Product Description

The ultimate soup cookbook-from James Beard Cookbook of the Year award-winning author Clifford Wright

Soup is an affordable, popular dish the world over. In The Best Soups in the World, renowned food scholar and cookbook author Clifford Wright compiles the globe's most delicious soups into a single collection, exploring the history and cultural significance of each recipe along the way.

Perfect for cooks at any level of experience, the book includes traditional American and thrilling international flavors alike-from Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle to Thai Mushroom and Chile to Mexican Roasted Poblano and Three Cheese to Tuscan White Bean.

• A great value-features 300 recipes in an affordable, beautiful paperback format
• Clifford Wright is a highly-respected cookbook author who has won the James Beard Cookbook of the Year Award and the James Beard Award for Best Writing on Food
• The perfect soup cookbook for anyone who loved Wright's highly acclaimed casseroles cookbook Bake Until Bubbly

The Best Soups in the World presents exciting, enticing, easy-to-prepare recipes using common, easy-to-find ingredients-perfect for budget-conscious cooks whose tastes know no boundaries. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A delightful cornucopia of comfort!
In any great cookbook, the flavor of the dish ought to be expressed passionately in the preceding description of the recipe. //The Best Soups in the World// author Clifford A. Wright accomplishes this very thing. Of his Small Rice Balls in Broth recipe, he writes, "These delicate rice balls will fall apart in the broth, as they should" (page 30). Wright also ably writes a brief history and culinary background for each soup: "Wonton means `swallowing a cloud,' which should give you an idea about what the wontons should resemble in look and taste" (page 34).

Wright ensures that you learn how to cook more than "mere" soup. In sidebars, he offers tips and descriptions, and even recipes for making basics like homemade croutons or roasting nuts.

//The Best Soups in the World// is sorted according to the type of soup (chunky vegetable, grain-based, cheese, chilled, etc.) rather than region (although the "recipes by region" appendix solves that problem). The book truly spans the globe from French Onion Soup Au Gratin and Mexican Menudo to Korean Bean Paste Soup and Native American Blackfoot Bison and Blackberry Soup. You'll find soup recipes from Norway to North Africa -- a delightful cornucopia of comfort!

Reviewed by Amber K. Stott

worldly variety makes soups interesting to try
It will be so exciting to try some of the many different varieties of soups from around the world that are in this book. I even found the book interesting reading.The Best Soups in the World

Magic in a Bowl!
Clifford Wright, a James Beard award-winning author is a long time cyber foodie friend, and when I saw his newest book I just had to get it! Our food interests are in serious alignment!

As I was tossing ingredients to make my stocks after Easter I glanced at some of Clifford's recipes and well duh yes add sage to my turkey stock-I grow Pineapple Sage which as a much more subtle than in your face sage flavour and aroma. I added a tender stalk including the just to open blossoms.

There are some drooling type recipes for Tunisian Lamb soup and Moroccan steaming bowls, both of which I plan to make. I mean how good does Harira with paprika, cinnamon, lentils, turmeric, ginger, etc. sound?

I opted for Clifford's cilantro for the turkey stock too.

I simply love the organization of this book with an ingredient index as well as cuisine index. Wow, a man after my own culinary heart!

A few words of others on this must have book: Travel the world, soup-spoon in hand, with a James Beard Award--winning author as your guide.

In restaurants and dining rooms on every continent, soup is on the menu. A Mexican chef simmers Roasted Poblano and Three Cheese Soup. A Sicilian nonna stirs Beans and Greens Soup, while her Thai counterpart cooks up Mushroom and Chile Soup. Wherever it's eaten, a bowl of soup--whether elegant or hearty, creamy or clear, chilled or piping hot--delivers rich flavor and simple satisfaction. In this ultimate soup cookbook, acclaimed cookbook author Clifford A. Wright has collected the best classical, famous, and not-so-famous recipes to be found anywhere.

My Note* I will have a critical palate when it comes to Clifford's SE Asian soups, but have confidence he won't let us down.I have traveled this region some 30 plus times learning of the culture and cuisine. I am the Thai Food Editor on Bellaonline and seriously know the tastes and techniques of the area.

The Best Soups in the World includes 247 recipes for heartwarming and palate-pleasing soups: Imagine savoring delicate Italian Small Rice Balls in Broth, refreshing California Chilled Peach Soup, piquant Georgian Beef and Apricot Soup, or curry-scented Tanzanian Black-Eyed Pea and Coconut Soup. But this is no mere collection of recipes. Wright is a food scholar; he applies his expertise in lively explorations of the history and culture behind each soup, which makes this book as rewarding to read as it is to cook from.

*My Note - Soups of the Balkans will be especially interesting to try as our son-in-law and his chef mom hail from Croatia via Kosovo where she was head chef in remarkable hotel kitchens. I am always quick to grab pork and lamb bones after family feasts of whole spit roasted animals to make my stocks and resulting soups.

Exciting, enticing, and easy-to-prepare, these recipes use ingredients both common and unusual--Wright provides Internet sources for every item--making them perfect for budget-conscious cooks whose taste know no boundaries. From Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle to Chayote Soup from Nicaragua and from Tuscan White Bean to Vietnamese-American Pho, these soups will take you around the globe, all from the comfort of home.

Are you hungry yet? LOL I am reading this book cover to cover with little post-its dearly being placed on the recipes that are simply a must try right away while there is still a chill in the air, or should I say with wooden spoon in hand, and a basket of fresh from the garden veggies and herbs?

Clifford you have out done yourself this time enticing all cooks to the magic of a bowl of flavours! THANK YOU!

I love soups and hear are hundreds of soups you and I can prepare and enjoy!
I have always loved soups.Unfortunately, for most of my life I didn't know how truly glorious soups could be.My experience was the overly salty stuff that came out of cans.Yet, I enjoyed them for their warmth, and their ease of preparation.When I began cooking a bit over a year ago, I did focus some of my early efforts on soups and stews.Wow!What a delight!What great flavor!Now the stuff in the cans seems all but inedible and terribly one dimensional.You too?

Clifford Wright provides us with a big book that will help us explore all kinds of soups.If you want to see the breadth of cuisine covered in this book, just turn to appendix B and see the soups (leaving out clear broths) organized by geographic region.Wow!

The author also provides soup basics and background in an eight page introduction that is clear, easy to read, and provides you with solid footing to being your soup explorations.You do not need a cooking background to enjoy this book, and even if you have an extensive background in cooking you are sure to find dozens of recipes here that will be new to you.

The recipes are organized logically into these chapters:
Basic broths
Clear soups
Chunky meat soups
Chunky vegetable soups
Chunky legume soups
Smooth vegetable soups
Smooth creamed soups
Smooth legume soups
Minestrone and minestrone-like soups
Grain-based soups
Chowders and bisques
Cheese soups and egg soups
Seafood soups
Chilled soups

Can you read that list and not want to jump into this book and start cooking all kinds of delicious, warm, and satisfying soups?I can't.

Some of the recipes use exotic ingredients that you may not be able to find locally and appendix A lists these ingredients and where you can buy them on the web.

While the book has no pictures, it has lots and lots of easy to envision recipes.I mean how many pictures of bowls and soups can you take anyway?

Enjoy more soups!I will keep this treasure in the collection of cooking resources I use regularly.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI
... Read more

Product Description
This follow-on book to Tough Times, Tough People continues Chicken Soup for the Soul's focus on inspiration and hope in these difficult times. These inspirational stories remind us that each day holds something to be thankful for - whether it is having the sun shine or having food on the table. Power outages and storms, health scares and illnesses, job woes and financial insecurities, housing challenges and family worries test us all. But there is always a silver lining. These stories of optimism, faith, and strength remind us of the simple pleasures of family, home, health, and inexpensive good times. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Good book for bedtime reading.
I like reading this book before bed.It shows me many people have a detemination to get through tough times.It is very inspiring.I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

Food for thought
Reading this book make me realize that we shouldn't take things in our life for granted.Moreover, sometimes we think the rest of the world turned their backs on us but if we really pay attention, there will always be the hands reaching out for us.

Lovely
This is a lovely book. This is the first Chicken Soup book that I have ever read, and from this wonderful experience, I will definitely be buying & reading more of them! However, I give it 4 stars out of 5, because while about 80% of the stories were just great, there were, give or take, a few dozen stories that were either poorly-written or just did not-- in my opinion-- seem special or significant enough to warrant being printed in this book. I also found an overwhelming amount of the stories to be all about illnesses and recovery. I was hoping/expecting, based on the broad theme/edition of the book with its title, "Count Your Blessings" that there would be all kind of stories, but it seemed that well over half of them were about hospitals and cancer and illness and recovery. I feel that either all of these stories should have been together in one section of the book, or that they should've been saved for an illness & recovery edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul. I had to point this out because I have a weak stomach and do not like reading about illnesses and hospitals, etc., and I also do not understand a lot of the terminology because I try to stay away from that stuff. So the wealth of those kinds of stories in here were not enjoyable for me. However, aside from all of that, this is still a 4-star book. It was beautiful, inspirational, made me laugh and cry, and above all, made me excited to go out & find more Chicken Soup books!

