps of scientific or artistic insight. Topics covered throughout the text include: memory, motivation, cognitive development, the brain, and intelligence. Unique to this text, the author has provided an interdisciplinary chapter dedicated to theories of knowledge, extended coverage of expert-novice differences and talent development, and a chapter devoted to intelligence. Readers will appreciate special features like Learning Strategies which cover specific application of the theories to classroom practice, and Interest Magnets which explore fascinating topics such as photographic memory, sleep learning, and Einstein’s brain. Written like a narrative, Learning and Cognition: The Design of the Mind will delight its readers’ interest and attention as they learn about the theories of human learning and cognition and the improvement of the mind through education.

Customer Reviews (2)

Interesting
This is definitely not the worst textbook to have to read. I must say I'm actually learning something. (which i find amazing!)

Great Buy!
The book arrived in excellent condition. The shipping was fast and affordable. The book itself is great! I bought it for a class, and I love it so much I've already read half the book. It's an easy read for anyone who is new to psychology or biology, and it's not too boring for anyone who has majored in psychology (as I have). It presents some really interesting concepts and explains them well enough that you start to notice how they fit into your own life. It's a great buy for anyone looking to bone up on cognitive psychology, or anyone interested in pursuing a career in teaching (as the book is centered around teaching methods). ... Read more

Product Description
The book is a research on the traditional kata Kusanku. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

bAD FOR YOUR DEVELOPMENT!
fAR & bEYOND FROM THE REAL CHINNA & THE oKINAWAN WAY! mmmmmmmmmmm! no good! sorry!!!

Never received the book, funds were refunded.
It would have been much better if the seller would have notified me the book did not meet their quality standards and offered an alternative or something.I continue to anxiously look for the book, expecting the delivery any day.

I did notice the "adjustment" to my account for the price of the book, but there was not a reason.I assumed I must have input the credit card number two time.Anyway since no book was received. The "process" was slightly flawed.(BWK)

Essential addition to your martial arts library
I originally purchased one of Javier's books, and 20 minutes into it I raced back to amazon to order the rest. His insights into various techniques - and their possible lineage - make for fascinating reading. And even better: They enliven your kata. When reading a book makes me feel like I cannot wait to perform kata, I know it is a valuable teaching and training tool. Be sure to get all of Javier's books: Each one contains a different, essential nugget. The same could be said of your kata.

Kusanku
Martinez goes over Isshinryu Kusanku Kata which is similar to that of Matsubayashi Ryu. What is of interest is his application of Bunkai, using mainly Chin Na or Okinawan Te locks. He has no historical proof for hisinterpreation, but I do not feel that it is important. Dispite the typos inthe book, it is a very good addition to any martial artist library.

A Very Good Reference Book
This is a very good book to reference the Kusanku Kata with.The author makes no excuses about taking material from other books and sources and applying them to this kata.A wonderful insight into the linking of thevarious martial arts traditions. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (21)

The Automatic detective
Have all his books but this one-excited to read, came on time in great condition

Great book
A. Lee Martinez is a great writer very fun if you like sarcastic comedy that is a bit on the macabre side.

Don't be put off by the familiarity
I mean, we all know that every science fiction writer sooner or later doesa humorous novel about a wisecracking, hard-boiled robot detective in a city full of mutants whose shape changes unpredictably, but this one is better than any other humorous novel about a wisecracking, hard-boiled robot detective in a city full of mutants that you've read in the last year.Trust me on this.It has a street lights made of glowing industrial waste, AND a gorilla.Go read it.

A smashing read--this bot is more than meets the eye
The premise of THE AUTOMATIC DETECTIVE lured me with the promise of sci fi noir. I was looking for bot smashing action and mutant shenanigans. I was not disappointed.

I also found much more in the pages of this novel.

The author manages to imbue Megaton with the divine spark. Mack is created as a killing machine; he chooses to be greater than the sum of his parts. Although his shell is a facade of indestructible alloy, his psyche is as vulnerable as his fragile core.

After his neighbors are kidnapped, Megaton develops into a complex, flawed being. With each choice and confrontation, the Automatic Detective grapples with existential conundrums. He becomes more human than most of the biologicals he meets in Empire City. He is a paradox made up of ones and zeroes; a bot possessing both guts and a soul.

Yes, the book is funny and full of witty plot twists. But THE AUTOMATIC DETECTIVE has more than laughs. It has heart.

This is the third offering I've read by Mr. Martinez. It's also my new favorite. Pick it up. If you're like me, you'll wish the story wouldn't end.

Diverting Sci-Fi / Detective Genre Blend
I have a penchant for crime stories featuring unusual protagonists, and the faux-pulp period cover of the book, with its robot gumshoe, caught my eye. It's certainly not the first blend of the science-fiction and detective genres (I suppose Assimov's Caves of Steel takes that honor), but it's a fairly enjoyable example. The story takes place in the retro-future "Empire City" -- imagine a kind of sprawling Los Angeles meets Seattle by way of '50s pulp magazine covers. Lots of flying cars, robots of all description, and distinctive city sectors (some with climate control domes, others cesspools of toxic waste, it brings to mind the Luc Besson film, The Fifth Element. One of the flying cars is piloted by Mack Megaton, a combat robot prototype who has been granted probationary citizenship after passing a test demonstrating free will comparable to humankind. (Come to think of it, The Fifth Element's protagonist is also a cab driver....)

One morning, Mack rescues his neighbors from a menacing thug, and when they disappear soon thereafter, he decides to play detective and track them down. Soon, he is tangled up in a larger conspiracy involving mutants and who knows what else. But Mack had friends -- a gorilla fellow cabbie, an understanding therapist, a white mouse police detective, and a tasty blond genius who seems to have a thing for robots. His attempt to track down the missing neighbors with a little help from his friends is a nice update on pulp fiction conventions. The story zips right along with snappy pacing, plenty of banter, and as several very inventive fight sequences. If you're looking for a light sci-fi read or an unusual detective caper, this should do the trick -- it's not jam packed with ideas, but it is diverting. ... Read more

Product Description
Gerhard Graf-Martinez is a passionate flamenco guitarist and teacher. The wealth of his knowledge is captured in this two-volume work, which also reflects valuable experience gained from his activities as a tutor at national and international seminars and workshops. The CD included with volume 1 contains all the pieces and musical examples for Volumes 1 and 2. Besides being a pure pleasure to listen to "Flamenco puro," it also conveys the authentic sound and the pulsating "compas" of this music. This is the only way to learn to play the music properly yourself. The DVD will take you to the passionate world of Flamenco, and you will quickly immerse yourself in this Spanish musical phenomenon. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Fantastic!
These Flamenco Guitar Method books and DVD's by Graf Martinez are the prefect thing if you want to learn how to play flamenco. I've searched a long time for the right books and here they are! The DVD's are very helpful, Before each example he explains a little bit about what to do. And in each example a score plays along on the bottom of the screen to what he is playing. He plays everything fast then very slow. The CD's are also great, it has all of the examples in the 2 volumes at full speeds. If you are learning guitar for the first time I would recommend taking some lessons to learn the proper technique before diving into these books. You can really hurt yourself if you don't know what you're doing, especially in flamenco.

