North Carolina Books

This historical and sociological study of Buddhism in the U.S. from 1844 to 1912 provides insight not only into American Buddhism but also into American culture in the Victorian period and the interactions between new religious movements and the values and beliefs of the dominant culture. The book is academic but not obtuse, and it's relatively engaging.

Tweed explores in detail the ways in which European-American converts to and sympathizers with Buddhism in the Victorian period both dissented from the dominant culture and also consented to it, and he observes that to be successful, a new or transplanted religious movement needs to be different but not too different from the dominant culture. Tweed argues that Buddhist adherents and sympathizers shared a number of basic Victorian American values and beliefs that Buddhism, as it was then understood, seemed to contradict: theism; individualism (a label that Tweed actually uses for two distinct things: the belief in a substantial and immortal self and an emphasis on self-reliance); optimism (a belief in the basic goodness and inevitable progress of individuals and history); and activism (an emphasis on moral action to uplift individuals and reform societies). In contrast, Buddhism was seen as atheistic, nihilistic, pessimistic, and passive. Although some Americans attracted to Buddhism were able to reject theism and the belief in a substantial self, very few were able to relinquish their commitments to optimism and activism, and they rejected interpretations of Buddhism as pessimistic and passive. Tweed finds that two major sources of Buddhism's appeal during the Victorian period were the perception that Buddhism was more compatible than Christianity with science and the perception that Buddhism was more tolerant than Christianity and Victorian culture toward religious and cultural outsiders.

Tweed also provides an interesting typology of Euro-American Buddhist adherents and sympathizers in Victorian America: the "esoteric," "rationalist," and "romantic" types.

Also recommended: "Buddhism in America" by Richard Hughes Seager.

John McGowan reminds us that in our current political climate we are in danger of damaging a central mechanism of peace and prosperity: our democracy's commitment to liberalism. The miracle of the founding experiment in American democracy is that a balance of powers was wedded to an understanding (however imperfect) of the need for equality. McGowan's passionate, interesting book is a civics lesson for Americans who have forgotten the importance of those ideas and ideals for the current and future stability and prosperity of our country. The book reminds the reader of the arguments of the Founders, Madison chief among them, and what is at stake in the current illiberal tendencies of our Republic. I found the book thrilling in its clear articulation of what we gain (conservatives and liberals alike) from the core principles of liberalism at the heart of US government. In many respects, the American Experiment is fragile, and we need to remind ourselves just how precious and rare our way of self-governance is in human history. Despite the last eight years there is much to be hopeful about and for. McGowan gives voice to that hope. It is a wonderful, praiseworthy achievement.

This book is a must for anyone interested in the 3 title poets. Wendy Martin does an excellent job in her analysis of these great female poets. She provides necessary backgound information along with correlative interpretation and history of the authors' works. This book is not only a informative and helpful tool, but it is an interesting read.

I just finished reading this book and as usual Joyce Marie Taylor never ceases to amaze me with her creative writing. This book was yet another one of her books that I found hard to put down. The story of Andy & Katarina is not what I thought it was going to be. When I got to the end of the book I found myself in awe. I love the mystery that Joyce brings to her books as well as the romance.

For many historians, the battle of Guilford Courthouse was the American defeat that assured final American victory in the American Revolution (1775-1783). Historian Thomas E. Baker gives good reasoning for this claim in "Another Such Victory." Baker's little book is an exceptional account of the legendary battle fought on March 15, 1781. In his books, Baker discusses the men, stratgies, mistakes, and heroism that defined not only this battle, but how it affected the final outcome of the war.
Baker's book is a great read. It shows how a British victory led to final American victory in the war that turned the world upside down. I highly recommend this for both professional and amateur historians!
Grade: A+

