Book Description
When a heart attack claimed Bert Boyle's husband in 1970, the forty-six-year-old housewife and mother of three found herself at the helm of Columbia Sportswear, a small and financially struggling outerwear manufacturer in Portland, Oregon. With no business experience whatsoever, Boyle was faced with the challenge running Columbia, which had been founded in 1937 by her father-a Jewish immigrant who fled Hitler's Germany to come to America. Though many expected Boyle to fail, she and her son Tim persevered, and kept the business afloat through very challenging times. In 1970, Columbia Sportswear boasted forty employees and $800,000 in annual sales. Under the leadership of Gert and Tim Boyle, the company now has more than two thousand employees, annual sales approaching one billion dollars, and is the leading seller of skiwear in the United States. And thanks to a creative advertising campaign that billed her as "one tough mother," Gert Boyle has become an icon in her industry, and she is the first woman ever inducted into the International Sporting Goods Hall of Fame. In ONE TOUGH MOTHER, Boyle presents and honest, open, and often irreverent account of her truly remarkable journey from a childhood in Nazi Germany to fame and fortune in America. Boyle offers insights into succeeding in business and in life, and shares many of the advertisements and strategies that have made her so recognizable. Her story is one that will inspire anyone who dreams of turning a small business into a bigger business, as well as individuals who find themselves facing circumstances beyond their control.
Customer Reviews:
Quick bites of inspiration........2006-05-30
If you're looking for a hard hitting business manual, or even a thorough history of Columbia Sportswear, look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a very quick read full of no-nonesense advice, straight talk and a few laughs, then this is for you.
Gert Boyle, from what I read here, is rather straight forward. She won't get all gushy about management approaches, philosophies and the like. Truth is, her manual would read something like this: work hard, use your head and when you aren't smart enough to figure something out, at least be smart enough to find someone else who can. And that's what I found refreshing about this quick entertaining read.
Thank God for this book.......2005-12-02
I was lucky enough to have this book with me on a recent accounting seminar. Thank God for that. It is a very quick read, and does not offer many details about the specific challenges the business faced.
But it is still very inspirational, funny and informative. It is a great book to give as a gift to someone that is feeling a little down or needs more motivation.
I love stories like this because they prove that persistence and sucess go hand in hand.
Great history....but incomplete storytelling.......2005-08-30
The Columbia Sportswear story is one of the most compelling business building stories of our time. However, this books is a totally incomplete treatise. It is well written and somewhat captivating, but way too summarized if you expect to learn anything useful. It is a waste of time to read, although you'll only have to waste 20 minutes to read the entire book.
Outstanding book!.......2005-08-23
What a wonderful treat to read about Gert Boyle's unique life. It's not only about success in business, but it's about triumph, history, the Pacific Northwest, advertising and motherhood. It's a great way to learn how to live a meaningful life!
The best part about this book is that all of Gert's royalties will be donated to CASA and the Special Olympics. It's an all around feel great experience.
One Tough Mother.......2005-08-08
By the time you finish the book, you feel as if you are having a one on one meeting with Gert. It's a fast read -- and even has great illustrations from past advertising campaigns. It feels good to read a book with a happy ending -- and shows that hard work, listening to others, and caring is what it takes to succeed. I too have a business and have gone through hard times. Gert's words made me think I can still pull myself up, dust myself off and get where I want to go. I have purchased 4 additional copies and have already sent them off to business friends of mine.
It's not a Harvard Business School type of book. Some may find it too short and sweet. I found it delicious -- (and I don't mean just the recipe).
Average customer rating:
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One Tough Mother: Taking Charge in Life, Business, and Apple Pies
Gert Boyle , and
Kerry Tymchuk
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
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ASIN: 0786719141 |
Book Description
When a heart attack claimed Gert Boyle's husband in 1970, the forty-six-year-old housewife and mother of three found herself at the helm of Columbia Sportswear, a small outerwear manufacturer in Portland, Oregon, that was struggling financially. With no business experience whatsoever, Boyle was faced with the challenge of running Columbia, which had been founded in 1937 by her father — a Jewish immigrant who had fled Hitler's Germany.
Boyle and her son Tim persevered, turning a company that in 1970 had forty employees and less than $800,000 in annual sales into the leading seller of skiwear in the United States, with more than 2000 employees and over a billion in annual sales. Along the way, thanks in part to a creative marketing campaign that billed her as "one tough mother," Boyle established herself as an industry icon, and the first woman ever inducted into the International Sporting Goods Hall of Fame.
