Wisconsin Books

Even if you're not turned on by the nifty then/now gimmick, the photos are often large size and high quality.

This book is a milwaukee architectural history buff's dream come true.

I absolutely love these books that show the before and after of historical sites. I wish there were more local books like them. Fantastic images and great factual information. I would love to see a book like this for West Milwaukee, West Allis, Wauwatosa, etc, as this book is really more of a downtown book. The Images of America series is really nice, but it doesn't have the then and now perspective Sandra has in hers.

For anyone who lives in Milwaukee or has connections there, this is a great book. The photos are top-notch and I learned a lot about the city from the interesting explanations. My only disappointment was that the Allen Bradley clock tower wasn't in there. Maybe, being built in the early 60s, it didn't qualify as old enough, but it IS the world's largest 4-sided clock (with faces twice the size of Big Ben) and quite a landmark. So 4 1/2 stars if I could :)

Elysium in print! This book is simultaneously informative, beautiful, and intriguing, while fantastically showcasing the supreme City of Milwaukee ... "The German Athens on the Lake." The historic photographs are absolutely fascinating, while the accompanying captions are insightful; additionally, the very premise of the book--a comparison of past and present--is excellent. The only fault I find with this magnum opus is that there could have been a little more attention given to the industrial epicenter of yore--the Menomonee Valley--while there could have been less attention given to churches. Actually, I'm sure any person intimately familiar with Milwaukee will probably be able to pinpoint a handful of locations, neighborhoods, and/or specific buildings that should have been included, but it's hard to fault the author for that fact. Along with Gurda's masterpiece, this is a truly mandatory book for all Milwaukee devotees, and it should be issued to fanatics of our dear history!

I've always loved pictures of old buildings, in order to admire the detail and to imagine what the city looked like back then. This book uses large pictures as a window into the past, and compares them to the same location today. Some buildings have survived, and some great buildings have been lost. It's rather shocking to see how bland modern buildings look compared to the rich ornamentation of the past. Even buildings that have survived don't have all their original details. It's a pity, but compared to the great buildings we have lost, we're darn lucky to still have them around. If you like Milwaukee history, you need this book!

This is one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read about my home state--in the midst of so much (generally) endearing weirdness, Jerome Pohlen manages to capture the spirit of this place better than any "Discover Wisconsin" ad campaign I've ever seen.

Pohlen casts a broad swath over the entire state, even above Highway 8 "up nort" (a lot of people tend to forget that we even exist, so it's always refreshing to find someone who hasn't), in search of the strange, the homespun, the downright wacky, even the morbid. And he finds it in spades. Whether you're a local Sconny looking for some ideas for day trips, or an out-of-stater passing through on the way to the Dells, there's something in this book that you'll feel compelled to stop & see. Well, if you're into fiberglass oddities and going somewhere other than Door County, that is.

This is a fun and interesting book about Wisconsin.
Each chapter, according to areas of the state, gets better and better. I couldn't put it down!

If you have an appetite for the curious or offbeat, this book will fill the bill. I don't have plans to visit all the places and things mentioned in this book, but just sitting and reading it was a hoot. Not just a guide to the oddball, but histories and trivia are included. This is Wisconsin at its best.

Most people when they go on vacation go to national parks like the Grand Canyon or theme parks like Disneyland. How many would go to see the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame with a giant embalmed worm on display? Or how about the world's biggest corkscrew? A serial killer's grave? The author saw these things and more in Wisconsin and compiled them into this book. It's an enjoyable journey through Wisconsin's strange side and is recommended for die-hard road trippers or those interested in America's stranger side.

Where does this guy get all this information? I thought the book would only be full of goofy things like monolithic cheese monuments and the world's largest six pack. Although it has that in spades, there are also plenty of historical places to see, like the shrine to the birthplace of the Republican party and the grave of Edward Gein, inspiration for Silence of the Lambs.

Growing up on the west coast, we used to watch movies about the midwest and say things like, "Wouldn't you go absolutely insane in some small town out there?" Oddball Wisconsin has answered my question.

