Indiana Books

Ed Gleeson, the top selling civil war author of "Rebel Sons of Erin" creates another bestseller. Clearly written and illustrated, this book should be in every civil war enthusiasts collection. In June 1861, 34 men from the Southern Illinois counties of Williamson and Jackson traveled to western Tennessee and became part of Company G of the 15th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry. Their story is a unique for many reasons and is relayed in the book Illinois Rebels. Gleeson's book chronicles the formation of the group, identifies the soldiers by name and provides additional information for each of them.

Although it is a reproduction, it is a very nice addtion to anyone's Indiana history Collection.

Although there may not be a plethora of scholarly activity on the imagination itself, it is known amongst those alert Kant scholars that the imagination plays a key role in the first and third critiques. In his first book "Imagination and Depth in Kant's 'Critique of Pure Reason,'" Bernard Freydberg demonstrated the pivotal role that the imagination plays in Kantian epistemology. But in this provocative work, Freydberg asserts that imagination is the "linchpin" in any understanding of the second critique as well. With keen insight and scholarly rigor, Freydberg discloses imagination as the driving force even in the "Critique of Practical Reason" where it appears to have no significant role.

Freydberg's approach is masterful for two reasons. First, instead of planting himself only within a textual analysis of the second critique, he bridges the first critique with the second. That is, he shows how the first critique informs and "opens up" into the second critique by appropriating the relevant passages and concepts from the "Critique of Pure Reason," most notably the role of synthesis/image-making and the imagination that powers it. This allows for an analysis that doesn't arise in a vacuum. Freydberg also examines the relation of the second critique to its successor, the "Critique of Judgment" much the same way as he does with the first. Second, in the bridging of the first critique to the second, Freydberg foregoes what could have been a more trouble-free appraisal. Instead of utilizing the A Deduction alone where imagination is prominent, he relies heavily on the B Deduction where Kant seems to have given imagination a "lesser" role. Thus he treads the more difficult path to make his case while also reaping the rewards that this type of journey brings at its conclusion.

Although Freydberg takes his cue from Heidegger (and in turn Sallis), his insights are original. Heidegger, in his book "Kant and the Problem of Metaphysics," claimed that the imagination is the root of both sensibility and understanding but that "Kant recoiled in the face of this unknown root." What makes this account both provocative and exciting is Freydberg's treatment of this "unknown root." He demonstrates that imagination, even when it seems to be absent, is in fact always, already deeply at work even in the construction of our moral framework.

For example, Kant says of the Triebfeder (incentives of pure practical reason) that they are the subjective ground of the determination of a will. As finite beings, we are subject to our pathological incentives. Yet through moral feeling that human beings are also subject, we are aware of the moral law as well (an a priori concept), which is the only law that qualifies as a moral incentive. Bridging this chasm is the imagination. Freydberg reveals how any determination of the will of a finite human being has already undergone the synthesis of imagination. In this case, imagination has generated an incentive out of the pure, moral law as well as bringing it (this moral incentive) into opposed play with our sensuous inclinations.

There are many more examples throughout this work that exemplify imaginations disclosing and synthesizing role. Freydberg's arguments are precise and well thought out. Although working within the continental tradition, he provides a close reading of the text, supporting his position with a logical rigor that should garner the respect of those in the analytic tradition.

In the last analysis, Freydberg's inquiry achieves the notable goal of disclosing how the imagination beats at the heart of the second critique in particular, and all three critiques in general. Suffice it to say that "Imagination in Kant's `Critique of Practical Reason'" is a work that adds sorely needed scholarship to the Kantian corpus. Ignored for too long by many Kant scholars, Freydberg discloses that which, although hidden, plays the crucial role in the "Critique of Practical Reason." Imagination at the heart of Kant's second critique...who would have thought?

The photographs, maps, travelers' accounts, physical reconstructions, and studies of the Bible that are the subject of this book once fired popular fantasies of the Holy Land. Nineteenth century visitors to the Chautauqua Institution used to walk through a large scale model of biblical Palestine, sometimes tucking a blade of grass into their pockets or purses. You can still take a tour and listen to Sunday evening lectures there. At the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904, a replica of Jerusalem covered eleven acres while today, some 300 miles to the southeast, a seven story high Christ of the Ozarks looks over a modern re-creation of the Holy Land set in the hills of Arkansas. For home viewing there were tours via stereoscopic photographs, lavishly illustrated books such as Picturesque Palestine, and the reports of scholars who passed through the American School of Oriental Research in Jerusalem. All reached for an illusory touch of the "real" in the midst of fantasies about the Holy Land, as may still be seen in a reader friendly book written by John Dominic Crossan and Jonathan Reed, Excavating Jesus. These competing visions of the Holy Land were, and are, shaped by forms of Christianity and Judaism, and entangled with various political and ideological debates at home in America.