More gratitude please
All these stories help to illustrate how little gratitude we all generally practise. Most of us have so much to be grateful for and a book such as this truly brings this home. We who live in a world of material abundance sometimes forget that this is the least important. It helps to centre us again on what really is important.
Dr Gunta Krumins-Caldwell author of On Silver Wings

Count Your Blessings!
My twin sister Tami has dealt with chronic pain and illness for the past 14 years.For those that have never had someone close to you suffer, it would be hard to know that there is a silver lining to it!This book demonstrates that through story after story.How often do we take things for granted.One of my favorite stories in this book was of a woman who suffered from Rheumatiod Arthritis.She suffered for 40 years, barely able to move.In the end, the thing she cherished most was being able to sit in a church pew!I love books like these as they keep me grounded and humble.Terri "Hunter" Ward, children's author of One Starry Night and Aunt Tami's Strawberry Farm. ... Read more

Product Description
A Cookbook for Preschoolers & Up

Together with her co-author, educator Ann Henderson, cookbook author Mollie Katzen believes it's never too early to introduce children to the creative world of cookery in a fun, healthful way. For small children, exploring food and cooking is not just about eating, it can be a playful activity and a way to learn new skills. As an educational experience, consider all the things a child can learn in the kitchen: counting, symbol recognition, reading readiness, self-confidence, use of tools, food literacy, and more.

Pretend Soup brings the grown-up world of real cooking to a child's level. Each vegetarian recipe is presented on double-page spreads, two per recipe. Full of Mollie's well-loved warmth and whimsical artistry, the first spread details the ingredients, safety tips, and a familiar version of the recipe for the prep cook: the adult. The second spread presents the recipe pictorally for the child and introduces a few easy-to-read words - your child moves from the usual role of helper to head cook.Amazon.com Review
Pretend Soup has rapidly become the children's cookbookclassic, and no home or daycare center should be without a copy. MollieKatzen, author of the Moosewood Cookbook, and educator Ann Henderson havecreated a masterpiece formatted for grown-ups--with written instructions,suggestions, and caveats--and for kids--with illustrated, easy-to-followpictures. The recipes are both tasty and healthy, and the quotes from kids arevery funny (Matthew: "This is so good, I can't even say a word.") Whilesafety is stressed and tips and warnings are included, Katzen and Hendersonalways stress the fun in food preparation. "Spills are what sponges arefor. So keep plenty of sponges around, and a good time will be had byall!" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Inspiration, even to bigger little chefs!
My daughter has been using this book since she was in preschool.At that time, she used the simple illustrations of recipes with my assistance.Now that she's 10, she's been using the full written recipes for some of her favorites, and concocting most of them alone (or mostly without my help).She's even made her own variations--her favorite is "Popunders", the popover recipe made with whole wheat flour.They rise a bit and then cave in, and end up with a (different but) pleasant, doughier consistency.She named them that, too.So, it's on to Honest Pretzels next!

Developmentally Appropriate Cookbook for Preschoolers
After trying a bunch of cookbooks with my 3 year old son, this one was by far the best.The authors designed developmentally appropriate pages for the child to "read" and follow the recipe with more independence.Brilliant!

Good Book
This book is good, I'm refering to it specially during the weekend to share cooking with my kidd Nasser.

Excellent healthy simple recipes for kids and adults
This is an exceptionally helpful first cookbook.The recipes are easy, the drawings colorful, and the food tastes amazing.The author does a good job of explaining what projects a three year old will want to try (cracking eggs, stirring) and what projects a five or six year old will want to help with (washing berries, preparing the pancake mix.I use the pancake recipe for the base of all my pancakes now.I love the fact that the author gives recipes for a pancake mix that can be made in advance.I keep a ziplock bag of a pancake mix and a muffin mix in my fridge at all times.Each recipe starts out with instructions for the adult, followed by hints and safety tips.Then the author explains what tools will be needed.The recipe is written and steps clearly broken down.Following the complete recipe is a step by step picture recipe that a non reader can use!Tonight my daughter and I enjoyed the Noodle Pudding for dinner, which is apparently an unbaked noodle kugel.My daughter LOVES it, and I like it too.Another thing I have to say that I love about this book is that all the ingredients are easy to find, and healthier substiutions are easy too.I replaced (in the noodle pudding recipe) fat free cottage cheese for full fat, and the taste was still amazing.Tomorrow night my daughter will make the Quesadilla Recipe, and I can not wait!The only downside to this book is the lact of nutritional information.

Really promotes reading for preschoolers!
Our kids love this and the other books in the series.The copy arrived quickly, and as promised.A great quality book, perfect for boys eager to help in the kitchen, and for emerging readers! ... Read more

Product Description

For thousands of years, dogs have been cherished as devotedcompanions and exuberant playmates—their unconditional love,limitless affection and unwavering loyalty never fail to melt ourhearts. The stories in Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul trulycapture the special joy these four-legged creatures bring to our livesand hearts.

• The family that learns the true meaning of Christmaswhen their Lab needs medical care during the holidays.
• The intimidating Doberman who becomes a lovingmother to an orphaned duckling.
• The homeless man whose life is changed when hemeets a special dog.
• The pocket-size assistance dog who dials 9-1-1.

The crafty beagle-mix with the munchies who helpshimself from the refrigerator . . . and many moreunforgettable canine characters.

From exciting and entertaining accounts of courageand humor to heartwarming tales of healing and learning,each touching story in this book will inspire doglovers to rejoice in the unique bond they share withtheir canine companions.

Customer Reviews (32)

Best book I have read! I highly recommend it!! A+++
I can't put this book down! I'm half way done reading it and I have to admit some stories will make you cry of joy or sadness! I highly recommend this book to all dog lovers. I will pass this to my dog lover friends! Great seller, super fast shipping! A+++

Another Great Chicken Soup Book!
I love all the Chicken Soup for the Soul books I've read, but am especially partial to those about dogs.The stories in this book are wonderful, typical of the series!I would highly recommend this book to any dog lovers!

chicken soup
This was a gift for my Aunt.She loved it - and it's in great condition.

.love this book.
I loved this book. It was all about stories of dogs who have rescued their owners. I read one story about a dog saving their owner that had fallen in ice! Pretty ah-mazing. Well I really recomend this book for people who love animals and love amazing stories.

~McKell

Crys your heart out-Soup Dog Lover's Soul
I love dogs.Each little story was heartwarming, entertaining, caught my attention and mostly heartbreaking/bittersweet (in the endings).It is about dogs relationships with people and other animals and peoples with dogs. I cried so much I ended up with a tension headache/migraine and was in bed for a day on medication to relieve the pain. I dread the day I loose my litle Teddy (Maltese) + know how I rescued him. Not meant for the little ones-they may cry more than I did. ... Read more

Product Description
Mouse is in a
jam -- soon he'll
be weasel soup!

Weasel is ready for his dinner. And poor mouse is it. Just in time, he thinks up a clever and entertaining way to distract weasel from serving up mouse soup for supper.

Customer Reviews (18)

great level 2
my 6 year old niece loves this book and it is too complicated for her to memorize sofar so she actualy needs to read the wordsl

Great book for even learning words
My parents bought me this book, and I saved all of my books from childhood for my children.My 3 year-old has chosen this as his favorite book, and because he has it memorized, we can use it to teach early words.He wants to read it everyday, and on days when we're short on time (it's often a bedtime book), we can just read two stories.

I need to find more from this author.The library never seems to have him in stock.

Very cute.Its books like these that make reading enjoyable for struggling readers.
My son is in second grade.He didn't enjoy reading and he wasn't reading his level.To try to force him to read books that he was expected to just made it worse.The Minnie & Moo series was a major breakthrough in getting him interested in books.Mouse Soup along with Owl At Home were also good for him but he was done in 15 minutes.He's become a good reader and actually does his nightly reading automatically on his own.I didn't want any setbacks so I'm still choosing easier books...nothing wrong with that....

my son loves this book
I had this book as a child & loved it. I bought it early for my son, who is only 3, not thinking that he'd like it right now since he is too young & the pictures aren't vibrantly colored but he LOVES IT. This book is a classic- from the 1970's when I first had it to the year 2009, it wins the hearts of young ones!

