O Books

Mr. Potter has done a great service, in the service of bringing to life (literally) the wonderfully detailed personification of the steamboat "Sultana's" explosion and fiery sinking; woven marvelously into the adept story-telling describing how such an event would vanish from history, and the circumstances that created each and all.

Extensively documented, fleshing out all angles of the event before, during and after.

Simply marvelous.

I finished reading The Sultana Tragedy: America's Greatest Maritime Disaster on December 7 while on vacation in Aruba. The news of that day was that it was 58 years since that infamous day at Pearl Harbor. Yet it struck me odd that practically no one today was aware of the Sultana tragedy of April 27, 1865. The 2300 killed by the enemy at Pearl Harbor were only slightly higher than the estimated 1800 who lost their lives that forgotten night with the Sultana.

As my fifth and seventh grade sons stepped into the overheated Jacuzzi to listen to Jerry Potter's story, the initial shock of the excessive hot water put them in an appropriate listening mood. Memphis Attorney Potter's study of the disaster is no doubt the most comprehensive examination of this 133-year-old incident. Why, I wondered, why did this disaster become lost in the memories of America? While I have vague memories of the Sultana from my Tennessee history professors and Memphis law school days, Potter's book easily captivated my attention as I roved through its 300 pages with 655 footnotes, pictures and a comprehensive list of the passengers. Perhaps, this history was lost because of timing. April 1865 had seen headlines of the end of the Civil War, the assassination of President Lincoln and the capture of John Wilkes Booth. And the Eastern newspapers were apparently not that interested in what happened on America's western front.

My sons being very familiar with last year's top movie, "Titanic," gave their full attention as I explained what I had just read. As a 31 year veteran of the Army and history buff, it puzzled me also why the Army has not covered this topic substantially. The Titanic's 1522 deaths are less than the 1800 who died with the Sultana. Of the approximately 765 individuals who immediately survived the disaster, nearly half would die within days of their recovery from the dark and cold Mississippi River. These U.S. prisoners of war had just endured the worst of all times at the infamous Andersonville and Cahaba prison camps. Over 20,000 US POWs had died during imprisonment while the South had over 23,000 of its prisoners to die in Northern prisons. Many recently released prisoners, weighing in at less than 100 pounds, believed that they were finally going home after the War. The worst was over they thought.

The Sultana Steamship, one of the largest and best steamers supposedly every made, was only designed to carry 376 passengers. In the hurry to leave Vicksburg, an estimated 2500+ passengers crowded aboard, including crew and other non-military passengers. The Steamship Captain hurried a boiler repair that remains the primary suspect of the explosion, yet others believed that perhaps a revengeful Rebel might have placed explosives in the coal. Bribery, political influence, greed, indifference, criminal misconduct, and gross stupidity allowed the overloading of the ship at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Visions of being home in a few days perhaps were worth the crowding in the minds of these ex-prisoners who had seen much worst.

Prior to departure, the steamer's first clerk remarked that this would be greatest trip ever made on western waters since there were more people on the Sultana's board than previously carried on any one boat in the Mississippi River. The Sultana also carried a large store of freight of sugar, wine, mules, hogs, and the crew's pet alligator. Due to the spring time floods of the Mississippi River, water was cold and swift; the river spread several miles as it flowed over fields and its banks. Even though other steamers were available, the ship's crew and passengers wanted to get the trip on.

At approximately 2 a.m., April 28, 1865, the worst nightmare that could occur happened. The Sultana's boilers blew sending scalding steam over many passengers; decks crashed pinning hundreds of passengers in an inferno to burned alive, and it was miles to the shore in icy cold water- and there was only one lifeboat. For days following, bodies were found floating in the Mississippi - many unclothed. Animals were found lunching on human carcasses days later.

My sons asked why no movies tell the story concerning the Sultana since it includes hundreds of touching stories. Assuming Potter's accurate description, perhaps it is really too tragic for viewers to envision. I wondered where could actors be found to portray the large group of frail men on the steamer? Absent Hitler's holocaust camps, perhaps there have been no collection of humans as frail as these released Confederate Prisoner of War Camps survivors.