One Tough Mother presents an honest and often irreverent account of Boyle's journey from a childhood in Nazi Germany to incredible success in America. She offers insights into succeeding in business and in life, and shares many of the advertisements and strategies that have made her so recognizable.
Book Description
In this true story of our nation's love affair with firearms, Clayton E. Cramer debunks the myths and takes readers along a winding historical trail full of surprising revelations and riveting anecdotes, explaining the roots of America's gun culture.
Customer Reviews:
The Story of Guns in Early America.......2007-10-06
Clayton E. Cramer has an MA in history from Sonoma State University and has taught history in Boise State University. He published several academic books on history and firearms. His knowledge allowed him to reveal the lies in Bellesiles' book. The 'Acknowledgments' thank those who helped to make this book more entertaining. Cramer notes the changes from the Julian to Gregorian calendar in 1752. Cramer's discussion on Bellesiles' revisionist history begins this educational book. Bellesiles misquoted the historical record to provide false facts for his now discredited book (p.xii). Bellesiles used probate records that were destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake (p.xv)! Another scandal was the dishonesty of university historians (p.xvi). [Upton Sinclair wrote a book in 1922 on corporate control of universities.] Cramer explains the difficulty of evaluating written records from 300 years ago (pp.xviii-xx).
Part I deals with Colonial America (1607-1775). America followed the English tradition of a militia, people armed for their protection against Indians and England's enemies (p.3). Gun ownership was required by the 18th century (p.4). Chapter 2 tells of the class and race prohibitions on gun ownership. Some whites were distrusted for religious reasons. Indians were banned from owning guns (Chapter 3) but acquired them through commerce. They were armed for their fights with other tribes (p.42). Chapter 5 tells of the probate records that record personal property; there are problems with these records (p.55). Ads in newspapers may be more reliable, as well as gunpowder import records (p.56). Chapter 5 lists the hunting practices. Murder rates were higher then (p.78). Fights occurred over political concerns (p.80), and tenant uprisings in NY. Pistols were common (p.83). So too were accidents (p.86). Part II documents the Revolutionary War. There are many detailed records on gun ownership. These chapters cover Guns in New England, the Middle Colonies, the South, and the Continental Army and Militias. "Guns were the great equalizers of social status" (p.166).
Part III covers the Early Republic (1783-1846). There are chapters on Militias, Ammunition, Pistols, Guns and Sport, and Guns and Violence. The militia system was superior to a regular army in three ways (p.178). They were low-cost, they were plentiful, and they were widespread. The militia was politically reliable (p.180)! There were arguments against a standing army (p.183). Gunpowder mills were common in most states (Chapter 11). Chapter 12 examines the availability of pistols in America. Hunting was very common and universal on the frontier (p.201). Violence was all too common because of an "honor culture" (p.224). Dueling was quite common, the laws against it nearly useless (a jury would not convict if it conducted honorably). "Regulators" enforced the laws (p.229). Violence was common, often because of slander (p.232). [No mention of the rate of violent death in England or Europe.]
The 'Epilogue' notes that America was a society where guns were common for military defense, defense of a home and family, as a symbol of citizenship, and for violence. Newspapers, law books, memoirs, travel accounts, and advertisements documented the common ownership of guns. The 'Bibliography' lists the Primary and Secondary sources (pp.244-255).
[Neither Bellesiles or Cramer tell how America was a peaceful refuge from the wars and oppressions of Europe.]
Who will debunk the debunkers?.......2007-07-28
Michael Bellisiles wrote a book that, for some reason, scared the NRA. Bellisiles argued that America's gun culture didn't develop until around the time of the Civil War. He did not argue that America does not have a gun culture. Why the right got so exorcized about whether gun lust has a 17th century or 19th century origin is beyond me. But anyway, Mr. Cramer, we are told, figures prominently in the anti-Bellisiles crusade. This is not a good omen. Yes, Bellisiles lost his post at Emory -- that's in the liberal stronghold of Georgia, folks, where their idea of a historian is Newt Gingrich (can you say 'political pressure?' I knew you could.) Yes the Bancroft prize was withdrawn (ditto). Does any of this lend credence to the claims of Mr. Cramer and his NRA allies that Bellisiles work has been revealed to be a complete 'sham' and discredited in toto? Not at all. The official disciplinary committee that backed his dismissal from Emory took issue with only a few items in Arming America, notably one specific chart of probate data that proved to be in error. The vast majority of professional historians though, however they may feel about the bits of Arming America that have been repeatedly challenged, concede that the vast bulk of this large book is accurate. That leaves Cramer more or less alone in trying to debunk the whole enchilada. As the other negative reviews here indicate, there's a lot of questionable assertion going on here. If Cramer draws different conclusions from the same facts Bellisiles notes, we might compare the logic behind the arguments. Both authors note that laws in early America encouraged gun ownership for the purpose of strengthening militias -- lest the Brits return etc., as they did in 1812. Cramer seems to think this proves guns were popular. Bellisiles argues that the fact people had to have all this coaxing to acquire guns indicates the public was not keen on acquiring them of their own accord. Did the laws passed in the 1960s and 1970s encouraging the addition of safety devices and improved fuel economy in automobiles indicate that these features were in demand, or the opposite?