Just what I expected!!
this is a great book and i received it just like i expectd to receive it. ... Read more

Product Description
"Of soup and love, the first is best." Brother Victor-Antoine makes a passionatecase for this Spanish proverb in Twelve Months of Monastery Soups, bringing easy, delicious, soul-satisfying soup recipes from the monastery to your kitchen. From simple, clear broths to thick, hearty soups, there's a recipe to appeal to every taste. Arranged by month with an eye toward seasonal variety and at least one recipe for every vegetable native to North America, the 175 soups include classic favorites such as Cream of Corn and Tomato and more unique recipes such as Jerusalem Artichoke, Provenal Rainbow, and Danish Onion-Champagne. With inspirational quotes proclaiming the goodness of soup sprinkled throughout and beautiful period block prints, Twelve Months of Monastery Soups is a celebration of the art of soup-making.Amazon.com Review
Offer your guests a big bowl of warmth and comfort--stir upsome homemade soup! Brother Victor-Antoine d'Avila-Latourrette, authorof From a MonasteryKitchen, follows the months of the year with simple recipesusing seasonal ingredients. The soup recipes are international aswell--try some Polish Pearl Barley Soup in February and TraditionalAustrian Cheese Soup in November. Brother Victor-Antoine recommendschilled soups in the summer for refreshment; June's creamy ChilledCarrot Soup features the zest of ginger and lemon, and the ColdZucchini Soup in August is delightful with the recommended lemonbasil. The simplicity of the recipes makes them suitable for beginningcooks, who will learn that a great variety of flavors can be producedjust by changing the order in which the vegetables are sautéedor by using vegetable broth instead of beef bouillon. Twelve Monthsof Monastery Soups is a delicious introduction to the art of soupmaking. As Brother Victor-Antoine notes, "soup remains a faithfulfriend during all of life's occasions." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (45)

seasonal soups
This is a wonderful book.I really like the fact that the soups are arranged by season so that one could purchase fresh ingredients.There is enough variety to choose from for each month according to time available and budget.I wish that they would have included more information about monastery life though.

Easy, fresh, delicious and healthy soups
This book is full of consistent winners.The recipes are simple - usually vegetables, some water or stock and a few spices or cream.The result is not only easy, but delicious and often very healthy.The book is organized by month, making it easy to find recipes appropriate for seasonal produce.

A wonderful reference book to have on hand for frequent use.

Simple Ingredients-Fabulous Results
I'vebought so many cookbooks and have been disappointed with the results.I decided to be safe and check this one out from the library.I now own it!I've made several soups for my family and they have been great. My children consistently devour St. Patrick's Irish Potato Soup.Only one so far- Watercress Soup-did I not enjoy that much.One factor that I think might be the issue is that the author's measurements aren't precise.After looking through the recipes that use boullion cubes;I feel as if he's using the larger size instead of the one per 8 oz water size that is found more often in stores.I do agree that many of the recipes call for cream or oil increasing the fat content.I've reduced the oil and used low-fat dairy including almond milk and have still gotten excellent results.

Monastery Soups- Simple, Healthy, Elegant
I was first introduced to this author many years ago, buying a cookbook called "This Good Food". I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was eager to purchase more of his cookbooks. I found Monastery Soups a few months later.
All of the recipes are simple and the listing of ingredients are mostly kitchen staples you have already. The soups are fabulous, quick to put together and very healthy for you.The wood cuts and the quotes he peppers his pages with are delightful. I have given this cookbook to many of my friends and they love it!

Tasty Soup - Seasonal and Simple
This cookbook is a great learning tool and a base for many soups of your own over time. Switch an ingredient here and a spice there, and you have created your own soup. There is much fun and adventure in creating a "new" soup to warm the belly.

The seasonal nature of the book makes shopping for ingredients easier, healthier, and sustainable. I am a certified meat fanatic, but I love this book. Vegetarians will REALLY love this book.

My only suggestion is to buy/own a stick blender before buying this book. Stick blenders are the biggest time and dish washing saver EVER. Any soup fan must own one. Processors are for pastry work and large chopping jobs. Blenders are for smoothies. Stick blenders are for soup. Just my take. So buy one on Amazon WITH this book and enjoy! ... Read more

Product Description

The definitive collection of recipes for soup lovers everywhere.

A good soup nourishes the heart as well the stomach, spreading a feeling of satisfaction and contentment. Hot soup is warming on a winter day, while cold soup is just as welcome in the heat of summer.

From comforting creamy chicken and rice soup to refreshing gazpacho, 300 Sensational Soups offers something for every season, mood and occasion. There are 50 international soups, including Vietnamese pho, Italian wedding soup, and Middle Eastern harira. Soups from the sea include such favorites as snapper in Asian broth with habañero and shrimp, and shrimp and pea soup with lemongrass. Each recipe also includes tips and techniques along with garnishing ideas. As well, there are many creative variations and serving suggestions.

There is also the Just (Soup) Desserts chapter, which features 20 dessert soups, including coconut soup with mango fritters, chocolate soup with brownie croutons, and chilled cherry soup with crème anglaise swirl.

With 300 recipes to choose from, ranging from everyday fare to elegant dishes for entertaining, 300 Sensational Soups offers home chefs a perfect bowl of soup every time.

Customer Reviews (15)

Good "Home-Cooking"
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (10/10)

What is the most desired comfort food?Yes, it's soup!!And, can you imagine having access to 300 recipes?That's exactly what you will get in "300 Sensational Soups" by Carla Snyder and Meredith Deeds.

I'm a soup lover and was thrilled to get this book to review.The problem was to decide which three recipes I wanted to test for the purpose of this review.My first choice was "Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken-Corn Soup with Tiny Dumplings." Sounds good, doesn't it?Well it sure was.The soup was thick with vegetables and chicken. Adding 2 cans of cream corn and a cup of frozen corn kernels certainly did make it "corn" soup.Other vegetables were onions, carrots, and celery. The soup was delicious but the dumplings ended up being too tough for our liking.This is a huge recipe (serves 6 to 8) so it's good for a couple of days or freezing.(It does freeze well.)

The second recipe I tried was "African Peanut Soup."I used to make a similar recipe years ago so was pleased to find a variation that sounds good.We weren't disappointed - it was good.Can you imagine putting 2/3 of cup of chunky peanut butter into a soup?Well, this is exactly what is called for and along with the ground turkey, canned diced tomatoes, diced sweet potatoes and a seasoning of fresh ginger, curry and garlic you've got a thick soup that is simply delicious.The coconut milk created the creaminess that a peanut soup needs. I'll let you in a secret:this soup is much better the second day.

The third recipe I tried was "Potato Tarragon Soup."The addition of butter and whipping cream makes this a rich soup. The fresh tarragon is strong but a good accompaniment with the garlic and onions. Because of its richness and high calorie count, I followed the soup with a fresh green salad.This makes a wonderful lunch dish.The authors suggest that this soup could be served cold.

There are so many other recipes that I will be making from "300 Sensational Soups."I commend Snyder and Deeds for coming up with so many different recipes for a dish that has been eaten from the beginning of time.There is nothing exotic about any of the recipes therefore making the purchase of ingredients simple.Most of them can be found in the kitchen pantry or at a local grocery story.

a GREAT cookbook!
Creative, friendly, easy-to-follow, delicious - this is a great cookbook! As you'd imagine, with 300 recipes, it covers the gamut, from the comfortingly familiar to the delightfully creative, with soups for all year round and even for dessert. Plus, tips and serving suggestions galore. This is yet-another must-have cookbook from Carla and Meredith!

Don't overlook this book!
I got 300 Sensational Soups from the library and was doubtful I'd find anything new or exciting. It is soup afterall, not always the center of a meal. Was I ever wrong! This book has great recipes I've never seen before, and has actually inspired me to make a soup dinner at least once a week during cold weather months. In addition to the great recipes, there are tips in the margin that are actually helpful! (in some other books, the tips only fill up space). There are also soups such as Day After Thanksgiving Soup, which come in handy. At at the end of the book there are recipes for toppings and garnishes that will make your soup sing:Chile Cheddar Croutons, Fluffy Dumplings, Crispy Shallots. Are you hungry yet? I ended up buying the book and will probably cook my way through it. This would be a great gift for a cook on your list. And an excellent pairing would be 300 Sensational Soups and one of the Artisan Bread books by Jeff Hertzberg MD and Zoe Francois.

