Book Description
Ernie Zelinski has taught more than 150,000 people what THE JOY OF NOT WORKING is about: learning to live every part of your life—work and play, employment, and retirement alike—to the fullest. In this completely revised and expanded edition, you'll learn how to create an excellent work/life balance by working less, producing more, and being more leisurely; how to gain the courage to leave a life-draining job; and, if you are recently retired or unemployed, how to bring purpose and community back to your life. Plus, new to this edition are 30 inspiring letters from readers detailing how the book helped them live a more exciting and rewarding life. Illustrated with eye-opening exercises, thought-provoking diagrams, and lively cartoons and quotations, THE JOY OF NOT WORKING will guide you to living a more exciting and rewarding life—at work and at play.
Customer Reviews:
A good book to consult if someone moves your cheese!.......2007-05-16
The book is filled with alot of experience and wisdom to ponder. An excellent read if you are considering a major career change but do not know what you want. The book does not suggest you keep a stiff upper lip and take it, so do not read it if you do not want change. You will not be able to look at work or your life the same way when you have finished.
A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE.......2007-05-16
I read this book as I was prepairing to retire. It suited my purposes just fine but contained solid advise for just about anyone on how to live happily. I ordered six more copies to give to friends!!!
A valuable resource that is fun to read.
Boomers Must Read!.......2007-05-09
Excellent book for those are ready to retire. It affirms many experiences my wife and I are having. Mr. Zelinski's insights will help those who are weary of the rat race. Maybe after you read the book you will give yourself permission to try to enjoy the rest of your life. Downsizing isn't a sin.
Not working is not always joyful.......2007-04-30
Believe it or not, I have the soul of a lazy person. I have enjoyed time off from 6 weeks to a year. I've enjoyed freedom in my work, especially now. So I totally understand the joy of Not Working.
Zelinski's book has many things going for it. For example:
(a) Too many of us are workaholics.
(b) We need structure, purpose and a sense of community, with or without a job.
(c) Work smart, not hard ("peak performance").
(d) The checklist on page 54 can be a wake-up call.
(e) We can gain several hours a week if we give up television.
But as a career consultant I am concerned about the book's core advice. Page 55: "The first day your job does not nourish and enthuse you is the day you should consider leaving. Indeed, I advise you to quit."
Pretty strong stuff! In my experience, few jobs provide daily nourishment and enthusiasm every day or even every week. I would say, "If you've outgrown your job, begin a search for alternatives. Don't do anything until you have a plan."
People do miss their jobs - even jobs they hated. I have never seen statistics, but my experience suggests at least 50% of those who quit without another job regretted the decision. One discussion list posted a note from a 40-something woman who had chosen enjoyable, low-paying jobs in the personal growth field. Now she was ready to move on, with no nest egg to fund a career transition.
Job dissatisfaction actually can be a misleading signal. Many people who seek a career change actually need to relocate geographically or work on relationships.
My biggest criticism of the book is the potentially misleading presentation of information. For example, the author mentions "a research study conducted in 2001 by Florida's Nova Southeastern University" which found that over 38% of stockbrokers making $300,000 - $1,000,000 suffered from "subclinical depression" while 28% reported "clinical depression." (Overlap? Additional? We're not told.)
Most studies are conducted by individual researchers, not universities or even departments. The author does not cite his source or indicate whether this study was actually published in a reputable peer-reviewed journal.
How was this sample of brokers chosen? What methods were used to assess "subclinical depression" or "clinical depression?" Was the depression long-term or situational? Was this study carried out in 2001 before or after 9/11? Where's the cause and effect: does the field attract individuals with a propensity to depression?
Other studies are mentioned but not cited or described in detail. For the Schnore study of retirees, I'd want to know how their satisfaction was reported and tested.
Additionally, throughout the book, Zelinski presents letters from readers. He seems to suggest that, "If these folks can do it, you can too."
But nearly all his examples come from people who took only the very first step: quitting or deciding to retire. On page 96, Zelinski writes, "Perhaps you will [say]...married people can't possibly quit their jobs like Ian did. Then go back to page 57 and read the letter [from a married man with 2 kids who quit his job]...Case closed!"
Unfortunately, the letter on page 57 was written by someone who had just marched in to his boss and quit. We don't know what happened afterward. Case not closed, in my opinion!
We do get a few examples of success: a professional who became a music busker in Toronto, someone who moved into a friend's trailer to live on $6000 a year, someone who travels cheaply, and several people who saved a stash of cash and now live comfortably from investments or a spouse's salary. Many readers (and most of my clients) will not relate to those examples.
We should also realize Zelinski writes from Canada, a country with national health care. It's not perfect, but it does open up career options. Those happily unemployed are subsidized by taxes from those who face a 50% tax bracket at surprisingly low salary levels.
