U Books

The authors have provided a visual celebration for nursing! Clearly the parades were really annual public processions, although the narrative and images demonstrate the religious nature as well. The photographs are a witness to the pride and esteem that nurses held/hold for their profession and the tribute paid to nursing by all those other groups who chose to also march as well as the crowds that lined the parade route. This is a real contribution to the history of nursing!

This book is a perfect gift for any nurse, but especially one who is over 50-ish, has any Chicago connections, and who attended a "diploma" school of nursing. It is a completely unbeknownst to me super-cool annual event out of the city's past. The documentation and photos are great. Thus, it's also a great book for a Chicago historian, nurse or not. I happen to be a nurse, and purchased this book for myself. It's nice to know that past mayors of the city honored its nurses in such a neat public way. It's also a view of how nursing has changed. In the days of this parade, practically every R.N. had graduated from a hospital "diploma" school of nursing. Now those schools are virtually extinct (mine closed over 20 years ago), and most nurses are college, community college, or university educated. The evolution of nursing education is another huge subject, but this book gives a great glimpse of the old days of Chicago and nursing in the 10 years that the parade was held.

Chicago's Nurse Parade is a wonderful easy read with incredible vintage photos deplicting this fascinating historical parade. Being a nurse, there is a pride and a wonderful history of this profession.
Hats off to the authors for showing the historical and interesting journey this profession has!
D. Emerick R.N.

A wonderful book. A very creative way to honor the Nursing profession. It is a classic.

The problem was a serious nursing shortage--one giant step in the solution was to have a parade! Initiating an annual Nurse Parade in Chicago was a very imaginative way of raising awareness for a serious problem. With a minimum of text, this visually delightful book explores, through reproductions of documents, newspaper articles and photographs, the history of Chicago's Nurse Parade. We can learn a lesson from the success of this initiative. When we utilize our creative resources (and remember to have fun!), effective solutions can come in unexpected and interesting forms. The authors, passionate advocates for nurses and the nursing profession, have offered a story relevant to us all.

I read this book when it first came out. Then with our Iraqi fiasco in mind I read it again and was overwhelmed by the fact that the same hubris laden micalculated assumptions of a cearly incompetent cabal of idiots in power once again has sent Americans to early graves for nothing. Choosing War is never a good choice!!

In Choosing War, Mr. Logevall presents a very cogent and deeply reasoned assessment of America's entry into the futile and eventually tragic landscape of an Americanized war in Vietnam. There are so many commonly held beliefs about the necessity of America's involvement there was to prevent the spread of Communism, that it is refreshing, but painful, to read about how and why America went so wrong - and how many chances we had to change direction. It is most infuriating to see the steady drumbeat of the military generals and like-minded advisors twisting and subverting the information coming out of Vietnam that was shifted to show that American military might was making a positive and meaningful difference in pursuit of our goals for a non-communist South, knowing full well this was not the case. As in JFK and Vietnam [by John Newman], it paints a frightening picture of how at the mercy of others are the president's choices.
A most interesting and prescient comment occurs in the final chapter and paragraph of the book that equates lessons unlearned from Vietnam allowing similar mindsets to erupt, engaging America in a similarly foolish military incursion in a foreign country whose population and conditions we also don't understand.
A very well written, well researched and easily readable book.

This book is well written, well argued, and fascinating. It's especially timely now as we try to understand the forces that led us into the Iraq war. My students liked it too.

As the war in Vietnam escalated in 1994 and 95, I was a young naïve supporter of the war simply because I believed that whatever it took to stop and fight communism was justified. My first doubts about the justification of this war came when I would hear the causality figures at the end of each week on the nightly news. I can remember these figures e.g. 946 VC killed in the fighting this week; 94 Americans died. I simply did not believe that anyone knew how many VC were killed, and questioned the figures reported including those of American causalities. As things developed, I began to reassess my thoughts about the American involvement in this war. I read McNamara's "In Retrospect," Neil Sheehan's "A Bright Shining Lie," Stanley Karnow's "Vietnam: A History," But it was Fredrik Logevall's "Choosing War," that really gave me the insight to this conflict. It's the most enlightening account of the American involvement in Vietnam I've read to date. Last year I visted Ho Chi Minh City (formally Saigon). This is in itself was more of education than any of the books. It's my recommendation to all who are interested in the American involvement in Vietnam, to read this detailed and comprehensive account.

