Kentucky Books

Very interesting to read how the farm and rural areas have changed throughout the years.

The book is clearly written. Readers should compare the crises in agriculture and the actions of government in the 1930's with today's financial crisis and especially how today's government is trying to deal with the financial crisis.

Sadie is feeling kinda glum. She's living in a small town, just got appointed graveyard superintendent (who really wants that job?), and she's having trouble raising her two teens. Plus she's suspecting her husband of an affair and her eccentric dad is driving her and her sisters, April and Hannah, absolutely nuts. The sisters are close but Sadie is given the most responsibility over their father, who took care of them after their mother left them when they were little. Since they are never allowed to discuss their mother, the sisters are kept in the dark as to why she left them long ago. One day when their dad leaves to go find their mother, Sadie and her sisters go to track him down. On their road trip they discover things about themselves they didn't know and learn to strengthen their relationship with each other and with their families back home.

I liked that there were 3 sisters in this book, just like in my family. You see how each sister fit their role as youngest, middle, and oldest perfectly. I'm glad finally took charge and stood up for herself against her daughter, her husband, her sisters, and the townspeople. Small town settings where everyone always knows each other are always interesting to me because I live in largely populated area. It's always refreshing to read about simpler lifestyles. I also liked how the sisters grew closer together as they find out the truth about their mother. A very touching and moving scene. Family is the most important thing in the world. I felt that this book wasn't really chick lit or mom lit. It was more a women's fiction type of book. Still I enjoyed it and am ready to read about Hannah's story in "Mom Over Miami."

All the books I have read from Annie Jones have been good, humorus and clean. I do recommend them.

The Scotia Widows is a tale of courage in the face of crippling grief, an American tragedy oft repeated in the dangerous jobs of men who daily descend into the earth to provide for their families, high-risk employment to be sure. Miner's families harbor no illusions, but they have every right to expect decent, safe work conditions. This small, powerful book describes the events of March 9, 1976, when fifteen miners are killed in the Scotia Mines in Eastern Kentucky, three and a half miles beneath the surface; two days later, eleven rescue workers are lost in a second explosion. The first explosion, caused by a high concentration of methane gas and coal dust, puts a violent end to the plans of fifteen families, a painful example of the volatility of their environment. And the company bears the burden of this outrage, for specific safety violations, inadequate ventilation, a lack of ventilation inspections and no trained rescue workers on the scene. The question is: will "Big Daddy Coal" accept responsibility or hide behind the warren-like hallways of the legal system.

Stern, a trial attorney with intimate knowledge of such cases, the common man pitted against the intractable juggernaut of wealth and power, goes directly to the heart of the matter, the widows. It is through their stories that the public can identify with the enormity of their loss and the long, brutal path to justice that makes close friends of former strangers united in common cause. Challenging the industry is an enormous task and the Scotia widows and their determined attorney face four years of litigation and tremendous legal hurdles, a hostile judge, the determination of the mine owners, a critical lack of disclosure by a trial judge, a pro-coal lead defense counsel and a bevy of expensive attorneys with limitless pocketbooks. Depending on their legal representation to navigate this treacherous landscape, it is the widows who refuse to back down in spite of setbacks and daunting odds. One result: the landmark Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1976.

It is to Stern's credit that he not only achieves a settlement for the original fifteen widows, but also for a number of the families who lost loved ones in the second explosion that took the lives of rescue workers. Yet, years later, there are more such outrageous accidents in Utah and Kentucky, proving that in spite of progress, this is an industry that flaunts safety for profit, the vast wealth of owners insulating them from worker's demands until such disasters once more claim the imagination of the nation. With this book as testament, the widow's cause is deeply personal, but also transcendent in the battle on behalf of the individual, the widows reclaiming their right to the American dream. Luan Gaines/2008.

In this era when too many people -- especially young people -- disdain the thought of going into law, I can envision students reading this small (145 pages) but mighty book and saying, "I want to be a lawyer!" The story of these women, and their David vs. Goliath battle, deserves to be told around campfires -- and made into a movie.

This book provides great insight into the real story behind KFC. Especially entertaining for those that are familiar with KFC, the organization, the franchises, and the restaurant business. Goes into the philosophies of Pete Harman, the first, biggest and most influencial franchisee. Talks alot about the company, the growth, the growing pains, and what made the company successful.

Secret Recipe is a book that offers a good, historical breakdown of the Kentucky Fried Chicken company and the individuals who built the restaurant into the thriving business that it remains today. Darden tries to cover all the important bases, from the original restaurant that opened in Corbin, Kentucky, all the way to the present day business, owned and operating by Tricon, Inc.