Winter Cooking For Non -Skiiers; or Soups On
Cooking and readingare hobbies, and living in New England, they get add'l attention during the long winters.When I received this attractive and long book from Amazon I read it cover to cover and made a short list of the soups that I wanted to try.Then, passed the book on to friends requesting that each prepare a list. As it trned out, each list was completely different. Next, each person circled one soup from their list that they especially wanted to try. Selections having been made, now we're almost ready for the actual cooking.
But the weather has been mild so far, and the soups haven't been prepared yet.But, it's comforting to know that we're prepared for dealing with a harsh winter by having a diverse choice of soups at the ready. Looking forward to warming up the kitchens, adding fragrances to our residences, and having the cameradie of shared meals. Think that reading the ingredients provides a reasonably good idea of which soups will successfully appeal to our palates and taste buds.Anticipate enjoying winter's adventure of preparing fresh, new soups. Believe theywill be considerably better. healthier and more flavorful than prepared soups. An update:have just had the split pea soup with ham hocks, and it's one of the tastiest soups I've ever had. Look forward to discovering new recipes and tastes from this great book.!
Bon appetit les copains.

So Far "Sensational"
I love soup and I am always looking for new soups to try. Saw this featured on GMA and thought I'd give it a try. So far , so good. Love the Potato Tarragon soup and also tried and enjoyed a roasted tomato soup too. This week I am trying a creamy sweet potato soup with maple cream. Yum. I can't wait. I am hoping to try a new soup every week. Even my friends are begging for the soups. Yay! Great for people looking to try new things! ... Read more

Product Description
Praise for the fully revised and updated Splendid Soups

"Jim Peterson's Splendid Soups is a comprehensive and mouthwatering atlas of the world of soup. It not only covers soups of all nationalities and every garnish, but provides a handy list of sources for every hard-to-find ingredient and kitchen tool, too. More importantly though, through his gargantuan world tour Jim empowers home cooks to strike out on their own and invent new soups. It just makes me want to get into the kitchen and start cooking!" -SARA MOULTON Host, The Food Network's Cooking Live; Executive Chef, Gourmet magazine; Food Editor, Good Morning America

"We love James Peterson. Splendid Soups is a bountiful source of enticing ideas!"-the moosewood collective Authors of the Moosewood Restaurant CookbooksAmazon.com Review
Everyone loves soup, the world's most versatile dish. JamesPeterson's Splendid Soups, first published in 1993 and now updated,celebrates that fact with stunning comprehensiveness. Offering almost 300 tantalizing recipes ranging from the most pristine consommés to the heartiestpeasant stews, the book also provides extensive technical information, tips, and serving suggestions that make it a true soup tutorial. The book's "ultimate goal," says Peterson, "is to give the reader the tools with which to invent,"an aim he realizes with clarity, warmth, and precision. It's hard to imagine a cook who wouldn't embrace this authoritative yet companionable work.

The recipe range is vast. In 10 chapters that cover all the soupbases, including yogurt, bread, and fruit mixtures, Peterson offers anencyclopedic dish array. Among the entries new to this edition are Roast Garlicand Acorn Squash Soup, Thai-Style Hot and Sour Blue Crab Soup, and DriedFruit Soup, a traditional Swedish specialty. Especially noteworthy is Peterson's introductory section on ethnic soups; a section offering strategiesfor reducing a soup's fat content (don't let meat broths boil, which homogenizes fat and liquid); and advice on what to drink with soup. With 40 color photos taken by the author, an equipment guide, and a useful chart for soup improvisation, the book is better than ever and a must-have for any kitchen library. --Arthur Boehm ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Yum
This book is what every cookbook should be like.It has a great range of soups from all different areas.He has a lot of classics, but he also adds a lot of tips for variety to mix it up a little bit.His directions are very clear, which is really helpful for me since I'm a first time cook.Even if you're an experienced cook, though, it would be helpful because it provides instructions for how to make up your own soups.It got a James Beard Nomination, and I think that really speaks for itself.

Best soup book I've ever read/used
This book is great. Take my word for it. Every one of the recipes I've tried has produced a great soup. Plus, there are pages upon pages of history, instruction, explanation, etc. -- which you can skip if you don't wish to read it, but which add to the understanding of what makes a great soup.

One example: Spanish garlic soup. It literally takes less than 15 and produces a fine concoction for a winter evening.

Well worth the price. This guy knows his stuff.

Learn to Make Stocks
The most useful thing about this book is that it teaches you how to make a good stock. I can't tell you how much it has made a difference in my cooking. I do like the recipes in the book, but more often his techniques are being applied to other recipes vastly improved by my new ability to make a good stock. Once you get into the habit of making stock, you will be horrified at the thought of throwing away bones! Use them to make stock now, or freeze them and make stock later. The recipes are loose, but if you read the opening chapters you will not need absolute precision because you will know what you are doing!

Good compilation of recipies, but poor quality of each recipe..
First of all I have to say that I am spanish and I am not writing in my mother tongue. So I have to apologise in advance for my poor English skills.

When I read a review I like to know who write it in order to guess what he expected to find in the book and what sort ofjudgment he is going to give us.

I am an Spanish Food Engineer. I am not a professional chef but, I dare say, I am an advanced amateur cook.
I read the cookbooks form cover to cover at least twice. I underlain it and even it compare the recipies with other books.
I dont want a compilation of recipies that I left in my shelves for checking a recipe from time to time.

What I expected to find in this book was:

1-A classification of soups.
2-A correct description of the techniques for cooking the soups.
3-A collection of really splendid soups. I dont mind how many recipies the book has, but I mind the quality of each recipe.
I want a perfect recipe for each soup. Whether I like or not the soup, once I have cooked it, it depends on my personal taste.


So with this in mind, here is my review.

1-The book is organized by ingredientes (meat soups, fish soups, vegetable soups..). It makes easier to find a recipe if you have some ingredientes in the refrigerator and you wants to know what to do with them. But it should be arranged by technique as the book "Professional Chef" (CIA) does (consommes, hearty broths, cream soups, puree soups and bisques).You cant remember all the recipies but you can remember the techniques. This is the most didactic way of organize the book if you want to read it from cover to cover.

2-The general description of the techniques are omitted. The author goes straight to the description of the preparation of each recipe. What it is good if you want a compilation of recipies, but it isnt very useful if you really want to learn how to cook soups at your will.
By the other hand, the description of the preparation of the recipies are detailed and correct. Neither it is "over-detailed" nor ambiguous.

3-At first sight, the number of recipies seems to be huge. But once you have read some chapters you will realise that some recipies are almost the same. Organizing the book by ingredients its easy to repeat recipes because you only need to change an ingredient.For example, "Miso Soup" and "Miso soup with egg plant", the first one appears in the chapter of broths and the second one appears in the chapter of vegetables. But both are the same .Another example "Puree of Artichoke", "Puree of Asparagus", "Puree of Cauliflower"...etc.
The number of recipies has been falsely increased

4-I cant say the recipies doesnt works, but I cant say the recipies are excellent.In some cases I am sure the recipe is wrong. As I said I am spanish, and I cant assure that Gazpacho doesnt contain neither chicken broth nor lime. I understand the author wants to transform/interpret some exotic/ethnic soups. But the changes should not become the dish into another thing. Another example is the Bisque. He uses vegetable puree to thick the soup. By definition a Bisque is a soup that only contains crustaceans and the vegetables are only use for give a subtle taste and it should not distort the crustacean taste.
I wouldnt say that from the 400 soups all of them are "splendid". On the contrary, only few ones are good (but not excellent). He should be more concentrated on the quality rather than in the quantity.

5-There are few photographs (8 pages). The "soups" showed by these photos has got so many solids and so few liquid that you would need a fork and a knife for eating it. So it isnt soups, because you dont use a spoon for eating it.

6-The style of writing is a bit arrogant. I agree with other review. He uses a lot the word "I". I think he is too worry about demostrating that he has cooked each soup, because he repeat many times "Each time I cook it..." "I like to eat it.." "I cant image a summer without it.." and so on.
I dont think he has cooked all the recipies, or at least, I dont think he cook the soups withfrequency he try to show.
The book contains 400 recipies, really do you think that he eats so often all them during the 365 days of the year?.
On the other hand, he is too precise with very tiny details (add the parsley just 1 minute before serving, for example) but he is too loose with other matters.
Does he pretend to be exquisite? an epicurean?

7-This book has got some good points. The chapter of ethnic soups is excellent. He describes some ethnic and exotic ingredients and also incorporate soups from Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, China, India Morocco, Mexico etc...
After reading the book you will be able to prepare a soup freely just watching what you have got in the refrigerator.

All in all, I doesnt believe its a masterpiece as other reviewers does. The recipies arent totaly perfect and if you are purist the book will disappoint you.
But if you arent a purist, if you doesnt look for the perfect soup, and if you only want to find a recipe and cook it from time to time, this is your book.

