Michigan Books

Dialogues On Cultural Studies: Interviews With Contemporary Critics is an essential dialogue which poses a set of questions to a panel of North America' leading cultural critics, resulting in interviews which survey a range of modern issues, from gender and political conflicts to sources of modernity and globalization issues. Virtually anything having to do with modern cultural issues and studies is debated by scholars who know their stuff. Highly recommended for a college-level readership.

This book written by Karl Kautsky in the summer of 1918 was the opening shot in a duel of articles between Kautsky and Lenin and Trotsky which went on until 1921.

Although Kautsky had not followed Bernstein and the Second International all the way down the path of the Marxist revisionism, he was disturbed by what he saw as the violent excesses of the Russian Revolution in 1917 and the formation of the dictatorship of the proletariat by Lenin and the Bolsheviks.

This book was written to set forth his criticsims in print. Lenin responded to this book with an article of his own--the famous "Proletraian Revolution and the Renegade Kautsky" written in October 1918. Kautsky then replied with "Terrorism and Communism" in June of 1919. Leon Traosky then answered this book with an article of the same name in 1920--to which Kautsky once again replied in an article called "From Democracy to Statism" which has yet to be translated into English. This series of books relates much about early Soviet ideology and their relations with Marxist parties of rest of Europe.

For anyone who has ever been fascinated with Diego Rivera and his works, this is a wonderfully detailed guide to the Detroit Industry Murals. Readible either from cover-to-cover or in chapters, this book is filled throughout with photos, historic background, interviews and amazingly interesting details to all that went into the Detroit Industry Murals. Starting with other Rivera murals located across the United States, Downs leads into the situation of Henry Ford wanting a depiction of Detroit and the auto industry for a neglected garden gallery. A chapter details the fresco process used by Rivera during this immense project, and is skippable for those not interested in art technique. Another chapter details how Rivera and his wife, artist Fridah Kahlo, spend their time in the Motor City. The especially amazing introduction tells the story of how in 1979 Detroit Institute of Art staff found in a dusty closet the original "cartoons" (full size pencil sketches) that Diego Rivera had made during the planning and layout of the murals. Downs ends the book with reactions to the finished project, which ranged from churches outrage to extreme pride for the city's auto workers, which the work most positively depicted. Because of the artist's political convictions (Mexican communist) the murals were almost destroyed during the Cold War and had to be protected under armed guard. Detroit is the last place you would expect to find the masterpiece of the Mexican muralist movement's greatest son. Just like it's topic, this book is an amazing and unexpected masterpiece.

Jackson is a real find, and this is where to start. These novels, mostly police procedurals, are concisely and wittily written, and as the books continue, we really get to know Fang Mulheisen and his city, Detroit. Later, in books like "Hit on the House" and "Deadman," we meet recurring characters such as likeable assassin Joe Service and his on-again off-again love interest (and Mafia princess) Helen Sedlacek. These are "real" people with foibles and weaknesses-- some are unapologetic killers, but we get to know them and, yes, like them. Fang tracks them down, and sometimes even catches them. If you like Elmore Leonard, if you like Carl Hiaasen, if you like Thomas Perry-- read these too. You'll become a fan, I guarantee it.

Hyland has done enormous work on Academic Literacy(ies) and this is a very helpful reference.

DISCIPLINE is Volume 14 in the DIMENSIONS series. The DIMENSIONS Series of journals is an excellent find. It contains theoretical projects and articles, student and professional work and interviews from star architects as well as up-and-coming designers. The series is edited very nicely with a very clean graphical quality. As one of the designers for Volume 15, I must say that this issue is an excellent find. Contact the school for more copies of past journals as well as the newly published Volume 15 entitled: LIMITS.

Designer editor Dimensions V15: LIMITS

It is a shame this book is out of print. The photography is breath taking. The diverse subject matter spotlights each little piece of the region and offers a comprehensive glimpse of life on Great Lakes Michigan and Superior. First introduced to the Upper Penninsula as a child, I was thrilled to receive this book as a gift from my husband. Each time I look through it is a like a little vacation, whether I am in the mood for summer beaches, wild life, the awe-inspiring force of the lakes, or autumn's first snow fall. Mr. Olsenius has a real gift in capturing peoples' personalities and nature's majesty on film. A beautiful book.

Janis Scalone's book, DISTANT THUNDER: An Integrated Skills Approach to Learning Language Through Literature (Pitt Series in Esl) is compiled in such a way as to make it both informative and entertaining. Not only are the stories and poems Scalone has chosen entertaining and enriching, but the exercises for the students are likewise informative and enlightening, presented in a way that helps them experience the many and varied cultures represented in the literature chosen for inclusion in the text. I found it a delight to read for any audience.

This book is truly a must-read gem. It is the first academic book about the Dodge Brothers. Though it has many in-depth footnotes the book is absolutely readable and tells a nice story all in around 200 pages. It is perfect for the professor of history or the person just curious about Detroit or automotive history. The book is also full of great photos: images showing the brothers, their families, the cars and the plants where they were built.

I, who know a lot about the Dodge Brothers and the Dodge Families, was surprised at what I did not know and what I learned from this book. Mr. Hyde puts to rest many rumors and brings to light much new information which is important to the history of car manufacturing in Detroit. Most importantly he shows how the Dodge Brothers supplied Ford with engines and all the mechanical parts for his first `Ford' cars. Without the Dodges there would probably have never been a successful Ford. Then the Brothers turned to making their own car. Built with honesty and care the firm's cars became known as a solid and dependable. They were true innovators. When they both died in 1920 the company was on top of the world. A few years later the widow's of the Brothers sold the company for $146 million. And again a few years later it was sold again to Walter Chrysler, and is still today an important part of DaimlerChrysler

The Dodge Brothers were an amazing team and built an amazing company from sheer hard work and honesty, the true American Dream! It is surprising that it took so long for someone to write about them.

Key words: John Dodge, Horace Dodge, Anna Thomson Dodge, Matilda Dodge, Meadow Brook Hall, Rose Terrace, Hamtramck, Chrysler, Detroit, automotive, cars

Limited edition art catalogue, with only 1500 copies. Stiff shiny covers and glossy pages; handsome and expensive! Early famous artist/photographer. Catalogue includes an unpublished interview of several pages, chronology, list of exhibits and public collections.

Rare and recommended glimpse of this artist. 48 pp.