Daily Cornbread: 365 Secrets for a Healthy Mind, Body and Spirit [Hardcover]

Stephanie Stokes Oliver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 5, 1999

Heart & Soul founding editor Stephanie Stokes Oliver shows African American women how to soothe the soul, satisfy the mind, and revive the body 365 days a year.

Written in an affirming style that is prescriptive but never preachy, fun but not frivolous, Daily Cornbread is a day-by-day compendium of Oliver’s creative ideas for leading an enjoyable and fulfilling life. On January 2, for example, Oliver suggests taking time out to "get happy" (do something that makes you happy an hour a day); to schedule a personal retreat; and to develop a strategic plan for the upcoming year.

Reminiscent of Sarah Ban Breathnach’s Simple Abundance and Iyanla Vanzant’s Acts of Faith: Daily Meditations for People of Color, but with a special emphasis on nurturing the body as well as the mind, Daily Cornbread shows African American women how to make each day better.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

African-American people have benefited from the social sciences, but it's down-home, commonsense know-how that has nourished the community for centuries--and that's what Stephanie Stokes Oliver, founding editor in chief of Heart and Soul magazine, offers in Daily Cornbread. The book contains 365 bits of friendly, spirit-building shout-outs for the mind, body, and soul: "Celebrate a week of wellness," for example, or "On Malcolm X's birthday, remember his healthy habits." "Daily Cornbread was written to provide words of comfort to all," Oliver writes. "Here you'll find reassurances that you're on the right track, as well as new information about African-American health and well-being." Resolutions such as "Commit to get fit" and "Worship your body, your temple" are paired with anecdotal descriptions of the problems they're meant to address, as well as advice that includes a "secret ingredient." Put it all together, and Daily Cornbread is delivered with the love and care honed by generations of kinfolk wisdom. --Eugene Holley Jr.

From Library Journal

Oliver is a former editor of Essence magazine and founding editor-in-chief of Heart and Soul, a bimonthly fitness magazine for African American women. Here, she draws on her background to provide suggestions to black women for soothing their souls, satisfying their minds, and reviving their bodies every day of the year.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1 edition (October 5, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038548769X
• ISBN-13: 978-0385487696
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,482,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific! Much more than just an inspirational book, November 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Daily Cornbread: 365 Secrets for a Healthy Mind, Body and Spirit (Hardcover)

I'm not a big fan of most inspirational books because they don't have enough substance. This one, however, caught my eye because it's so different. I was also familiar with the author, Stephanie Stokes Oliver, from her work as editor of Essence and Heart & Soul magazines.

This is the kind of book you'll want to curl up with in a comfy chair. It manages to be warm, personal, and inspirational as well as practical. There's a LOT here, and it really runs the gamut--everything from domestic violence to spirituality to your more typical health and wellness topics. Ms. Oliver lists lots of useful resources, including Web links, and adds touching, often funny personal anecdotes to the mix. Her experience as a women's magazine editor really shows. And this isn't just a book for African-American women--I think that any woman would find plenty of material in here to interest her. A very welcome addition to the inspirational market!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SO GOOD, YOU DON'T NEED BUTTER, February 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Daily Cornbread: 365 Secrets for a Healthy Mind, Body and Spirit (Hardcover)

I picked this book up as soon as it was released and make it part of my daily rituals. Even when I travel, I always make sure to pack it and take it with me so I won't miss my daily inspiration. However, I need to bring to the author's attention that on the message for Feb. 28, she mentions the 1963 Democratic convention was after the assassination of MLK. That was not 1963 but 1968. Or does she mean after the death of JFK? Please clarify for your readers.