GIVE PEACE DAY A CHANCE: One Peace presents Detroit area peace events with special guest Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, September 9th through the 21st. 

"Our mission is to inspire and motivate people to come together as ONE human family to generate inner peace and create a boundless world landscape of compassion, hope, love and PEACE."

ari1.gifPlease join us at these free seminars and talks with Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne before the main event to be held at the Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center from 1-5 PM on the International Day of Peace, Sept. 21st.  This will be one of the largest peace day gatherings held in the United States. Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center will lead the mediatation and dialogue with Dr. Ariyaratne. It is free and all are welcome. Dr. Ariyaratne is a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, Gandhi Peace Prize Winner and founder of the Sarvodaya movement. Book Beat is one of over 30 sponsors for the One Peace events. A complete listing of area events is available at the One Peace Calendar of Events.  Watch a video of 300,000 at Peace Meditation, Sept. 21st, 2004.

"According to the Peace One Day organization, last year's Day of Peace resulted in roughly 1.4 million children receiving inoculations and helped establish a mass polio vaccination program in Afghanistan, reaching children they otherwise would not have been able to as they are living in Taliban-controlled areas." --Source: BBC, Jude Law promotes Afghan Peace   Said Mr. Law: "The message is simple. What will you do to make peace on 21 September?"


September 19th & 20th: BRISINGR, a Midnight Release at Book Beat

BRISINGR (Hardcover) BRISINGR (Hardcover) », the third book in Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle will be released at midnight September 20th. The Book Beat will be open at 11:30 PM - on September 19th until 12:30 AM September 20th to arrange sales and pick ups of the Brisingr book. Prepaid orders before September 20th will receive a 30% discount, copies can be picked up at the midnight release. Please call 248-968-1190 for more info or to reserve your copy now. 

OATHS SWORN . . . loyalties tested . . . forces collide. Following the colossal battle against the Empire's warriors on the Burning Plains, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have narrowly escaped with their lives. Still there is more at hand for the Rider and his dragon, as Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep.


Wednesday, September 24th: Book Beat Reading Group Meeting

The Book Beat reading group will meet Wednesday, Sept. 24th at 7:00 PM to discuss The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad. Our meeting will take place at the Goldfish Tea House located at 117 West 4th Street in downtown Royal Oak, just west of Main Street. We have moved our meetings to Goldfish Tea from Gayles in order to be more flexable with our discussion time.

Gayles Chocolates was one of the original forces behind forming the reading group ten years ago, and we warmly thank them for the use of their space.

The Secret Agent (paperback) The Secret Agent (paperback) The Secret Agent is an astonishing book," said Ford Madox Ford. "It is one of the best--and certainly the most significant--detective stories ever written." "The Secret Agent is an altogether thrilling 'crime story' . . . a political novel of a foreign embassy intrigue and its tragic human out-come," said Thomas Mann. And F. R. Leavis deemed it "one of Conrad's supreme masterpieces . . . one of the unquestioned classics of the first order that he added to the English novel." Inspired by an actual attempt in 1894 to blow up London's Greenwich Observatory, here is a chillingly prophetic examination of contemporary terrorism and the literary precursor to today's espionage thriller.



Thursday, Sept. 25th: Children's Author, Librarian & Children's Bookstore Owner Jody Fickes Shapiro at Book Beat 

 Join us on Thursday, September 25th from 7:00-8:30 PM at the Book Beat, for a discussion and booksigning with children's writer, librarian and bookseller Jody Fickes Shapiro. The Book Beat is located at 26010 Greenfield in Oak Park. For more information please call: 248-968-1190

 

We are pleased to present Jody Fickes Shapiro back to her hometown in Detroit. She is someone who has had a long and varied career in the book world and we hope to learn more about her unique perspective on the importance of books in the lives of children and the future of books and community bookstores.

About the Books: 

Up, Up, Up! It's Apple-Picking Time (paperback)Up, Up, Up! It's Apple-Picking Time is a satisfying tale that celebrates not only apples but all the cozy trappings of fall. On a crisp, cool morning a family drives to the grandparents' "apple ranch," where they help with the harvest.

