Indiana Books

I came to this book because I was inspired by "the Metaphysical Club" to learn more about the roots of pragmatism. The book is challenging. The Metaphysical Club points out that William James did not understand Peirce at first, so it is a bit much for mere mortals. It is especially daunting because the first essay is written with respect to Kant's categories, not something I know off of the top-of-my head.
However, as the books progresses many of the things that are assumed in the first essay are explained. For instance Peirce explains in detail what he means by a sign.

He discusses cognition, or consciousness and shows that logically our internal experience is based on external stimulation. It soon becomes impossible to ignore the fact that you are reading the works of a logician and that that is where he is coming from. But even though you might have to reread parts several times, once you master the arguements, it is satisfying indeed.

According to the introduction of the book and references, Peirce was influential. William James, Oliver Wendel Holmes and John Dewey were all influenced by him. Modern cognitive psychology owes much to William James. Psychology took a different direction through psychoanalysis and then behaviorism but cognitive psychology is now the dominate paradigm. Because of this Peirce has renewed importance.

My advice is to read it through once and not feel you have to get everything and the reread it because he explains things later that he assmes you know earlier.

People interested in the history and philosophy of logic will want to own this tour-de-force of selecting and editing. It contains large parts of Peirce's two most important contributions to mathematical logic: the 1880 "On the Algebra of Logic" and the 1885 "On the Algebra of Logic: A Contribution to the Philosophy of Notation" --both published in the American Journal of Mathematics, the same journal that brought out Russell's 1908 paper on the theory of types. Besides these two technical papers, which were influential in the development of mathematical logic, it also contains several more papers essential to understanding Peirce's philosophy of logic.

Luthi's book, like Bettelheim's "The Uses of Enchantment," Stith Thompson's "The Folktale" and Propp's "Morphology of the Folktale," is an indispensable guide and resource on the folktale, covering all the elements that make folktales "tick": their abstract style, one-dimensional characters, and deliberate lack of detail regarding locale. In addition, he touches upon symbolism and what he calls the folktale's "true" and "false" styles. I most appreciate his minute dissection and analysis of all the components of the folktale. My field is folklore research, and I feel Luthi's "The European Folktale," has helped me to understand folktales more than any other book. This is all the more remarkable when one considers that this is a relatively slim volume (164 pages).

Luthi's book, like Bettelheim's "The Uses of Enchantment," Stith Thompson's "The Folktale" and Propp's "Morphology of the Folktale," is an indispensable guide and resource on the folktale, covering all the elements that make folktales "tick": their abstract style, one-dimensional characters, and deliberate lack of detail regarding locale. In addition, he touches upon symbolism and what he calls the folktale's "true" and "false" styles. I most appreciate his minute dissection and analysis of all the components of the folktale. My field is folklore research, and I feel Luthi's "The European Folktale," has helped me to understand folktales more than any other book. This is all the more remarkable when one considers that this is a relatively slim volume (164 pages).

The author gives a poignant picture of the distressing everyday life in Mao's China under the Cultural Revolution.
There is a power struggle at the top of the CP. The Red Guards constitute their own rule. The political decisions are unpredictable (sometimes for then against the farmers or the intellectuals).
The result is that the population doesn't know anymore what to do and where they are (suicides or attempts). They are terrorized by suspicion, house searches, forced migrations and ... are terrorizing each other.

In the story 'Chin-Chin's Birthday' defy two children each other to insult chairman Mao. When their parents learn that other adults heard it, they are panic-stricken.
In 'The Guard' is theft a norm for the Red Guards.
In 'The Execution of Mayor Yin' is Yin a victim of his non proletarian origin. Although totally innocent, he is convicted and executed by the Red Guards.

Masterfully written stories which create a grim and depressing atmosphere. Not to be missed.
I recommend also the poignant book by Nien Cheng 'Life and Death in Shangai'.