While citizens of Memphis, whose allegiance had been with the opposing force, opened their homes and care giving to the survivors with true Southern hospitality, the aftermath of seeking fault and blame paints a sad story. Potter's research included the investigations that followed. Further, the lengthy court-martial of Captain Frederick Speed who was convicted but then set aside by the Army's Judge Advocate General. No doubt this explosion should not have rested on one lowly Captain when others were equally or more responsible. Although it is apparent that there were many faults in arriving at the disaster and even questions as to what caused the Sultana's boilers' to explode, the matter was swept under the rug.

Most tragic is the manner in which this country treated these victims. This feeling is best summarized by a bitter survivor: "The men who endured the torments of a hell on earth, starved, famished from thirst, eaten with vermin, having endured all the indignities, insults and abuses possible for an armed bully to bestow upon them, to be so soon forgotten does not speak well for our government or for the American people."

We have a museum in our little river town , it is a sternwheeler from the early 20's , I used to go there with my friends and brothers and roam around and just soak up history...on one of the walls (that were filled with memorabilia and posters) was a poster of the Sultana with a drawing of it blowing up and telling of the great loss of life...so when my brother told me of a book he read of the event I had to get it too...this book covers the ship's last voyage from beginning to end and is very good...I learned a lot from this book..a lot of interesting photos too...

This is a little known event in the Civil War era. The Sultana was carrying released Union prisoners of war from Vicksburg to Camp Chase in Ohio. Due to an imcomplete repair of one of the four boilers and the vast over crowding of the steamship, there was a huge explosion a few miles above Memphis on the Mississippi River. The explosion and sinking resulted in the loss of between one-two thousand people, mostly soldiers.

Potter, who is a lawyer by trade, investigates why there were so many soldiers on board and why the boiler repair was incomplete. His theory is that the Captain-Mason bribed the Head Quartermaster Hatch so that all the released soldiers were placed on board the Sultana rather than two other steamships. The Captain also hastened the repairs of the boiler rather than take the ship out of service. This set the situation up for the accident. These two factors caused the ship to roll much and the boilers were affected. When the boilers blew, the resulting fire doomed a great majority of men.

Potter also describes life in the Confederate prisoner of war camps and what it was like for those who had to live a life in one. These soldiers were indeed weakened to the point where they could not muster much energy to save themselves when the steamship was sinking. When they went into the water, most drowned.

This is a great short read on a little known event of the Civil War. Potter did a great job writing a very informative history of a little known tragedy.

One of the returning Union POW's on the Sultana was my 3rd Great-Uncle Pvt. Wesley Lee of the Ohio 102nd Infantry. Uncle Wesley was one of the fortunate ones. He survived that awful disaster. Jerry Potter has done a great service to Uncle Wesley's comrades who perished in the Sultana explosion and aftermath. His excellent research, along with Gene Salecker's earlier work, goes a long way to bringing to light what has to rank as America's most "forgotten" tragedy. No Civil War library shelf is complete without this book.

Excellent book. Very concise. Perfect for the student and nice to have in your library. Fast Shipping and in perfect condition.

The book is well written and easy to read. It is an excellent companion to the New Testament in a New Testament studies class.

Dr Benware was my college professor at the Moody Bible Institute over twenty years ago. He offers a very fundamental view of the Old Testament; coming from a dispensational point of view. The book is a compilation of the notes of his college course, with the added depth and polish of many years teaching experience in addition to his personal study of the Old Testament. The book also has some charts and lists which summarize a significant amount of subject matter into an easy to understand visual presentation. Dr Benware is a talented speaker and the book reads with the ease of being in his classroom. We are currently undertaking an Old Testament survey in an adult Sunday school class and this book provides a great basis to develop the curriculum for that class. In addition to reading the Old Testament, I would recommend this book for those seeking a better understanding of the overall picture of the first 39 books of the Bible.

If you are a conservative Christian you will find this an excellent survey of the New Testament books. If you are not then you will probably find difficulty with many portions of the book.

One of the things that I really liked the way the author brings the reader up to speed about the history of the area between the Old and New Testament time periods. He does an excellent job covering the rise of the Greek Period, through the Hasmonean Period, and up to the Roman Period, including the rule of the Ptolemies and Seleucids.