Shapiro ably conveys a sense of family togetherness and love..."—Publisher's Weekly

Shapiro ... provides a delightful picture of a young family's interactions with their grandparents, people I would like to see more often in literature as well. --Jean Boreen, Ph.D. - Children's Literature

Shapiro laces her narrative with evocations of that heavenly taste and smell, and caps it with a yummy-looking recipe for microwave-baked apples.  --Kirkus Reviews

Family Lullaby  (Hardcover)Family Lullaby 

"Given the many people who love and nurture a newborn, this picture book is a deserving testament to the extended family at the core of a child's universe. Shapiro's (Up, Up, Up! It's Apple-Picking Time) singsong text consists of simple, short verses that detail each family member's designated role in baby's life, followed by the repeated anthem "We all love Baby. Yes we do!" Whether it's mommy feeding baby a bottle or grandpa giving a piggy-back ride, each job is unique, yet shares the common thread of doing everything humanly possible to make baby happy. Felstead (Big Wolf and Little Wolf) depicts these caregivers at work in separate circles, drawing readers' eyes to each person, one by one. The text adheres to a steady pattern and rhythm-youngsters will relish the repetition. By story's end, it's no wonder that the "sleepy family" members all have their eyes shut tight. The final page, showing a satisfied and beaming baby, summarizes the result of all their hard work-and the goal of any new parent." Ages 0-4.-- Publisher's Weekly Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

"One can imagine Baby bouncing on reader's knee as an accompanying activity
to the reading, which will surely take place over and over again."

Kirkus Reviews

jodyReading.jpgAbout the Author:

Jody was born and raised in Detroit and attended the University of Michigan and Wayne State University. In 1964 she received her master's degree in Library Science from Peabody College in Nashville. In 1979 she founded "Adventures in Reading", an acclaimed children's bookstore in Ventura, California where she lives today. In 2002 her bookstore was awarded the Lucile Micheels Pannell Award for Excellence in Children's Programming and also the Charles S. Haslam Award for Excellence in Bookselling. Other awards include the California Reading Association's Celebrate Literacy Award. In 2006 Jody sold the bookstore and began a new career writing children's books.  

 "I always thought it was important to own books.  I still have some of the books my parents gave me.  There is a luxurious feeling that a brand new book can be read leisurely, with no deadline for returning it; that it could be put on a shelf to be read again.  Most things are outgrown or wear out, but a book like Charlotte's Web…well no one could ever be too big or too old for something as wonderful as that!" Visit her site online at Jody Fickes Shapiro



Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008: Literature, The Child and the Teen presents: A Matter of Interest: Matching Books to Readers at the Farmington Community Library

A Celebration of children, teen books and authors for librarians, educators and adults interested in literature for children and teens.

The Michigan Library Association presents a day-long conference with stimulating speakers, storytelling, book discussions and idea sharing. It will be held at the Farmington Community Library, Thursday, Sept. 25th.  Keynote speaker Donna Jo Napoli has written books in multiple genres and will share ideas on how we can match books to readers. She covers a wide range of books, including books with disturbing content that she feels are necessary to develop the empathy of the child.

The Book Beat will be supplying books at the event. Schedule details and registration is available at: Michigan Library Association



Sunday, September 28, 2008:  Great Architecture of Michigan and Art in Detroit Public Places at Book Beat

Great Architecture of Michigan (Hardcover)On Sunday, September 28th from 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM the Book Beat is honored to present a new title by Detroit Free Press architecture critic John Gallagher and renowned photographer Balthazar Korab. The book, Great Architecture from Michigan, is recently published by Wayne State University press. With photographs by Balthazar Korab and text by John Gallagher, Great Architecture of Michigan will be a treasured volume, indispensible for anyone wanting to learn more about Michigan’s impressive architectural legacy. John Gallagher and Balthazar Korab will be at the event to sign books and discuss this exciting project, combining some of the finest architectural history and photography of Michigan into a single keepsake artbook.

