LifePlace: Bioregional Thought and Practice

Book Description

Robert Thayer brings the concepts and promises of the growing bioregional movement to a wide audience in a book that passionately urges us to discover "where we are" as an antidote to our rootless, stressful modern lives. LifePlace is a provocative meditation on bioregionalism and what it means to live, work, eat, and play in relation to naturally, rather than politically, defined areas. In it, Thayer gives a richly textured portrait of his own home, the Putah-Cache watershed in California's Sacramento Valley, demonstrating how bioregionalism can be practiced in everyday life. Written in a lively anecdotal style and expressing a profound love of place, this book is a guide to the personal rewards and the social benefits of reinhabiting the natural world on a local scale.
In LifePlace, Thayer shares what he has learned over the course of thirty years about the Sacramento Valley's geography, minerals, flora, and fauna; its relation to fire, agriculture, and water; and its indigenous peoples, farmers, and artists. He shows how the spirit of bioregionalism springs from learning the history of a place, from participating in its local economy, from living in housing designed in the context of the region. He asks: How can we instill a love of place and knowledge of the local into our education system? How can the economy become more responsive to the ecology of region? This valuable book is also a window onto current writing on bioregionalism, introducing the ideas of its most notable proponents in accessible and highly engaging prose.
At the same time that it gives an entirely new appreciation of California's Central Valley, LifePlace shows how we can move toward a new way of being, thinking, and acting in the world that can lead to a sustainable, harmonious, and more satisfying future.

Customer Reviews:

Live life close to the earth.......2003-07-18

In a narrative rich with the essence of the Sacramento Valley, Thayer crafts a compelling argument for a life lived closer to the earth. He begins this evocative book--which is part memoir, part lifestyle manual--by describing his home of the last 30 years as "a mail-order spouse whom I would grow to appreciate, then love." Most readers will forgive his reluctant love affair, for Thayer moved to California's monotonous, agricultural valley from the rugged, mountainscape of Boulder, Colorado.

The author, a landscape architecture professor at the University of California, Davis, chronicles his growing connection with and attachment to a place some might find unlovable as an illustration of his point that every area possesses both unique potentials and limitations. He advocates for communities built upon new urbanist principles, art that is framed by region and education that is reflective of place. Drawing from personal experience, he offers a multitude of suggestions on how to reconnect with our immediate surroundings.

He cautions against allowing our local communities to be supplanted by the hegemony of the global economy and champions relocalized trade. He takes exception to large, top-down organizations. "The truth," he writes, "which neither the traditional right nor left wishes to admit, is that broadly enfranchised, local grassroots efforts to identify with and care for natural regions are so powerful, so ultimately democratic, and so basically popular with the American people that they threaten the huge, entrenched political organizations on both sides."

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of the American Planning Association, published by American Planning Association on March 22, 2004. The length of the article is 1015 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: LifePlace: Bioregional Thought and Practice.(Book Review)
Author: Frederick Steiner
Publication: Journal of the American Planning Association (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2004
Publisher: American Planning Association
Volume: 70 Issue: 2 Page: 237(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Edible wild plants of Martha's Vineyard
Linsey Lee
Manufacturer: Tashmoo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: B0006CJMUG

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Edible Wild Plants of Martha's Vineyard, and other coastal partsof New England
Linsey Lee
Manufacturer: Tashmoo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QYIIDG

Book Description

Walk along the light-strung riverbank at dusk before an evening of theater, take in the breathtaking view of the Houses of Parliament or spend the day visiting royal palaces and museums. You'll soon understand why so many visitors have loved the city for so long, since before the nursery rhyme bridge fell down – and why, of all the world's travel destinations, London may be the most revisited. Be sure to pack your Fodor's guide before leaving on your journey to London to ensure you don't miss a thing!

The San Francisco Chronicle sums it up best: "Fodor's Gold Guides are saturated with information."

- New two-color interiors make it easier to find the information you need.
- Fodor's Choice ratings tell what not to miss.
- Hotel and restaurant reviews cover all budgets.
- New ¢ sign category flags the best budget options.
- Multi-day itineraries help readers build the right trip for them.
- Smart Travel Tips, a complete chapter packed with contacts and great advice.

Customer Reviews:

You're going to LOVE BRITAIN! .......2004-09-24

I've spent a year in England and have made >30 visits all together.

