My Life and Experiences Among Our Hostile Indians. A Record of Personal Observations, Adventures, and Campaigns Among the Indians of the Great West.

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My Life and Experiences Among Our Hostile Indians. A Record of Personal Observations, Adventures, and Campaigns Among the Indians of the Great West.

Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GEV0GI

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MY LIFE AND EXPERIENCES AMONG OUR HOSTILE INDIANS. A Record of Personal Observations, Adventures, and Campaigns Among the Indians of the Great West. With some Account of their Life, Habits, Traits, Religion, Ceremonies, Dress, Savage Instincts...

Manufacturer: A. D. Worthington & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I74GJQ

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My Life And Experiences Among Our Hostile Indians: A Record Of Personal Observations, Adventures And Campaigns Among The Indians Of The Great West
Oliver O. Howard
Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 1428618945

Book Description

With Some Account Of Their Life, Habits, Traits, Religion, Ceremonies, Dress, Savage Instincts, And Customs In Peace And War.

My Life and Experiences among Our Hostile Indians: A Record of Personal Observations, Adventures, and Campaigns among the Indians of the Great West, with Some Account of Their Life, Habits, Traits, Religion, Ceremonies, Dress, Savage Instincts, and Custom

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My Life and Experiences among Our Hostile Indians: A Record of Personal Observations, Adventures, and Campaigns among the Indians of the Great West, with Some Account of Their Life, Habits, Traits, Religion, Ceremonies, Dress, Savage Instincts, and Custom
O. Oliver Howard
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VSENO0

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My life and experiences among our hostile Indians;: A record of personal observations, adventures, and campaigns among the Indians of the great West, with ... instincts, and customs in peace and war,
O. O Howard
Manufacturer: A.D. Worthington & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B00085H6D6

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The making of McGinn

Worth a Look

Writing for general public is not THIS easy

Pompous Crap

Not half bad; about half good.

The Making of a Philosopher: My Journey Through Twentieth-Century Philosophy
Colin Mcginn
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Mindsight: Image, Dream, Meaning

ASIN: 0060957603
Release Date: 2003-07-08

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'.

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The Making of a Philosopher: My Journey Through Twentieth Century Philosophy
Colin McGinn
Manufacturer: Recorded Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

Inspiration & Philosophy | Religion & Spirituality | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
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ASIN: 1402506333

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Down-to-earth approach to an often not down-to-earth profession

Worth a Look

Plumber-Philosopher

a profound waste of time

Great For an Aspiring Philosopher

The Making of a Philosopher: My Journey Through Twentieth-Century Philosophy
Colin McGinn
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Philosophers | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0060197927
Release Date: 2002-03-26

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

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.)

The Making of a Philosopher: My Journey Through Twentieth-Century Philosophy

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The Making of a Philosopher: My Journey Through Twentieth-Century Philosophy
Colin McGinn
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OF3Q1G

MAKING OF A PHILOSOPHER: MY JOURNEY THROUGH TWENTIETH-CENTURY PHILOSOPHY (HB)

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MAKING OF A PHILOSOPHER: MY JOURNEY THROUGH TWENTIETH-CENTURY PHILOSOPHY (HB)
C. mcginn
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OABATQ

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These exercises really work!

An easy book to use and understand!

Really works, and makes your face FEEL better too!

Very accessible

Fun for the actress in us!

Timeless Face: 30 Days To A Younger You Through Face Reading, Acupressure, and Toning
Ellae Elinwood
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Beauty & Fashion | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 031219529X

Book Description

Timeless Face is a revolutionary approach to facial toning, one that enhances your face's appearance while it contributes to your inner tranquility and well-being.Incorporating the time-honored techniques of Chinese face reading to identify what causes facial features to develop as we age, Ellae Elinwood demonstrates that it is simply not a fact of life that a forehead has to wrinkle, a mouth has to sag, and they eyes have to become baggy. Rather these are generally symptoms of emotional distress and lack of facial fitness, which can be treated and corrected through a simple program that combines acupressure and exercise. For example:Vertical lines between the eyebrows indicate confusion and concern. The Desquinter exercise not only smooths lines and slows down the appearance of new ones, it also generates mental clarity and optimism.Drooping mouth corners and pouchy cheeks are signs of stress and loss of confidence. The Light-hearted exercise will life those mouth corners as it lifts your mood, easing worries and increasing a feeling of self-worth.Deep furrows between the nose and cheeks can signal suppressed emotions and the strain of too much responsibility. The Erasing Cares exercise lessens those deep lines while it enhances your ability to communicate and negotiate on your behalf.By following the simple, commonsense Timeless Face program, illustrated with clear photographs and instructions for each exercise, your face will look and feel more fit and more relaxed in just thirty days, and your entire being will be rejuvenated and revitalized.Isn't it time for you to discover the face you were meant to mature with-your own Timeless Face?