Excellent! Fantastic Lesson package
Im familiar with buying all kinds of lesson books throughout my life. So I have to say that this combination book(tab)/cd/dvd is worth every penny! Everything is explained thoroughly, leaving you with completely understood concepts even to the most detailed little things on what you should be doing. Nothing will leave you wondering - whats going on. One of the best designed lesson packages Ive come across. The music used in the book is just so to the point and absolutely useful so that you can expand upon it any way you see fit. These are not "Cheezy" examples; but very inspiring as to what you can do with them once you've gotten the basics. The cd has ALL the songs. Which is an extreme Teaser leaving you wanting to buy the "2nd" volume just to follow the examples you hear on the CD. Everything is played at slow and normal speeds. And the examples on volume 1 CD which contain ALL the CD music of volume 2 just get better and better as the songs progress. There are like 94 songs altogether. So its packed full with complete progressive song arrangements that have purpose for learning. Not just thrown around examples. He put a lot of thought into this volume 1 lesson package. As for the DVD. Hi-def indeed. The DVD is JUST as detailed as BOTH the CD and Book. Everything is completely covered and explained in slow and normal speeds. Nothing will leave you scratching your head.
So really, Im telling you. Its worth it. You always have doubts when buying something as far as lesson books. But this is One that stands alone. I could guarantee you its that good. If you trust me on this review, you will be Very Happy that you heeded my time in writing this review. Just passing along a highly suggested review after I have watched and listened to this Volume 1 package. Nothing in this is boring at all. Its Very Good.

Ole this is great.
Great Combi Pack.

You got to have the passion to really learn the style in order to get the most out of this book. Although its a volume 1 book, it is very important to be patient when studying the exsercises presented in this method.

Mr. Graf - Martinez is a very friendly person and will answer any questions you may have regarding this book. This sort of ads more bang for your buck and you can't beat that. Another thing I may ad is getting the Compás flamenco metronome software. This metronome will also help a great deal in learning flamenco ryhthmic patterns.

Overall its a great book in my opinion.

The best flamenco technique method I've ever found
I have both volume 1 and 2 of these with the DVD's. This is the best flamenco method I have ever found. In addition, bonus, it's a deal. I prefer these books to studying with my flamenco teacher who was more interested in showing off. The approach is very good, first you learn the right hand techniques and then you learn the compas, the music itself. The progress I have made and am making with this method is amazing. With this method, I have now added a book of flamenco studies. With the techniques I have learned from this method I am now able to do the studies and get even more practice and exposure to flamenco music.

Good textbook/DVD/CD for Learning Flamenco Guitar
This set of Book/DVD/CD provides an excellent training material for learning Flamenco Guitar for who has some background of playing guitar.
I am quite satisfied with this set and have alreday got the Volume 2:book/DVD. ... Read more

Product Description
Sanity is relative and the world has room for more than one truth. When Diego rescues a naked man from the rail of the Brooklyn Bridge, he just wants to get the poor man out of traffic and over to social services. He gets more than he bargained for when Finn turns out to be an ailing pooka, poisoned by the pollution of the city. To help him recover, Diego takes him north to New Brunswick where Finn inadvertently wakes an ancient, evil spirit, the wendigo. While Diego and Finn struggle to find a way to destroy the wendigo before it can possess Diego or kill nearby innocents, Diego wrestles with his growing passion for Finn. Can they succeed in destroying the monster and in navigating a relationship between a modern man and a centuries-old fairy? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

This is a hit!
Once and a while you pick up a book that stretches your imagination. Finn is that book. First, and not to be overlooked, this is a Male / Male romance written by a woman for women. It holds everything a romance novel should, souls wanting the ultimate mate to connect with, and a story to be told in the process of finding the prefect partner in life. Set in a world of shifters and wendigos, Finn is a perfect blend of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Romance. Ms. Martinez weaves a universe with her pen, blends believable worlds and rich characters you can't help but fall in love with. This book has opened up my horizons of others like it to follow.

FINN
I loved this story from the moment I began reading it, there are special people in the world and Diego is surely one of them. he had a huge heart that needed to take care of those that he saw as needing help, with no thought as to what problems it might cause in his personal life...FINN intrigued me and addaed that special quality to the story that it needed. I enjoyed the fact that theses two chracters had been together through many od Diego's reincarnations. ... Read more

Product Description
Robert Durling's spirited new prose translation of the Paradiso completes his masterful rendering of the Divine Comedy. Durling's earlier translations of the Inferno and the Purgatorio garnered high praise, and with this superb version of the Paradiso readers can now traverse the entirety of Dante's epic poem of spiritual ascent with the guidance of one of the greatest living Italian-to-English translators.
Reunited with his beloved Beatrice in the Purgatorio, in the Paradiso the poet-narrator journeys with her through the heavenly spheres and comes to know "the state of blessed souls after death." As with the previous volumes, the original Italian and its English translation appear on facing pages. Readers will be drawn to Durling's precise and vivid prose, which captures Dante's extraordinary range of expression--from the high style of divine revelation to colloquial speech, lyrical interludes, and scornful diatribes against corrupt clergy.
This edition boasts several unique features. Durling's introduction explores the chief interpretive issues surrounding the Paradiso, including the nature of its allegories, the status in the poem of Dante's human body, and his relation to the mystical tradition. The notes at the end of each canto provide detailed commentary on historical, theological, and literary allusions, and unravel the obscurity and difficulties of Dante's ambitious style . An unusual feature is the inclusion of the text, translation, and commentary on one of Dante's chief models, the famous cosmological poem by Boethius that ends the third book of his Consolation of Philosophy.A substantial section of Additional Notes discusses myths, symbols, and themes that figure in all three cantiche of Dante's masterpiece.Finally, the volume includes a set of indexes that is unique in American editions, including Proper Names Discussed in the Notes (with thorough subheadings concerning related themes), Passages Cited in the Notes, and Words Discussed in the Notes, as well as an Index of Proper Names in the text and translation. Like the previous volumes, this final volume includes a rich series of illustrations by Robert Turner. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Mysticism marries modern science
Mysticism marries modern science in The Man From Autumn, a psychological novel by Dr Mario Martinez. The author is an experienced clinical psychologist with degrees from Vanderbilt University and the University of Madrid. His scientific training and clinical experience are impeccable, and yethe seamlessly melds that with an amazing understanding of cross-cultural spirituality, especially the mysticism of Celtic Spain.To read The Man From Autumn is to enter into a heady and fascinating world on intriguing concepts from psychology, neuroscience, medical anthropology and eastern and western spirituality.Dr Martinez' field is psychoneuroimmunology, the effect of the mind and emotions on the immune system. From his clinical work, he has developed his theory of biocognition, which deals with how our cultural-historical beliefs affects our mental and physical health.