Throughout the book the author includes many photographs and illustrations to help the reader understand the text. He also does a good job of recounting the various theories as to why the synoptic gospels often share not only common themes but also at some points nearly the same wording. On the other hand he does not even mention the fact that there are other places where they disagree with each other. This one-sided treatment is consistent throughout the book.

In addition, some of the pictures belong more in a tourist pamphlet than a serious Bible survey book. (For example, there are pictures of places where the caption reads "traditionally", "probably", "supposed", or "believed" to be a particular site. For most of them there is no evidence of this being the actual location but even in the Middle Ages traders recognized the value of having a religiously significant location within your city. So, many "traditional" sites suddenly sprang up.) Fortunately these sorts of pictures are few in number when compared with the large number that enhances the text.

While mainstream or liberal readers will find little of any value in "Survey of the New Testament", it is recommended for conservative Christian readers who will find it a valuable resource that enhances that belief system.

This detailed commentary explains a lot of the history of the Old Testament. This was a required text for a Bible class that I took and I fell in love with it. I now own Benware's Survey of the New Testament as well. This book seems to coincide with scripture and give some detailed information while using many good references including the Bible. Each section is outlined so that it is easy to follow giving the reader the dates that each book of the Bible was written, Purpose of each book and Summary. As a student of the Bible, I recommend this book in your collection.

Christian Fobian, Author of Why Christ?

I'm a prime candidate for using voice over Internet (VOIP), so it was with much interest that I dove into this book. The first few chapters are background information describing VOIP, how it works, and how it is different (and the same) as landline phone service. There is even a comparison of what you might pay in each case.

Since there are a myriad of choices in the VOIP universe I was glad to see a clear (and sometimes humorous) explanation as to what each offers. It helped me select which way to go for my own personal situation. Implementing the information from this book is saving me at least $10 a month initially and perhaps a lot more in the future.

Anyone wanting to adopt VOIP should read Talk is Cheap before deciding which (if any) provider to use.

Now that there are alternatives to using Ma Bell, people are switching (or contemplating it) to broadband phone services. Granted, those on dialup are still out of luck, but some of the services offered provide motivation to get a broadband account. With the proliferation of broadband phone companies, it gets confusing when trying to decide which service is the best, or which one offers the options you need most.

This book explains the services that broadband companies like VONAGE offer, as well as the ones that companies like Skype offer. It also explains (in the first chapter) how internet phones work, as well as an explanation how Voice Over IP works. I also liked the analogy about how innovation over the years has forced traditional phone companies however grudgingly to offer better service. It makes one wonder how they eventually will adapt to VOIP.

There's also a chapter devoted to features that you now pay for that you can get for free using an Internet phone (several of them are the various fees your phone company adds on to your bill), such as call waiting and forwarding. I find it interesting how the phone company manages to slip in various fees as a "cost of doing business."

911 service is also touched upon. Broadband phones will likely have complete 911 service within the next two years, whereas their computer-centric counterparts may not for a few years. It seems to be one drawback to using this type of technology, but one that will likely be ironed out the more popular this technology becomes.

This is a great "consumer guide" to Internet telephony, one that you should buy if you're considering the move to Internet phones.

This book happened to arrive on my doorstep while I was doing my own researching on switching my traditional phone service over to Broadband. I had a lot of questions, and this book does a good job of providing answers to many common questions and technical details behind making the switch.

The author goes into great detail on both telephone-type broadband service (Vonage, one of the author's favorites) and computer-based Softphone systems (Skype, for example). He explains various packages, benefits and technical details behind each. For example, I want to keep my traditional telephones since for some reason my 15-year old, as computer-savy as he is, seems to have this need to "grasp" onto a traditional telephone receiver. Thanks to this book, I now know how to hook-up those phones (directly to the router provided by the broadband provider) and how to make sure that I maintain my current coverage throughout the house (get a base station phone setup with remote stations). I also found out a lot about how the services that are available as they compare to my traditional phone company today, and some of the pitfalls as well -- Fax machines don't work with broadband service without an extra fee from most providers, and my ADT alarm system is going to need to be retrofitted.