I also believe that not everyone will enjoy a life of hobbies and volunteer work. Working for money gives you an edge, changing your thoughts, habits and conversations. Zelinski himself is neither unemployed nor retired: he is a full-time writer. His four-hour-a-day schedule is actually quite typical of professional authors of books. I once heard best-selling mystery author Jon Kellerman speak about writing 3 pages a day. Zelinski aims for four.
Bottom Line: Joy of Not Working is worth skimming to experience a philosophy that can be adapted to many lives. Unfortunately, the adaptation will be up to you.
Not Practical.......2007-03-22
The suggestions in his book are misleading. Not for the motivated young people who want to make a difference in the world. No one can argue with his conclusions about workaholics. However, no one is going to achieve much success with a goal of living and raising a family on $6000 a year. I read his book in about 3 hours - really a waste of time as far as practical advice is concerned.
Average customer rating:
- Great Diversion
- You Won't Find This in the "Self Help" Section!
- a very humorous outlook on being without a job
- The Joys of Unemployment
- Horrible!
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The Joys of Unemployment
Jim Hayes
Manufacturer: Pecant Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0966442202 |
Book Description
Have you or someone you know been the victim of downsizing, rightsizing, out-placements, reorganizations, mergers, takeovers? The surgical attempt of companies to "downsize" fails to recognize the personal pain and suffering it creates. Statistics show over 750,000 jobs have been eliminated in the first 6 months of 2001. How can the affected survive without a steady stream of income to cover credit card bills, car payments, the mortgage, grocery bills and medical bills? The manner in which one deals with unemployment depends on many factors. Regardless of the negative aspects of being unemployed, there is always a new opportunity around the corner. All you have to do is find it. "The Joys of Unemployment" takes a look at the lighter side of unemployment. It provides the unemployed with a few hours of diversion to take their mind off the situation, soften the sting and take a positive approach to a difficult situation.
Customer Reviews:
Great Diversion.......2007-05-06
Jim Hayes is artful in his ability to make light of a traumatic event in life. The book allows us to laugh at ourselves and realize things may not be what we planned but they aren't tragic; life goes on and a better opportunity is around the corner if we keep a positive attitude. This book is full of positive attitude and looking at the bright side. Enjoyable - may even inspire you to quit your current job.
You Won't Find This in the "Self Help" Section!.......2003-03-27
It all started when I lost my job a few years back. I received "The Joys..." as a gift and I have to admit it did lighten my mood and help me take stock of the situation in a light-hearted way. It is now my standard gift to anyone I know who finds himself in the unfortunate position of being unemployed. It's hard to find the humor in anything while unemployed ... every little bit helps!
a very humorous outlook on being without a job.......2003-03-25
If you are the type of person who does not have comedy central because you find it offensive, then do not buy this book. However, if you love to laugh and enjoy reading the "intellectual" comic strips in a newspaper...then you will like this book. This book deals with the corporate world and looks at it from the point of being downsized. It is meant for those who are qualified, intelligent people who know they are going to get another job. However, any open-minded person with a sense of humor can read this and laugh. I did.
The Joys of Unemployment.......2003-03-22
The "reader from Gainesville, Florida" who failed to see the humor in the Joys of Unemployment could not have really read the book. The whole point of the book is that things are never as bad as they seem and people deal with being unemployed in different ways. There are several motivating and encouraging sidebars throughout the book, and the humor, while sometimes dark and sarcastic, reflects someone refusing to be swallowed up with despair and anger - like "the reader from Gainesville, Florida".
Horrible!.......2003-03-13
A terrible, terrible book with NO humor in it. My husband has been unemployed for 2 years now and every page was insulting to the experience. A tasteless, tacky book.
Book Description
World Music: The Basics gives a brief introduction to popular musical styles found around the world. Organized by continent/region, and then A to Z by country, the book features both background information on the cultural and musical history of each area, along with succinct reviews of key recordings. The reader can quickly find out enough about each musical style to appreciate its subtleties, and is also directed to the best available CDs for further listening. Unlike the massive Rough Guides or MusicHound volumes, this book is designed to be concise and easily digested, covering the essentials on each style, rather than encyclopedically listing every possible recording. It is a perfect introduction for the student, scholar, or general listener.
