From Beauty to Compassion, from Pleasure to Terror, from Resignation to Joy -- here is an insightful exploration of the rich diversity of human qualities. J. Ruth Gendler's evocative book has as its cast of familiar characters our own emotions, brought to life with a poet's wisdom and an artist's perceptive eye. In The Book of Qualities' magical community, Excitement wears orange socks, Faith lives in the same apartment building as Doubt, and Worry makes lists of everything that could go wrong while she is waiting for the train. In portraying the complexities of the psyche, Gendler uses the Qualities to bridge the distinctions between literature and psychology, and has created an original work that challenges us to look at our emotions in new and inspiring ways.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"A bright new talent whose work is at once reminiscent of James Thurber's drawings, Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities, Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene, and Zen koans." -- Art Kliener, San Francisco Bay Guardian
"Ruth Gendler has discovered a way to give new meaning and immediacy to familiar words. Her brief meta-definitions sing, dance, and sometimes cry." -- George Leonard, author of The Silent Pulse
"The Qualities are wise and whimsical and express truth in a very personal way." -- Jean Bolen, author of Goddesses in Every Woman
About the Author
Janet Ruth Gendler wears orange socks, arranges her clothes by color in the closet, keeps the herbs in alphabetical order, and doesn't understand the separation between work and play. Gendler was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and received B.A.'s in English and Communication from Stanford University in 1977. She has written articles on the arts, health, and education. She works in publishing and teaches intuitive art classes. Gendler currently lives in Berkeley, California.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By J. Koscher
Format:Paperback
Ever felt like your emotions have taken on a life of their own? Gendler in her Book of Qualities takes that feeling and bust it wide open. A friend gave me a photocopied copy to read and I ran out and bought my own copy. Gendler's ability to give each emotion (quality) their own breath is intriguing. I long to take a walk with Stillness by the ocean... and realize I have done so too little in my hectic life. So many books these days are nice little leasure empty entertaining snipets of fun. Gendler's book is one of those rare finds that will leave you longing for more and glad you took your brain out for the stretch. Enjoy.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Avid Reader
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I truly adore this little book - I give it as a gift (bought 25 copies last year for all sorts of clients and friends), and I have read my own copy until it is as dog eared as a truly loved book can get. So lyrically draws the emotions and qualities that make us all up.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By D. McCabe
Format:Paperback
This delightful little book has been a staple of my personal library since I purchased it during college in 1988, and I have reread it countless times. It embodies both simplicity and complexity, and brings the Qualities to their purest yet most artistic forms. It is a book I keep by my bed to explore again and again. I highly recommend it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Delight
What an interesting eye Gendler has. I found this a lovely little book to savor when I had a few minutes to spare. As soon as I read it I bought a copy as a gift for a girlfriend. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Donna Gloff
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great conversation starter!
I use this book as a way to open discussion and sharing with my daughters, ages 16 and 11. It WORKS! They are both creative thinkers and the verbal imagery that Ms. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Shannon Ratliff
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Book of Qualities
Arrived early, and was fun to read.. drawings are great. I may give it to my daughter for Mother's Day
Published 25 days ago by Jennifer Yane
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nurture yourself
I gave book to a friend. The author touches on all qualities we have as humans: compassion, endurance, anger, self-pity, creativity.......something to mediate on every day. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sharon Lee Mincheff
5.0 out of 5 stars
Warm, witty and real
It's a great gift, I keep giving. It's uniquely insightful without drawing attention to its insights. You can't help but smile even at "Anger".
Published 2 months ago by Suzanne
5.0 out of 5 stars
BUY ONE FOR EVERY PERSON OF QUALITY!
How insightful that Gendler was able to embrace each of our complex emotions and honor them as a friend, guest, or acquaintance! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Linda L. Maxwell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Second Impression
This book should not be only available in paperback. It should be bound in soft leather with letters in gold leaf and it should come wrapped in tissue paper or maybe silk or maybe... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Booklubber
5.0 out of 5 stars
Timeless reading!
I have loved and learned from this book for 24 years! It was given to me by my Mentor in 1989. I have given it to scores of others. I just gave it to my adult son for Christmas. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Shanna J. Lund
5.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshingly whimsical view of personal qualities
I've had The Book of Qualities for about 10 years and continue to gift it to others who I know it will inspire as much as I've been inspired over the years. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mary H. Janson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Just Wonderful
This is such a pretty book. I can truly appreciate her writing. I hope we see more from her in the future.
Published 10 months ago by AmMaynard
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