Monday, April 29, 2013

Book Review - Don't Sell Grain to a Bird on Credit


Don’t Sell Grain to a Bird on Credit and More Arab Proverbs

Compiled By: Stephen J. McGrane
Publisher: Llumina Press
Publication Date: July 2012
ISBN: 978-1-60594-888-1
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: April 30, 2013

‘Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.’ ‘Live for today, not tomorrow.’ There are many proverbs out there. Each and every country, state, region, religion - every group has their own words and their own style when it comes to offering the next generation little tips that will help them better deal with life.

Proverbs are focused on all areas of life - careers, love, family - and this author has done a great job in breaking down each and every category, offering proverbs that focus on everything from luck to sorrow to friendship to honesty. These words still help and still fit in with the chaotic world we live in today, and the author has gone one step further by providing the Western equivalent of the Arab proverb so that all readers, no matter where they dwell, can better understand the meanings.

In his first book: Trust in God but Tie Your Camel, this author produced a collection that covered various situations that occur in life, offering guidance - that little tip - that perhaps makes us feel better or helps us to make the right choices. With this new collection, the author has come up with another wealth of proverbs that are unique to the Bedouin people, but also cover a range of topics.

There will always be that memory of sitting down at a table and listening to grandma or grandpa or the head of the household as they taught common sense, knowledge, love, and offered humor as you grew up. Their words were short, but had meaning. Instead of utilizing hundreds of phrases to get a point across, their point was made in a simplistic way that stayed in the mind and heart as we matured. This collection brings back those memories, while opening the door to a culture with beautiful wisdom, humor and beliefs.

Everyone is different - that is the beauty of life. This is not a proverb, this is the truth. And what this author does is prove to every reader that even though we all exist in different geographic locations, we all truly believe that knowledge is power and that life is filled with goodness. This ‘common sense’ collection will be a fun learning tool for some and a fond remembrance of the past for others.
Quill says: A compilation that builds camaraderie and understanding in a fun way!

For more information on Don’t Sell Grain to a Bird on Credit and More Arab Proverbs, please visit the book's website at: www.llumina.com/store/dontsellgrain.htm







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