Some of the music styles include Rai, Trance, Juju, Soukos, South African Township, Celtic( including Galicia, Bretagne, Wales; Flamenco, Catalan Rhumba, Italian Roots, Tarantella, Bal Musette, Fado, Nova Cancao, etc.) Rembetika, Laiko, Thrace, Ladino, Arabesque, Gazil, Sufi, Gypsy/Romani, Wedding, Klezmer, Scandinavian, Raga, Bollywood, Japanese, Dijeridou, Samba, Bossa Nova, MBP, Tango, Neuva Cancion, Son, Danzon, Rumba, Salsa, Reggae, Ska, Dub, Merengue, Compas, Soca, Mariachi, Ranchero, Tejano, Cajun/Zydeco, Bluegrass, and American Indian
Customer Reviews:
Worth buying for the CD recommendations alone!.......2006-07-12
Being a huge World Music junkie, I have been searching for a book of this sort. I have always enjoyed exploring new artists from all over the world, but the hunt can prove overwhelming and this book gives a great help.
It is great fun to read, full of interesting historical and musical facts - this guy really did his reasearch! It has some really interesting and daring political insights that impress me very much.
But the best thing for me about this book is all of the CD recommendations which are incredible. I have gotten more than 10 cds so far, based on recommendations from "The Basics" and they have been right on! Really discovering lots of new and fabulous stuff here.
I unhesitatingly recommend picking this up. A gem!
Fantastic survey! Covers tons of ground in a concise way.......2004-12-14
Wow! The world of World Music has gotten its first definitive guide. I can unhesitatingly give this hefty little tome 5 stars. This is an entertaining guide that covers an immense amount of musical territory in an enjoyable and beautifully written way. This book is so smoothly written that it could be read cover to cover, but it is also ideal for consulting as an encyclopedia. I have found that Richard Nidel has impecable taste, and as a result this book is also a great resource for choosing the best recordings of an artist.
I would say that the sections of Brazil, Argentina, Greece, Turkey, West Africa, and Celtic Music are especially strong, and always peppered with extra facts both political and historical to give the music more background.
I find the real strong points of this great survey to be the spot-on cd recommendations and the obvious vast knowledge of World Music that comes through in Nidel's fluid prose throughout this little book. Being a World Music follower for some time now, it is obvious that there was an immense amount of research put in because this guy really knows his stuff.
There is an excellent intro by Jazz legend Branford Marsalis, and the book is a beautifully packaged 400 pages.
Pick it up!
Customer Reviews:
A succint exposition of the world's greatest composers.......1998-03-29
Music has the ability to lift our spirits to the heights of Olympus, and the power to awaken our emotions. This book and it's corresponding tapes force one to realize the genius behind the word creation. Each of the composers in this compilation loved, hated, lost, gained, struggled, and triumphed. Did these composers choose to simply write about this? No, they chose to create music. Music that embodies each emotion, and at the same time reveals the motive force of each: imagination, creativity; intellect. The book is brief and yet poignant. Each composer's life and times are surveyed. Then Mr. Lambert takes the reader through a portion of each of the composer's pieces. With this he allows one to further appreciate each musical creation by pointing out the nuances that most of us would miss. The nuances that can stir our very souls. The beauty of this music is that each person finds something in it peculiar to themselves. The Christian finds the truth he has always known: beauty is a gift from God. The atheist finds what he knows is the truth: the genius of creative man is limitless. The lonely soul finds what he also needs; understanding and compassion. Mr. Lambert also supplements his book with trivia, crossword puzzles, and various questions in order to present not only a musical experience, but more importantly, an educational one. The only flaw with the Basic Library of The World's Greatest Music is that no CD format is currently available. But fear not, for just like the composers in this book who never rested in their quest for perfection, Mr. Lambert, mirroring this same creative genius, will not rest until his library is perfect: I have heard that a CD version will be available in the future!
Average customer rating:
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Basic Musical Library, "P" Series, 1-1000 (Discographies)
Larry F. Kiner , and
Harry Mackenzie
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0313275270 |
Book Description
In 1943 the Armed Forces Radio Service began transmitting programs that linked the thousands of American military personnel and civilians stationed overseas to the United States. This definitive study provides discographical data for the first 1,000 recordings of the AFRS Basic Musical Library, "P" (Popular) Series. This series of recordings of popular, jazz, and classical music constituted a permanent music library at every military radio station and allowed AFRS personnel at the numerous broadcast facilities around the world to act as disc jockeys, playing the most popular and requested songs and artists for their audiences--principally American GIs. Some of the many orchestras and singers represented in the collection include Bing Crosby, Harry James, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, the Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, and Peggy Lee. The sources of the recordings were variable and included commercial recordings (occasionally alternate takes) principally from Columbia, Decca, and Victor; radio broadcasts (often from dress rehearsals); concerts; and AFRS's own recording sessions. Larry F. Kiner and Harry Mackenzie have meticulously and comprehensively researched the AFRS files to produce this first complete listing of these recordings and their compilation is also the first to identify the many commercial record issues that have been derived from the series. Following the introduction that advises readers how to use the book and also explains its format and abbreviations, the 1,000-entry discography begins. Each entry lists the AFRS Basic Musical Library "P" Series catalog number; the matrix number; take number as shown on the ARFS label; song title; artist identification; running time in minutes; source of the take, including exact date and geographical location, when known; and size, speed and issue data. Two appendixes center on the most popular artists and most popular songs of the collection and two separate indexes list articles and songs to facilitate ease of location. Of special interest are the over three dozen label illustrations. This important source of information on American popular songs, artists, and recordings of the 1943 to 1947 period will be welcomed by musical scholars of the World War II era and by those with a penchant for American popular music.
