Y Books

Gerard Koeppel has done a remarkable job of ferretng out material and documents which demonstrate how long it took, how much cash it took, how much politicking it took to get the simple compound H2O to complex NYC. I don't mean to be glib about this. As one reviewer has noted, Manhattan without fresh supplies of water would've been another unliveable coastal town.

Just like DeWitt Clinton's Erie Canal brought goods in and out of the city, the many visionaries (Burr[for politicial and banking reasons] and Colden [for practical reasons]) gave the city an enormous insurance policy for its future which is difficult to ignore.

This book is a compelling dedication to the people who saw the need for the reservoir system and made it a reality. Sometimes the book gets bogged down with details, but that's to be expected. What wasn't expected, by this reader, was the author's perserverance and dedication to this important matter, and for that he deserves the highest accolades.

Rocco Dormarunno, author of THE FIVE POINTS, and THE FIVE POINTS CONCLUDED, A Novel

In "Water for Gotham," Gerard Koeppel tells in a compelling way what could have been--ahem--a dry story. Its focus is on the civic history of a nascent metropolis thirsty for water, the self-interested politicians who used that thirst for their own ends, and the few dedicated visionaries who labored against man and nature to bring cold, clean water to Manhattan. Koeppel paints a vivid picture of life in New York from colonial days through the early-1800s, when the Croton Aqueduct was opened.

One of the few significant criticisms I have about the book is that while it frequently discusses structures, equipment, and emerging technologies, little effort is made to clearly explain and describe them. While the book is not meant to be a technical or engineering review, better explanations (as opposed to cursory descriptions) of some of the methods of construction (e.g., dams, the aqueduct) would have been appreciated.

A second criticism is that the book ends too abruptly with the arrival of water through the Croton Aqueduct, with only passing mention of later developments to the City's extensive water supply system. An additional chapter on how the other reservoirs in the system were created--sometimes through contentious legal battles and property condemnation--and the disposition of some of the original Croton structures, would have been welcome.

Notwithstanding these minor quibbles, the book is enjoyable, informative and enlightening. Recommended.

When we turn on the tap we take it for granted that pure and wholesome water is supposed to come out. For Americans in the early 1800's, the supply of fresh water to New York City was an achievement on the order of the moon landing in our era -- carrying a river for 40 miles through hills and valleys and across rivers to a desperate island city.

The amazing story of New York's water supply has long been known to historians, infrastructure buffs and residents of the Westchester villages through which the beautiful Old Croton Aqueduct still passes. Gerard Koeppel's new book, Water for Gotham: a History, makes this story accessible to all.

Unlike previous works on the subject, which have emphasized the engineering accomplishments of the Croton Aqueduct, this book explores New York City's social and political history with a liveliness and wit that make the turbulent decades following the American Revolution come to life. Experience the terror of cholera and great fires, the antics of scoundrels and demagogues, and the heights of idealism, dedication and genius that are all intertwined in this epic tale.

Mr. Koeppel's book is impressively researched and is a true contribution to our understanding of New York history. That a work of non-fiction is so lively and engrossing is another reminder that truth is stranger than fiction.

The book illustrates the folly of trusting our elected officials. How often did they use a public fear to enrich their own pockets? The sordid ancestory of the Chase Manahattan Bank is a case in point that Gerard Koepell, a person who I shared classrooms with when we were growing up, brings out particularly well. The point of history is for us to learn from our collective experiences and Gerard lays it all out for us. Gerard points out that at first no one knew about cholera and it's relationship to contaminated water. I had no idea that well into the 1800s people from New York had no running water or toilets and used the streets as their "trash" depositories. What else did the book teach me? Politicians in the past had no stomach for a long-term project or long-term thinking ... Politicians were/are corrupt and weak-minded and despite the huge legislative bodies, politicians are overwhelmed and the real laws and decisions are made by 1 or 2 people and everyone else is, at best, a yes-person. The status quo is often very comfortable. In old New York, beer was a relatively safe drink because of the brewing process (ie boiling) and New York had great economic incentive to keep people drinking beer instead of water. What are the present day unrecognized-evils? Air quality? I worry that the tremendous rise in urban asthma will eventually transform into an increased risk of lung cancer, even in the non-smokers. What interests are happy with the status quo of our air? Automobile manufacturers? Oil companies? The Advertising Industry? The Media? The Pharmaceutical Industry? Anyway the book is great food for thought. Gramatically some of the sentences, particularly in the early chapters are attention grabbing gems. And that is from someone who was hit with a tennis raquet by the author. Good work Gerard! END