If you are curious as to how broaband phones work (and also want a short, but good overview of how traditional phones work) the author starts the book off with going behind the scenes to explain the details. How does my call from my broadband phone reach my mother, who still believes that computers are those strange machines in the basements of banks and other big companies that manage to overcharge her, who still uses a service provided by Ma Bell? How can I live in Missouri, but have a number in Las Vegas? How can I go on a month-long vacation and still receive all my phone calls? How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie-Roll pop? Ok, so maybe the author doesn't cover that last one.

About the only gripe I had with this book was the author does a lot of moaning about the traditional phone companies. I am no big fan either, but I still realize they are necessary and will be so for many, many years to come. I also would have liked to seen a little less emphasis given to just Vonage and Skype, though to be fair they are the major market players at this stage in the game.

A good read for those considering making the switch. It's written well and is it times humorous which makes for a very easy read.

With Internet Telephony gathering acceptance and converts daily many people are trying to figure out what service will work best for them and the differences between the various offerings. With a straight-forward analysis of Internet telephony as compared to traditional phone lines and the various options available, this book is well done and very informative. I happen to use one of the services mentioned in the book and found the author's review of it right on the mark. He provided an excellent discussion of the differences between a broadband phone-centric service and a computer-centric service as well as the offerings of specific vendors. If you are thinking about making the move to Internet telephony this book will provide you with sufficient background information to determine if it would be useful for your needs as well as how to shop intelligently for the appropriate product. Although the information also applies to small businesses this book is aimed squarely at the home market. Written in a very non-technical style Talk is Cheap is easy to read and understand and suggested for anyone interested in learning about the subject.

Want to say good-bye to your plain old telephone service with the high cost of taxes, add-on fees, and long-distance? Check out James E. Gaskin's book Talk Is Cheap - Switching To Internet Telephones (O'Reilly). I certainly learned quite a bit from this book...

Contents: How Internet Telephone Calls Work; Your Internet Phone; Free Internet Phone Features That You're Paying For Now; Choosing Your Internet Phone Equipment; Vonage And Other Broadband Phone Carriers; Skype And Other Computer-centric Services; 911, Alarms, And Other Outgoing Calls; Tips, Tricks, And Techniques For Advanced Users; Go Wireless; Index

As more and more people switch to broadband internet access, there's an emerging option for telephony services in the home. Using your internet connection (DSL or cable), you can switch to internet telephony, also known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and go all digital. Gaskin does an excellent job in explaining exactly what this is, how it works, and the pros and cons of switching to a service like this. He's a pretty strong advocate of VoIP, so you can pretty much figure out where his bias is going to lie.

The book focuses on two major types of internet telephony: phone-centric and computer-centric. In the phone-centric area (using your phone much like before, but only through an internet service) he uses Vonage as the primary example of what to expect. On the computer-centric side (no telephone, just headphones and speakers attached to your computer), he uses the Skype package as the leader in that area. In this growing technology area, it's impossible to write a book covering every option such that it won't be out of date before it's printed. To Gaskin's credit, he does a good job in covering the current playing field, as well as giving enough detail to figure in new options as they emerge.

Even though you can come away from a book like this thinking all is rosy, that's not quite the case. There are very well documented customer service issues with Vonage, and no player in the field is mature enough to get it right as often as Ma Bell does. Still, if you're an early adopter of technology, this is definitely an area you need to check out. And if you have no exposure to residential VoIP up until now, I'd recommend a copy of this book to get you up to speed quickly.

The book I read was given to me by a dear friend. I have read it many times over. It is deep, thoughtful and meaningful - yet uplifting. It truly enriches my life each time I read it.

Unfortunately, the book I ordered over a month ago, has never arrived. I wanted to give it as a gift to someone for the same reasons I just stated. I cannot even get a reasonable ship date from Amazon so I don't even know if it will EVER arrive. I am a very, very unhappy customer of Amazon at this time, but that does not reflect on this wonderful book. Maybe you should order it elsewhere.

Warning: the art in this book will inspire you! If you have never seen the art of John August Swanson, this is a grand introduction. I also recommend "The Story of Ruth: Twelve Moments in Every Woman's Life," another collaboration between Chittister and Swanson.

This is a life changing book. Joan Chittister is a little extreme in her feminist position for me but everything else in her book truly touched my soul and made me rethink some long-held opinions.

