This anthology - the first general-reader collection of writing by Italian American authors - is part manifesto, part Sunday dinner. A gathering of voices old and new, some speak in the accents of another age, some completely contemporary and assured, and all together for the first time. To stand with all the other popular media images we represent, now, at last, one exists in written form, the literature of Italian American life. Inside, there are excerpts from novels, memoirs, short stories, essays, and poems - by the living and the dead, the famous and the obscure. The excerpts are variously moving, funny, poignant, lusty, biting, reverent, witty, loving, angry, and wise, dealing in the most profound aspects of our lives no matter who we are: home, love, sex, family, food, work, God, death. Characters range from gangsters to grandmas, lovers to fighters, thinkers to doers, sinners to saints, with special appearances by Frank Sinatra and the Virgin Mary.

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Valerie Bertinelli, then: bubbly sitcom star and America's Sweetheart turned tabloid headline and rock star wife. Now: actress, single working mother of teenage rock star, and weight-loss inspiration to millions. We all knew and loved Valerie Bertinelli years ago when she played girl-next-door cutie Barbara Cooper in the hit TV show One Day at a Time, and then starred in numerous TV movies. From wholesome primetime in America's living rooms, Valerie moved to late nights with the hardest-partying band of the decadent eighties when she became, at twenty, wife to rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Losing It is Valerie's frank account of her life backstage and in the spotlight. Here are the ups and downs of teen stardom, of her complicated marriage to a brilliant, tormented musical genius, and of her very public struggle with her weight. Surprising, uplifting, and empowering, Losing It takes you behind the scenes of Valerie's acting career and marriage, recalling the comforts, friendships, and problems of her television family, her close relationships with her parents and brothers, the stress and worries of being the wife of a rock star, and the joys of motherhood. Like many women, Valerie often remembers the state of her life by the food she ate and the numbers on her scale. So despite her celebrity, Valerie's voice is so down-to-earth, honest, and appealing that you'll feel as if you're talking with a girlfriend over coffee. Funny and candid, Valerie recounts her attempts to maintain a healthy self-image while dealing with social pressures to look and act a certain way, and to overcome career insecurities and relationship problems, all of which will be familiar to the hundreds of thousands of women who struggle every day with these same issues. From marital turmoil to the joys of a new career, from being named among Penthouse's ten sexiest women in the world to overhearing whispers about her weight gain in the grocery store, this is Valerie's inspiring journey as s

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An old friend of Honey Driver's is unfortunate enough to have their birthday at Hallowe'en, and can't resist making it a fancy dress party. Honey had planned for DCI Doherty, her policeman boyfriend, to go with her; he might have done if he wasn't more than a bit peeved that she smashed up his sports car. Dressed appropriately, Honey attends the party at Moss End Hotel alone. The food is awful, the booze practically non-existent, and the complaints are loud and clear. The owners, Mr and Mrs Crook - amateurs who think themselves better than the professionals - are nowhere to be found and all the doors are locked. Once the revellers manage to open the doors, the Crooks are found, but are in no condition to deal with complaints. They're dead - murdered - and Honey and Doherty team up once more to investigate.

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There's never been a better time to "be prepared." Matthew Stein's comprehensive primer on sustainable living skills-from food and water to shelter and energy to first-aid and crisis-management skills-prepares you to embark on the path toward sustainability. But unlike any other book, Stein not only shows you how to live "green" in seemingly stable times, but to live in the face of potential disasters, lasting days or years, coming in the form of social upheaval, economic meltdown, or environmental catastrophe. When Technology Fails covers the gamut. You'll learn how to start a fire and keep warm if you've been left temporarily homeless, as well as the basics of installing a renewable energy system for your home or business. You'll learn how to find and sterilize water in the face of utility failure, as well as practical information for dealing with water-quality issues even when the public tap water is still flowing. You'll learn alternative techniques for healing equally suited to an era of profit-driven malpractice as to situations of social calamity. Each chapter (a survey of the risks to the status quo; supplies and preparation for short- and long-term emergencies; emergency measures for survival; water; food; shelter; clothing; first aid, low-tech medicine, and healing; energy, heat, and power; metalworking; utensils and storage; low-tech chemistry; and engineering, machines, and materials) offers the same approach, describing skills for self-reliance in good times and bad. Fully revised and expanded-the first edition was written pre-9/11 and pre-Katrina, when few Americans took the risk of social disruption seriously-When Technology Fails ends on a positive, proactive note with a new chapter on "Making the Shift to Sustainability," which offers practical suggestions for changing our world on personal, community and global levels.

