North Carolina Books

Paul Rahe's Republics Ancient and Modern was originally published in hardback in one volume. For the paperback version published in 1994, he has chosen to split his work into three volumes. Each volume deals with one of the three major time periods on which his work focuses. The first volume deals with the classical Greece city states.
Rahe has two main purposes in these books. His first purpose is to debunk the idea that the American founders were heavily influenced by the classical republican tradition. In fact, Rahe argues that the Constitution was designed in opposition to classical republican ideas.
His second purpose is a methodological one. Rahe is heavily influenced by Leo Struass. It shows in his basic thesis of the war between the ancients and the moderns and it shows in his attempts to reveal the esoteric in many of the writers he discusses.
It also shows in his rejection of historicism and other modern historical methods. Which brings me to one thing that I admire about Rahe. He obviously has methodological bones to pick with Quinton Skinner and the Cambridge School, and with the Marxist approach of, say, the early Eugene Genovese. But he has also read deeply of these and many other writers with whom he disagrees and has learned from them all. Rahe is at one and the same time a very generous and opinionated scholar. And he is phenomenally learned.
In this volume he discusses Homer, Hesiod, Xenophon, Lycurgus, Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, Polybius, Thucydidus, Euripides, Cicero, Plutarch, Aeschylus, Demosthenes, Herodotus, Isocrates, Pericles, Pindar, ad infinitum. He has read them all, absorbed them all and compared them all.
He then seems to have absorbed anything ever written about all of them. It is overwhelming.
Rahe wants to argue that life in classical Greece was the result of two main influences. The Greeks believed that human beings are political animals possessed of a capacity for logos. In other words, we can reason together and come to agree on what we feel to be "the good, the just and the advantageous". To the Greeks of the democratic city-states, politics was about the communal discourse sustaining the "concord regarding loved things held in common" (Augustine's phrase which is a leitmotif for Rahe). This concord has to be seen as an end in itself, it is not some sort of false consciousness used to legitimate the hegemony of a ruling group.
The other main influence on the Greek city states was the fact that they were nearly always in a state of war (with each other or those pesky Persians) or preparing for war. Thus the Greeks had to foster "homonoia" or "like-mindedness" or solidarity. The way that they came to do this was through both a paideia (education or character formation) and a system of dispersing honor or recognitions.
Rahe takes Sparta as his case study for his argument. He does so because up until the last century or so, most students of ancient Greece recognized Sparta as being the most representative of the city-states. In many ways, it was what the other city states like Athens or Cornith hoped to achieve.
The end result was an obsession with honor, virtue and with largeness of soul. Everything was subordinate to the requirements of the city. This included family and personal liberty. Liberty for the Greeks was the right to participate in the politics of the city state and to vie for glory. They would never consider allowing someone who was opposed to war to not serve in the ranks of the army. Two of the consequences which Rahe explores was the subjugation of women and the embrace of slavery. Slavery freed the citizen from having to be involved in the making of money.
The personal property of the citizen was not personal. It was expected that it would be used for the good of the city. A man who came from a wealthy family might earn the gratitude of other citizens by providing them with the necessary armaments of the hoplite (foot soldier). They strove to minimize civil strife and to make sure that everyone within the city thought as much alike as was possible. They used pederastry as a means to indoctrinate young men into armed service. As those young men grew older they then would come to take younger men as lovers and so on.
These relationships would then be abandoned in their thirties for married life. But even after marriage, the men were expected to spend most of their time with their hoplite units.
Rahe explains how all this helped to generate the Greek disregard for commerce and for technical innovation. He also talks about the importance of their religion in maintaining the community. He brings out the underlying irony of the basic Greek presumption of humans as being rational political animals. This presumption encourage the development of philosophy which served to critically undermine many of the institutions of the city state. Socrates was executed for good reason. Or so the Athenians believed.
Throughout this volume, Rahe is throwing in Hamilton, Adam Smith and many others into the mix. In fact, I started to notate some of my underlinings with "DBAM" to indicate a passage that noted a difference between the ancients and the moderns. For example,in discussing the attitude of the Greeks toward technological progress, Rahe notes that they viewed it "with a jaundiced eye" because a science pledged to make life easier was a science that would make "soft men" (p.74). To someone like Adam Smith or James Madison, that was exactly the argument in favor of such a science.
I am not a student of ancient Greece. I came to read Rahe to understand more about the founding fathers of this country. But I think that what he has achieved in this first volume of this work is altogether brilliant.
In fact, my major complaint is that it isn't long enough or detailed enough. He sometimes states that he disagrees with another scholar (in his very extensive notes) without going into the dispute thoroughly enough. Another complaint (more of an annoyance)is that he seems to expect the reader to have a rich classical library close to hand. In many of his notes, he will say something like "Consider this passage from Plato's Republic in light of what Cicero had to say here and don't forget that Polybius said something in this book that must be compared with what Xenophon had to say in that passage. After absorbing all that, read what Augustine had to say in this part of The City of God. And then you will see that I am right." Okay, he doesn't ever really say anything like that last part but it is there sometimes between the lines. (See, I am turning into a little Straussian).
But seriously folks, I cannot imagine that anyone has done a better job of explicating how their knowledge of the Ancient Greeks effected the founding fathers. Rahe has given us something strong and rich- not only a good look at what life was like in ancient Sparta but how that effected the men and women who created this country.
In my review of volume 2, I will speak a little more to Rahe's method.