This is a beautifully written and illustrated book that makes us see the world in a new light. The author explains issues such as intolerance, war and lonelines as immature reactions that can be understood and overcome by spiritual growth and reverence to the soul and to the natural world.

The book consists of 20 short essays, each pondering one of the seasons in the Book of Ecclesiastes, a time to be born and a time to die, a time to love and a time to hate,a time to plant and a time to sow, etc. and guiding us to meditate and to see life in a fuller and more gentle context.

This is a beatifully illustrated book that can be used as a special gift. I have read and re-read it, which I seldom do, because it always helps me focus on the real virtues of life. I have given it to my ( young adult) children who are now entering the time in their lives where living meaningfully will impact all that they do.

The simplicity of the style and the poetry of the images makes this a delightful book to be turn to time and again. Few authors can say so much in such few words.

I highly recommend this wonderful jewel as Christmas gift for those you most love, for those passing through trial and bafflement, and sadness, for those filled with great joy.

I had not noticed the large and generous size of this book, so favorably available herer on the amazon, before ordering it, and wondered at the large package in my mailbox. It was Sister Joan, speaking large, praying with me with an embrace as wide as all outdoors.

Perhaps we have heard the old song sung by the great American folksinger Pete Seeger, and by others including the Byrds. This book nevertheless brings our understanding, appreciation and entry into this Scriptural verse to a new level. Truly this book serves as lectio divina as Benedictine Sister Joan, winner of the 1992 US Catholic Award for her holy and wonderful work of ministry, meditates carefully on each phrase of this famous Holy Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Each brief phrase of a few words length Talmudically receives pages of commentary of great wisdom and holiness and strength, like a guided meditation.

In fact, this great book can edifyingly find use as a prayer meeting, sitting quietly in chapel, hearing its consoling words. BUt be aware in this context that you might only read a fifth of each chapter at a sitting. Each phrase truly receives many pages of text in this coffee table book sized volume, and each chapter is thick with wisdom and truth, and much to meditate. The chapter on war in particular, published in 1995 someight years before our current situation, breathes a prophetic prescience which speaks deeply to or hearts today. The chapter on restraining from embracing supports not only the mystery of celibacy but also examines the unrestrained consumerism His Holiness now condemns. Each chapter has so much to say; the more slowly you read it the more you receive.

A great gift for the RCIA candidate; a great introduction to the prolific and profound spiritual writings of Sister Joan, a great way to return to the careful contemplation of Holy Scripture in lectio divina.

As if this were not enough we have here the wonderful painting of John August Swanson, with whom Sister Joan also collaborated in The Story of Ruth: Twelve Moments in Every Woman's Life. HIs beautifully detailed painting resembles the ancient medieval illuminations in the Books of Hours, as well as the beautiful Mexican folk art retablos. In a powerful way these iconic images bring home to our hearts the meaning of these verses.

A great gift for yourself. A great gift for everyone on your list, so favorably and readily available here upon the amazon.

So much research went into this book, it felt like I was right there with the characters.Kathleen deserves all the awards possible for such hard work I loved the book, I was sorry to see it end.I can't wait to see what she does next, she is a genius!

Excellent research by the author. It is much better than sitting in History class. I find it interesting the beliefs of the Indians and Jesuits. Also enjoyed the romance going on between a Priest and an Indian and there beliefs involving such relationship.

Is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Deuteronomy 24:17 Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge.

What I remember from this book was the contrast between two jesuit priests sent into the wilds of Quebec to live among the tame Huron Indian tribe. One priest truly understood the love of God, the other, more legalistic and harsh, a rules rules kind of person, carrying his cross, rosary, bible wherever he went. The vector of the epidemic which rages amongst the Huron peoples following the jesuits arrival comes from one of the implements of their faith.

Kathleen O'Neal Gear and her husband Michael are both archeologists who have worked in the past for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Years ago, I read their series of books on American Indian tribes of North America which starts with The People of the Wolf, the account of the indians migration across the Bering Strait. Totally loved those books, learned so much about the different tribes' lifestyle and culture. Some common misconceptions of these people disproved by the evidence found hidden underneath the dirt covering their remains.

I avoided this book because it involved missionaries, well I was mistaken. This is a excellent addition to Ms Gears work. I couldn't put it down, literally. I took the day and just read. Fabulous.

