Pennsylvania Books

Gordy identifies the methods by which the Milosevic regime, which obviously provided few benefits to its people, nonetheless maintained its power. Gordy identifies these methods as the "destruction of alternatives-" the removal of alternative political ideas, or of cultural institutions, such as popular music, that would enable individuals to unite in thought in a manner distinct from, and therefore threatening to, the regime.

This is indeed quite valuable to students of Yugoslavia or Eastern Europe; its broader value, however, is its contribution to the larger issues of power studied by sociologists and political scientists. How is power maintained? We frequently assume that individuals will revolt if conditions are so bad they have nothing to lose. Gordy documents the ability of the powerful to actually take away this option. Most mechanisms, such as cencorship, make revolt more difficult, raising the pain level people will tolerate; however, by keeping the more politically savvy urbanites near starvation, the regime actually compromised their very ability to express dissent.

Gordy provides an academic and, to the degree it is possible in social science, empirical explanation of power that is profoundly disturbing; sometimes it may be impossible to displace the powerful. True, outside forces crippled the regime; but what does this suggest about the American line that local groups should revolt to demonstrate support for democracy and earn military support? Don't throw it out yet, but Gordy presents an important argument. It also helps explain the success of earlier brutal regimes; Haile Selassie used similar techniques far more adeptly, and therefore more brutally, in Ethiopia. This book is both an insightful analysis of the Serbian regime's tactics and a significant study of the nature of power.

Struggling to understand how Slobodan Milosevic managed to tighten his grip on power in Serbia despite a disasterous decade of war and economic decline? Or would you just like to know why authoritarian regimes produce such terrible pop music? Eric Gordy's "Culture of Power in Serbia: Nationalism and the Destruction of Alternatives" is a good place to start for both questions. Though written before the war in Kosovo and Milosevic's subsequent fall from power, the book provides a useful framework for understanding both the durability of his regime and the fragility of its popular support. Prof. Gordy argues that Milosevic maintained power not through any skill in governing (the record on that score is pretty clear), but by systematically dismantling any alternatives that Serbian civil society could muster. As one would expect, Gordy covers in some detail Milosevic's attempts to co-opt, stifle and crush rival political parties and media organizations. What is unique about this book is the long chapter devoted to the underground music scene in Belgrade. The regime rightly perceived a threat to its political as well as cultural dominance, and rallied its forces behind a smarmy concoction dubbed "Turbo Folk".... This musical atrocity does not, of course, compare to those committed in Bosnia and Kosovo, but it is a chilling read nonetheless. Gordy clearly brings a mastery of Serbo-Croatian literary and musical idiom to this section. One wishes only that the book were accompanied by a CD. Though written from a sociological perspective, this book is full of lively if understated prose, and offers much to engage the non-specialist and general reader.

Gordy's basic premise is that the rather unpopular, corrupt and war-mongering regime controlled by Slobodan Milosevic in Serbia during the 1990s retained its hold on power by eliminating any meaningful alternatives to itself. He provides a very detailed account of how this was done in the fields of culture, politics, the media and the economy. Since the book was written and published in 1999, when Milosevic was still in power in Serbia, the basic question posed by the study, i.e. how does he manage to stay in power, should be replaced with how did he manage to stay in power so long? Otherwise, this is a vitally important study, as the matters Gordy covers here illuminate many aspects of political culture in Serbia during the 1990s - and help readers understand the country's current political malaise as well. Despite the many changes that have occurred since Milosevic's fall from power, the legacy of the `destruction of alternatives' he helped institute will continue to dog Serbian society for years to come (and, looking over the fence from Croatia, I have to add: just as the legacy of Franjo Tudjman still haunts and troubles Croatian society today and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future).

My women's studies teacher assigned this book, and I loved it. I had no idea that there feminist ideas behind shows like Charlie's Angels. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about pop culture.

Compiled, written and edited by Sherrie A. Inness, Disco Divas: Women And Popular Culture In The 1970s cogently examines the 1970s as an era of great social change, especially for women. Illustrating the reverberations of cultural shifts in the 60's, the changing images of women in popular culture and mass media, and the changes that continue to evolve as those generations of women grew older, Disco Divas is a timely and insightful contribution to Women's Studies reading lists and American Popular Culture Studies reference collections.