Make no mistake, The Man From Autumn is NOT an esoteric book for highly trained professionals. While brimming with fascinating concepts, it is an eminently readable book that will be enjoyed by all who are on a spiritual journey. Written as a novel, the author introduces characters so real that one can visualizes lines of their faces and the drape of their clothing. Through the protagonists Enrique and Beroganand others, one can smell the food, taste the wine and hear the music as the scenesmove from Miami to Galicia to the Vatican. As you read, you will be introduced to fascinating concepts such as the phenomenon of stigmata, wherein certain devout individuals manifest the wounds of Christ's crucifixion, the concept of archetypical memories and synchronicity from western Jungian psychology,the concept of inclusive compassion from Tibetan Buddhist psychology, etc. The scope and breadth of the topics introduced and clearly explained by Dr. Martinez evidence his broad training and study in many areas of science and faith, areas which he finds complimentary rather than contradictory.

The Man From Autumn isa wise guide that points the reader to a joyful life. The author shows how we can free ourselves from culturally imposed beliefs that rob us of joy and keep us from having lives of abundance. For example, you learn how to set "Benign Boundaries"to let people know what/who you really are, rather than who/what you have been complying to be.This lets you "co-author joy"together, rather than continuing to acquiesce to each other while silently resenting it.

This is trulya life changing book that will help you grow in the knowledge of yourself as you discover the mystical world that awaits beyond your doorstep.

Compelling Psychological Novel
Rarely has a book so compelled me that upon closing the final page, I opened again to page 1 to start re-reading it immediately. The Man from Autumn is such a book. Crafted by wordsmith and biocognitive psychologist, Mario Martinez, Psy.D., it has the rich allure of a novel with excellent characterization and plot, mystery, imbedded clues, and cultural dimensionality.
Dr. Martinez, the developer of the field of biocognitive psychology, asserts that the scientific basis of psychoneuroimmunology cannot be isolated from our beliefs and our cultural norms. Using a technique he refers to as incidental learning, he gently, subtly, yet powerfully introduces the fundamentals of biocognitive psychology to the reader. While framed as a work of fiction, an immense amount of information and perspective from medical anthropology, neuroscience, and spirituality find their way into the story line in a seamless, unobtrusive way.
The author has served as a consultant to the Catholic Church, the BBC and National Geographic on cases of stigmata, the appearance of non-healing, bleeding wounds of Christ on the hands and feet of certain faithful. He uses this background as one of several methods and scenarios in the book to introduce the ability of mind and culture to affect our bodies in profound ways. This is done in narrative style that introduces many religious and political questions when a cardinal from Cuba develops this mysterious condition. He also poses these questions in the context of modern science.
The most valuable theme of the book to me, however, was that we can transform personal and cultural norms that demand suffering and pain as requisites to growth and to aging into joy. The Man from Autumn confronts directly the expectation that in our autumn years, we automatically must endure programmed obsolescence. Instead, using the tools of biocognitive psychology, he demonstrates how we can shirk off societal and cultural programs about senescence and disability. Instead, we can choose at any age to continue to grow, to experience love, prosperity, stimulating relationships, intellectual vigor, to savor excellent food and wine, and all things wonderful in life.
With a wide range of topics from the stigmata to voodoo, immunology to anthropology, dreamwork and helpful Muses, this book is lovingly and masterfully written. It is a joy to read. You will find yourself transformed in your own personal psychological constructs from pain into joy, from the Crucifixion to the Resurrection, and from being a victim of cultural beliefs to being a joyful co-creator of your future.
This review will also appear in "Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing".

Victor S. Sierpina, M.D.
Nicholson Professor of Integrative Medicine
University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston
... Read more

Product Description
The absorbing globe-spanning journeys of five immigrant families, chronicled by an award-winning journalist.

In The New Americans, a companion book to the highly-anticipated PBS miniseries from the award-winning producers and director of Hoop Dreams, Emmy Award-winning journalist Rubén Martínez recounts the dramatic voyages of five new immigrant families, from home country to arrival and settlement in the United States. The detailed portraits—woven together in the miniseries to present a kaleidoscopic picture of immigrant movement—present a personal view of the new America: we follow an Indian couple to Silicon Valley, a Mexican family to a meatpacking plant in Kansas; a family of Nigerian refugees, including the sister of slain Ogoni activist Ken Saro-Wiwa; two LA Dodgers prospects from the Dominican Republic; and a pair of Palestinian newlyweds carving out a life in Chicago.

The book also provides context for fans of the television series, with stunning original photographs from award-winning photojournalist Joseph Rodríguez. The New Americans is at once the most personal and accessible introduction to the experience of a new generation of immigrants, and a beautifully written meditation on the ways newcomers are transforming America, socially, economically, and culturally. 50 duotone photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Must read for better understanding
Martinez adds detail and insight into the stories of families featured on this PBS series.The video available from PBS and his book provide an excellent combination for educators, community leaders, and the general public to better appreciate the strengths and resolve immigrants bring to this country as well as the barriers, obstacles, and prejudices they face from those whose families came to the nation in earlier times.

Excellent stories of survival and cultural adjustment evolve
Nicely illustrated with the photography of Joseph Rodriguez, New Americans by Ruben Martinez recounts the dramatic journeys of seven new immigrant families to America, and their settling in this country; from an Asian couple from the computer industry of India to a Mexican family working meatpacking plants in Kansas. Excellent stories of survival and cultural adjustment evolve.

The best in cultural criticism today
As an avid reader of Martinez's works, I feel that he has reached a new level with The New Americans. This book beautifully and thoughtfully weaves together the contested narratives of immigrants, works of cultural production and personal reflection into a polyvocal conversation that leaves the reader wanting more. ... Read more

Product Description

Beautiful and ruthless television reporter Suzanne Shepard made her name by airing brutal celebrity gossip and earned a roster of high-profile enemies in the process. But her own murder was more than a scandal . . . it was a horror show.

Customer Reviews (15)

After A Quick Start Things Never Quite Pick Back Up...
I would consider myself an "appreciator" of Michele Martinez because I have read 3 of her 4 books sequentially."Most Wanted" had promise and "Finishing School" picked up from there.I would consider this book to be a step in the wrong direction.The book gets off to a quick start, but chapter after chapter you find yourself introduced to more characters who obviously are not "The Butcher" and after awhile it becomes a bit annoying to read page after page of "situations" without feeling that any real progress is being made.

