Martin Levin's 'Bedside Phoenix Nest' Replete With Hum or Par Excellence 'Roles' as Facets

If you were told that a book's
table of contents occupies 18
pages,. you'd undoubtedly marvel
about the extent of the work. And
that's exactly the position occu-
pied by • "The Bedside Phoenix
Nest" edited by Martin Levin and
published by Ives Washburn (750
3rd, NY17).

This volume, as the subtitle as-
serts, represents "21 Nights with
America's Humorists" and the com-
piler and editor is eminently well
qualified to do such collecting of
material written in the lighter
vein.
Levin is, the author of the
"Phoenix Nest" in Saturday Re-
view as well as of the weekly col-
umn "A Reader's Report" in the
New York Times. Because he pos-

sesses a 'sense of good humor he
is able to gather the best from the
contributions to his column for a
boom that, in 21 chapters, incor-
porates the works of many of our
noted authors.
There is much of Ben . Hecht in
this volume, and there are many
other names of note among the
authors, including Robert Nathan,
Ogden Nash, William Fadiman,
Max Eastman and many others—
including selections by the editor
of this volume.
Numerous tentacles spread out
from this work, and the subjects
cover the universe. There is de-
light in much of the book, and one
who seeks will even find informa-
tion.
H. Allen Smith, for example,

writes an hilarious tale under the
title "Hey Doc, What You Got in
That Little Bag?" Laymen and
doctors will get a kick out of this
charming piece.
And there is real delight in a
nun's poem. Sister Rose Alice,
S.S.J., under the title "Lamenta-
tion (Lord, Deliver Us From
Vista Vision)", write several
stanzas, the opening and closing
of which read:

0 Lord, I am sick of movies
about nuns,
And I haven't even seen all of
them.
They range from plain old clay
feet
To Deborah of the gorgeous red
hair ...
0 Lord, we only promised You

to be good —
Not good box-office.
Deliver us from Hollywood.
Martin Levin's "Never Argue
with a Book Reviewer" is another
notable piece that deserves special
mention.
And George Halasz's "Dr. Ein-
stein's Icebox" is a most delightful
piece of information and of wit.
Then there is Robert Nathan's
"Prayer to an Analyst":
Here a little child I stand,
Lifting up my either hand;
One is dirty, one is clean —
I'm the problem in between.
There are so many other quot-
able examples that it is impossible
to do full justice to this wonderful
work. Suffice it to say: it is a book
full of entertaining fun and of
literary merit.

in.Social Actions.

Roles as facets in social struc-
tures are the topics of a note-
worthy book that outlines the ac-
tivities of elements in the social
and economic spheres, in peasant
and industrial societies.
Prof. Michael Banton of the
University of Bristol, England, in
"Roles: An Introduction to the
Social Relations," published by
Basic Books (404 Park, S., NY 16),
treats roles like a science.
It is a unique work, replete with
factual data, marked by excellent
analysis. Since every human plays
a role in life, this volume will
intrigue readers in all classifica-
tions.

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, October 29, 1965-35

• •

,

We urge everyone in this
community to vote for
Mayor Jerome P. Cav-
anagh and support his con-
tinuing efforts to KEEP
DETROIT MOVING.

CAVANAGH BOOSTER
COMMITTEE OF DETROIT
Dennis H. Silber, Chairman

...........

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0§2*,*1.+ :

•

Ronald Charfoos
Morey Charmer
William-Elliot Elkin
Jules L. Fayne
Gerald A. Freedman
Jack Freeman
Joseph Frenkel
Soly Hartstein
Robert B. Hecker
Charles Hoptman
Seymour Kaplan
Maurice Klein
Abe Lapides
Sammy Leiberman
Robert Littky
Jules Olen
Spencer Reuben
David Rosen
Albert Silber
Michael Silber
Ronald Topper
Nate Wigod