Here are my reviews of the best guides....to meet you r exact needs.....I hope these are helpful and that you have a great visit! I always gauge the quality of my visit by how much I remember a year later......this review is designed to help you get the guide that will be sure YOU remember your trip many years into the future. Travel Safe and enjoy yourself to the max!

Fodor's
Fodor's is the best selling guide among Americans. They have a bewildering array of different guides. Here's which is what:
The Gold Guide is the main book with good reviews of everything and lots of tours, walks, and just about everything else you could think of. It's not called the Gold guide for nothing though....it assumes you have money and are willing to spend it.
PocketGuide is designed for a quick first visit
UpCLOSE for independent travel that is cheap and well thought out
CityPack is a plastic pocket map with some guide information
Exploring is for cultural interests, lots of photos and designed to supplement the Gold guide

MapGuide
MapGuide is very easy to use and has the best location information for pubs, hotels, tourist attractions, museums, churches etc. that they manage to keep fairly up to date. It's great for teaching you how to use the underground and the double decker buses. The text sections are quick overviews, not reviews, but the strong suite here is brevity, not depth. I strongly recommend this for your first few times learning your way around the classic tourist sites and experiences. MapGuide is excellent as long as you are staying pretty much in the city centre. When you get to be an old London hand, remember that the classic Londoners guide will always be an A to Z (zed) map and guide. If you want to go a bit beyond the central core of the city (perhaps to Windsor, Hampton, or further away) you really need the proper AtoZ to be able to find exact routes and streets.

Time Out
The Time Out guides are very good. Easy reading, short reviews of restaurants, hotels, and other sites, with good public transport maps that go beyond the city centre. Many people who buy more than one guidebook end up liking this one best!

Blue Guides
Without doubt, the best of the walks guides.... the Blue Guide has been around since 1918 and has extremely well designed walks with lots of unique little side stops to hit on just about any interest you have. If you want to pick up the feel of the city, this is the best book to do that for you. This is one that you end up packing on your 10th trip, by which time it is well worn.

Michelin
Famous for their quality reviews, the Red Michelin Guides are for hotels & Restaurants, the Green Michelin Guides are for main tourist destinations. However, the English language Green guide is the one most people use and it has now been supplemented with hotel and restaurant information. These are the serious review guides as the famous Michelin ratings are issued via these books.

Let's Go
Let's Go is a great guide series that specializes in the niche interest details that turn a trip into a great and memorable experience. Started by and for college students, these guides are famous for the details provided by people who used the book the previous year. They continue to focus on providing a great experience inexpensively. If you want to know about the top restaurants, this is not for you (use Fodor's or Michelin). Let's Go does have a bewildering array of different guides though. Here's which is what:
Budget Guide is the main guide with incredibly detailed information and reviews on everything you can think of.
City Guide is just as intense but restricted to the single city.
PocketGuide is even smaller and features condensed information
MapGuide's are very good maps with public transportation and some other information (like museum hours, etc.)

Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet has City and Out To Eat Guides. They are all about the experience so they focus on doing, being, getting there, and this means they have the best detailed information, including both inexpensive and really spectacular restaurants and hotels, out-of-the-way places, weird things to see and do, the list is endless.

outdated information.......2004-06-01

This guidebook "walks" a tourist through London. The walking tours are informative and a delight to read. I benefitted by using this guidebook on my May 2004 trip.

However, the book lacked three essential components that would make it as my single source guidebook. There were 1) no color coded map of the tube, 2) no overlaying the underground station names with the walking maps and 3) the incorrect hours of operation at many of the main attractions.

The Best London Guide..........2004-01-14

I had never been to London before and this book proved to be an invaluable guide. I was only planning to be in the city for five days and, coincidentally, the book begins with an itinerary on how to see the city in precisely that amount of time. Although I didn't adhere rigidly to the books schedule, I still got the gist of it. For anyone who hasn't been there, the geography of London is extremely confusing and I would have been lost in a moment were it not for the maps provided. They are scattered throughout the book so be sure to keep the pages folded.

This book covers everything you would need to know about the travel: from currency to the tube (subway) to electricity. It is neatly broken down into sections so you can refer to it for sightseeing, dining, or clubbing. I stuck mostly to the pubs myself and, while not rated, the book lists the best, most historic pubs to visit.

Even though it is a book on London, the book also covers the other cities that are a good day trip away. (I was able to find the real Hogwarts in Oxford with a little help). It is fine reading in its own right, as it contains lovely essays on culture and history. The authors provide a nice balance between the touristy places and the spots off the beaten path.

