Let's Talk Honestly, One Black Man's Thoughts [Kindle Edition]

George L. Cook III (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A collection of poems and essays by George L. Cook III. These writings are inspired by Mr. Cook's experience's as a soldier, community activist, time in politics, coach, husband, and father. And yes they are inpsired by his experiences as a black man living in the United States.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 56 KB
• Publisher: George L. Cook III; 1 edition (June 19, 2009)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002E19JKU
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #321,541 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

You may contact George Cook and AAreports by email at [e-mail] or [e-mail] or by phone at 908 963 3824.

George L. Cook III is married with one child who believes that education is the way to the help the Black Community not only survive but thrive. He is an elected member of his local board of education. His current term is 2010-2013.


George L. Cook III Bio:
Attended Virginia State Univerity ( HBCU )

Member US Army/ NJ National Gaurd 1991-1994.

2004 wrote first book Let's Talk Honestly and launched the web site letstalkhonestly.com which lasted until May 2010.

Volunteer basketball and football coach at local rec center. ( Won flag football championship in 2005, basketball championship in 2009 )

Member of Hillside Scholarship Fund since 2008

Boy Scout Troop Committee Chairman of Cubpack 97.

Appointed to Hillside NJ Board of Education in June 0f 2009.

Won election to keep BOE seat in April of 2010, named vice president of The Hillside Board of Education. Below is a picture of Mr. Cook's swearing in on April 26, 2010.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DOWNLOAD THIS ONE NOW! I promise you that you will not be sorry. Wow!, December 10, 2011

By 

D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Let's Talk Honestly, One Black Man's Thoughts (Kindle Edition)

When I make the following statement, keep in mind that at my age, any person under the age of 50 I consider young. The poet being reviewed here appears to be in his very early 40s.

So....

One might ask the question; "Why is an old white guy reviewing the work of a "young" black poet in a collection of poems entitled, "One Black Man's Poetry?" Indeed, why? Well to begin with I am one of those individuals who group people as people and pay very little attention to what "color" their skin may be. A rose is a rose and people are people...end of that story. I have always been that way...hey, it was the way I was raised and life has not change that raising one bit. The title of this little collection intrigued me though, and I did not know what to expect. Well lucky for me I hit the order button. I have not been so delighted with a bit of work since I don't know when.

First, I found that George L. Cook III and I are on the very same page, even down to our (mildly put) distain for FOX News and Rush Limbough! Starting with the first group of poems, which is entitled "To the Children" I found a man who thought like I do. Rather amazing, really. Profound.

The poet here is what I would call a sensitive pragmatic. He says it like it is and does not beat around the bush, yet still and all, even his harshest phrases are filled with thought and in a strange way; caring and loving. He uses plain language so if you are the sort that thrives on obscure symbolism, vague and obscure similes or metaphors, then look else where. His poetry is sharp and explicit. He calls a rock a rock and a tree a tree. I like that.

Mr. Cook uses free verse; several forms actually, and has avoided those annoying couplets so often found in these short works. No straining of the English language to come up with something that rhymes with (pick a word). His thoughts are precise and pure. His thoughts are obviously from the heart.

Now don't get me wrong. The over riding theme; his intended audience, are black people (what ever that means), but I found it was fascinating and absolutely true that if you took his work, poem by poem, line by line and substituted "black" for "white, brown, yellow"...what every, his words apply to all people in the society and world we find ourselves living in today.

Included with this group of poems are some very well written essays and shortstories. I enjoyed those as much as I enjoyed the poems. Again, I found myself in complete agreement time after time. It got down to my mumbling to myself such things as "wish I had said that." There were several pieces in this work that struck me; ones that for me, sort of stood out. They include:

"Adopt me." A poem

"Mommy." A poem

"Black Woman Missing." A poem (My wife and I have discussed this many times...wow, did Cook nail it here!)

"Leave Rush Limbough Alone." Thoughts

"Why is it so easy." Thoughts

His short story, "The Last K*K Meeting," is not something you want to miss...trust me. (Amazon will not let me use the full initials here...fill it in yourself.)

Overall, this work simply reinforced my feelings that there really is no difference between an old white guy and a young black guy.

Give this one a read folks, I can promise you that you will be better for it and won't be one bit sorry.

Of course my ultimate complement (as far as I am concerned) comes with the statement that I would delight to set on my back porch with my dogs and have this guy join me for a cup of coffee and a pipe of tobacco and some good talk. What a hoot that would be. (I do wish I had this man's ability with words).

Don Blankenship

The Ozarks