So much research went into this book, it felt like I was right there with the characters.Kathleen deserves all the awards possible for such hard work I loved the book, I was sorry to see it end.I can't wait to see what she does next, she is a genius!

3 O'Clock @ Hyde Park is one of the best novels I have read in a very long time. It is a book that grabs you, and then you are so engrossed you want to read it in one sitting. I was especially trilled that the book was a very clean romance. It was so refreshing to read a great love story without the extra information that so many authors seem to feel compelled to include. I will recommend it to all my friends and family.

It has been a long time since I have come across a clean, modern day, love story! This story will intrigue you. Barbara Theesfeld has skillfully woven these characters together and made them leap off of the page! This book will affirm you in your "real" beauty. I can't wait to get my hands on her next book!

It is not everyday that you can pick up a book and be engrossed from the first turn of the page!

I love that this novel, while being a modern day love story, is written so that regardless of a woman's age, 13yrs to 80yrs, it can be read, shared, and talked about! I also enjoyed that although it is a love story, the real focus of the book is based on inner beauty and life recovery.

I am looking foward to reading more works by Barbara Theesfield!

Barbara Theesfeld weaves together a womans greatest fear, worst nightmare and her deepest desire, all in one heartwarming novel. Once I started reading, I was mesmerized. It is so tastefully written, I'll be sharing it with the teenage girls in my life because it teaches that real beauty comes from within.

I now count Ms. Theesfeld among my favorite authors. I am anxiously awaiting her next novel!

This book is one of those "I just can't put it down" types. Once I picked it up, I just had to finish it. The characters are very believeable and true-to-life in so many ways. I was even able to share this book with my 13 year old daughter who also couldn't put it down. She even brought it with her to the restaurant for dinner one night! Thank-you to Barbara Theesfeld for a wonderful book! I look forward to seeing more!

I was anticipating the publishing of this book as I have been familiar with Stein's work as the Dodgers' official team photographer. What you get in this book is a nice blend of posed shots along with never-before published shots of various game stills along with behind the scenes snaps. In addition, Crosby and D'Agostino enlist the help of the still living Brooklyn Dodgers (including Vin Sculley) to tell the reader what is really happening in the photo or why the photo was taken.

This is clearly not a rehash of old Dodgers lore or the same, well-published photographs...but an intimate family album of the Brooklyn Dodgers from '37-'57.

Forests have been felled with books written about the much beloved Brooklyn Dodgers. Roger Kahn, Carl Erskine, Red Barber, and numerous others have relished telling us what life was like with Brooklyn baseball, especially from the years 1947 through 1957. In addition, numerous authors have written about Jackie Robinson. However, author Dennis D'Agostino and Bonnie Crosby, daughter of Barney Stein, who was the official photographer of the Brooklyn Dodgers have put together several of Barney's photographs of his years in covering the Dodgers from 1937 through their last season of 1957 in Brooklyn. These are photos not seen before in other books, and numerous details are provided that the reader may otherwise overlook in the picture. I'm fortunate to have the book entitled "The Rhubarb Patch" published in 1954 with Barney Stein's photos and text by Red Barber, and this new effort is a treasure trove of photos from this historical era. One photo that has been often seen is of Jackie Robinson stealing home in the 1955 World Series on pages 90 and 91. The view we are given shows the entire dugout and many of the fans in the stands, several dressed in neckties and fedoras. The on-deck batter for the Dodgers, Frank Kellert, appears to have the best view of whether Robinson was safe or out. When asked for his opinion on the play Kellert drew the rath of Robinson by answering, "I thought he was out." Not mentioned in the caption, but seated in the front row of the stands is "The Big O", Dodgers' owner Walter O'Malley, nattily attired in suit and tie. I'm thankful I can remember the Dodgers of the 1950's, but whether you are old enough to do so or not, if you enjoy baseball history, I would highly recommend, yes, one more book on the Brooklyn Dodgers.

