Oklahoma Books

The Korean war has interested me since I spent some weeks in South Korea during the 'Pueblo Crisis', when North Korea captured a US Navy spy ship in its territorial waters. The response of South Koreans was an outpouring of enormous pride at the accomplishment--and of memories about the Korean War, whose scars were still visible.
The memories of the South Korean people to whom I spoke supported Burchett's account of the war: namely that we were the aggressors throughout, that we treated the Korean people (South and North) brutally, and that the Northerners are heroes to the Southerners for their principled resistance to invasion and occupation by a foreign power.
Burchett has written one of the few eye-witness accounts of the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts from the 'other' side.
With reunification of the two parts of Korea now under way, we can expect to hear more about that other side in years to come. In the meantime, Burchett's book is a useful antidote to the usual propaganda.

Glanville Downey was a major American mid-twentieth century scholar of Roman history and most especially the Roman Near East. Search in Amazon under books for "Glanville Downey - Constantinople" to find all of the various editions of this book that are available. The Dorset reprint in hardcover is generally the most available and least expensive. This work is a short and selective consideration of its topic. However, by his choice of material and its arrangement, the author has been able to accomplish a great deal. Downey states that this work is aimed at a non-specialist audience, however, to glean the most from this study some background in Byzantine history would be helpful.

First, the historical Constantinople is covered followed by a description of Constantinople in the time of Justinian the Great. The contemporary emperorship is then described with a very insightful explanation of Eusebius's religious justification of a Christian emperor. This justification provides for a smooth intellectual transition from the pagan past to the Christian present. The immense legal reforms and codification of Justinian are then covered and their significance is explicated. A short section on the expansion of the Empire follows. A major consideration of Justinian the builder is provided. Interestingly, the last third of the book deals with religion in one way or another. The consideration here is magisterial in my estimation. The divine liturgy then current is described in detail followed by a very clear, if not overly detailed, explanation of the post Chalcedon problems with the maintenance of Christian orthodoxy and Justinian's efforts to solve those problems. That this explanation is understandable to any reasonably literate reader is in and of itself a major achievement. Lastly, the transition to Christian education is covered.

In describing Constantinople of the mid-sixth century and Justinian the Roman emperor, Downey leads the reader naturally into his contention that religion was most pivotal to the events of the era. And, he more than adequately supports that contention with fact and interpretation. A picture of a strong, industrious, impatient, and pious Justinian emerges. The narrative is vivid and flowing but dense and full of meaning. Carefully reading this delightful book will provide the reader with a clear image of both the city and the emperor along with his court and to a lesser degree the empire. Byzantine art and architecture are not covered. No notes are given, but a useful select bibliography of sources prior to 1960, the date of original publication, is provided. For any reader with more than a casual interest in the Byzantine empire, this is a must read. I believe there is something to be gained here by all but the most advanced specialist in Byzantine history.

Contrary Neighbors is an enjoyable and informative book for historians as well as the novice on the subject. Even with its complexity of tribal names, the writer tells a story and holds the readers interest.

A great tale - as usual Rhodes combines the lives, circumstances, and events of people and places HE actually knew and ... you can taste the dust, and smell the sweat of the horse swaying beneath you. Bring a canteen, a good knife, and a pile of hard-tack

This book captures the behind the scenes grit, the preceding events and the lives of the individual wrestlers and coaches that produced such a fantastic season and team. Kim Parrish, has gone beyond just telling the story of the team but has deftly used the "power of the pen" to recreate the events in such detail the only thing you actually miss are the sounds and smells of each event. More than just a sports book this is a training manual on "How to Win"! Cowboy Up reveals the winning principles that can be applied to any life pursuit you may desire. This book will hold your attention, bring great enjoyment, show you what makes champions and what keeps OSU the leader in collegiate wrestling. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and heartily recommend it.

Cowboys and Kansas is a must for anyone interested in researching and/or reading just that: cowboys in Kanas. The book gives you a thorough look at the uniqueness of cowboying and cattle ranching in the Flint Hills region of Kansas. There are countless books covering the more "popular" Texan cowboy or the cowboy of the trail driving days. Along with some of his other books, Mr. Hoy provides much needed information regarding the Kansas Cattle business, particularly during the early 20th century.