I really enjoyed all the facts that this book contains. Until I read this book, I did not know that it was Pete Harman who thought of the name, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and I didn't know that Harman dreamed up the idea of selling buckets of chicken. Like most people, I assumed that the Colonel himself deserved credit for these business discoveries. After reading about the naming of the restaurant, I sure am glad that Harman had the necessary business sense to reject the restaurant name "Utah Chicken". It just doesn't sound right. It makes about as much sense as the "Utah Jazz". This is just oen of many facts discussed in this book.

Throughout the pages of this book, the author includes important quotes that are highlighted in a gray box, set aside from the regular text. There are also a few lists of facts here and there such as "Early Franchise Holders" and "The Colonel's Appearances on Television". You can also find text boxes on many pages titled "Pete's Words of Wisdom", which include quotes from Harman on successful restaurant operation.

One other important note to make about this book is that it was written as a historical summary of the KFC business as a whole. It isn't a biographical sketch of Colonel Sanders. Author Robert Darden does make frequent mention of the Colonel, as he should. But there's just as much coverage given to Pete Harman and other people who were instrumental to the success of this business.

Colonel Sanders has been gone now for more than two decades. Much of his original vision of what a restaurant should be has changed over the years. Even the name of the restaurant has changed from Kentucky Fried Chicken to the abbreviated KFC. But one thing that hasn't gone by the wayside is the image of Colonel Sanders. His familiar, smiling face remains a part of the KFC restaurant chain and is displayed on KFC merchandise and around each KFC store unit. It's a tribute to the man and the legend known as Colonel Harland Sanders. His finger lickin' good original recipe of herbs and spices has satisfied chicken lovers all over the world for more than half a century. And this book is equally satisfying, full of trivia and historical accounts of the KFC company and its rise to the top of its restaurant class.

This is the first Colin Gray book I have read, but I plan that it won't be the last. As one of the leading strategists of our age he takes a very fundamental and realist approach to America in the modern world. However this book is not so much a prescriptive strategy for America as it is a description of the role that America must assume for now and for the foreseeable future, that of the "Sheriff" to protect world order (a role less than a full on global policeman) and one from which any number of appropriate strategies can correctly flow based on temporal conditions.

In a short 150 pages of so or text he lays out that America is already fulfilling this role, is the only nation or institution that can fulfill this role, and depicts the need for the role. His argument is more centered on trying to make people, and particularly American statesman, explicitly recognize this fact and knowingly act within its confines, as opposed to pursue mere opportunistic action that is afforded by our military pre-eminence.

As the world's sole superpower it basically falls on America as the only nation that can protect some semblance of world order, which can maximize peace and prosperity beneficial for all (and particular the US, but should not be confused with an oppressive freezing of the world condition.) The UN, NATO, and G-8 are at best mere figureheads for none can practically act to take on threats such as terrorism or rogue states without the overwhelming influence (and thus overwhelming control) of American military might. This leaves the job to act, or not to act as the case may be, heavily on our shoulders and the author argues that it is one we should adopt with alacrity and dedication. Written largely in response to the RMA (Revolution in Military Affairs) in the harsh afterlight of the Iraq campaign of 2003 the author is urging for an increased appreciation of strategic thought to link and subordinate American military action and developments to foreign policies appropriate to our unique position and opportunity in history.

He provides far too much advice, and pointers, and warnings about how America should act as the world Sheriff to bear repeating here, but to make the book very worthwhile to read, especially for people involved in military or foreign policy matters.

Although overall highly recommended I have to take away a star for the fact that the author is highly repetitive to the point of being slightly annoying sometimes. On a positive note the book is heavily footnoted and the bibliography provides a huge reference library of excellent books to read to understand strategy and the full import of the author's argument.

I feel monumentally ignorant not to have known of Gray, or,
at least, not to have registered his work more securely in the
thoughts. As an admirer of George Kennan and his several
tours d'horizon, as well as of Robert D Kaplan's fantastic
journalism, I kept trying to find an approach that would tie
such work together. I have always heard the word "strategic"
kicked about, but this uncluttered gem makes it clear what
it means, means for the United States, and means for world
stability, all the while admitting that strategy is not easy.
I suggest that you dip into this book, and when you emerge,
you shall need to own it.

