Nevada Books

This is an insightful and unique view of a ranching community in Nevada. Howard Wright Marshall has crafted a scholarly look at the vernacular architecture created by early settlers, which included Italian stonemasons. This is a well-illustrated and indexed book that belongs on the bookshelf of anyone interested in vernacular architecture and the history of the western United States.

I enjoyed learning about immigrants when I was in school. The immigrants we learned about were from Europe and most of them settled on the East Coast. I was fascinated by these people who were so brave or desperate (or both) that they would abandon their homes, most likely forever, and start all over again in a new country where many of them didn't know anyone, or know how they'd support themselves. It was a terrific gamble but they came in droves. They still do.

While Las Vegas isn't known as a destination for immigrants, it has a population as diverse as Los Angeles or New York. How did this happen? The Peoples of Las Vegas, an anthology about some of the groups that populate Las Vegas, takes on this question. Essay by essay, it becomes clear.

We start by learning about the Southern Paiutes, the tribe that lived in Las Vegas before it was Las Vegas. Although the lessons in school about the Native Americans didn't hold my interest like the stories about the immigrants did, I found it eye-opening to read about how the Paiutes were captured and sold as slaves to the first European settlers by the Utes, who also lived in the Southwest. Like so many other Native Americans, they ended up on reservations in undesirable conditions, and in recent years have found some success by building and running a casino on their land. It's easy to see how Indian casinos in states without legal gambling are be a goldmine, but I was surprised to discover that the Paiutes' casino was also quite profitable, even so near Las Vegas.

Chapters on the Mexicans and the Chinese tell stories of hard work and assimilation. African Americans had to deal with segregation until 1960. We Westerners are often surprised to learn that there was segregation here as well, not just in the South. But while segregation was still the law until 1964, the casinos and hotels ignored the law when it no longer suited them. In other words, it was starting to affect their profits, and had to go whether the lawmakers were ready for desegregation or not. The lawmakers eventually followed the lead of the casinos, something that still holds true in Las Vegas.

The chapters on the Italians and the Jews go over familiar ground, since these groups pretty much made Las Vegas the gambling town it is and the stories of gangsters and ruthless businessmen have been told many times. I skimmed these chapters quickly, because it's the underdog aspect of the immigrant stories that always appealed to me. Italian and Jewish immigrants were certainly underdogs in many parts of America, but not in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is not typical (when is it ever?) when it comes to immigrants. For instance, few immigrants make Las Vegas their first U.S. home. Most settle elsewhere and then move to Las Vegas when they learn about the many opportunities it has to offer people who have little education or job skills and who may not yet speak English, but who are willing to work hard. A significant, if small, percentage of newcomers to Las Vegas are refugees from places like Bosnia and Sudan who settle wherever the government and the aid agencies tell them to. Imagine the double dose of culture shock that any refugee would get from being plopped down in Las Vegas.

Another atypical aspect of immigrant life in Las Vegas is that there are very few ethnic neighborhoods or geographic concentrations of nationalities, other than the African-American "West Side" (which, as a result of Las Vegas spreading out in all directions over the years, is more accurately the North Central Side.)

Essays about immigrants from Greece, Croatia, Poland, the Indian Subcontinent, El Salvador, Chile, and the Philippines round out the collection. The editors are hoping this will be the first edition of a series that explores the stories of many more of the groups that are populating Las Vegas. Although The Peoples of Las Vegas is a university press publication, written mostly by professors and academics, it is quite readable. Many of the authors are members or descendants of the groups they write about, so there is a personal touch to the writing that is engaging. I can't wait for the second edition!

"Portrait of America" was a popular video documentary series in the mid-eighties, a product of collaboration between Superstation/Turner Broadcasting Corporation and Ambrose Home Video. Well-researched, each video is divided into 5 segments covering most unique historical, social, and cultural aspects of each state. Watching such an interesting documentary, each being roughly about 50 minutes long, without advertisements and other interruptions seems to be a privilege in these days!

This book has wonderful information about Nye County's ghost towns - exactly what I was looking for. Shawn Hall has selected great accompanying photographs, which I found very helpful for a project I am working on. I hope to visit some of the towns mentioned one day (when I find the time!), and this book will definately be of help.

The book is devided into region of the county (South, East, etc), and then arranged in alphabetical order, with directions and an historial account of each town. Well written and researched, with great photos!

I am a rock musician/amateur geologist and I have read Waldemar's opus 4 times from cover to cover. If you want to know all there is to know about tertiary gravels, do yourself a favor and buy a copy of this book. What you learn will shock you.

- z5

Professor William M. Epstein of the School of Social Work, University of Nevada presents Psychotherapy as Religion: The Civil Divine in America, a studious yet sharply critical look at the flaws of America's modern system of psychotherapeutic treatment (drug therapy and psychopharmacology are not covered). Psychotherapy as Religion sharply denounces psychotherapy as failing to provide sufficient scientific credibility that it is helpful for treating depression, anxiety, eating disorders, juvenile violence, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other ills, picking apart the inaccuracies and lack of rigorous professional standards in studies that attempt to show positive benefits from psychotherapeutic practice. Psychotherapy as Religion goes on to demonstrate how psychodynamic psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy are all rooted in an American mythology that exalts "heroic individualism", placing responsibility squarely on the individual's shoulders and utterly ignoring contributing factors from society. Thus, perhaps the greatest harm done by the (according to Epstein) religious adherence to psychotherapy to the point of virtual worship is that it forestalls efforts to find social solutions to problems caused by social ills. Though severe to the point of militancy, Psychotherapy as Religion promotes some serious criticisms that need to be heard regarding an institution that has to be held accountable with the same exacting rigor as required for all other branches of science and medicine.

This book was a nice read. I like to know what to expect when I go on a vacation, especially those weekend trips because they are so short. Lake Tahoe and the red woods were my favorites. I will use the suggestions for future trips, too.

Perfect for the recreational hiker!!!

The details for each hike include just the right amount of information. The choice of described hikes is versatile and offers hiking opportunities for all the "hiking areas" surrounding the Las Vegas area. The book is a wonderful reference and the direction provided for hikes can be easily followed by novice hikers.

I initially obtained the book from the library but after a "quick review" decided I definitely needed to "own" a copy!!!

Thanks, Chris!!!

We are retired and frequently find her three books useful. We have a Vanagon with a bed, and enjoy pulling into a rest stop, and using the facilities. At anytime can take a nap or stretch our legs. Her three books cover all the states west of the Rockies. We previously marked maps with (T) to indicate a rest(Toilet)area, but missed out on so many of them. Her books describe facilities, best access route, crowded or not, and rates each location. Definitely one of our better purchases.

Dwayne Kling spent a decade and a half reserching this Terrific, and oh-so thorough book. His dedication to accuracy is evident on every page. Buy it for the history, and you will be knocked-out by the photos! The city of Reno and its claim to fame as a gambling mecca never looked better.