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Do you worry that you drink too much? Or perhaps you fear that your dependence on drugs, food, sex, or some other vice is spiralling out of control, and taking your quality of life with it? In Who Says I'm an Addict? David Smallwood looks at the issue of addiction with compassion, clarity, and wisdom that comes not only from his own difficult journey with addiction, but from his considerable experience overseeing treatment programmes in rehabilitation clinics. David looks in detail at all areas of addiction, from denial, hitting rock bottom, and dealing with shame and guilt, to how our family of origin and the traumas we go through in childhood influence us in later life. He then explores the road to long-term recovery, guiding the reader on how to do the emotional work necessary to ensure that they avoid relapse and can finally lay their demons to rest and get on with re-building their life.

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Eat right and make a lifelong difference in the health of both you and your baby! Did you know that small amounts of dark chocolate can be good for you while you're pregnant? Would you be (happily) surprised to learn that you don't have to give up your morning cup of coffee? Or disappointed that you should avoid sushi throughout your pregnancy? In What to Eat Before, During, and After Pregnancy, maternal nutrition expert Judith Brown guides you in making smart food selections to improve your chances of delivering a healthy baby. Based on the latest scientific research, Dr. Brown provides practical nutritional advice on preparing your body for pregnancy; eating right for healthy fetal development; and making the best choices when taking vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements. Inside you will find: The latest recommendations for following a balanced diet throughout pregnancy and breast-feeding Guidelines for preventing gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and preterm delivery Nutritional aids for dealing with common problems such as nausea, swelling, and heartburn

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Is your child a "picky" eater or a full-fledged resistant eater? Does he or she eat only 3-20 foods, refusing all others? Eat from only one food group? Gag, tantrum, or become anxious if you introduce new foods? If so, you have a resistant eater. Learn the possible causes, when you need professional help, and how to deal with the behavior at home. Learn why "Don't play with your food!" and "Clean your plate!"-along with many other old saws-are just plain wrong. And who said you have to eat dessert last? Get ready to have some stereotypes shattered!

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This culinary biography recounts the 1784 deal that Thomas Jefferson struck with his slaves, James Hemings. The founding father was traveling to Paris and wanted to bring James along "for a particular purpose"- to master the art of French cooking. In exchange for James's cooperation, Jefferson would grant his freedom. Thus began one of the strangest partnerships in United States history. As Hemings apprenticed under master French chefs, Jefferson studied the cultivation of French crops (especially grapes for winemaking) so the might be replicated in American agriculture. The two men returned home with such marvels as pasta, French fries, Champagne, macaroni and cheese, crème brûlée, and a host of other treats. This narrative history tells the story of their remarkable adventure-and even includes a few of their favorite recipes!

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The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Women Food and God maps a path to meeting one of our greatest challenges-how we deal with money. When Geneen Roth and her husband lost their life savings in the Bernard Madoff debacle, Roth joined the millions of Americans dealing with financial turbulence, uncertainty, and abrupt reversals in their expectations. The resulting shock was the catalyst for her to explore how women's habits and behaviors around money-as with food-can lead to exactly the situations they most want to avoid. Roth identified her own unconscious choices: binge shopping followed by periods of budgetary self-deprivation, "treating" herself in ways that ultimately failed to sustain, and using money as a substitute for love, among others. As she examined the deep sources of these habits, she faced the hard truth about where her "self-protective" financial decisions had led. With irreverent humor and hard-won wisdom, she offers provocative and radical strategies for transforming how we feel and behave about the resources that should, and can, sustain and support our lives.

