History Books

An excellent book for cartographers and those interested in maps of transit systems around the world. Comprehensive would be an understatement, as the book truly lives up to its promise of including every transit map in the world. A bit more information on the systems themselves would have been nice, but I guess that's not what this book is about as much as the history of the maps of the systems. All in all, definitely worthwhile if you've got a passion for transit maps!

Got this book last night, started reading it, and when I got to the description of NYC 1972 map by Vignelli, giving it a modernistic feel of the times, was pretty excited, because I knew I own a paper map. Went looking for it, and upon reading from the book that users of the map were confused by the fact that the station of "50th St - Bdway" was positioned west of 8th avenue, went to check on my map this fact. Unfortunately, the station was positioned correctly, i.e., east of 8th Ave, and noticed that the map was slightly different from the one illustrated in the book. Then I saw the date of print on my map, 1976, and realized it must have been a revision from the earlier map in response to the users's complaints. Great book.

This book is fun for armchair travel buffs, map buffs, history lovers and those that have the cities included on their lists to visit. Great background and historic information, especially on the evolution of the system maps. I loved it!

This book fulfills one of my top dreams -- to be more exact, I could not have dreamed of such a book! Reading maps and riding subways have been two of my favorite hobbies, and it is definitely awesome to see more than 200 cities' urban transit maps juxtaposed and compared in one book. Even better, the author gives detailed introduction to the history and includes many interesting anecdotes of those storied urban transit systems such as Berlin, Chicago, London, Madrid, Moscow, New York, Paris, and Tokyo. I use this book to remind my boy about the cities and places we ever visited, and teach him how to use a transit map to quickly find a route to any destination. We have been enjoying it so far, and I believe lots of fun will continue to flow out from it.

This is one of those books that you didn't know that you needed, much less would enjoy. But it excels on both fronts. As the title suggests, Transit Maps of the World: The World's First Collection of Every Urban Train Map on Earth, by Mark Ovenden, is just that; As far I know, every city that has an urban train is represented in this wonderful book. Whether you are a fan of maps or mass transit, a frequent traveller, or want to know the history of some of the world's greatest (and lesser known) subway systems, this book will take you on an amazing tour of the world, by public transportation.

Contents:
Acknowledgements
How to use this book
Foreword
Introduction: Early railroads
Introduction: Urban rail transit
Introduction: Early railroad maps
Introduction: From maps to diagrams
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Appendix

As you can tell from the contents, the bulk of the book is divided into "zones," much like a real transit system. Zone 1 contains eight transit systems, dedicating about 4 pages for each. Zone 1 contains the systems with the greatest historical documentation and also are among the world's greatest urban transit systems. These include Berlin, Chicago, London, Madrid, Moscow, New York, Paris, and Tokyo. These are the "heavyweights" of the public transportation systems. Zone 2 has some of the newer systems, for example Washington DC, Seoul, Boston, and Munich. Zone 2 dedicates two pages per city. As you move through the remaining Zones (or chapters), there is less and less historical documentation and you also learn about the lesser known systems (some with only five stations). The early Zones provide you with various iterations of their route maps, culminating in the current version (as of 2007).

I have to admit that this book was fascinating. You may think that route maps (or diagrams) would be boring, but Ovenden does a remarkable job showing that these are works of art. It also helps that, by using the systems in Zone 1, you come to appreciate the problems associated with representing a large system map on small media (folder maps, in-car diagrams, and the like). With that background, it is easy to admire the current look and feel of route diagrams. This book is not meant to be used as a guide for any system, as they continually add service, but more as a snapshot into the transit systems around 2007. My only issue with the book is that some of the maps are way too small to comprehend, especially in the latter Zones. The same can be said of some of the historical maps, especially when Ovenden points out specific details. Overall, this book is a gem. It's topic is one that you probably take for granted but it is given its full due in this book. It is a fun, educational, and interesting look at transit maps worthy of anyone that has even a passing interest in maps, diagrams, travel, or urban transit.

Ed's book was a delight to read. His knowledge of the airline industry, combined with his own unique personal experiences, have all the right ingredients to make this book hard to put down once you've started reading it. I particularly appreciated Ed's wonderful sense of humor and was literally howling while reading of his exploits at the cargo building in New York, as well as his overseas temporary assignments.
Ed was able to illustrate just how difficult it was to have worked in a sometimes hostile environment. However, he managed to successfully accomplish his many managerial responsibilities and goals, as he proceeded from one hilarious situation to another.
This book brought back so many fond memories of my own airline experiences as I read page after page with great delight. It also served as a reminder to me that humor, hard work and patience, can all help to overcome the many difficult situations we encounter in our respective careers.
Ed's book is a winner. I certainly hope he writes another one soon.