This is clearly the work of a dedicated scholar. The amount of research, refinement of detail, and the stunning success of the author in introducing pregnant thoughts make this a worthwhile LONG read. Every moment spent absorbing this work is well spent. Dr. Rahe brings the discerning reader on the long journey of discovering republicanism from the ancients up to the formation of the American constitution. The whole trip culminates in his brilliant discussion of the American experiment in the flow of ideas over the centuries. Thank you for this wonderful experience, Dr. Rahe.

Following up on her 2004 work, Families of Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Kathleen Marler has assembled an alphabetically arranged collection of abstracts of early inhabitants of Mecklenburg County, the parent county of Cabarrus. The principal sources for her new book are Mecklenburg County Deed Volumes 1-3 (July 1778 through September 1786), Mecklenburg wills, the 1790 U.S. Census for Mecklenburg County, and several other primary and secondary sources. Although deeds are not as strong in establishing relationships as, say wills, they have the virtue of placing individuals in a particular place at a moment in time. Since they also indicate the names of prior, as well as current, deed holders, the coverage of this book extends outside the years of the deeds themselves, from 1762 through 1790.

Typically, the abstracts provide the names of the deed holders (frequently spouses), the property's location, names of adjoining landowners, sometimes the names of other family members, and more. Complete with maps showing Mecklenburg and Cabarrus county waterways and townships, this important collection provides about 15,000 references to inhabitants of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, during the years under investigation.

Erudite, concise and to the point, Dr. White has penned a modern day masterpiece in the field of Revolutionary War soldier research. Men (and the occasional woman) whose memories were threatened to be lost in the mists of time, have been rediscovered and presented here for mankind to remember. A tour de force desintined to be on the bestseller list!!

In order to better understand perhaps one of German literature's most difficult puzzles, Small's "Kommentar" is a must-have. As Small suggests, Rilke's "Aufzeichnungen" is a mosaic, one difficult to view without this companion. Clearly annotated, Small also provides numerous bits of historical information to help the reader piece together the dozens of stories Rilke uses in explaining Malte's tale

Mr. Ouimet has put together an eye-opening account of the forces that shaped Soviet foreign policy during and after the Breshnev era. I'm no Cold War history buff, but I didn't have to be to enjoy this excellent book. The writing is engaging and provocative.

Ouimet argues that the death of the Breshnev Doctrine of "limited sovereignty" with regard to its satellite Warsaw Pact states, began much earlier than previously thought. His access to archival information and first-hand accounts make his conclusions virtually indestructible.

