Amazon.com
Army officer Jim Thompson's horrific experience in a series of North Vietnamese prisons was nasty and brutish--but definitely not short. He was held as a prisoner of war for nearly nine years, longer than any other American POW. His treatment was torturous: "I was put into a horizontal cage maybe two feet wide, two feet high, and five feet long. There I was kept for four months, chained hand and feet." And sometimes he was just plain tortured: "I sat there with a pen in hand as they shouted at me to write," he recalls of a time his captors tried to make him issue a statement condemning the American war effort. "Periodically they hit me with bamboo. Not hard enough to knock me unconscious or to break the skin. Just enough to hurt. They kept at it for eight, ten, twelve hours a day." (He eventually gave in, and signed a statement.)
The irony is that Thompson's life improved little upon his return to the United States. His wife had taken up with another man, his family fell apart, he drank to excess, and his son was convicted of murder. Readers will be at once tempted and reluctant to call Thompson a hero--tempted because of how much he suffered for serving his country and for his numerous escape attempts, but reluctant because Thompson was himself responsible for much of the pain he brought on himself and his family following his return.
Military journalist Tom Philpott has produced an oddly fascinating book about Thompson's ordeal. Glory Denied is not a piece of narrative nonfiction, but an oral history. It tells Thompson's story through the words of Thompson and those who knew him. Readers who want a more uplifting POW story may want to try Faith of Our Fathers by Senator John McCain (who contributes a foreword to Glory Denied), yet Philpott's book may come closer to capturing the agony so many Americans continue to associate with Vietnam. --John J. Miller
Book Description
"Before Vietnam, the truth of war, of honor and courage, was obscure to many of us. Like Jim Thompson, I learned the truth in war. Like Jim, I discovered in Vietnam that faith in myself proved to be the least formidable strength I possessed when confronting organized inhumanity on a greater scale than I conceived possible. In prison, I learned that faith in myself alone was ultimately no match for the cruelty that human beings could devise when they where unencumbered by respect for the God-given dignity of man. This is the lesson many Americans, including Jim, learned in prison. It is, perhaps, the most important lesson we have ever learned. Jim Thompson kept the faith. This is his story." (From Senator John McCain's foreword)
On March 26, 1964, barely four months after arriving in Vietnam, Special Forces Captain Floyd "Jim" Thompson was captured by the Vietcong. He would spend the next nine years in jungle cages and dark prison cells, attempting escape five times, and surviving torture, disease, and starvation. When he was finally released in 1973, he returned to a nation he no longer knew-and to a family that no longer knew him.
Thompson's epic story-and that of his wife and children, who also paid dearly for his sacrifice-is brought to life in this searing reconstruction of one man's torturous journey through the unspeakable horrors of war and its aftermath. Weaving together interviews with Thompson and his family; comments from friends, fellow soldiers, and other POWs; and excerpts from service records, medical reports, and intelligence briefings, journalist Tom Philpott creates a moving and compelling portrait of a complex and heroic figure. Combining the rich historical detail of Neil Sheehan's
A Bright Shining Lie with the pathos of a James Jones novel,
Glory Denied is a monumental work of oral history and a much-needed reminder of how far we have come-and how far we have yet to travel-in understanding one of the defining moments of our generation.
Customer Reviews:
Must read Glory Denied.......2007-02-01
Tom Philpott is an outstanding author. His format and organization provide a perfect setting for the telling of the powerful, tragic story of Jim Thompson. This book is a must read.
An incredible read.......2006-04-21
The story of Col Thompson is truly remarkable. The thing that grabbed me the most was his constant struggle to regain the life he knew before he was captured. It made me think what would life be like if I spent 9 years away from everything I currently know. Think about it take the last 9 years out of your life and everything that was created, or music changes, clothing changes. Truly and incredible read. If you want to read a great book pick this one up.
GLORY DENIED.......2006-02-25
Of all the books I have read in my lifetime, none has moved me more then the story of Captain Floyd James Thompson!! He is without doubt one of America's greatest and most loyal and dedicated American's I have ever read about. As a Viet Nam Veteran I would venture to say that even the most Hardend Combat Veteran would be humbled by the story of Capt Floyd James Thompson!! An incredible story of an individual's will to not only survive in the most inhumane conditions but to maintaine the constant will to stay loyal and committed to his Flag and Country! After reading this book you will find that every day problems no matter how grave they may seem will seem miniescule!