Average customer rating:
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Bodhrán Basics (Bodhran)
Steafan Hannigan , and
Ste'f'n Hannigan
Manufacturer: Ossian
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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The Bodhrán Book
ASIN: 0946005877
Release Date: 1998-12-31 |
Book Description
An introductory course in the art of playing the bodhrán, covering all the basic techniques needed to accompany traditional and other music.
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A Fogging of Basic Values: Behavioral Analysis of Online Downloading
Jan Alan Eglen
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1418474614 |
Book Description
The online music revolution has brought the weakness of the law to the forefront. Anonymous theft, with little risk of criminal prosecution and practically no societal censure, tempts those who would never dream of shoplifting a CD from a music store. The RIAA has sued middle school students, high school and college students as well as grandparents, some of whom honestly believed they were doing nothing wrong. Even professors of the law argue over what behavior is permissible and what is not. This ambiguity holds back the advancement of legitimate uses of technology while doing nothing to stop those who would steal regardless of the consequences. A Fogging of Basic Values critically examines what has occurred within music and other societal venues where behavioral boundaries have blurred.
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Folk Songs From Around the World (Alfred's Basic Piano Library)
Manufacturer: Alfred Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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World Music: The Basics.(Book Review) : An article from: Notes
Drew Beisswenger
Manufacturer: Music Library Association, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
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ASIN: B000E8U47W
Release Date: 2006-01-25 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Notes, published by Music Library Association, Inc. on December 1, 2005. The length of the article is 1648 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: World Music: The Basics.(Book Review)
Author: Drew Beisswenger
Publication:
Notes (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 1, 2005
Publisher: Music Library Association, Inc.
Volume: 62
Issue: 2
Page: 410(3)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
Here is the astonishing true story of Ruth Harkness, the Manhattan bohemian socialite who, against all but impossible odds, trekked to Tibet in 1936 to capture the most mysterious animal of the day: a bear that had for countless centuries lived in secret in the labyrinth of lonely cold mountains. In The Lady and the Panda, Vicki Constantine Croke gives us the remarkable account of Ruth Harkness and her extraordinary journey, and restores Harkness to her rightful place along with Sacajawea, Nellie Bly, and Amelia Earhart as one of the great woman adventurers of all time.
Ruth was the toast of 1930s New York, a dress designer newly married to a wealthy adventurer, Bill Harkness. Just weeks after their wedding, however, Bill decamped for China in hopes of becoming the first Westerner to capture a giant panda–an expedition on which many had embarked and failed miserably. Bill was also to fail in his quest, dying horribly alone in China and leaving his widow heartbroken and adrift. And so Ruth made the fateful decision to adopt her husband’s dream as her own and set off on the adventure of a lifetime.
It was not easy. Indeed, everything was against Ruth Harkness. In decadent Shanghai, the exclusive fraternity of white male explorers patronized her, scorned her, and joked about her softness, her lack of experience and money. But Ruth ignored them, organizing, outfitting, and leading a bare-bones campaign into the majestic but treacherous hinterlands where China borders Tibet. As her partner she chose Quentin Young, a twenty-two-year-old Chinese explorer as unconventional as she was, who would join her in a romance as torrid as it was taboo.
Traveling across some of the toughest terrain in the world–nearly impenetrable bamboo forests, slick and perilous mountain slopes, and boulder-strewn passages–the team raced against a traitorous rival, and was constantly threatened by hordes of bandits and hostile natives. The voyage took months to complete and cost Ruth everything she had. But when, almost miraculously, she returned from her journey with a baby panda named Su Lin in her arms, the story became an international sensation and made the front pages of newspapers around the world. No animal in history had gotten such attention. And Ruth Harkness became a hero.