Very few works of fiction have been written regarding the Cultural Revolution in China, especially by people, like Chen Jo-Hsi, who lived through it. There are some very good memoirs chronicling the events, but Chen Jo-Hsi's moving work of fiction gives the reader an excellent insight into one of the worst instances of censorship of the arts in the world's history. In addition, it brings to light in a very poignant way, how dichotmous and arbirtary the policies and reform movements during this period actually were. The book contains eight short stories that takes the reader from Nanking to the countryside and demonstrates the affects of the Cultural Revolution on different types of individuals from the professor to the laborer, sometimes with heart-breaking results.

Fallen Heroes was a GREAT book! By about page 5 it kicked into high gear, kicked [...], and never let up. The characters were all so well-formed and interesting that, after the planned trilogy, the author could make whole books concentrating on individual characters in the world he has created here.
If you like great action and adventure with a dash of the supernatural thrown in, this is the book for you.

Nugent has crafted a pulp inspired sweeping adventure novel that is both exciting and breathtaking. His grasp on characters and motivations feels very inspired from the likes of old black and white pulp serials and Indiana Jones as much as modern television, such as perhaps Spooks. This book is fun, but it's also well written with passion and a love for adventure that transcends genres and comes across as just a great read. Napoleon Stone, who we see on the cover, is a fully realized character with demons of his own.
At the end of the day, a book should be entertaining, and you aren't going to find anything more entertaining than Fallen Heroes. Highly recommended!

Though strong Hoosier threads tie these stories together, the contributors share spiritual insights and experiences that will be meaningful to those outside the heartland as well. Read the tales for religious reasons or just because they are good stories by and about sensitive, observant people.

The editors chose writers from a variety of faiths and professional fields--included are a woman rabbi, newspaper people and professors. Big-name contributors are author Dan Wakefield and Pulitzer Prize winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa.

Although this book's subtitle refers to religion in the heartland, essays in this collection evoke a more personal and, at times, idiosyncratic take on spirituality. David Hoppe, for example, writes about the "solitary communion" he spies through his neighbor's windows as they sit in front of their television sets at night. Jim Poyser recounts a surreal adventure at the Zoo in winter with his sons. In short, these essays, along with the handsome collection of photographs that complement the text, admirably plumb the psychic root cellar that entwines beneath the stereotypical surface of this Midwestern community.

I recommend this work highly. I have been researching farmers' markets for several years and ordered this book thinking it would give me some ideas of how Bloomington's market was organized. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the book was much wider in scope. The history of farmers markets around the world was especially interesting and well written. (The author, by the way, is an English professor). Also included are stories of farmers and growers, relationships at farmers markets, trials of growing crops and more. The photographs are excellent and the book is a joy to read. Useful for anyone interested in farmers markets or growing good food.

By the end of the first chapter, this book had moved me enough to take a break from the reading and write a thankyou note to the authors. Bloomington, IN hosts one of the country's great farmer's markets and the academics turned market vendors who wrote the book weave a wonderful story of not only their experiences, but a well researched history of farm markets in general and the larger vision of local food systems.

Highly recommended, a beautifully created and very readable book.

This book is an excellent collection of essays from both disciplines. There is a wide range of topics and view points.

The editors of Differences really did a wonderful thing when they released this issue in book form. The main difference between the two works? Page numbering.

This has an absolutely excellent collection of essays which clearly shows the feminist roots of queer theory. With essays and interviews by/of Judith Butler, and essays by Biddy Martin, Elizabeth Grosz, Teresa de Lauretis, and more!

Monroe Price and Mark Thompson have assembled a fantastic array of scholars, thinkers, and lawyers who each bring to bear a unique perspective on the intractable relationship between media and conflict. From Alison DesForges's discussion about the impact of hate speech in Rwanda to former U.S. State Department official Jamie Metzl's discussion about United States actions in Somalia, Kosovo, and Serbia the book answers many interesting questions but raises many more. Of particular interest were Eric Blinderman's chapter which discussed the legal rules surrounding, what he terms "information intervention," and Stephanie Farrior's discussion about the legal principles related to hate speech.