I also sensed that in the attempt to make it more interesting and to add some twist and turns we are now being introduced to more characters than a John Grisham novel.There are US Marshalls, judges, DEA agents, FBI agents, etc. who are thrown in one after the other and it never really advances the story.The tension/suspense that was created in the first 4 chapters never really builds and I was actually let off the "tension" hook and never quite got back on.

I would give the book 3-stars for anyone who is following the "Melanie Vargas" series, but I couldn't recommend it to anyone who wasn't familiar with the story as I would recommend "Finishing School" which was a tighter package than "Cover-Up."I also agree with other reviewers that the conventional slang and terms that Ms. Martinez uses for her ethnic characters is still very contrived and many times stereotypical and outdated.However, it is MUCH better than it was in "Most Wanted."

For readers of the series check it out, for people who have are not familiar with the Melanie Vargas character, this wouldn't be the best intro for you.

Good character
I have now read three of the Melanie Vargas mysteries.The characters are strong and command interest and the plots have been clever as well.I was introduced to the first book by my daughter and found another series that we can enjoy together.Worth the time.

gre
michelle martinez is agreat reader this book was great the only thing was that the person who sold this book stole this book from the new york library which is sad

Excellent legal thriller
Bottom line:If you enjoy legal thrillers, I think you will love this book.It is definitely more of a legal thriller than a courtroom drama; little time in the book is spent in court and it is full of suspense as federal prosecutor Melanie Vargas works with the police and FBI to track a twisted and vicious killer.

This is the first of Michele Martinez's books I read, though it is the third one in her Melanie Vargas series.It is always better to start at the beginning of a series, but I didn't feel I was at a disadvantage because I had not read the first two before I started this one.

The author makes Melanie Vargas into a real 3-dimensional character.Like many working women in a demanding job, she has issues:She worries about career advancement and job burn-out, is frustrated about lack of time to spend with her daughter, and is trying to get a handle on her love affair with the FBI agent with whom she's working the case.

In this book, she also has to worry about investigating the father of one of her friends and co-workers.

The pacing is intense;I didn't want to stop reading until I got to the end.And when I did get to the end, I wanted to read another of the author's books.I was glad I had picked up her second book at the same time so I could start it right after I finished this one.

Will Keep You Awake At Night
Michele Martinez's Cover- Up delivers everything you can ask for in a mystery- suspense, a strong protagonist, a thriller of a plot with some very intriguing twists, violence and enough gory scenes that will keep you awake at night.

The novel's plot unfolds when New York federal prosecutor Melanie Vargas who along with her boyfriend, FBI agent Dan O'Reilly, are called to the scene of an horrendous crime wherein a well-known tabloid television personality Suzanne Shepard was viciously raped and murdered. Shepard was a dog hound for sniffing out some very interesting scandals and was fearless when it came to reporting her findings.

Vargas is an up-and -coming prosecutor and she wants this case badly even though she knows it isn't going to be a cakewalk.To make matters even more interesting where a conflict of interest may be involved was that Shepard was investigating a sex scandal involving a future New York mayoralty candidate, Clyde Williams whose son Joe is a co-worker with Vargas.

As the plot thickens we learn about a plastic surgeon, Benedict Welch, who is mixed up in selling drugs to his patients and another character, Miles Ortiz, who is supplying him with the drugs. Just prior to Shepard's murder, her apartment was burglarized by Ortiz and a file pertaining to Welch was stolen which, as we later learn, contained some very interesting press clips concerning the murder of a stripper in Los Angles that had taken place several years before the Shepard murder. Could the two be related? We also learn some very interesting revelations pertaining to Welch's past and someone connected to Welch who had served time in prison and who was now out.

While the investigation is proceeding, Vargas receives a series of very disturbing emails from someone who apparently seems to be stalking her and has threatened to kill her in the same way Shepard was brutally murdered.

The twisting plot, the deception, and the frantic dash to try and capture a ruthless killer on the loose in New York before he kills someone else including Vargas will keep you reading long into the night.

For eight years Martinez was a federal prosecutor in New York City and her intimate knowledge of the workings of the criminal justice system come shouting through as she builds up a strong narrative momentum. Moreover, Martinez has an excellent grasp of storytelling structure with her effective use of rhythm, pacing, and the development of plot. In mystery writing, plot is everything, and here is where Martinez shines.

Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor Bookpleasures
... Read more

Product Description
Praise for The Food and Life of Oaxaca "There's a whole new and surprising world of flavor and texture contrasts described in this intriguing cookbook, along with lore and history of the exotic and artistic Oaxaca. No one is better equipped than Zarela to present clear and delectable recipes for the tantalizing dishes of this little-known regional cuisine." Mimi Sheraton, author of The Whole World Loves Chicken Soup "I've watched Zarela weave her culinary magic from the first dinner party I attended at her home, beginning with intensely flavored salsas presented in lava bowls. How apt that a chef who prepares such dazzling Mexican food should lead us through Oaxaca. The soul and lore of this magical place will add new life to your table through Zarela's recipes." Shelia Lukins, author of USA Cookbook, Food Editor of Parade Magazine "Food in Mexico, especially in Oaxaca, smacks of so much more than trends and nutrition. Zarela Martínez knows this passionately and has bestowed on us a book that will enrich the lives of all that are really hungry, all that are seeking more than the latest flavor. Filled with honest glimpses of an extraordinary place, The Food and Life of Oaxaca offers the most intimate understanding anyone can gain of another culture—the understanding that comes through flavor. For many in Oaxaca, eating is the perfect act of celebration, consecrating every aspect of life. The warm flavors Zarela Martínez has captured here are the perfect expression of Oaxaca's generous spirit.Amazon.com Review
The Food and Life of Oaxaca, by New York restaurateurZarela Martinez, is a fascinating cultural study disguised as a greatcookbook. Martinez is part of the new renaissance of Mexican foodwriters and chefs, including Rick Baylessand DianaKennedy, who reaffirm that culinary awareness goes hand in handwith cultural awareness.

In fact, Martinez, a Mexican, credits hertime in Oaxaca as "redefining my whole understanding ofMexico." Oaxaca is one of the most biologically and culturallydiverse regions in Mexico, echoed throughout The Food and Life ofOaxaca in both the recipes and the accompanying essays. Martinezadamantly insists that to cook a dish, you must first understand it.She provides not only the how-to of a recipe, but also the why. In thechapter on moles, she provides seven outstanding recipes andexplains beautifully why the sauces predominate Oaxacan cuisine. Hersection on tamales is simply one of the best available, providingsolid instruction and Oaxacan variations of the traditional Mexicanparty food. Chefs new to Mexican cuisine will find the glossary ofingredients indispensable. And any chef will find Martinez'spassion for her subject inspiring.--Mark O. Howerton ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Well worth having
Between this book and D. Kennedy's latest, any cook who loves the food of Oaxaca should have these books!

book review
This is a really nice cookbook about the cuisine of Oaxaca, including a fair amount of history and ethnology to give a nice background to the recipes.