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Asterix et les Vikings
Goscinny , and Pierre Mariel
Manufacturer: French & European Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Asterix | Humorous | Series | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0828864500

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Ce Que Disaient les Vikings

Manufacturer: Gudrun Publishing (Denmark)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 9979856025

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Ce Que Disaient les Vikings

Manufacturer: Gudrun Publishing (Denmark)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 9979856033

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Drakkars sur l'Amazone: [les Vikings de l'Amerique precolombienne] (Realisme fantastique)
Jacques de Mahieu
Manufacturer: Copernic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Brazil | South America | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 2859840028

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La Normandie avant les Normands : De la conquête romaine à l'arrivée des Vikings
Pierre Bauduin , Elisabeth Deniaux , Thomas Jarry , and Claude Lorren
Manufacturer: Ouest-France
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 2737311179

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Les dieux des Vikings (Editions Ouest-France universite)
Jean Renaud
Manufacturer: Ed. Ouest-France
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: 2737314682

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Les Dieux Vikings: La Mythologie Nordique sans Peine

Manufacturer: Gudrun Publishing (Germany)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 9979856203

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LES GRANDES AVENTURES MARITIMES - LES VIKINGS ROIS DES TEMPETES

Manufacturer: Editions Idegraf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H44M4E

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Les migrations des Polynesiens. Les Vikings du Soleil Levant. Preface de Maurice Leenhardt. Traduction de Jacqueline Foulque-Villaret
P. H. Buck
Manufacturer: editions du Payot
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KMM5LK

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Les Vikings
Frédéric Durand , and Que sais-je?
Manufacturer: Presses Universitaires de France - PUF
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 2130453864

Customer Reviews:

Curious about the genetics industry? Start here........2000-10-14

I originally read this book for a college course about the ethics of genetics. It is something every person in the biological or natural sciences should read, but it is also helpful for anyone interested in genetics. It is primarily about the politics and ethics which surround all genetic issues. Cook-Deegan explains the rudiments of genetics in a very easy to understand manner, and then launches into an in-depth examination of the politics of genetics. More goes on behind the scenes of biological science than you would ever believe. In the coming years genetics and the ethical issues surrounding genetics are going to become very important in medicine, pharmaceutical research, and criminal forensics. No longer just a class for science majors, genetics may well enter your life in ways you never expected. Cook-Deegan's book can definately educate as well as entertain.

