This book takes a surprising look at the hidden world of broccoli, connecting American consumers concerned about their health and diet with Maya farmers concerned about holding onto their land and making a living. Compelling life stories and rich descriptions from ethnographic fieldwork among supermarket shoppers in Nashville, Tennessee and Maya farmers in highland Guatemala bring the commodity chain of this seemingly mundane product to life. For affluent Americans, broccoli fits into everyday concerns about eating right, being healthy, staying in shape, and valuing natural foods. For Maya farmers, this new export crop provides an opportunity to make a little extra money in difficult, often risky circumstances. Unbeknownst to each other, the American consumer and the Maya farmer are bound together in webs of desire and material production.

Each of Lara Vapnyar's six stories invites us into a world where food and love intersect, along with the overlapping pleasures and frustrations of Vapnyar's uniquely captivating characters. Meet Nina, a recent arrival from Russia, for whom colorful vegetables represent her own fresh hopes and dreams . . . Luda and Milena, who battle over a widower in their English class with competing recipes for cheese puffs, spinach pies, and meatballs . . . and Sergey, who finds more comfort in the borscht made by a paid female companion than in her sexual ministrations. They all crave the taste and smell of home, wherever—and with whomever—that may turn out to be. A roundup of recipes are the final taste of this delicious collection.

Chloe must choose between her beliefs against animal testing and her new boyfriend who thinks that she is going overboard.

What could middle-class German supermarket shoppers buying eggs and impoverished coffee farmers in Guatemala possibly have in common? Both groups use the market in pursuit of the "good life." But what exactly is the good life? How do we define wellbeing beyond material standards of living? While we all may want to live the good life, we differ widely on just what that entails. In The Good Life, Edward Fischer examines wellbeing in very different cultural contexts to uncover shared notions of the good life and how best to achieve it. With fascinating on-the-ground narratives of Germans' choices regarding the purchase of eggs and cars, and Guatemalans' trade in coffee and cocaine, Fischer presents a richly layered understanding of how aspiration, opportunity, dignity, and purpose comprise the good life.

Peter Flierl, MSW. Prayer, Laughter & Broccoli: Being There When Your Wife Has Breast Cancer. Los Angeles: Witty Fools Productions, 2004. $12 ISBN 0-9745179-0-9A NEW BOOK FOR COUPLES FACING BREAST CANCERA SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR HUSBANDSTake Control. Be there for her.In 1982, Shirley Flierl unwittingly found herself at the leading edge of the trend toward women being diag-nosed at younger and younger ages with breast cancer. At 37, she was too young and too small to have breast cancer. The brutal reality she and her husband, Peter, faced was a Stage 3, aggressive malignancy, breast cancer, with extensive lymph node involvement.Peter Flierl has been Shirleys husband, lover, business partner and best friend for more than 27 years. Despite professional experience in health care and health education, her diagnosis for him was personal, not clinical. Peter was devastated by the news, at a loss about how to help, and fearing the loss of the love of his life. He did not want to become a single Dad for their then three-year-old daughter, Alison. Peter in Prayer, Laughter & Broccoli reflects on and shares his strength, faith, wisdom, courage and common sense with other couples and families battling breast cancer together.Tell her you love her Say Yes Humor Heals CryBe Faithful, Be Monogamous Follow her leadBeing There I love you, not your breastsGo to her appointments Help with your child or childrenEat your broccoli Cook a meal Remember pregnancy cravings? Theyre back.She is not an invalid Take over on chemotherapy nightsLearn from prostitutes Pray She is your trophy wifeUse complementary, alternative or integrative medicineUse the serenity prayer Lemonade from LemonsAnger One Day at a Time Avoid doom and gloomHave fun She is not damaged goods Chivalry is not deadRead Proverbs Read Psalms for Health & HealingBe a good listener Bring her home if she wants to be homeWhat you say Believe in miracles Bride for lifePay it forward Be passionate about life Enjoy the mundaneChemotherapy Radiation Therapy Hormone Therapy Support GroupsYou are both a miracle Synchronicity Thoughtful giftsSpeak up for her and for you Good Patient, Bad PatientMastectomy, Lumpectomy & ReconstructionSex After Breast Cancer AlivePeter Flierl is to matrimony as Emily Post is to manners.Associated Press, 1/8/04Reviewed and recommended as a resource by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer FoundationPlease call 203-273-5168 or 877-733-0528 or e-mail [email protected]

Mr Broccoli is the tale of a young boy, Jacob, who is feeling sad and fed up. Through discovering the health benefits of eating his greens, he becomes stronger and more confident. Anti-bullying is also an important theme in the story, to help children learn to respect others and feel more confident in themselves. Mr Broccoli is a character who already has that confidence, and later becomes a role model.Look out for the next edition of Veggie Adventures - See-in-the-Dark Gang.