Of the most interest to me were the glimpses he gives us into the very thoughts of what has always been, to me, a somewhat opaque police-state mentality. His analysis of the Politburo's internal battles between the preservation of ideology and the pragmatic desire to simply retain power have implications down through history and into our present conflicts.

This book is not for the general reader. It was written for scholars of German history and is a dense analysis of politics from the foundation of the Weimar Republic to its fall under the Nazi onslaught. The focus is on politics with a detailed discussion of political history. Social history, economic history, and diplomatic history figure prominently but primarily in the context of how they affected the politics of Weimar. Mommsen's mastery of detail and ability to integrate these different aspects of Weimar's history are impressive. While the descriptions of political manuvering can be a chore to read, ths level of detail is necessary to achieve a complete picture of the history of Weimar and are the foundation for the often masterly analyses that dot this book. This book is never less than complete and many sections, for example, the descriptions of the collapse of the Imperial state or the rise of the Nazi party, are outstanding. More than anything else, Mommsen provides a vivid picture of the huge obstacles faced by the Weimar Republic. From its inception, the Republic and its commitment to a democratic state faced opposition from several important segments of German society, including the Army, much of the civil service, much of industry, the traditional aristocracy, much of the juidiciary, and most of the professioriate. Coupled with a very unfavorable international situation and the enormous stresses of the Great Depression, it is remarkable that the Republic survived as long as it did.