Turbulence on the Ground, brings back memories of yesteryear, and should do so to all of those who at one time or another were associated with Pan American Airways later known as Pan American World Airways or PANAM, or with any other Airline, a wonderful narration of what life was like,in the Airline Industry, very very enjoyable, well written and also sentimental, I hope everyone who buys it will enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks for the memories Mr.Parrey.

Having worked for PanAm in London in similar positions during the 50's and 60's, when PanAm was a great Worldwide Airline with dedicated people, I was able to appreciate and enjoy Ed Parrey's book of his humorous anecdotes and problems he encountered during his PanAm career.

I can fully recommend the book particularly to airline personnel and passengers around the world.
After all it's a Turbulent World we live in!

My husband, Grant brought this book home and I couldn't believe it. He usually doesn't have time to read a book. "Why did you pick this book to read of all the other books out there?"
Well as it turns out he read and read and read this book. sometimes chuckling to himself as he was reading it. For the first time I actually saw him reading way past his usual bed time and couldn't put it down.
Needless to say he finished the book in record time and really enjoyed it's humor.
If you have a guy who has a tough time finding time to read get him this book. It sure worked for my guy.

Another must read book. Ed Parrey's book,Turbulence on the Ground, is and introduction to culture shock, and how to succeed while working with hostel bosses.
He begins with airline cargo, giving us an insight to what happens to our bags, and our pets, left in his charge. Then, shows us the art of manipulating personnel who would like to see us disappear. He tells us about surviving in a culture whose way of doing business is not taught in business school.
This is a book that can be read anytime you find time on your hands, especially during long airline flights. The book was written over time, but about subjects that are never out of date.

I absolutely adore this book. The pictures are so beautiful and layed out perfectly. The book also provides the history of Tutankhamun and other pharaohs of the golden age. I highly recommend this book for those that are not able to attend the exhibition.

Fantastic book; saved money by purchasing it through Amazon. Shows all the exibits. Very pleased with the book. A fine edition to anyones collection.

Beautiful book, great pictures. Great to have with you if you get to see exhibit.

Purchased in anticipation of the opening of the exhibition in London in November, the book is a mine of information. Not only does Zahi Hawass describe the objects on display, but he places them in context and gives a vivid picture of life in Egypt at the time of Tutankhamun and before his accession to the throne. Not only a great read, a reference for future use and up to Dr Hawass usual enthusiastic and vivid style. A must-have book for anyone interested in Egypt.

I bought the book before seeing the tour in Philly. The book is very well done, and very good representation of the tour. Beautiful photographs, plus good rich text around the history of the 18th dynasty.

Other reviews talk about the tour, which isn't really what the book is about. The tour was rather crowded, and I was somewhat disappointed that all the objects were small, and no Tut sarcophagus. Very little explanation of the layout, so my son was complaining about the lack of Tut objects; they included many from the 18th dynasty.

I recommend the official DVD, its great; bought it at the show.

Get this. It's thorough. I read it many times over. It keeps things in perspective of where we should be as a nation.
Sigh!
Tom

A very conveniently sized book that can be easily put into your pocket and places two of our country's most important documents within easy reach. I teach ESOL and I buy multiple copies so I can make sure that all my students can have a copy as they will hopefully begin studying for their US citizenship. Not only are the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence in this book but also little known facts of our founding fathers, notes on famous Supreme Court decisions, Articles of Confederation, etc.

A very interesting little book to understand the foundation of the first and greatest democracy in the world

You can't really write a review about the Constitution! But I can tell you that this little book is not too difficult on the eyes, easy to use and simple for carrying to class. It doesn't weigh much in a pocket or a backpack, and this is the version I've used throughout my grad-school days. And after several years of thumbing through it, the book still hasn't fallen apart!

This is a great book. It covers the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution as well as an abundance of interesting facts about the Framers of the Constitution.

The book is compact and students can easily carry it with them everywhere they go. This book is also very affordable.

There is a problem with this book's binding though. The book tends to come apart. The book's good for students, but since the Constitution is so important, I would give students a hardback when they graduate which they can have in their personal library for the rest of their lives.