"Glory Denied" is a befitting title for the story of Captain Floyd James Thompson and his Family as he and they deserved so much more from our Country then was given! He will be surely missed, but never forgotten!
C L Chamberlin
The Families Suffer Too.......2005-04-18
"Glory Denied" is the tale of Green Beret Captain Jim Thompson. It is unique in that GD does not unfold in linear, year by year fashion. GD is reconstructed entirely by interviews with Thompson and his friends / families. Captain Thompson became a POW in March of 1964 when his observation plane was downed near Khe Sanh in the remote northwest corner of South Vietnam. As GD's cover aptly notes, Captain Thompson was a prisoner of the Viet Cong while many Americans had barely heard of either the VC or the country itself. Thompson suffered mightily in the squalid and remote jungle camps before his 1968 transfer to the better known prisons that surrounded Hanoi. There, in places like the Rockpile, Thompson lingered until the general prisoner release in the Spring of 1973. He and Navy Lt. (j.g.) Everett Alvarez were the longest detained POWs. There is an aura of competition between the 2 throughout GD. The poignant story of prison life is sharply detailed in GD, but many other books have done likewise. The "in country" tale is the lesser portion of GD. What sets Thompson's story apart is the recounting of his life after his repatriation. He came home to an America VASTLY different than the buttoned up, pre Beatles nation he had left in 1963. (This reviewer thought things had changed after only one year in country!). We should all dwell on how much happened in those crazy years and imagine the reaction of a conservative guy who wanted only to return to the hearth and home he knew. His wife had, to put it mildly, been "stepping out" during his absence. The marriage might never have been ideal but any POW must have remembered and fanaticized about only the good parts of his relationship. The remainder of GD deals with Thompson's repeated attempts to achieve normalcy in his personal life while he rebuilds his Army career. The former is an abject failure, though it certainly qualifies as interesting, if tragic reading. As to the latter, this reviewer was impressed how the Army stood by Thompson, promoting him all the way to Lt. Colonel and helping him with his alcohol abuse. Granted, he was a special case but the DA cut him a lot of slack. It was painfully obvious the Army didn't know what to do with the guy. One wonders how many returned prisoners actually reconstructed their careers -and how many were dumped by the wayside. More poignantly, one wonders how many POW families got back together. How many wives remained faithful? How many guys remarried? How many families fell apart? I hope I was mistaken when I read of the behind closed doors "beatings at family reception centers". Rating GD is a hard call. It is not a straight POW tale in the "Why Didn't You Get Me Out" or "When Hell Was In Session" tradition. The second part of GD would qualify as soap opera if not so depressing. The resolution is purposely not revealed here. Out of respect for Colonel Thompson (his retirement rank), all the other POWs and their collective suffering and service to their country, GD is given 4 stars. Credit author Philpott with a unique story compilation- one that was 16 years (!) in the making. How he got the Thompson family to cooperate, only he and the Man Upstairs can guess. A final and sobering thought: GD makes it painfully evident that it wasn't only the POWs' in country suffering that is significant: Many troubles began in earnest after repatriation and the travails of spouses and children may take a lifetime to heal. Those of us that came back to the world intact and unscarred should count our blessings daily.
Vietnam War Buffs - Pick This One Up!!.......2004-10-06
What can be said of the Vietnam War that hasn't been said. From McCain to Kerry, this war needs to be constantly studied and read. We must not forget the mistakes and lessons learned. We must learn from different perspectives and viewpoints. Vietnam must be studied so that we know what to avoid with future conflicts we're forced into. Especially, in this time of terrorist and other anti-American deviance.
So pick up this title and read carefully. Then take a look at what your own viewpoints are.
Book Description
Part memoir, part study, The Making of a Philosopher is the self–portrait of a deeply intelligent mind as it develops over a life on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Making of a Philosopher follows Colin McGinn from his early years in England reading Descartes and Anselm, to his years in the states, first in Los Angeles, then New York. McGinn presents a contemporary academic take on the great philosophical figures of the twentieth century, including Bertrand Russell, Jean–Paul Sartre, and Noam Chomsky, alongside stories of the teachers who informed his ideas and often became friends and mentors, especially the colorful A.J. Ayer at Oxford.