Not only is Professor Logevall an excellent historian...he is an excellent teacher as well! I have taken one of his classes at UC Santa Barbara; they are the best and most popular classes on campus.

Bierce writes with the eye of a skeptic and beyond the hurahhs and romantic vision of war. Given his later life the war apparently made an immpression on him which lasted till death.
The carnage, vile bloddy scenes, the death never left him and it was obvious in his writings and life. Good book to see the unvarnished truth!!

Ambrose Bierce was a Civil War soldier who participated in many bloody campaigns. And the stories contained herein this title, are the output of his frustration over the violence and senseless destruction of that time.

His trademark wit abounds throughout, which isn't of the Jay Leno "Ha-ha! Look at me! I'm a big-chinned clown!" sort, but rather of the "Look at how terribly cruel people are!" sort. The stark dialog with its terse exchange between characters, transcends the page to imprint upon the mind of the reader, that the world is a harsh foreboding place in which to attempt survival.

My favorite story is 'The Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge'. The descriptive narrative at Bierce's command, utilized to describe the hanging of a rebel spy, left me breathless and checking my neck for bruises.

Ambrose Bierce was a literary genius who never wrote his great novel. No, because such epic proportions were unnecessary. For Ambrose Bierce in short form, could convey all the depth and meaning of the universe, while resorting to only a modicum of grammar. He is the greatest humorist and wit that this country, and thereby the world, has ever produced. I miss him greatly.

This book stands as a vivid reminder, of that which led Bierce to become so wonderfully cynical. And this work should have the same effect upon all who dare read it. At least that is my hope.

You would never think of these stories as having been written in the 19th century, but they were. Ambrose Bierce was a Civil War veteran who seems almost to have tried to exorcise the horrors of the war he lived by writing about it. The result is gripping and utterly believable; the style is immediate, you-are-there, not-one-word-too-many. Not the flowery elaborate style you might have associated with Victorian prose.

The results convey the horrors of war as well as anything written in your lifetime. The story about the little boy who gets lost near his home when it is surrounded by a battle...I don't think I'll ever forget it. I won't spoil if for you but you've got to read it. If you think that 130+-year-old stories have nothing to say to you, give these a try, you will see otherwise.

Not to mention the Dover version is NOT EVEN TWO DOLLARS at the time of this writing. You spent more than the price of this book on your coffee this morning, I'll bet. What have you got to lose? Add it to a Supersaver order, there won't even be a shipping charge. Best pocket change you will ever have spent on a book.

Ambrose Bierce served during the American Civil War, serving as a cartographer and officer for the Union. In these 16 compelling tales, Bierce conveys the sights and sounds from a soldier's perspective of the war, ranging from being in the heart of battle in "What I Saw of Shiloh" to a young boy lost in the woods in "Chickamauga" to tales of the supernatural and of odd events, including "One of the Missing" -- a chilling tale of a soldier in an abandoned house -- and his famous "An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge." Bierce's no-nonsense style puts the reader in the heart of the action, making the reader take an active part in the events. A great collection of stories from one of America's best writers.

Ambrose Bierce was not a likeable individual; he was often acerbic, sarcastic, and even mean spirited. Nonetheless, he created remarkably good short stories. This collection shares a common theme, the Civil War, but the individual stories belong to many different genre and will appeal to a wide audience. There is no need to be a Civil War enthusiast to enjoy this collection.

Ambrose Bierce fought in several bloody battles in the west in the Civil War including Shiloh and Chickamauga, is credited with rescuing wounded comrades under fire, and was badly wounded at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. The first story - What I Saw of Shiloh - is a 17-page fascinating, occasionally critical, first person account of his participation.

The next story - Four Days in Dixie - is another first person account, but I simply do not know whether Bierce was being truthful or not. Whether the truth, an exaggeration, or perhaps a fabrication, Four Days in Dixie is entertaining reading.

