Carla Emery (1939–2005)

I reviewed this book years ago at Amazon.com.

The gist of it was that the best part of this book is the material about the Danish psychiatrist who proved, rather satisfactorily, I think, that you can hypnotize somebody to make them do something they wouldn't ordinarily do--exactly opposite what most hypnotists will have you believe. (Actually, I had already learned this 25 years ago from the hypnotist Michael Zanoni.)

However, Ms. Emery thinks that NSA agents are running around America hypnotizing people with electronic influencing machines. At that point Emery sounds like somebody who would have given the psychoanalyst Viktor Tausk a field day.

I also looked up some of Emery's references and discovered that in some cases she has seriously distorted what her sources said. For example, she claims that one writer has said that the military commissioned a large number of studies on the use of hypnotism as a weapon; in fact, the cited author said that the studies were about wider aspects of psychological warfare with only one or two that focused on hypnotism. Deliberate mistake or carelessness or something else? I do not know.

I gave the book a good rating, though, because it is a trip to read, and I think the Danish shrink's point of view needs exposure but is not presented elsewhere.… (mais)

Encyclopedic indeed: this book is 851 large pages (not including the index) of just about everything you could need to know to live self-sufficiently. While no one book has it all, this one does touch on some subjects that I haven't come across before in my extensive reading, such as giving birth in primitive conditions, caring for your dead, making vinegar (not flavored vinegar but vinegar from scratch), and how to make real animal rennet from the stomach of a calf.

Carla Emery is spoken of reverently by many in the self sufficiency community and as far as I can tell may be the American equivalent of John Seymour, the old hand who has done it all and speaks from experience (in the rare instance that she can't claim expertise, she calls one in to speak on the topic). Self sufficiency is not a hobby but a lifestyle and as such encompasses all aspects of life. Emery seems to understand this.… (mais)

I'm the first to admit that I've been more than a little obsessing over the idea of canning for the last couple of years - ever since we started our small garden last year with my folks. I honestly don't have the time - or the energy - for canning, but it doesn't stop me from dreaming about doing it - talking about it - or reading endless volumes on it.

I picked this book up from the library - well, technically downloaded from the digital library - and though I did read it cover to cover, I honestly wasn't impressed. I guess there's only so much you can write about canning, but I didn't learn anything & didn't see any new-to-me recipes and I wasn't wowed by the text or the photos.

I give it 3 stars because there's nothing wrong with the book, either, and it's a nice little reference book for how long to blanch a vegetable, for example, but I have to give it 3 stars because you can just as easily google the information.… (mais)