McGinn's prose is always elegant and probing; students of contemporary philosophy and the general reader alike will absorb every page.
Customer Reviews:
The making of McGinn.......2007-05-28
I learned about McGinn via the work of Jerry Fodor. "The Making of a Philosopher" was the first book I read from him. This book is a rather good portrait of the intellectual development of a person. It is fascinating to see how his interests in philosophy develop and the persons involved. The book has the additional benefit of containing philosophical explanations that are short, to the point and clear.
McGinn also comes across as a very likable chap, unlike some of the pompous gits one finds frequently in philosophy (for a sample of these individuals just take a look at the reviews in this page).
Worth a Look.......2004-05-07
This book is both a memoir and yet another introduction to philosophy. McGinn tries to come at introducing philosophy in a different way: through his autobiography and through the issues that prompted his interests in philosophy, the ideas he found interesting as a young man studying philosophy, and what he has thought about at particular times in his career as an academic.
The results are rather mixed. You don't get much of substance here, and so you should look somewhere else if you're searching for a serious and comprehensive introduction to philosophy. But this book does cover enough ground to give you a taste of what current academic philosophizing is like. It includes a breezy, straightforward picture of the life of an academic along with brief sketches of lots of interesting philosophical issues. Furthermore, there's not a lot of history covered here; the emphasis is on a few historically important philosophical issues and the more striking arguments and positions that have been defended in contemporary analytic philosophy. So this really gives you an account of what professional life is like for people working in contemporary Anglo-American analytic philosophy, the tradition in which McGinn works.
It appears McGinn intends the reader to come to philosophy in the same way he did. We go from the vague, somewhat confused ideas and concerns that first led McGinn to philosophy to immersion in ideas and concerns of current-day professional philosophers. Now, this emphasis on the intellectual development might seem too limited a perspective from which to introduce a subject. But this isn't such a problem here since specialization isn't as extreme in philosophy as it is in other parts of the academy. Since the division of intellectual labor here isn't as extreme as it is in the sciences, all philosophers tend to know a lot of the same stuff.
The book is quite interesting at the beginning, and I think the first couple of chapters would be a good introduction to just what philosophical thinking is like. Here there are very few details about McGinn's early life, and he concentrates on only those elements of his autobiography that are relevant to his intellectual development and his eventual interest in philosophical questions. So these chapters are concerned with the kinds of philosophical problems that are likely to be of interest to those without much, or any, background in the subject. Skepticism, free will, the existence of God--these are the sorts of issues that are introduced in this chapter. McGinn doesn't say a great deal about these issues here, though he says enough to reveal how philosophers attempt to answer them and how they criticize or defend the answers given by others.
The latter chapters come to focus more on the nature of life in academia and the issues that get discussed in contemporary analytic philosophy along with McGinn's own intellectual development as an academic. So we really get two stories here. The first story is the one of McGinn's rise to prominence in academia, and the other is the story of major issues in U.S. and U.K. philosophy from the sixties to the present. And these stories are interconnected since McGinn is a prolific thinker who has published on nearly everything of central importance in contemporary metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of language. Some of the highlights he mentions are Davidson and Quine on meaning, Wittgenstein and Kripke on rule-following, Kripke and Putnam on reference, David Lewis on possible worlds, Dummett's anti-realism, Nagel's views about the mind and its relation to the body. And whenever McGinn discusses someone's ideas, he attempts to provide a brief portrait of them.
Whatever one thinks about McGinn's personality--and some aspects of it can be off-putting--his discussions of issues here is pretty even-handed. While he occasionally says unflattering things about other philosophers, but he's more even-handed when it comes to their ideas--even those ideas with which he isn't sympathetic. He doesn't ridicule the ideas of others; nor does he use the book to push his own ideas on the topics he discusses.
Writing for general public is not THIS easy.......2004-01-31
Professor McGinn seems to be rather proud of his writings for the general public. I haven't seen the other popularizations, but I suspect that he has got a little carried away with his earlier successes.
This is not an actually bad book, but shallow it is. You get a potpourri of anecdotes, how a poor boy goes to university and then enters a conveyor belt of promotions and job offers.
In between the details of his CV you also get rather two-by-four style tutorials on (mostly) linguistic philosophy.