The remaining fourteen stories are clearly fiction and are characterized by unusual perspectives and unexpected endings. The tales of Ambrose Bierce not only make exciting, entertaining reading, but they are often thought provoking. The endings often come as a surprise, and leave the reader pondering the unusual outcome.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is a good example. This story spans several genre, is not easily classified, and has an unexpected ending. This remarkable story has been recreated as a screen play and may be familiar to many readers from black and white television reruns of the Twilight Zone series.

This collection is uniformly good and warrants more than one reading. This Dover Thrift Edition is definitely a bargain.

This work of Sir Conan Doyle clearly shows that detective stories did not limit his interests. An excellent adventure and a well written one. What else do we need in a good book? This is very solid five stars.

This is a series of short stories that combines four rare qualities: masterful plots, superb writing, an unforgettable central character, and some of the funniest lines in literature. The central character is a retired brigadier from the cavalry of Napoleon, who is recounting his memories while drinking in a cafe. The stories he recounts are exciting and gripping adventures- indeed, just on that level they would be a pleasure to read. But what makes them extra special is the humour that stems from his extraordinarily conceitful personality- he is so full of himself, but doesn't realise it. A typical quote is the Brigadier describing a fellow cavalryman: '...he was just above the ideal height for a man, being about half an inch taller than myself.' He is also unstintingly obsessed with sex, without thinking for a moment that there is anything unusual or wrong about it..' I saved two of the pictures. One, The Crucifiction of St Benedict, I gave to my mother; the other, Nymphs Surprised while Bathing, I kept for myself.' I could read these stories again and again. I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone who enjoys good writing, wickedly clever plots and ironic humour.

Astounding. One of the best books I've ever read. Teaming with charm and intelligence. A.C.D. is a true Master. These stories are every bit as worthy as the impeccable Holmes tales. I even believe that Doyle's writing had matured beyond Holmes by the time he penned these tales. These stories contatin all the rich characterization and masterful plots of Holmes, but are infused with deeper insightfulness, well-conveyed through poetic language. Fully satisfying.

How Sir Arthur Conan Doyle can write a character that is irritatingly arrogant yet, charmingly loyal and naive is beyond me. The depth of Gerard's character rivals even the great Sherlock Holmes. Just as with his more famous counterpart(Holmes), Gerard is not just a hero(although there can be no questioning his bravery),he can also be a clown,(without ever realizing it)a ladies man, the greatest swordsman in the Grande' Armee(or at least so he tells us). With exciting short stories we venture through Gerard's career as a cavalry officer. He quite often bumbles his way into situations an officer of his rank should never allow himself into yet, it is these situations once gotten out of(after much daring and a little bit of luck)that build not only his career but, the readers passion for his character. These stories are an excellent companion to the more famous Sherlock Holmes stories. Where have all the writers with skills like Doyle's gone?

Well now, I know you have been here: You have found a book that is so delightful that you just cannot bear to put it down. I know that we all have experienced this. But folks, I will tell you in all honesty that I became quite ridiculously attached to this book to its final page. I brought it to work to be my next " On my break read.." but found that the first night I drove home after having left it in my locker ( as is my custom ) I felt compelled to return to work and fetch it. Thanks goodness I live about 3 miles from my workplace! Well, certainly many of us carry books with us to stores and such so that we have something to read when we are caught in the "express" lane ( ! ) and this became another one of those.
But I found myself reading it at stop lights and becoming irritated when the light changed before I had a chance to really GET anywhere...Now I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would like this character Gerard as much as I do, given that, in my mind, he stood in Sherlock's shadow, but I have become quite smitten with him! I fancied myself a Doyle fan, but had never read this series, as I was too enraptured by the mysteries and dectective stories. How sad that I waited so long to try these wonderful stories! No doubt that some of you ladies out there might be thinking that a series of stories about a soldier in Napoleon's army might be as interesting as televised fishing, or that they would only appeal to a man, but nay! Not so! If you are a fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock, then you will be every bit as entertained by Gerard. Doyle's style is no different, it is just as voluptuous. Only his main character has changed. He is an entirely different sort of fellow from our man Sherlock, but no less exciting in his own way...Very much like... if you were to, perhaps, put Dr. Watson's character in Gerard's place. Oh but I cannot tell you how very enjoyable these stories are, and it has been awhile since I have felt so passionate about a character...I kept longing for more..At times there would be a turn of the phrase that would make me laugh out loud, and then a bit later perhaps I would be curled on my chair with my hand across my chest, eyes wide in amazement! - as if being TOLD these stories by an old war hero! At times the events are so marvelous ( unbelieveable bits of luck and chance..) that I am reminded of Michael Palin's "Ripping Yarns," when an entire escape scene is deleted and Micheal returns to the camera and exclaims, " What an AMAZING escape!" There is that gaffy quality to it...But at the same time, there are "scenes" where this character's humanity is so full and well spent that one feels a sincere warmth for him..
But I have prattled on long enough. If you are looking for a good read, with nearly everything a story depends upon to be a real page-turner, then by all means, DO check this book out! It is, as they say over the pond, " Ripping good stuff. "

