Texas Books

This is a great book about a Texan who refused to compromise with big oil, big banks, and big business - the forces that shaped politics in Texas in the 50s and 60s - and was still elected to the US Senate. In the Senate he devoted his career to "putting the jam jar on the lower shelf," so that the little people could reach it. He came from populist East Texas and remained true to the Populist tradition long after it had died in the rest of the country. Dr. Cox has made use of Yarborough's personal papers and his public papers to tell the lively story of an American who had the courage to go against the grain. The book is well-written and is essential for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of natiuon politics in the '60s.

Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, with Senator Ralph W. Yarborough riding shotgun in a limousine through the streets of Dallas on November 22, 1963 were both ordered by a secret service agent to hit the deck. History-altering shots were being fired at the motorcade into the lead car carrying President John F. Kennedy, Governor John Connally and their wives. Together they arrived at Parkland Hospital where they witnessed the horrific scene of the bodies of President Kennedy and Governor Connally being wheeled inside.

After the assassination, stories about how Yarborough and "refused" to ride with Johnson the day prior due to their ongoing "feud" became legendary. This feud among these giants of Texas Democratic politics of the 1960's--Yarborough, Johnson and Connally--serves as the fuel to power Dr. Patrick Cox's compelling story. Cox deftly applies his storytelling skills, honed as a former Texas newspaper editor, to weave a taut and fascinating tale of Yarborough and the other giants before and after the assassination.

Known in the U.S. Senate as "Mr. Education", Yarborough's fingerprints can be found on such landmark Great Society legislation as the Higher Education Act, the National Science Foundation, Head Start, Job Corps, Vista and many others. But Ralph Yarborough:The People's Senator is more than an academic treatise about the legislative accomplishments of Ralph Yarborough. He was a profile in political courage, the only southern senator from either party to vote for all the major civil rights bills from 1957 to 1970, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

This reader is left to conclude that LBJ's fall in 1968 and Yarborough's political defeat in 1970 market a turning point in American history. With protests over Civil Rights and Vietnam dividing America, Republicans began hacking away at the "ills" of the Great Society. Yet, the lynchpins of the Great Society and much of Ralph Yarborough's contribution still survive and thrive.

This book was a delight to read from start to finish. For political junkies this is pure 100% oxygen. But the novice should enjoy the ride as well. In Ralph Yarborough: The People's Senator, Patrick Cox has unearthed a giant of the 1960's and breathed life into a great American. Ralph Yarborough deserves our attention and appreciation.

My only regret about this book is that it didn't get published while Yarborough was still alive to enjoy it.
Yarborough was LBJ's peer & frequent rival but they buried the hatchet when JFK was killed and, together, created a massive record in civil rights, education and the environment. To understand the legacy of the 60's it is essential to understand Yarborough. It is doubtful that there will ever be a more thorough or more readable treatment of Yarborough's amazing roller coaster career than this one. Highly recommended.

I love his character development. Having read about 10 or 12 of Kelton's books I can say he is, in my opinion, the best Western author ever. I love the story lines and the way he develops and stages the story. You rarely know how the story will develop and the surprise is nice.

I read The Ranger's Law Trilogy before I went back and read The Lone star saga(the trilogy written first). This is the most well written and descriptive western I have ever read in my entire life and I believe that anyone who invests in this trilogy will have spent their money very wisely. The characters are great and after the first book in the series you'll want to read more and more about them.

Among the best character developers I've ever read, Kelton is a master in his discriptions. The stories lines are NOT predictable in a genre' that typically is. I will be reading more of his work.

I believe this is the only work on this topic that I have ever seen. It is very well researched and interesting. The book isn't a light read, however, but more the product of detailed research. I recommend it for those with a deep interest in Morocco and it's various forms of Islamic belief and practice.

An excellent work dealing with the development of Sufism and the Sufi orders in Morocco. My only complaint is that it only goes up to the 16th century.