Art in Detroit Public Places  Third Edition (paperback)We will also be presenting a new third edition of Art in Detroit Public Places by art historian Dennis Alan Nawrocki and photographer David Clements. This new and updated edition of a classic guidebook considers over 150 pieces organized by section into six geographical districts of metropolitan Detroit. Each of these sections is accompanied by a comprehensive street map for easy planning of walking or driving tours, and the artworks in it are presented with individual descriptive histories and photographs. Art and Architecture enthusiasts, and all citizens interested in the rich cultural diversity of our city and state will appreciate this afternoon arts celebration.

The Book Beat is located at 26010 Greenfield, in Oak Park. Call 248-968-1190 for more information or to reserve books.



Thursday, October 2nd: FANTASY, FICTION  & THRILLS: YOUNG ADULT AUTHORS JUSTINE LARBALESTIER, KATHE KOJA AND MICHAEL SPRADLIN READING AND SIGNING AT OAK PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Book Beat and Oak Park Public Library are pleased to present young adult authors Justine Larbalestier, Kathe Koja and Michael Spradlin at the Oak Park Public Library on Thursday, October 2, 2008, from 7:00 - 8:30 PM.  All three authors have delivered exciting new separate works of fiction that should appeal to a diverse group of readers. The Oak Park Library is located at 14200 Oak Park Blvd. in Oak Park. For more information call 248-968-1190. 

jl01small-185x300.jpgJustine Larbalestier is quickly becoming a name to watch in the world of young adult fiction.  Her latest book, How to Ditch Your Fairy, is about a teenage-girl named Charlie who is blessed with a helpful fairy with a rather unusual talent: the ability to find a parking spot.  Loaded with humor this light-hearted novel should appeal to teens and young adults who occasionally feel that everyone else has it made.  Larbalestier is from Sydney, Australia and is also the author of the Magic or Madness trilogy. Read an online interview with two amazingly wonderful fantasy authors: Justine Larbalestier and Ekaterina Sedia at Fantasy Magazine.   

K_96.jpgKathe Koja is the author of many critically-acclaimed young adult novels including Buddha Boy, The Blue Mirror and Kissing the Bee.  Her latest novel, Headlong, takes place in the Vaughn School, a private school for girls where perfection means everything.  Lily Noble’s perfect world is shaken by a new friend named Hazel who shows Lily a world beyond the sheltered walls of Vaughn.  Koja is a native Detroiter who resides in the area. Read an online interview with Kathe at Teens Read Too.com/

michael_headshot1-big.jpgMichael P. Spradlin is the author of an exciting new children’s novel called, The Youngest Templar:  Keeper of the Grail.  Set during the time of Richard the Lionhearted and the English Crusades, the young orphan Tristan’s wish for adventure is granted when he becomes a squire headed to fight in the Holy Land.  This fast-paced adventure novel is sure to please readers aged 9-12 thirsty for excitement in the medieval era.  Spradlin is also the author of the Spy Goddess series and lives in Lapeer, Michigan. Listen to a podcast with the author at Book Bites for Kids


Monday, October 6th: CHILDREN’S AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR Heather Henson and David Small at the SOUTHFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY

Book Beat is pleased to announce that children’s author Heather Henson and award winning illustrator David Small will be reading from and signing copies of their new collaboration, That Book Woman at the Southfield Public Library on Monday, October 6, 2008 from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.  This will be a great opportunity to listen and meet two tremendous talents in the world of children’s literature. This event is a co-production between the Book Beat and the Southfied Library located at 26300 Evergreen Road • Southfield, Michigan. For further information please call 248-968-1190.
That Book Woman (Hardcover)That Book Woman is an inspirational tale honoring the courageous individuals called the Pack Horse Librarians who carried books by horseback to remote regions of America during the Great Depression.  The story centers around a young boy named Cal who lives deep in the Appalachian Mountains.  Cal is skeptical at first of the mysterious book woman who travels so far just to bring “chicken scratch,” but he learns that books are perhaps valuable cargo after all.

That Book Woman is a meaningful, unique, charming and powerful story that will appeal to parents, librarians, educators, book lovers and especially children. It is a Book Beat top-of-the-list fall favorite pick. Thank you for your support for this very special release.     

About the Author
:

Heather Henson grew up in Kentucky and recently returned to her home state after spending many years in Brooklyn, New York, where she worked as an editor of children's books and a freelance writer. She now lives on a farm with her husband, Tim, and young son, Daniel Walker, and is the author of several novels, including Making the Run, Angel Coming and Junebug. That Book Woman is Henson's picture-book debut.