I feel this book should be titled more as to the content. The design work in the book is primarily l950's and l960's.
This was not what I expected when I purchased a "Contemporary" book. I felt it should reflect at the most the early 2000's to date. I feel it is worth while for my purpose now which will be a donation to the local library.

Woah! This is one of the coolest books ever! I very seldom have given 5 stars to anything, but this one deserves it! Jackson really went out of her way in obtaining these pictures-the real deal, too. If you've ever seen a retro Armstrong flooring ad, a home modernizing magazine from the 50s-60s, Matt Maranian's book "Pad", or anything on retro ranch homes and furniture, this one takes the cake! It's also gives a pseudo-history of midcentury architecture, through pictures-and it's amazing how many pictures are here. I haven't purchased the books "Modernism Revisited", "Inspiring Interiors from Armstrong", or "The Eames Primer", although I plan to get these, but if you or someone you know are into this period, this is definitely a book to obtain. I have a friend that just went ape over it when he saw it. Now he wants to go retro, too. Another book that I've had my eyes on is "Modern Retro Living with Midcentury Modern". Once I get these, I'll leave reviews, as well. Don't hesitate to get this one if you're into this period, also!

If you like the direct innovative designs of the 50's & 60's this book will provide a great overview with lots of photos.
It would have been nice to see more coverage of the furnishing specifics, especially DUNBAR and Edward Wormley - my personal favorites.

Put on some lounge music, pour a martini and enjoy!

This book is a great general guide to what was 'contemporary' - including architecture of the home, public building and office. In addition, it delves into interior design - including glass, wall treatments, flooring and furniture. The prospective reader should be made aware right off that this book is written from the British perspective - one will see British English spellings of words, and names of British companies. However, the vast majority of the book deals with American developments, which is more pertinant to the US reader. I call this book a great 'general' introduction because it digs about 75% of the way into each subject. But how many other books can cover so many subjects as well? None that I've been able to find so far. The book is richly illustrated, including some photos which span the entire page. The text is interesting and easy to understand. After reading each chapter of the book, you are left with a good basic undertanding of what you've just read. The pictures themselves are generally period photos, which really help the reader see what 'contemporary' was to the eyes of the folks living at that time. If you are contemplating purchasing a 'contemporary house', or perhaps decorating in the 'contemporary' style, this book will give you some good ideas. Overall, a very enjoyable book - it would make a good present, and look great sitting on your coffee table!

This is a pretty cool book. The photos are honest, as they're from the era instead of reconstructed rooms today. Very in depth also; it covers furniture, architecture, glassware, kitchens, textiles and other home furnishings.