I wonder how many of the folks who laud Cramer's expose of Bellisiles have actually read Arming America and compared the two cases, and how many only have Cramer's version of Bellisiles to go on. This seems to me a pretty common phenomenon on both right and left: we tend to take reports of someone else's supposed outrageous conduct for granted and join the outrage, without carefully examining whether the actual facts fit the outraged reporter's description.
Interesting ideological footnote: look at the Amazon 'Better together' feature that offers to pair the book on the page you're viewing with another similar book. For Armed America, Amazon suggests another pro-gun book. For Arming America, Amazon suggests... Armed America. Not a bad idea if was reciprocated, eh. So go ahead and buy this book if you're interested in the topic, but buy Bellisiles book as well, and try to think for yourself.
Good book, but it won't convince those who "know" it isn't so.......2007-07-16
A few years ago Michael Bellsiles wrote a book claiming that early Americans didn't own guns, didn't have them, and that historical documentation proved it. He was widely discredited even by many of his anti-gun peers when it was found that much of his research was false or totally inaccurate.
Clayton Cramer spent five years researching the same records Bellesiles "used" and found totally opposite results, guns were very common all over the colonies (the book covers a period from the 1600's to the 1840's). Divided into 3 sections, Colonial America, the Revolutionary war, and the early Republic- Cramer gives exhaustive detail on what America was really like. The author is even careful to note that sometimes a modern reader can't be sure just what some statements from the past meant.
There are a lot of footnotes (unfortunately he gives no indication of just how hard it is for the average person to get at the original documents to read them, he does mention that Bellesiles usually reported just the opposite of what sommething actually said in print.) and a 12 page bibliography to back up his statements.
My worst problem with the book was that the few included photographs are too dark, hard to get any detail from them. It's a good fascinating book that I don't regret owning, it just won't convince anyone who doesn't believe it is true.
Excellent scholarly work.......2007-05-13
This is definitely a book for people who enjoy history through original sources. Mr. Cramer brings together a wealth of material that many "professional" historians can't seem to be bothered with.
Guns and Apple Pie--You left out Baseball and Mom, Mr. Gun Nut!.......2007-05-11
The title alone is so over the top and ridiculous as to invite uncontrollable laughter. Cramer is the almost perfect incarnation of the type "Creepily gun obsessed loner" of which we see many poorer examples in the cheerleading reviews posted here.
Really, these people are to be pitied, lonely and frightened little boys trying to be men and failing so utterly, caressing their rifles in the darkness in the absence of human warmth and comfort, fantasizing psychotically about being John Wayne or Rambo and constantly being drawn back to the cruel truth that they are merely anti-social, hateful, angry, psychologically unbalanced hermits, many of whom will never know emotionally real human companionship, and who are far more likely to use their guns to intimidate or kill their family members or blow their own brains out than to heroically defeat Evil in the form of a 15 year old kid trying to steal a ten speed bike off their front porch at night. What a sad bunch.
Customer Reviews:
Apples-Apple Pie.......2007-08-24
Here is another beautifully illustrated book for the young child. I use this in my classroom as we make an apple pie for our cooking experience in the classroom.