It is about time that an in-depth book on the subject of New York's water supply was completed. The author has done a fabulous job of putting a highly readable work together that brings to life a period we rarely think about and a topic hardly considered in our hurried modern lives. Reality, however, is that New York without water would be just another coastal town. Those interested in a photographic history of the same topic should seek The Croton Dams and Aqueduct which will be publihsed by Arcadia Press in August of 2000.

this is a fine, fine book that you will not be sorry that you purchased. you might find yourself reading it more than once. it is a testament, a love letter to pain, to vulnerabilty, to life in all it's terrifying glory. it is brutally hard one moment, and then like a bird's heart in your hand in another. delicate like a razor. maybe you'll let out a few balls-out laughs while you're on this literary roller coaster, you might cry your eyes out too. maggie dukes it out with the best of the scribblers here. a true gem.

this is a fine, fine book that you will not be sorry that you purchased. you might find yourself reading it more than once. it is a testament, a love letter to pain, to vulnerabilty, to life in all it's terrifying glory. it is brutally hard one moment, and then like a bird's heart in your hand in another. delicate like a razor. maybe you'll let out a few ... laughs while you're on this literary roller coaster, you might cry your eyes out too. maggie dukes it out with the best of the scribblers here. a true gem.

this is a fine, fine book that you will not be sorry that you purchased. you might find yourself reading it more than once. it is a testament, a love letter to pain, to vulnerabilty, to life in all it's terrifying glory. it is brutally hard one moment, and then like a bird's heart in your hand in another. delicate like a razor. maybe you'll let out a few balls-out laughs while you're on this literary roller coaster, you might cry your eyes out too. maggie dukes it out with the best of the scribblers here. a true gem.

I actually got excited reading this book. Maggie Dubris' poetry is richly conceived and beautifully executed. The lengthy section "Toilers of the Sea" is a spellbinding mosaic of nursery rhymes, fragements of traditional folk songs, lyrical flights, modernist touches and strange catalogues. The long prose poem "WillieWorld" is harrowing, touching and filled with sharp details.

The book also contains a number of short stories. The one about the Rolling Stones in group therapy is a kick.

Weep not my wanton is a wonderful, powerful, funny and at times heart breaking collection of stories and poems. Maggie Dubris tells tales of New York City that the average citizen doesn't even know exists. It's an amazing glimpse into worlds we glide by unknowingly everyday. Her combination of prose and poems is fabulous and works so well. She infuses the pages with strong feelings. Some of the stories had me rolling with laughter. The section called "Toilers of the sea" is so full of emotion it at times brought me to tears. Black Sparrow press seldom lets us down and this book is no exception. Maggie Dubris is a wonderful author and I am so glad to have been able to read her book. I loved every last word.

WHERE TO WEAR is NOT just for tourists. I've lived in NYC for over 15 years and this is the book I've been searching for. It has every address, phone number and store hour that I could possibly need. It now sits right next to my NYC phone book and Zagat's guide beside my phone! This is a MUST for tourists and New York natives alike!

Without a doubt, the best written, best researched, most informative book of its kind. It includes all the basic information; but contains tons of witty and useful tips. Also terrific breakdowns of where to find what by category and neighborhood. Clearly, Ms. Melhado and Ms. Clason spend too much time shopping...but for our benefit. The best stocking stuffer I found this Christmas. Last-minute updates and website information are very useful. Look forward to each yearly edition!