I thought I had seen just about every shot of the "Boys of Summer" but boy was I wrong. The book had some fabulous and nostalgic photos of my childhood heroes. Well written and enjoyable reading added to the wonderful photos. A must for every Brooklyn Dodger fan

Having only been told of the folklore of the Brooklyn Dodgers from my father, it was a real treat to see new photos of a golden age of baseball. This book captures the essense of baseball in Brooklyn and the love affair of the fans and the players. My Dad's favorite player was Don Newcombe, and there he was putting on his uniform at Ebbet's Field with a huge smile. This book gave me a connection to Brooklyn I only heard from the stories of my father. After reading and viewing these photos I felt like I was part of Happy Feltons Knothole Gang....What a treat and I believe for Brooklyn Dodgers fans a Treasure!

Thank heaven for Barney Stein, the five foot tall giant of a man whose personal rallying cry of "Uno mas! One more!" allowed for the creation of THROUGH A BLUE LENS, a "family album" of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Barney was the team's official photographer from 1937 to 1957. Indefatigable in composing the best shots (he is said to have climbed the old dirigible mooring mast on the Empire State Building for a panoramic shot, and climbed the north tower of the then-under-construction Triborough Bridge for much the same reason), each of Barney's photographs tells a complete story.

Posed shots are here as well as in the old Dodger Yearbooks that Barney contributed so richly to. Action shots of crucial and not-so-crucial moments on the field pepper this book. What sets THROUGH A BLUE LENS so far apart are the informal and candid shots of the team going about the everyday business of Dodger baseball. Barney's quick eye captured the fun and the excitement and the team's Love of The Game, and captured the unique personalities of each individual Dodger. He also captured Ebbets Field at its best and in its sad death throes, the true end of an era in Brooklyn.

Did I say thank heaven for Barney Stein? Well then, thank heaven for his daughter, Bonnie Crosby, who has managed to preserve so many of her father's never-before-seen creations. Doubtless many of Barney's photographs are gone forever, and THROUGH A BLUE LENS is too short at 162 pages, but this wonderful coffee table edition is a must have for the dedicated Brooklyn Dodger fan.

very informative. covers many areas. I will use and reuse this book for many years .

Coaches and anyone who works with children should check out this book. It will dispel all those myths you may have heard about training children in sports.

I am from Greece and it was quite easy for me to understand it and apply the meaning of this book to my athletes. Thank you Mr. Bompa.

It helped me a lot to understand the essentials of training my young kid, and designing an effective training strategy for his age.

It's hard to write a review without it sounding like an advertisement...This book dispels many myths of youth training like the need for early sports specific exercises. It covers exercises for all phases of youth development from ages 5 to 20. His advice, backed by world class achievement, can help you resist the pressure to put children through adult style training exercises and at the same time properly train children for future world class competition. I have compared his recommendations against many sources and have become convinced that they are correct. This book is a must have for Directors of Youth Coaching and Physical Development.

This is a must have for anyone interested in learning more about the traditions and cultures of Native Americans. Thoroughly researched, well written, beautiful color photos, respectful.

This book is very well researched, and it makes one want to spend time traveling and learning more about Native American culture.

This book is worthwhile for readers new to Arizona as well as for those who may already live there.

I lived in Arizona for 28 years and traveled to many of the sites in the book, yet I still discovered a lot of new things reading it. I particularly enjoyed the sidebar stories about people, places and events that presented anecdotes and little-known facts about Indian Arizona.

In fact, in reading the book, I actually became a little nostalgic for many of the prehistoric sites I personally visited and explored over the years. This includes a moving experience that I had while visiting the Heard Museum In Phoenix.

One final note, the writing style is very clear and easy to read.

When you launch your own discovery of Arizona's Indian cultures..., I suggest you begin by reading a comprehensive new book, "Traveling Indian Arizona," by Anne O'Brien... Anne is an experienced hand in the Southwest, working with museums in Denver, Flagstaff, and Phoenix. She has assembled something much more than an instructive travel book; this is a small encyclopedia of the many native peoples that continue their customs, and their arts and crafts, in Arizona. The many color photographs and the essays by elders and by anthropologists provide an additional dimension. --Richard Sims, PhD, Director, Sharlot Hall Museum, Prescott, AZ

This is a very well written guide for anyone traveling through the Southwest. The author provides excellent historical information as well as suggestions for routes, places to stay and nearby places of interest. On a recent trip to Canyon de Chelly, we used the book to plan our route, stops along the way, and as a reference for the history of the area. The author obviously feels strong ties to the native people of the Southwest..