Best Soup Cookbook Ever
Every recipe was easy to follow and came with set-by-step instructions.All of my favorite soups are from the Splendid Soup cookbook.Everytime I make a soup from this cookbook (which is once a week) I get a thumbs up from my family, especially from the hard to please little ones!!! ... Read more

Product Description
This comforting serving of Chicken Soup is a thoughtful gift for those grieving the loss of a loved one.

This collection of inspirational stories will undoubtedly touch many hearts. Written by authors who have lost loved ones, these stories offer comfort, peace and understanding to those going through the grieving process.

Individual people deal with grief in their own ways and within their own time, but the guidance and support they receive from others is what helps them through it. One of the key messages of Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul is that togetherness and sharing are the keys to moving on. In these stories people share their experiences with coping, and they share deep memories. Each one has found that putting thoughts and feelings into words is not only cathartic, but it allows them to reconnect with their loved one and others. Words of encouragement are plentiful in this edition, and they go straight to the heart.

Chapters encompass the complete grieving experience and include: Final Gifts, The Power of Support, Coping and Healing, Those We Will Miss, Special Moments, Insights and Lessons, and Living Again.

Readers will be comforted and inspired by the stories of regaining strength and hope, through holding meaningful services, performing thoughtful deeds and cherishing special memories. Most important, just as the writers have come to appreciate life through the grieving process, readers will discover how to do the same. This soothing bowl of stories is the perfect gift to bring comfort, strength and courage. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Learning that there is hope after the loss of a loved one
This book helps those of us who have lost a loved one because it allows us to share the grief with others in a special way.It reminds us that there is life to be lived after we experience such loss.It helps to know others' stories, to know that we are not alone.And one of the best ways to remember our loved ones is sharing with others.

Grieving Souls
I gave these books to my son-in-law, & his sister after their mother's funeral as a gift of comfort...very comforting book an individual going through sorrows can pick up anytime.I also gave one to one of my dearest friends when she lost her dad.I would highly recommend this book to give to those left behind when a loved one passes...one of the best gifts I can think of in assisting sould in mourning in consoling them.

Very needed
I don't know where these guys get all these stories, but they are amazing! this is such a needed book. We have far too few books about death and dying and the whole grieving process. We have such dogmatic views about how one should grieve and what is correct. It is therefore so refreshing to read stories such as these coming from people from all walks of life with such varied experiences.
Dr Gunta Krumins-Caldwell author of On Silver Wings

Chicken Soup for my grief
The stories I have read so far are very toughing and helped me after our son was killed in a hunting accident.I recommend it if you are grieving or helping someone who is.

good but not great
This book wasn't what I was expecting. It isn't like other Chicken Soup books I have read; there were no poems, no pictures, no cartoons, it was all stories. The stories are good and full of hope but I think the book is intended for someone who is further along in the grieving process than I was. ... Read more

Product Description
This survival guide to the preteen years is packed withstories by and about readers ages nine to thirteen, includingcelebrity pieces by *NSYNC, Mia Hamm and more.

From remembering their own life experience or to watching their ownchildren grow, most people recognize that the preteen years, ages nineto thirteen, can be one of the most awkward times in life-a period oftremendous physical and emotional change. At this age, youngsters areeager to leave the "kid" stage, yet are uncertain about whatadolescence will bring; they'd rather listen to peers over parents,and hear all too often to "wait until you're older." Chicken Soup forthe Preteen Soul will guide kids through this transition.

Written by and for preteens, this uplifting collection of storiestouches on the emotions and situations they experience every day:making and losing friends, fitting in while keeping their personalidentity, discovering the opposite sex, dealing with pressures atschool including violence, and coping with family issues such asdivorce.

Chapters include: On Love, On Family, On Friendship, On Choices, OnChanges, On Overcoming Obstacles, Eclectic Wisdom, Tough Stuff,Attitude and Perspective and Achieving Dreams. Contributors include:*NSYNC, Mia Hamm, Beverley Mitchell and Karl Malone.

Whether first-time Chicken Soup readers or "graduates" of thebestselling Kid's Soul book, preteens are sure to include this intheir backpacks and book bags.Amazon.com Review
Inspired by the many readers of Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul (one of many in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series), the authors decided to reach out to young people at that incredibly confusing, exciting chapter of life, the preteen years. Readers between the ages of 9 and 12 (give or take a year) sometimes felt that the book for kids was too young, while the edition for teens (Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul) was too old. In this warm, supportive anthology of true stories by and about preteens, the very issues that seem so complicated and insurmountable are addressed with intelligence and openness. Divorce, violence, death, friendships, school, family, attitudes, changes, dreams... preteens have a lot to offer and a lot to learn on these subjects. Many of the brief essays, cartoons, quotations, and introductions are witty as well as wise and touching; readers might devour the book from start to finish, drop in for a story here and there, or focus on a concern that is most important at the moment. The preteen years seem to be the perfect time to reach kids, before they are lost in teen angst and coolness. And who better to learn from than their own peers? For some added incentive to read, celebrities such as Mia Hamm, Karl Malone, and 'N Sync have contributed essays as well. (Ages 9 to 13) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Customer Reviews (54)

Fantastic service
The item arrived in good time and condition as per Amazon's promise. Good job all!

Love it!
My children(9 ,11) start off the day every morning before school reading an uplifting and meaningful story.

school project
very goodb value had to buy for school summer reading program. my daughter even liked it and she hates to read.

Birthday present
My ten year old daughter really loves this book.She is not very keen on reading, but will sit down and read the chicken soup books.She chose this book as one of her birthday presents!

Good stories to read with your preteen.
It is sometimes hard to find things to do with your preteen. They are at an age when they want more independence from mom and dad.This book is a great connection - you can cozy up and read a few selections at a time - it's a great way to have fun, and spend time bonding with your preteen. You can then use the stories, or lessons learned for great conversation pieces for discussion. ... Read more

Product Description
A clever young man tricks an old woman into believing thatsoup can be made from a stone. As the pot of water boils with thestone in it, he urges her to add more and more ingredients until thesoup is a feast "fit for a king." In print for 30 years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

a good lesson on sharing
This cute little book has alot to offer in the way of teaching kids to share.It also shows that each of us no matter how large or small, we all having something to offer and contribute, and if we work together, our small contributions when put together can make up something big that will benifit everyone involved.

Lori Ann Libby
aythor of
The Adventures of Henry Hamper and the Flying Fish

Almost as I remembered
The book I had as a kid had a band of traveling knights that made the soup, but this copy is just as good.The illustrations are excellent!

Stone Soup review
I like the book very much but disappointed when it did not come with the CD.I was refunded my money for the purchase of the book but would have rather had the CD to go with the book.

stone soup
stone was the best story i read when i was younger i am so glad that i found this book to buy so i can share this with my younger brothers and sis. The story gave that feelin as if you to were in the story. but there is a book that i am looking for. that book has different kids story in it. it is a had cover book i think it's called book worm or castle of sand or sand castle or something like that i would be so happy if I am able to find that book.

EXCELLENT TELLING OF A VERY OLD TALE
Stone Soup by Ann McGovern and illustrated by Winslow Pinney Pels is the retelling of an old Grimm Brother's tale whose origin has probably been long lost.It is also known as Nail Soup in Scandinavia, and Axe Soup in parts of Europe.Some traditions, which is somewhat supported, place the origin of the story in Portugal.Originally the story consisted of a group of hungry solders returning from the war, who talked an entire town into providing them with an entire meal using the "stone soup method."The version of the story told here has two characters; a young and poor wondering youth, and a somewhat poor old woman who actually has plenty that he tries to talk out of a meal.

When the old lady refuses our young wondering man a meal, he of course starts with a rock he picked up from the road.After he adds the rock to a pot of boiling water, to make "stone soup" he has the little old lady hooked.He points out that the stone soup would be much enhanced with the addition of some onions.The little old lady of course has onions, so she adds them.This goes on and on like this with one ingredient after another being added at the coaxing of the young man and the curiosity of the old lady increasing as the story progresses.In the end, the young man gets a fine pot of stew, a full belly, and I suspect, after the little old lady thinks about it, she becomes much wiser.

The author has done a fine job in this version of the tale and the illustrations are top notch.The artist has used detailed water colors and has captured the poverty of the youth perfectly.The depictions of the clothing alone are works of art.

This is a great read-along book or one that is good for the child to read to themselves.Both test and illustrations are well coordinated.