About the Illustrator
:

David Small is a Caldecott Award winning children’s illustrator for So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George.
He received a Caldecott Honor medal for The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and has also illustrated Imogene’s Antlers, The Library and over 40 other titles.  David Small grew up in Detroit and now lives in Mendon, Michigan with his wife Sarah Stewart.  



New QQQuality Book Beat Fall Favorites for Children:

 Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa (Hardcover) Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa (Hardcover) » As a young girl growing up in Kenya, Wangari was surrounded by trees. But years later when she returns home, she is shocked to see whole forests being cut down, and she knows that soon all the trees will be destroyed. So Wangari decides to do something—and starts by planting nine seedlings in her own backyard. And as they grow, so do her plans. . . .

This true story of Wangari Maathai, environmentalist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, is a shining example of how one woman’s passion, vision, and determination inspired great change. Includes an author’s note. This book was printed on 100% recycled paper with 50% postconsumer waste.

Bats at the Library (Hardcover) Bats at the Library (Hardcover) » "Join the free-for-all fun at the public library with these book-loving bats! Shape shadows on walls, frolic in the water fountain, and roam the book-filled halls until it's time for everyone, young and old, to settle down into the enchantment of story time. Brian Lies' joyful critters and their nocturnal celebration cast library visits in a new light. Even the youngest of readers will want to join the batty book-fest!" --Publishers Weekly

 

Yoon and the Jade Bracelet (Hardcover) Yoon and the Jade Bracelet (Hardcover) » It is Yoon’s birthday and all she wants is a jump rope so she can play with the other girls in the school yard. Instead, Yoon’s mother gives her a Korean storybook about a silly girl who is tricked by a tiger. Yoon also receives a jade bracelet that once belonged to her grandmother. The next day at school, a girl offers to teach Yoon how to jump rope, but for a price: she wants to borrow the jade bracelet. When Yoon tries to get her bracelet back, the girl swears it belongs to her. Yoon must use the lessons learned in her storybook and her “Shining Wisdom” to retrieve the precious keepsake. In this third book featuring Yoon, lush impressionistic dreamscapes evoke a simple and timeless message: it is possible to trick a tiger.

 

The Land of the Dragon King (Hardcover) The Land of the Dragon King and Other Korean Stories (Hardcover) »  is a collection of nine of the best loved Korean tales. The author tells how the book came about:

"I first visited South Korea in the 1990s... I caught a glimpse of villages, rice fields and the hills beyond. It was a landscape I recognised from the Korean folk tales I was reading and I was inspired to go up into the hills sketching...

Later, I met up with a Korean editor and showed her my sketches. She encouraged me to illustrate this collection of Korean stories so that children everywhere would be introduced to this beautiful land and its magical tales."   -- "Stories without feet travel far, if told." Korean proverb

 

God's Dream (Hardcover) God's Dream (Hardcover) »Archbishop Desmond Tutu has a vision of God's dream, which he shares here with the youngest of listeners. It involves people who reach out and hold each other's hands, but sometimes get angry and hurt each other — and say they're sorry and forgive. It's a wish that everyone will see they are brothers and sisters, no matter their way of speaking to God, no matter the size of their nose or the shade of their skin. Aided by vibrant artwork evoking such images as a rainbow and a sharing circle, Tutu offers the essence of his ubuntu philosophy, a wisdom so clear and crystalline that even the smallest child can understand.

 

Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story (Hardcover) Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story (Hardcover) » The sighting of the moon's first crescent begins the month of Ramadan for Muslims all over the world. This vibrantly illustrated story invites children to experience the traditions of the month through the eyes of a seven-year-old Pakistani-American girl named Yasmeen, who watches each night as the moon grows and shrinks and finally disappears. When the moon's first crescent reappears, it's time to celebrate "The Night of the Moon" and the gift-giving holiday of Eid--when Yasmeen has a wonderful gift in store! With lush illustrations that evoke Islamic art, this beautiful story of growing awareness offers a window into modern Muslim-American culture--and into the ancient roots that its traditions have grown from.