This book covers numerous facets of Ancient Egypt through 16 informative essays written by the leading international Egyptologists : Ian Shaw describes the geography and topography of the country; Jaromir Malek introduces the beginnings of this fascinating civilization as well as its history; Morris Bierbrier deals with the discovery of Ancient Egypt and presents a few of the first Egyptologists (Mariette, Maspero and Amelia Edwards); Janine Bourriau describes life and the ancient Egyptian family; Jac Janssen covers its economic aspects; J. D. Ray explains the principles of kingship and the pharaohs; Kenneth Kitchen tells of Ancient Egypt and its relations with Nubia, Punt, and Asia; Waltraud Guglielmi covers the religious aspects with the many Egyptian gods; Arielle Kozloff lets the reader know more about art and architecture; Cathleen Keller describes the Egyptian monuments; Alan Bowman tells of the invaders and the Ptolemaic dynasty; C. C. Walters covers Coptic Egypt; D. S. Richards explains the impact of Islam; Jane Jakeman describes the modern city of Cairo; Penelope C. Johnstone describes the influence Ancient Egypt has in our modern world; and finally Fayza Haikal describes family life in modern Egypt with accounts of marriage and other activities. This thought-provoking book is primarily aimed for non-specialists and novices.

Having worked for the National Park Service, I really enjoyed this book. But I think anyone who has a great passion for our national park system would enjoy it. I had expected it to be a somewhat tedious plod through NPS history, but instead it was the very personal story of Horace Albright, and the role he played in getting the NPS off the ground. It was a page-turner from start to finish. It would make a great gift for anyone who's ever been involved with the NPS as well. I bought my copy through the Grand Canyon Association (who run their bookstores at the park). They also have a website you can order form. I heartily recommend this absorbing and fascinating story.

One can't help but come away from reading this autobiography of Chief G.W. Grayson with a deep sense of pride in character for this good and brave man. Chief Grayson's dignity, not only with regard to his Creek people, but especially in himself, from his exalted writing style to his modest, but declared nevertheless, mention of accomplishments is remarkable to behold. Elected to go to Washington on many delegations representing his people, he declares, "I have always been proud of the fact that I was never elected a member of any delegation of which I was member through any persistent electioneering on my part as was done by others," as if electioneering might be a taint on his image. "I seemed always to have been put on these delegations for service that I was supposed to be competent to do and not for the mere accommodation either of myself or anyone else." Writing this only a few years before his death in 1920, having served as the official chief of the Creeks after the last elected chief had died (appointed by Woodrow Wilson), one can imagine the self-respect and stateliness that guided his pen as he did so. Yet Chief Grayson can also tell a good story on himself, as he does when relating how cows had come up to his cabin after a snowstorm, frightening him to wits end because at the time he had quite a bit of "public money" in the cabin and was fearful of attack.

Grayson was born of metis (mixed blood) parents of the Creek Nation, southern branch, in Oklahoma in 1843. His branch associated with the Confederacy during the Civil War, and Grayson fought in a number of engagements in Indian Territory. An educated man (Arkansas College), he built up a successful business practice and became an active participant in tribal affairs. His dealings with Washington were numerous. In telling his own story he also tells the story of the passing of his own tribe; it's not a handsome story but Grayson will not stoop to its debasement. It's fitting that he decided to end the book not exactly chronologically, but by describing an act of congress from 1884 that would have taken away self-government from the Indians on Indian lands, and to make this indictment: "Here we, a people who had been a self-governing people for hundreds and possibly a thousand years, who had a government and administered its affairs ages before such an entity as the United States was ever dreamed of, are asked and admonished that we must give up all idea of local government ... Why? ... simply because regardless of the plain dictates of justice and a Christian conscience, the ruthless restless white man demanded it." Ah, yes. Read it and weep. It's a powerful book, a great autobiography, a noble account of a man's own life. And it's superbly edited by W. David Baird.

This book reflects great insight into the complex interplay of indigenous beliefs and Christianity in colonial Peru. Griffiths repeatedly illustrates the intense struggle between pre-Columbian beliefs and Iberian Catholicism, and suggests the degree to which the former was able to survive and the latter had to adapt. In short, the imposition of Christianity was much more limited than has traditionally been thought. A pleasure to read as it is tautly organized and gracefully written.