My girlfriend and I used her copy to shop the after Christmas sales in Manhattan, and this handy little guide was THE BEST! We're just tourists from a few hours south, but I imagine that foreign visitors with even minimal knowledge of English would find "Where to Wear" helpful. Stores are conveniently grouped by district and type/category. We plotted our course through as many designer stores as we could fit into 2 shopping days and thanks to the accuracy in the descriptions, know we saved precious shopping time and shoe leather. I even found a great hair salon for my next trip!

The "Where to Wear" guide is like having your own personal shopper. I appreciate the guide's clever store descriptions, complete with store hours and locations. It's well organized, witty, and comes in a slim, easy-to-shop with, size. The guide's handy catagories, such as "best picks" and "best kept secrets" lead me to some real gems (like a pair of striped Louboutin mules!) This guide is a must for those who want to shop New York.

Heads up you shopping mavens and tourists alike! This is one jewel of a book you all must add to your collection of city guides. It's incredibly user-friendly, chock-a-block full of informational tid-bits and snappy commentary. Not only that but it's like having your own directory of all the stores in NY (addresses, telephone numbers, etc.) and it fits into your hip Fendi baguette, your Sergio Rossi tote or your Matt Nye cross bag! If you ever wonder where to go to find that special little something to fit the bill - this one's for you! It just makes you want to walk around in Melhado's and Clason's mules for a day...

Well done! It's a winner.

Skip the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty! Mittelbach and Crewdson know their stuff and their share it in all the fun and interesting details you could want. This is the "big apple" down to the core. I used to live in New York and was excited when this book came out.

Excellent writing. Takes you back to very beginning of New York before man and lets your imagination take over to give you a very different historical perspective. The Michener style without the fictional story line. Terrific reading. Read it in one sitting. You will view New York with a different eye after reading Wild New York

This is, hands-down, the best book I've found yet on the non-concrete parts of this concrete jungle I call home. The illustrations are 1st rate, the maps are very helpful, and the travel directions even help you get there --- like most New Yorkers would --- by public transit. All five boroughs are included, and the book is chock full of tasty morsels about the City's natural side.

Whether a native New Yorker or visiting from out of town, if you have the interest or the inkling to find hundred foot trees, tidal pools, salt marshes, Native American caves, hilltop vistas, or even just learn which wildflowers grow between the sidewalk slabs or which trees are tough enough to stand up to the stress of city life, this book is for you.

Margaret Mittelbach's books is an excellent description of the one side of New York City that no one really knows about, the natural side. The graphics are excellent, providing brief and complete tidbits about the different time periods of New York City's geological and natural history. It is written wonderfully with a sense of humor and keeps the readers attention at all times. In addition, you come away pleased with the new and complete knowledge this book provides about New York City. The walking tours are clear and concise making the reader want to go on one of the walks immediately. Finally, the book design both on the cover and within the book, grabs the readers attention and keeps it throughout the reading of the book. Overall, I would recommend this book not only as a guide book for the natural side of New York but as an extremely informative and fascinating read.

This book is a must have for anyone who has ever lived in or visited New York. It is extremely well-written, witty, and as well it is filled with interesting facts about New York.

I picked up this book on a whim. I got late notice that Zoe was coming to my area to promote our annual MS ride and couldn't attend. I checked out her book here and the price was right so I ordered it just to sooth my curious nature. What a great book! I'm about as the last person you'd expect to read this book but I did and was moved by it. Zoe's story is compelling and the resolve that accompanies her sense of humor are truely insprirational. I'm registering for the New York City Marathon in 2004 and I hope to meet her in person. Great book!

This book is hysterical! I laughed so hard that I nearly wet my pants. (And I was in the waiting room at the dentist's office at the time!) Zoe reminds us that the attitude that she takes into each marathon, and the one that Multiple Sclerosis patients and others should take into the daily marathon called life, is not the importance of winning, but the importance of doing our best with a smile on our face and a song on our lips.