Human Genes should not be patented!.......1997-11-14

November, 1997 "The Gene Wars: Science, Politics, and the Human Genome" by Robert Cook-Deegan (W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 1994) This is a fascinating book about the politics of the human genome project. Although I was familiar with much of the history of this project, it was good to read an organized, "insider's view". The author worked for the U.S. congressional Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) during the formative years of the project. The book starts out with a description of the horrors of Alzheimer's disease, and then goes on to explain the significance of the human genome project in terms of understanding human disease. With the significance of the work firmly established, the genesis of the human genome project is described - apparently the idea of sequencing the entire DNA sequence for a "single" human being was first realistically proposed by three different groups, working independently of each other, all about the same time (within a few months) during 1985. These groups all realized that the technology was quickly becoming available to achieve such a daunting task. To give you an idea of the difficulty of the task - imagine that you were to start reading the human genome, at one base every second (the genetic information coding for you (and all other animals and plants you see) is written down in a simple "text", just like this article; in the language of DNA, there are only four "letters" - G, A, T, and C) - to read the DNA sequence of a human being would take about 140 years - if you were to read one base a second, 24 hours a day, non-stop. The (frustrating) fact is that you really would not know anything about the person when you were done, except that they most likely had died (and had to pay taxes!) several years before their DNA sequence had been read. Obviously one needs computers to handle this kind of information. The best place for computers was at the National Laboratories in the U.S. Southwest - mainly Lawrence Livermore & Los Alamos National Laboratories. I had always thought that this was why the national labs had got involved in the genome project. To be honest, I had often wondered how the Department of Energy wound up financing the project - I was surprised to learn that in fact that one of the first groups to propose sequencing the human genome was from Los Alamos - in part kind of a "from nuclear bombs to plowshares" type of philosophy. But in fact, there was a bit more of a sinister twist to this plot - the U.S. military was trying to study the effects of the atomic blasts on the Japanese survivors from World War II. Furthermore I know (from personal conversations with scientists at Los Alamos during this time) that the U.S. military was seriously operating under Ronald Reagon's philosophy of fighting and surviving (?) a nuclear war. The result of all of this was that the human genome project was funded initially by the Department of Energy; basically it was a military project to ensure jobs for unemployed bomb makers (according to some of the critics at the time). The first "gene wars" aspect of this has to do with the politics of government funding. Really, the most logical place to fund this research would be the National Institute of Health (NIH), but many people were still feeling the pinch of less money for basic research at the time, and were quite afraid that the human genome project would steal money from basic grants. Furthermore, many scientists observed that, since roughly 98% of the human was "junk" (that is, it doesn't code for proteins), it would be a huge waste of money. Indeed, to try and use present or "old technology" to sequence the human genome WOULD be stupid - but the genome project was all about heavily investing in technology to improve speed of sequencing. In the 1960's, it was a very significant achievement to sequence 23 nucleotides (the equivalent of being able to read maybe 3 words in a sentence). In 1977, Fred Sanger (funded by the MRC in England) developed a sequencing technology that made it possible to read the entire sequence of a bacterial virus (about 5400 nucleotides long, or roughly the same as being able to read a short paragraph). This was significant enough to merit a Nobel Prize for a Nobel Prize, shared with two Harvard scientists who also developed a different (slower) method for sequencing. By 1985, this technique had begun to be automated, such that a MACHINE could read the sequence automatically - it now was possible to routinely sequence more than 10,000 nucleotides (this would be like being able to read a full page - with enough work it wouldn't be too difficult to put together an entire chapter). However, in 1985 the human genome project still was a pretty daunting task - at the present rate of sequencing, Jim Watson estimated that it would take about a thousand years to sequence the entire human genome!! So the human genome project was set up to invest heavily in technology - in fact when the program finally was officially launched in October of 1990, it was a 20 year project, with the first 10 years invested mostly into improved methods of sequencing, with most of the actual sequencing of the genome being done in the last few years. In addition, the genomes of smaller organisms was set up as intermediary goal posts along the road. In the past two years, we have already seen the realization of the early goals; the complete sequence for the genomes of more than a dozen bacteria are now available for research and comparison, and the genome of the first "animal" (simple yeast) was published earlier this year (1997). Soon to come will be the first worm (nematode), first plant, and first insect. It will probably be another 4 or 5 years before the first mammalian genomes become available. The human genome project is set up initially to run from 1990 through the year 2010. The annual budget is roughly U.S. $200,000,000 per year (!) - of which about $120,000,000 is given to the NIH, and about $80,000,000 is given to the DOE. At the suggestion of the first Director of the Human Genome project (Jim Watson), about 5% of the budget is invested into "ethical considerations of the human genome sequencing project". As Cook-Deegan points out, there are many ethical considerations to consider - in fact, a large part of the reason Jim Watson resigned as director had to do with his strong objections to the U.S. government policy of trying to patent DNA sequences. Although Cook-Deegan takes a more middle of the road approach, and tries to explain why the government wants to regain money invested in research (which I think this SOUNDS fair enough...), I guess I really tend to agree with Watson. Imagine. You are living a thousand years in the future, and no one speaks English anymore - in fact, through years of neglect, it is almost a forgotten language. Now you learn to read, and find one of Shakespeare's books. Suppose you are the first person to read through part (not all, even) of one of his plays - does this mean that YOU have to right to charge anyone else royalties who wants to read this or use it in the future? This is in fact what was at issue at the "bioearth" summit in Brazil in 1992 - the U.S. did not want to sign an agreement forbidding the patenting of DNA sequences, despite the agreement amongst all the other countries in the world. I personally have no problems with patents - I think they are wonderful, provided they are for something that you have created. But I do have serious problems with patenting DNA sequences - because this is just merely reading a text that someone else (God?) has already written. In summary, this book is a good history of the beginning of the Human Genome project. For me, it was fun to see much fruit of this project in my own research. I think this is an essential reading for anyone who wants to understand what the human genome project is all about, in terms not only of the science, but also the development

Book Description

This book attempts to present some current research progress and results on the interplay of fuzzy logic and chaos theory. More specifically, this book includes a collections of some state-of-the-art surveys, tutorials, and application examples written by some experts working in the interdisciplinary fields overlapping fuzzy logic and chaos theory. The content of the book covers fuzzy definition of chaos, fuzzy modeling and control of chaotic systems using both Mamdani and Takagi-Sugeno models, fuzzy model identification using genetic algorithms and neural network schemes, bifurcation phenomena and self-referencing in fuzzy systems, complex fuzzy systems and their collective behaviours, as well as some applications of combining fuzzy logic and chaotic dynamics, such as fuzzy-chaos hybrid controllers for nonlinear dynamic systems, and fuzzy-model-based chaotic cryptosystems. This book can serve as a handy reference for researchers working in the interdisciplines related, among others, to both fuzzy logic and chaos theory.