MMM mmmm. Time for pie........2004-08-20
When I was a kid I loved loved loved reading picture books that involved apple pies. I didn't particularly care for pie in real life, but on the printed page there was no desert more delectable and delicious to read about than scrumptious nummy buttery apple pie. I had to grow to adulthood before I really grew to appreciate this particular dessert, and I've been devouring them ever since. Looking back, I was also a big fan (when younger) of the beautiful apple blossom. For those of you living in Michigan, the apple blossom is the official state flower (a fact remembered almost entirely by elementary teachers and school children). Looking at Zoe Hall's enjoyable, "The Apple Pie Tree", a book at combines these two long distant loves, I find myself wishing I could have had this book at my disposal when I was a kid. A tale that examines the step-by-step process of how apples grow and are later turned into pies, it effectively conveys seasons, growth cycles, and (literally) the birds and the bees.
The heroine of this story and her baby sister show the viewer the process that goes into making apple pie. In the winter, the apple tree that sits in their backyard is bare and bereft of life. With the advent of Spring, buds turn to leaves and birds build nests in the branches. Spring means baby birds and apple blossoms covered in bees. In the summertime the blossoms become small green apples. We watch as the kids play in the sprinkler and the baby birds fly from the tree. Then, oh joy of joys, the tree is filled with shiny red apples. These are picked, cored, cut, and piled into a pie shell. A sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar on top seals the deal and out of the oven pops a delicious apple pie. And, as our heroine is quick to point out, "There's nothing as good as an apple pie you grew yourself".
For those readers who live in geographic areas that can support apple trees, this might be the perfect book to read before heading out to the nearest orchard and picking a few. Even those who claim to be cuisinely challenged will find the recipe for apple pie in the back of the book a simple process (though I advise you to buy a crust rather than make one, as the book suggests, if you're inexperienced). The back of the book also provides a little more information on how exactly bees turn blossoms into apples. Nothing like a little plant reproduction lesson to sum up a swell story. This book would read especially well in the fall, since that's the time of year the tale ends with. Sadly, the story's art is not particularly exceptional. Using a painted and found-paper collage technique, it gets the message across but doesn't really blow you away. I found myself wishing idly that Lois Ehlert (of "Snowballs" fame) had been placed in charge of the illustrations here. Still, illustrator Shari Halpern does her best and the pictures, while not spectacular, detract from neither the narrative nor the lessons. They're just a bit dull.
This book will not make you crave apple pie if you've never craved it before. And it will not stun you with its brilliance. It's just a nice little story about baking, time, and the circle of life (sans that whole icky death part, of course). If you'd like a colorful picture book for some autumnal reading, this "The Apple Pie Tree" is probably a sure-fire winner. I should mention too, that if you DO happen to enjoy the delightful taste sensation that is apple pie, this book WILL make you crave it. Intensely. Best read with a piece in your hand for easy reference.
The Apple Pie Tree.......2000-09-20
Interested in teaching about plants, the seasons, pollination? Read this book. Along with wonderful pictures, you can branch out into so many different science related topics. The apple tree grows, is pollinated, and finally, in fall, is ready for harvest. This book even includes a recipe for apple pie!
A favorite!.......2000-04-05
This book is a favorite for me and my 3 year old son. We love following the apple tree from winter to fall with the two sisters. They're growing "the best part of apple pie" right in their yard. It's help to teach him about the seasons as well as the process of growing something and the pride in having a hand in creating something. He is enthralled by the collage style illustrations and watching the baby robins grow up in the tree. A recipe for the apple pie is included at the end of the book, but we always use our own. We just bought a second copy of this book to give to my son's preschool library and the teachers and children both were thrilled for the new addition. Sure to be a classic!
Average customer rating:
- Review of How to Make an Apple Pie and see the world
- Great book!
- Wonderful, whimsical story...
- my son's favorite book
- Greatest Story Ever Told: The Incredible Lessons of Apple Pi
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How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World (Dragonfly Books)
Marjorie Priceman
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ASIN: 0679880836
Release Date: 1996-09-09 |
Book Description
Illus. in full color. An apple pie is easy to make...if the market is open. But if the market is closed, the world becomes your grocery store. This deliciously silly recipe for apple pie takes readers around the globe to gather ingredients. First hop a steamboat to Italy for the finest semolina wheat. Then hitch a ride to England and hijack a cow for the freshest possible milk. And, oh yes! Don't forget to go apple picking in Vermont! A simple recipe for apple pie is included.
Customer Reviews:
Review of How to Make an Apple Pie and see the world.......2007-04-11
Good book for teaching the natural, human, and capital resources used to produce the apple pie. Identifying the types of transportation used by the baker in gathering the resources for her pie. Trace the route of the baker as she travels around the world. A skit can be made from the book also.