In Depth Cooking
I enjoy reading cookbooks and I love the food and cultures of Mexico, so I was very excited to purchase this book. A bit disappointed to find the narrative so dry and somewhat dull, but the recipes are rich and exciting. I have cooked with some of this author's recipes before, and know they have great depth of flavor and subtle nuances. I am really looking forward to trying these as they all sound wonderful.

Beautiful and authentic!
This book contains a collection of carefully crafted recipes that will satisfy everyone.While some of the recipes can be a bit labor intensive, they are all very doable. And, you will never regret the time spent when you taste the results!

And, thanks to the number quality markets across the country today, almost all of the ingredients are now attainable.

a bit too pure oaxacan for my purchasing area
I like to buy unusual cookbooks.When I saw the word Oaxaca I wasn't even sure what part of the world it belongs too.Then I saw a special on Food TV about Oaxaca, and I got interested and went back to the cookbooks I had seen.

This cookbook strives for purity of recipes.Sadly, we don't live in Oaxaca, so the ingrediants are unavailable here.

The book is a nicely bound hardback, with a lot of interesting text on what life in Oaxaca is like.I had a good time reading it, and I'm glad I bought it, but it will be difficult for me to locate many of the ingrediants, even with the specialty stores on the internet now. ... Read more

Product Description
Anxiety can make everything seem unmanageable-from dealing with family and friends to managing schoolwork and extracurricular activities. It's been estimated that between 9 and 15 million teens in the United States suffer from phobias, panic attacks, or extreme worry or anxiety. That's a lot of teens!My Anxious Mindhelps teens take control of their anxious feelings by providing cognitive-behavioral strategies to tackle anxiety head-on and to feel more confident and empowered in the process.My Anxious Mindalso offers ways for teens with anxiety to improve their inter-personal skills, whether it be with friends, family, or teachers; manage stress; handle panic attacks; use diet and exercise appropriately; and decide whether medication is right for them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A worthwhile gift for any teen whose anxiety seems to be controlling their life
For some teens, there is just way too much on the plate. "My Anxious Mind: A Teen's Guide to Managin Anxiety and Panic" is a teen's guide to overcoming anxiety. Anxiety can be the root cause of so many of a teen's problems, and if they can overcome it, it can make a world of difference. "My Anxious Mind" is a worthwhile gift for any teen whose anxiety seems to be controlling their life.

At last! A real book for real teens.
Psychologists Michael and Katherine have written a truly useful, graceful and appropriate book for all sorts of teenagers.Using the tools of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) without any jargon, they lead teenagers through ten short chapters and many clear exercises to counter fearful anxieties and doubts.Self-help that really works and that is entirely respectful of the experience of teenage boys and girls is combined with explanations of the troubles, physical and mental means of dealing with them, and the help that healthful habits, smart uses of medication and adult support can bring.I've been a therapist for 40 years and almost never recommend books to clients, but I will absolutely be urging this book on anyone suffering from anxiety or whose kids wrestle with these difficult problems.

An Excellent Resource For Teens and Their Families
Michael Tompkins and Katherine Martinez have taken their many years of combined experience working with teens and tranlated them into a book that is concise, informative , and accessible. It is clear the authors know their audience. My Anxious Mind provides teens with a full toolbox of strategies they can use to cope with their anxiety. I highly recommend this book for teens, their parents and psychotherapists who work with adolescents.

I Love This Book
I love this book!I am a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist in private practice specializing in anxiety disorders in children, teens and adults.This book is thorough and at the same time simple, making it appealing to teens.It is a great resource for professionals working with teens as well.The thing I like best is the rich use of metaphors.They explain concepts in a way that is easy to understand as well as to remember. For example when outlining common distortions, they talk about "binocular vision" to explain blowing negative things out of proportion and minimizing accomplishments, depending on which end of the binoculars you are looking through.When writing about panic attacks they help the reader understand that they need to change their relationship to anxiety, using the metaphor of riptides in the ocean.If you fight the riptide by desperately swimming to shore you won't do so well.Your chances are better if you float along until the current dies out, just like when you are having a panic attack.
Not only do my children and teen clients benefit from my reading this book, but these concepts and metaphors work great with adults as well.

A Unique Resource for All
I just finished reading this book and came away from it eager to write my very first Amazon book review!For a long time, I've been in search of a book that would help me better guide students who are struggling with anxiety and panic. What I didn't expect to find was a book that served that purpose and was at the same time a resource that I could so easily recommend to parents, fellow professionals, and students alike. What makes this such a good resource?First, it puts the young person in charge right from the start-by giving solid information to help them better understand what is going on and by providing them with tried and true techniques for managing their worries on their own. At the same time, there are guidelines all through the book on when and how to get additional help from parents and health-care professionals. The central imagine of a "worry wheel" certainly captures the experiences I hear reported by students in my own practice! The vignettes by teens throughout the book add realism. All in all, this is a most readable, informative, and practical book. And lastly, I adored the illustrations! ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Combining clinical analysis with psychological profiles of famous narcissists, here is an indispensable guide to recognizing, coping with, and ultimately overcoming the destructive behavior of narcissists.

Everybody needs some healthy narcissism. But in a society obsessed with appearance, wealth, and status, it's easy for problematic narcissists to thrive. Many people who seem to "have it all" are suffering from one of the most common- and overlooked-personality disorders today: high level narcissism. Typified by an obsession with perfection, a desperate need for admiration, and a willingness to use and exploit others for personal gain, high level narcissism can spell devastation for anyone who crosses the narcissist's path.

In Freeing Yourself from the Narcissist in Your Life, psychotherapist Linda Martinez-Lewi presents an in-depth and supportive plan for identifying, understanding, and dealing with high level narcissistic behavior in those close to you. Martinez-Lewi helps you to liberate yourself from draining personal relationships with narcissists, and shows how to regain a sense of peace, balance, and well-being.

