Minnesota Books

Ably edited by Newell L. Chester for the modern reader, The Story Of A Regiment is the narrative account and history by Judson W. Bishop of the Minnesota Veteran Volunteer Infantry's Second Regiment that fought all through the Civil War from 1861 to 1865. This superbly presented edition is enhanced for the reader with a history of Judson Bishop and additional and informative chapters by Chester. This was a Union Army regiment that was awarded eight Medals of Honor for one action near Nolansville, Tennessee; participated in the first major Union victory at Mill Springs, Kentucky; charged up Missionary Ridge out of Chattanooga, Tennessee; earned General George Thomas acclimation as "The Rock of Chickamauga". The Second Regiment fought all four, bloody years of the Civil War and finally returned home to Minnesota intact. The Story Of A Regiment is an invaluable, much appreciated, and very welcome addition to Civil War Studies collections, and "must" reading for all Civil War buffs.

A wonderful book full of interesting details about the streams and rivers of Minnesota. Even small streams and tributaries earn some attention in this book. This is a very thorough reference tool whether you spend time on the water or just enjoy the countryside around it.

This book was a good read for someone who is both a film history teacher and an indefatigable tourist in Rome. Clearly and fluidly written, Rhodes' study of Pasolini's city is not heavy on theoretical language, so it invites both the ordinary (but serious) filmgoer and the film critic to think about the familiar city in a new way. Some particularly nice insights about "Accattone!" and "Mamma Roma" are woven into the history and architecture of 20th century Rome.

"In Surfaces, Avum Stroll does something that is rare: he provides novel answers to two age-old philosophical problems - the epistemological problem of how perception is able to generate knowledge, and the metaphysical problem of what it is that we perceive... This is almost certain to be regarded as one of the major books deaking with philosophical issues of perception and can most profitably be campared with Roderick Chisholm's classical work Perceiving." - Richard Foley, University of Notre Dame

Despite its importance in the sciences and the plastic arts, the concept of a surface has been virtually ignored bt philosophers - mentioned in the philosophical literature since the time of Aristotle, but never accorded the full investigation that Avum Stroll provides in this book. Stoll shows that the concept plays an essential role in many philosophical problems (Our knowledge of the external world, abstract ideas, foundationalism); it is also important in it's own right and for its bearing on future research projects in philosophy and in the psychology of perception. Stroll's first line of questioning - how we define and perceive a surface - issues in a powerful chalenge to one of the main assuptions of traditional epistemology. Then he looks into "the geometry of ordinary speech" - the terms we use to organize and structure the world we inhabit ("margin," "border," "limit," "boundary," "edge") - and shows how this informal topological system reesembles and differs from the mathematical science of geometry. In doing so, he opens up a novel philosophical issue to further discussion and research. -- from books back cover

From the Ice Age to the assasination of Olof Palme, Scott digs into every nook and cranny of Sweden's history. The account is blissfully more than political, though that is the backbone of the book. Besides hitting the military conquests, the great kings, etc. The farming life, the culture, the art, literature, and science of Sweden are also major points in this book, perhaps more aptly a history of the Swedish people, rather than just the nation's history.

Of course, Gustav II Adolph and the tragic Karl XII and the Great Northern War are probably the two greatest contributions of the Swedish people to the development of continental Europe, and they are dealt with very well in this book. But, the shoes of an Empire always too large for Sweden, the book reflects more on the progressive and peaceful transitions and compromises that have made Sweden's politics unique in the world, and more recently, almost a miracle. From the alliance of the monarch and the people against the nobility in the policy of land reduction which forever halted feudalism, to the age of freedom in which Sweden experimented with a bourgeoise liberalism, and finally through the gradual peaceful fall of plutocracy into democracy and the welfare state, Sweden has proved itself to be an iconoclast of domestic and foreign policy.

The author(s) *the 1986 revision contains an additional Epilogue* end on a probing discussion of the Welfare state. The great progressive achievement, they find, rests almost solely on the rich culture of Sweden, a conclusion one can hardly disagree with. A great portrait of a brilliant nation!

My mother and father put this collection together, so I'm a bit biased, but this really is a wonderful collection. Although some of the stories are a bit creepy, it was great to grow up hearing these stories before I went to bed. This is the second pressing (the first was Random House, this is UofMinnesota) and the new pressing has a great cover, and feels great in your hand. Anyone who likes fantasy or folklore really cannot miss this one!

I have had this book for YEARS, recently re-covered it in a bookbinding workshop and LOVE IT! The stories are not sappy or sticky like that of the Disney versions and not dark and scary like that of the Grimm Brothers style. Their just a little scary and still have an amusing yet pleasant ending. I have been reading these stories to my kindergarten students for years and they truly enjoy them - often using "advanced" reading skills (predicting, applying themes and ideas etc...) while I do read aloud. Many of the tales are classics (Rapunzel, The Fisherman and His Wife), but the two that stand out are Cinderella (3 balls, a GOLDEN slipper and pitch...) and The Six Servants (many subtle references to the trinity with it's multiples of three in the story line - early "Christian" propaganda). The language is rich, vibrant, alive and classic - just classic enough for excellent questioning. I highly and strongly recommend this book to collector's as well as teachers, and parents alike. I have a lengthy background in children's literature and this is in my top 10 list...If you find it - buy it!

This book is so much more than recipes. It has timelines that document the owners of lodges still active and those that the government bought out in the 70s. Each lodge/resort/outfitter featured (and there are so many!) begins with a few pages of history and information about the people who pioneered the Gunflint Trail and those who are the current owners, followed by recipes featured by each lodge. It's a fascinating read and rather tough to put down. After possibly wearing out my dad's copy I had to buy one for myself.

Highly recommended for anyone who has visited the Gunflint Trail and those who enjoy the history & people of northern Minnesota. The recipes are a great bonus! :-)

The profits of this book go to the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department.

This book, written by the leader of the 1934 Teamsters strikes, and the man who organized the first national organizing drive of over-the-road truckers, Farrell Dobbs, outlines the real life struggle of the Minneapolis Teamsters to maintain their union and build others. Politics meant not supporting Democratic and Republican "friends of labor," but fighting for independent working class candidates and a labor party. Politics meant the union reaching out to align itself with the unemployed, with women fighting for their rights, and with the small farmers.

This book is a blueprint of the kind of unions we need, unions where the working membership has taken them back from the bureaucrats, and use them as weapons not only in the struggle of the workers who belong, but all the oppressed, unions that will be key to the struggle to wrest power from the rich and put it in the hands of the workers and the farmers.

While this book may not be available at times from Amazon, it is always available from booksfrompathfinder, a vendor you can reach by clicking on new and used at the top of this page!

I am greatly impressed with the approach taken by Sassower. There are many efforts in academia to teach scientists ethics, but often they are ineffective -- if not down right pro-tech propogandist. Sassower takes an important first step by acknowledging that many scientists do face ethical dilemmas within their work or work environment, but back away from them due to various social pressures. How do we face these pressures as a society? What are steps for both scientists and citizens in attempting to better govern scientific activity and discovery? The points made here are practical, and meaningful. This highly readable text is perfect for the college-level classroom, as well as for the reflective scientist.