Indiana Books

Really enlightening piece of academic literature. Exposes the biased and prejudiced misrepresentation of the Sri Lanka and Sinhalese by so-called Anthropologist. The immense damage done to Sri Lanka's image is hopefully corrected by this book even to a minor extent.

Susantha Goonatilake's, "Anthropologizing Sri Lanka: A Eurocentric Misadventure," (Indiana University Press, 2001) explains how similar scholarship distorted Sri Lanka. His forthcoming book goes further and explains how Western intellectual intervention (via academics and NGOs) has devastated his country in the name of bringing human rights and "restoring the truth." Goonatilake (a Buddhist) is convinced that the same has been happening in India, on a far bigger scale, but that the sheer size of India has kept it from the collapse that Sri Lanka has suffered. Nobody has yet published a comprehensive study of how certain kinds of India Studies have undermined India.

The Crisis magazine debuted in 1910 as the official voice of the NAACP. As editor for 24 years, W.E.B. Du Bois not only used words to address important issues facing African Americans, he used art to create a "visual vocabulary" to define a new collective memory and historical identity for African Americans. This book explores not only how this evolved within the pages of The Crisis, but also how Du Bois' own complex theories about art as a tool for empowerment evolved from 1910 to 1934.

For example, the prevailing notion at the time was that civilization emanated from Greece. Images of Africa (particularly Egypt) provided insight into the African origins of Western civilization, in no small part sparked by the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922.

But the flip side to that was primitivism, manifested in the sensual covers (with titles like "A Moorish Maid" and "A Jungle Nymph") reflecting the romantic notion that Africa was more sexually free and, as the author puts it, that "modern sex appeal, under the guise of the primitive, was permissible."

Du Bois believed he was "training the audience" to understand and appreciate creative work in literature and art, and used The Crisis to showcase black talent. As such, he also became a gatekeeper to the artistic world of the African American community. As the author says, "Du Bois wanted only the best and the brightest to represent the race, and he felt confident that he could judge who was `the best'..." Unfortunately, one wonders if he suffered a gender bias because some women artists - such as the renowned Augusta Savage - were found wanting.

The book also explores the history of black political cartoons, and an entire chapter is devoted to lynching imagery. Amply illustrated with 104 images, this is a timely book, since the centenary of The Crisis is rapidly approaching. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in African American Studies or graphic arts.

The critical eye of an artist coupled with keen historical interpretation produces a valuable and progressive work. Dr. Kirschke writes with a crisp, energetic and passionate style reflective of, and consistant with, her high energy and passion for all her work. As a teacher of American history at a visual and performing arts school, I find that Dr. Kirschke's work provides a wonderful coupling of the historic struggle for rights in America with the artistic expression of such in a manner that helps in the understanding of both.

This is a great book of images and poetry, ostensibly detailing the life of the midwestern farmer-- but, so much more than that, the son/father chronicle that works its way into every page. If you can read the introduction to this book without shedding a tear, please give your father a call and try to rediscover what's missing.

Volkmer has an uncanny instinct to capture more than just "the thing" (which, I think, all too oftens characterizes contemporary poetry, writers reticent to comment), but rather the psychological and emotional context for things-- not just things in time, but moments in time. And what makes this book particularly tragic is the obvious honesty that these moments cannot be, can never be, replayed.

The pictures work much the same way, but the words pull this work up from tired (but important) Time-Life photos of dust bowl hardships to the heart of soul of the relationships among man, son, machine and survival.

Bravo!

Two artists work from their hearts -- a photographer with an obvious love for the meanings and visual power of grain elevators, the other a poet whose graceful, plainspoken words brings to life the smells, the sweat, and the sentiments of the plains spirit.

Okay, that's too hokey by half, but this is a grand book. The poetry is great -- even the poet's foreword is a pleasure to read -- and the photographs show the beauty and variability, even personalities, of the tallest things on the prairies. Easily worth the price, for anyone who has a soft spot in their heart for these grand structures.

This book is great for those who like to go "outside the box", and get off the freeway as they head up north, to take in Michigan's unique beauty.

Beautifully illustrated with a wealth of color and black-and-white photographs, Backroads Of Michigan: Your Guide To Michigan's Most Scenic Backroad Adventures is a guide to touring the most breathtaking and scenic natural venues to be found in the Great Lake State. Backroads Of Michigan is a fairly large trade paperback, not meant to be carried in a pocket, purse or small backpack; yet its size also allows the fine detail in its illustrations to shine through, and its typeface is easy to read without a magnifying glass. The chapters are arranged by Michigan subsection, and cover everything from historical sites to river valleys to prime spots for beachcombing to state parks ideal for viewing wildflowers and much more, with maps and general directions. The text is written in a leisurely style that is as engaging to browse for pleasure as it is filled with practical information. Enthusiastically recommended for Michigan tourists and residents interested in the state's most wondrous sights, and also for armchair travelers.

Thomas Burns' BARBARIANS WITHIN THE GATES OF ROME manages something quite difficult. It is a very readable book that manages to be scholarly but still quite enjoyable. Anybody who is interested in this era in western civilization would enjoy this book. The usual view of the decline of Rome-- that it fell for some sort of "moral" reason --is very inacurate and this book presents the real truth of this pivotal era in a very entertaining manner. Burns is the rare academic whose writing is as lucid as it is learned, and this book admirably displays that. If you've never given this era a serious look, this book is a great introduction. I've been interested in the early years of Christianity for many years, and I loved this book.