This is a great book if you're in the area or just want to get out of Chicago for a while.

i am Happy to see the site, i cannat spellwords,

sorry

nithyanandan

I found this book to be a great way to become familiar with the range of issues that come to bear on incorporating graphics into a web page. Despite the exclusive use of Photoshop in the examples, the concepts are explained in such a way that makes it easy to identify the same graphic-editing techniques needed to be used with other software such as Paint Shop Pro, my graphic editor of choice. Good clear explanations and excellent examples do a great job of illustrating how "tweaking" things like the color depth and color pallete affect file sizes, download times, and picture quality. Originally, I kept renewing this book from my local library until I finally just bought my own copy. A great book!

Although the book is oriented around Photoshop on the Mac (which is even better if you use a Mac), the concepts are universal. The book is visually pleasing, very informative (especially on graphic formats), and an inexpensive way to get started

The book is deceptive. The author makes it seem simple. In fact she packs in a lot of very cogent points whilst retaining a friendly style. Great for anyone starting out in graphics for the Web (though it does more or less assume you will be using Photoshop).

I found this book by accident in the library when I was starting the process of designing our office's web site. Because I was a rank beginner to the world of web design (although I knew the PC, Windows 98, Microsoft Office, FrameMaker, PageMaker and a little Photoshop), I needed some hand-holding to get my feet wet. This book was better than anything else I found for that task.

There are other web design books I like (like Roger Black's book on Adobe Press) but this is the best one I have seen for the person who literally knows nothing about the topic.Yes, it was written in 1996 and is somewhat dated for the person who wants to be cutting edge, but you have to crawl before you can run, and this book got me through the crawling stage so I could start to feel comfortable with the concepts I would need to work with my Adobe (and now Macromedia) software.

The writing style is crisp and clean and right to the point. I read it in three hours.

Try this book if you don't know anything about web design, then take a look at Roger Black for one designer's viewpoint on design issues. Once you have those two books under your belt, the author's latest book, Web Design in a Nutshell, would be a great next step.

I have several of the Roadside Geology Series and have found them to be very readable for a novice, and Wisconsin is no exception.

As usual I got it after the fact, and wish I had it before. Our trip would have been that much more interesting if I had known all the interesting things I know now.

I highly recomend any and all Roadside Geology books.

I once bought a Roadside Geology of Wyoming when travelling there and found it to be really interesting and helpful in our travels there. I have lived in Wisconsin for more than 40 years and decided to get this book. I was really surprised how much I learned about my own state. This book will add interest to any trip we take.

I took this book with on our last drive across the state and put it to good use. The way the book is organized, coupled with the detailed index, made it easy to identify the geological features we encountered. It also includes a glossary and suggestions for additional reading. The writing style makes it accessible to the layperson, but enough information is given to place it on par with the college level geology course I took in the past.

Roadside Geology Of Wisconsin is a travel guide written for casual vacationers and geology enthusiasts alike to exploring and marveling at the wonders of the glacier-changed landscape that has seen billions of years. Extensive maps and directions to visible geological highlights in more than 60 state, county, and city parks make Roadside Geology Of Wisconsin an easy-to-follow, adventurous, informative, and entertaining guide. A highly enjoyable and educational supplement for Wisconsin road trips and family outings.

Where can you find a Wisconsin glen that cuts through 500 million years-old strata deposited near sea cliffs as alternating layers of surf-rounded pink quartzite boulders or stones and colorless sandstone? Where can you find a Wisconsin natural bridge composed of the same sandstone with pink quartzite pebbles dispersed through the sandstone rather than forming alternating layers? Dott and Attig will tell you. They will also tell you that the latter probably represents deposits some miles offshore from those same sea cliffs. The authors will tell you about the broad sweep of Wisconsin geological history, from its tectonic collisions and mountain building era, to its long era just above or below shallow seas, to its recent era of glacial deposits. Illustrated with frequent photos and drawings, this recent addition to the Roadside Geology series continues the tradition of authoritative very readable presentations of current geological interpretations of local as well as regional geology. In addition, historical and fossil aspects may be included. You will want to include this modestly-priced book in your car and on your bookshelf.