Zane Gray's books were the first westerns I ever read. I loved them then and I love them now. "The Spirit Of The Border" takes place in the Ohio River Valley. This is very close to home for me. Zane Gray mixes historical events into his stories. It is fast moving and one you don't want to put down until you complete that last page. If you have not read this, read it you will enjoy the adventure. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River" Natchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil WarQualifying Laps: A Brewster County NovelTravelersSins of the Fathers: A Brewster County NovelWriting as a Small BusinessThe Bluegrass Dream: A Wilderness Adventure of Early Settlers

Drawing upon ancestors notes, Zane Gray reconstructs the agony of America's initial transmontane western movement of the frontier away from the original colonies into the OHIO Valley where Indians and Whites contest for souls and Wetzel, and Indian hunter, pursues his cause in a most dramatic fashion. The book is a riveting account of true adventure the veiled backdrop of which is the continued occupation of the teritory occupied by British and Americans. An excellent introduction to further study of the the then misunderstood goal of Manifest Destiny.

It seems that too few have read this well-written book. Sherman has been working with all the great actors and actresses of the 40's and 50's. He seems to have been quite a ladies' man! He has a lot of good stories about famous film personalities. It has not been easy to be a company man for a person who knows what he wants. This memoir belongs to the best ones written about those golden years of Hollywood.

A cineaste may not treat Vincent Sherman with the same regard usually reserved for Welles, Ford, Fellini, or Godard, but a movie buff remembers and appreciates the underrated Sherman's quiet craftsmanship on many popular Hollywood features. Sherman has been an actor, writer, producer, and director -- an all-around "fixer" who could take a bad project and make it saleable, and a promising project and make it successful. He brings the same practicality, insight, and honesty to this fascinating autobiography.

"Studio Affairs" gives the reader an insider's look at the Hollywood studio system, with its stepping stones and setbacks. Vincent Sherman worked with such luminaries as Jack Warner, Harry Cohn, Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Rita Hayworth, Claude Rains, even The Dead End Kids. Sherman wore many hats, and he details his varied dealings with actors and colleagues with remarkable candor. His personal life is as compelling as his professional career.

"Studio Affairs" is engrossing reading. On more than one occasion this reviewer intended to spend a few minutes with the book, and was hooked for more than an hour at a time. Vincent Sherman deserves a standing ovation for his work, and for this book. Movie fans should enjoy this book very much indeed.

'Subversive Southerner' is a must-read for anyone interested in southern history or in the social and cultural upheavals of the 50s and 60s. It's a riveting story of personal transformation and courage in the face of unrelenting persecution by authorities, and a reminder of how fragile and how precious are our civil liberties. Anne Braden is a heroine-- dedicated, single-minded in her pursuit of civil rights, but compassionate and always interested in individuals. There's plenty of bombings, arrests, and HUAC subpoenas to keep you turning pages,and lots of quotes, oral-history style, from major figures from the 50s and 60s. It's well-written--Fosl is an expert interviewer and very good writer.

Anne Braden courageously opposed the Dixie segregationist establishment. She was born Anne McCarty in 1924 in "Louisville where white folks lived." Her earlier concerns were conventional and non threatening to the social mores of her Jim Crow society. Anne mostly worried about being attractive to boys during her high school years and was even willing to play dumb so as not to alienate them. She underwent a dramatic change in her early adult years while attending college and earning a living as a journalist. The Southern newspapers of that era barely considered a murdered black person worthy of mention. Blacks could fight and die in our wars, but were refused entrance to the voting booth. White criminals were afforded more respect than virtuous and law abiding Afro-Americans. The usual definition of a liberal Southern politician was someone who dared speak out against lynching while remaining firmly loyal to the principle of segregation. Anne ultimately could not make peace with the prevailing zeitgeist. She marries Carl Braden, a man named after Karl Marx. The Bradens soon partner with such luminaries like James Dombrowski, Bob Zellner and Martin Luther King. The latter remarked upon her dedication in his famous "Letter From a Birmingham Jail." Heroic self sacrifice and the constant risk of violence became an everyday reality. The odds were probably no better than fifty-fifty that the Bradens could escape being murdered.

What does the Cold War have to with Anne Braden? Why did the author choose the title "Subversive Southerner?" Catherine Fosl points out the insane eagerness of the segregationists to brand those advocating civil rights as traitors to the United States. In their peculiar way of looking at the world, combatting Jim Crow was the same thing as aligning oneself with our nation's enemies. The Bradens, however, did flirt with Communism and this made it easier for their foes to justify harassing them. A number of prosecutors seeking political power relished the opportunity to put them behind bars for alleged acts of sedition. Anne's relationship with avowed Communists extends to the point where the well known radical Angela Davis even writes the forward for this book. Should we therefore condemn her? Not in the least. Fosl presents a persuasively well put together argument that Anne Braden deserves to be cut some slack. There is no evidence whatsoever hinting that the still living Ms. Braden ever adhered to any orthodox interpretation of Communist doctrine. She seems naively oblivious to the logical consequences of these horrifying set of beliefs. Sadly, mainstream political conservatives did virtually nothing to combat racism in the Old South. Anne Braden was therefore compelled to cooperate with those willing to fight along side of her. She and her late husband were primarily activists and not armchair philosophers. One also does not have to agree with all of Anne Braden's more recent political proposals. Some of these efforts might indeed leave something to be desired. That is beside the point. Ms. Braden definitely has done far more good than inadvertent harm. Catherine Fosl is to be congratulated for making sure that Americans don't overlook her enormous accomplishments. It would be shameful not to honor Anne Braden while she is still alive. I strongly urge you to read this superb biography of one of our greatest American heroes.

