Iowa Books

Feinberg's work is an excellent collection of biographical data and Tabori's antecdotes. Her writing is captivating, although at times her analysis is not quite clear or simply not complete. However, she does offer a huge sampling of themes prevalent in Tabori's work. The book is a good source for Taboriisms and feeling Tabori's spirit.

I snapped this one up as soon as I found it since there are no other books in English (at least, that I know of) which focus on this controversial Jewish-Hungarian playwright. I'd consider this one a must for those interested in Jewish drama, literature and/or Holocaust studies.
Tabori's drama was often more avant-garde than traditional and frequently shocking and provocative. One play, Cannibals, portrayed concentration camp inmates who were prepared to eat another inmate to survive and others of his "Holocaust" (Jubilee, My Mother's Courage, Mein Kampf) are equally revolutionary and non-conventional.
The author, Anat Feinberg, uses archival material to round out this well-written and detailed portrait of an unusual dramatist. There is also a photo section which I found captivating and quite interesting.

This book certainly explains all the basic requirements for all FAA medicals, but I believe the author is too repetitive, especially when he explains 100 times how important the medical is. The whole book could have been a lot shorter. The only interesting part was the nutrition section, and the hypertension chapter.

Fellow licensed pilots, I'm about 1/2-way through this book and I can't believe I did for so long without it. Dr. Reinhart provides every nuance of the Medical Certification Process, along with the encouraging words for taking responsibility for our own "airworthiness." I fly as a hobby, with a 3rd class medical, and this book has taken away much of the anxiety I previously felt about the process. It took me many painstaking years to earn my Private Certificate, and I am now more secure that I'm better equipped to keep current with the knowledge and insights provided by Dr. Reinhart.

This opened my eyes to women's status in the Gilded Age in a typical good-sized Midwestern town. I couldn't put it down.

My godson is taking his orals for his PhD, and as a requirement, was told to read this, among 100 other assigned books. As he knew I was a Davenport native, he thought I might enjoy reading this. As a female, I found it especially fascinating as it deals mostly with the status of women, both prostitutes and women who owned small businesses, worked as clerks and in other professions, in the Gilded Age. I had no idea that prostition was once legalized in Davenport and such establishements were licensed. I also was surprised to learn how the German influence led to widespread flauting of Prohibition. I had gone to the Lend-A-Hand club as a small girl after school, and reading the history of that venerable institution was really heartening. My grandfather ran a Shell Service station at the base of the Government Bridge and it was amazing to read how that area was a hotbed of vice from 1880-1920.

I bought this book for my mother, who grew up in Davenport, and who is now 90. She knew many of the names in the book, attended school with one of the girls, and was amazed to hear all this come to life. Many of the facts and stories were told her by HER mother, and she was taken back in time when these stories were confirmed. She is now busily engaged in digesting the book.


But the book is better than simply a Davenport history snapshot. As a woman, I was disheartened in the extreme to read of the cruelty practiced on young girls, as young as 11 who were forced into prostitution after having been raped. The Good Shepherd Home in Dubuque proved a godsend for many of the unfortunate girls. They were given a new life and dignity. It left me with new respect for the work of the Catholic Church in restoring people's lives.


This book gave me a view of middle America that caught me off guard. I hope this book gains wide currency, as it deserves it.

This book is very interesting for anyone concerned with US Presidential elections. It takes a balanced approach but comes to definite conclusions about the importance of the Iowa Caucus. What I liked was the way it dug beneath the surface statistics to provide an in-depth analysis of what is going on.

Christopher Hull has written a rigorously-researched and tightly-sourced analysis of the impact of the Iowa presidential caucuses. His work applies academic precision to a subject with which Hull has extensive real-world experience, and this combination truly shines through the page. An absolute must-read for those who seek to understand the presidential selection process.

This beautifully written short novel by the great critic is among the best descriptions of the 1920's I've read! All the characters are based on real life people, and taken from the author's own notebooks, as descibed in the notes at the end of the book. Such luminaries as Dorothy Parker, Robery Benchley, and others of the renowned "Round Table" are included, not to mention Mr. Wilson's own love interests, shown quite indiscretely for the time. And the "uncle" in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, is truly bizarre! Also the architectural and travel (mostly train, but some auto) rides are perfectly done too! This is a fine book for the general reader, as well as the 1920's or Wilson afficionado. But perhaps too "R-Rated" for the school-set.