Drawing on detailed profiles of famous narcissists, including Pablo Picasso, Frank Lloyd Wright, Armand Hammer, and Ayn Rand, as well as expertly rendered case studies from her private practice as a psychotherapist, Martinez-Lewi shows how to:

- understand where narcissistic behavior comes from; u learn to spot narcissistic traits, even in the early stages of relationships;
- realize why attempting to change a narcissist is fruitless; and
- protect yourself from the narcissist's opportunism, manipulative behavior, and lack of empathy.Amazon.com Review
"Psychotherapist Martinez-Lewi combines clinical analysis with psychological profiles of famous people she believes to have been narcissists (e.g., Frank Lloyd Wright, Ayn Rand) in this valuable guide to recognizing, coping with, and overcoming narcissistic behavior. She focuses on the high-level narcissist, i.e., the "omnipotent, grandiose, often charismatic individual of overreaching ambition and palpable hubris," distinguishing diagnostically between narcissists and borderline and antisocial personalities. She further presents a historical and societal perspective on narcissism, explaining the shift in focus in psychopathology from neuroses to personality disorders. Throughout, she draws on solid secondary biographies as well as relevant case studies from her private practice, and she ends with a reasoned discussion of decidedly Eastern approaches (e.g., meditation) to counter narcissists’ destructive behavior. The book is written with a calm directness and achieves the author’s purpose of helping readers identify and protect themselves from naively tangling with these personalities. It offers more clinical analysis and experience than does Eleanor Payson’s The Wizard of Oz and Other Narcissists and nicely complements Nina W. Brown’s Children of the Self-Absorbed. Highly recommended for university and larger public libraries.

–Dale Farris, Library Journal

"FREEING YOURSELF FROM THE NARCISSIST IN YOUR LIFE by Linda Martinez- Lewi,PhD (Tarcher/Penguin) may just be the best investment you will make this year as a guide to recognizing, coping with, and ultimately overcoming the destructive behavior of high-level narcissists, whether they be lovers, co- workers, friends or parents. It’s one thing to have a healthy self-esteem, but there are folks who we all know as self-absorbed, conceited, or egotistical. These people are trouble and this book is an excellent guide to deal with them."

– Alan Caruba, BOOKVIEWS

"5 THINGS WE LEARNED FROM…. FREEING YOURSELF FROM THE NARCISSIST IN YOUR LIFE By Linda Martinez-Lewi, Ph.D. (Tarcher/Penguin)
According to the psychotherapist author, narcissists are people with extreme senses of superiority who possess no empathy. Martinez-Lewi believes that high- level narcissists are unlikely to change, so she offers methods for readers to maintain personal boundaries, remain psychologically secure and live the life they choose.
1. As our culture has emphasized financial success and fame, we have begun rewarding high-level narcissism
2. There is such a thing as healthy narcissism. He or she "has a firm realistic sense of self.’
3. "A successful narcissist deludes others into believing he is genuinely interested in them."
4. To withstand an eruption of ego from a narcissist, one must be psychologically grounded. "A grounded individual is secure and calm; he feels solid at his center."
5. The world of a narcissist is often complicated. To combat being part of that world; simplify your own.

—Chris McNamara, CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

"The author, psychotherapist and licensed marriage and family therapist has written a guide making it easier to recognize, cope with and ultimately overcome the destructive behavior of high-level narcissists, whether they be lovers, work colleagues, friends or parents. Drawing on detailed profiles of famous narcissists including Pablo Picasso, Frank Lloyd Wright and Ayn Rand, she points out that trying to change a narcissist is impossible and reveals the steps that must be taken to expel such destructive individuals from our lives."

—Tucsoncitizen.com

"The high-level narcissist marches through his many geographies, conquering new territories, multiplying his limitless control of the outside world and the lives of those who touch his. Excited followers anticipate his mood and moves, praying for a favorable word or glance. The chosen dwell within his cercle d’or, chanting hosannas to his greatness. While his audience is dazzled, the supernarcissist assesses each subject’s worth to him.

He plays upon their proclivities and weaknesses. Despite the years you have known him, the hard work you have done, the love that you express, the sacrifices you have made, the intimacies you believe you shared-eventually the narcissist will cut you off at the knees, even attempt to destroy you if he perceives you as an obstacle to his feverish drive toward ultimate power, control and omnipotence." (from FREEING YOURSELF FROM THE NARCISSIST IN YOUR LIFE by Linda Martinez-Lewi, Ph.D.)

Does this description sound like anybody that you know? Your spouse? Your boss? Your co-worker? So, how does one recognize a "truly toxic narcissist?" According to this insightful book there are certain signs to look out for:"Displays an extreme sense of grandiosity and superiority.Is highly manipulative, exploitive, and deceptive in all of his relationships.Places his personal and professional needs over the needs of others.Is captivated by his delusions of limitless power and perfection.Easily lies without any qualm or guilt.Is incapable of true empathy-the ability to deeply feel and appreciate another person’s emotional state."

It was my misfortune to work with a fellow who fit every single one of these descriptions. This book will help you to recognize this type of person before it is too late.

What makes them so dangerous? They only care about themselves.

Is this sounding familiar? Do you know one?"

—Daytondailynews.com

"You will know a narcissist when you see one: he or she loves to hog the spotlight. Those afflicted with this severe personality disorder are usually impressive and charismatic people: they beguile and enchant us with their magic. They never tire of talking about their experiences or projects which are always extraordinary. But they are totally lacking in empathy. Just try to discuss what you are doing or share an idea while they are nervously glancing around the room to see who is looking at them.

Linda Martinez-Lewi, a licensed marriage and family therapist, has put together a helpful and informative book for those who want to know more about high-level narcissists: whether they be colleagues, friends, parents, or lovers. Here are some of their traits and behaviors:*A grandiose sense of self-importance*A preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love*A belief that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people*A high sense of entitlement*Is interpersonally exploitative*Lacks empathy*Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her*Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

The book is divided into four sections: The Great Performer, Behind the Perfect Mask, The Adoring Audience, and Response to the Great Performer. Martinez-Lewi presents illustrative material on toxic narcissists with profiles of artist Pablo Picasso, philosopher-author Ayn Rand, and architect Frank Lloyd Wright, describing them all as colorful characters whose hearts were hard and whose egos were gigantic. As the author puts it: ‘The narcissist takes up a vast amount of psychological space, leaving only room for himself. In his presence, one is unable to breathe or move, all the available oxygen has been taken by his self- entrancement.’

Because of this pattern, narcissists make no distinction between themselves and others: everyone is at their service and disposal. Since all who come into their orbit are just extras in a private movie, they are expendable. Narcissists rarely seek therapy, and their relationships usually end badly. The show just keeps moving from one place to another. It is a lonely existence."

—Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, SpiritualityAndPractice.com ... Read more

Customer Reviews (56)

Inspiring, Very Helpful---I am Free from Narcissistic Siblings
I grew up in a high pressure home. Everyone was expected to get straight A's and go to top universities. My narcississtic dad was an overbearing golden boy, smooth and manipulative. He controlled everyone in the family including mom. I was the only girl with two feisty rude narcissistic brothers. It was highly competitive, a darwinian atmosphere. I was ignored and felt invisible. I raised myself; there was no one there to help me. Although I was successful in my career, I never felt special. My brothers were always the center of attention. Finally, I realized that I needed to understand how I felt inside and had the benefit of good psychotherapy. I have come to terms with being raised in a narcissistic family. I have survived this difficult ordeal to become a very successful person. As part of my healing process, I read several books about the narcissistic personality. This is one of the best. Dr. Martinez-Lewi zeros in on the narcissist perfectly and gives clear examples. They come to life on these pages. I have learned how to protect myself and deal with narcissists. I respect, appreciate and know who I really am.

a profoundly enlightening and helpful book
My name is Chris.I was the one interested in the book,our Amazon account is in my wife's name.As a child of an ultra-narcissistic parent,I find myself reading and re-reading this book with amazement at how it helps me to sort out the years years of psychological abuse I suffered.I would highly recommend this book;It is one of the most enlightening and helpful books I have ever read.

