Michigan Books

Cogent criticism of major American thinkers, Susan Sontag, Richard Rorty, Bloom and others. A wise and often witty book which illuminates some of the major cultural criticism of recent years.

I have submitted a more formal review elsewhere, but wanted to encourage readers who study modernist poetry to consult this book. You do not have to be a specialist in the poetry of Mina Loy, Marianne Moore, or Else Lasker-Schüler in order to find this book useful. Whereas we have heard something about Moore and Loy, learning about Else Lasker-Schüler's alternate identity, the Jewish, male Prince Jussuf, was really entertaining, and an example of how travestism is not necessarily based on sexuality. Miller has done a great job of blending cultural studies with poetic analysis. I especially appreciated her comments on the cultural settings particular to women in New York and Berlin. The three main chapters deal with the naming acts of the poets, the ways in which they construct their poetic bodies, and how Judaic traditions have had an influence on the poetry of all three. This volume can be read cover to cover, or in isolated sections. Miller has taken examples from numerous unpublished manuscripts, so Cultures of Modernism is a find for those working specifically on these poets as well. Happy reading!

It took me under 24 hours to read the whole thing, and I'm half-way through it AGAIN! I simply could NOT put it down! The author doesn't plug up the book with clever dialogue and overly slick writing, but instead concentrates on telling one HECK of a story. The ending blew me away. These are characters you really care for...I know I did. It's easy to read and you'll forget about everything else while you're reading. What more can you ask from a book? It goes HIGHLY recommended by me and my husband. He'll be reading it next. Just thought I'd put my two-cents in! :)

Debra Spark's essays on writing will appeal to beginners and veterans alike. Her voice is so true, so loving, so intelligent -- I found these essays enthralling. They reminded me why I love to write, and also why I love to read. This book will stay on my shelf for solace and inspiration on those dark days when words won't come.

Take it from a lifetime(formerly gang-affiliated)Detroiter:this book hits the nail on the head,in its' accounts on the "who,what,when,why and WHERE"(with its'handy gang-activity MAP)of the Motor Citys'underworld actvities..The author knew a lot of things,that only,deep research(or actual,gang-affiliation)could've revealed!!Such as,the ORIGINAL name of 8 Mile Roads' notorious(and MASSIVE)"E.M.S"gang(Eight Mile Sconi)which started out as the "Coney-Oneys" and then morphed into the"Sconi-oneys"(because,it was rumored,that the gangs founder,either mispronounced the name "Corleone" from the"Godfather"movies,in his attempt,to give he gang,the most,INTIMIDATING name possible)before it was eventually,shortened to its' current name of "Sconis"(pronounced:sco-nees)or"E.M.S"..And here I thought,I was the only one,who knew of this lil'tidbit!!So when I saw the name"Coney-Oney"mentioned:I KNEW the author,knew a LOT about Detroits' gang history!!I could've only been more impressed,with his gang-knowledge,if the author had somehow included this particular gangs'infamous,clever(and DREADED)"battle-cry":"Straight from Eight!!!" The rest of the info,compiled in this book,only CEMENTED,my presumption,about the authors'credibility!!VERY,interesting,informative and accurate book!!The eye-opening chapter:"Gangs Speak"will SHOCK,the casual reader with its' revealing,interviews,with young gang members and their ultra-cavalier attitudes toward every aspect of life!!! I myself,was no longer surprised at these attitudes(having heard them firsthand for years)but I was impressed,with the authors ability,to actually acquire(and include)these tragic,self-defeating,"thought-trains"in this excellent book..While these kids"thinking"will seem extremely stupid to(and APPALL)most readers....One has to come to the(sad)realization,that to these uneducated,underprivilaged,street-hardened and scarred individuals...it is(apparently)"JUSTIFIABLE"reasoning for their behavior!!Keep this lil' "rhyme" in mind,when reading the interviews with these youths:"They're from the ghettos' of Detroit:HOME,of the kids,who PUT,the"ploy"in(the word)"Exploit" Also when I shared this book,with select individuals(who used to be DEEP,in the citys'criminal circles)this books accuracy really raised their eyebrows,as they asked:"WHO wrote that book"Ant"?!?I(highly)recommend this book,to anyone who appreciates NON-fictional,"no holds barred" accounts,of the ROOTS,of urban crime problems...

i like this book very much . but didn't get to read the whole book.i am looking for a copy . so i can finish reading it.

This book of poetry by Katherine Fishburn is incredible. The poems are brilliant, but very readable and understandable. I am a college student and I am in one of Dr. Fishburn's classes. Her book was recommended to me by another student. Anyone who is struggling in their relationship with their parents should read this book. Dr Fishburn speaks the truths that can apply to many people and help ease the pain that comes when dealing with the dissatisfaction from our parents. This book would be especially useful for young women, or anyone dealing with changes in life. It is a truly incredible book, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. It has changed my life and I am forever greatful to Katherine Fishburn for sharing this with the world.

Before you conclude from the title of this work that its contents are as dry as dust, let me assure you they are not. Notwithstanding its scholarly, measured language and meticulous documentation, this is a passionate, absorbing, and infuriating story of corporate greed and criminal contempt for the health of our country's foundry workers. The authors persuasively argue that the lower the status and power of the workers, the greater was their exposure to occupational health hazards. Despite the efforts of courageous lone voices in government and academia, the facts about silicosis were often suppressed. For example, a prestigious academic hired with industry approval to investigate the relationship between sandblasting and silicosis could not even publish his findings in a U.S. journal; his article was published in Germany instead! That millions of workers suffered severe disability and premature death due to silicosis had nothing to do with ignorance. As in the case of the cigarette industry, the facts were there: what was lacking was the government mandate and power to act on the facts. Anyone who carefully follows this tragic tale of unrelenting, unregulated greed and callousness by the foundries would do well to ponder the overly generalized assaults on the evils of big government in the U.S. Greater accountability and regulation earlier could have saved millions of lives. By the way, as the authors point out, industry was quite willing to embrace big government when it suited them. "Employers who had opposed the inclusion of silicosis... came running to the State pleading for the inclusion... so that they would be protected against the unlimited and terrifying common law damage suits which were being filed."

Having read and attempted to comprehend several James novels, it was with some foreboding that I opened "Dear Munificent Friends". I was pleasantly surprised by the accessiblity of James's most prolific body of writing, his letters. The editor has carefully selected about 150 of James's previously unpublished letters written to four of his close women friends spanning a fifty year peroid---from an estimated ten thousand existing letters. These four friends were very influential in the arts, science and politics of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The letters reveal a side of James that is not commonly perceived: he was a witty, compasionate gossip. The letters are a wonderful, very well written record of the social, political and scientific thinking of the times. Did your mother ever tell you that you should chew your food 100 times? James followed this prescription and wore out his teeth prematurely. I was gripped by his narrative descriptions of major events of his time such as the funeral of Queen Victoria and the beginning of World War I. I recomnend this book to anyone who has an interest in James and the remarkable period in which he lived

This book was a lot of fun! It consists of letters to the Dear Nancy column of the Detroit News in the early thirties. Many of the writers were seeking advice. I had no idea that "flappers" were anything but a twenties phenomenon, but apparently they continued into the thirties, as a number of readers found it necessary to point out that they were or were not "flappers"! Cowboys were still around too, as evidenced by letters about "hitting the trail" and debating whether "to go West". Interspersed throughout is also poetry sent in by readers. Also of refreshing interest was the horror about all the "petting" in cars going on by aforesaid "flappers"! I loved this book! A great insight into our early social history.