Zoe Koplowitz is a no nonsense, straight shooter, beacon of hope and inspiration to anyone facing life challenges. The 10-time NYC marathoner, the last place finisher each year, shows us that determination and pure will, coupled with human kindness and compassion can propel anyone to cross the finish line with dignity and glory...all their own. This book is the "Road Less Traveled" of the millenium. Pithy, smart, thoughtful, painful and joyous, all rolled into a wonderful, spirited read.

Zoe Koplowitz bursts out of the pages of her book like the marathon runner she is. Diagnosed with MS in her 20s, she started participating in the NY Marathon in her 40s. Its a dead last finish every time but with wry wit and the spirituality of one with a chronic disease Zoe illustrates her incredible spirit. Ice, gale winds, street gangs, threats of drive-by shootings and the race run on crutches in the dead of night are some of the events she has experienced. The NY Marathon on crutches? Yes indeed and thats only the beginning of Zoe.She unfolds sometimes like a tender flower and other times like a bamboo spike growing in some steamy SE Asian jungle. Her warrior spirit is infectuous even if one isnt coping with slings and arrows, A must read for those heavily involved in a pity party. A definite must read for those who explode in the joy of life.

After reading a synopsis in the Aug. issue of Readers Digest, I went out and bought the book. It's an absolute MUST read!

Ten times better than the Christopher Reeve book. I laughed. I cried. I wished it would never end. It's hilarious, touching and absolutely riveting. By the end of the book, you feel like a totally new person.

I've never written a book review before, so you've got to know how much I loved this book. Buy it, read it and pass it on to a friend. It's truly transformational.

Christian mysticism is generally associated with Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, but professor Arthur Versluis here casts needed light on the obscure Anglo/Germanic theosophical mysticism deriving from Jacob Boehme.

Writing in a style that is scholarly yet accessible, Versluis follows the influence of Boehme down through disciples such as Johann Gichtel, John Pordage, and Jane Leade, figures who remain little-known even in esoteric circles.

The "theosophy" of Boehme and his followers differs markedly from the later theosophy of Madame Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society, a syncretistic theosophy which owes much to Buddhism and Hinduism. By contrast, the Christian theosophy of Boehme is thoroughly Christian and Christ-centered, deriving from his personal mystical visions rather than from readings in Eastern religion.

A main emphasis of Boehme and his followers is that religion be experiential rather than simply an intellectual acceptance of dogma or an assent to verbal expressions of faith. Boehme often described verbal religion as "Babel," signifying that it lacked the truly transformative quality of real religion.

Christian theosophy typically invokes the idea of "sophia," seen as a feminine personification of divine wisdom. Although present in the Old testament "Song of Songs," and occasionally referenced elsewhere in both the Old and New Testaments, sophia/wisdom largely went underground in the Christian tradition, and is more often associated with heretical groups such as the various gnostic sects of the first Christian centuries.

Indeed, Versluis takes up the question of whether there is a link between the Boehmian tradition and the earlier gnostics, and his conclusion is generally in the negative. First of all, there is no evidence of a direct line of transmission between the two traditions; secondly, the theosophers eschewed the elaborate mythical constructs of the earlier gnostics, relying instead on their own direct visionary experiences.

Versluis has tapped into a mystical thread in Christianity which bears further study, and I recommend his "Theosophia" as another laudable effort to elaborate the sophian tradition in Christianity - not merely as a historical curiosity, but as a living tradition that might have something to teach Christians to this day.

"Wisdom's Children" is a landmark work in the history of Christian esotericism. Thought mainly to be the domain of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestant mysticism has been marginalized for too long. Arthur Versluis takes us back 300 years and shows us that beneath its stern veneer, there has been, and still is, a vital current of the imagination and mystical understanding in and around mainstream Protestantism. Jane Leade, Johann Gichtel, Boehme, Freher, are all brought to life. The chapters on German theosophy, folk magic, and qabala in colonial Pennsylvania alone are worth the cover price. Highly recommended.