Great Help, Expert Information,Support Needed--Narcissistic Sibling
I grew up with a very spoiled older brother who was mean and cruel to me from the time I can remember. He was sneaky and would scare me when mom and dad weren't around. He threatened to hit me if I told them. My mother favored my brother--he was very smart in school and an athlete. Nothing he did was wrong. Mom always favored him and asked me why I couldn't be as bright and talented as he was. I felt scared around him and spent a lot of time alone. It took many years to realize that my brother is a golden boy narcissist, the one adored by mother. I discovered this after reading this book by Dr. Martinez-Lewi. She describes my brother perfectly. I feel relieved to know that he is a severe personality disorder. I was victimized by him. Now the pieces of the narcissistic puzzle have come together. This book has given me insight and hope and strategies for dealing with narcissists in the present and future. I feel more healed after reading it.

Liberating Reading!
I enjoyed reading this book primarily because it provided a validating experience for me being currently involved with a narcissist.I have read much literature about this personality disorder with the general consensus being to leave the person.This was not what I wanted to do.I wanted encouragement, hope and inspiration and a reason to stay involved with a narcissist.I found the latter with this book by Dr. Linda Martinez.She promotes becoming egoless and practicing self detachment among other examples as the necessary vehicles for self-transformation.

I highly recommend this book for those people who want to stay with the narcissist and learn the lessons the relationship is trying to teach you.

Interesting, but not helpful.
I got the book for help, advice, and ideas for surviving and dealing with being married to someone I believe to be a narcissist, or at least possess a high number of such traits. I was looking for ways to determine which description matches my spouse. I was hoping to find strategies for dealing with a narcissistic spouse and how best to dissolve the relationship with minimum damage to myself and my family. I found very little that went toward achieving this goal.

The book, instead, focuses on what the author calls a, "high-level narcissist." This book focuses on the uber-successful, charming billionaire type. It is full of entertaining, well written vignettes which reveal the depravity of the extremely narcissistic. It does little (nothing) to arm a person to better deal with that kind of domestic relationship. Most all of the strategies for coping were focused on board room settings.
The entire last quarter of the book was written as a guide to use meditation, yoga, and Buddhist philosophy to better equip one's self to stand up to the narcissist. I was under the impression that "Freeing" myself would involve safe exit strategies, not meditation. I did not want an eastern thought primer. But, if you do, this one is very good.

If you want short anecdotes to share with friends, entertaining and poetically written glimpses of narcissism, or a basic meditation guide then this is your book. If you are a personal assistant to a celebrity, then may be some useful nuggets for you. If you want coping strategies for being married to a narcissist, search elsewhere. This is particularly true for those married to a middle-class, run of the mill, everyday narcissist.

... Read more

Product Description
In the winter of 1976, Simon Cardoso is arrested by the military and is never seen again. Thirty years later, Emilia Dupuy, his wife, is stunned to find him in New Jersey. Her world, which had crumbled after losing him, is alight with life again. There is a caveat, however: for Simón Cardoso time stopped when he disappeared. Using this enigma as the foundation, Tomas Eloy Martinez' story of the anguish of a lost and recovered love is masterfully tied to the sinister sense of unreality created by a regime.Description in Spanish:En el invierno de 1976 Simon Cardoso es detenido por los militares y nunca mas aparece. Treinta anos mas tarde, su mujer, Emilia Dupuy, se paraliza al reencontrarlo en New Jersey. El mundo, que se habia desmoronado con la tragedia, recobra su luz. Excepto por un detalle: para el ausente el tiempo no ha transcurrido. A partir de este enigma se enlaza la ansiedad del amor perdido y recuperado con una reconstruccion magistral de la irrealidad siniestra creada por el regimen. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Just OK for me
I really wanted to love this novel. I thoroughly loved "Santa Evita", and liked very much "The Novel of Perón" and "The Tango Singer" by Eloy Martínez. I'm very interested in the Argentine Dirty War and I was very anxious to have the version of that historical time period by this writer of beautiful prose. Unfortunately, I cannot say that I loved this novel. Here is what happened, in my opinion:

1) He got bogged down in trying to create too many cultural references for his characters, to give them a real context. While this worked in "The Last Tango Singer", in this novel this approach completely goes against the ambiguity of the historical time period in question. The characters don't really exist in any kind of reality and the reader tries to wonder if they are real or not. It's a great puzzle. The heavy-handed cultural references slow the prose down and contradict the fluid identities, in my opinion. He mentions everything from Brittany Spears to popular U.S. eateries and the result is a bit messy.

2) He included some extreme vulgarities that for the most part have not been a part of his writing style in his most famous works. He writes beautiful Spanish with poetic images and these moments reduced the literary feel of the prose to a base and pop-fiction writing style. Kind of like what's happened to García Márquez.

3) The technique of including the author as a literary character in the novel and describing just how this novel came to be is, honestly, getting quite old and felt forced. It really did feel like a literary device and not at all natural to the flow of the book. Towards the novel's end, this approach became quite stale.


This book is not bad, but I would highly recommend Santa Evita over this one.

Best spanish book this year
WHOWW!!! What a superb masterpiece of Spanish literature. Martinez was always regarded as a master writter with his great novels about Argentina's sad but colorful 20th century history. Then comes this surprising story that combines the historical elements of the barbaric military regime with a beautiful story of one of its least expected characters: the daughter of an influential newspaper editor and advisor to the demonic triunvirate who's own husband falls victim of the vicious regime (or maybe her own father...). The story has many fascinating turns but above all is some of the most beautiful prose writting with sentences such as: "Lo que no llega a ser nunca sabe que pudo haber sido." Followed by: "Las novelas se escriben para eso: para reparar en el mundo la ausencia perpetua de lo que no nunca existio". Two sentences spelled by a misterious dog dreamed by a surreal writter who is in the mind of the dead husband who is being alucinated by the novel's main character. ENJOY!!! ... Read more

Product Description
CONVERSATION LESSONS is specially designed for speaking and conversation courses at intermediate level.The goal of the book is to help the learner sound more natural in everyday conversations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Thank you
It is Okay.

That's so good!