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First published in 1977, this book-from one of America's most famous and prolific agricultural writers-became an almost instant classic among homestead gardeners and small farmers. Now fully updated and available once more, Small-Scale Grain Raising offers a entirely new generation of readers the best introduction to a wide range of both common and lesser-known specialty grains and related field crops, from corn, wheat, and rye to buckwheat, millet, rice, spelt, flax, and even beans and sunflowers. More and more Americans are seeking out locally grown foods, yet one of the real stumbling blocks to their efforts has been finding local sources for grains, which are grown mainly on large, distant corporate farms. At the same time, commodity prices for grains-and the products made from them-have skyrocketed due to rising energy costs and increased demand. In this book, Gene Logsdon proves that anyone who has access to a large garden or small farm can (and should) think outside the agribusiness box and learn to grow healthy whole grains or beans-the base of our culinary food pyramid-alongside their fruits and vegetables. Starting from the simple but revolutionary concept of the garden "pancake patch," Logsdon opens up our eyes to a whole world of plants that we wrongly assume only the agricultural "big boys" can grow. He succinctly covers all the basics, from planting and dealing with pests, weeds, and diseases to harvesting, processing, storing, and using whole grains. There are even a few recipes sprinkled throughout, along with more than a little wit and wisdom. Never has there been a better time, or a more receptive audience, for this book. Localvores, serious home gardeners, CSA farmers, and whole-foods advocates-in fact, all people who value fresh, high-quality foods-will find a field full of information and ideas in this once and future classic.

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Before dealing with the special varieties of the Egyptians' belief in gods, it is best to try to avoid a misunderstanding of their whole conception of the supernatural. The term god has come to tacitly imply to our minds such a highly specialised group of attributes, that we can hardly throw our ideas back into the more remote conceptions to which we also attach the same name. It is unfortunate that every other word for supernatural intelligences has become debased, so that we cannot well speak of demons, devils, ghosts, or fairies without implying a noxious or a trifling meaning, quite unsuited to the ancient deities that were so beneficent and powerful. If then we use the word god for such conceptions, it must always be with the reservation that the word has now a very different meaning from what it had to ancient minds. To the Egyptian the gods might be mortal; even Ra, the sun-god, is said to have grown old and feeble, Osiris was slain, and Orion, the great hunter of the heavens, killed and ate the gods. The mortality of gods has been dwelt on by Dr. Frazer (Golden Bough), and the many instances of tombs of gods, and of the slaying of the deified man who was worshipped, all show that immortality was not a divine attribute. Nor was there any doubt that they might suffer while alive; one myth tells how Ra, as he walked on earth, was bitten by a magic serpent and suffered torments. The gods were also supposed to share in a life like that of man, not only in Egypt but in most ancient lands. Offerings of food and drink were constantly supplied to them, in Egypt laid upon the altars, in other lands burnt for a sweet savour.

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Many of us struggle with overeating and losing weight. We all know what we should be eating, but somehow we still reach for those unhealthy foods that deep down we know aren't doing us any good. In this new book, chartered psychologist Dr Jane McCartney explains how to identify and address the underlying emotional reasons for overeating so you can turn your health and your life around. In this 28-day plan, you'll discover how to separate food from emotion to break free from comfort eating and develop a healthy relationship with food. For four weeks, you'll follow a straightforward programme that lets you explore the emotional triggers behind overeating. You'll then be given the tools you need to work through these issues and discover a new approach to dealing with challenges and problems. There is also a healthy eating plan to help you stay on track. Revolutionary and empowering, this book will help you to understand yourself, take control of your eating habits and ultimately maintain a healthy weight for life.