Friendship comes in many forms, and that relationship between Bernie and Fritz, from different sides, Jewish and Christian, of the deep divide of WW2, is a marvelous testimony to "friendship". The only bitter-sweet moment was when I realized that Bernie had given up his religious beliefs in his "americanization". His children were not raised as Jews; another generation lost to the Holocaust, as much as the six million were.

I first saw this book when a seat mate on a flight was reading it. He praised it, so I ordered it. The book was well worth the praise.

The two authors of the book just visited my school today, and told me and the other students their stories. Bernat Rosner went to my school, Thomas Jefferson School, and he even mentions and has pictures of it in the book. I've yet to read it, but I'm eagerly anticipating it. Their stories are so touching, and I feel so honored to have met these two men. Also to have had a man as interesting as Bernie Rosner go to my school in 1950, it's just so amazing. They are very interesting people, and there's just so much more I could say, but this review would unfortunately become boring. I strongly suggest that everyone should read this book, the authors have two great stories to tell.

Each memoir is important in adding to the historical record of this terrible period, and this book adds a considerable dimension with the authors shared as well as separate memories and their astute and insightful analyses of every aspect of their experiences. By the time I finished reading this book, I felt I knew both authors well and also many of the people who surrounded them over the years. I hope the book is widely read and given a place of honor in Holocaust literature. It deserves deep attention by scholars and general readers and seems eerily prescient, too, in light of September 11th, and its concern for the horrors our species can inflict on its victims. If I were still writing book reviews, this book would be a prime choice for me. It deserves all the notice in print it can get.

In a world with a lot of open wounds in need of healing, "An Uncommon Friendship" helps bridge former sins and ongoing roots of bitterness to establish a world pregnant with new beginnings--every day. This book shows that other options are possible beyond the labels of cultural bigotry. When properly understood and appropriated, understanding and forgiveness are seldom far apart in life-giving relationships.

Recently we came in contact with a person who has such a high disregard for Germans. If only they knew and understood the rich heritage German culture has also given as a gift to the New World of new beginnings.

I was very impressed with this book; for such a difficult subject it was beautifully written. I have been to the Holocaust Museum in Israel, and though the documentation there is quite graphic and disturbing, the voice of the child in Bernie, and the voice of the child on the other side in Fritz, completes a picture that is enlightening, but reveals a picture that no one wants to believe. It seems to me that is often the way people have dealt with this very terrible time, and the authors are very brave to tell this story. I think this book should be required reading for all college students.

Another great book from William Dalrymple. Still reading it and find it very engrossing (wish the font size was a bit bigger)

Received it in perfect condition and it arrived in record time too.

This is a fine book set in the period when India came under threat from Napoleon until Nelson intervened at the battle of The Nile. When young English boys were taken out to India for education prior to their careers there it is hadly surprising that some went native. But it was one thing to take a local mistress, quite another to marry a princess. A tragic love story results. The author is clearly more in sympathy with the old policy of The East India Company which banned Christian missionary activity. He regrets the changes brought about by Wilberforce and his Clapham Sect friends which changed official policy towards religion.

This is a beautiful book. A fascinating love story, a forgotten angle on the British in India, a human and historical tragedy. It's scholarly but warm, thoroughly researched but very readable, broad but not diffuse.
And in one sense it's also very much about the early 21st Century: with respect and good humour, cultures and religions can co-exist and complement each other. So much for the "clash of civilisations" theory.
The "moral of the story" right at the end could have been better placed in an author's preface, and I trust a second edition would pick up the small number of editing mistakes.
Read it.

This book is a complex many-faceted marvel! It is carefully researched history transformed into the story of an ultimately tragic romance. With its portrayal of Europeans astride two cultures, it offers a wonderful, and probably unintentional, counterpoint to the Clash of Civilizations. It is a swarm of all-seeing flies on the walls and writing desks of Hyderabad's elite, both British and Indian, two centuries ago - with their city, dress, festivals and habits brought vividly to life. It is a fascinating description of British and Mughal political intrigue in and around the Deccan as imperial control tightened. It is a sensitive reflection on the rapacious, self-indulgent and precarious lives lived by the British in insalubrious coastal cities like Calcutta and Madras. And as result of the unbelievably painstaking process of meticulous documentation we are convinced that we are seeing events exactly as participants did. It is a mind-blowing accomplishment.

This is a wonderful book about an oft-overlooked, yet fascinating topic--the mughal period in Hyderabad (or perhaps I should say the end of the Mughal period) and the role of Europeans in the late mughal period. It is sensitively written and thoroughly researched. While so many historical works prove rather dull reading, this book is well written accessible and engaging. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Indian history, the moghul period, and/or the Deccan region.

