Rating: 
Summary: Interesting
Review: The bap handbook is about the life of upper class black women who are put in four different categories, Bettys, who's always been rich, Boho, they are rich,but try to live like they are not. Butterflies, may not come from money, but their parents go out of their way to make sure they live like a Betty, and a Bogus, who's not really rich but act like it. I throught the book was an interesting concept.
Rating:
Summary: What a Hoot!!!
Review: I thought this book was great! This book is not for the hoochie coochie mamas among us (who get too much pub and probably don't read anyway), but for sistas everywhere who are using the good sense that their mamas gave 'em!! Yes, it is a little pretentious and snotty from time to time, but that's what made it so funny. Great job ladies - can't wait for your next offering!!!!
Rating:
Summary: BUTTERFLY
Review: I read the book on my road trip to a family reunion down south and I found it to be very funny and a good light heart read. I read the book in a few hours. I gave the book 4 stars, I loved it but there was some elitist (sp)undertone of was not needed. For example the blue box in finding a mate the man who knows the value of the blue box, name dropping of groups Links and Jack & Jill. Now I am aware of the blue box which comes from the Tiffany's, if my mate does not know that am one to kick him out the door for that reason; I learned about Links & Jack & Jill from reading a previous book which gave a more deep history on the orgs which I feel would tell a reader more on why the orgs are for a BAP. One of the hits that the authors took was by calling Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. & Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. "lesser" sororities. I had not caught this when I read the book however my sister Zeta pointed it out to me and when I went to the books website the authors had already made an apology in their guestbook that had already had posting pointing out the problem that many found with the statement. I also did not like the way the authors often placed BUTTERFLY as if we needed a Betty to show as everything that we could not discover things on our own. I really did not like the wedding chart the point of where it is stated that a BUTTERFLY wedding dress would be her mothers as if we couldn't afford our own wedding dress just as a BETTY. BOGUS I feel all of us have a little bit just because she chooses to show her labels more than the rest of us that makes her BOGUS I disagree. Other than the above points the book was funny however I do feel the authors should consider a few things when writing their next book. Even though I had a few problem with the books I only drop off one star because things did not bother me as much as it did others. I feel the book was wrote for a comical(sp) purpose.
Rating: 
Summary: How can the pot call the kettle a ....BAP?!?!
Review: Contrary to my initial impression of the book, I found the BAP Handbook to be very entertaining! However I found this book to be an overgeneralization and to some extend a falsification of what a true Princess is (A true-to-life Princess would not waste time on creating such a comical guide with so many spelling errors, maybe once the 'Betties' generate some cash flow from this book they will invest in Spellcheck, ever heard of it?). A true princess is secure within herself, her achievements, her goals, her desires and aspirations. A BAP is a women who creates her own Bapdom on her own terms and does not allow someone else insensitive, pretentious views predetermine whether she is a Butterfly or Bogus Princess. I find this book to be somewhat ironic, the classification for Betty and Bogus seem to be a little too similiar to me. Both enjoy shopping, MAC, Prada and the finer things in life however the Bogus BAP openly acknowledges that she is materialistic and clearly defines herself by her possesions and Betty on the other hand is just as materialistic and insecure and is also focused on the ' material thingies' (as one Bogus wannabee Betty reviewer puts it) life has to offer but hides behind the the persona of being 'high-class'. To me the classifications needs to be flipped. I prefer honesty instead of a person posing as a dignified front now to me thats... ..BOGUS, Betty!!! But overall I enjoyed this crazy book it was a good bathroom read!! P.S. this book is not for the young and impressionable minds of our future true-to-life BAPS, young sisters stay positive and beautiful, don't let anyone make you feel like anything less than that of which you are, Black American Princesses.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, light reading-fun for sleepovers
Review: I wish people would refrain from berating each other for their opinions of this or any other book. This is, after all, a forum for literary criticism. I bought this book last Friday with the full intention of carrying it back-shhh!-because although I am a BWIP-Black West Indian Princess-I'm kinda poor. Yes I am the product of a professional father and stay at home tea party throwing mother and yes I did the right thing and graduated from college and law school, but I dont work. I am a stay at home mom. I think the book lacks in that it failed to classify people like me-maybe I'm a hobo, as opposed to boho-People whose parents have done everything in the world only to have them running to B & N to return a 9.99 book so they can buy the screaming kids three McDonalds happy meals. (Don't tell mom)The list of taboo names was hilarious. Orangejello and Lemonjello??My brother married a girl whose first name begins with La and ends with isha. It ended in divorce. They were from different worlds. The book was amusing in parts, forced in others, but I believe rather realistic. I'm not sure about the laundry list of black female stars and others. That seems to suggest that money and fame could somehow buy one class and breeding. Do we really know if these people take away leftover food from parties?(a BWIP and I am sure BAP no-no) See I'm still a snob Mom. You trained me well. So say what the hell, go buy the book keep the receipt and turn the pages very gently. (Please dont let the BAPITS, Black American Princesses in Training spill any ketchup on it)Yeah read it laugh and take it back. You dont need any guidebook to be any princess. Be happy with yourself and to thine own self be true!! A world of BAPS and BWIPS alone would not be a nice place to live. Be Proud Girl and remember, you dont have to wear all your jewelry at one time. Peace!