Forging Peace focuses primarily on the problems of media management in conflict and post-conflict situations. More specifically it examines situations where Western democracies, the United Nations, the OSCE and even the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have attempted to transform the media sector in third party states. By examining the legal and political context of the new interest in media before, during, and after conflict, the contributors make current trends more visible and illuminate the relationship between speech and force in international affairs.
Together the contributors consider how international law is changing to encompass, reflect, and channel intervention practices. They each from various academic, legal and diplomatic perspectives look at `information intervention' through the lens of human rights principles, especially those relating to restrictions on hate speech and the right to receive and impart information. They examine the distinctions between State-authorized and rogue uses of media to incite conflict; between authorized and unauthorized incidents of information intervention; and between preventive intervention as opposed to that directed towards resolving conflict. And they test some of the justifications that are articulated for different forms of information intervention, actions that range from mere monitoring of broadcasts to the total reformulation of media laws, and ultimately the seizure or bombing of transmitters, and full-blown cyberwarfare.

Hi Uncle Bill. I loved the book. I had it read it within 3 days. I could not put it down after I started it. I can not wait for the next book to come out that you write. Love, Lori LaFollette (Rensberger)

This book is fantastic! I love how it is written in short stories/memories. It makes for an easy read leaving you with anticipation for the next memory. I borrowed it from the library (Cicero, Indiana). I loved it as I stated before but am going to buy a copy for my Father-in-Law who also grew up during the depression on a small farm in northern Indiana. I'm sure he will enjoy it much, much more than I and will recall fond memories for him as well. He is in his 80's and is still living in the house where he was born and farming the farm. The author is brilliant is his writing!

Got this book for my son-in-law and could hardly put it down myself. Great pictures and information. Easy reading, easily find information wanted. This was the perfect gift for my Notre Dame fan.

There really is something magical about Notre Dame Football. Eve growing up as a Michigan Football fan I realized this. Part of it came from growing up in a Catholic family. We'd often visit my grandparents on Saturday afternoons and my grandmother always had the Notre Dame football game on on her radio. The fact that Notre Dame is not in a conference has provided them with the kind of national appeal that other programs don't have. Game Day Notre Dame Football is one of Triumph Books' Game Day series featuring the greatest players, games, and moments in Notre Dame Football history.

The numbers are staggering: 7 Heisman Trophy winners, 21 national championships, 179 first team All-Americans. With those stats it's no wonder that Notre Dame has been a football powerhouse since the beginning of the 20th century and the days of the legendary coach, Knute Rockne. It was Rockne who was responsible for developing the modern passing game where previously the pass had been a novelty.

Most people are aware of two of the most famous campus landmarks at Notre Dame. First the Golden Dome which was built after a fire destroyed the main building in 1879 and the 132 foot tall Touchdown Jesus. But there are other great landmarks including "We're No. 1 Moses" and "Fair Catch Corby" that are detailed in this great book. It's no wonder the Notre Dame campus is considered one of the most beautiful in the nation.

Great players abound in Notre Dame's history. Heisman winners Leon Hart, Johnny Lujack. Paul Hornung, and Tim Brown stand side-by-side with other legends like George Gipp, The Four Horsemen, Joe Montana, Alan Page, and Joe Theismann. Gipp, of course, has become the stuff of folklore. Gipp led the team in rushing and passing in 1918, 1919, and 1920 but died from complications of strep throat in 1920. Eight years later in 1928 Rockne, the story goes, gave his famous "win won for the Gipper" speech just before the team was set to play the powerful Army team. Notre Dame's team was weak that year, coming in to that game with only a 4 - 4 record, but inspired by Rockne's speech, the team went out and pulled the upset.

Other great games are highlighted as well including the win over Oklahoma in 1957 which ended the Sooners record-breaking 47 game winning streak, the "game of the century" 10 - 10 tie with Michigan State in 1966, the 1978 dismantling of Texas in the Cotton Bowl, and the 1993 upset of #1 ranked Florida State.

As with all the fantastic Game Day books from Triumph it is a beautiful, heavy, hardcover book with fantastic photography and comments from former Notre Dame players and coaches. A great book about a great football program!

Reviewed by Tim Janson