 

A Brand-New Day with Mouse and Mole (signed, Hardcover) A Brand-New Day with Mouse and Mole (signed, Hardcover) » Mole is having a very bad morning. His pants have holes in them. So do his shirts. What could be the cause of all these holes? Turns out, moths make holes in clothes, and that makes Mole very grumpy. So Mouse does what a good friend should do and takes Mole on a trip to the store. There, Mole realizes all of his clothes are OLD. And what’s NEW is in. What is a reluctant-to-change Mole going to do? The latest adventure of Mouse and Mole shows that sometimes it’s fun to try something new . . . and sometimes it isn’t. But friendship helps make each brand-new day one to look forward to! Ages: early reader 5-8 years, signed by the author/illustrator!


Young Adult Recommendations:

Melting Stones (Hardcover) Melting Stones (Hardcover) » our years have passed since Evvy left the streets of Chammur to begin her training as a stone mage. At fourteen, she's unhappy to be on a new journey with her mentor, prickly green mage Rosethorn, who has been called to the Battle Islands to determine why the plants and animals there are dying. Evvy's job is to listen and learn, but she can't keep quiet and do nothing. With the help of Luvo, the living stone heart of a mountain, Evvy uncovers an important clue. Now, with the island on the brink of disaster, it's up to Evvy to avert the destruction that looms ahead.

 

Graceling (Hardcover) Graceling (Hardcover) » "Here's a WOW of a book! Seeing half-wild Katsa learn humanity as she battles soldiers, storms, and her own obsessive nature--I HAD to know how it ended!" --Tamora Pierce 

With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.
 An extraordinary novel. Young Adults 14 years and up. 
Read the author's blog:  THIS IS MY SECRET

 

Hunger Games (Hardcover) Hunger Games (Hardcover) » "Collins's characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing. This book will definitely resonate with the generation raised on reality shows like "Survivor" and "American Gladiator." --School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

"The plot is front and center here—the twists and turns are addictive, particularly when the romantic subplot ups the ante—yet the Capitol’s oppression and exploitation of the districts always simmers just below the surface, waiting to be more fully explored in future volumes. Collins has written a compulsively readable blend of science fiction, survival story, unlikely romance, and social commentary." --Horn Book, STARRED REVIEW

Layered with more than a few surprises and chock full of nail-biting action and suspense, The Hunger Games is a plot deserving to be savored, a story demanding to be devoured, and, with the turn of each page, an adventure that leaves you craving more. Ages 14 and up - the first of a trilogy. Collins is best known for her five book series Gregor the Overlander.



New Sale Books: (Quantites are limited, please write or call soon to reserve titles of interest).

Reminiscing in Tempo: A Portrait of Duke Ellington (Sale, Hardcover) Reminiscing in Tempo: A Portrait of Duke Ellington (Sale, Hardcover) » Duke Ellington (1899-1974) was one of the most romantic, flamboyant, and charismatic figures in the world of jazz, acclaimed by the likes of Igor Stravinsky as "one of the greatest living composers." This illustrated life of Ellington from the biographer of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday—both New York Times Notable Books of the Year—draws on rare archival material, a wealth of memorabilia, and interviews with Ellington himself and many others to re-create the jazz great's life and musical artistry against the background of his times. Hardcover was $44 now on SALE $9.99

                              Mozart: Letters and Manuscripts (Sale, Hardcover)

Mozart: Letters and Manuscripts (Sale, Hardcover) » In the admittedly fanciful treatment of Mozart's life depicted in the 1984 film "Amadeus", there is a scene in which his rival Salieri is given a portfolio of Mozart's music—original staves without correction or amendment—and he is overwhelmed by this glimpse into the mind of a musical genius. This abundantly illustrated biographical guide to Mozart's work reproduces some of those same musical manuscripts in color, as well as letters and scores in Mozart's hand, portraits of the most important figures in his life, and contemporary testimony and documents. The author is the former director of "France Musiques" and a specialist in baroque music, Mozart, and Bach. was $55 now on SALE $25.99

 

Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves (Sale, Hardcover) Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves (Sale, Hardcover) » "Adam Hochschild's wonderful, vivid new Bury the Chains argues, in part, that the British abolition movement of the late 1700s pioneered the strategies that every activist group now takes for granted: direct mailings, legal test cases, campaign pins, grassroots lobbying.... Fascinating as this is, what makes Hochschild's book so readable is the rich cast of characters who created the movement, and the appalling nature of slavery itself. This isn't just any social movement, and the reader can't help but share the mingled sense of outrage and disbelief that the abolitionists themselves must have felt as they witnessed or heard about the incredible inhumanity of this practice."—Washington Post

 

The Best American Comics 2006 (Sale, Hardcover) The Best American Comics 2006 (Sale, Hardcover) » Guest editor Harvey Pekar kicks off this first-ever edition of Best American Comics, although "comics" is hardly a fitting description of the thoughtful, bizarre, hilarious, and poignant stories told here, all in the form of graphic narration. The 30 pieces include work from Kim Deitch, Alison Bechdel, Joe Sacco, Chris Ware, Jaime Hernandez, Rick Geary, Jesse Reklaw, Lynda Barry, and R. Crumb. Since its inception in 1915, the Best American series has become the premier annual showcase for the country's finest short fiction and nonfiction. For each volume, a series editor reviews hundreds of periodicals from the previous year, then selects between 50 and 100 outstanding works. Then the guest editor—a recognized expert in the field—pares the choice down to the twenty or so very best pieces. was $22 now on SALE $7.99

 

The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records (Sale, Hardcover) The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records (Sale, Hardcover) » During the rapid changes of the 1960s and 70s Impulse Records was the sound of jazz tradition and the shape of jazz to come—edgy, soulful, and elegantly packaged. With a lineup led by John Coltrane that included Sonny Rollins, Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, and Keith Jarrett, Impulse was hugely influential. Here the author of A Love Supreme: The Creation of John Coltrane's Classic Album traces the unusual company's two-decade arc of artistic triumphs and unlikely marketing coups, and features more than 100 illustrations as well as 36 album profiles detailing the inside stories of some of our most enduring jazz recordings. Published at $29.95 now on SALE $7.99

 Rabble-Rouser for Peace: The Authorized Biography of Desmond Tutu (Sale, Hardcover)                             

Rabble-Rouser for Peace: The Authorized Biography of Desmond Tutu (Sale, Hardcover) » To be a rabble-rouser for peace may seem to be a contradiction in terms. Yet this perfectly describes Desmond Tutu, Nobel laureate and spiritual father of a democratic South Africa, who believes that justice is the only real foundation for peace. This biography by John Allen, a journalist and longtime associate of Tutu's, tells the story of a barefoot schoolboy from a deprived black township who became an international symbol of the democratic spirit and of religious faith, and how he was able to appeal to the world's conscience as well as to the emotions of angry street crowds. Allen also describes how, when the battle for South African rights was finally won, it was Tutu who insisted on finding a path to forgive the former oppressors. was $28. now SALE $8.99

Path of Wisdom, Path of Peace: A Personal Conversation (hardcover, sale) Path of Wisdom, Path of Peace: A Personal Conversation (hardcover, sale) » "Contentment, joy, and happiness are certainly the highest goals in life. And the source of happiness is an empathetic and loving heart," says Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Culled from interviews with the Dalai Lama over a number of years and filled with his humorous simplicity, this is a book of his thought under such headings as Tibetan Buddhism, the One Human Race, and Spiritual Crisis in a State of Affluence. The book is compact and handsomely produced, with a ribbon marker; the interviewer, a scholar of theology, philosophy, and history, is an accredited UN correspondent who has written more than 70 interviews. was $16.95 now SALE $6.99

 

Walking Meditation (sale hardcover w/DVD and CD) Walking Meditation (sale hardcover w/DVD and CD) » "In the midst of our chaotic world," writes Nguyen Anh-Huong in her Introduction to this volume, "we tend to lose touch with the peace and joy that are available in each moment: the sunshine, the birds' singing, the autumn leaves, a baby's smile. The practice of walking meditation brings us back to being fully present and alive with every step." This instructional guide, which combines a book with a DVD and an audio CD, offers a program that explains how to walk with presence and peace of mind, whether in nature or on a busy city street. Walking Meditation illuminates the central tenets of this art including how to see walking as more than a means to an end and how to use walking meditation to work with such difficult emotions as anger and anxiety. was $24.99 now $7.99