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Being a single parent is a tough job no matter who you are, but if you're a single dad, you likely feel you've entered a strange, new world. Whether your kids are 12 months old or 12 years old, the tips and advice in this comprehensive guide will make the little tricks of parenting feel like second nature to you. Authors Elaine Fantle Shimberg and her son, single father Michael Shimberg, show you how to: Make your house (or apartment) a home Juggle your work and personal schedule with that of your kids Co-parent with your ex for the kids' sake Handle special circumstances if you're a widower Celebrate holidays and deal with in-laws Raise daughters, both youngsters and teens Cook foods your kids will eat Field common childhood maladies Date again Throughout, Fantle Shimberg and Shimberg include "Tips from the Trenches"-anecdotes from more than 50 single dads just like you on what works and what doesn't-as well as recommendations from lawyers, marriage counselors, psychologists, social workers, teachers, and clergy members. With The Complete Single Father, you'll have everything you need to enjoy your kids while maintaining a stable environment and reducing stress for all involved-without losing your sense of humor!

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The easy way to take charge of your adrenal health Despite their small size, the adrenal glands play an important role in the body, producing numerous hormones that impact our development and growth, affect our ability to deal with stress, and help to regulate kidney function. In Adrenal Fatigue For Dummies, you'll find clear self-evaluations and treatment guidelines that will empower you to take charge of your adrenal health through nutrition, vitamins, herbs, bioidentical adrenal hormone supplementation, and self-care practices. Adrenal fatigue is in essence a "tired out" adrenal gland that is not able to support the body the way that it should. The effects can be far-reaching and affect the quality of one's daily life. It can affect the immune system, cause inflammation, decrease sex drive, and inhibit the ability to get up in the morning. But now there's hope! The 4-1-1 on the structure and function of the adrenal gland Linking inflammation and adrenal fatigue Connecting food allergy and adrenal issues How to test for adrenal fatigue Information on eating patterns for all-day energy and improved concentration Dealing with other medical conditions and adrenal fatigue Relaxation tips to reduce stress Adrenal Fatigue For Dummies helps those suffering from this debilitating illness reclaim their lives by addressing the delicate balance among the adrenal glands which can make the day-to-day difference between feeling awful and feeling good.

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The bestselling wedding planning guide-now updated! Congratulations, you're planning a wedding! Besides obtaining a fancy tuxedo and a stunning gown, organizing a wedding ceremony takes creativity, planning, and diplomacy. The whole ordeal can seem overwhelming at first, but with lots of guidance, you'll plan a wedding people will remember for ages. Wedding Planning For Dummies demystifies and simplifies all the details that go into the Big Day, providing inspiration and innovative ideas to personalize your wedding celebration and, of course, make it fun for everyone-especially you! Expert wedding planner Marcy Blum walks you step-by-step through everything you'll encounter as you plan your wedding, from choosing a reception site to picking a photographer-and everything in between. 20% new and updated content Keep track of expenses with a wedding budget Negotiate contracts and surf online for wedding deals Get those pesky financial technicalities out of the way Plan a weekend wedding, a themed wedding, same sex wedding, and other celebrations Plan for various wedding customs and rites Throw a great reception with music, food, drink, and cake The 4-1-1 on the latest and greatest trends in wedding registries, rings, photos, and the honeymoon Packed with tips for saving money and common kitsch you should avoid, this is the ultimate guide to satisfying everyone on the Big Day-while making all of your fairytale dreams come true.

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What is it about me and food?" Millions of readers, disgusted with diets and dieting, agonize over this question. Moreover, they're disgusted with themselves. frustrated, guilty, even despairing over repeated failures. Successful health author Lisa Morrone bypasses diet plans and zeros in on heart plans-because food isn't the real problem. She gives readers tools to assess themselves, not just their food intake, then presents well-tested methods for breaking the cycle of food addiction from the inside out. Openly sharing her own emotional struggles and the candid stories of other women, she shows readers how to address the true underlying causes of overeating avoid using food as a time-filler, mood elevator, or painkiller find freedom to achieve steady, lasting results from any reputable weight-loss method deal appropriately with inevitable setbacks make long-term changes to improve their overall healthA resource filled with hope. and the promise of a healthy, joy-filled, productive life!

