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The Book of Qualities
 
 
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The Book of Qualities (Paperback)

by J. Ruth Gendler (Author) "Patience wears my grandmother's filigree earrings She bakes marvelous dark bread..." (more)
4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
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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

Product Description
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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Product Details

  • Paperback: 112 pages
  • Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (January 27, 1988)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0060962526
  • ISBN-13: 978-0060962524
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #104,775 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #27 in  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > By Topic > Perception

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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
Patience wears my grandmother's filigree earrings She bakes marvelous dark bread. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

27 Reviews
5 star:
 (21)
4 star:
 (6)
3 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (27 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Gendler introduces the reader to several familiar friends..., January 16, 2001
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.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best little book ever, June 19, 2001
By Avid Reader "Reed ah" (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews
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.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars a gift of a book, August 9, 2002
By M. Wilson (Bellevue, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
what can i say? this is one of the most inspiring, empowering, revealing books i own. it is filled with deep "ah-hah" moments and carefully chosen words and fluid description. it is not preachy or light-hearted, but rather allows each person to find a lesson for themselves by giving depth and color to the words for emotions and feelings. every time i read it, i have new revelations and each time i share it with someone new, they love it as instantly as i did. buy two copies... you'll want to give one to someone as soon as you read the first few pages.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Creative and interesting!
The Book of Qualities is a creative and poetic way of looking at human emotion. I especially appreciated the allusions to nature. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kathleen E. Leenders

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
This is one little treasure that I will read over and over again. My book is now moving from person to person. Read more
Published 4 months ago by E. Lawrence-Ellis

4.0 out of 5 stars A True North Star Book for Life's Journey
I have had this tiny little book for 20 years. I treasure it as one of the greatest books filled with a cutting wisdom that reminds me of the simple and profound truths of God's... Read more
Published 16 months ago by True-north

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless
I was given this book several years ago by a dear friend. As is always the case when someone gives me something, it sat untouched for almost a year. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mason Mc

4.0 out of 5 stars An Old Favorite
I owned this book for many years often quoting from it to friends. I either lent it or lost it in a move. I missed it. An old friend returned.
Published 20 months ago by Teri

5.0 out of 5 stars Quality Poetry
April is National Poetry Month. Yeah, I know: there's a national month, or special week, or weird celebratory day, for every topic and group in the universe now. Read more
Published 21 months ago by A. D. Cox

5.0 out of 5 stars If I were stranded on an island...
I absolutely love this book, and everyone I show it to falls in love with it too. Gendler had the idea to take qualities such as anger, complacency, joy, and contentment and write... Read more
Published on April 11, 2007 by T. McDaniels

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book of Qualites by J.Ruth Gendler
This is a wonderful book to give as a gift,to someone who needs an uplift or one who needs support or just because it is a very
endearing book. Read more
Published on January 31, 2006 by Wendy Rambo Shuford

5.0 out of 5 stars Book of Qualities
This book has something for everyone. It covers emotions that I didnt even know I had. It made me laugh and sometimes cry. This book touches your soul.
Published on October 17, 2005 by Nancy Pischel

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book!
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. Read more
Published on September 9, 2004 by D. McCabe

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