Massachusetts Books

A welcome and unique addition to American History reference and resource shelves, James Bowdoin and the Patriot Philosophers by Frank and Fritzie Manuel is a close examination of the early years of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as offering the life story of James Bowdoin II, the Academy's first president. Drawn from the unpublished records of the AAAS, the personal papers of many of the Fellows, documents archived in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Harvard University, and a great deal more, James Bowdoin And The Patriot Philosophers superbly presents a realistic picture of the society, its contributions to America, and the times it flourished in.

Reviewed by Gina Holland for RebeccasReads (6/08)

"JFK, LBJ, and the Democratic Party," written by Sean J. Savage, is a fabulous book for people everywhere who want to learn more about what happened in the days of Kennedy and Johnson.

The 1958 election was an affair of rivals and allies. As a country, we were looking for greater support on different issues such as economics, agriculture, education and heath care. This book includes some very extraordinary photos of Kennedy and Johnson, and there are also photos of Robert Kennedy, Hubert H. Humphrey and many more. I love the photo section and Mr. Savage did the book great justice by including the photos he found during his research.

I think it's very important for the children of today to learn about the elections of the past. Some of the issues discussed can teach students how we have come a long way to our current Presidency, in politics and the White House. The Kennedys were very popular people and even though John F. Kennedy was killed, his legacy lives on and on in the minds of the people of the United States.

Readers of this book will discover details on the elections of the 1960s, and how they relate to the world today. I really appreciate the details in this book and how much I actually learned from it. It is very hard to put into words the gist of this book, so I highly recommend it.

Written about a time and place which will never return. The translation by Frans van Rosevelt is excellent. A short tale about the Dutch East Indies.

"Swan Dive" by Jeremiah Healy is another very satisfying John Francis Cuddy mystery. A good fast paced story with gritty, colorful characters and an abundance of violence. Makes me want to read his next outing "Yesterday's News". Was well worth my hunt to find this out of print copy.

Jonathan Edwards was without a doubt the greatest theologian America ever produced. That he was also without a doubt the greatest philosopher colonial America ever produced shows what theology was once upon a time in America. Obsessed with returning American churches to its more devout Calvinist roots, Edwards began the Great Awakening in America, only to find himself cast out of his own pulpit for daring to challenge the social order of his church. Edwards deeply investigated the concept of free will, reconciling it as no other theologian had with the doctrines of predestination and divine omnipotence. But Edwards was also a figure of the Enlightenment, and applied Locke's rationalist doctrine of the senses to his preaching style, creating almost singlehandedly the fire-and-brimstone approach used to this day to terrify poor sinners into repentance. Perry Miller, the twentieth century's most dominant American intellectual historian, here explicates the life of Jonathan Edwards as no one has before or since: on the merit of his ideas. Miller was an atheist who spent his life studying American religious movements; this was one of his finest works. Not to be missed by anyone interested in the history of American religion or philosophy.

A great read for anyone interested in the innerworkings of the Army of the Potomac. Dyer served closely with Gens. Hancock, Gibbon, Hooker, and Howard, giving pesonal insight to these men. He also goes into the lives to the fighing soldier in great detail. Being a top-notch surgeon, the men are always on the forefront of his mind. Dyer works tirelessly for the care and well being of the men. He is especially interested in making sure the men get vegetables, as Dyer is recognized as the first to realize that scurvy is a major problem in the Army. Perfect for anyone interested in how the medical corp oppereated from battlefield care, to the ambulence corp, to division hospitals up to to the large hospitals of the north. Tactfully edited by Chesson.

This book is simply enchanting! Nan Turner Waldron stayed at the outermost house for 16 years before writing this book. The book tells the story of naturalist Henry Beston and how he built the "Fo'c'sle" (as it was nick named) on the great beach of Cape Cod. The magic of the area worked it's spell on her and a quote form the book best sums it up, "I believe that being close to the natural environment inspires a quest, perhaps inherent in Man, to understand human nature." The blizzard of 1978 took the little house out to sea but luckily for us Ms. Waldron's book will allow it to live on. I was so moved by the book that I actually purchased the blueprints (order form found in the back)! This book is a must read!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to college, Dr. Gregg shows you otherwise. The story is filled with all of the foibles of humanity and a few more reserved for college administrators. Things happen fast, once they are started. You won't want to put the book down. There is murder, drug dealing, gangs, mob activity, larceny, lust - another words, something for everyone.

This book helped me very much to prepare for the 8th grade MCAS. I did very well on the 8th grade MCAS by using this book. This book is an excellent book for students who are going to take the 8th grade MCAS.

Carol,

This paragraph from your book got my attention because it affirms that discovering one's life purpose is important, even affecting courtship. One of my favorite stories about Stretch and Joan is about how Stretch read his mission and vision statement for life to Joan early in their relationship, which she says helped her start falling in love with him. The "requisites" listed in the statement cited below also serve as inspiration for one's personal vision in a plan for life,which can help anyone with inspiration and guidance.

"The essential requisites in a companion that are necessary to insure happiness and a life of devotion are to be found in strength of character, a healthy body, a judicious head, a loving heart, all brought into attune with a high and holy life purpose." [Page 31, Keeping Hearth and Home in Old Alabama, by Dr. Carol Padgett citing wisdom published in 1872].

Thanks for your book, which provided inspirational Sunday morning reading.

David Dyson
Dyson Institute