This work goes into detail concerning the Jazuli order (but strangely not much detail in the life of al-Jazuli or even his followers active participation in resistance to Portuguese invasion of Morocco) and also in the role of Moroccan tribal families (especially the 'Seyyids') in political life in Morocco.

A valuable work for anyone studying Moroccan history, African history or the development of Sufism in the Muslim West.

Anything you would ever want to know about the soial and ideological foundations of Moroccan Sufism and how it fits into the wider Islamic context. From a demographical breakdown of saints to the follies of Abu Yiza, this book has it all and more. Certainly not for the faint of heart, though; Cornell tackles so much that a quick reading just couldn't do the book justice.

Miller's book stands out in the field of Mexican studies by emphasizing culture and uses heavy anecdotal evidence to provide insight into Mexico's golden age. This book does not read like a dry history book.

The field of modern Mexican history has been waiting for years for a book like this. Mexican culture is given its rightful place among the great cultures of the world in many pre-Columbia studies, but almost never treated fairly in the 20th century by political historians. This book would make a great text for a class in modern Mexican cultural history.

This is a bright, thoughtful and engaging book! Anyone interested in the culture of Mexico or the history of the Southwest will enjoy this historical perspective.

I just finished reading Remnants of an Ancient Past and thoroughly enjoyed it! Only occasionally do I venture into reading a romance novel. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was so much more!

"Remnants of an Ancient Past" is an exhilarating new work from an exciting, talented new author. Crowley proves himself to be a gifted wordsmith that captures his readers' imaginations with his prose."

Sizzling romance, action, suspense, intriguing setting (an archaeological dig)--I found it all in this exciting novel! And anyone who has suffered from disillusionment in matters of the heart will find soulmates in Elisa Murchison and Dr. Blake Connor. I empathized with these characters in their agonizing attempts to regain their emotional balance, and I enjoyed numerous "I-couldn't-put-it-down" moments. A satisfying read!

There really are only a few books a parent needs to "do it right." Joan Beck's "How to Raise a Brighter Child" and Prudence MackIntosh's essays in her trilogy of books: "Thundering Sneakers," Retreads," and "Sneaking Out." The MackIntosh books are better than chocolate, whether you have a boy or a girl. And on those frequent occasions when I am at my wits' end and rapidly losing perspective, her books bring me right back. You'll laugh with a lump in your throat the whole way through.

Read Prudence McIntosh! If you have boys you must read this book. One of my favorites.

From the moment I discovered Prudence Mackintosh in Thundering Sneakers (first of the trilogy), I fell in love with her style of writing. She shares the joys of boys along with her own cherishing of the moments of parenting them. Retreads will make you laugh until you cry as you share her wonderful observations of her own 3 boys in those "tween years" where they are too big to hold and way too big to ignore. If you know a mother of all boys, I cannot think of a better gift -- the Mackintosh Trilogy (Sneaking Out is new in 2002 -- and helps to finish the chapter of raising children!) UT Press has done us all a favor by reissuing these gems! Thanks Prudence!

This book is the authority on where to raft/kayak/canoe - you get all the info you need about drop-off and pick-up points, plus mile-by-mile information. Great book - I wish the authors would revise their last edition (2000)! Still, the 2000 edition is very helpful. Highly recommended to Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas canoeists/kayakers!

This book is the perfect guide to Texas rivers. It gives a description of each river, including different runs on each. It provides information on camping in the area, where to rent a canoe, rapid class categories, phone numbers for flow information and myriad other details that give you the confidence to literally pick a trip from the book and do it! I'm buying my second copy.

This Essential Reference book opens with detailed local fish population info and photos. Statewide canoe/paddling clubs are listed next along with recommended equipment diagrams & checklists and a glossary of useful river/paddling terms.(worthy of purchase alone) THEN you get an alphebetically listed, turn by turn, comprehensive diagram and description of multiple rivers in 3 states. Enough said? Too bad this is getting so hard to find!