And that's about it. No insights to speak of, no life-changing ideas. Very little about "twentieth-century philosophy". No story about how to make a philosopher.
Good idea, lazy thinking, sloppy writing.
Pompous Crap.......2004-01-24
After slogging through most of this book, I had to stop and put it down. It is horribly boring, long-winded, and pompous.
Most of McGinn's real philosophical work is beautifully written; Logical Properties, for example, is an outstanding piece of clear thinking and lucid exposition on difficult issues.
But this book is written quite badly. I suspect that McGinn just wrote the book more or less off the top of his head to make a fast buck. Don't waste your time and money.
Not half bad; about half good........2004-01-04
When I read this, Rutgers philosopher Colin McGinn's autobiography, I wanted to do so as if I were just coming to the subject myself. What impressions would I, a young person wanting to explore philosophy a bit more, get out of it?
Unfortunately, what happened was this: I read it 'as' that young person, decided philosophy was too boring, but my older more experienced philosophical self kept wanting to 'jump in' and rewrite sections of the book. Maybe I could make it more interesting than McGinn.
This is not to suggest that I literally could; just to point out a big problem with the book. Philosophically (even for a beginner) it is boring. It focuses much on the philosophy of language and, to be honest, questions no one (sorry, you linguistic philosophers out there) cares about. What do we mean when we refer to an object? Is a thing merely ts traits, or is it an actual thing that has traits? What is it really to follow a rule? As one who is quite read in philosophy, I can tell you that this is why most people are not read in philosophy. If the beginner wants a good and accessible intro, go to Bryan Mageee's "Confessions of a philosopher". Same format as this - an autobiography. It is just much better as it talks much about the issues that most laypersons will fin more interesting like the nature of knowledge (what do we know versus guess at), what existence is, and other such things.
Now, if you are NOT expecting any sort of intro to philosophy, this might be a great book for you. For me, it was very helpful as I am applying right now for my doctorate in political philosophy. McGinn spends much of his time on the workings of academia and what being an academic and philosopher is all about. This part was thrilling to me! From McGilnn's unfortunately heated exchange wlth fellow philosopher Michael Dummett, to his Oxord days, to the details of when, where, and why, he came to the conclusion that the mind/body problem, amongst others, could not be solved at all. Interesting stuff!
Overal, then, I gave the book a three. To summarize, if you are new to philosophy and want your appetite whetted don't look for it here. GEt either Magee's above mentioned book, "From Socrates to Sartre", or if you've the patience and interest, Russell's "History of Western Philosophy". For academics and the laity well read in philosophy, this will be a fun book, but only as a 'beach read'.
Average customer rating:
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The Making of a Philosopher: My Journey Through Twentieth Century Philosophy
Colin McGinn
Manufacturer: Recorded Books
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Amazon.com
The Making of a Philosopher is an unusual book--and a welcome one. Well-known analytic philosopher Colin McGinn sets out, rather ambitiously, to write an introduction and explanation of philosophy. But instead of a dry volume bound for dusty shelves, McGinn has given us a book of philosophy, but it is philosophy as told through autobiography. By telling the story of his life--or, more precisely, his intellectual life--McGinn illuminates a number of the central topics in contemporary philosophy. He intentionally leaves out the portions of his life he deems irrelevant to his intellectual formation, but one can't help wondering how capably he can make this distinction about himself.
The book is enormously readable, or at least as readable as an introduction to analytic philosophy can hope to be. McGinn, who also writes fiction, has a gift for narrative, and the events in his life propel the reader along a clear, concise, and helpful overview of the main topics in today's philosophy departments. He is candid, occasionally self-deprecating, and funny, but above all, an able guide. Readers will discover not only the thoughts of Bertrand Russell, Saul Kripke, and Ludwig Wittgenstein but also a wonderfully honest examination of a philosopher's life worth living. --Eric de Place
Book Description
Part memoir, part study, The Making of a Philosopher is the self-portrait of a deeply intelligent mind as it develops over a life lived on both sides of the Atlantic.The Making of a Philosopher follows Colin McGinn from his early years in England, reading Descartes and Anselm, to his years in the States, first in Los Angeles, then New York. McGinn presents a contemporary academic take on the great philosophical figures of the twentieth century, including Bertrand Russell, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Noam Chomsky, alongside stories of the teachers who informed his ideas and often became friends and mentors, especially the colorful A. J. Ayer at Oxford.McGinn's prose is always elegant and probing; students of contemporary philosophy and the general reader alike will absorb every page.