Drawing extensively on American and Chinese sources, including diaries, scores of interviews, and previously unseen intimate letters from Ruth Harkness, Vicki Constantine Croke has fashioned a captivating and richly textured narrative about a woman ahead of her time. Part Myrna Loy, part Jane Goodall, by turns wisecracking and poetic, practical and spiritual, Ruth Harkness is a trailblazing figure. And her story makes for an unforgettable, deeply moving adventure.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Good background on an endangered species.......2007-08-01
A lot of good research on pandas, wealthy adventurers of 1930s and NY's Cafe Society. It was a good story, although it was hard to identify with the spoiled Lady. She loved China, but only as seen from the backs of the coolies carrying her. It has a lot of good information and is a worthwhile read. The Lady's life goes downhill rapidly after the experience with the pandas.
What a story -- and every word true!.......2007-05-28
I bought this book as a gift for my mother. She loved it, and gave it back to me to read. I let it lie for a couple of months, then picked it up one day and started reading -- and, to my surprise, could hardly put it down! What Ruth Harkness accomplished was amazing, given her background and the difficult times (1930s). I learned a lot about China of the times and did not realize the extent of its war with Japan in those years. With that backdrop, it was nothing short of a miracle that Harkness was able to bring even one panda from China to the U.S., much less two. The hardships she endured along the way made me truly wonder why she put up with them when she could have had a much "cushier" life staying home in New York City. The author has woven a truly fascinating tale -- all the more amazing that it all really happened. I believe anyone would find this a great read.
A surprising adventure .......2007-04-14
Ruth Harkness became famous in 1936 for undertaking an exploration into the Chinese wilderness and bringing back the first live Panda. Her story is amazing if only for the fact that she was a woman with no skills and no experience in the outdoors never mind that she did it in a country where the terrain, culture, language and politics were completely foreign to her. Luckily she had some great supporters but she also made some bold choices and took a lot of risk to accomplish her goal.
The author does a fine job of bringing into focus the people and politics of the time along with insight into China, Pandas, zoos and natural history museums. I will not think of any of them the same way again.
If you tend to think that non-fiction is dry and boring this book may change your mind. A very good read. The Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China's Most Exotic Animal
------Amazing adventure story------.......2006-08-12
Although, a little slow to start, this book took off and became a fascinating read. It's the true story of Ruth Harkness, a sophisticated New York dress designer. Ruth's husband, Bill was from a wealthy family which enabled him to live the life of an adventurer. His desire was to bring a giant panda back from China. He ventured out early in their marriage and headed for China. Unfortunately, Bill became ill on his trip and died in China. This story is how Ruth adopted Bill's dream and had her own expeditions to China in search of the illusive panda.
When Ruth took on her on first adventure, she initially received very little support from the big game hunters of that time period. Many of those men had been friends of her husband, but it was unheard of for a woman to make such a difficult journey. Of course, Ruth persevered and came back with a Su Lin, a baby panda. Ruth Harness was a smart and fascinating woman! The love and care that she gave Su Lin is what kept the panda alive.
The search for the pandas was in many ways horrible because they were difficult to locate and capture. It wasn`t uncommon for a hunter to just shoot one and bring back it's hide for a natural history museum. The habits and life of the panda were unknown and many of those beautiful animals died shortly after they were captured. This was due to the fact that the conditions with which they were kept and the food they were given to eat wasn't acceptable to their bodies. Also, the competition to bring a panda out of China was so great, that many of the "so-called" experts were just hunters who wanted fame and fortune and had no concern at all for the wildlife that they sought. Unfortunately, many pandas died in their cages before ever leaving China.
Besides the basic story, the author gives us some history of China, its people and terrain. On many levels, this is an unforgettable story.
THE LADY AND THE PANDA.......2006-03-09
Knowing the author (Vickie Croke) made this all the more special for me. The book is easy to read, her research is thorough, and the true life drama is made so REAL. It is hard to put it down and get back to work!
Book Description
"[A] persuasive, timely book.... Prasso makes clear the destructive nature of stereotypes about Asia and the social, cultural, and political ramifications of allowing them to fester unchallenged." (Boston Globe)
Few Westerners escape the images, expectations and misperceptions that lead us to see Asia as exotic, sensual, decadent, dangerous, and mysterious-from the tea-pouring, sexually available geisha girl to the Dragon Lady dominatrix and the effeminate or asexual Asian male. The Asian Mystique lays out a provocative challenge to see Asia and Asians as they really are, with unclouded, de-eroticized eyes. It traces the origins of Western stereotypes in history and in Hollywood, examines the phenomenon of 'yellow fever,' then goes on a reality tour of Asia's go-go bars, middle-class homes, college campuses, and corridors of power. It is required reading for anyone with interest in Asia or Asian-origin people, as well as any serious student or practitioner of East-West relations.