Since this version of this story was first published in 1968 it has come under some criticism as some feel it teaches children to lie and deceitful.It also shows a very uncaring and unsharinglittle old lady, both not good traits.While I agree that the axe version may show and teach the advantages of cooperation better; that working together, all benefit, I also feel there are lessons to be learned from this version.First, children need to learn the facts that people do lie and lie all the time.Secondly, that they should questions the overall big picture and not take everything at face value and thirdly, when you want something from someone, don't tell them how desperately they need it, but rather create the impression that you are giving them an opportunity to be part ofyour success.I firmly believe that we can be, and often are, too sheltering and protective of our children; to the point of hurting them later in life.

I enjoyed this book.I use it all the time with children I read to and in fact, used an oral version of this tale to teach my children and grandchildren, much as I was by my grandfather years and years ago.

Note that there are other and many versions of this book out.I will be the first to admit that I have read better, but still think that this one will do in a pinch.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks
... Read more

Product Description
Whether it is at first sight, develops over time with a close friend, or it hits you like a ton of bricks--falling in love is a lyrical life-changing event. Chicken Soup for the Soul® Love Stories will transport you to the moments of your life that were filled with devotion and unconditional love.

Who can forget what it feels like to walk on air, share private jokes, and ponder over intimate moments? This collection of stories is sure to rouse the inner romantic in your heart, with stories of long-lost love rekindled in the twilight of life, young love discovered, and love that truly lasts forever. But this book will also remind you of the everlasting love between friends, family, and parents and children. 

Stories peppered throughout celebrate the vastness of love in all its many forms, including the story of one woman who is able to endure a painful illness because of the unconditional love and affection she receives from her cat, and the story about the love shared between father and daughter when he returns from overseas, as well as stories about love found in surprising ways by women and men who thought their time for romantic love had passed.

Chicken Soup for the Soul® Love Stories will take you back to your most cherished memories and inspire you to create a few more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great Collections of the Year
This book is the best book I've ever read so far.Some make me cry, some make me realize there are still true love out there.Really recommended !!!

Chicken Soup - Love Stories
This book was used but I wasn't expecting the front cover to be half-cut.The seller only described some wears on the cover edges.It did arrive on time and it was very affordable.

One of their biggest fans
I adore most of the 'Chicken Soup' series. I am fond of how they find great stories to publish, and they let the stories tell the story without the annoying need for the editor to cut out the voice of the author.

I have had various relationships in my life, and I am aware that there's something special about being in love. It seems that human beings are social animals and need connection to thrive.

I hope they continue to publish

You won't put it down
This is another beautiful book filled with touching stories and also a great reminder that faith & love still exsist out there.
Thank you Jack Canfield and friends for another wonderful book! Fantastic!!!

Inspiring
Those books are amazing, the way they touch your soul and make u relfect upon life !!!! God bless all the colaborative authors that make this book a reality!! ... Read more

Product Description
Nearly everyone thinks their own family is "nutty" or has at least one or two nuts. With 101 stories of wacky yet lovable relatives, funny foibles, and holiday meltdowns, this book is usually hilarious and occasionally poignant. This book shows readers that we all have the same family matters and what really matters is families. It is a quirky and fun holiday book, and a great bridal shower or wedding gift! ... Read more

Product Description
Three strangers, hungry and tired,pass through a war-torn village. Embittered and suspicious from the war, the people hide their food and close their windows tight. That is, until the clever strangers suggest making a soup from stones. Intrigued by the idea, everyone brings what they have until-- together, they have made a feast fit for a king! In this inspiring story about the strength people possess when they work together, Muth takes a simple, beloved tale and adds his own fresh twist. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Coming Together
Themes: community, cultural, generosity
Content areas: Language Art- Grades 1 & 2 - teacher read aloud with prediction activities, Grades 3 - 5 folklore comparison studies, Social Studies- Chinese culture, Art- symbols, visual expression, shadow, Guidance- What makes us happy?

Muth again takes a traditional well-known story, and creates a whole new context from which to enjoy and learn from. Take three wise Buddhist monks, suspicious, frightened villagers, one brave little girl, and three stones, and you've got the start to a journey that will ultimately answer the question of what makes us happy.

Muth's watercolor illustrations are filled with Chinese symbols, and cultural expressions. The author's note is at the back of the book, but it's definitely worthwhile to read it before the story. For example, Muth explained that he used the traditional Buddha story, "where tricksters spread enlightenment rather than seeking gain for themselves." and he explained what each monk symbolizes in Chinese lore.

Lovely book, lovely story
Muth is a rare quality storyteller, a fine writer and excellent illustrator.The woman who gave this book 2 stars for is ridiculous - apparently her two year old has never been exposed to the terrifying faces of chinese monks - that they might be frightening for her child is understandable, but to judge a book based on that is myopic.The illustrations are very well-done in lovely pencil and watercolor, realistic and human, and humane. Muth also writes the Zen Shorts books - he tells compassionate, heart-opening stories.

The BEST book for discussing COLLABORATION and being SUPPORTIVE
We use this book for a school-wide lesson on learning what being SUPPORTIVE is and what COLLABORATION is. It is GREAT for teaching students because the steps in the story go from uncooperative people to people who WANT to help and they find out what it means to be SUPPORTIVE to make the entire village happy and productive. This is one of the very first books I read to my students when school begins to teach them these vital vocabulary words and lifeskills they'll need for a LIFETIME.

A Teacher's Perspective
Three monks approach a town that has grown isolated from neighbors and community. They decide to teach the town "happiness" by making stone soup. Each community member brought an ingredient and with everyone's contribution, they made stone soup and had a celebration.

This book is near and dear to me because I used it as a community building exercise when I was teaching elementary. I believe it shows how everyone contributes their own talents to make a better whole.

In the classroom, I would invite students to each bring one ingredient for our own stone soup. We might also create a list of "classroom experts" to show what each child's gifts and talents are.

Great story for kids
I agree with much of what the other reviewers have said about the illustrations.The illustrations are beautiful and really add to the experience of reading the story. My kids loved this book and we've read it together a number of times at bedtime.They like the little girl who approaches the monks out of curiousity (one of my daughters noted that the youngest monk looks like the Avatar from the cartoon series).They also contemplated at what point the monks must have removed the stones from the soup. ... Read more

Product Description
"These stories cannot help but touch the hearts and souls of all who read it, nurses or not. The authors have done nursing a wonderful service by bringing to light the touching, funny, heartfelt anecdotes shared by those at the bedside."-Sally Russell, M.N., R.N. , Educational Director, Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses

This collection of true stories champions the daily contributions, commitments and sacrifices of nurses and portrays the compassion, intellect and wit necessary to meet the challenging demands of the profession.

Stories from student nurses recall why they entered the profession; stories from seasoned nurses reveal why they stay, and some stories reflect on the "good old days." Most important, as every fan of the series knows, each story shares hope for the future.

Regardless of age or area of practice, health-care workers the world over will find their own hearts and souls in these stories as they discover the universality of what they do-and the power of their skillful hands and devoted hearts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Good Book
This product came to my house on time and in good condition. The price was also affordable and I am happy with my purchase:)

Great book
Great book to read when you need a little pick-me-up from a hard day in the hospital. Has inspirational stories for nurses.

Book was like new!
The book was in great shape. I gave this to a friend of mine who had just become a nurse. It said it was autographed so i thought that made it extra special. Didn't realize it was made out to someone else! Oops. She still loved it anyways! Arrived very quickly. Thanks!! :-)

Heartwarming gift
I gave this as a gift to a fellow nursing student and she seemed to love it!

Great!
I am a nurse, so of course, I loved this. It has wonderful, uplifting stories.It would be a wonderful gift for any nurse, or for yourself, if you are a nurse or for anyone thinking about becoming one. ... Read more

Product Description

From hearty stews to refreshing desserts, Nava Atlas ladles out 120-plus imaginative, low-in-fat-but-rich-in-flavor meatless delights to suit every taste, in this veganized version of her bestselling Vegetarian Soups for All Seasons. To highlight the best produce available at any time of year, Nava has arranged the book by season, with spring soups like Leek and Mushroom Bisque and Okra-Rice Gumbo; Cool Ratatouille and Zesty Green Gazpacho for summer; savory Baked Onion Soup and Orange-Butternut Squash Soup for autumn; and hearty Curried Millet-Spinach Soup and Vegetarian Goulash for winter. There’s also a scrumptious selection of dessert soups, including Chilled Cantaloupe Soup, and a tempting selection of accompaniments such as quick breads, dumplings, muffins, and scones.
With exotic international offerings, basic comfort soups, delicate broths, and plenty of soups and stews that can serve as one-dish meals, this cookbook is a must for vegan kitchens everywhere.

Customer Reviews (14)

From one soup and stew lover - - - Great book!
Soups and stews are my favorite way of getting all of my necessary healthy nutrition in one dish meals.This book is awesome.I have not been disappointed with any recipe yet.

