Central America Books

As a graduate studuent who has conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Guatemala, I found this book to very insightful. In my view, Kay Warren does a commendable job of addressing and discussing the politics of the Pan-Maya movement and its actions and arguments since the signing of the peace accords. Furthermore, she describes the role of the foreign anthropologist in the Maya culture and the critiques given by Pan-Maya activists towards the discipline of anthropology. For example, Warren relates the statements of the well-known Pan-Mayanist, Sam Colop (82). Warren concludes that the underlying question is; "What are you doing in Guatemala to benefit the Maya people?" This is particularly relevant to any social scientist, let alone those working in Guatemala.

Of particular interest is Warren's discussion on 'transforming selves'; the belief that certain individuals possess the capacity to physically transform themselves into an animal. She provides an excellent argument on why this belief resurfaced during the civil war, a period of extreme distrust. The bibliography is extensive and Warren's knowledge of critical theory, anthropology, history, Guatemalan (and, one might add, Peruvian) ethnography and political studies is considerable. This book could serve as a starting point for anyone interested in the current situation in Guatemala.

The only shortcoming I found is that the chapters do not flow smoothly. This is most likely due to the fact that some of the book was derived from previously written articles.

Nevertheless, I found it to be an enjoyable read and strongly recommend it to anyone interested in Guatemala and the Maya culture.

I have not finished reading the book yet, but I found it difficult to put it down. The first part of the book describes his family and educational background, and offers insights to the American society in those days. Thanks to his position as a staff member of General MacArthur's team, his recount of the Korean War struck me as credible and insightful. The chapter on his trip to China is not as interesting as expected, which may be attributed to the fact that others like Nixon and Kissinger cover the subject in detail.

If you're looking to travel to Belize for lesisure or study, this book is a required read. With much more information than you can find in ANY travel guide, this book was used for a college class I took in 1997-98. This book includes information on politics & government, the economy, society & ethnicity, social forces, environment and foreign influences! Thats quite a bit of info for such a tiny country, and Barry tells it well. In my opinion, this book is the best reference available on Belize. Even if you're just a casual traveler to this country, you can benefit from knowing so much about it. If you've ever travelled somewhere and wondered about that places' political or historical background, a book like this will answer all of those questions and probably more. And as for the country of Belize, it's truly a gem!

THE INSIDERS' GUIDE TO SANTA FE is a great book about Northern New Mexico. It describes different towns where you can relocate, explains the rules of the road and other essentials, points out where the best shopping and dining are, and tells you where places of worship may be found. Radio stations change formats like the weather, so information in this area that was correct when this book was written might now have to be taken like the humor in such movies/TV shows as FRIENDS, 13 GOING ON 30, DRIVE ME CRAZY, HARVARD MAN, WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, THE SWEETEST THING, SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, AMERICAN WEDDING, THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELLING PANTS, MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING, and GARFIELD: A TALE OF TWO KITTIES, but this is a minor quibble, as the general quality of the book is superb.

This handy and sturdy map accompanied us everywhere - in wet and dry backpacks, on snorkeling excursions, up jungle rivers, at Mayan ruins - and we studied it once in gale force winds and often often with wet hands. A great travel help in every regard with great detail.

International Kitchen: Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean, Vol. 2

Synopsis
A colourful collection of 220 recipes from Mexico, South and Central America and the Caribbean, which brings out the best in traditional flavours while at the same time responding to the demands of the contemporary kitchen.

FROM THE PUBLISHER
Now Irwin Gelber, a leading food-service industry consultant and award-winning chef, presents another volume in his distinctive tour of the world's cuisines, this time devoted to the rich culinary tradition of Latin America. As with his first book in the series, which featured the cuisines of Europe, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, and the former Soviet Union, this new volume spotlights the specialties of Mexico, Central and South America, and the islands of the Caribbean - from appetizers, soups, and bean and rice dishes to fish, poultry, and meat entrees and desserts. Each recipe reflects a specific national cuisine; enlarges readers' understanding of the historical development of a particular cuisine - including the influence of native American, European, African, and modern American strains; introduces the reader to food preparation methods from other cultures; calls for ingredients that are readily available in the United States; addresses the taste preferences of the fastest-growing segment of the American urban population - and are therefore highly marketable. Chefs who are always looking for new creative outlets will be inspired the range of exciting regional dishes presented in The International Kitchen.

A in depth comprehensive study of themes written in American history. I bought this book as a grad-student to help me pass my master's comprehensive exams. The author complied historical writings by many of the notable historians. Worth every penny I paid for.

Interpreters With Lewis And Clark: The Story Of Sacagawea And Toussaint Charbonneau by journalist and historian W. Dale Nelson is an informed and informative documented study of the lives of two prominent figures in Western history, Sacagawea and her husband, and their role in the near-legendary Lewis and Clark expedition of 1803. An insightful, honestly presented, superbly written study that offers the truth behind the myths, Interpreters With Lewis And Clark is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to academic and community library American Biography collections.

I never though I would like this class because of the topic in general and the length of the book. THe truth is that the class is the best class I've ever had at West Chester University and this is the first text book I read all the way through. It's a very in depth but easy to read book. I recommend it for anyone, in school or out of school.

Axtell is interested in acculturation and the "imapct the major competing cultures of Eastern North America- English, French, and Indian- had had on each other, especially when they set out consciously to educate or convert their rivals." (p.IX) This book reveals the social and cultural interactions in the norteast of North America. The author rejects the prejudice of the moral superiority of the Europeans over the "savage" Indians and gives a profound account of the cultural interactions and conversions among the English, French, and Indian inhabitants of northeast North America. The English had the weakest cultural impact, according to the author. The French were more flexible and more successful in bringing new converts, but the Indians were the most successful cultural power, concludes Axtell, thanks to their more natural lifestyle and tolerance towards the cultures of the Europeans, who wanted to settle among them.

It's an excellent book that tells the story of Colonial North America from a very interesting angle and it is a definite must for readers interested in social and cultural history of North America.