Kansas Books

This exhaustive two-volume tome set the standard for twentieth century biography, and belongs on the shelf of every well-read Dickens fan or public library. Great for researching, critical analysis, or enjoyment of this monumental life.

Carl Boyd has produced an exceptionally lucid and revealing book that traces U.S. decoding attack on Berlin-Tokyo radio communications of Gen. Oshima Hiroshi, Japanese Ambassdor to the Third Reich, and its impact on the outcome of WWII. According to Boyd, these decoded diplomatic messages, known in the U.S. and Great Britain as MAGIC, were pivotal in Allied decision-making at critical junctures during the war. The author contends that, because the British were unable to read the secret communications of the top Nazi leadership, MAGIC filled a crucial gap in British ULTRA message decoding efforts. According to Boyd, Oshima was covertly converted into "an inadvertent informer of incalculable importance in leading the Allies to victory." Because Oshima had a very close personal relationship with Hitler and foreign minister von Ribbentropp, had their trust and respect, and had access to their higest level secrets, his MAGIC decoded radio messages were especially revealing and valuable for Allied planners. His military experience and analytical abilities also made his detailed characterizations of the disposition and condition of German forces in Europe and on the eastern front especially enlightening to the Allies and critical to planning for Operation OVERLORD. Boyd observes that "The margin of success on the Normandy beaches was narrow, but MAGIC and Anglo-American cooperation made the difference." Boyd's book is the first detailed account of Oshima's role as a primary source of Allied wartime intelligence through MAGIC. He draws heavily on declassified National Security Agency documents recently released to the National Archives. There is more, however, to this story of decoding covertly collected enemy radio intercepts that remains classified, especially in the British archives, which won't be declassified for more than twenty years. This is a thoroughly documented, superbly written, and rich account of the application of communications intelligence during WWII. It should be a stimulating read for all serious WWII historians and an entertaining read for all others.

A look at the practical meaning of holiness for today's disciples.

George Lyons seeks to bring the power of the scriptural theme of holiness to life in the 90's. Believing Romans 12: 1-2 and Ephesians 4: 1-6 to be the key passages to the understanding of holy living "in the marketplace." the author guides the reader across the bridge of the centuries - from understanding the meaning of the ancient text to the application of it's principles in today's world.

Dr. Lyons suggests that "perhaps we have spent too much time encouraging folk to embark on the journey [of holiness] and too little describing the landmarks along the way." Join him as he explores intriguing "points of interest" on the journey. --from book's back cover

Students may be attracted to this fascinating book about an African American community of Nicodemus, Kansas, which was settled by sharecroppers in 1878. The real photographs are remarkable. The story is told from the point of view of a 12 year old girl. Photos of farmland today, maps, and Thomas Hart Benton oils, and original artifacts may be particularly interesting for students to study. For a language arts activity, the teacher may want to work with the class to orally create or write a folk tale or heroic tale using a real or imagined person from this book.

This book was informative and enjoyable to read. The pictures are a huge plus. I now have a much better understanding of how the beer industry in Kansas City contributed to the success of the city. After completing this book, I could hardly get myself to the bar quickly enough to have a pint of Boulevard unfiltered wheat. And, it was great!

This is a collection of six loosely-connected essays relating to legal history and the development of the common law. The author is professor of law at North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and one of best informed and well-grounded legal scholars writing today. His interests are broad and it shows in this book. The book contains footnotes, and I would disagree with the author that the general reader should ignore them--I found them quite helpful. Essay I asks the interesting question as to why English judges don't necessarily sit in odd number panels, the way American appellate judges almost certainly do. Does this indicate that we have a greater expectation of policy issues being encased within legal issues that will cause disagreement? Perhaps, courts of even-numbered judges would encourage collaboration of counsel with the court more than occurs here. The second essay is on judicial reports, and how sometimes imprecise reports can help courts adjust the law (witness Lord Mansfield), while on yet other occasions precise and unequivocal opinions (especially if they are unitary) can enhance judidicial power (ala John Marshall). Orth suggests this technique is one reason Marshall was able to make the Court a co-equal branch--quite an interesting essay. The third essay, on English v. American views of judicial review, raises a question about which I had never thought--can decisions abrogating long-standing common law principles constitute unlawful takings under the Constitution? The final two essays focus on the flexibility and adaptability of the common law, and how this flexibility has allowed a system without a prescribed system of rules (such as in civil law systems) to adapt and keep pace with societal change. Considering that for centuries the common law was basically focused on property and procedure, with tort and contract emerging relatively late in its history, and yet still functions so well today, this essays provides quite an interesting perspective. Informative, stimulating and fun to read to boot.

This book is a very simple read. I felt like the buying process was spelled out in a very direct fashion and advice was given in such a way that even a first time home buyer could feel confident. I recommend the book to anyone who is considering the purchase of a home in the future.

This is a good, comprehensive guide for preparing for retirement.

This is a valuable book (resource) for budding entrepreneurs. It seems to try to cover all the bases for starting a small business, but it can't do them all well in the space available between its covers. The book is only 288 pages long. If you are in the planning stages of starting a small business, then I highly recommend you get a copy of this book. Read it, study it, and outline it. There are helpful checklists to help you grasp the subjects. You will come up with a plethora of keywords and terms that you will want to google to find Web pages giving more detailed (and maybe more current) information.

I am a SCORE counselor (Senior Corps of Retired Executives) who typically does face-to-face counseling sessions three nights a month. It would really be neat if my clients would read this book BEFORE they came to their session with me because they would pretty much be "educated customers" ready to ask educated questions. Our sessions would be so much more beneficial.

My favorite chapters were:

1. Initial business concerns
2. Your business' structure
3. Business start-up details
5. Sources of business assistance (SCORE is mentioned here)
7. Your smart business plan (and a good sample plan is included)
8. Obtaining the financing you need

The book is weak when it comes to how the Internet can be used in corresponding, hiring, and marketing. But this is just one example of how googling keywords and concepts found in the book will make the book more complete. Don't treat the book as authoritative on the law. It isn't. Nor was it ever intended to be. It is light on tax information as it relates to small business.

I was particularly impressed with the material presented in Chapter 2: Choice of Legal Entity. That subject is sorely ignored in most small business books, and it is critically important. It is a subject I regularly must spend a great deal of time discussing at my SCORE sessions. This book does a pretty good job on the topic.

Chapters 4 and 9 through 12 are easy to find fault with. The topic of each could fill a book. But having these topics covered definitely will help a budding entrepreneur know some of the issues they raise.

I would have liked the book more if Chapter 6 (marketing) had been less superficial. When I read it I got the impression that the author was more a public relations expert than a marketing expert. I generally categorize public relations as a subset of marketing. Marketing includes advertising, public relations, and a whole host of other promotion techniques. I did not get this message when I read the book. I also would have liked the book better if the Internet, email, and Web sites had been discussed more. But there are many books on those subjects. Therefore, I can't complain too much about the limited discussion of computers.

When you read this book it may feel a little like it was produced on an assembly line. Maybe it was? There are 51 versions of this book sold; one for each state and the District of Columbia. Content is king, and this book has it. 5 stars!

A very interesting and well written description of the severe trials and many important triumphs of a Pastor (starting out as a drinking smoking fast car driver but converting in his 20s to follow Jesus) who because of severe back and other health problems lived all of his ministry in terrible pain. The wisdom drawn from his knowledge of the Bible and given out from the standpoint of a person who has "been through it" should be a help to all who suffer, as well as those who wonder why if God is good there has to be suffering. One of the best first-hand accounts of struggling with adversity that I have ever read, and deserves a reprinting and wider distribution.