I love the Le'Veqs! I could hardly wait for this one to come out after I read the profile and found out it was about one of my favorite families (it's a tie between them and the Vachons). This one is defintely in my BJ's Top 5. 1. Indigo, 2. A Chance at Love, 3. Before the Dawn, 4. Winds of the Storm, 5. Jewel.

This series is Stellar. Not only are they well written and identifiable romance novels, they also take you on a journey in the life of the people of those times. It is a truly remarkable and educational reading experience. These period pieces are my all time favorite!

Another Beverly Jenkins hit. I've just about read all of Beverly Jenkins books and trust me this woman can deliver the best...it's never a disappointment with anything she's written. This is a wonderful historical romance book, if you are interested in black history and what black people have done to make the many contributions that we've had to this country, read this book. Beverly does an extensive amount of research when she writes historical books, or any book for that matter and is excellent with providing further insight and websites to further your knowledge. This is another book that doesn't disappoint.

Known only as the Butterfly, Zahra fluttered about the country providing information to the Federal forces and aiding in the rescue of runaway slaves and other men and women who required help. Zahra takes great pride in her small contribution to the civil war efforts, but she's never forgotten one of the men she saved - Archer Le Veq. The war is over but Zahra has been requested for a special mission - posing as the madam of a brothel in New Orleans.

Archer Le Veq owns a prominent hotel in New Orleans. During the war, he had worked for the Bureau of Military Information, collecting intelligence on the Confederacy. Until he was captured and came close to losing his life, only to be rescued by a mysterious woman known only as the Butterfly.

In the days following the war, the country is in a state of Reconstruction. For many it's a time of rebuilding and hope. For others, it's a time of a questionable future as they struggle to be accepted into society. Zahra was content with her life in South Carolina. She'd done her part to help her people during the war. She had no intention of going back into the service of the country, but President Grant requested Zahra and promised to look into the situation involving her parents getting their land back. Hoping the president would honor his word and help her parents, Zahra takes the assignment. In order to collect information involving the perilous situations that people of color faced, Zahra will travel to New Orleans posing as the madam of a newly established brothel. Nobody would suspect the proprietor of such an establishment of gathering information. To protect her identity, Zahra wears a domino which only seems to entice the men, including Archer's brother, Phillipe. Everybody wants to know the story behind the mysterious Madam Domino. Archer fully intends to stay away from the house of ill-repute until circumstances bring them together and he finds himself just as enamored of Madam Domino as everyone else. Unlike the others though, Archer has a feeling he's met her before, if he could only remember where . . .

Beverly Jenkins WINDS OF THE STORM is an awesome tale. You not only get a fabulous love story but you get further insight into the history behind the figures who struggled to help ensure every man, woman, and child of every race were treated equally. Zahra is one of the most memorable characters I've ever encountered in a storyline. She's strong willed, incredibly smart, and selfless. Archer is everything Zahra needs in a man - virile, sexy, and he accepts her and the roles she plays in an effort to help their people. There are other equally great characters in this story that do bear mentioning but that would make this review way too long. I highly recommend this book. You'll want to meet the other great characters from this period in our history.

This book is a follow up to Ms. Jenkins book THROUGH THE STORM. I'm sincerely hoping there will be a third book involving Phillipe. He's a dynamic character throughout the plot in this story who had me smiling with his antics. This is a powerfully moving tale that has earned permanent spot on my keeper shelf.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

Indigo was the first book I read by Beverly Jenkins. Afterwards, I purchased most of her books. I've also purchased a couple of the books that she lists in her Author's Note. Her characters are so life-like. Sometimes I wish I could be transported back in time to see what life was really like for 19th century African Americans.

I loved every word printed in the book. I am a big fan of Victoria Johnson's and I can not wait for her next book, I will buy that based on her love and appreciation of the romance field.

The author put her love of writing in this book It is obvious to me that Author Victoria Johnson did tremendous amounts of research and cares deeply about the romance genre and about human beings.

I laughed, I cried, I enjoyed this book. The research and the information that I recieved from this book was awesome.I am recommending the book to all of my friends. All I need to Know in Life I Learned from Romance Novels is a must read for Romance Lovers all over the World!

All I need to know in Life I learned from Romance Novels by Victoria Johnson was a pleasure and a thought provoking experience. The things that the author talks about are the things that interest me. I can not wait for her next Book!

