Texas Books

My friend owns this book. It was given to her by her grandfather who is a coushatta. She is learning the language and is teaching it to me because I am interested in her culture. Many times she has let me borrow the book. The book is very helpful because it has guides to help you pronounce the words.

This dictionary is crucial chronicle of the Alabama language. It took the author Sylestine, almost fifty years to complete (Actually completed after her death). The Alabama language is a part of the Muskogeon band of languages that include: Choctaw, Creek, Seminole, Coushatta, and other tribes of the southeast. It is an essential part of my tribe's survival to preserve our culture, and our language is a crucial part in accomplishing this. The dictionary offers translations from Alabama to English( in the first half of the book) and English to Alabama ( in the second half). I recommend this book to all interested in Native languages, and those interested in the Muskogeon languages (for they are not in written form until recently). My recommendation comes from knowing Cora Sylestine (the author) for years, and also my grandmother is one of the contributing speakers credited in the book.

Geoff Ketchum has long been known as one of the foremost experts in Texas on high school and college football with his daily sports talk radio show in Austin and his well read website at Orangebloods.com. Now he has produced his first book which all football fans in Texas will enjoy regardless of whether or not they root for the University of Texas Longhorns. Ketchum, who was well known even while in high school for his sports column and in collge for being part of a team that won the U.T. Sports Trivia Bowl contest, has succeeded where many authors fail. By using his carefully cultivated inside connections and encyclodepic knowledge of the program, Kethcum has scored a touchdown with this Die-Hard Fan's Guide. It's a fun read that no true college football fan should be without.

Great book! Bought extra as a gift and will probably buy more! Geoff Ketchum brings excellent insight and knowledge of UT Football history into print!

I am in our state Master Gardener program, and the advice is to go organic. You can read contradictory advice out there on the best way to grow crops, flowers, healthy lawns and trees. So far this is the book I've found that clears up the contradictions I've heard and read about and tells you why.
I'm reading a library copy, but just ordered a copy for personal use. I'm sure it will come in handy.

This book is extremely informative, both for the beginning gardener as well as the more experienced. Contains basic planting techniques, how to begin gardening the organic way, (not as daunting or expensive as you might think!) and maintaining your new masterpiece. Disease and pest control, (MANY bugs are beneficial!!) building healthy soil, (which in turns builds healthy plants,) soil and water management, etc. Written in clear, easy-to-understand language, this is the first book I would recommend to anyone with an interest in gardening, or someone looking for a better, safer way to care for their corner of the planet. If you have children or pets, and a yard, this book is for you! If you enjoy spending time outside relishing your greenspace, this book is for you!

I'm naturally biased about this book because I was lucky enough to have Urs Peter Fluckiger (Upe) as a professor at Texas Tech University. In fact, he was the first person to introduce me and my fellow classmates to Donald Judd in a freshman class called Design Environment and Society. I had the opportunity to hear Upe talk personally about Donald Judd and his influence in the field of Architecture.

When I bought this book, I was eager to see how well Upe's enthusiasm and passion about Donald Judd's work and philosophies would shine through. I was very satisfied then when the book arrived. The picture of the book's cover on Amazon doesn't do it justice. It's a very beautiful book with a great feel to it. Inside are wonderful drawings depicting everything including site plans, both of Marfa, showing where all of Donald Judd's projects are, and of the individual projects themselves. Each building is shown in plan, elevation, and section; giving the reader a great understanding of all Judd's completed works.

Along side the drawings are beautiful photographs; some of which show the building's lives before Judd's touch was applied to them. The photos do a great job of documenting Judd's lifelong work and come very close to capturing what it's like to see the works in person.

Most importantly though is Upe's commentary. His words give the reader a good basic knowledge of what brought Judd to Marfa and why Judd's legacy should include his architectural abilities along side his artistic methodologies and curating beliefs. Both in German and English.

If I had one criticism of this book, it's that the book lacks more personally touches by Upe. From first hand experience, Professor Fluckiger has so many beautiful sketches, stories and memories involving Donald Judd and Marfa, TX. I'm sure he was tempted to include some little tidbits here and there, but decided against it. It would detract from the main subject at hand.

I wonder if Donald Judd would like this book? I really think he would. I never met the man, and certainly couldn't speak for him, but if I was an influential, minimalist, creative spirit who laid eyes on Marfa, TX and thought it was the perfect place to permanently present my architectural and sculptural work...I would be proud if this book was made about me and my work.

This book is a great resource. The photo documentation is very extensive for each project. Its also nice to have all the plans, sections, and elevations. Flueckiger did a great job. A must have for any architect or student interested in the work of Donald Judd.