History is so much more when you see what a lifetime was really like in the 19th or 20th century for someone completely "unimportant." A story like Rosa's is a hundred times better than the oatmeal summaries we get about immigrant hardships and all the stuff about people coming to find their fortunes in America or whatever. This gutsy girl never wanted to come, didn't choose to come, but what do you do if you start out life as a foundling, are sent to work in a silk factory at age 8 where your job is to unravel silk cocoons (!), and then you get married off to an old creep who's carting you off mostly to run his boarding house and look after his mistress while he slaves in an iron mine in Missouri. Man, this was a hard life, but out of it came this wonderful, storytelling woman who somehow survived to tell us what things were really like to end up starving in Chicago in the 1890s. Whew. Forget the history textbooks. Let's just puts books like these in front of our kids. And ourselves. Take Me With You When You GoNutty to Meet You! Dr. Peanut Book #1

A wonderful view of immigrant life as well as a poignant look at life in the old country. Rosa's voice is full of detail--almost as if she is sitting across the table from you, sharing the joys and sorrows of her life.

Being a member of a third generation Italian American family this book was very interesting to me. I felt like I was sitting next to Rosa as she went through her experiences. It brought back many memories. I finished the book in one weekend then mailed it to my Italian mother for her to enjoy. This is the first Italian American book I have read that was written from a women's point of view. I highly recommend it.

I stumbled across this book a month ago while writing a term paper on Italian immigration.
Rosa's tale is a poignant story. Her life story reveals her pride,faith and determination to survive in both the new and old world and her unwillingness to compromise her values.

I highly recommend this book!

First we need to thank Helen Barolini for resurrecting this precious book from obscurity. And for all those who complain there are no uplifting, inspiring tales about Italians, here in Rosa The Life Of An Italian Immigrant, is the proof that there certainly is.

Rosa would be the first to say she was no one special, just an ordinary peasant orphan who kept herself from starvation and worse by the faith of her religion and incredilby hard work for her entire life. Not that hard work is a surprise but the reality with which this uneducated woman shows us a plain ordinary life is as unforgettable as she is. God gave her the gift to tell the story of her life, to share laughs and to charm her new friends in wherever she landed, in a mining camp, a convent school or a silk factory.

From her early life as a child laborer who is beaten for mistakes in the silk mills of the 1860s to the uneducated young girl who is forced to marry a lousy, drunken bum, Rosa perseveres and triumphs with a long life and many friends who love her. You can't read this story with out falling in love with this precious woman as she endures life.

In 2001, it is hard to imagine that the cruelties Rosa suffered were every day occurences a century ago (or even less!), that is, nothing unusual. We have come a long way baby, but we had better not forget where we've come from.

Rosa The Life Of An Italian Immigrant will keep you rooted in the reality of our history and ancestry. Buy it, read it. Give it to your friends. Buy them their own copies! Give it as gifts to all the young women in your family.

Rosa's story must be remembered. Her story is unforgetable, so is Rosa Cavalleri.

Hey, Hollywood, I dare you to make a movie about this incredible woman!!!!

Run to Daylight was published in 1963 and was instantly recognized as a classic. Written by legendary Green Bay Packer head coach Vince Lombardi, RTD details Lombardi and the Packers preparation for an unnammed opponnet in the 1962 championship season. The book is a must read for the aspiring coach or anyone interested in pro football coaching. RTD provides the psychological motivation of both the players and coaches and a highly readable account of a week in a pro football season. Along with John Wooden's "They Call Me Coach", this is a must read for coaches of any sport.

In this book Lombardi's life is played out during a week as the patriarch of the Packers. He highlights in detail why they were a 60's dynasty. From the cycles of game planning, interactions with his team, you get to see Packer football from a new perspective. Despite his gruff exterior, it is crystal clear that he genuinely cared about his players on and off the field. This is not a how to coaching book or a biography. It is a slide snapshot that tells more than the reader expects.

Such a rare gem of a book, I was floored by it's great detail and was very happy with this book!! This 1963 publication written by Vince Lombardi, is sure to be missed by much of today's generation, and unfortunately so. Lombardi SHOWS why his Packers were the 60's greatest football dynasty, and how his life plays out during a week as the leader of the Packers. This is an absolute MUST read by ANY real football fan!!!