This was required reading for a graduate course in the Humanities. Jackson Turner Main's's book illustrates how political discourse became contentious once Americans started to debate the formation of a national government. To illustrate the use of pseudonyms by American founders to make their political points, it is necessary to match up some pseudonyms to their authors and examine why the pseudonym was used. Since Cato's Letters made such an impression on Americans, the use of the pseudonym "Cato" will be examined first. During the debates to ratify the U. S. Constitution in the 1780's, several political leaders relied on a well known group of Roman personages and used them as pseudonyms to argue either for or against ratification of the Constitution. The group of politicians arguing against ratification was known as the Antifederalists. Their leading standard-bearer was George Clinton who served as governor of New York from 1777 to 1795, and wrote newspaper editorials under the pseudonym "Cato." "Cato" along with other Antifederalists writing under such pseudonyms as "Agrippa" and "Brutus" vociferously argued in their writings against ratification of the Constitution because they believed it put too much power in the hands of the federal government and left little power to the states. Perceiving that citizens would fear the tyranny of the few, at the federal level the Antifederalists argued for more governmental power to devolve to locally elected representatives at the state level, where citizens would have greater influence on government and law making policy. Classically educated Citizens who saw the names "Cato," "Agrippa," and "Brutus" associated with Antifederalism, instantly recognize that the group's political sentiments stand for defending republican ideals through virtue and morality in government and against the tyranny of the privileged few.

As a graduate student in philosophy and history, I recommended this book for anyone interested in early American history, philosophy, education, the humanities.

This was required reading for a graduate course in the Humanities. Jackson Turner Main's's book illustrates how political discourse became contentious once Americans started to debate the formation of a national government. To illustrate the use of pseudonyms by American founders to make their political points, it is necessary to match up some pseudonyms to their authors and examine why the pseudonym was used. Since Cato's Letters made such an impression on Americans, the use of the pseudonym "Cato" will be examined first. During the debates to ratify the U. S. Constitution in the 1780's, several political leaders relied on a well known group of Roman personages and used them as pseudonyms to argue either for or against ratification of the Constitution. The group of politicians arguing against ratification was known as the Antifederalists. Their leading standard-bearer was George Clinton who served as governor of New York from 1777 to 1795, and wrote newspaper editorials under the pseudonym "Cato." "Cato" along with other Antifederalists writing under such pseudonyms as "Agrippa" and "Brutus" vociferously argued in their writings against ratification of the Constitution because they believed it put too much power in the hands of the federal government and left little power to the states. Perceiving that citizens would fear the tyranny of the few, at the federal level the Antifederalists argued for more governmental power to devolve to locally elected representatives at the state level, where citizens would have greater influence on government and law making policy. Classically educated Citizens who saw the names "Cato," "Agrippa," and "Brutus" associated with Antifederalism, instantly recognize that the group's political sentiments stand for defending republican ideals through virtue and morality in government and against the tyranny of the privileged few.

As a graduate student in philosophy and history, I recommended this book for anyone interested in early American history, philosophy, education, the humanities.

This was required reading for a graduate course in the Humanities. Jackson Turner Main's's book illustrates how political discourse became contentious once Americans started to debate the formation of a national government. To illustrate the use of pseudonyms by American founders to make their political points, it is necessary to match up some pseudonyms to their authors and examine why the pseudonym was used. Since Cato's Letters made such an impression on Americans, the use of the pseudonym "Cato" will be examined first. During the debates to ratify the U. S. Constitution in the 1780's, several political leaders relied on a well known group of Roman personages and used them as pseudonyms to argue either for or against ratification of the Constitution. The group of politicians arguing against ratification was known as the Antifederalists. Their leading standard-bearer was George Clinton who served as governor of New York from 1777 to 1795, and wrote newspaper editorials under the pseudonym "Cato." "Cato" along with other Antifederalists writing under such pseudonyms as "Agrippa" and "Brutus" vociferously argued in their writings against ratification of the Constitution because they believed it put too much power in the hands of the federal government and left little power to the states. Perceiving that citizens would fear the tyranny of the few, at the federal level the Antifederalists argued for more governmental power to devolve to locally elected representatives at the state level, where citizens would have greater influence on government and law making policy. Classically educated Citizens who saw the names "Cato," "Agrippa," and "Brutus" associated with Antifederalism, instantly recognize that the group's political sentiments stand for defending republican ideals through virtue and morality in government and against the tyranny of the privileged few.

As a graduate student in philosophy and history, I recommended this book for anyone interested in early American history, philosophy, education, the humanities.

What an enlightening perspective on the magnificent joys of trekking in the north woods of the great state of Georgia. I read it nightly to cleanse my soul in preparation for a pleasant night's sleep. My family and I exalt the book and its detailed maps adorn our living room walls. Our most heartfelt appreciation to the man who composed this mighty work.

This packet will be very useful on our journey on the AT. The maps are waterproof and very detailed with shelters, mileage, and altitude. The book itself contains everything we needed to know about each section of the trail and allowed us to choose which sections we deemed most inviting.