Fans of the blues will thoroughly enjoy this outstanding book by Roger Wood and James Fraher, who spent seven years researching and interviewing folks involved with the largely "invisible" blues music scene in Houston and the surrounding area. Fraher's photographs are outstanding, and they help drive the lively text. The authors interviewed musicians, club owners, producers and many others associated with the music scene in Houston's Third Ward and the Fifth Ward. The book moves easily from clubs to ballrooms to barbecue joints, where the music first took root and is still played today. Many legendary blues musicians such as Lightnin' Hopkins, Clifton Chenier, Gatemouth Brown and others of similar rank make appearances in the text. This is a high-quality book from a production standpoint and is an incredible bargain at full price or the Amazon.com sale price.

Roger Wood begins this labor of love with a tacit admission that, on moving to H-town in 1981 for job related purposes, he was unaware of the blues history lining the cracks of the nearby Third Ward sidewalks until the February 1, 1982 obituary in the Houston Chronicle of lifelong native Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins. With this tome under his belt it appears he's made up for lost time since then.

In addition to covering the wealth of blues greats who were either born in Houston or called the area home for any length of time, Wood also documents the underbelly of the lower class club scene, those low rent juke joints and converted shotgun houses that kept the I-IV-V alive all those decades, and still continues to do so. Wood rightfully laments the city's growing distance from it's blues heritage as well as the disappearance of it's historic venues, but "Down in Houston" is a verbal and pictorial testament to the bedrock that no one can strip away.

The discrioption of the book was very accurate. The price was fair and the delivery was quicker than the estimated time.Beacuse the discriptiom was very clear their wasn't any extra information that I would have wanted.

This book is very very good!! But I dont recomened it for someone under the age of 13. It is filled with suspence and passion, love and hate, innocence and, well, you have to read it. im not going to tell you the story!!

It was pretty cool to read the chapter in this book that told the story of my great-great grandfather (Henry Hartman)! He came from Germany to Texas in the 1800's, and many of his descendants (myself included) still reside in Medina County to this day. Great book.

Texas Indian Fighters is a fascinating, must read, book of the Old West. Whether one is interested in Texas Rangers, Outlaws, Indians, or just the Old West in general, this book is a must. I have more than a passing interest in it so I'll buy it. My relative, William Frederick Schmalsle, was a Buffalo Hunter, Indian Scout, Guide, and Courier for Lieutenant Baldwin and General Miles. All were involved in the Red River Wars and the rescue of the German sisters. Thus I find this book especially interesting, a great bedtime book, whether read in a house or by a campfire. Or just about anywhere one finds time to read and relax. This book is one that one can't put down easily, until it is read and reread thoroughly. It is well written and researched carefully, with an excellent dialogue. The author certainly has a knack for knowing his audience and produces an excellent tale, with verbiage which doesn't bore one and is in keeping with appropriate language.

I was raised in an Humble Oil camp in Monroe City, Texas as a
child.This book really hit home.You have the history of the oil
industry in Texas from the beginning.Of course Spindletop is
given coverage in this book.Another company that had it's beginnings in Texas was Texaco.This also makes for an interesting read.The biggest comany was of course Humble Oil and
Refining.This company was in turn bought by Standard Oil Company
of New Jersey.It is today Exxon-Mobil.This is an excellent story

of the oil industry in Texas.I was fascinated by this book.Buy it
and read it.

This soft-cover edition is a welcomed reissue of Rundell's classic photo essay that was published originally in 1977. The colorful history of Texas' major oil discoveries is told through rare photographs gleaned from period newspapers, industry files, and federal, state, and university archives, and is accompanied by a text rich in historical vignettes. Photos of roughnecks, gushers, and derrick-choked boomtowns capture the era of wildcats, discoveries, and production records that preceded "Big Oil."

This wonderful book makes a compelling and thoughtful case for environmental care, but is never strident and is totally free of hyperbole. In addition, it is charming, interesting, informative - just a delightful read, one to be shared with friends who are concerned about our world and friends who should be.

Relevant, important information about the interconnection of everything that exists on our living planet, earth. Elegant in its presentation, enlightening with its content, non-partisan about why we should be concerned, inspiring in its simplicity. Informed and educated; I learned things I never would have even thought to ask about. Not to be ignored or overlooked. Everyone should have to read this book!

From the back cover: "Pasztory has placed these major works of Pre-Columbian art in a historical context, relating them to the reigns of individual rulers, events in Aztec history, and the needs of different social groups from the elite to the farmer. She focuses on the little-known aspects of the aesthetics, poetry, and humanity of the Aztecs.
In 1984 the book received a Special Citation from the Charles Rufus Morey Book Award Committee of the College Art Association."

A wonderful book; I'd buy another like it in a heartbeat. For Mesoamerican/Aztec cultural arts fans, this is a "must buy" and makes a SUPER gift!

Anyone serious about understanding the Aztec mind and social order should read both "Time and Sacrifice in the Aztec Cosmos" (K. A. Read) and also, "THE JADE STEPS" by Burr Cartwright Brundage (University of Utah Press; (c)1985; ISBN# 0-87480-247-4). FYI, Dr. Brundage has authored nearly a dozen extraordinarily well written and researched books on Aztec civilization; most are (sadly) tough to find.