Vince Lombardi's dedication and devotion transcended football. His quotes are used all the way from the high school locker room to the corporate board room.

This diary is Lombardi in his own words. It covers his views of the weekly cycle of planning for battle, preparing for battle, and then the football game itself.

Packer fan or motivational fan - this book is an easy read worth the several hours to get cover to cover.

This book is mandatory reading for football fans, particularly fan of the Green Bay Packers. Some of the ideas about this book are misleading. However, it is still a great read.

This book is not a biography of Lombardi or a guide on how to coach football. This book does give readers insight as to what it was like for Lombardi during his coaching tenure. Based on technology alone, there are great differences now. The readers get to see all of Lombardi's preparation for the mystery opponent in silver uniforms.

Several of Lombardi's famous quotes are included. Lombardi also discusses specifc intereactions with players as well as a number of interesting stories about various players. Despite his tough exterior, he genuinely cares about his players. When the book arrives at game day, you get to see the game form Lombardi's perspective. It is a real treat for football fans.

If you have read other books about the Packers during this era, you are not likley to learn many new facts. Many of the facts in here are credited as a primary source in other books. However, you do get to see Packer football from a new perspective.

Sibling Reveries is the story of my father and his family, and their memories of growing up in Wisconsin during the Depression. These are the stories I have heard all my life (and some I hadn't heard); happy stories of skating on the pond in winter, sad stories of Grandma losing a baby, and even the story of walking to school through 10 feet of snow, uphill both ways. (We've all heard that one!) The best part is this is also my story and it's all here, waiting for me to read to my children and grandchildren. What could be better. I highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about family.

To have almost total recall of one's childhood and be able to put
it into words so eloquently as the Killinger children have, is
indeed a gift! A must read for ANY generation!!

I grew up in a rural area, hearing stories about The Depression from older friends and relatives. It is now 2005 and in the last 6 years I have read one book, Sibling Reveries. It was co-authored by the father of a co-worker, and it is one of the best books I have ever read. The story is about the Killinger family, friends, and relatives, growing up in Northern Wisconsin during the Depression. Life was much harder then, but also more carefree. To me it was like a combination of The Waltons, Andy of Mayberry, and Huck Finn. I highly recommend this book (and I would read it again........but I only read one book every 6 years;)

When I first began reading this amazing first-hand account of growing up in rural northern Wisconsin during the Great Depression, I couldn't put it down. After reading about ninety pages, I finally forced myself to take a break and finished the book over the next two days - it's extremely unusual for me to be so captivated by any book.

The authors have provided us with their accounts of growing up in "hard times" in an unforgiving environment. What I found most remarkable is that there is never a sense of regret or a hint of self pity. Instead, the stories relate a sense of the importance of family and faith.

This is an autobiography, but it is also history, sociology, theology and pragmatic philosophy. It is certainly the most inspiring book I have ever read, but it is also funny and dramatic. I highly recommend it for all readers.

stories just like mine and so real! Kids will be kids and these really were normal kids. A wonderful book of stories.

This is more than just a story about an Irish immigrant. It tells of the cruelty of life and the hope brought by love. Leaving a starving Ireland aboard a horrific "coffin Ship" in the mid-19th century, this father and daughter arrive at a prejudiced U.S., and eventually settle in Boston. With all of their difficulties, it is love and hope that keep them focused. Overcoming tragedy and setbacks, a loving and compassionate Bridget McGraw makes her way to Wisconsin and becomes a legend in her own time. Based on family memories and geneaological research, the author shines a bright light on the history of two countries going through difficult times, and the people who persevered. This book leaves you with a good taste in your mouth and a warm feeling in your heart.

Margrate Doar tells us the story of a young girl born in County May of the 1850's Ireland. She develops the story of Bridget as she faces life in Ireland as the child of a widowed father, travels to Boston in the USA and eventually to Wisconsin.

Bridget comes alive as she grows up, has a family and grows old. How she faces the problems of life from day to day made her the grandmother I never knew.

Bridget, her family, friends and a few special people become part of your life in this book. I will reread this one and recommend it highly.

