Two books I won’t be reading, thanks
by Carmen Van Kerckhove
A couple of books have come to my attention lately that are truly cringe-worthy. The first is self-published (thanks Wendi):
Check out the official description:
If you’re a White man interested in dating Black women, this book shows you how to make it happen. Learn how Black women think, what they like and don’t like to see in White men, and where and how to go about meeting them. Find out how to cope with public reaction to interracial couples, learn how to counteract the psychological inhibitions that can hold you back from getting involved and understand why those who oppose interracial relationships feel compelled to think and act the way they do. Find out what works and get involved.
It’s amazing how popular this genre is: self-help for the racial fetishists. See here and here and here and here for more examples.
The other one has to be the most Orientalist personal finance book every written (thanks Francesca):
As you read the official description, can’t you just smell the sweet opium hear the goooooooooonnnnnnnngggg?
Millions of readers have thrilled to the astonishing true adventures of the tiny peasant who achieved ultimate prosperity during history’s most turbulent epoch. Now, The Prosperous Peasant reveals the Secrets that guided him–and successful people the world over–since time began.
A colorful cast of teachers–the peasant-turned-samurai Hideyoshi, Kembo the Vengeful Priest, Fernao the Portuguese trader, the brilliant strategist Nobunaga, Daizen the ronin, and many others–bring to life five ageless Secrets of Fortune and Fulfillment in parables whose beauty and truthfulness haunts and inspires.
The key to Prosperity, readers learn, lies not in “techniques” or “strategies” but in ancient knowledge drawn from the great philosophies of China and Japan–wisdom more fundamental than any “how-to” advice.
Forged in an extraordinary collaboration between an acclaimed novelist and a Japan specialist who made his own fortune, The Prosperous Peasant will teach, charm, and motivate–but above all, its powerful message may change your life.
Begin your journey to prosperity and fulfillment today. Heed the ageless wisdom of The Prosperous Peasant!
This edition includes an all-new abridgment of Bushido, Nitobe’s classic on the Eight Virtues of the chivalrous code of the samurai.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of 
B Girl wrote:
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Those books couldn’t have been written or published thirty or forty years ago. How’s that for progress?
Posted 21 Dec 2007 at 12:02 pm ¶
Keke wrote:
Wow. I didn’t know Black women were all linked together through some kind of group mind. Here I was thinking that Black women were individuals with their own voices, their own desires, their own opinions and were multi-faceted people. Cuz if that were the case, then a book like this would be useless, not to mention offensive.
And what’s even more astounding, is that, here I was thinking that all cultures struggle with the same basic human issues and I actually *gasp* rejected the whole idea that some cultures are mystical, dark and mysterious. Oh, no, I must be wrong, cuz if that were the case, then no one would have to worry about poverty, sexism, hatred, genocide or anything else because with a few quick, simple answers from a mysterious and mystical guru (along with a “colorful” cast of others), all would be well.
*sigh*
Posted 21 Dec 2007 at 12:14 pm ¶
Gregory A. Butler wrote:
Apparently, this “Adam White” person (yes, that’s a pen name) makes a career of selling stereotypes to people with racial fetishes.
The sad thing is, those folks who have a clear color preference when it comes to sex are not at all well served by these books!
Reality check - if you want to date somebody, just strike up a conversation, see if you and the person have common interests - and if they’re single, and take it from there.
Color doesn’t enter into the equasion at all.
But these books present a horrible world view where there are these inherent differences in race, and that all people of the same race have identical attitudes.
If somebody approaches interracial dating with that mentality, they are pretty much guaranteed at failure - but that’ s EXACTLY the mentality these books encourage!!!
Posted 21 Dec 2007 at 12:18 pm ¶
Ailurophile wrote:
“Adam White” - apparently that is a pseudonym, after all. *eyeroll*
It would be easier, and have better results, JMHO, for a man to approach women - black, white, or whoever - AS PEOPLE. Strike up a conversation with Ms. Potential and ask her out to coffee or something.
Posted 21 Dec 2007 at 12:51 pm ¶
gatamala wrote:
The reviews are hilarious!!!
*takes off hoop earrings*
Hey white guys! Do I look less threatening?
Posted 21 Dec 2007 at 2:36 pm ¶
TierListE wrote:
Rofl. I’m glad someone finally gets that we’re all alike.
Remember, white men, that big butts are extremely coveted among black women; make sure that she knows she has that badonkadonk.
Ex-
Jimmy- Hey Shanikwa, your booty sure looks Phat* today!
Shanikwa- Why thank you Jimmy! Wanna go make out.
Jimmy- Great! Now the world will know I’m not racist!
*When speaking to black women, be sure to use as many slang words as possible to make them feel more comfortable; they are intimidated by correct grammar and consonant clusters.
Posted 21 Dec 2007 at 3:32 pm ¶
Seattle Slim wrote:
My God in heaven. If my boyfriend would have EVER used this book to snag me, I would’ve either a) slapped him real nice or b) kicked his testicles in. Sorry Carmen! LOL I hope that wasn’t too bad. How very rude and disrespectful of a book.
Posted 21 Dec 2007 at 3:48 pm ¶
dnA wrote:
Oh word! I was waiting for Strom Thurmond’s new book to come out!