Customer Reviews:

These exercises really work!.......2007-03-16

Timeless Face is an exercise program that goes much deeper than just skin care. The exercises also help emotionally. I suffer from depression and found in the past nine months of regularly doing both the facial and acupressure techniques that I feel better afterwards. I feel less tension in my face.

Just as exercise shapes and contours the body, exercise for the face can shape and contour the face. What happens when specific exercises are used for the face? The muscles become stronger and the skin becomes resilient. The user looks refreshed because the droopy skin has been revitalized.

Resistance exercise has proven to tone and lift the muscles in your body. Facial muscles are no different. They, too, firm and lift with exercise. The nine-week program introduces two easy-to-perform exercises per week that target fifteen areas of the face and neck.

This highly effective program will improve your upper eyelids, your brows, your upper cheeks and double chin, jaw line, turkey neck, wattle, vertical forehead lines and much, much more.

An easy book to use and understand!.......2006-11-14

As an esthetician I have found this book amazingly helpful for my clients. I often reccommend it to those clients worried about losing muscle tone, and unable (or unwilling!) to get a face lift.
Do the exercizes...they're fun (!) and you'll get results! Immediately your skin with look healthier (rosier glow, less sallow) and over time you'll notice a difference. Taking pictures of yourself before and after ( after at least a month) will help you truthfully track your progress. Since we look at our face every day...it can be easy to miss gradual changes.
Pictures don't lie :-)

Really works, and makes your face FEEL better too!.......2006-09-21

This book really works. She explains the exercise by saying which emotion to imitate...i.e. looked surprised, or she might say show skepticism, or prissy, or humorous smile...etc. My face not only looks better (it actually was slightly sore even though I had been doing a different face routine religiously with Judith Olivia's "face aerobics"--I still like that one too, but feel this is more muscles worked in shorter time )
This is a book, which is the only downside for me. If this came out on DVD I would buy it in a heartbeat. Then again having the book is more portable, we just got back from a camping vacation and I could still do the exercises every day even without a dvd and tv. She shows a great pic of her face doing each exercise and gives tips on how to do it, and also tells you what muscle you are using and gives an optional accupressure spot to gently massage (very easy to do and feels great)
It really works. What surprised me most was my face felt less frozen...Iam only 31 and didn't even know my face had become "frozen" but i feel like emotional reactions come easier now for me. Again, Ididn't even know that had become a problem either. It really opened up my palatte of facial expressions! Meaning I feel like an artist with more colors to chose from.
I love how my face looks also!
I usually do this in the mornings, I keep the book on an end table near my favorite chair, and do this while my 4 year old watches sesame street.
At first it took me about an hour to read threw and really do correctly, but now I fly threw it in only 30 minutes....and I still have time to clean the floors before sesame street is over.
...It would also be easy to do at night while watching a favortie show...just do it on the commercials.
Your mirror reflection will thank you! ( I also do the eye bag excercise additonally while brushing my teeth since I want to work on my eyes most)
This is a great book, and I hope I look as great as the beautiful author at her age!!!! it makes old age sound fun if I could look like that!
Stephanie Thiess
Cincinnati, OH

Very accessible.......2005-04-27

I value the Maggio book for it's precision but find the exercises confusing and tedious and so don't do them often. This book is more easy going but still fully details which muscles are being worked, offers more than one photo of the exercise and, if you're into it, lists the emotions causing those muscles to need to be rehabilitated.

I do wish there was a picture detailing the accupressure point on the pages of instructions accompanying every exercise but a sticky bookmark makes it easy enough to flip to the graphic when necessary. And, the thought she gives to help explain the movements are excellent. For instance, the Expression given for the Eye Crunch is, "I'm not peeking!" and it really helps one 'get' the movement far better than any other explainations I've read.

I've read that stretching the skin is to be avoided but no longer think this is cause for concern unless one is in the habit of wrecklessly distorting the face with one's hands for the mere fun of it. I notice on the instruction sheet for Frownies that one is required to stretch the skin in order to place them and many, many women have sworn by them for decades so it can't be a bad thing to *carefully* move to skin to rehabilitate it.

Fun for the actress in us!.......2004-08-28

I got this book a few days ago and was disappointed at first glance -- the acupressure information was cursory and the
Chinese physiognomy aspect, which I would love to know more about, was pretty minimal. I settled down to the actual exercises today, however -- the pairing of emotion/phrase and photo makes it easier to "get" the subtle movements required than any meticulous step-by-step description of which muscle to move when. This is "method face-lifting," you might say -- think yourself into the attitude and you're doing the exercise. It's intuitive and it's fun -- certainly worth a try. Make a video and I'll buy that, too!