You can tell when you pick up the book: quilting stitches are embossed on the cover. Quilt patches make up the cover: eggs, pie, soup, chicken. There are no photographs inside. No garnishes. Nothing about piling up the food into teetery towers and drizzling essences of something or another on a gigantic plate. YET these are America's best-known chefs. At least half of them must be James Beard Award winners. Their own cookbooks and restaurants have won most of the other awards. Cooking from the Heart is 100 chefs making up this treasury of family recipes, of familiar (to them) favorites, all designed for a home cook. Sure, there are a few recipes with a couple sub-recipes (you can't make a pie in one step...but we all do it without grousing). Sure, there are a few (but only a few) that have an ingredient that might require a trip to specialty market. But that's part of the joy in this kind of a book: finding something new to add to the standards in your own recipe file.
Unlike a lot of chef-written books, this one tells stories. Funny accounts of travels or mishaps or family members. Really touching tributes to grandparents, mentors, loved ones. And then the recipes themselves make this book a stand out. Try these titles: Brown-butter apple tart, blue cheese grits with wild mushrooms, crab cakes with a fried corn sauce. Or try something incredibly festive: a leg of lamb cooked for three days with a pound and a half of garlic--that's 1 1/2 pounds: marinated for a day, cooked for 7 hours, and rested for a day, resulting in something so tender and aromatic... A wild recipe from Philip Boulot in Portland, Oregon. The book is full of these simmered recipes that fill the house with something that's divine and earthly: Emeril's Sunday pot of bolognese sauce, John Ash's grandmother's beef stew, Suzanne Goin's devil's chicken with mustard and leeks.
Which makes this book sound too strong in the meat department, which isn't the case. Tons of great seafood, lots of homey desserts, and a big range of starters and first courses. It really is a quilt: bright patches from all across America, from every cuisine, from so many great talents. And like a quilt, something to pass on and cherish.

Sure, pick up the book because it features new recipes from umpteen James Beard Award winners, from most of the affable chefs who have television shows, from these "chefs who are the new rock stars." Okay, that might be the way you find the book. But inside, it's all storytelling. Rosen, the book's writer, coaxed the most familiar and family-inspired stories from these celebrity chefs to accompany their recipes. (And the recipes themselves also have a very accessible, personable feel to them: nothing too fanciful or formidable.)
A review, which put me onto the book said, "you know feel-good movies...this is a feel-good cookbook." It's a book to read at the kitchen table while you have breakfast, dreaming up what to cook for dinner. Dreaming of those anecdotes you tell about your own family's favorite meals. It's a fireside book. An emotional book: it about WHY we want to go to the trouble of cooking wonderful things for people we love. It's THE ideal book to give as gift, full of heart.

This book exhibits exceptional taste. The panko-crusted goat cheese on arugula and asparagus salad is worth the price of the book. And then there are 99 other great recipes.

Since we've elevated chefs to "star status" these days, we want to know all about what appliances and ingredients they use, what they themselves eat, etc. So ONE of the great things about this collection is the inside look you get at each chef's personal history. Really touching stories like Marcel Desaulnier, while stationed in Viet Nam, sharing the homemade chocolates his mother had sent. All this besides the fact that the book itself is gorgeous and just reading the recipes is entertainment enough. And as if I needed another way to rationalize buying the book, the fact that a portion of the proceeds go to an organization committed to ending hunger (Share Our Strength) had me sold. Buy this book!

At first I thought, wow! a nice book, a good gift. The premise of 100 great American chefs sharing stories and recipes for a good cause. But both the tales and the recipes exceeded my expectations. A terrific addition to my extensive cookbook collection.

The Copacabana flooded me with memories of one of my first dates with my then future husband. It was a big deal because we didn't go into New York very much, so it was a special occasion. Kristin Baggelaar's book evokes these special times in our lives. These are wonderful memories of a bygone era filled with elegance, romance, and high-living. It is an easy book to pick up, browse through, and look back on the different times in our lives.

Other books have been written about the famous Copacabana nightclub, but none have captured the feeling of that era the way Kristin Baggelaar has - every page is a joy.

Edna Ryan, former Copa Girl

The Copacabana personified the nightclub era of 1944 to 1953 in the country. Kristin Baggelaar's nostalgic book captures those days of mega stars and their acts in 126 pages of page-turning comments and photographs.
- Former Copa Girl Wendy Bartlett

book is great, it shows and tells of all the happenings at the wonderful
nightclub on 60th st. in manhattan for so many years. It brought back
wonderful memories. I wish it was still there.

The Copacabana captures the essence of entertainment, particularly the1950's, during which time my parents and relatives in the Midwest savored the music and comedy of these young emerging stars. Though they never attended the performances at the Club, they were well aware of the biggest names in show biz through radio and newly emerging television.