Great book!.......2007-03-28
We had so much fun with this book! We used it with the Five-in-a-Row Homeschool curriculum and enjoyed it so much. Besides being a really neat children's book in general, there is a lot to learn about geography and language and other cultural benefits in this book. I recommend this one for any kid who likes to read or be read to. We have enjoyed it very much - it is one we had to have in our home, not just borrow from the library! Can't say enough!
Wonderful, whimsical story..........2005-12-28
We read this book as part of the Five-In-A-Row homeschool program, but have added it to our list of favorite bedtime story books.
my son's favorite book.......2005-06-16
My 5 year old son - into Spiderman and other superheros nonetheless loves this book and asks for it every night.
Greatest Story Ever Told: The Incredible Lessons of Apple Pi.......2004-08-25
The long undervalued but much touted apple pie (even without the ice cream, ala mode) represents the finest of lessons in health for human kind but one which would never come from the Bible because baking and the utensils of kitchens, nor the trading routes and processes to cultivate the ingregients of apple pies was present at the time the Bible was written. What we can learn about apple pie making, why it would be made, who would make it, when, or for whom is a lesson not soon to be forgotten from this analysis of the joys of apple pie making, along with the simple nutritious joy that becomes a part of the experience of eating it once made. It is a veritable miracle of mankind in modern days that we have the will, and the ways to make this special treat, as the evolution of mankind has provided the mechanics of both, a valuable lesson of the past as well as the present. While some concentrate on the miracle of producing milk and how it gets to market to be bought, sold, and drunk, many have forgotten the importance of the apple pie to commerce as well as to families, made all the more important because of the transparency of its secrets, hidden in its prominence. An apple pie made from scratch is nothing more than a modern miracle continuing in its miracle with the potential to please like nothing else. The primary precaution, however, is that it is never made with rotten apples, and never taken for granted in the importance of its being made and offered in the first place. Apple pie making is often, therefore, associated with the love that arises naturally as a result of its making, and the complexity of the processes that enable it to be made. Apple pies, unlike cookies, are never made solely for one, and never made to be stored, but presented whole, to be cut and eaten by friends and family, or shared with strangers. Perfect apple pie making is always prized by chefs, cooks, and consumers alike and therefore, deserves recognition for the great action of love it is, and can be an all season event worldwide.
Amazon.com
Ken Haedrich's Apple Pie Perfect celebrates America's most treasured dessert with 100 definitive recipes--everything from a traditional lattice-topped version and Haedrich's parents' brown sugar pie to newer incarnations, including Baked Apple Dumpling Pie, Apple and Brie Pie, and multifruit delights such as Apple-Plum Pie with Coconut Streusel. Apple Pie 101 and then some, the book first offers 10 versatile crust recipes, including the author's favored All-American Double Crust (which requires both butter, for flavor, and shortening, for tender flakiness), plus a delicious whole wheat version, then proceeds to the pies, arranged according to the seasons. The recipes walk would-be pie makers through the process carefully, which should encourage even the baking novice to try their hand. Sidebars include tips (there's even one on how to avoid a floury telephone receiver when called during crust-rolling), lore, and useful subrecipes (like the one for Spiced Ginger Apple Butter), plus a guide to apple varieties. These further expand the book's usefulness. With a section on "handpies"--apple pie for the fingers, like Apple "Calzone" Pie--and recipes like No-Bake Apple Ice Cream Pie that appeal particularly to kids, the book is a sure best-stop for producing a true American food icon. --Arthur Boehm
Book Description
If you are an apple pie lover, Apple Pie Perfect is your dream-100 recipes for apple pie in all its delicious incarnations, plus ten versatile crust recipes. There are pies with single crusts, pies with double crusts, crumb toppings, and no toppings. There are traditional pies (My Mom and Dad's Brown Sugar Apple Pie), new twists (Baked Apple Dumpling Pie), multi-fruit pies (Apple-Plum Pie with Coconut Streusel), and pies for those who love apples in any and all forms (Shaker Boiled Apple Cider Pie). It's all written in Haedrich's homey, easy-to-follow style, with plenty of apple lore, tips, and advice, plus a complete pie maker's guide to apple varieties. With Apple Pie Perfect, any home cook can turn out a mouthwatering version of America's favorite pie.