Thank you so much. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wildly intelligent book
Since there is no synopsis of the book here, I will write one and then write my opinion.

It is 1973 and Peron is summoned back to Argentina after 18? years in exile in Madrid.He is now an old man and his movementhas moved beyond his own strict ideology.His return is viewed through theeyes of no fewer than 20 people, who are in the process of making somesense out of Peron's life and his tendency towards Megalomania.Theserange from his wife, Isabella, his relatives, his president, ex-militarycompanions, and some wierd extremist groups (which I DID NOT understand,sorry Tomas).

OK- now I transition into opinion.The truly uniquething about this book is that it centers around a one week period, butretells this same week from a multitude of standpoints, some even demented.Many times throughout the book I seriously considered flying to Iowa tohunt down the author and ask him "how much of this is true??"Heputs himself in the book as a reporter, and it is plausible that heactually met Peron.I feel sure he has mountains of good info, andprobably could write an engaging biography of this man (which then ofcourse no one would read, so maybe this is his point).

While I did likethis book, I was much more engaged by the writing itself and the odd twistsor context and historical events that he describes than in the actualcontent.I forced myself to read it because I knew I'd like it, more thanI was compelled to read it.

And if you're still reading this, go to SantaEvita and read that first, because it has all the advantages of thispeculiarly odd book with a much more engaging topic.Then read thisbecause this Tomas Eloy is a fantastic writer. ... Read more

Product Description
[Joan] Martinez-Alier combines the honest discipline of a scholar with the passionate energy of an activist. The result, The Environmentalism of the Poor, is highly recommended!
Herman E. Daly, University of Maryland, College Park, US

The Environmentalism of the Poor has the explicit intention of helping to establish two emerging fields of study political ecology and ecological economics whilst also investigating the relations between them.

The book analyzes several manifestations of the growing environmental justice movement , and also of popular environmentalism and the environmentalism of the poor , which will be seen in the coming decades as driving forces in the process to achieve an ecologically sustainable society. The author studies, in detail, many ecological distribution conflicts in history and at present, in urban and rural settings, showing how poor people often favor resource conservation. The environment is thus not so much a luxury of the rich as a necessity of the poor. It concludes with the fundamental questions: who has the right to impose a language of valuation and who has the power to simplify complexity?

Joan Martinez-Alier combines the study of ecological conflicts and the study of environmental valuation in a totally original approach that will appeal to a wide cross-section of academics, ecologists and environmentalists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

must read for political ecology
This book is extremely informative and written very clearly and in an approachable form.

Essentially the book is arguing that the economy and the environment will always clash and this means that environmentalism of the poor will come into being. Martinez-Alier states that Environmentalism of the poor is one of the more powerful forms of environmentalism as it is more sustainable.

It covers all the major debates around Environmentalism of the poor, explains the history of environmental movements, shows many examples of Environmentalism of the poor (mostly in developing countries, not in Western nations) and goes into depth about ecological economics (the background of Martine-Alier it seems).

Environmentalism, not a nothern idea
Taking the risk of being too short, my opinion is that this book gives the reader enlightening contributions into the North-South ecological relations, through environmentalism, helping to deconstruct the idea that northern countries are more ecological than poor countries. ... Read more

Product Description
In 2004 twenty-eight women and young girls were murdered in Ciudad Juárez and the surrounding areas. The tragedy escalated to fifty-eight murders in 2006, then again to eighty-six in 2008, and current estimates top four hundred deaths. Now poet Valerie Martínez offers a poetic exploration of these events, pushing boundaries--stylistically and artistically--with vivid poems that contextualize femicide.

Martínez departs from traditional narrative to reveal the hidden effects and outcomes of the horrific and heart-wrenching cases of femicide. These poems--lyric fragments and prose passages that form a collage--have an intricate relation to one another, creating a complex literary quilt that feels like it can be read from the beginning, the end, or anywhere in between. Martínez is personally invested in the topic, evoking the loss of her sister, and Each and Her emerges as a biography of sorts and a compelling homage to all those who have suffered. Other authors may elaborate on or investigate this topic, but Martínez humanizes it by including names, quotations, realistic details, and stark imagery.

The women of Juárez, like other women around the world, are ravaged by inequality, discontinuity, politics, and economic plagues that contribute to gender violence. Martínez offers us a poignant and alarming glance into another world with these never-before-told stories. Her refreshing and explosive voice will keep readers transfixed and intrigued about these events and emotions--removed from us and yet so close to the heart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A compelling poem
In her poem "Each and Her", Valerie Martinez stunningly illustrates both the debilitating sadness and the compelling beauty of these young women in northern Mexico.She does this with an eloquence that is captivating and once started, her poems are almost impossible to put down.

There are verses where, without the use of one single word, the awful emptiness brings tears.There are others where her admiration of their beauty evokes joy and a celebration of their brief lives.

A delightful book.This is a poem that needs to be read, a story that needs to be told.It is so rewarding to have happened upon such a treasure.

Review of Each and Her
I read the entirety of EACH AND HER in one sitting, something I rarely do. It was riveting, heart-breaking, memorable. An original and surprising stylistic choice to treat such subject matter, and very effective...the collage, fragments, found poems, the gardening blight metaphor all represent the subject, stories, the shocking official neglect, and the emotion powerfully. Pairing the part about Adam and Eve and Christ and Mary with the list of Marias was brilliant. Bravo!

Stevo's Best of the Best for August, 2010
This book was rated a "Best of the Best" by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet for August, 2010. ... Read more

Product Description
When political activists rallied for the abolition of bilingual education and even called for the declaration of English as an official language, Mexican Americans and other immigrant groups saw this as an assault on their heritage and civil rights. Because language is such a defining characteristic of Mexican American ethnicity, nearly every policy issue that touches their lives involves language in one way or another. This book offers an overview of some of the central issues in the Mexican American language experience, describing it in terms of both bilingualism and minority status. It is the first book to focus on the historical, social, political, and structural aspects of multiple languages in the Mexican American experience and to address the principles and methods of applied sociolinguistic research in the Mexican American community. Spanish and non-Spanish speakers in the Mexican American community share a common set of social and ethnic bonds. They also share a common experience of bilingualism. As Martínez observes, the ideas that have been constructed around bilingualism are as important to understanding the Mexican American language experience as bilingualism itself. Mexican Americans and Language gives students the background they need to respond to the multiple social problems that can result from the language differences that exist in the Mexican American community. By showing students how to go from word to deed (del dicho al hecho), it reinforces the importance of language for their community, and for their own lives and futures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

straightworward, elegant, excellent introduction
I've only read the first two chapters but it seems like Martinez does an excellent job introducing critical theory into linguistic analysis. Very appropriate for undergrads as well as grad students with little or no background in linguistics or anthropological linguistics. The case study and the theory complement each other quite elegantly. ... Read more