Performers like Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, Jimmy Durante, Eddie Fischer, Frank Sinatra, Julius La Rosa, Red Buttons, Tony Benett, Sammy Davis Jr. Johnny Raye, Milton Berle, Mel Torme, Sid Caesar, Xavier Cugat, and Joe E. Lewis among many others entertained our families and captured our attention while we were gathered around the television at my grandmother's house. My parents and grandparents owned most of their albums.

Kristin Baggelaar makes all of these stars come to life in her book, which celebrates this famous Manhattan Night Club. Her interviews create an intimacy with the characters as if she knew them all personally. In a few words she cites their place in history and highlights their accomplishments and personality. Billy Eckstine was a "robust" baritone, "big hearted" Jimmy Durante was a "perennially crowd pleaser," and Tony Bennett "grew as a performer" at the Copacabana.

Her writing is lively, historic, fast moving and makes all of us who have read this book wish we were indeed a part of the glamour and sophistication of this era of American history.

Jean E. Baldikoski

I received this book as a gift and I loved it then and still love it now. After seeing the PBS (television) show on this subject I became intrigued and wanted to learn more.
This book does not disappoint. It goes into great detail as to what really happened in 1906 (whether it was reported by the Media or not).

During the 1906 S.F Earthquake (aka: "The 1906 FIRE") the media was influenced by the politicians (& other institutions) , and this book shows what might have truly happened. Well researched.

Ten years ago, I discovered Denial of Disaster and was floored by what I read. This is the definitive historical work on the greatest natural disaster in U.S. History. The research by Gladys Hansen and her team, former Fire Chief Emmett Condon and the superb journalist David Fowler, forever destroys the official lies that have lasted nearly a century. The official death toll is 478: Gladys has proven that more than 3,500 died. The death toll is easily over 6,000. The photographs are superb, the text strong and inviting, the eyewitness accounts are breath taking. Yes, I may be biased: my novel, 1906, is a fictional account of the last, great days of the city of San Francisco as it once was. But my response to this book was immediate and dramatic, long before it inspired me to write my novel. Periodically, I revisit it like an old friend. There is nothing quite like it in the entire book world. It makes history come alive. James Dalessandro

I got this book because it was so highly recommended, after I had finished reading the fiction, 1906. That book gave a lot of information that was new to me, even though I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and my father worked in SF. This book is simply incredible. The amount of photographs of all kinds, including panoramic scenes meant for stereotopic viewers that were popular at that time, and postcards that were 'colored' made this book an incredible find. Not only have I been through it several times, but also I brought it back to my father and mother who were in awe of the detail and the photography provided by the author of this book. Her information concerning individuals, concerning the inability of the fire companies to successfully fight any of the fires (water pipes were broken as were roads made inaccessible)...intrigued me and my father who was a civil engineer.

Then my nephew who is studying at a nearby college came and went through the book, as he is studying urban planning. He was very interested in the modern day SF and the author's explanations of why SF is in an even more precarious position should another quake as strong as the 1906 quake happen, due to continued ignoring of the need for quake proof buildings and water lines, breaks between houses, the fact that SF actually has less fire departments now then in 1906 and other major problems.

I love San Francisco as a city and where I grew up, but quite frankly, I would never dream of moving back there, partly because of this book. Yet there are other cities equally at risk over poor urban planning (new Orleans for one), and this book would be a good required reading for those going into urban planning and environmental impact on human populations.

A truly great book...

Karen Sadler

As somewhat of a history buff, this book fascinated me. The photos are simply astounding and easy to get lost in. If you're interested in the real story of the quake, check out the DVD documentary "Disaster by the Bay", also available here. I've seen all the documentaries on this subject and "Disaster" is the best by far.

This book is the must have for anyone interested in this history of San Francisco. As a fifth generation native of the "City" who had reilitives who lived through this natural disaster, I can wholeheartedly say that this is the the quinticental book on the subject. It is filled with never before published pictures of both the distruction and the notiable public figures of the day. and dose a very good job of correcting some of the misinformation attributed to the original official record of the earthquake and fire. Simple a great book.

