Department of Book Reports 61: Dance Lest We All Fall Down

I've mentioned this book in the past, but I realized we haven't given it a full book report. We had a lovely evening with Margaret this past December.

Last year, Margaret received the Thomas C. Wales Award, and just this week, our newspaper announced that Margaret is the recipient of the 2008 Jefferson Award, sponsored locally by Microsoft Corp. and the Seattle P-I for "ordinary people who do extraordinary things.". These awards are so richly deserved by this amazing woman.

Much as Greg Mortenson found, change in these communities could only come about by stepping back and allowing the local people to shape the direction of the school. In concentrating on educating girls, they hope to empower the mothers of the next generation. Boys, in these communities are able to survive by ways not available to the girls. Margaret gives us an up close look at the shantytowns of Brazil along with the music and the martial arts/dance capoeira program.

I urge everyone to check out this truly inspirational book. democommie™™™™™©®ç åü urges everyone to make a donation here.

The title of the book is Dance Lest We All Fall Down, a reflection of a lesson my friends from the favelas of Bahia taught me, that strength comes with the dance we must all do if we are to survive, that we must find our joy. Joy makes us strong, the dance of joy comes through understanding how we can give to others, and that all of us have something to give. ~M.W.

Signed copies of Dance Lest We All Fall Down (Cold Tree Press, $15.95) are available at Jackson Street Books and the publisher. Your local fine Independent Bookstore may be able to special order it for you.

Welcome to the world Sebastian Q Felber!

Department of Book Reports 45: How to Win a Fight with a Conservative

You’ve all probably seen the ad for the book on the General’s sidebar. I decided to peruse the book and pick up some tips, and I gotta say, Daniel Kurtzman not only has a fine first name, he’s a funny guy. And for those who get befuddled by Conservative nonsense, it is a useful tome. And the bonus for those with short attentions spans, the book is not very long.

How to Win a Fight with a Conservative (Sourcebooks $8.95) is divided into nine chapters, each of which prepares you for the knock-downs you might face either at the Holiday table with the reactionary Uncle, or the blow-hard talk show host. The chapters include such morsels as what it means to be a liberal, knowing what conservatism means, how to frame your arguments, pointers on specific contemporary issues, how to detect bullshit, and, when all else fails, a schematic for name-calling.

Kurtzman, who is editor of politicalhumor.about.com, has many diagrams to aid in the fight against Conservatives. His wit shines through in them. For instance, in a section entitled, How Not to be an Asshole, he highlights what one might be tempted to say, and how that should be translated into more diplomatic speech. Instead of saying “Do I need to speak slower, with fewer syllables?”, one should say “I’m not sure we’re communicating”. Instead of “What do the demons say when they come for you at night?”, try “How did you arrive at that conclusion?”. And instead of asking, “Did the lobotomy leave a scar?”, perhaps “Do you honestly believe that?” might be more appropriate.

Apparently Kurtzman has also written another book, How to Win a Fight with a Liberal, which cannot be stocked here in the People’s Republic of Seattle. (We suspect that it is really a blank book.)

This fun book is available at Jackson Street Books and other fine independent bookstores.

And speaking of politics, for those of you who enjoy watching the links at Crooks and Liars, and other blogs, let me recommend Darryl’s place, Hominid Views, where every Friday night, he links to many, many fine sites. Tammy and enjoy catching up on the events of the world there every weekend.

For those of you in the Puget Sound area, allow me to invite you on Sunday night to come hear Margaret Willson speak at JSB at 7:00pm about her book Dance Lest We All Fall Down (Cold Tree Press $15.95) which describes her experiences of working in a Brazilian shantytown.

democommie™™™™®© is currently moving into his stately mansion and could not be reached for comment.

Religion versus Science.

What if science could prove - or disprove - whether or not God exists?

That's the premise of the upcoming novel, Blasphemy ($25.95, Forge, release date January 8, 2008) by Douglas Preston, and it is powerful!

The Isabella Project in the Four Corners area of Arizona is a government funded project whose purpose is to recreate the Big Bang in a small way, to see if it's possible and to see what ramifications that might have. Unfortunately the project is running into problems, so former CIA operative, Wyman Ford, is sent not only to investigate what's going on, but to act as a liason with the local Navajo community. The Isabella Project is the brainchild of the charismatic Nobel laureate Gregory North Hazelius, who has assembled a handful of brilliant scientists who are as devoted to the project as he is, and Ford finds himself charmed as well.

Still, Ford sees the inherent dangers of living in an ivory tower, and is determined to ease the growing tensions in the nearby community. Unfortunately for Ford, one of the scientists - and the assistant director of the project - is an ex-lover of his, and he finds it hard to stay objective and focused with her nearby.

However, when a Washington lobbyist feels slighted, he sics a televangelist, Don. T. Spates, on Isabella. Spates uses his power to rally his followers against Isabella, maintaining that the scientists are actively working to disprove Genesis. Spates needs this topic to boost his sagging ratings and coffers, and he plays to the fears of many around the country. As passions heat up, a lone preacher living in the shadow of Red Mesa, where Isabella is housed, reacting to Spates' call, will begin a chain of events that could change the world.

Douglas Preston is well-known for his work with Lincoln Child, but in this novel, he proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is a literary force to be reckoned with on his own. His grasp of physics is, to my vastly ignorant grasp of such things, excellent, and his probing of the inner beliefs of the truly devout is stellar. He explores the depth of belief and passion, not only of the religous but the scientific communities, and demonstrates their similarities and profound differences, not the least of which is a willingness of those caught up in religious fervor to submit to mob mentality and to resort to violence.

The characters Preston has created are vivid and realistic, but what I found to be most compelling was the juxtaposition of science and religion, and the concept that out of science a new belief might be achieved. I don't want to say more until you've read it. It comes out next month, so plan on ordering it in advance, because you're not going to want to miss out on this one! It will be the source of discussion - and heated argument - for a long time to come, I have no doubt!

PLL


SeattleTammy here: I have the daily pleasure of working with a simply brilliant, gracious and goofy woman. You all know her as the Penitent Liberal Lesbian, but she is my buffer in Pioneer Square. We love nothing better than tag-teaming the Tourists with offers of cheap shipping. We have opinions and will tell you about them.

This past week, I lost the arm-wrestle, so here is PLL's diatribe. I hope you enjoy her as much as I do!

democommie™™™™®©: sit up and pay attention!

Gratuitous Reminders and Last Minute Suggestions:
Need a gift for that would-be activist in your life? Nothing better to Kick Start the New Year than Life Long Activist or Dance Lest We Fall Down. Good Stuff, people.

Many thanks to the troops who have ordered from us. I was packing so fast n furious, I might not have included a note. I put a little something extra in iffen I knew you were a member of the troops.

These books are/will be available at Jackson Street Books and Fine Independent Bookstores everywhere!