Scarbrough has written an impeccably researched, compelling book. I lived in Georgetown 1997-2007 and watched it change from a sweet little town, past the outskirts of Austin's development, into something almost indistinguishable from any other suburban city in America. It has happened in Mustang, OK...in Owasso, OK...in Universal City, TX...in Georgetown, TX...in Vancouver, WA, in Sherwood, OR. If one ignores the landscape, the towns are virtually indistinguishable from one another. The rich heritage of the Czechs, the Germans (e.g., German Corner in Owasso) has been drowned in a flood of one-size-fits-all development. Now, not to sound completely gloomy, I do think it is possible for a city in the path of development to resist the Goliath. I think it is possible for a city to choose its own path of development, one that builds on its unique characteristics. Leavenworth, WA, is one such town. And I think more cities should choose to preserve their communities, rather than selling out their birthrights for thirty pieces of silver, rather than sitting back apathetically while their homes are swept away in a tidal wave of materialism. It takes just one leader, with a vision, and a willingness to work really, REALLY hard. Those are pretty hard to find. Anyway, the book is definitely worth the read. I found myself in a state of suspense several times, which was surprising considering that I had gone fishing in Granger Lake myself, and my children were cared for as infants by some of those same elderly Czech folk. A very good read, even for a girl who usually prefers fiction. I have given copies to friends in my new town, including the city council president, who promised to pass it along to the mayor, and to the owner of the local bookshop, where the Democratic Party meets. The town is now facing a vote that will help determine the path of its future development, and I am very interested to see how it all turns out. I hope Linda's outstanding book will help to turn the tide.

Road, River, And Ol' Boy Politics: A Texas Country's Path From Farm To Supersuburb by Linda Scarbrough is an impressively researched, superbly written and quite original perspective of the complete history of the state Texas. Scarbrough's depiction of Texas' history is outstanding for its individuality and historical documentation in that its approach is of a philosophical outlook more oriented to the political reasoning for Texas' development. A highly notable and strongly recommended read, Road, River, And Ol' Boy Politics is an excellent read for historians of American history in general and students of Texas history in particular.

Some lines from the introduction to "Road, River, and Ol' Boy Politics" concisely relate author Scarbrough's thesis: " The story of Williamson County's metamorphosis from agrarian backwater to suburban juggernaut reveals a pattern of how several of America's most successful agricultural counties became supersuburbs over the last half of the twentieth century. The twin pillars of this growth surge, most notably in the Dry Sun Belt, were dams and interstate highways funded by the federal government.....Who decided where to put these massive projects and why?..."

While this is the story of the transformation of one American county, Williamson, County, Texas, it is indicative of what has occurred across our nation. Yes, times they are achangin', and to read about how some of it happened is fascinating.

The author identifies three essential ingredients which are necessary for dynamic growth: a new water source, a new major highway, and "a politically skillful and determined leader." In Texas, these men are simply called good ol' boys. If you wish to dispute Scarbrough's premise just take a look at the booming areas outside of Austin, Dallas, Phoenix, Denver, and Salt Lake City.

Scarbrough is publisher of the Williamson County Sun in Georgetown, Texas. With advanced degrees in American Civilization from the University of Texas, she knows her subject well. She was among the first to write about environmental issues for the New York Daily News, and when she returned to Texas in 1978 she continued to discuss that subject on the pages of her family newspaper.

"Road, River, and Ol' Boy Politics" is replete with illustrations, maps, bibliography, and index. It's an important addition to the archives of Texas history, and that of our country as well.

- Gail Cooke

After reading the Five-Star reviews of Ruling Pine Ridge I immediately ordered a copy anticipating a scholarly historical treatment of the political climate and governmental history of Pine Ridge. And I wasn't disappointed; it is a well-written narrative carefully explaining the cultural, social and political history of Pine Ridge vis-à-vis American colonialism in the period between the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) and the takeover and ransacking of Wounded Knee (WK II) in 1973. Although it is difficult not to indulge either side of the forces at play, Professor Reinhardt does an admirable job of finding the correct balance between both sides in the cultural struggle. He proves his point eloquently that the federal presence continued through not-so-subtle colonial authority.