I thought this book was very good. Lots of nice, short stories of UK basketball (players, coaches, etc.). A great read for any UK fan.

I got this for my dad on his birthday in October and he recently finished it and told me how much he enjoyed reading it, SOOO, I can conclude it makes a nice gift for a Kentucky Wildcats basketball fan. (Although `fanatic' better describes my dad every March.) The stories in Tales from the Kentucky Hardwood ranged from thrilling recountings of games where microseconds counted, to tales of the colorful coaches, Adolph Rupp to Tubby Smith, who led the Wildcats to so many successful seasons down thru the years. This is a well-written, respectful trip into the distant and not so distant past of one of the most storied athletic programs in the NCAA, and what makes it so special and separates it from the dry, praising look back it could have been is the extent to which players, staff and coaches from a half-century of teams stepped forward to lend their support in the creation of this book. Their input was invaluable and went a long way toward elevating Tales to a work of cultural importance in a region where basketball outranks perhaps even horse racing as the state's most cherished institution.

A well writen documentary of an inspirational woman. This book gives life to significant events taking place in the fight for civil rights. In particular, reading about her Freedom Ride on a bus through the American South gave chilling reality to the ordeal. Fannie Lou Hamer is a pivotal figure in American history.

Mills' biography is a welcome addition to the growing body of literature on the civil rights movement. The well-documented work explores the life of Ms. Hamer, an important figure in the '60s Deep-South struggles whose name may be unfamiliar to some.

Fannie Lou Hamer was a poorly educated woman who, like most of her contemporaries growing up in pre-Depression Mississippi and beyond, endured virtual apartheid for a good portion of her life. Voting rights were essentially unknown to African-Americans in the state, which was controlled for decades by opponents of civil rights locally and through the state's federal representatives, most notably James O. Eastland, a senator who consistently stalled civil rights legislation through his control of the Judiciary Committee.

Ms. Hamer was among the first African-Americans to challenge Mississippi's voting registration practices, which were designed to bar blacks from voting. For her troubles, she was arrested, detained in a small-town jail and beaten so severely that she sustained injuries that eventually shortened her life.

Mills paints a vivid picture of Ms. Hamer's indomitable spirit, which was symbolized by her powerful singing voice, frequently employed to boost the courage of her local comrades and of the black and white workers who came to Mississippi during the Freedom Summer of 1964 in an attempt to challenge the white supremacists who ran the state.

Nowhere does her spirit come through more clearly than in Mills' account of the 1964 challenge Hamer and others leveled at the Democratic delegation sent to the presidential convention in Atlantic City. The challengers persuasively claimed that they represented thousands of disenfranchised African-Americans who had been denied their right to participate in the political process. The Democratic presidential candidate, Lyndon Johnson, and his running mate, Hubert Humphrey, Mills recounts, dragged their feet on addressing the challengers' claims, only belatedly offering a weak compromise that Hamer and some others fiercely opposed.

"I question America," Hamer memorably said during hearings on her group's challenge of the white-only delegation. Mills is careful to explore the arguments and motivations of those within Hamer's delegation who argued in favor of accepting the compromise, but it is clear that her heart lies with Hamer's courageous stand.

In the end, the 1964 challenge failed, but in 1968 another challenge succeeded and Hamer was seated, along with others, at that year's presidential convention. The victory, which deserves special mention in American history, was tempered and largely forgotten due to the street violence for which the 1968 convention is now largely remembered.

Mills also does a fine job of relating Ms. Hamer's attention to the plight of the poor and her attempts to build political power for the impoverished. One gets a strong sense of the sacrifice that Hamer made to live a life committed to political struggle.

It is only when Mills attempts to summarize the major events of the civil rights movement that the book's strength flags. I found the first couple of chapters negligible because I'm familiar with the big events of the movement and frankly they've been done better elsewhere.

When she turns her attention to Ms. Hamer, however, Mills delivers a story worth telling in strong prose that reveals her admiration for her subject without sacrificing her critical judgment.