Posted 21 Dec 2007 at 8:04 pm ¶
TheLostGirl wrote:
Its not so much the book but the delusional and idiotic guys who will pick it up going, ‘oh yeah… score black girls here I come’. So tragic. You know what, if those morons want to waste their money on a book like this, let them, they clearly have nothing more valuable to spend it on!
Posted 21 Dec 2007 at 10:07 pm ¶
Your Man wrote:
Please tell me this is not some white boy who went to high school and college with some brothers and now think’s he’s DOWN
Posted 22 Dec 2007 at 12:53 am ¶
NancyP wrote:
*jaw drops*
Posted 22 Dec 2007 at 10:15 pm ¶
Remorse wrote:
A black woman once gave me some advice about getting on with black women: “Do not EVER, EVER, ask us anything about our hair.”
I’ve been terrified ever since.
Posted 23 Dec 2007 at 12:21 pm ¶
jen* wrote:
quote from the book [from excerpt seen on amazon online reader]
‘why black women date white men’
*the physical differences between the races are exciting
wtf? color me confused. cuz i thought we all had the same parts. what a crock.
Posted 24 Dec 2007 at 1:04 am ¶
fiqah wrote:
@ gatamala and dNA: Strom Thurmond? Hoop earrings? ROFF!
Posted 24 Dec 2007 at 12:00 pm ¶
Colin wrote:
The first book makes dating black women seem like hunting, as though women of color are prey to be stuided, stalked, and then taken down. It purports to tell a white man where the black woman’s watering hole is, what sort of lure to use against her, and how to think like her. What bile.
Reminds me of sad, vapid books put out on dating, or articles in myopic, ignorant magazines supposedly telling you 5/7/10 ways to excite/thrill/get your man/woman/mate, all for sad desperate idiots. It’s racist for sure, but it’s really the sexism that’s the problem to me. The consistent and false notion with other dating books appears prevalent here: women are lemmings and will fall for wily, cunning men I am betting Adam White was just looking for a way to stand out in the field of raging sexists, so he thought, “Why not up the ante and go completely racist?”
The second book again seems like someone looking for a way to take a tired concept, that personal finance and acculumation of wealth can be defined in a single book riddled with cliches, anecdotal evidence and platitudes, and look different by draping themselves in a white cloak.
I could see the author saying to themselves, “What will make what stupid, uninformative crap I say sound wise? East Asian principles or whatever sounds East Asian! (Maybe, kinda, sorta, oka not really, but who’s gonna know before they buy it?) SCORE! I’ve got a book!”
Posted 24 Dec 2007 at 5:39 pm ¶
Miss Profe wrote:
All I can say is…Yuck!!!
Posted 25 Dec 2007 at 7:40 am ¶
EqualOps wrote:
Slightly off-topic and on-topic here and with the “Jezebel”/Obama post, anyone been keeping tabs on the weird buzz around Harold Ford, Jr. and his fiancee in light of his plans to run for governor:
http://bigheaddc.com/2007/06/29/harold-ford-jr-not-a-cheap-date/
I don’t know… I don’t like what they’re doing to him, but I don’t like how he seems to be picking women who fit a type to the exclusion of other things either. But it’s still your choice and nobody’s business except the two people as long as you bring the respect, you know? I think that’s the rub. It’s okay to like all sorts of things, but a “type”? Man, that’s just setting up some trouble…
Posted 26 Dec 2007 at 12:30 am ¶
Anonymous wrote:
I liked the good earth
Posted 26 Dec 2007 at 3:22 am ¶
india wrote:
I may just have to read both books yo see how deep the ignorance goes.I mean shouldn’t I give them a fair chance to really offend me before I form an opinion about these books?
Posted 28 Dec 2007 at 10:12 am ¶
LeAnne@hairsmystory wrote:
Um… can I publish a book called The Black Woman’s Guide to Slapping the Crap Out of White Men Who Purchased This Book and Thought This Stupid Shit Would Work, With His Dumb 24/7 BET-Coinned Pick Up Lines? I think it will do very well.
hairs my story.com
Posted 28 Dec 2007 at 10:53 am ¶
Eathan wrote:
I didn’t realize there was a market for a how to book. The white men i see with black women…are approached by the women.
And maybe that’s because of what their social interests are.
Posted 07 Jan 2008 at 11:36 pm ¶
Adam White wrote:
It is always a pleasure to see comments by those who feel free to comment on, and misquote, books they have yet to read. Those who have actually taken the trouble to look over one, or both, of the two books on interracial relationships I authored know that interracial relationships differ from same-race relationships primarily because of the public reaction they engender, primarily from Black men. About half of each book is about dealing with public reaction. Ask any White male who has dated Black women about those cutesy-poo hate stares Black men always seem to want to conjure up when they see a White male with a black woman. As far as White men are concerned, race is simply an esthetically desirable dimension of taste, no different than hair color or height, and those who call it a fetish are doing no more than stating that they don’t like people whose tastes differ from their own.
Posted 16 Feb 2008 at 7:42 pm ¶
Adreana wrote:
I think both of Adams Books are very helpfull and interesting . I as a Black women who prefers to date White Men exclusively & I can totally see and understand the need for these books. It’s obvious to me that anyone who has an issue with the book is ignorant to the point the book has made and secoundly the book was not writen for people who can’t seem to understand it’s value, thus their reactions dont mean anything to me & readers like myself . Thank You Adam for book I and many others appreciate your work! So keep it up.
Posted 27 Feb 2008 at 1:09 pm ¶