The Visionary State: A Journey Through California's Spiritual Landscape (Hardcover) The Visionary State: A Journey Through California's Spiritual Landscape (Hardcover) » Perhaps it's the gorgeous natural scenery and climate, or it's the free-spirited innovation of the people who ventured there; either way, California seems to enjoy more than its share of spiritual and sacred architecture, from rocks painted by ancient Native American shamans to the towering Crystal Cathedral of the Garden Grove Community Church. In this heavily illustrated book, culture critic Erik Davis brings together immigrant and homegrown religious influences that have been part of the region's character from its earliest days, drawing connections between seemingly unlike traditions and celebrating California's spiritual diversity of neopaganism and televangelism, UFO cults and Zen Buddhism. Published at $40.00 Hardcover on sale $14.99

Hungry Heart (A Memoir) (Hardcover, sale) A Hungry Heart (A Memoir) (Hardcover, sale) » Acclaimed photographer, filmmaker, composer, novelist, and memoirist, Gordon Parks has participated in, been witness to, and documented many of the major events in the twentieth and the twenty-first centuries.

In A Hungry Heart, Parks reflects on the people and events that shaped him: from growing up poor on the Kansas prairie to crisscrossing the country on the North Coast Limited; documenting poverty and injustice in Chicago to doing fashion spreads for Vogue; photographing black revolutionaries to writing, composing the soundtrack for, and directing the Hollywood movie version of his novel The Learning Tree. More than a self-portrait of the artist, A Hungry Heart is a striking account of an American era.Was $26.00 SALE $7.99

The Wright 3 (Hardcover, SALE)  The Wright 3 (Hardcover, SALE)   "..determined fans will grab hold of the true-to-life friendship issues Balliett introduces, and some--particularly her brainiest, most open-minded readers--will emerge energized by the invitation to explore themes of an interconnected universe. A new pentominoes code appears in the narrative, and Helquist likewise embeds another challenge in his drawings." --ALA  was $16.99 now SALE $6.99

O Holy Night: Christmas Carols with the Boys Choir of Harlem (Hardcover with CD) O Holy Night: Christmas Carols with the Boys Choir of Harlem (Hardcover with CD) » Five favorite Christmas carols—"Silent Night," "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "O Holy Night," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," and "Joy to the World"—are illustrated here with African and Middle Eastern themes in folk paintings by master story-quilter Faith Ringgold. This book for all ages also includes an audio CD of the Boys Choir of Harlem singing the carols in their own inimitable style. Previously published at $18.99 now SALE $7.99



Urgent Message From Mother: Gather The Women, Save The World (Paperback) Urgent Message From Mother: Gather The Women, Save The World (Paperback) » "Gather the women," says Jungian analyst Bolen, is "an urgent message from Mother to her Daughters," a call for the women's movement (after the suffragists and the movement of the 1960s and 70s Bolen calls this third movement "the women's peace movement") to end conflict and violence in the world. Drawing on the archetypal gender differences she elaborated on in Goddesses in Everywoman and Gods in Everyman, Bolen believes women have the nurturing and caring gifts that the world needs right now. But Bolen, who is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California Medical Center, draws on scientific research showing that women's brains make them better able to be "whole people," able to develop both their intellectual and emotional sides, and thus better able to respond to the needs of children and the suffering world as a whole.

PeaceJam 		 A Billion Simple Acts of Peace (Paperback and DVD) PeaceJam A Billion Simple Acts of Peace (Paperback and DVD) » The Dalai Lama, the Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Costa Rican president Oscar Arias and political rights activist Aung San Suu Kyi are just some of the Nobel Peace Laureates who have joined the PeaceJam Foundation in their Global Call to Action. This book profiles all of these laureates and their work with teens around the world as they combine forces to help stop the spread of disease, promote women’s rights, provide equitable access to food and water, and more. Combining profiles of the laureates— including personal bios—heartwarming tales of the youth and their projects, and tips on how readers can get involved, this is a comprehensive guide to the PeaceJam Foundation. The DVD contains performances of music including local acts the White Stripes and the Go! -- Get involved - change starts here: PEACE JAM

The Living is Easy: Dorothy West (Paperback) The Living is Easy: Dorothy West (Paperback) » One of only a handful of novels published by black women during the forties, the story of ambitious Cleo Judson is a long-time cult classic. The Living Is Easy is delightfully wry and ironic humor—even bitchiness—of the novel coexists with a challenging moral and social complexity.