Customer Reviews:
Review from "The Japan Times".......2007-09-28
Apparently, there are still Western men who believe that the East is an obliging seductress, mass producing an endless line of voluptuous women, whose laconic sexual pliancy is only exceeded by their desire to serve. This, according to Sheridan Prasso's new book, is a delusion that many Asian women are happy to cater to.
Prasso's observations are unsparing, but for anyone who has witnessed the transactions that take place between Western men and Eastern women in cities like Bangkok, even the holy city of Lhasa, will know they are wickedly accurate. On the topic of the hordes of middle-aged Western men who haunt the bars, brothels and matchmaking agencies of Asia, she concludes, " . . . any man can experience feeling attractive again - even loved. Old, fat, or ugly by Western standards, it doesn't matter. Anyone can be the Alpha Male and Lord Jim."
In the distorting mirror of Asian mystique, reserve can be interpreted as weakness, Asian women quickly characterized as submissive, obedient, obliging; Asian men emasculated. Such largely Western fantasies of the Orient are "antiquated, perhaps, but still shockingly influential."
Although Passo reserves a special vitriol for the male sexual adventurer, she deals a fair hand two ways, including both sexes in the collusive act of mystifying and marketing the East. In the chapter 'Screwing, Getting Screwed, And Getting Ahead,' Prasso portrays the alternatively nave and opportunistic behavior of Filipina prostitutes. In Angeles City, a run down flesh market, where solitary men, often victims themselves of failed relationships and expectations, wander the dusty, purgatorial streets "in search of tender rejuvenating skin, hoping that human contact may somehow restore their sensation, vitality, and youth." In this city of relentless transaction, there are women who are "aware of these Western perceptions of Asian Mystique and know how to play them to advantage."
Prasso cites Hollywood and popular musicals as key factors in the dissemination of misleading images of the East, from the early screen performances of the highly successful Chinese-American actress Anna May Wong, the screen adaptation of the novel 'The World of Suzie Wong ,' to the fabulously popular 'Miss Saigon' which, complete with the sacrificial suicide of an Oriental women, is nothing less than a modern day reworking of Madame Butterfly. TV series like M.A.S.H. get a predictable drubbing, along with the limpid images of women in more recent cinematic portrayals like 'The Last Samurai.'
Hollywood and literature have manufactured two enduring, but opposing images of Asian women: the enigmatic but obliging geisha verses the treacherous, but no less sexually alluring Dragon Lady or Martial Arts Mistress. This is done in the most complimentary fashion, a 1943 front cover of 'Time' magazine portraying Madame Chiang Kai-shek as the 'Dragon Lady,' a tribute to her power and charisma. Lucy Liu, known for her various roles as seductress, martial arts specialist, and dominatrix, is the contemporary, beefed up and decidedly more lethal, version of Anna May Wong. Clearly the roles provide a very good living, and neither Wong before her nor Liu now, one notes, refused to play the game of image compliance.
Inevitably, there is a degree of reviewing as Prasso revisits this well-trodden topic. We have the usual references to Pierre Loti, Kipling, to works like 'Shogun,' but Prasso also includes commentary on erotic Asian literature, from the Taoist 'The Art of the Bedchamber,' to 'The Golden Lotus,' allegedly Mao Zedong's favorite leisure reading, works in which the Chinese linked the pleasures of the flesh with physical and spiritual nourishment and longevity, an irresistible combination.
Prasso largely avoids the risk of being seduced by the subject and losing perspective, although the book cover, the upper half offering the cherry lips and white makeup of a geisha, sends an ambiguous message, as does the inside image of the author in full geisha attire , replete with wig and a cosmetic facial. Is this meant to be flirtatious, tongue-in-cheek, or is it just the publishers' idea of selling copies?
Addicted as we are to the narcotic pleasures of the East, to the willing complicity of having our senses pleasantly addled, Prasso's book serves as a kind of detox clinic. Once the mystery, the allure of the Orient has been removed, however, what are we left with? The answer perhaps, is a more mature view of the East, one consonant with our sadly more homogenized world, where many the tints have been leached out. It will require a new maturity to accomplish it, the connoisseur of the finer things of the East in us replacing the voluptuary, the thinker displacing the lotus-eater, but perhaps it is the learning of Asia, its palpable trove of experience and wisdom, that we should venerate above the promise of the exotic and sensual.
In divesting us of our illusions, the author has left us without yearning but with a new perception of the East. A very fair exchange I would say.
STEPHEN MANSFIELD
The Japan Times
Sept. 25, 2005
Uncomfortable truths.......2007-05-07
There is something about Asian women. It is one of those taboo subjects, like why African athletes dominate certain sports, that everyone is aware of but no one wants to talk about, for fear of breaching that all-important barrier of political correctness and possibly finding themselves on the wrong side. It all boils down to uncomfortable truths, things that are even though we don't want them to be. We would like to believe that race is not an issue, in both love and war, even though it often is.