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FABULOUS!!!!

Classic French weds international cuisine!

What Susan writes, I read

Relaxation in the French kitchen

Excellent Recipe Sampler and Useful Techniques. Buy It.

Cooking at Home on Rue Tatin
Susan Herrmann Loomis
Manufacturer: William Morrow Cookbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0060758171
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Book Description

In Cooking At Home On Rue Tatin award-winning cookbook author and professional chef Susan Herrmann Loomis takes cooks and readers on a friendly and delicious tour of French home cooking, from the refined to the rustic. In this collection of Susan's favorites, readers and cooks will learn the tricks and tips of entertaining like the French, get clear instruction on the basics of French cooking, and be introduced to the new and exciting array of multicultural cuisines that are rapidly entering the realm of classic French. You will meet Susan's inspirations, from neighbors in her small town to starred chefs, as they share their own home recipes, which have become standard fare on Susan's own table.

Susan invites the busy home cook to relax, unwind, and enjoy the tastes, textures, and aromas of simple yet often sophisticated French fare. The book is filled with contemporary recipes, such as Tuna with Ginger Yogurt Sauce and Cilantro Coulis, Spiced Fish Fillet in Parchment Paper, Skate with Potato Puree; classics, such as Soupe au Pistou, Coq au Vin, Pot-au-Feu, and Quiche Lorraine; and cross-cultural dishes, such as Chorba (Algerian Ramadan soup), Chicken Soup with Tamarind, and Lamb and Dried Plum Tagine with Toasted Almonds. What sets apart all of these recipes, from the contemporary to the classic, is Susan's clear presentation, which makes them so easily accessible.

Susan's food, along with her warm hospitality, puts people at ease and makes them feel as if they are honored guests or members of Susan's own family.

Customer Reviews:

FABULOUS!!!!.......2007-06-09

Love all of Susans books, but this is the best. She doesn't use ingredients that are too 'euro' to find here in the states, she is easy to follow and enjoyable in the process, the variety is outstanding, and I just love her style! With well over 200 cookbooks on my shelf, this is one that will be pulled out consistantly!

Classic French weds international cuisine!.......2006-03-13

Susan Herrmann Loomis' COOKING AT HOME ON RUE TATIN (0060758171, $24.95) comes from a cookbook author and pro chef who surveys French home cooking. Classic French techniques and dishes meld with international cuisine in a title which also takes the busy cook into account. From a simple Braised Fennel and Chicken with Artichoke to Leek and Bacon Quiche and Mackerel with Dandelion Greens, this is packed with innovations and basics alike.

What Susan writes, I read.......2005-10-06

I am a big fan of everything that Susan writes. I like her style and the well-communicated stories she tells of local vendors, farmers and everyday cooks in France. Her recipes exude French-ness without being stuffy - she understands, loves and captures the essence of French cuisine and the French in a way that few non-French writers can. If you want to understand what it is about the French 'at table' that makes them so passionate and opinionated about food, then read Susan's introduction to this book for a very inciteful and well-told explanation. And, may I add, the Walnut Bread on page 214 and the Braised Guines Hen with Savoy Cabbage on page 133 are a delicious combination for a wonderfully hearty fall meal. Serve with chilled French cider.

Relaxation in the French kitchen.......2005-06-30

A companion to her memoir-with-recipes, "On Rue Tatin," Loomis' eighth cookbook reflects on the international influences creeping into French cooking. A Cambodian Chicken Soup with Tamarind follows a recipe for traditional Provencal Vegetable Soup with Pistou and Franco-Vietnamese Spring Rolls follows Quiche Lorraine.

While classic French dishes predominate, Loomis collects recipes from Asian and Middle-Eastern immigrants who are equally passionate about their favorite dishes. Thus, the poultry chapter includes Rooster in Red Wine, Roasted Lemon and Orange Guinea Hen and Syrian Chicken with Tahini, Lemon, and Yogurt Sauce and the meat chapter features Rib-eye Steak with Bordelaise Sauce, Aromatic Braised Pork Shoulder and Lamb and Dried Plum Tagine with Toasted Almonds.

Loomis' focus, whatever the dish, is on careful attention to detail in technique and choice of ingredients. Thus a beef braise "needs every single minute" of its three hour cooking time, quinoa requires a gentle hand with herbs and pine nut oil and Leek Potage must be consumed the day it is made.

While the recipes are not difficult, many do require time and attention. This is a beguiling book for cooks who find the acts of cooking pleasurable and don't plan to throw dinner together in 20 minutes or less.

- Portsmouth Herald

Excellent Recipe Sampler and Useful Techniques. Buy It........2005-06-10

`Cooking At Home On Rue Tatin' is Susan Hermann Loomis' seventh book, a followup to the memoir, `On Rue Tatin'. Many of Ms. Loomis' books follow the rubric of `Farmhouse' cooking, especially as she and her family live in a French farmhouse in northwestern France.