Well written and well thought out. For me personally, it filled in an enormous gap in my knowledge and greatly improved my understanding and opinion of Jacob Boehme. I would recommend Jacob Boehme's Way to Christ (Paulist Press) as a good "next book." Have fun with this; the vision is quite beautiful.

This book gives a great overview of the movement of christian mysticism which was essentially founded by Jacob Boehme. The only complaint that I have with it is that it does not have a section on Louis Claude de Saint-Martin.

Well written and well thought out. For me personally, it filled in an enormous gap in my knowledge and greatly improved my understanding and opinion of Jacob Boehme. I would recommend Jacob Boehme's Way to Christ (Paulist Press) as a good "next book." Have fun with this; the vision is quite beautiful.

Any attempt to disentangle the many threads of Adorno's rather confusing opus hinge on the fact that he never exhibited any sense of actuality. He was but mere unlived potential, a wasted and fragmented soul. Academics will read and enjoy. The rest of us will be stuck with Star Trek.

It is probably harsh to say of Pensky, "The parallels are with Star Trek", since surely they lie elsewhere, near the Bay of Fundy. When the villagers arrived to tell us that the basilica's southern tip had submerged we finally got it, Adorno had an acutality, but one very different than what we previously had assumed.

This is the best book I know that treats Adorno's relationship to postmodernism (esp aesthetics). Certainly written for experts, it presupposes strong familiarity with Adorno and some of the posty folk (esp Derrida).

(Non-)structurally speaking, Pensky's commentary on Adorno is an attempt to isolate the isomorphic tensions present in later works by Adorno. The parallel here, as is the case with much of Pensky's work, is to the later episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. But isn't that the point?

Adelgaza con tan solo llevar una dieta nutriente rica en proteínas fortaleciendote..

se pone uno en peligro: LA DESNUTRICION ES LA PUERTA DE ENTRADA DE MUCHAS ENFERMEDADES FISICAS Y EMOCIONALES.

Estas dietas son eficaces y BIEN BALANCEADAS. NO te dejan con hambre ni te sientes agotado a la semana de estarlas haciendo

ver que, al terminar una dieta, parecía yo flor de la semana pasada y aplastada por un camión...
Estas dietas no lo permiten..te nutren y te bajan de peso sin quitarte energía:
YO LAS USE PARA BAJAR CUANDO LEI ESA MARAVILLA DE "REVOLUCION TOTAL "

que entreteje la buena presentación física con la INDISPENSABLE NUTRICION BALANCEADA !

This book should be a must for history classrooms. J.A. Rogers certainly did his homework. I saw a gentleman at work with this book and asked to check it out. I was hooked on it and almost asked to borrow it so I decided to get a personal copy. It's a book that will make an excellent gift to the curious mind of both a child or adult. It's a book I don't see myself giving away.

This book by J.A. Rogers is just an insightful and great treasure chest of knowledge that every student needs to read to understand the great sacrifice and contributions that Africans have bestowed on this country.

I first heard about Mr. Rogers a couple of years ago. A young lady named Nikki, from San Antonio, who is a member of my Diaspora2000@yahoogroups.com list, where we discuss white supremacy and all of it destructive ramification on blackpeople andonwhites as well, mentioned some data that he had researched.I immmediately went out and brought every book written by him that I could find. I finished "Superman" and am now reading the "Sex and RAce series". I'm also reading the "Worlds Great Black Men of Color. Even though I have lived all over the world and always moved comfortably in interracial groups, I am amazed at the knowledge presented here that it totally new to me. If we would teach ALL CHILDREN this information from the beginning of their schooling forward, we probably wouldn't have so much hatred of blacks by white people. Whites probably wouldn't hate themselves so much either; because their brain computers would be programmed with correct information about the human races instead of the garbage it currently contains.The disasters we have suffered recently probably wouldn't have happened either if white people knew their true history and place on this planet. When people act with a head full of stereotypes and othet misinformation about other people, these tragedies are sure to result.