VegNews on Vegan Soups
Thought choosing a more humane diet would mean giving up classic favorites like chicken noodle soup and clam chowder? Think again. Author Nava Atlas has given these nostalgia-inducing favorites a vegan makeover--which means now's your time to indulge. A smorgasbord of soups gets ladled out in four sections--fall, winter, spring, and summer--designed to emphasize produce that's in season. For warmer days, Strawberry Colada Soup will likely hit the spot; colder days may invite Potato, "Cheese," and Green Chili Soup. While waiting for your soup to simmer or chill, check out the final section of tempting accompaniments, featuring an assortment of scones, muffins, biscuits, and breads. With these recipes, your options are plentiful: Name a vegetable or fruit, seasoning, or flavor--from Swiss chard to cantaloupe, curry powder to fresh mint--and you'll likely find it tucked somewhere within this repertoire of recipes. Whether you're craving something that's "Cool as a Cucumber" or just right for "cold-weather comfort," Atlas just might compel you to eat soup every day of the year.

yummy ideas
gave this book to our vegan son who is recently single. he took right to it! as he lives in the north east he is frequently inside during the harsh winter and is now enjoying a favorite of mine...long, slow cooking of hearty, satisfying meals. an added bonus is that his weekend cooking serves to carry him part way through the work week. he is even baking bread. who would have thought? it's good for me to know that he is eating well and it's been fun for him. win...win.

Simply Sensational
If you enjoy making a variety of delicious and healthful soups and stews, look no further. Whether you like brothy Asian noodle soups, hearty bean stews, or creamy vegetable bisques, you'll find it within these pages.The recipes call for easy-to-find ingredients and the instructions are clear and simple to follow. I especially love that the book is organized according to seasons, so you can savor these wonderful soups all year long. The yummy selection of accompaniments is an added bonus.

Fast and delicious
What I love about Nava Atlas is, she writes for the average cook. Her recipes are colorful, easy, and quick to prepare. She doesn't bog down recipes with exotic ingredients. Most recipes call for three or four easy-to-find ingredients and take about 30 minutes or so to put together. The color photographs in this soup and stew cookbook are great. I've prepared several of these recipes and shared them with non-vegan diners - they never suspected a thing. This is a great gift book - not too expensive, very beautiful, and useful for the day-to-day cook, especially during the winter months. Also, these recipes are perfect for a single person. You can make a pot of soup on a Sunday and you've got your meals for a few days. ... Read more

Product Description
Nearly eighty years after its release, the Marx Brothers film Duck Soup remains one of the most influential pieces of political satire in history. In Hail, Hail, Euphoria! bestselling author Roy Blount Jr. tells the history and making of Duck Soup, examining the comedic genius of the Marx Brothers at their finest hour. Seventy-seven years ago a slim, agile, quick-witted, self-assured young man was summoned to save a nation from financial ruin. As the nation's new president, he brought together a team of rivals, a band of brothers. Those brothers were Pinky, Chicolini, and Lt. Bob Roland. Their leader's name? None other than Rufus T. Firefly. The humor and idiosyncratic wit of Duck Soup is matched by the author's own clever quips in this gem of a book, offering a behind-the-scenes tale of show business and brotherhood that only a true Marx Brothers aficionado could tell. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A whirlwind, nostalgic, kaleidoscopic ride through a classic movie.

The moment I saw that this book was just on Duck Soup, I had to check it out.I'm a Marx Brothers fan who all too often finds bios on the boys depressing or dull because the movies I love are such a small snapshot of what their lives were.

Blount at times uses the narrative to ambitiously give a window into the popular culture and the Marx family history and how it influenced what made it to the screen.Other times he uses it for an excuse for Marx and other anecdotes and to wax comically.If you stick too close to expectations you have for the book, it can get tedious or meandering at times.If you take it in the spirit of fun and love the author has for the material, it's a fun quick read that will make you want to revisit the movie (or watch if you've never seen it before).

What's the point?
This seems a hastily written and formatted book (by the publisher).The conversational style is
difficult to follow and slows one's enjoyment, since one has to sometimes do a double take
to understand what he's refferring to.And there were a great many lengthy "asides", as when he's
talking about the director or ducks swimming in the intro to the movie or WHATEVER!

There are a few interesting facts here and there, but I felt I had to work for them, while wading
through this cutesy poo muck. The whole book is like a Groucho "aside"--only I didn't care
about the info from other movies, because I'll never see them anyway...

The reference points for bottom of page notes--asterisks, etc.--are tiny and hard to see,
so I found myself squinting to find the sentence that that page's note referred to.
Do I need to be reminded by this guy how great the Marx brothers were, in a barely amusing,
haphazard narrative that smacks of self congratulatory awe?NO! Resoundingly no...
So do yourself a favor and skip this; there are PLENTY of good books on the brothers Marx.
Or you could just watch the film again and "get it" on your own.
Marginally informative time waster.

Somewhat disappointing
I just introduced my 11 year old to Duck Soup a few weeks ago. He loved it and we've since been watching many of the Marx Brothers' best movies together. With this revival of interest, I've recently reread "Groucho and me", "Harpo speaks", looked over various online articles.

So, when the Wall Street Journal gave prominent space to Larry Miller's rave review of this book last week, it felt eerily well-timed and I rushed to order the book. It came today, I've read it and...
I guess it didn't live up to my expectations from Miller's review.

I don't like the style -- the concept is that Blount talks us through the movie, it's running in a corner of his screen while he types, almost like a commentary reel on the DVD, but with pauses for digressions. There is no other real organization and the book has a rambly tone that makes it seem somewhat slapdash. Even the parts that probably took a fair amount of background research get a somewhat improvised flavor to them and the whole thing, lacking chapter divisions or an index, just sort of meanders.

And the blow-by-blow descriptions of some scenes just seem likea waste of space. Fans of the movie are quite familiar with all the business in the lemonade scene already. He also has digressions where he goes into too much detail describing scenes from other movies -- even bugs bunny cartoons.

There *is* some good stuff here, some of it may be familiar to Marx fans, but certainly a lot that I didn't know (I found the material about Leo McCarey and his other movies particularly interesting).

Again, maybe I just expected too much. Many parts of the book were entertaining and I did learn some new things. It just feels like it could have been distilled and organized into one or two really good magazine articles, and in this form it is both padded and disordered -- and not that good, Marx-Brothers-style disorder, either.

Wait For The Paperback
Roy Blount couldn't help but inject his own humor into a review of the Marx Brothers movie Duck Soup (allegedly while he was watching it).

There are some interesting insights, unfortunately they all pretty much come from quotes of Harpo Speaks! and the like. The text will be moving right along and then the author will latch onto a pun (or two or three) and for me, the narrative stops with a loud "Clunk".

In one of the reviews on the back cover of my copy is the statement from the Washington Post Book World: "You's be pulling off a major stunt to hold your laughter while reading Roy Blount."Unfortunately I was able to meet this challenge.

The highlights for me take place when he's sharing his insights on watching it again and sometimes freezing a particular frame to see what it reveals. It's when he's narrating the movie and not trying to be Roy Blount, humorist that this book is truly enjoyable.

Any Marx Brothers fan will want to read this book, but take my advice and wait for the paperback...

A Humorist Writes a Detailed, Appreciative Look at the Movie & the Marx Brothers
Roy Blount jr., a humorist himself, writes a very appreciative, witty and often serious and appreciative view of the Marx Brother's critical 1933 film 'Duck Soup'. While Blount refers to 'Duck Soup' as one of the greatest war movie of all time, as stunning as that remark may seem, a national known military magazine actually rates the film as a top 20 war film of all time. The writing styleof Blount is energetic and very fast paced discussing the script, goes back to the movie, the script, then the movie, the brothers, the support actors such as Margaret Dumont, the frequent straight woman foil for Groucho and the boys. Blount provides generous bios on the brothers periodically through his detailed analysis of the film and with intimate details of the film, even describing the stage fruit that the brothers heave at the the end and at Dumont. There is so much captured by Blount, the detailed comedic moments like Chico and Harpo's teasing the lemonade man, and Groucho & Harpo's mirror act that, as Blount describes, is more than coordinatedtiming but is a special sense of each other from their uniquely close relationship literally growing up at stage. Blount provides fascinating background on the brothers evolving act that was initiated and coordinated by their stage mother Minnie, who sounds funny in her own right, such as wearing a corset to make an entrance then immediately removing it. Blount not only provides descriptions of Chico, Groucho and Harpo but Zeppo who leaves to produce and create a mechanical company that has great success in the medical field and even Gummo who ironically has the last laugh in the book. The movie in itself has an odd familiarity on why wars start, in this case Fredonia needs money and war seems to be the answer and the masses are pitched into hysteria to support the war. Blount has his serious side showing where many similar types of gags, movies etc. from Keaton and Chalin to an obscure french movie that came out before Duck but offers many similarities. This is both a serious look at the film, virtually frame by frame and an appreciation for the Marx's humor. I wish I had watched the movie again just before reading the book, you'll enjoy the book even more if you do. Then read the book and watch the film a second time. I just ordered the DVD version.To end this review, I love the reference to the Mayor of Fredonia, NY who supposedly complained when the movie came out that he wished the makers of the film would change the name of the country so as not to embarrass the town, Groucho quiped "Change the name of the town, it's hurting our movie'. ... Read more