Book Description

From one of the world’s most passionately engaged literary citizens comes Writing with Intent, the largest collection to date of Margaret Atwood’s nonfiction, ranging from 1983 to 2005. Composed of autobiographical essays, cultural commentary, book reviews, and introductory pieces written for great works of literature, this is the award-winning author's first book-length nonfiction publication in twenty years. Arranged chronologically, these writings display the development of Atwood’s worldview as the world around her changes.

Included are the Booker Prize–winning author’s reviews of books by John Updike, Italo Calvino, Toni Morrison, and others, as well as essays in which she remembers herself reading Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse at age nineteen, and discusses the influence of George Orwell’s 1984 on the writing of The Handmaid’s Tale. Atwood’s New York Times Book Review piece that helped make Orhan Pamuk’s Snow a bestseller can be found here, as well as a look back on a family trip to Afghanistan just before the Soviet invasion, and her “Letter to America,” written after September 11, 2001. The insightful and memorable pieces in this book serve as a testament to Atwood’s career, reminding readers why she is one of the most esteemed writers of our time.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-08-27

Writing With Intent from 2005 is an excellent book that I highly recommend. There are a few words of caution, however. Atwood has written a number of non-fiction works including the famous "Negotiating With The Dead" to name but one. She has another book from 2004 called "Moving Targets" which is sold in what appears to be a different market. So, if you have read or own that 2004 book, you can probably skip the present book. I did not compare them word for word but they are very similar.

Okay, now back to this present book. It is a series of essays on many topics including her own writing experiences plus what she thinks of other books and other authors. It is an impressive display of humor and knowledge of other books. She shows the reader her deep insight into how writers think and what other authors are trying to say, or their voice.

As one example, she links Orwell's writing to her own work "A Handmaid's Tale" and shows why and where she got her ideas and inspiration.

Another author, and one who I do not really like personally, is Toni Morrison. She gives the reader many reasons to like Morrison, and maybe I will have a second look at "Beloved" which I read and did not like, or more accurately was not too excited about.

Overall, this is a humbling experience and most will be awed by her knowledge and personality. It reminds the reader of Virginia Woolf's "Common Reader" books, but not as broad as Woolf, but with more personal stories and a bit longer than Woolf's two books combined.

I cannot say enough good things about this book.

great short stories and book reviews.......2006-03-26

Ms Atwood is at top of her game in this collection. Amust read for her many fans!

Inspiring, sharp, witty.......2006-03-02

Atwood's collected essays in this book range from book reviews to discussions about writing futuristic dystopias and a defense of the villainess. I highly recommend this for Atwood fans who want to know more about the author and for any writer insterested in pushing the boundaries of genre, feminism, and writing courageously. Worth the price of admission just to read the story of her first ever book signing - in a store's Mens' Underwear department.

Varied Styles of Writing by Atwood........2005-10-07

I would call Margaret Atwood a well-rounded writer in all its genres. She is a Canadian writer, winner of many awards. This new volume includes essays, reviews, and personal prose; her earlier collection such as this, was the 1982 SECOND WORDS.

Writing with intent includes different styles, purpose and motivation, character and plot development, process of historical fiction and writing on political topics. Her review of Bill McKibben's ENOUGH: STAYING HUMAN IN AN ENGINEERED AGE, dwells on tenetic alteration (cloning), nanotechnology, cybernetics and cryogenics. "Eternal life has only been humanity's great dream since the moment we became conscious." The pursuit of happiness is what human dreams are made of. If we were all the same, there would be no need to read Shakespeare or Dante. There would be knowledge, but no wisdom. "We should leave well enough alone," he avers.

The review she did of Orphan Pamuks' SNOW helpmed make it a bestseller in 2004. I reviewed it some time ago. Looking at her reviews made me realize how amateurish mine are, but the difference is that she's a 'pro' and I'm just having fun.

She wrote about Ursula K. LeGuin and her writer mother. Ursula has eighteen novels of fantasy and science fiction, and ten collections of stories. Her stories never seem to crash, like our Internet e-mail programs. There are all kinds of Biblical connotations concerning the left hand. Although the left hand is the sinister one, God has a left hand so left hands can't all be bad. The thief was at the left hand of Christ. The decisive blows are struck left-handed. Happy Birthday to my left-handed son. In the painting, "The Prodigal Son," his left hand is feminine.