This is a book of human suffering with the root cause coming down to a shortcut. I would say the lesson to learn here is that if there is a well-traveled trail taking a seemingly out-of-the way route as opposed to an unknown shorter route that has not been traveled on there must be a reason that the longer route is the accepted way, and woe unto those who would tempt fate. This is a well written book with the addition of maps and photos to illustrate the written word. The will to stay alive is strong, and humans will resort to seemingly unthinkable things such as cannibalism after the death of even family members in an effort to maintain life. Author Ethan Rarick does a wonderful job in showing how people will adjust in the best way they know how to the incredible adversity that is thrust upon them. He also recognizes that disparities exist in stories that are told regarding this ill-fated adventure, and does his best in making accurate judgments. Of the 81 people who had been trapped at the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada mountains, 36 died and 45 survived. This is the only book I have read regarding the Donner party, but I can't imagine others being better than this one.

This is a book that gets your attention from the first page and is extremely well-written. It has historical facts that it works from, but also the author is able to "flesh out" (sorry!) the saga with enough personal knowledge of the areas traveled, to give the reader a real picture of what happened. This tragedy is a story that should never be foregotten, as the people who lived it embody true courage.

This is some great storytelling. A history book this well-researched is often rendered dryly academic with the laying out of facts, but Ethan Rarick has a gift for making the story come alive. He's like a favorite uncle that comes home every so often and keeps the whole family up past their bedtimes with a harrowing tale to tell.

With impressive insight, he gives you a feel for individual personalities and the collective psychology of wagon train groups. He makes palpable the physical experience of walking 2000 miles in 1846--the dust, the clothes, the food, the weather, the sights, the pace, the squabbles--you get a good picture of the nuts and bolts of life on the trail. Likewise, the details of their winter entrapment are equally vivid, and horrible in their immediacy. You experience the dark and feel the cold and sense the mounting desperation.

Rarick sets the story of this one group, quite deftly, into the layered social and political contexts of westward expansion, so you get a really interesting history lesson without even realizing it. He's a master of timing and the well-placed quote, and manages to appropriately employ an understated humor at times, all of which make for a highly readable book.

On a practical note, another aspect which enhances this book's readability is the decision to forgo footnotes or endnotes with those
floating numbers scattered so distractingly throughout the text. The sources are referenced in the back of the book by chapter and page and a perusal of these sources is interesting in itself, both for a look at the extent of the sources and a glimpse into the author's decision making process.

I hope we hear from Mr. Rarick again soon.

Couldn't put this one down. The situation written about in this book has been written about several times in the past, but this book was so well written that it seemed like I was reading about it for the first time. Anybody who loves early western American history should read this book!

I've read many accounts of the Donner Party over the years. This is the first well-documented account I have found. The tragedy is told in a straight forward way and the writing makes for a fast read. The only thing I wish the author had included is a more detailed map (or maps) of the Donner party's path.

Some books teach you something new. Some books have you look at things in a different light. This book does both. Before reading this expansive historical work, I viewed the 1863 New York riots as a reaction to the draft. This book shows that it was that and a lot more. Schecter's book analyzes the social-political situation in the United States at the time of the riots and shows how much racial relations and fears, and those who preyed on both, played a role.

This book teaches on so many levels. It serves as a 1) an complete account of the civil disturbance in New York City in 1863, 2) an overview of race relations in the United States during the Civil War and Reconstruction, and 3) a history of New York city in this pivotal time frame. It even includes a travel guide for New York, which includes all the sites related to the narrative. Well written and superbly researched, this book is a great precursor to Eric Foner's works on Reconstruction.

This is the best historical work I have read in the last few years.

Thank heavens for independent scholars!

Barnet Schecter is rapidly becoming one of the best chroniclers of New York's history. His previous book, "The Battle for New York: The City at the Heart of the American Revolution", was an eye-opening revelation at how this city was the true "heart" of our separation from England, and how we (and Boston, as well) were that country's main target for conquest in 1776. Utilizing the same narrative style of writing, Barnet Schecter tackles the week-long convulsion in New York City four score and seven years later.

"The Devil's Own Work: The Civil War Draft Riots and the Fight to Reconstruct America" fills a void in most histories of the Civil War: the fighting that took place OFF the battlefields of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, etc. These were the wars that were waged in newspapers, city halls, and, ultimately, the streets of major cities across America. Mr. Schecter is careful to explain that the New York City draft riots were not the only anti-war, anti-emancipation riots during the Civil War. But it was the largest. It was the worst. (While most New York historians claim that around 100 people were killed during the riots, Mr. Schecter rightfully, I believe, puts the number at 500, at the very least.)