Customer Reviews:
Down-to-earth approach to an often not down-to-earth profession.......2007-02-10
I thought the story about how the author became a professional philosopher was fascinating and inspiring. Just about every male from his recent family lineage had become a coal miner. He relates that he grew up in a dreary working class environment in which he showed hardly any promise at all, at least in his early years. What got him started toward a life of the mind was really one teacher, and from that point there was no stopping him. But it wasn't as though everything was carefully laid out for him to follow. Just going to college was a big step, without any family precedent. Then, there were a several remarkable twists of fate that promoted him to positions and places that not long before would have been considered unattainable.
He describes the three main influences of his undergraduate life. Bertrand Russell was a hero and role model of his youth. For a time, Sartre had an influence, especially in regard to a personal need for self-determination and freedom. The other influence was Noam Chomsky, who struck a blow to behaviorism and laid the ground for modern cognitive science. Later in the book, he comes to know a number of well known figures in contemporary philosophy, and the books that he writes grow out of these associations and experiences teaching. I was much less interested in the line of thought concerning language and meaning than in his thoughts about perception, the mind and consciousness. Questions concerning what we can know and not know about reality seem to me to be not merely academic but to be questions that are healthy for anyone to ask.
He makes no bones about the ego-driven aspect of academia. Along the way there were incidences that stick out as sore spots from a bruising here or there. But beyond personality, the author brings a very clear and refreshing view to a profession that looks to many on the outside as a domain in the clouds of jargon and obscure logic.
Worth a Look.......2004-05-07
This book is both a memoir and yet another introduction to philosophy. McGinn tries to come at introducing philosophy in a different way: through his autobiography and through the issues that prompted his interests in philosophy, the ideas he found interesting as a young man studying philosophy, and what he has thought about at particular times in his career as an academic.
The results are rather mixed. You don't get much of substance here, and so you should look somewhere else if you're searching for a serious and comprehensive introduction to philosophy. But this book does cover enough ground to give you a taste of what current academic philosophizing is like. It includes a breezy, straightforward picture of the life of an academic along with brief sketches of lots of interesting philosophical issues. Furthermore, there's not a lot of history covered here; the emphasis is on a few historically important philosophical issues and the more striking arguments and positions that have been defended in contemporary analytic philosophy. So this really gives you an account of what professional life is like for people working in contemporary Anglo-American analytic philosophy, the tradition in which McGinn works.
It appears McGinn intends the reader to come to philosophy in the same way he did. We go from the vague, somewhat confused ideas and concerns that first led McGinn to philosophy to immersion in ideas and concerns of current-day professional philosophers. Now, this emphasis on the intellectual development might seem too limited a perspective from which to introduce a subject. But this isn't such a problem here since specialization isn't as extreme in philosophy as it is in other parts of the academy. Since the division of intellectual labor here isn't as extreme as it is in the sciences, all philosophers tend to know a lot of the same stuff.
The book is quite interesting at the beginning, and I think the first couple of chapters would be a good introduction to just what philosophical thinking is like. Here there are very few details about McGinn's early life, and he concentrates on only those elements of his autobiography that are relevant to his intellectual development and his eventual interest in philosophical questions. So these chapters are concerned with the kinds of philosophical problems that are likely to be of interest to those without much, or any, background in the subject. Skepticism, free will, the existence of God--these are the sorts of issues that are introduced in this chapter. McGinn doesn't say a great deal about these issues here, though he says enough to reveal how philosophers attempt to answer them and how they criticize or defend the answers given by others.
The latter chapters come to focus more on the nature of life in academia and the issues that get discussed in contemporary analytic philosophy along with McGinn's own intellectual development as an academic. So we really get two stories here. The first story is the one of McGinn's rise to prominence in academia, and the other is the story of major issues in U.S. and U.K. philosophy from the sixties to the present. And these stories are interconnected since McGinn is a prolific thinker who has published on nearly everything of central importance in contemporary metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of language. Some of the highlights he mentions are Davidson and Quine on meaning, Wittgenstein and Kripke on rule-following, Kripke and Putnam on reference, David Lewis on possible worlds, Dummett's anti-realism, Nagel's views about the mind and its relation to the body. And whenever McGinn discusses someone's ideas, he attempts to provide a brief portrait of them.
