Indiana Books

Not only is this a very well-done biography of the musician Felix but the chapters on his grandfather, Moses Mendelssohn, and his father are also of much interest and carefully composed. The account of Felix Mendelssohn, who was a child prodigy and had an amazing career, is very readable and anyone who wants to know about it will be glad to read this book. I am not 'into' classical music, but yet I found this book worthwile.

As a former student of Dr. Smith and one whose ancestors lived in Indiana County and fought in the American Civil War, I read THE PRICE OF PATRIOTISM with eager anticipation. I was not disappointed as Dr. Smith clearly compiled the information and wrote this book with his usual thorough, imaginative, and articulate approach. The result is not only a local history which is well integrated into the larger theme of the events and influence of the Civil War on American Society but an excellent case study of a typical rural Northern County during this era. His use of primary sources including letters and newspapers illustrated the political complexities, military operations, and personal tragedies which impacted the natives of Indiana County and their contributions, sometimes less than willing, to the war effort. His study of the use of the military draft and cash bounty was very enlightening and the account of the complement of Indiana, PA, soldiers who made up significant portions of several famous regiments, such as the 40th and 78th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and the sacrifices they made was inspiring yet also sobering. It also induced me to seek to read regimental histories such as Ron Gancas' THE GALLANT 78th or Gilbert A. Hays' UNDER THE RED PATCH: STORY OF THE 63rd REGIMENT, PA VOLUNTEERS. Also, the many photos used, especially members of the White family, enhanced Dr. Smith efforts to put human faces on these long dead soldiers. Finally, the repeated emphasis he used to communicate the fact that while Indiana County, PA, was patriotic and pro-Union it was not a center of Abolitionism was a caution to any myth making about the war's goals long after the fact. The only complaint I have with Dr. Smith's study is that while he noted that my native district, Cherry Tree, constantly voted for the Democrats and otherwise opposed the Republicans who controlled the county, he did not explain why Cherry Tree was so different from the rest of the county, especially as the only district to vote against Lincoln in both the 1860 and 1864 presidential elections! Overall, this is a wonderful contribution to the history of Indiana County, PA, in particular and the American Civil War in general.

Again, Eleanor Brilliant gives us a no-nonsense look at American charitable enterprise and the people who run it. As events and actions of leaders give frequent rise to questions about the caliber and integrity of Americans' non-profit way of serving others, she provides a well-researched analysis of information that people who give their time and money ought to know. Since most don't, the leaders of the agencies to whom they give ought to read this excellent work to become familiar with information important to their constituents.

The Commission on the Future of Higher Education challenges colleges and universities to focus on the success of their teaching. Many of the public universities will now be challenged to survive in the same form, as the authors suggest. Two alternate futures emerge--colleges and universities responsive to the needs of students and public, or privatization of higher education. This book is one of the very few that look at these alternatives and document the historical trends that create the current impasse. Good reading, especially for investors who may want to buy a college or university.

Fornari emphasizes that war and violence develop out of a "love need:" our wish to preserve and defend the sacred object to which we are attached. "Nations," of course, are the sacred objects that most often generate warfare. Fornari focuses upon SACRIFICE as the essence of war: this astonishing willingness of human beings to give over their bodies to the nation-state. If you are doing research on the psychology of war and warfare, this is the book to read first.

Dr. Winnubst's latest work should prove to be an excellent, eye opening experience for anyone interested in what we mean when we call ourselves "free," or even what we mean when we say "I." Using several eariler philosopher's works about experience and identity, Dr. Winnubst deconstructs the myth of the automonous individual, independent of such fundamental considerations such as race, gender, economic status, and sexual orientation. Further, she argues that the myth of the autonomous self has been established for the sake of those who benefit from social injustice, what Dr. Winnubst calls "phallisized whiteness." She continues by offering how we can proceed while accepting our aspects of race, gender, wealth, and the like as inseparable parts of ourselves.

Dr. Winnubst shows clearly that she has confidence and authority in every field she approaches, from common and classical concepts of freedom to the philosophy of race and gender and psychoanalysis. Anyone who has encountered the philosophers who she cites will see their direct influence in her theories; however, Dr. Winnubst grounds her views as much as possible in original arguments. Nevertheless, anyone unfamiliar with her sources will not be left behind since Dr. Winnubst, showing her teaching experience, provides concise but proficient explainations of her citations. This book seems to welcome anyone willing to invest the time and energy to struggle along with the text, much in Bataillian fashion, to better understand what makes us ourselves.

Emil Fackenheim was one of the most profound Jewish thinkers of the twentieth century. In his essays on Jewish questions he often reinterprets Midrashim to reveal new directions in thought. Often his thinking centers on the nexus between history and philosophy. And he is a major interpreter of the philosophical and historical meaning , and implications of events of modern Jewish history.

This is a great book. It presents in an exhaustive way the question of sacrifice as it develops in 20th century French thought. The chapters on Bataille and Derrida are especially illuminating. Keenan shows how sacrifice fits into an economical (means-ends) relation and how French thinkers try to reconceive sacrifice (or death) so that it exceeds any sort of use of it that will lead to a payoff. You'll learn a lot if you read this book.

I am a quilter and always looking for inspiration by reading quilt history books. I am also a transplanted Hoosier and this book was excellent. It's format and pictures were well done. I finished it in one day which was a bit unusual for this type of book. I wish all quilt history books were this easy of a read.

Gary, Indiana-The Forgotten City. I'm a big fan of Robert Catlin, and I'm a writer. We're talking about a book that took a lot of guts to write, going up against racism and corporate power. Gary is the strangest city in the United States and few people really grasp it's existence. This is not just an urban planning book, but a compelling story of corporate planted town where it's fathers had every intention of creating the concrete and steel shell that it is today. If you think that you've seen some bad places in America, you haven't seen anything until you read this book.