“This unusual encyclopedia focusing on the female breast is scholarly and exhaustive, yet pleasurable to read. It should find its place among one’s favorite reference books. “
–Marilyn Yalom, Stanford University; author of A History of the Breast
Yesterday, my husband and I visited our younger daughter and her boyfriend in their new apartment. They live about an hour and half away from us in Reading, Pennsylvania. We had a lovely visit and a delicious dinner prepared by my daughter. We talked and their dog and cat entertained us, as pets do. When my husband and I got home—well past my usual bedtime—my husband discovered that my author copies of my new book, A Cultural Encyclopedia of the Breast, had been delivered to our house while we were away. What a perfect end to my Saturday!
I don’t care how many books you write—it’s always exciting to see and hold the new one. And if it isn’t, you probably shouldn’t be a writer.
I realize that this book is not the type of book most people will rush out to buy for their personal libraries–although I would be pleased if you do! However, if you think it is a book that might be useful for any businesses you know of, or schools, or libraries, please do recommend it. I wrote several of the entries, and I compiled and edited the entire volume, but I also had the help of scholars from all over the world, including the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Poland, Romania, Argentina, and Nigeria. The book covers nearly everything you could want to know about breasts—breast anatomy, breast cancer, breast augmentation and reduction, breasts in art, literature, movies, and pop culture, breasts in fashion, topless protests, breasts in history, and more. Come on, you know you want to flip through it now, don’t you? Really now, don’t you?
One of my assistants
He finds the box more interesting than the books.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
I’m so excited for you! Finally the rewards! Such a lovely review already. Scholarly and pleasant to read 🙂 Gosh! I’m impressed. Seriously, two places I know would like a copy: The library at the Enoch Callaway Cancer Center in LaGrange, GA, and Emory in Atlanta. How do you get the word out to places like that?
Susan, you are so kind. Thank you! Do you have a personal connection to either place?
This is one of the problems with being so old. I went to their sites and can’t find my old connections. I wish I had current ones. I worked oncology in GA a while, but the doctors I used to know are out of practice or dead
Yes, I have the same problem with old connections. 🙂 I can mention both places to my editors, and perhaps they can send out a brochure from the press.
Congratulations, Merril. You have proved the meaning of the word encyclopedia with this tome. It is indeed a newborn, indicative to all of the labor preceding. I hope you savor the moment before you continue with your other gestations. What a tribute to have the words scholarly and pleasurable in a review!
Is there any copy you have already prepared (an ISBN number, etc.) that I could present to our library? I’d be happy to do so.
Hi Marian, thank you so much! I was pleased and excited to see these early favorable blurbs on the Amazon page. Here is the publisher’s page with the ISBN number. https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780759123311
Your library probably receives the catalog, but a personal request to order this particular book would help! Thanks!
Congratulations, Merril. I love Marian’s idea about seeing if the local library would include your book in their selections. I’ll pass that on.
Personally, I think your ‘assistant’ is just making sure that no one makes off with the books as he’s a “watchcat.” 😉
Thanks so much, Judy! I hope your library would like to add this book (and or any of my others) to their collection.
My “assistants” try to be helpful by knocking pens and papers off the table and other things. They’re both sleeping right now, so they are being helpful. Haha.