I love Junior League Cookbooks, I have many of them that I have been collecting over the years, you can always count on them to be Excellent sources of truly wonderful recipes that you will gravitate to over and over again! This book is no exception! The most important information that I am looking for in a cookbook are the recipes themselves, that is the selling point for me in a cookbook, so I am going to list a variety of the recipes you will find in this book. The 1st Category is Appetizers and Beverages and you will find here recipes such as: Zucchini Rounds with Gorgonzola, Carmelized Onion Dip, Vidalia Onion Dip, Reuben Dip, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Layered Shrimp Dip, Smoked Salmon Pizza, Fresh Corn Salsa, Mexican Roll-ups, Hummus, Spinach and Artichokes in Puff Pastry, Crunchy Fruit Dip, Riverboat Wedding Punch, Spiced Tropical Tea Cooler, Peach Daiquiris, Mango Margaritas, Cranberry Shower Punch, Mocha Malted Shake, Peach Raspberry Smoothie, Strawberry Banana Smoothie, and Tropical Smoothie and so much more....Then we move on to Breads and Brunch where you will find: Bread and Butter Pickles, Homemade Granola, Lemon-Poppy Seed Biscotti, Blueberry Muffins, Banana Praline Muffins, Carrot Spice Muffins, Cherry Coffee Cake, New York Style Crumb Cake, Cranberry Coffee Cake, Apple and Pecan Bread, Blueberry Orange Cheese Bread, Zucchini Tea Bread, Best Ever Yeast Rolls, Homemade Loaf Bread, Toasted Pecan Waffles, Creme Brulee French Toast, Make Ahead Cheese Blintes, Caramel Apple Breakfast Pudding and much more....then on to Soups, Salads and Sandwiches, where you will find: Broccoli Cream Cheese Soup, Gazpacho, Cream of Asparagus Soup, Tortellini and Spinach Soup, Murrels Inlet Clam Chowder, Mushroom Bisque, Good Old Fashioned Potato Soup, Eden Street Egg Drop Soup, Tortilla Soup, Vegetarian Chili, Mexican Chicken Chili, Mixed Greens and Strawberries with Balsamic Vinaigrette, Spinach Salad, Shrimp Salad, B.L.T. Salad, Lentil Salad, Mediterranean Pasta Salad, Summers Best Pasta Salad, Colorful Pasta Salad, Dilly Seafood Pasta Salad, Blue Cheese Potato Salad, Oriental Chicken and Rice Salad, Roquefort Blue Cheese Salad Dressing, California Fruit Salad, French Dressing, Southwestern Chicken Spirals, Stromboli, Vegetable Burritos, Grilled Reubens and so much more..... then on to Entrees where you will find: Baked Garlic Salmon, Stuffed Sole Fillets, Trout Amandine, Shrimp Bisque Casserole, Shrimp and Scallops Stroganoff, Oven Baked Coconut Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa, Shrimp and Scallop Coquilles over Angel Hair Pasta, Shrimp and Sausage Jambalaya, Sauteed Shrimp Sausage and Grits, Shrimp Scampi Bake, Creamy Cocktail Sauce, Linguine with Shrimp and Feta Cheese, Spicy Pasta and Shrimp, Carolina Crab Cakes, Salsa Couscous Chicken, Spicy Ginger and Orange Chicken with Broccoli, Slow Cooker Rosemary Chicken, Jalapeno Chicken, Creamy Chicken Enchiladas, Thai Chicken Stir Fry, Southwest Chicken and Chili Stew, Southern Style Bar-B-Q Ribs, Honey Mustard and Rosemary Pork, Slow Cooker Teriyake Pork Loin, Grandfather Mountain Brisket, Old English Prime Rib, Sauerbraten, Marion Street Meat Loaf, Mushroom Quiche, Asparagus Quiche, Fettuccine Alfredo, Ratatouille with Penne, Macaroni and Three Cheeses, Baked Manicotti with Salsa di Pomadori, and much more.... then there are Side Dishes which include recipes such as: Spinach and Artichoke Casserole, Fresh Garden Delight, Mushroom Bake, Baked Yellow Squash with Spinach and Gruyere Cheese, Squash Casserole, Savory Roasted New Potatoes, Scalloped Potatoes, Sweet Potato Souffle, Carrot Souffle, Broccoli Puffs, Chili Cheese Rice, Saffron Rice with Black Beans, Rice Pilaf with Pepper Peas and Asparagus, Orzo with Leeks and Much More....then Finally Sweets, where you will find Orange Cream Cake, Lemon Merengue Cake, Upside Down Pear Gingerbread Cake, One Pan Fudge Cake, Lemon Whipping Cream Pound Cake, Chocolate Glazed Bailey's Irish Cream Cheesecake, Chocolate Amaretto Cheesecake, Chocolate Charm Almond Pie, Sweet Potato Pie, Upside Down Apple Pecan Pie, Tiramisu Toffee Trifle Pie, Chocolate Pecan Whiskey Pie, Lemon Cheese Tarts, Coconut Macadamia Nut Pie, Riverside Banana Pudding, Festive Fruit Pizza, Melt in Your Mouth Chocolate Mousse, Butter Pecan Ice Cream, Scrumptious Mocha Ice Cream Dessert, Apple Dumplings, Peppermint Bark, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies, Debutante Praline Cookies, Creme de Menthe Brownies, English Toffee, Chewy Pecan Bars, Baklava, Viennese Coffee Balls, Pecan Triangles and much more. There are 263 pages of mouth watering recipes in this fabulous Hardback Junior League of Shelby, N.C. Cookbook, you will not be sorry with the purchase of this little gem to add to your collection!

I've ridden several rides following the book, and I found the milage accurate, the rides interesting, and the cue sheets very easy to use. The maps are separate from the cue sheets in the book, but flipping back and forth was not a problem. I personally found the cue sheets adaquate without the maps, but the maps provide a useful overview. If you're familliar with Jim Parham's other books, his mapping technique, while always good, has gotten better. These maps are really clear. However, on some of the rides, some intersections were too complicated for me to figure out from the map alone. The cue sheets were perfectly clear in these instances. Overall, this book is a model of ride information.

This is a very good book on riots. It does not include the riots from "Gangs of New York." If you are going to read this book, read Chapter 10 first. It will give you all the definations of the words the author uses like, magistrate, marshals, watchmen. This will help in knowing what these people are supposed to do in the book. I didn't do this and was wondering throughout the book exactly what these people were supposed to be doing to stop the riots. All the riots get a bit tedious after awhile, but there are some good parts. After you read the book you will sort of have the idea that is all the people in NYC did was riot.