Sheridan Prasso deserves full props for challenging this dangerous subject. In "The Asian Mystique: Dragon Ladies, Geisha Girls & Our Fantasies of the Exotic Orient", she honestly attempted to examine the ideal of the Asian woman as a sexual object, both historically and in modern times. She half-succeeded, and half-failed, but that is only to be expected. The issue is not so easy as to be simply encapsulated in a single book, and we all bring our own viewpoint to such a tense subject, especially those of us who are are Asian ourselves or involved with Asian women, and find ourselves either villains or heroes by Prasso's standards.
The first part of the book is an analysis of Asian women through the lens of Western media and history. She examines the relationship between Asia and sex that has existed since the time of first contact between the two societies. Here she lays out some uncomfortable truths for all of us, demonstrating how Asian women have been portrayed in Western culture for years as a sequence of stereotypes, either the Dragon Lady or the submissive Geisha Girl. Unfortunately, this is the weakest part of the book, as it is clear that Prasso has come to her analysis opinion first and sought only the evidence to support her claim. While she speaks of "Madame Butterfly" and "Full Metal Jacket", she ignores Oliver Stone's "Heaven and Earth". This section is also rife with factual errors, which are so blatant that one is tempted to dismiss her observations out of hand. It would be easy to do. She made a mistake as to who Lady Mariko's husband was in "Shogun", so we don't need to believe anything she says, right?
But then comes the second part of the book, which is a powerhouse. Prasso steps off the stage, and allows the women of Asia to speak for themselves. Here is when you begin to understand that Prasso is a journalist, not a researcher, and her true strength is in giving a voice to others who may not otherwise be heard. She assembles an amazing collection of interviews, from all walks of life. A Japanese woman divorcing her American husband, disillusioned and yet not destroyed. Mineko Iwasaki, the most famous of the Geisha of Gion, who was the basis for the popular story of "Memoirs of a Geisha". Nguyen Thi Hoa, a woman impregnated and abandoned by an American soldier during the Vietnam war. Several Thai and Philippine "bar girls", who see Western men as little more than a good time and walking wallets. These interviews challenge our world view and opinions more than any analysis of "Miss Saigon", because they are real and alive rather than just Hollywood fairy tales.
Unfortunately, Sheridan Prasso was not able to confront the uncomfortable truths that she herself brought to light. She huzzahs the sexual liberation of Asian culture, where women were historically allowed to have multiple partners of their choosing, where coming to your wedding as a virgin was considered an embarrassment, where women were ignorant of the concept of sex as something dirty and shameful. Yet with the same hand, she condemns the White men who indulge in this freedom, who freely offer money for services, as freely as the women offer services for money. The Japanese woman who falls in love with her husband for his Americanism is a hero, free from her social training. The American man who falls in love with his wife for her Japaneseness is a villain, a slave to his social training. A man who brings his wife flowers is generous and kind. A woman who washes her husbands back is docile and dominated. There is no room for understanding, for true appreciation, acceptance and love.
Through her analysis, through her interviews, the answer seems so completely clear. There is a relationship between Asia and the West and sex, and this relationship is reciprocal, and one needs only to connect the dots. This is not, however, a necessarily bad thing. But this truth is, I think, a little bit too uncomfortable for Prasso to go there.
Disappointing; journalism, not scholarship.......2007-05-04
When I first saw "Asian Mystique," I thought I would be reading an extension of Said's "Orientalism." Indeed, Prasso's first few chapters do seem to follow Said's lead: they focus on popular representations of East Asians (and Americans of East-Asian descent) in American film and TV, and how these representations have shaped perceptions of East Asians in American society.
On a whole, though, her work is devoid of substance and full of overarching generalizations. Once she moves outside of popular media, she bases her conclusions on a few personal conversations and on newspaper editorials. Prasso approaches her subject as an outsider, qualified only by having spent many years in East Asia, and she does not even appear to know any East Asian languages.
"Asian Mystique" is particularly harsh on white men who are in relationships with women from East Asia or of East Asian descent; apparently, such men are ill with "Yellow Fever" or guilty of having an "[...]," especially if they have had a string of girlfriends from this particular ethnic group. (It seems that, for Prasso, being attracted to certain physical features should not play a role in choosing a romantic partner.)
Prejudices against East Asians and Asian-Americans are deep rooted and certainly need to be explored further. Prasso's book makes for a light, easy read, but anyone seriously interested in the subject had better look elsewhere.
Prasso attacks her subject with a bone to pick.......2007-03-25
[EDIT: I have deleted the original first sentence at Ms. Prasso's request.] The more you read, the clearer it becomes that Prasso approached her "research" with a pre-formed thesis, and either picks subjects to prop it up or filters their comments appropriately.