Customer Reviews:
Worth it if you are a serious apple pie maker.......2007-06-13
I am very into apple pies, and it was great to read through a well put together book that is devoted entirely to them. At times I felt like it was really stretching to get to book size, but on the other hand it is nice to see so many recipes, many of which you won't find in a general purpose cookbook. The section on fruit selection and suitability for pie was quite thorough on a subject I had not seen adequately addressed in other sources.
So this book was definitely worth it for me and I enjoyed reading it cover to cover. I can't imagine it would hold more than 15 minutes of interest for someone not particularly interested in the subject though.
The title says it all!.......2007-03-14
I couldn't believe the number of crusts you can make for apple pie. Plus, the different ingredients one can use to make them absolutely delicious. This is definitely a must-have for beginner pie makers and for the experts.
Great Recipes!.......2006-03-17
I originally borrowed this book from our local library. I liked it so much, I bought 2, one for me & one for my sister who has 2 apple trees!
Like apples? Like baking? Buy this book!.......2004-05-04
Ever wanted to know why you have to punch steam vents in your crust? Not sure how to tell when your pie is done? Does your bottom crust always come out soggy, not golden and firm? This book can solve your problems--never have the bottom crusts on our apple pies come out so well!
The book includes "A Pie Maker's Guide to Apple Varieties." It would help if I could actually find more than four or five apple varieties at our store, of course. But at least it tells me the characteristics of the various apple varieties so I can substitute an appropriate variety for the exotic ones called for in some of these recipes. (It also helps that recipes often include notes such as this one from the grated apple pie recipe: "The original Pennsylvania Dutch recipe calls for Winesap apples, but any firm, juicy, tart apple, including Granny Smith, will do.") By the time you're done you'll be able to make whatever kind of apple pie you like best, whether that's mushy or firm, juicy or dry, sweet or tart. You'll also find little "helper" recipes in here, like various crust recipes, sauces, and so on.
The layout is clean and clear. Ingredients are delineated by crust, filling, topping, and so on. Direction steps are numbered and broken down into short steps. There's one short spread of color photo pages in the middle of the book, so you can stare at the frozen apple and peanut butter cloud pie and die of sugar shock. We have stumbled across one instance of slightly confused directions so far, but it was easy to figure out how to fix it, and that was the only incident. There's a good index in the back of the book (you can look up recipes by type of apple), and the table of contents lists out each individual pie with page number.
Every single recipe we've made from this book has come out completely and utterly delicious. I'm usually disappointed by apple pie, but not by the pies from this cookbook! Even when they aren't my favorite texture or taste, they're still so good that I don't mind! And they're creative and unusual, guaranteed to keep us from ever becoming bored with apple pie again (apple and brie hand pies, anyone?). So if you enjoy apple pie and don't mind straying a little from the beaten path, this cookbook truly is "Apple Pie Perfect."
apple pie heaven.......2003-08-27
The humble apple pie is so easy to make, yet tastes so good. Home made pies are rare these days, so I am glad to have a new book with nothing but recipes for apple pies, 100 in all. Strictly speaking, some of the recipes are not pies, but close relatives.
I like this cookbook very much. I appreciate the simple, direct instructions. I did not have any real problems with the recipes I tried. Note that the author prefers streusel toppings over the traditional 2-crust pie. I find the instructions to remove a blazing hot, half-baked pie out of the oven and pressing toppings onto it with your hands dangerous and not advisable. The author has not solved the problem of a giant air gap under the top crust of a baked pie; he sidesteps the issue by usually recommending a streusel topping, to be applied halfway through baking. The author also lives in the northeast, so much of his comments about different apple varieties apply to those not usually available on the west coast.
On the other hand, there are a few missing elements, which is rather surprising for a book that is essentially only one recipe with 99 variations. One would expect some hints and problems that relate to most of the recipes in the book, yet none are forthcoming. Since all the recipes have apples, one would also expect an extended section about apples: seasons, different types, which to choose for which recipe, typical characteristics, etc. However, the information about apples is perfunctory. It should also have a section on preparing apples, rolling the crust, and how to flute the edges (some information on this does finally appear on p. 81 in an easily overlooked sidebar), but this information is mostly lacking; there are a few tips hopelessly scattered in random portions of the text where you will never find them when you need them. Information on slicing apples appears in a side bar on page 41. It would be helpful to have some sort of cross reference to tell you which recipe is best for different apples, for those who come home from the market with a bagful of a particular type of apple in peak season. I also object to the organization: the recipes are grouped into chapters, but the groupings do not make much sense. More disturbingly, all the ingredients are listed in volume measure, but do not include weight equivalents. The author lists flour amounts in cups only, but does describe what method he uses to fill the measuring cups (dip and sweep, spooning, sifting, etc.). The apple amounts are usually listed in cups of cut up apples; this is unfortunate, as one buys apples by the piece or pound, not by the cupful, in the market. The author does not supply equivalents or conversions.