In fiction, Margaret Atwood's work includes CAT'S EYE, BLUEBEARD'S EGG, and BODILY HARM; in non-fiction, DAYS OF THE REBELS, STRANGE THINGS and MOVING TARGETS. She has written juvenile storybooks for children, FOR THE BIRDS, ANA'S PET, and UP IN THE TREE. Her poetry includes POWER POLITICS, INTERLUNAR, and YOU ARE HAPPY. Today is a good day to be happy.

A Must for Atwood Fans.......2005-04-09

I was introduced to the works of Margaret Atwood several years ago through A Handmaid's Tale. For several years, I knew her only as a writer of fiction novels. With this collection of essays and reviews, I have finally come to fully appreciate what an amazing writer she is. I cannot praise this book enough. It is divided into three parts according to the time in which they were written. The works contained in this book include her own process of writing such novels as the Handmaid's Tale and Alias Grace, to reviews of other works (she only reviews what she likes), to personal stories.

This is the kind of book that I feel the need to highlight and discuss with my friends. I started to photocopy various selections to give to my best friend to read, but in the end I decided just to lend her the entire book, post-its sticking out all of the pages, marking the sections I think she must read. Read it one section at a time, or all in one sitting, either way, this collections shows just how talented and thought-provoking Margaret Atwood is as a writer.

Writing with Intent: Essays, Reviews, Personal Prose: 1983-2005

Average customer rating:

Exceptional: A Passion for Reading and Writing

Writing with Intent: Essays, Reviews, Personal Prose: 1983-2005
Margaret Atwood
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Essays | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 078671767X

Book Description

From one of the world’s most passionately engaged and acclaimed literary citizens comes Writing with Intent, the largest collection to date of Margaret Atwood’s nonfiction, ranging from 1983 to 2005. Composed of autobiographical essays, cultural commentary, book reviews, and introductory pieces to great works of literature, this is the award-winning author's first book-length nonfiction publication in twenty years. Arranged chronologically, these writings display the development of Atwood’s worldview as the world around her changes.

Included are the Booker Prize–winning author’s reviews of books by John Updike, Italo Calvino, Toni Morrison, and others, as well as essays in which she remembers herself reading Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse at age nineteen, and discusses the influence of George Orwell’s 1984 on the writing of The Handmaid’s Tale. Atwood’s New York Times Book Review piece that helped make Orhan Pamuk’s Snow a bestseller can be found here, as well as a look back on a family trip to Afghanistan just before the Soviet invasion, and her “Letter to America,” written after September 11, 2001. The insightful and memorable pieces in this book serve as a testament to Atwood’s career, reminding readers why she is one of the most esteemed writers of our time.

Customer Reviews:

Exceptional: A Passion for Reading and Writing.......2007-08-27

Writing With Intent from 2005 is an excellent book that I highly recommend.

There are a few words of caution, however. Atwood has written a number of non-fiction works including the famous "Negotiating With The Dead" to name just one. She has another non-fiction book from 2004 called "Moving Targets" which is sold in what appears to be a different market. So, if you have read or own that 2004 book, you can probably skip the present book. I did not compare them word for word but they are very similar.

Okay, now back to this present book. Unlike some writers, Atwood loves to read other people's work, and has done so since she was a child. Few have read more than Atwood. It is her passion as is her own writing. So, flowing from the two passions we have a series of essays on many topics including her own writing experiences and what she thinks of other books and other writers. You do not have to read it all at once. Each section or essay is a story. It is an impressive display of humor and knowledge of the field. She shows the reader her deep insight into how writers think and what other authors are trying to say, or their "voice."

As one example, she links Orwell's writing to her own work "A Handmaid's Tale" and shows why and where she got her ideas and inspiration.

Another author, and one who I do not really like personally, is Toni Morrison. She gives the reader many reasons to like Morrison, and maybe I will have a second look at "Beloved" which I read and did not like, or more accurately was not too excited about.

Overall, this is a humbling experience for "we common readers" and most will be awed by her knowledge and personality. It reminds the reader of Virginia Woolf's "Common Reader" books, but not as broad as Woolf, but with more personal stories, and it is the same size or a bit longer than Woolf's two "Common Reader" books combined.

I cannot say enough good things about this book.

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