This book is an excellent example of my family's immigration to the states and the hardships they faced. I have been told so many stories and read a lot of family essays, and I feel this is a shining example. Great job Aunt Peggy Ann!

Margrate Doar tells us the story of a young girl born in County May of the 1850's Ireland. She develops the story of Bridget as she faces life in Ireland as the child of a widowed father, travels to Boston in the USA and eventually to Wisconsin.

Bridget comes alive as she grows up, has a family and grows old. How she faces the problems of life from day to day made her the grandmother I never knew.

Bridget, her family, friends and a few special people become part of your life in this book. I will reread this one and recommend it highly.

This book tells the story of Bridget and her descendents. The reader can picture the people and the stories are wonderful. It is well written and easy, enjoyable read.

This is an outstanding, well written collection of short stories. They can remind me a little bit of Adrian Louis' writings - same bleak, desolate landscape set in the far west of the Midwest with characters making the best out of things where everything is stripped down to the barest essentials of life. Her stories can only take place in this region of the country; it is clear that Ladette Randolph has a deep understanding of this land nd the folks who live there. Her stories are like old crooning country songs. The writing flows melodiously, and Randolph depicts the various voices of each character right on cue. My favorite story is the one about the student house/dog sitting for her professor. It's such a strange story that has some creepy undertones, the reader can get a little spooked, unsure what the final outcome is going to be. The unknown gets explored and the main character discovers a truth from the whole ordeal. Some of her stories have very ethereal tones.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and am very pleased to finally find an author who has a deep understanding of her characters and is adept at storytelling.

Ladette Randolph writes stories of depth and passion about characters and places that matter to her. She has a sense about her that evokes greatness in writing. These stories should be read and reread by anyone who enjoys great stories.

This collection is so well-written. I love the craft of each story, and I love the characters who are as tightly wrapped up as the woman on the cover, but with that flash of passion--whether it be love or sadness that drives them. Her writing is so visual--I've got all the scenes in my head--I'd love to see these up on the screen. The stories can be haunting, but they also have flashes of humor. The stories can be quiet--they require a patient reader--but the payoff is worth it. I love this book.

Ladette Randolph's book of stories is a very interesting read. Her characters capture the Midwest in a unique and thoughtful way. So much seems to exist below the surface of her characters, yet the reader feels as if they have known them for years. She captures the complexity that often exists beneath the surface of the lives of Midwestern (and all) people. I highly recommend this book.

This little book is a surprise to me. I was not very impressed by the cover picture, but as soon as I started reading the first story, I lost myself in it. Ladette Randolph is an excellent writer and a keen observer of life in the Midwest America. Having lived in this region myself for many years, I enjoyed every story and often had the feeling that I might have met some of the characters in these stories in the past. I have recommended this book to all of my friends and will not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading a classic writer.

This was an amazing book, I'm planning on buying myself a copy since checking it out from the library. The only problem I had with it is they got a few addresses wrong. The truck in the tree in Clinton, WI... They say it's visible from interstate 90. I'm not good with road names but my dad is, an 84 native of rock county says it's no where near 90. In the picture it's obvious that they went buy the house, I know these people personally and they don't mind visitors so I'm confused as to why they didn't mention the road it's on.

The book's outer cover had a slight tear on it, other than that it was in great shape and it was delivered very quickly!

Do you like stories about strange phenomena, ghost stories, or stories that simply tingle your spine? How about stories about strange places that exist? Perhaps you are the type of person who is interested in UFO's. What about stories about interesting persons who have their own stories to share? What if I could tell you that this book is all of that and more?

Who would think of a fairly quiet place like Wisconsin as being a state full of weirdness!? Everything from UFO's and ghosts to the world's largest, well, urinal, this book covers it all.

It is very hard to put this book down once you begin to read it, and after reading it, I still find it hard to put the book down! Each story in this book is priceless, and the authors made sure that the book was very reader-friendly.

The only problem I had was that I couldn't rate this book any higher than 5 stars.

bought this as a gift and it was LOVED!! my sis gets into stuff like this and of course we are from wi .. so she loved every page!!! great gift for people who like wierd stuff!

I thought it was cool. I had no idea how many places were haunted and such. I would definately buy more books of the same.