Whatever one thinks about McGinn's personality--and some aspects of it can be off-putting--his discussions of issues here is pretty even-handed. While he occasionally says unflattering things about other philosophers, but he's more even-handed when it comes to their ideas--even those ideas with which he isn't sympathetic. He doesn't ridicule the ideas of others; nor does he use the book to push his own ideas on the topics he discusses.
Plumber-Philosopher.......2004-01-20
This is a great book but I felt something cold inside of me while reading it. I don't know if it is cultural (the modern English philosopher's fear of displaying passion) but I had the feeling to talk to a plumber who developed expertise in abstract concepts and their relationships just as if they were small plumbing problems fitting together under a generalized plumbing theory. Perhaps philosophy needs to be treated like that, just like engineering --but not for me. At least I give myself the illusion of doing something more...literary.
Colin McGINN teaches us that we need nevertheless to master the art of clarity of both thought and exposition. He write with perfect clarity: a clear, unburdened, unaffected, UnFrench UnGerman philosophical prose.
The book has a presentation of the Kripke idea of naming as necessity of such clarity that I felt actually smart reading it.
Other than that there is the feeling of drabness in part of the book of the type I got once at a conference in an industrial city West of London.
a profound waste of time.......2003-08-22
The only thing I learned from this book was how great the author thinks he is.
Great For an Aspiring Philosopher.......2002-06-14
I am currently aspiring to gain a bachelors degree in philosophy and this book is a great way to grasp fundamental theories. I'm becoming more and more interested in field of philosophy that seem so daunting. I'm glad a book like this was written to show the minority of people out there what the trials toward a career in academia and philosophy is really like. (Almost makes me want to transfer to Rutgers.)
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2007-05-12
This book helps to understand the dynamics of not just the dependent's role in addiction but the family as a whole, and what roles they play. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a family member struggling with any addiction or grew up in an abusive family.
Review by Irene Watson, author of "The Sitting Swing.".......2005-11-13
Yes, there is hope and understanding. Wegscheider-Cruse gives a very detailed account of how we play out our birth roles and act them out in dysfuctional situations. Reading this book gave me the best insight of why I displayed certain behaviors. It also gave me an understanding of the roles other people play. Down right insightful! A must read.
A Classic Text On The Effect Of Alcohol On Families.......2004-05-08
I first read this book in 1991 for a substance abuse counseling class. It does a great job of looking at alcoholism from a family systems perspective. The text even discusses issues such as codependent/enabling counselors within the profession.
Beyond it's professional usage is the fact that from the moment I started reading the book, I felt like I was reading about my own family. Finally, someone had put words to every stupid, miserable, confused feeling I had in the family I grew up in. Yes, it is a great intro text if you're planning on becoming a substance abuse counselor. But it's an even better text if you suspect that things in your family of origin weren't so normal after all. This was the book that got me started on my journey towards recovery from codependency. Since family system problems tend find their way into non alcolic families as well, this text is applicable to all kinds of people that may have found themselves growing up in the proverbial "dysfunctional family"
Healing the Trauma to our Soul.......2000-06-02
This book shares how alcoholism is a disease that penetrates the whole person and the whole family. Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse goes through the different roles that people act out in an alcholic family and how each breaks down unity and supports the addictive behavior of the alcoholic. Then, she gives practical ways this system can begin to heal and recover such trauma to the soul. Samuel Oliver, author of, What the Dying Teach Us: Lessons on Living
this is a great piece of work.......2000-01-10
i have read this book twice. One time i have read it for a class i am taking for my major that i am taking. And another time i just read it for refrence and fun. I reccomend this book to all people that know someone from an alcohol dependent family or was in one. i rate this book an A+++
Customer Reviews:
A GREAT Addition to Your Kitchen!!.......2006-07-22
So, I call my hobby, "What Can I soak in Vodka?" ... I've tried many, many of the recipes in the book & they have all turned out very, very well. It has simple recipes with clear instructions (no super expensive ingredients!). It's a great book to learn how to make liqueurs & will give those of you who are more experiences some new ideas -- AND food recipes for your creations! The basic idea is to mix the ingredients and let them soak in vodka, etc. for a period of time. The beauty is, the longer you let it sit, the better it is! If you get busy, no worries!! Now that I know what I am doing, I have started experimenting with local, Alaskan wild berries & flowers (Fireweed is the BEST!). It's a great after dinner drink in January!! :)
Offering one hundred liqueur recipes .......2005-01-06
The collaborative work of Cheryl Long and Heather Kibby, Classic Liqueurs: The Art Of Making & Cooking With Liqueurs is the newest and highly recommended addition the the outstanding "Creative Cooking" series from Sibyl Publications. Offering one hundred liqueur recipes and more than one hundred ways to cook with delicately flavored liqueurs. From Hawaiian Fruit Liqueur; California Lemon Liqueur; American Whiskey Punch; and Long Island Iced "Tea"; to Mandarin Yam Bake; Creme De Menthe Frosting; Italian Anise Stars; and Cranberry Jewels in Liqueur, these are drinks and dishes that will add a gourmet element to any and every dining occasion.