The author's condescension is annoying as heck. She's blatantly disdainful of some of her interviewees, like a sniveling Filipina prostitute, a white man living with a Chinese runway model, and a Chinese school administrator who - gasp! - admits she wants to get married and stop chasing promotions. Scoring an interview with the famous retired geisha Mineko Iwasaki is an accomplishment, certainly, but Prasso's self-congratulatory tone ruins it.
Argh I've totally lost patience with this book, I just wrote a review of it for a different website. Full review on my blog here if you're interested: [...]
As a Malaysian Chinese girl in a relationship a white American guy, I have a vested interest in arguing against Prasso's typifying of all Asian/white relationships being based on either unilateral or mutual exploitation. I'm not dating him because I want a green card, he's not dating me because he thinks I'm going to be docile and compliant - quite the opposite, in both cases. We like each other because we're frigging NERDS (science grad students bonding over SG-1 and Firefly).
As one of the young Japanese women interviewed says, "Junin toiro!" - Ten people, ten colours, yet this book tries to paint everyone with the same brush.
Finally someone wrote about this fascinating subject!.......2007-03-17
Everyone knows someone - whether a roommate, a friend, a brother or even himself, who has a particular fondness for Asian women - but no one ever talks about it in public. As an Asian American woman who grew up in the mid-West, I can tell you that I'd be rich if I had a dollar for every time someone like this tried to hit on me just because my face is Asian, and yes I have even dated some of them. This is a constant topic of café talk with all my girlfriends - no matter whether they're Asian American, white, Latina or black. (Even Hollywood has told many tales about this - from the recent Memoirs of a Geisha to the ancient World of Suzie Wong). Yet unless, we're speaking to girlfriends, other Asian Americans or friends-in-the-know, the subject falls on deaf ears. No one has ever written a balanced, truthful and in-depth analysis of this before. Finally! I'm so amazed that this book was written.
Why hasn't anyone written about this before? Perhaps it's a hard concept to grasp - no doubt because as the book says, the Asian Mystique is so captivating that most people don't even know that they've succumbed to it. This may sound complicated. Indeed, whenever my girlfriends and I gossip about those kinds of men who like Asian women, we often cringe. But do we ever stop to think about why? Without burying the reader in obtuse, academic jargon, Prasso finally gives a name to this cultural phenomenon ("the Asian Mystique") that allows room for true discussion (It's much more productive than "yellow fever"). Not to mention the fact that the book is a page-turner and packed with great statistics and interesting data. Like an anthropologist, the author quietly observes all the interesting details without criticizing. Because she does not make judgments about the people involved in Asian-Western cross-cultural relationships, I found myself thinking about it in a new light. Not only that, I feel that she really did her homework in trying to understand the aspects that we in the west misunderstand about Asian culture (yes Asian Americans are guilty of this too). This is not an easy thing to do, especially for someone not raised within Asian culture. Thus, I must also applaud the author for trying to write a book that rises above a particular agenda in order to thoughtfully explore the very complex intersection of race and culture with desire and love. This book this goes a long way in explaining centuries of cultural misunderstanding. For anyone who cannot deny the growing influence of Asia upon the West, this book is a must read. As China moves head on into the world stage and we in the West embrace this with both dread and adoration, it would be wonderful if everyone could read this book that dissects the heart of this cross-cultural conflict - relationships between Asian women and Western men!
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Exotic Ladies (Artist Archives)
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ASIN: 1888054360 |
Book Description
The risqu calendars of the 1920s and 1930s. Forerunners to the poster and cover girls of later years, these ladies proudly marked the march of time.
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Exotic Ladies.......2000-09-05
Glamour at it peak! A wonderful collection of extremely well done paintings that capture the spirit of a ideal pin-up girl. This collection of outstanding artwork truly celebrates the female form. It's a perfect balance of style, design and an innocent energy that all of the girls carry along with their big seductive smiles. A great addition to any art lovers collection!
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Trepidations
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Adelia Mays is just too beautiful for words. She is very intelligent, a true CEO if there ever was one. Really overqualified for that \'right guy.\'
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This digital document is an article from SIECUS Report, published by Thomson Gale on March 22, 2005. The length of the article is 3373 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
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Title: Exotic dancing and unionizing: the challenges of feminist and antiracist organizing at the Lusty Lady Theater.
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The Nationwide Television Studies (Routledge Research in Cultural and Media Studies)
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This book brings together for the first time David Morley and Charlotte Brunsdon's classic texts Everyday Television: Nationwide and The Nationwide Audience originally published in 1978 and 1980.
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