This is indeed an excellent book for those who wish to better understand Western civilisation and the nature of the relationships between the Romans and other groups within the Empire.

The book is well-written and is the result of outstanding research.

If you lived in Central Indiana from the mid-90s to 2003 you probably saw Barney - Dick Wolfsie's canine sidekick and faithful companion for literally thousands of segments of the WISH-TV morning show. He wasn't a prop or a gag (he was too poorly trained for that) - he was his own man (!) on the show. He was goodwill ambassador and class clown and all beagle.

This is a light-hearted book - full of Wolfsie's wonderful memories - the good and the bad. Really, it's a fluff piece - but this piece of fluff caused my eyes to tear up more than once as he spoke of the day his beloved Barney died and the immediate outpouring of love and concern that central Indiana expressed.

Truly a wonderful little book - be prepared to laugh (my wife and I read parts of it to each other and enjoyed it all the more) but also have the tissues handy!

For those of us that grew up watching WISH-TV in the mornings, noon, evening and late night, we never can get enough. When you say WISH-TV, you think of two things: Mike Ahern and Barney. Two legends that will hardly be forgotten. For this book, it reminds of Barney, and all of the times we watched him on television and growing up with him as well. It explains his days of eating the world whole, which he did often, his love for children, and the man that could never love him enough, Dick Wolfsie. Reading this book gives you such a frog in your throat, you wish Barney never passed and that your children and grandchildren could see Barney forever. But we knew it had to happen, we just did not want to think it. While the rest of the country thinks of a purple dinosaur when you say Barney, we think of a dog, a friend that felt like he was our own, and this book reminded you of that fact. He was not only Mr. Wolfsie's best friend, but ours too. We thank you for the book Dick, and will greatly miss 'our' best friend. Thanks for the memories.

I read this book for a research paper on Barbados, that I chose to write for an undergraduate anthropology class called Caribbean Ethnography. The book is written by Professor George Gmelch of Union College in Schenectady, NY. It is a very simple book with little to no anthropological analysis on the surface. However, upon completing this book you will realize Gmelch's perfect and unintentional introduction to the anthropology of everyday life. That is to say, the Gmelch gives us 20 snapshots of people working in the tourism industry in Barbados. Gmelch brings us, their jobs, their home lives, their concerns and the things that bring them joy.

Gmelch stumbles upon a fantastic way to introduce a culture. As I read this book (about 3 years ago, I am writing from memory which can only mean that this book was very good at leaving an impression), I thought that it would be great if other anthropologists and writers did this for each culture they study, as the lives of the people, their homes and concerns are surely one of the greatest insights into their culture.

This book is generally about tourism, specifically about Caribbean tourism and the country of Barbados. I gave this book to my mother for her to read, as she is a regular big-boat cruise traveler. She loved the book. She told me it brought her a better awareness to the happenings outside of the cruise ship bubble. She was not shot down from ever going on cruises again, but rather took more consideration into planing her cruise, ecologically, economically and culturally.

Item was as promised, good condition, fast shipping, good packaging. I'd buy from them again.

In the 25 years since I graduated I never learned as much about the university as I did in reading this book. Burns tells the story of the university in the way of a grandfather. I was enthralled through the entire story. That is unusual for me but I found his story compelling and the scolarship was outstanding. There were sources that were special. His handling of the Erskine affair was delicate at best. I recommend this book to anyone that is interested in the Notre Dame that extends past the football field.

This is the story of Notre Dame. It is the best rendition of the university's history ever published, and is a must for any member of the Notre Dame family.

This is by far one of the best books I've read in a long time. It was wonderfully written. As the truely unique characters come to life, you'll be unable to put the book down.

Superbly written by journalist and freelance writer Nancy Crowe, Bethlehem Road a unique small-town America novel with a very special twist. Two women return to their Midwestern roots, Naomi Bittner, a mother who has been spurned by her daughter Marina, and Ruth Greene, a lesbian lover who has also been rejected by Marina; neither fully understands why they have been pushed away, yet both become absorbed in reconnecting with the past and stumbling upon others who closet their lifestyle in secrecy. Bethlehem Road is a truly thoughtful, demonstrably well-written novel and highly recommended addition to the growing library of contemporary lesbian fiction.

Peterjohn's "The Birds of Ohio" is the definitive scholarly work on Ohio Birds. Unlike other books of the same name this book is entirely original and based upon the authors own research. Other books have a more a cookie cutter approach. The publishers have created similar works for other states using much of the same information. While none of these works is intended as a field guide. Peterjohn provides the most complete and useful information for anyone interested in Ohio birds.

Peterjohn's, work is exhaustively researched and very well written, making it an invaluable reference. The species accounts tell the story of each species in Ohio and provide references. For common birds, habitat, migration, and nesting information is provided in a useful way. For rarities, a good history of sightings is provided.

Also included are the maps developed during the first Ohio breeding bird atlas. These provide a good reference on the distribution of these species.

This is the 2nd edition of the book and includes up to date information through 1999. Only a few species have been added to the Ohio list in the following years.

This book is highly recommended.

This small field guide has excellent photos, more than one per species is several cases; a migration map; notes on size; male, female and juvenile plumage; nest, eggs and incubation period;fledgling; migration; food; species comparison; and a great section entitled "Stan's Notes", full of interesting tidbits. Excellent picture guide for beginning birders.