I was amazed with all the positive comments from other readers regarding this book. I want to join in praise for Victoria Johnson's book All I learned in life I learned from Romance Novels.I loved the how to book on successful relationships.I loved the quotes from the famous Romance authors. Her advice is genuine and you can tell that the author knows her subject matter.Her book is positive and uplifting.

This book was an excellent read and was difficult to put down. Intriguing view of history of the organization as well as many other organizations such as Rotary, Elks, etc. It definitely answered many questions I had regarding Freemasonry and is written in layman terms so those without knowledge of Freemasonry going in can grasp the subject matter fairly easily.

As mentioned by at least one other reviewer I did detect a slight bit of bias, but then again every author has some bias based upon experience and beliefs. However, the book provides so many references that I would have difficulty doubting the credibility. The book also provides beautiful illustrations that accent the points in the text.

My recommendation is to purchase the hardcover as this book is a beautiful bookshelf reference. Whether you are interested in the organization or just a history buff I highly recommend this work.

National Heritage Museum curator Mark A. Tabbert has written an informative, easy-to-read study of the history of Freemasonry in the United States and how Freemasonry inspired the creation of several fraternal, civic, and service organizations. To show that rich history, the book contains several photographs of Masonic and other fraternal artifacts from the National Heritage Museum.

Tabbert cover many Masonic topics including Freemasonry's influence on the Founding Fathers, the anti-Masonic hysteria that followed the Morgan scandal, Masonry during the Civil War, the Golden Age of Fraternalism in the late 19th Century, the founding of service organizations during the early 20th Century, Freemasonry's boom years following WWII, the state of Freemasonry today, the York and Scottish Rites, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the youth orders, Prince Hall Freemasonry.

American Freemasons is a superb work that was written for both the Mason and non-Mason alike. It would be an excellent addition to your lodge library, your home library, and your public library. Would make a great gift for a new Mason or a prospective candidate. You will enjoy this book!

I wish I had this volume years ago. It tells more truths about Freemasonry than most masons get in a life time. Mark A. Tabbert Is well qualified to write the History of Masonic good work. He has done a superb job.

This book is a bit repetitive in the things it says. The information is good.

Although a handsome book with excellent and interesting photographs,the author makes no attempt whatsoever to enlighten the reader to even the most simple, everyday symbols of the Freemasons. For example, I was able to search the web for 10 minutes and discover more information regarding the beautiful symbolism and history of the Freemasons than I could find in this entire book. I did not expect the author to divulge sacred rites and rituals, but this book was far too watered-down and repetitive to be of interest. From a historical perspective, there are some interesting bits but they are too few and far between.

Anastasia's Album is definitely the best children's book on the Romanovs! The main personality is Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicolaevna - the youngest daughter of Nicholas and Alexandra, and a very lively girl who enjoyed activities and taking photographs. One very charming aspect of this book is seeing Anastasia's very own photo album, which she often hand-decorated herself - drawing and painting borders around her photographs and even adding a little colour to her pictures. Anastasia's Album also informs the reader of the Romanovs' family life up until their last days in Ekaterinburg.

Although the book's main targeted audience are children, Anastasia's Album will charm readers of absolutely all ages! Very cute book!

Since I'm writing a research paper, this was such a useful source for me to use. I loved the pictures and the information. It had so much of it! I was amazed; blown away. This is an amazing book for both kids and adults and I hope you get something out of it too!

This is an excellent book about Grand Duchess Anastasia, daughter of Russia's last tsar. As many know, Anastasia was murdered with her entire family in 1918. This book tells Anastasia's story through her own words. Her letters reflect a happy, secure young girl who came from a loving family. It shows readers a world that is gone and will never return. Though it was written for young children, all ages with enjoy "Anastasia's Album!"

The first time I found this book at the public library I just barely seen Fox's movie Anastasia for the first time. Surprised to find out that Anastasia was a real person, I checked out the book expecting it to be similar to most biographies.

Boy was I wrong. This book absolutely blew me away. Anastasia's album is a wonderful look into the life of the Grand Duchess Anastasia, daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, the last tsar of Imperial Russia. Imagine my surprise to find out that Fox's movie was nothing like Anastasia's real life, although many of the costumes and sets came from real items. Full of pictures, this book also included bits from Anastasia's real diary. A remarkable biography about a remarkable girl.

I remember this book from when I was a kid, after the 'Anastasia' movie came out my friend had this book, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. It's full of beautiful photos and pictures the Grand Duchess drew herself. It seems really heartbreaking now that all she got to leave was her scrapbook.