There was only one area where Ruling Pine Ridge left a little doubt; by describing the "reign of terror" period between WK II, the murder of two FBI agents in 1975, and the subsequent conviction of Leonard Peltier where Professor Reinhardt sourced Ward Churchill and Peter Matthiessen. Although arguably inaccurate to use these two sources alone, in deference to Professor Reinhardt it was used only as an anecdotal reference to demonstrate there was ongoing tension after WK II.

Ruling Pine Ridge is a must-read and an important resource for anyone seeking an in-depth and intellectual understanding of the dynamics between federal authority and Indian affairs on the Reservations.

"Ruling Pine Ridge: Oglala Lakota Politics From The IRA To Wounded Knee" by "Akim D. Reinhardt (Associate Professor of History, Towson University, Maryland) draws upon oral histories, council records, and reservation newspapers to provide an historical survey and analysis of the Oglala Lakota reservation in South Dakota during the mid-twentieth century when it was evolving from being directly run by the federal government , to indirect colonialism under the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA), to the 1973 occupation and siege of Wounded Knee as the culmination of dissatisfaction with how reservation autonomy was being hampered by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. Professor Reinhardt amply supports his thesis that the siege was not simply a political stunt of the American Indian Movement, but a genuine grassroots protest that was developing over the previous forty years. A work of impeccable and detailed scholarly research (some of which had never been previously accessed by historians), that should be a part of every university library's Native American Studies reference collection, "Ruling Pine Ridge" is a seminal study that is an academically impressive, substantively informative, and thoughtfully insightful.

Quite a bit has been written about the Oglala Lakota and their history in the 1800s. How many more books about Crazy Horse do we need anyway?
After the Wounded Knee Tragedy of 1890, scholars and popular historians seem to lose interest in the Lakota.
They're still here, and the Pine Ridge Reservation, where the Oglala reside, has become infamous as one of the poorest places in the world's wealthiest nation.
Akim Reinhardt has written an in-depth look at the political history of the Oglala in the 20th Century.
As an outsidider looking in, one hates to judge the Oglala or dictate solutions to internal problems, but even the most casual observer can see that the current tribal government is dysfunctional and clearly in need of a new constitution.
Reinhardt provides valuable insight into how the reservation became what it is today. It's a valuable resource for anyone interested in reforming the current government.

Robin Hardy is an awesome author with a way of spinning a story that draws you in and holds you. The characters of Sammy and Marnie are far from perfect, but oh so very real. What makes them real is that the issues they deal with don't get "fixed" magically at the end of the book, they undergo a process including the dawning of awareness and consciuous recognition of the effect of their actions and then they begin the road of growing into a better person, still flawed but obviously trying. Every Sammy story contains a mystery inside the main mystery that will keep the reader guessing.

Great book, Great author - I highly recommend all of her books in the Sammy Series.

While reading this book, I kept murmuring to myself, "Oh, Sammy! How do you find yourself in these predicaments time and again?" This book, number 5 in the series, continues the tale of the ongoing adventure of Sammy Kidman and his wife, Marni. I finished this book the day I started, and read it even while I should have been doing my coursework for college (whoops!) but I just couldn't put it down! It seemed that with every detective assignment completed, there was a new complication in his personal life. But by the grace of God, he carries on and presses onward, trusting that he will survive and that all will work out in God's timing. "Misunderstandings" is a book that tells of faith and trust, and to be perfectly honest and open, I learned a lot, and found some things in my own life that were in need of change. The Sammy series is great for any reader. Lots of mystery, some love, and plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. If you've read the other Sammy books, I don't know what's keeping you from getting this one! You already know what a great writer Robin is, and I'm sure you're itching to see what trouble Sammy's got himself into this time. And if you haven't read the other books, I have only one thing to say: In the wise words of Mike Masterson... "GET ON IT!"

Sammy is back and, as always, up to his big blue eyes in trouble. This time, some "little misunderstandings" threaten his friendships, his marriage and even his life. Fun and fast paced like the earlier books, "Little Misunderstandings" really is the best of the series. I can't wait for the next one.