Product Description

Cats first purred their way into human hearts thousands of years ago, and have been our treasured companions and soul mates ever since. Whether impish kittens, regal adult cats or serene seniors, it’s impossible for us to remain indifferent to them—especially at 4 A.M. when the food bowl runs dry! So smile at their many "c'attitudes," and feed your feline passion by "purr-using" wonderful stories like these:

• A Russian blue comforts his mourning owner by faithfully bringing her flowers
• An heroic red tabby Manx saves the family he loves from a lethal gas leak in their home
• A Devon rex with extraordinary talents—including playing the piano—expands people's notions of what a cat can do
• A fish-loving shorthair nearly loses his head while scavenging in the garbage disposal—but lives to meow about it
• A three-legged kitty befriends a lonely third-grade girl, transforming her world and inspiring her future success in life

From playful and hilarious accounts of life with cats to heartwarming tales of cat courage, healing and learning, each touching story in Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul celebrates the special bond we share with our cats.

Customer Reviews (30)

A Pleaser
If you are a cat lover, this book will amuse and amaze you.The personal stories of cat encounters are touching and you'll laugh or cry reading them. You will also recognize cats you have owned (or rather cats who have owned you) and remember each feature unique to them as you read this book.

A bit too sad...?
I would recommend this book to anyone, especially those dastardly dog-lovers who think cats are aloof & inferior. I do have to issue a warning about the chapter titled 'Farewell, My Love' though - don't read it if you are feeling vulnerable! It is very, very, very, very, very sad. I think the other reviewers have significantly underrated the 'crying element' to this book. My husband came home to find me red-eyed, shaken & exhausted after spending an afternoon in this particular chicken soup! Luckily there is a lovely, warm chapter about rescue kitties right after it which helps to restore one's equilibrium somewhat. All in all, it made me love not just my own babies more but all cats!

My First Chicken Soup Soul Book!
The stories are wide ranged in nature but sorted in chapters where you can identify with your specific cat joy or sorrow. Some of the authors are well known. Others are amateurs who love a cat. The list of Contributors and Permissions speaks for itself. This book is truly literature for cat lovers. I read every story and love them all.

Purrrfect!
What a wonderful collection! It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me grab my own 2 kitties for a big hug. I like the idea of an anthology. I can take the book to work and read a story or two during lunch break. I also bought "A Cup of Comfort for Cat Lovers." If you like stories about cats you'll like that book as well.

IT HELPED ME
I had recently lost my favorite cat, and was looking for something to help me get over my lost.I came across this book & reading stories of other people and their cats helped me get over my loss, especially the part about other people losing their cats!It does help your soul, when you lose your one true friend.I recommend this book highly!!! ... Read more

Product Description

Bailey, who is usually so nice, Bailey, my neighbor, my friend, my buddy, my pal for my whole life, knowing me better than anybody, that Bailey, that Bailey I am so mad at right now, that Bailey, I hate him today.

The details of both Rosie's and Granny Torrelli's respective stories are often quite funny (from Braille jealousy to secret guide-dog training for the legally blind Bailey). But, as usual, what Creech does best is slyly proffer small, nourishing morsels of wisdom--not unlike the cavatelli, the "little dough canoes," that Rosie, Granny Torrelli, and that Bailey boy labor over in the book's sweet second half. Just be warned that you might find yourself starving by the end of the story.(Ages 9 to 12)--Paul Hughes ... Read more

Customer Reviews (58)

A 4th Grade Student Review
Sharon Creech does it again! Granny Torrelli Makes Soup, a heart warming story about friendship. Bailey a boy who is blind and his best friend Rosie get in a fight, a fight about somthing very little, but Bailey makes a big deal about it anyway. Rosie goes home and tells her granny Torrelli about Bailey. When Rosie gets done telling granny Torrelli about Bailey, it reminds her about when she was Rosie's age. Granny Torrelli tells Rosie about her friendship with Pardo, her best friend when she was Rosie's age. I would recomend this book to anyone who might or has had trouble with a friend. So if you want to know if Bailey and Rosie become friends again you'll have to read this book!~Cheeky Monkey

I'm a Reading Mentor and this was our first book together.
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup is a wonderful book.As an adult, I laughed, felt sad, and really became attached to the story.I am a Reading Mentor to a young girl who is learning to read.This mentoring program is fantastic.She lives on the east coast and I am here in California.We write letters to each other about the books we are reading.This also helps her in learning english.This book was a "chosen" book by the website N2Books.Check it out.You only have to write 5 letters in the whole school year, and it helps our children to learn to read.Your child will love this book, and it has a wonderful meaning to all the mischief when you get to the end.If you read to your child, this is a very cute and touching story about a young girl's relationship with her best friend and how it evolves with the help of her grandmother.IN2Books even has the recipe for Granny Torrelli's soup!

Awfully slow
I ordered this book from bargainbooks4u which has an awesome rating and everyone said it was fast. I waited almost a month for the book to arrive. The only thing that was good was their courteous email when I asked them what was taking so long.

A Recipe for Love and Laughter
This book by author Sharon Creech makes me laugh and cry!My copy is frayed and I've lost count of how many times I've read it.The book is divided into two parts where 12-year-old Rosie helps her Granny make soup and pasta.But Granny is a tricky old soul because she sprinkles in wisdom as she cooks and Rosie is nourished by more than her food.

Don't be fooled!This book may look short at only 160 pages with chapters that sometimes run less than one page, but its heart and soul are as grand and wide as a hug from Granny Torelli.
-- Reviewed by Michelle Delisle

recipe for delicious reading!
this was one of 5 bks on a list from which my daughter was to choose 1 to read this summer before entering 4th grade; we chose it after reading the Amazon synopses on all bks on the list; the narrator, 12 yr old Rosie, tells the story entirely in dialogue, therefore, it very much lent itself to reading aloud; my daughter & I did this snuggling together @ home & on our beach vacation; it was perfect for a mother & daughter, or grandmother & granddaughter to enjoy together; the main characters cooking together provides an extra layer, through which the story is told, both about Rosie's contemporary situation, & Granny Torelli's parallel one as a young girl who immigrated from Italy to America as a teenager; it was a delight to see into the relationships of this family, & watch Granny Torelli impart her mature wisdom to her grandchild; Rosie learned to step out of herself & see situations from the point of view of others, learned the importance of special relationships in each of our lives, & learned to concentrate on the big picture & not less important details; like soup for a meal, the book is simple & quick, but packed w/flavor to savor; I am not sure why more of the 50+ reviews did not give more stars; give this one a chance; you will not be sorry you came along for the "pasta party" ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of short stories, anecdotes, poems, and cartoons which present apositive outlook on life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (55)

Fantastic service
The item arrived in good time and condition as per Amazon's promise. Good job all!

Completely inappropriate for children
I bought this book as a gift for an 8 year old child.I decided to read one of the stories in the book at random just to see what it was like.Upon doing so, I encountered a child molestation account and felt the need to continue to read before giving the book to the child.The more stories I read, the more disturbed I was at the thought that this book is recommended for children of age 8-12.The stories ranged from "my friend died from accidentally strangling himself as he held a rope out a car window" to "my friend and I almost died from a boat running over us" to "my father molested me(not to mention the graphic detail of the story)."None of these stories are ones that I would enjoy reading as an adult and surely would never want to expose a child to such stories.I think the book should be taken off of the shelves and will be trying to return my copy for a refund.

Best Book Ever
Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul; 102 Stories to Give Kids Courage, Hope, Laughter

This book is more than just a book. My friends and I have read it and we agree that it's an awesome book.

Worth many books. Each section can be considered a book
My wife loves this book. I get tired of the same fables with pictures. It's nice to read something that peaks the child's curiosity and allows discussion about meaningful things.

Good Inspirational Stories
I bought this book for my little daughter, but I ended up reading it, too. It had good, inspirational stories about kids. I really enjoyed it. ... Read more