David Gunn, Bradford Professor of Religion at Texas Christian University wrote that Imagining the Holy Land is "remarkable and important...not only pertinent to an understanding of biblical criticism and popular culture in America...but crucially important to a nuanced understanding of American public discourse about Middle Eastern affairs today."

This is simply a marvelous book. I picked up an earlier edition a few years ago and still refer to it quite often for my own research into Lincoln. As Mr. Davenport stated in that edition, the book is a travel guide, not a biography. However, because of the fact that it is so well-researched and full of detail, it could almost pass for a biographical overview, especially of Lincoln's life in Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, prior to his presidency.

I highly recommend this book for any Lincoln admirer, those who have a mild interest in the subject and especially for those who want to learn more. With Lincoln, there's always more to learn!

Drawn from an extensive oral history project, this work features twenty-seven oral histories of Hoosier broadcasters involved in a variety of broadcast occupations around Indiana from 1926 to the present. Topics explored are individual stations and the people who worked there, the evolution of technology and government regulation, the ethics of broadcasters, the impact of broadcasting on the public, and the future of the broadcast profession.

I found this book informative, entertaining and well researched. As an Indiana broacaster, the book gave me additional insight into our state's broadcast history and the individuals who helped pave the way for others to follow.

Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky and he is buried in Illinois, but the 16th President grew upon the Indiana frontier. Ann Heinrichs reminds her young readers of that fact in "A State Built on Traditions," the first chapter of this look at "Indiana" for the America the Beautiful, Second Series. This informative volume will indicate that almost every aspect of life has changed for the Hoosiers of Indiana, but will also emphasize how the state is still most farmland and its traditional values are still very much alive.

Three chapters are devoted to the history of the state, beginning with Chapter Two, "Out of the Wilderness," which traces the region from the Mound Builders of the Mississippian culture that first settled the land to the territory becoming the 19th state following the last of the Indian Wars fought by General William Henry Harrison. Chapter Three, "Building the New State," looks at Indiana in the 19th century, while Chapter Four, "Into the Modern Age," covers the 20th century. The geography of the state is covered in Chapter Five, "Over the Hills and Plains," which divides the state into the Till Plains, the Great Lakes Plains, the Southern Hills and Lowlands.

Some of what you can see when you visit the state is the subject of Chapter Six, "Exploring Indiana," such as "Touchdown Jesus" at Notre Dame, the restored pioneer village at Conner Prairie, the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, the Historic New Harmony utopian community, and Lincoln's restored boyhood home in Lincoln City. The politics of the state is explored in Chapter Seven, "Governing the Hoosier State," which is where young readers learn about the state river (Wabash River), which explains the state song ("On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away").

Chapter Eight, "Hoosiers at Work" is about the state's economy, which sees farmers raising ostriches and llamas along with the corn, hogs and soybeans that dominate the agriculture. This book has what is probably the simplest recipe in the series with grilled corn on the cob. Chapter Nine, "People Who Make a Difference" looks at where people live and the state's colleges. Chapter Ten, "Arts and Sports," covers the famous citizens of the state, which includes David Letterman, John Mellencamp, Cole Porter, James Whitcomb Riley, and Larry Bird.

Throughout the book there are dozens of informative sidebars where we get to find out about more famous Hoosiers, from Tecumseh to Mark Spitz, along with places to visit such as Wyandotte Cave and the Smoking Dune. You also get to find out why the Hoosiers are called Hoosiers. The book is filled with full-color photographs and original maps. When you get to the back of the book you will find a detailed Timeline comparing U.S. and Indiana state history, pages of Fast Facts that provide easy access to key statistics, and a list of books, organizations and Internet sites where young students can go To Find Out More.

Ever wonder what a "Hoosier" really is? This book will tell you a lot about that and so much else.

The "Portrait of America" series is a wonderful introduction for pre-teens to the 50 states and to the places and events that shaped the history of the United States. This "Indiana" installment is particularly good. The book is broken down into sections like "History", "Culture", "Economy" etc., and each section is thoughtfully written and edited. The "History" section is especially good and is very inclusive.

This book, as well as the entire "Portrait of America" series, will prove to be a valuable teaching tool to all primary school educators.

I am so happy to finally see a book about Indiana that shows there is more than corn fields and flat land. This book shows the true Indiana and everyday life. And the custom cover is the best idea I have seen for a photography book. It is your state and your picture, what could be better than that.

This book has wonderful pictures and good information on the birds I see at my bird feeder. Now I can identify them with the book in hand. I love this book.