Don't You Know It's 40 Below? [Paperback]

Jack Kates (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2002

Don't You Know It's 40 Below? is a Memoir, a Social History, and a Tribute. It is an autobiography and an endearing tale of the author's experiences in an immigrant family in Saskatchewan, Canada. With clarity and freshness, it delightfully shares the joys, lessons, and struggles of his early life from the early 1930s through the middle part of the 20th century.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"The humor, the adventure, the story - much more enjoyable than Angela's Ashes."

- Harvey Ginns, Attorney, Long Beach, California

"Jack Kates is a story teller who blankets everyday events with a sense of irony. Readability is especially enhanced by his frequent flights of imagination to wild exaggeration, somewhat reminiscent of Mark Twain's style."

- Lorraine Tolliver Levin, Professor of Literature, Los Angeles, California

"Don't You Know It's 40 Below? introduced me to a new world, one with which, heretofore I had only a nodding acquaintance: Jewish culture and, particularly, Jewish humor. In a book replete with examples, the author's descriptions of how kosher food must be served and of Jewish families gathering for high holy days (often more than a hundred miles away) are paradigms of high artistry.

"They are hilarious and poignant; descriptive of an era now rapidly being forgotten. This book is an eminently worthwhile read."

- Dr. John Wintterle, Emeritus Professor of History, San Jose State University San Jose, California --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Jack Kates was born and reared on the Canadian Prairies, where he lived for twenty-seven years before emigrating to the United States. His writing career includes the following: teacher, college professor, international consultant (founder and Director of International Association of Writing Teachers, 1975-1983). Published author of numerous articles and educational research studies, and the widely used high school and college textbook You Can Learn to Write (1976-1980) which sold 50,000 copies; editor, advertising executive, and publisher. He lives in Cypress, California, with Marilyn, his wife of thirty two years. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Seal Press (CA) (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0930364082
• ISBN-13: 978-0930364083
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,885,987 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Book ., November 29, 2000

By 

Jean Somsen (Durango, Colorado United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Don't You Know It's 40 Below? (Paperback)

This book is a great read for all ages. It takes you back in time when things were less hectic and tells the story of a Jewish family in Canada living in a very small town. It is good insight to how difficult the 30's and 40's could be with a great sense of humor as to how this family copes with day to day living in a place where more often than not it was "40 Below". I would recommend it be a part of anyone's book collection.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!, January 30, 2001

By 

Karen Benson (Santa Cruz, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Don't You Know It's 40 Below? (Paperback)

"Don't you know it's forty below?" asked a frustrated Louis Katz of his son Jack. That same question may well have been asked by many anxious parents in the small South Dakota town where my parents grew up. Kate's story of daily life on the Canadian prairie, while specific to his own unique experience, triggers memories of childhood pleasures, adolescent adventures and social situations common to small town life. Warm and witty, Don't You Know It's Forty Below? is a book you will enjoy, don't you know?