Rating: 
Summary: Calling all BAPS!!!!
Review: If you are a BAP, then this lighthearted book is for you! The authors do a great job outlining the do's and dont's of BAPdom.
I bought this book the day it was released and, literally got my local B&N salesperson to take them out of the boxes, because they hadn't yet been shelved!
While some who are Boho's may find the book pretentious, it's aim is not to offend. It's a quick study, as implied in the title, into the world of Upper-class African-American culture.
Most of my friends are Betty's, Bohos, or Butterflies, and all in my circle who read it, loved it.
I highly recommend this witty, unprecedented, and informative guide.
Rating: 
Summary: Elitest and Tired
Review: This book is elitest and tired. Who cares? Even if it was meant to be funny it's not. It's a waste of trees. If I could give it zero stars I would
Rating:
Summary: A must have for all BAPS and the men who love her
Review: I love this book and the way that it satires the lives of Black American Princesses. I can see my friends and myself in many of the characters in this book. It is absolutely fabulous! Lift up your MAC loving fingers and purchase this book. Note: may be offensive to those not in the BAP world.
Rating:
Summary: A bit disappointing
Review: Being a BAP I fully expected to sit down and have a good laugh with this book. I was sorely disappointed. Not to be mistaken, there are some humorous points in the book, but overall it seems more like an encyclopedia or some other tome of information. There were too many definitions that made the book read like a textbook at times. At times the book bordered on the pretentious side. Still, in spite of my problems with the book, it was a pleasure to see a book that, like Our Kind Of People, showed the more affluent side of the black population in America, a population that seems to be ignored. I believe the authors had a good idea, but perhaps their approach is the problem. I would not recommend this book to anyone who takes things like this seriously because it can be a bit offensive I believe. This book is clearly for the lighthearted.
Rating:
Summary: Butterfly here...
Review: When I first picked up this book I had no idea I would enjoy it as much as I did. While I by no means grew up in a financially priviliged household I could absolutely relate to everything else - the endless dance and piano lessons afterschool (and art lessons for my brother)church every Sunday then on to my grandfathers church, the rules spoken and understood about what was and wasn't acceptable and the famous look from my mother that can still stop you dead on! I gave this book to my mother and she agreed after reading that she was a BAP mom raising a princess and didn't know it! Only after reading "People Like Us" did she tell me someone from the church had invited my brother and I to join "Jack and Jill" but she didn't even give it a thought because the person (an American) in question didn't meet HER standards (as a Barbadian-American)! Imagine!! (She also didn't bother to find out what the group was really about - now that she knows what she passed up on I dig her about this constantly!!!) So you see we do the worse sterotyping among ourselves and these some of these reviews are another example. I don't know why so many people are taking offense to this book - either you can personally relate or you can't. It's just a humourous look at one segment of a multidimensional group of people. There are those of us who have lived the "Cosby" family lifestyle (even without the money) and do not embrace the ghetto fabulous images spread across popular culture today. AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT! So I'm no longer identifying myself with the label from others who call me "that siddidy girl from down the block" I'm a butterfly who is finally happy with knowing there is nothing wrong with holding higher standards for myself - and there are others out there! I was starting to think it was only me and my friends and something was wrong with us but we are out there and we won't be stopped!! And yes I also have a subscription to Black Enterprise and have my own investments thank you.. Now if the authors want to do a follow up with a Caribbean twist I have loads of anecdotes to add :)!
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