All in all, I enjoy having such a large number of recipes for just one thing: apple pies, since I like them very much; you will never run out of new recipes to try. However, any single subject cookbook must be more than just 100 similar recipes jumbled together; it must also cover its subject and its aspects thoroughly and in depth. This book does not meet that standard.
Book Description
A was once an apple pie,PiedyWideyTidyPiedyNice insidey, APPLE PIE!Suse MacDonald adapts Edward Lear's fun-to-say, alphabet rhyme in a picture book that combines the classic with the up-to-date. Bright, bold illustrations are created with handpainted cut paper. A Bear sniffs an Apple pie, a Cat and Dog are friends, an Eel and Fish share an ocean,a Goose spills a bottle of Ink, while a Hen laughs and later a Mouse is observed by an Owl in a Nest!A stunning book!
Customer Reviews:
A was once an apple pie.......2006-10-13
This book covers the alphabet with lyrical poems for each letter and fun illustrations. Some choices for words won't be the best for children who don't read yet, like Lark for L (which looks like a bird and makes me think B) but the overall sing song nature of the text and lovely illustrations will engage many young readers and listeners.
Remembering My favorite book!.......1998-05-14
Grammy used to read me this book every visit. I have searched for years to bring this delight to my own three boys. Encourages early reading and poetry lasts a life time.
Book Description
In this spectacular recreation of one of the most beloved alphabet rhymes of all time, New York Times Best Illustrator Gennady Spirin brings to life the delicious and whimsical fortunes of an apple pie—through the alphabet! Look for the tiny butterfly in the picture where B bit it. Find the fox on the page where F fought for it.
Discover hundreds of delightful details in these enchanting pictures each time the book is shared. A timeless celebration of the alphabet, and an incredible work of art by the great artist Gennady Spirin.
Customer Reviews:
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS TO BE FOUND IN CHILDREN'S BOOKS.......2005-08-31
If you are fortunate enough to have seen or better yet own a copy of "Yakov and the Seven Thieves," "The Tale of the Firebird" or any other of the keepsake books illustrated by Gennady Spirin you know what a gifted artist he is. He blends his Russian heritage with techniques of the Renaissance masters to create some of the most detailed, the most beautiful paintings to be found between the covers of children's books.
He brings us another treasure with illustrations for "A Apple Pie," a fanciful ABC dating to the 1600s in England. It is enchanting worthy of turning to again and again. I find something new with each study of a page - the tiny butterfly on the toddler's trousers in "B Bit it" - the cunning gray kitten sniffing the delicious aroma in "C Cut it." and on it goes. Each illustration is a marvel, a testament to Spirin's genius.
Born outside of Moscow in 1948, he came to our country at the invitation of Philomel and Dial Press. His professional awards are far too numerous to mention - simply enjoy "A Apple Pie," and be grateful for the creative gifts of Gennady Spirin.
- Gail Cooke
Customer Reviews:
Derlightful variations of a few of my favorites.......2000-03-11
This is a great book. I'll be the second to admit, after my hubby, that I'm a lousy cook. But I have used this book with great results! Not to mention that the author is just plain funny. If you like baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad, brownies and other typical picnic food, this is a great place to look for a new twist that works. It includes about 12 different recipes for each of the featured foods.
Customer Reviews:
Still the best .......2007-08-05
As Easy As Pie: From Basic Apple to Four and Twenty Blackbirds It's
"As Easy as Pie" deserves everyone of its 5 stars, if only for its fabulous Blueberry-Peach Pie (which I am eating as I write this review). Purdy's can't fail recipes are straightforward, absolutely dependable and delicious. I especially recommend her food processor pie dough, cream cheese pastry, strawberry-rhubarb pie, key lime pie and the aforementioned blueberry-peach pie.
After 20 years, I still love this book!.......2005-11-23
I was looking for a nice Susan Purdy book to give as a holiday present and decided I had to write a review for this one. I was a pie-making novice when I was given "As Easy As Pie." Not only did Purdy's detailed instructions and careful descriptions help me overcome my crust-angst, between experience and her many alternative filling suggestions, I eventually grew confident enough to invent my own pies. From simple to elaborate, sweet to savory, she covers just about all there is, plus a few things you might not think of. Even after all these years, I still haven't tried and learned everything this book has to offer.