J.A. Rogers' book, "Africa's Gift to America" is another classic which should be added to the library of every serious student of African American history. He lays out in clear and fascinating detail the role of the African American from the founding of the nation in the 17th century through the Revolutionary War period to the Civil War and early Post-Civil War era. His use of first hand documents such as newspapers, magazines, political cartoons, journals, and his extensive citation to then-comtemporary historical works is materfully woven to create a rich historical tapestry. His mentioning of obscure historical facts such as the Corwin Amendment, the rejected original form of the 13th Amendment that would have preserved rather than abolished slavery, as well as the role of slave Jo Anderson in creatingg the McCormick reaper, are but a small sampling of the treasures within this invaluable volume.

Read these books and learn about life, love, and loss. Everything you need to know about everything is written right here. Read Kennedy and become enlightened. This is the best literature has to offer.

In the author's "Prelude in a Saloon," published as the preface of this trilogy, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist William Kennedy portrays himself as Daniel Quinn, nephew of Billy Phelan (of Billy Phelan's Greatest Game) and grandson of Francis Phelan (of Ironweed), as he begins an interview with an old gangster who worked closely with Jack "Legs" Diamond (of Legs). With tongue-in-cheek humor, Quinn/Kennedy reveals how his writing career began and how he came to know the main characters of this trio of books set in Depression-era Albany, New York.

Legs, set in 1930 - 1931, is a fictional biography of Jack "Legs" Diamond, thief/bootlegger/murderer, a man who lived the high life and who double-crossed and cheated his way to success, controlling speakeasies, illegal alcohol, real estate, and gambling, a man who survived eleven bullets in three separate assassination attempts before finally being brought down. An uncomplicated but well-written and often violent novel, Legs sets the scene for Billy Phelan's Greatest Game and Ironweed, both set in 1938. (4 stars)

Billy Phelan's Greatest Game is far more sophisticated, with more fully drawn characters, well-developed suspense, and themes dealing with fathers and sons and their values--intergenerational problems which reveal the changing morality of Depression-era Albany. Billy Phelan, part-time bookie and small-time card player and gambler is asked to monitor the activities of one of his fellow-card players, suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of Charlie MacCall, son and nephew of the two men running the political machine of Albany. Remaining true to his own values, Billy is surprised when his father Francis Phelan, who has just reappeared after abandoning the family twenty-two years before, suggests cooperating. (5 stars)

Ironweed is the Pulitzer-Prize-winning culmination of the trio, the story of Francis Phelan, an emotionally gripping novel about down-and-out "bums" and the people with whom they come into contact, which tears at the heart without being sentimental. Hard-edged and sometimes violent, this novel is a fully developed, moving, and insightful look at those who live apart from society because their dreams have died. (5 BIG stars)

Fully absorbing, whether you are just looking for good reading or are a student of writing, these three novels include many overlapping characters and a clear sense of time, place, and society. They are exciting and filled with important observations about life without being moralistic, and the dialogue and level of detail are often breath-taking. They are also an opportunity to see in successive novels, the development of one of the great writing talents of the twentieth century, with each novel more complex and fully developed than the previous one. Outstanding! n Mary Whipple

I first read these books shortly after they were published. Now, decades later, I've read them again. They are every bit as good as I remember. Maybe better. They roar and flash and crash along like cars in a rickety old roller coaster, the kind you ride on a dare and keep expecting to derail at any moment. The test of any novel is whether the characters seem to go on living when you shut the book. The characters in these novels are life-size technicolor 3D walking talking people, some of whom you wouldn't want to meet in a dark bar. But after you've read this book you'll find yourself looking for them when you go out at night.

I've read these three novels separately over the years and was happy to see them all neatly packaged in one volume. I couldn't resist the temptation. I hope a second volume which includes the next 3 novels will be out soon.

Kennedy is the Faulkner of Albany. His wonderful set of characters, rich language and compelling story line will endear most anyone to this family saga of growing up in Depression-era Albany. Kennedy focuses on those little items that give the city its richness, and his characters have that sense of noble purpose which carries them through such hard times.