This book is actually an unfinished novel Wilson started to write but put aside before it was published. It contains many ideas that will not surprise people who are familiar with Wilson's literary criticism, particularly his distrust of popular culture. The book is best when it deals with a character that is clearly based on Dorothy Parker, who Wilson knew and liked. It gave me insights to Parker's personality that were fascinating. Even though parts of this book are sketchy and were clearly meant to be expanded, by the end I was caught up in the narrative and found this volume ultimately quite involving. For anyone interested in peek at Jazz age life New York this book is well worth reading.

This ABC book is a wonderful way to introduce your child to some of the fun and interesting history of Iowa. Readers will discover some little known facts about the state, through real-life pictures and cute illustrations. Mrs. Gensicke really understands what will captivate a young audience and employs her knowledge of the young reader in this book. Audiences of all ages will be surprised at facts they will pick up about a small, but very wonderful state.

I purchased this delightful book for my children a few years ago. It contains a series of historical facts about the state of Iowa, one for each letter of the alphabet. My children were fascinated by some of the entries and my son used some of them in his schoolwork about the history of the state. I work in computers and they were astounded to learn that the computer was in fact invented in Iowa. There were many other instances when they came to me and excitedly said, "Daddy, did you know that . . . ?"
This is a wonderful book of historical facts suitable for children in the 6-10 years of age range. I highly recommend that you get it if you have children of that age.

There just is not a better book or piece of information to have than a state atlas when travelling. With the atlas, you are able to get (off the beaten path), see the "hard to get to" areas of the United States, and actually get back on track again. You will do all of this and never get lost!

These books are amazing. Not only do they have all the gravel roads but even the dirt roads! Buy the Atlas, you won't be sorry.

This atlas, like other products from DeLorme, provides high quality maps. It contains very useful information and detailed maps of the entire state. There are no city maps in the atlas which is its only flaw. Larger metro areas like Des Moines, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities ought to be shown in greater detail.

I concur with Professor Kellogg. I am teaching Iowa History this spring (2006) and I have learned that the book is out of print. It is a shame, since it was such a great book to use with Dorthy Schwieder's Iowa: The Middle Land.

Bergman's collection of stories,(some available in Annuals of Iowa) is a nice grouping of Iowa History. From early native americans, to the abortion battles in the 70s this is a very good telling of Iowa history through the writings of some of Iowa's best historians.

Tom Gary

This is a wonderful book to explore the various aspects of Iowa history. While the book doesn't concentrate on any one subject of Iowas' history it does give the reader a broad look at both local and statewide issues dealing with Native Americans to the Iowa Primaries. It is a well balanced even-handed account of Iowa and Iowans. What I fail to understand is why the book is currently out of print. Iowan history instructors and professors find this a valuable teaching tool and a good anthology of Iowa writers on Iowa issues.

This is a wonderful book for traveling in Iowa. I am an Iowa resident, and found some very interesting information within the covers of this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone who desires to learn more about the hidden treasures in the heart of the midwest.

I just returned from an 8 day driving tour of the great state of Iowa. I purchased two books for the trip but relied on this one. It was a great resource and a good read besides. Starting from the west heading south then east and finally north, this guide was invaluable book of knowledge that made my road trip an experience to remember. I plan on purchasing the "Off the Beaten Path" version for my own home state and take weekend trips to see if Missouri can rival Iowa in charm and hospitality!

This is a fasinating story about a man I personally knew while training at his flight school in Ames, Iowa. A well written account of his life, especially his time of service during WW2. Flying B-24's over Germany, his plane was brought down and he was captured. A riveting tale of life as a POW and eventual liberation at the end of the war. The book then goes on to talk about his post-war service flying B-36s and the successful founding of his flight school. A well written piece that will have you wanting more. A great book about a great pilot. Rest in peace, Hap.

I have not read the book, but the author spoke to our rotary club yesterday. He is a retired architect who lives in Ames, Iowa and started writing about WWII veterans he met and interviewed. He shared some amazing stories about men who survived 32 degree water after crashing in the North Atlantic, one who refused to surrender in the Phillipines and lived in the jungle with Phillipino resistance fighters for over 2 years, a man who survived 4 wounds from machine gun fire and a man who missed a mission during which his plane exploded in mid air from a direct hit in their fuel tanks. Mr. Rudi is a great story teller and the message is loud and clear. War is Hell.