While I'm sure her more recent books are just as full of detail, helpful hints and delicious recipes, I really have to say, if you're looking for a pie book you'll use the rest of your life, go find yourself a copy of this "As Easy As Pie." Sure, it might be easier to buy a new book, but this one's worth the effort.
Excellent Book on Pastry and Classic Pies and Technique.......2005-09-06
`As Easy As Pie' by old school pastry expert Susan G. Purdy is my `go to' book for pie recipes, even after reviewing at least a half dozen very good pastry and dessert books by the likes of Wayne Harley Brachman, Nick Malgieri, Rose Levy Beranbaum, Judith Fertig, Flo Braker, Gayle Ortiz, and the very French Christine Ferber. In fact, I recently went to Wayne Harley Brachman's `American Desserts' for a peach pie recipe and felt just a bit disappointed with the prospects of his recipe. While I think his book is an excellent tutorial on American recipes, I was just a bit apprehensive about his very simple pastry recipe, after having made Ms. Purdy's basic crust for everything from apple pies to tomato tarts to corn pies. I was even a bit apprehensive of Brachman's technique for blanching peaches for peeling, as it called for cutting the fruit in half before blanching. I was really afraid that this would either rob the fruit of some of its juices or make them damper than they naturally were, especially as I was dealing with very ripe fruit, just on that fine edge between ripe and rotten.
So, I rush back to my aging copy of this book and use my old favorite for both the crust and the filling. I have tended to discount Ms. Purdy, as she did not seem to have the cachet of writers such as Nick Malgieri or Rose Levy Beranbaum or Flo Braker, who are routinely cited by other authors as their favorite authority on pastry making. It is true that Ms. Purdy may not spend 10 pages discoursing on the nature of flours or another 10 pages on all the different influences on making pastry dough. But in looking back at the front of her book, I see that this material has not been overlooked. I see that since I started using her book years ago, before I started picking through cookbook texts with a finely toothed comb to review the material, I had gone straight to her superb `Basic All Purpose Flaky Pastry Recipe' and have been using it successfully ever since. I have even used this as the benchmark against which I judged all other `pate brisee' recipes.
Unfortunately, I never sat down to read this volume as carefully as I would later pastry texts, so I never came to appreciate how good a pie reference this is. And yet, I keep coming back to it for my seasonal apple, pumpkin, mincemeat, and corn pie recipes. Upon doing that, I discover really great discussions of all sorts of pie and pastry crusts, including the ephemeral strudel and puff pastries. And, not only are the diagrams on the techniques better than average, the `facts and figures' on making variations in the recipes are up to a professional level, without the professional patois of proportions found in books for bakers.
The very best things about this book is that it is an excellent source of recipes for all the standard crusts and fillings, with methods for hand, food processor, and stand mixer approaches. The primary warning about this book is that good pie crust making is not that easy. I make pies only once in a while, and often forget the practical lessons from the last time I make a standard butter pie crust, which depends a lot on ambient temperature, humidity, and flour properties. Thus, in spite of reading all the experts, my Susan Purdy crust for my most recent pie, made on the very latest Silpat silicone pastry mat, was less than ideal, as I probably added too much water or started working it when the dough got too warm out of the fridge. I also suspect Ms. Purdy's basic pie crust recipe may have too many options and that one should really work on making a successful crust with nothing more than flour, water, and fats. Adding the egg and the vinegar or lemon gives one the sense that you have insurance against the failings of poor technique. They are added to cut down on gluten formation and do nothing for the perils of too much moisture or too much heat when manipulating the dough.
All in all, as I have been using this book successfully for years, I highly recommend it for anyone who wishes to occasionally bake an apple pie or other holiday favorite.
Only Pie Book You Need.......2005-05-25
I love this book so much! It has all of the core recipes and all sorts of unusual items. It is great for browsing to brainstorm or just for making the recipe as directed. It's a perfect "manual" for beginning bakers or for more experienced bakers like me. She also has a cake book that I like a lot.
As Yummy As It Gets.......2000-11-06
I am a chef specializing in low-fat, gourmet cuisine, and I love this book! The recipes are so yummy and so low fat. My clients can't get enough of these recipes and fortunately, I don't have to give away my secret source--so my phone keeps ringing.
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