"A powerful work."—Essence

"Dorothy West is a brisk storyteller with an eye for ironic detail...a deft stylist and writer of social satire."—Ms.

Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain (paperback) » "The acProust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain (paperback)t of reading is a miracle. Every new reader's brain possesses the extraordinary capacity to rearrange itself beyond its original abilities in order to understand written symbols. But how does the brain learn to read? As world-renowned cognitive neuroscientist and scholar of reading Maryanne Wolf explains in this impassioned book, we taught our brain to read only a few thousand years ago, and in the process changed the intellectual evolution of our species. Wolf tells us that the brain that examined tiny clay tablets in the cuneiform script of the Sumerians is configured differently from the brain that reads alphabets or of one literate in today's technology." -- Publisher's Weekly

Where the Demented Wented (paperback) Where the Demented Wented (paperback) » The controversial cartoonist Rory Hayes was a self-taught dynamo of the underground comics revolution. Attracting equal parts derision and praise (the latter from the likes of R. Crumb and Bill Griffith), Hayes emerged as comics' great primitive, drawing horror comics in a genuinely horrifying and hallucinatory manner (some have called him the Fletcher Hanks of the underground). He has influenced a generation of cartoonists, from RAW to Fort Thunder and back again. This book, the first retrospective of Hayes' career ever published, features the best of his underground comics output alongside paintings, covers, and artifacts rarely seen by human eyes -- as well as astounding, previously unprinted comics from his teenage years and movie posters for his numerous homemade films.

 Invasion 68: Prague (paperback)                    

Invasion 68: Prague (paperback) Forty years after the Prague Spring, almost 250 of Joseph Koudelka's searing photographs – most of them published here for the first time – have been selected by the photographer from his own archive.

In 1968, Koudelka was thirty years old and although he had spent six years photographing gypsies and theatre, he had never covered a news event. Ending the Prague Spring, on the night of 21 August the city was invaded by Warsaw Pact tanks.

 



The Jewish Calendar: 2009 Wall Calendar The Jewish Calendar: 2009 Wall Calendar » The indispensable Jewish Calendar 2009 features selections from the superb collection of the Jewish Historical Museum, Amsterdam. Full-color illustrations of Judaic ceremonial and historical masterpieces are beautifully reproduced in this outstanding oversize wall calendar. Included are U.S. and Jewish holidays, Sabbath candle-lighting times, and a list of Jewish holidays through the year 2014.

* Span a full 16 months from September 2008 through December 2009. * Provide detailed information about Jewish holidays and observances, which, along with their selections of Judaica and fine art, make them essential for every Jewish household. Also now available: The  Jewish Calendar 5769 2008-2009 Engagement Calendar. 


Early Bird Special: All 2009 Calendars are 20% off through the month of September.

Celebrate International Literacy Day Sept.8th at the Detroit Public Library: Monday, Sept 8th 5:00 PM -- Keynote speaker Dick Gregory!  


And now for some comic relief: It's Time for Some Campaignin'!


The Book Beat is an independent locally owned bookstore serving the metro Detroit area since 1982. For more information call 248-968-1190. Visit the Book Beat Backroom Blog to read Shirley Schreidell's Top Ten book picks, see video of our summer midnight madness party, articles on books, arts and more.  If you'd like to be taken off our mailing list, send us an email and write "unsubscribe" in the subject area. If you would like to get our newsletters delivered via email please write "subscribe" in the subject line and send an email to: info@thebookbeat.com. If you have trouble reading our newsletter, it can be read online at:http://thebookbeat.com/shop/newsletter.php  Thank you for your support! Think local! 

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