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Ann Beattie arrived in New York young, observant and celebrated (as The New Yorker's young fiction star) in one of the most compelling and creative eras of recent times. So does the protagonist of her intense new novella, Walks with Men. It is 1980 in New York City, and Jane, a valedictorian fresh out of Harvard, strikes a deal with Neil, an intoxicating writer twenty years her senior. The two quickly become lovers, living together in a Chelsea brownstone, and Neil reveals the rules for a life well lived: If you take food home from a restaurant, don't say it's because you want leftovers for "the dog." Say that you want the bones for "a friend who does autopsies." If you can't stand on your head (which is best), learn to do cartwheels. Have sex in airplane bathrooms. Wear only raincoats made in England. Neil's certainties, Jane discovers, mask his deceptions. Her true education begins. "One of our era's most vital masters of the short form" (The Washington Post), Beattie brilliantly captures a time, a place and a style of engagement. Her voice is original and iconic.

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Early on in his interactions with his patients, Toshihito Etoh, a Japanese general physician specializing in internal medicine and pediatrics, began noticing that some patients looked much younger than their true age, while others looked a great deal older. Using his experiences with these patients, Dr. Etoh shares his proven strategies for slowing down the aging process in both the body and the mind. Since ancient times, the Japanese have utilized many techniques for keeping fit and living longer; as a result, today the country is filled with active elderly people with average life expectancies of over eighty-five for women and seventy-nine for men. While offering several exercises to help combat aging, stay fit, and maintain a high quality of life, Dr. Etoh teaches others specifically how to know and accept yourself and your body; become aware of and care for your soul; use a combination of focus, meditation, and breathing to combat aging; learn to walk correctly; keep senses in shape while stimulating the brain; choose low-calorie foods that are high in antioxidants. The groundbreaking, practical wisdom provided in Ultimate Anti-Aging Ways will help anyone improve overall fitness while nourishing the mind and body.

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How to maintain optimum testosterone levels for the male body through the use of herbs, nutritional supplements, and diet Explains the phenomenon of andropause-male menopause-and how to deal with it Reveals scientific evidence of testosterone-blocking agents in the environment that alter men's essential chemistry as they age Presents safe, organic plant medicines that can restore optimum testosterone levels Contains the most up-to-date natural treatments for impotence, infertility, and prostate disease The recognition of the middle-age stage in male development of andropause, which is comparable to women's menopause, is hampered by the lack of a clear understanding of the chemistry and physiology specific to aging men. Men are still capable of reproduction well into and beyond middle age. Yet a man's sexual desire and potency varies, often according to his testosterone level. Recent studies show that the lowered testosterone levels endemic in aging men-the gradual drop that is quite normal-is being exacerbated by environmental agents. Testosterone-blocking estrogen agents are present in insecticides, industrial materials, pharmaceuticals, and foods. Men are daily inundated with a "cocktail" of estrogen agents that alter the fine balance of testosterone that makes them male. In The Natural Testosterone Plan, Stephen Harrod Buhner shows why men need help to maintain their testosterone levels as they age and explains how safe, naturally occurring phytoandrogens-plant medicines that contain male hormones-can remedy the depletion exerted by the environment. Buhner details how each phytoandrogen works, when its use is indicated, and the most appropriate method of application.

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With ever-rising ground, water and atmospheric pollution, every other day one hears the name of a new disease. In fact, ever since man began drifting away from Nature, he has been falling into the trap of a materialistic lifestyle that has desensitised him. Today, we breathe air thick with exhaust fumes, eat processed junk food that has no nutritive value, drink toxic carbonated beverages and lead sedentary lives. In fact, all of these have contributed to different kinds of problems for us at regular intervals. This book shows you how to go back to Mother Nature to beat even the most troublesome and chronic ailments. With natural preventive measures that emphasise Diet and Nutrition, exercise and herbal remedies, there are no fear of side- effects. This book shows you a safe, natural and enjoyable means to overcome it. Most of the ingredients mentioned in the book are the kind available in home gardens or off the kitchen shelf. The book also includes hints for different stages in life. A separate section deals with varied problems in - a woman's life through adolescence, pregnancy, lactation, menopause and general ailments. Once you have read this book from cover to cover, you need not rush to the doctor every now and then, but will be able to take care of your own and your family's health yourself

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