The Hoffer Award honors the memory of the great American philosopher Eric Hoffer. In addition to the grand prize, Hoffer honors are bestowed by press type and category, and also through the Montaigne Medal and the da Vinci Eye.

Here is the brief review from the U.S. Review of Books:

A Culinary Journey, Nancy Keeney Forster, Wind Shadow Press – Being the wife of an American Diplomat has many challenges. Add to that, living all around the world and being responsible for cooking and hosting countless dinner parties for foreign diplomats. This can be quite overwhelming for most of us. Nancy Keeney Forster shares her experiences as the wife of a Foreign Service officer. To complicate matters, when Nancy was thrust into her role as a newlywed, she had limited knowledge of cooking. She learned by necessity and began to compile favorite recipes from her time spent overseas. In addition to great recipes, this book has entertaining stories that will take you on a trip around the world, while you learn to cook. Some unusual recipes include, Curried Carrot and Beet Salad from the Philippines, Hawaiian Avocado Grapefruit Soup, and Spiced Lamb with Saffron and Almonds from Burma. If you are unable to travel as extensively as the author, this book will bring you the flavor of the food and cultures of many faraway lands.

The following week, three of the four editors for Journeys in Learning Across Frontiers will be reading from their book at a meeting in San Jose, California, of educators from California IB schools.

In July, 2012, their book, Journeys in Learning Across Frontiers: stories, strategies and inspiration from the IB community, was published by the IB organization. One reader has written, “I am convinced that the publication will be invaluable for both IB veterans—replenishment of commitment—as well as for newcomers who can gain so much valuable insight into the reasons for the IB.” (Ana Carlos, Middle Years Program Coordinator, JEB Stuart High School, Virginia, USA.)

For more information and to order Journeys in Learning please visit http://store.ibo.org/.

More information about the IB Program for children ages 5-19 may be found at www.ibo.org.

I just clicked on the last page of Encounters: A Lifetime of Crossing Cultural Frontiers. My eyes are still teary from reading the tribute from the author’s son to both of his parents at his father’s memorial!

It was a delight to get to know three generations of such an interesting
family through those elegantly written pages. The seamless flow of the
narrative through Nancy Keeney Forster’s memories interwoven with her husband’s and others’ documents produced such a vivid tale that I felt transported with them in their peregrinations and adventures.

This book is clearly a “labor of love” in the literal sense of the word (Nancy wrote it after her husband’s Cliff accidental death), and a “tour de force” in its outcome, offering a personal account of important historical events and pertinent reflections on their current relevance. I also deeply appreciated the ubiquitous moral underpinnings. Encounters could be used equally effectively in a 20th century history class, a literature or a deontology course, but above all it is a delightful read!

—Anne-Marie Pierce

Time: 3:00 PM

Location:
Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd
Corte Madera, California 94925

Map

Cost: Free
Location: City Hall-Council Chambers
420 Litho Street
Sausalito, California 94965

Map and directions here.