The first great coincidence I encounter with this book is that it reinforces an observation in the last culinary book I reviewed, `The Perfectionist' about the career and suicide of the major French three star chef, Bernard Loiseau. Loomis' book reflects exactly that trend which helped do in Monsieur Loiseau. That is, French cooking, both `haute cuisine' done by the great restaurants and `cuisine bourgeoisie' is being greatly influenced by food and cooking from France's current and former colonies from around the world, most especially in the North African Madgreb (Morocco, Algeria, and Tunesia) and Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia). This is almost exactly the same kind of influence which Indian cooking has had on English cuisine. In fact, one wonders why it took so long, as London has been infused with Indian cooking for the last century.

It is important to note that while Ms. Loomis is a very good cookbook writer, she is not quite in the same class as Paula Wolfert for her analysis of national cuisines or of the great Julia Child for doing definitive interpretations of French dishes. But then, who is as good as these two fine culinary writers. Rather, Ms. Loomis is easily on a par with her good friend and `Franco-American' expatriot Patricia Wells. In fact, I would recommend Ms. Loomis' books over Ms. Wells to the less experienced cook who wants some exposure to French dishes but who is not ready to tackle Child's `Mastering the Art of French Cooking'.

This book is most like Ms. Wells' two books on cooking at her rural home in Provence, with the addition of the focus on the arorementioned colonial influences. The other major difference is that while Ms. Wells' interest is primarily with travel, entertaining, and wine accompaniments, Ms. Loomis is about improving her reader's general cooking skills.

Your interest in this book will have a lot to do with your cookbook collecting interests. If, like me, you are a full service foodie reader, stop now and order the book. It is an enjoyable read as well as a very nice source of internet addresses for foodstuffs.

If you like to have a nice variety of cookbooks on hand, but have limited space or budget for cookbooks, I suggest you pick one good author and get all their books. If you are especially fond of French cooking, Ms. Loomis, Ms. Wells, Mr. Olney, or, of course, Julia Child are all excellent choices. By focusing on a single author, you minimize the chances of having more than one recipe for the same dishes. And, of all these, Ms. Loomis is the easiest to read with a wide range of dishes.

If you have limited space but like a selection of books from a wide range of cuisines, then I also recommend this book, even over Ms. Loomis' other books, as I think this book is one of her warmest and most personal, and you will probably find it more enjoyable than her other cookbooks.

I thoroughly endorse Ms. Loomis' organization of subjects. In a smallish book which is meant to be a working cookbook (rather than a citizen of the library), it is best if the chapters are done by either course or by major ingredient type. Her chapters are:

The Aperitif Hour - Both classic French (Tapenade) and imported (Hummus) recipes for hors d'oeurves.
A Bowl of Soup - Spanish, North African, and Provencal standards.
First Hot and Cold Courses - Omelets, Salads, Pates, Quiches, and Mussels, oh my!
Fish, The Beautiful Swimmer - Fish a la Meuniere (dredged and fried), en papillote (in paper) and so on.
A Choice of Poultry - Wings, With Artichokes, steamed, Syrian (with tahini), brined and roasted, and, of course, coq au vin plus a few duck, duck breast, and turkey recipes.
All the Flavors of Meat - Especially stuffed vegetables, eggplant, steak, stew, braises, and grilled lamb.
A Selection of Vegetables - Gratins (My favorite!) and veggie braises. Oh la la.
Breads and Pastries - Including crepes, waffles, cookies, sweet bread, tarts, and chocolate cake.
Custards, Compotes, Cakes, Tarts and More - All the neat things the French do with fruits and ice cream.
Basics and Preserves - Stocks, Pastry Doughs, Court Bouillon, Vinaigrette, Herbes de Provence, flavored oils, onion marmalade, eggplant caviar, and steamed couscous. If you can get the tiny cucumbers, there is even a recipe for cornichons.

The best thing about this book is that it gives you a sample of a wide range of French specialities. While books specializing in pastry or preserves or braising or egg dishes or baking may cover each of these individual subjects in more detail, this book gives you a great way to learn about the full range of French `home cooking' in easy bites with reliable recipes.

In addition to the recipes, there is a great range of especially good sidebars on various cooking materials and techniques. All are good, but one I thought was especially good for a general book was the sidebar on making preserves. The very best source for French preserve making is Christine Ferber's `Mes Confitures', but this is an excellent way to get acquainted with the subject and not shoot yourself in the foot while trying it out.

Just in case you need an excuse, Ms. Loomis is excellent at making you feel good about cooking, and gives you lots of new things with which to exercize this interest.

Highly recommended for all foodies and Francophiles.

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