Book Description
Classic Liqueurs is the best and most complete work on home liqueur making. This book tells simply and exactly how to make the world's most famous liqueurs as well as exquisite fruit liqueurs in the home kitchen. the AUTHORs unlock the secret of liqueur making for the simulation of such classics as Amaretto Anisette Calvados Curacao Cherry Heering Creme de Men the Drambuie Forbidden Fruits Frangelico Galliano Irish Cream Kahlua and Tia Maria to name a few.
Customer Reviews:
A really great way to customize your gifts.......2002-12-06
This book introduced me to the most unique hobby ever. The quality far exceeds what can be bought in the stores and it is very impressive to serve to guests. I've gotten requests for the cranberry liqueur for over 15 years!
Best Liqueur Book.......1999-12-19
This is the best Liqeur book I have been able to lay my hands on. All the ones I have tried have been a success with my friends.
Excellent book; a 'must-have' for your culinary library!.......1999-10-08
This is an all-round, terrific publication. It is well written, with easy-to-understand instructions and tips. The authors have created outstanding recipes using readily available ingredients with suggestions for numerous variations. An excellent choice for first-time enthusiasts. Following the sections on to liqueur and brandy making, the authors have devoted a third portion of the publication to cooking with your creations. This modest little book is definitely well worth the price!
A great book, especially for beginners!.......1999-02-09
When I first got this book I had never made liqueurs, but the directions in this book were so easy to follow that even my first batch turned out great. Three years later I'm famous among my friends and family for making great liqueurs! Their versions of kalua, tia maria, frangelica and vanilla are some of my favorites.
Excellent beginners guide........1998-10-10
This book gives a great overview on the basics of making cordials and liqueurs at home. The step by step intructions to set up and explanation of terms used in other texts and this one make it easy to start from nothing. I have only been working with liqueurs about 3 years and have won both contests I have entered using batches from recipes in this book. For SCA, members this is not a great research book, but it tells you how to make fantastic tasting stuff!
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- Hell Looks Different Now: One Corpsman's Journey Back to Vietnam
- Herndon's Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life
- Hero of Beecher Island: The Life and Military Career of George A. Forsyth
- Hero on Horseback: The Story of Casimir Pulaski
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- In the Philippines and Okinawa: A Memoir, 1945-1948
- Iron Jaw: A Skipper Tells His Story, Charles N. Bamforth 1895-1975
- James Williams: An American Patriot in the Carolina Backcountry
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Recommended Books
- Rich Dad's Advisors®: The ABC's of Building a Business Team That Wins: The Invisible Code of Hon
- Just Let The Kids Play: How to Stop Other Adults from Ruining Your Child's Fun and Success in Youth
- Collaborative partnerships: academia and industry working together.
- Darwin on Man: A Psychological Study of Scientific Creativity
- Hammer of the Gods
- History: Fiction or Science
- Good Night, Gorilla
- Dr. Seuss's ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book!
- ActiveBook, Financial Management
- Darklighter
Why Didn't You Get Me Out?: A POW's Nightmare in Vietnam
Five Years to Freedom: The True Story of a Vietnam POW
Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir
Honor Bound: American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia, 1961-1973
Two Souls Indivisible: The Friendship That Saved Two POWs in Vietnam