I gave a copy of Treasures of the Heart to my grandmother and she loved it. She has been a Bible School teacher in Massachusetts for over 60 years, after reading the book, she commented "I wish I had read this book in the beginning, because Diane tells the stories so well and makes them so clear."

I read this review by Ron Kaplan in the New Jersey Jewish News and
wanted to share it:"That these stories are familiar in no way detracts from readers' enjoyment. Using copiously researched sources, Wolkstein makes the tales meaningful and lyrical as she traces Judaism's roots through its biblical generations.
Critical to appreciation of the stories themselves are the citations Wolkstein offers. As when reading the wroks of Shakespeare, one often needs explanations insofar as language, customs, and
context are concerned. Wolkstein's explications enhance the reading enormously. Books like TREASURES OF THE HEART are fodder for discussion, both on literary and religious levels."

I hope this book will be appreciated and enjoyed by many readers.

Pat Thurman

This book is extraordinary. As Peninnah Schram wrote in her
PARABOLA review:"Turning and weaving are the choreographic movements that Diane Wolkstein has used in composing her extraordinary expansive book. She has turned the Torah to
reveal its seventy faces interweaving, in various combinations, oral legends,
Talmudic and midrashic texts, history texts, academic findings,
along with her own interpretations and reflections....This is a
book that will truly give the readers an understanding heart, listening eears and vision through new eyes. Highly original in concept, it opens many pathways to understanding the spiral flow of Jewish time, the binding core of Judaism. Through the
sacred narratives that have been read aloud communally for centuries--and continue in synagogues today--the book highlights
the recurring holiness of sacred time....She infuses her work with the appreciation and learning gained under the mentorship of her acknowledged translators and guides, expecially Reb Sholomo Carlecach."
This is a very insightful piece that captures the essence of TREASURES OF THE HEART. I urge everyone to read it.
Nancy Kahan

I think of Diana Wolkstein as a female Martin Buber. She attempts to articulate a mature I-Thou spirituality just as he was, but without his abstract philosophical abstruseness. Instead, it is as if, in the true spirit of the feminine, she invites you to sit down at her cozy kitchen table and then announces that the constellations (the stars by which you guide your life) have shifted, but not to worry, "Have another cup of tea."

She says truly revolutionary things in such a loving way. Unlike the patriarchal prophets who threaten you with fire and damnation, she invites you to a loving partnership with God and your fellow human beings.

Her reading of the Old Testament is warm and inclusive. The focus is less on judgment, tribalism, smiting and warfare and more on what it means to have a relationship with God.

Like a deep sea diver she plunges into the stories and comes up with the pearl of great price -- a spiritual vision of who we are, why we are and where we are going for a post 9-11 21st century. I cannot say loudly enough how important this is. The Bible is the hidden storyline for all our current global crisis, from terrorism, to Iraq, to environmental destruction.

For westerners, these stories are our cultural DNA.
By changing the order of the holidays and finding the feminine wisdom that has always been present in the stories, Wolkstein invokes this mature relationship with God and moves Judaism from a 4000 year-old cycle of grief, guilt and lamentation to a Judaism of embodied joy.

Wolkstein's lifelong spiritual search for her own good heart give her deep eyes. With them, she sees the Bible stories anew and shows how they can light our way into a joyous and compassionate new century.

The God of the Old Testament performs many functions: he is a severe master, a patient teacher, the leader of his chosen people,the inspiration to all. He is also frequently puzzling. In this wonderful book, Diane Wolkstein has scraped away all the old habits, the many accretions which had taken the life out of these stories.Thanks to her, their protagonists are people we understand, people almost like us.
The soul of Judaism -that base of Western civilization- is indeed one of the gifts the author makes us: but there is also much more. As we come to know one of the world's oldest religions, it is also ourselves we discover.
All that is is a very great deal; but there is more. Diane Wolkstein never lets us forget that she is an inspired story teller. Who would have thought that the Bible could be filled with suspense, or indeed that we would be made to care so much about many of its figures?
This is a book that anyone with interest in the human psyche, in history, in drama, in religion should read.