The actual riots occupy only the middle one hundred or so pages of the book. Mr. Schecter devotes an appropriate amount of time to examining the roots of the riots: the racism, the class animosities, the mistrust between Nativists and immigrants, and so on. In the weeks and months immediately before the cataclysm, we see battle lines being drawn: Greeley vs. Marble, Democrats vs. Republicans, poor whites vs. poor blacks; in fact, it seems like it was almost everyone vs. the beseiged African-American population. When the five days of rioting are discussed, the sense of prevailing confusion and chaos--the near anarchy--are as expertly conveyed as the awful scenes of violence. The final third of the book is, in many ways, more tragic than the uprising. It is here where Mr. Schecter discusses the aftermath of the riots over the next two decades. Basically, the reconstruction of America fails. The North and the South do not fully unify. The working class does not get the respect it deserves. (Instead, it is treated with more brutality and unfairness.) Worst of all, African-Americans are not truly emancipated. The enmity and violence visited upon them, because they are never addressed, just worsens. And why were they never addressed? Mr. Barnet just comes out and says it: because most people never really wanted to. Therefore, it would takes decades before America would heal or truly reconstruct.

"The Devil's Own Work: The Civil War Draft Riots and the Fight to Reconstruct America" is a sobering book, true, but it holds our fascination. The details about the quirky politicians, newspapermen, observers and participants breathe life into people who have been dead for almost 150 years. The maps and generous sprinkling of illustrations help us see the people and places more clearly. This is a monumental book for which Barnet Schecter deserves our appreciation.

Also recommended: Iver Bernstein's "The New York Civil War Draft Riots". Although not written in a narrative style, it contains valuable information about the causes of the riots. For a fictional treatment, Peter Quinn's novel, "Banished Children of Eve" is the best I have ever read.

Schecter's book is a great read that clearly explains the New York City draft riots and the political and ethnic issues that simmered to the point where in July 1863 Irish immigrants protested and rebelled against what they saw as an unfair draft system that had been put in place allowing $300 commutation fees and a recent Emancipation Proclamation which caused them to fear the loss of their jobs to newly freed slaves coming from the south.
It's an excellent book about a rarely discussed topic in our nation's history.

This is a good book that seeks to help desanitize and demythologize American history. Racism is and always has been an American problem, and not relegated to one region, or for that matter, one race. I think a good book to read with this one is Tom DiLorenzo's brave THE REAL LINCOLN, now available in paperback. It does something to show Lincoln's virulent racism and should act as a supplement to THE DEVIL'S OWN WORK.

Barnet Schecter's magisterial study of the five day insurrection that erupted in New York City, "The Devil's Own Work: The Civil War Draft Riots and the Fight to Reconstruct America", is one of those historical accounts that illuminate more than just the times the work is set in. By providing a multilayered analysis to the issues that marked this breakdown of social order, and through a deft, perfect-pitch, use of basic sources, Mr. Schecter lets the contemporary voices of those living through these events and, at times, driving them, speak for themselves. The result is a tableau of compelling immediacy that is rarely seen in a historical study. Some of the expected characters are here: Lincoln, Seward and Lee, etc. but it is the less well-known characters of that era that permit the real force of the book to be felt. By knitting together and contrasting the recorded dialogue of the restive ferment of the slums of New York and Boston with the tense interchanges originating in the mahoganied board-rooms of these same cities Mr. Schecter recreates the social tensions of these turbulent times. With what seems to be an unerring sense of how the character of a subject will define for him the peculiar social reality that he may act in, we meet figures who by virtue of the author's skill and sympathy are never rendered as simple, one-dimensional heroes or villains. Landmark works in any field of study require that a sense of scope, sensitivity and balance be observed throughout the effort. But such traits alone cannot mark it as memorable. For this the electricity of personal exchanges in statehouses, boardrooms and back alleys must be captured in their raw force and then be woven in into a narrative that flows with seeming effortlessness, from it its own momentum. This is what Mr. Schecter has accomplished.