DISCO DIVAS, edited by Sherri Inness, is an excellent anthology of essays from a variety of popular culture critics writing about the much-ignored decade of the 1970s and the variety of ways the evolving definition of what is female was influenced by advertising, television, movies, and even recipes.

Of particular interest to me were two chapters: one on the relevance of CHARLIE'S ANGELS (the in-depth discussion by Whitney Womack of how the signified transcended Aaron Spelling's supericial signs is a revelation that takes all the fluff out of a Farrah Fawcett haircut) and the other on changing female images on American soap operas (the depth with which female characters were written, moving from the home and bedroom to the office and boardroom, gives contemporary soap watchers a very good idea why daytime (and for that matter, nighttime) soap operas have declined both in number and viewers; Thomas Petitjean, who wrote this chapter, has a good handle on why the 1970s were indeed the golden years of the American soap opera).

This book is not simply for scholars or readers of feminist studies; it's written with style and verve that make it interesting reading for the non-scholar who simply loved the 1970s or grew up in the period and wants to see just how popular culture shaped the new millenium.

I came across this book just months after starting my own fledgling efforts at dressage. It is probably one of the biggest reasons I have kept at it since and not been intimidated or overwhelmed.

This book gives you new eyes thru which to see the stuffed shirt parts of dressage as something demanding and worthy, but silly and laughable! I am eternally grateful to Odgers for blessing us with this gift of humor and comic relief. If i could i would buy one for everyone in my barn!

Anyone who has ridden dressage will find this book hilarious. After I read it, I purchased three more for my trainer and two of my fellow "DQ's". We all talk about certain passages and the silly and sometimes sad truths of the typical dressage journey. A must read!

What a funny book! Ms. Odgers experiences trancend the world of dressage as her experiences contained universal truths that I am sure are felt across equine disciplines.

Highly recommend it for riders of all ilks. AND it makes a greate gift!

I would like to thank Mrs Gillerman for the beautiful illustrated book on my Great Grandfather Enguerran de Marigny!Ialways knew about my Grandfather 11th century,I didn't know he had the Church of Notre-Dame at Ecouis built.I am the Contessa Anna Maria de Marigny,my brother is the Marquis,as the oldest son my Father became the Marquis Louuis Engurran de Marigny,our parents passed away many years ago my brother now is theMarquis!Iam doing a genealogy for my children and grandchildren seven to be exact!Through Dorothy I have been able to put a lot of pieces of my ancestors together!Iam now in the process of finding my Granfathers biography written by Jean Favier 1963 the book no is {call 901.6F272}Since Dorothys book I've heard from many profossors who talk about what a beautify written book it is !.Again the illustrations of the tomb of my Granfather,Iam trying to find information on my GreatGrandmother"Ailps de Mons".Also there is another book written before Jean Favier's written by Louis Regnier iam trying to find one any that aren't in french.I want to thank Mrs Gillerman for bringing alot of joy to me which well go on to my childrenand grandchildren.Iam trying to find info.on one of my aunts again11th century Ide she marriedGuiilaume de Tancarville,also ancestors from Bayeux,Chatillon-sur-Marne,doing a genealogy is so time consuming and help {at no Cost} would be appreciated.Again my thanks to Mrs Gillerman for her wonderful book beacuse of the book i think i have become part of my computer.I will be in Rouen in May I can't wait hopefully I'll find family in Normandy,Paris .

Sincerely Yours, Anna Maria Contessa de Marigny

have read the book on Notre-Dame at Ecouis! My Grandfather and his brother Jean who was "Archbishop of Sens" are intombed in the chior of Notre-Dame at Ecouis now and forever!

I would like to thank Mrs Gillerman for the beautiful illustrated book on my Great Grandfather Enguerran de Marigny!Ialways knew about my Grandfather 11th century,I didn't know he had the Church of Notre-Dame at Ecouis built.I am the Contessa Anna Maria de Marigny,my brother is the Marquis,as the oldest son my Father became the Marquis Louuis Engurran de Marigny,our parents passed away many years ago my brother now is theMarquis!Iam doing a genealogy for my children and grandchildren seven to be exact!Through Dorothy I have been able to put a lot of pieces of my ancestors together!Iam now in the process of finding my Granfathers biography written by Jean Favier 1963 the book no is {call 901.6F272}Since Dorothys book I've heard from many profossors who talk about what a beautify written book it is !.Again the illustrations of the tomb of my Granfather,Iam trying to find information on my GreatGrandmother"Ailps de Mons".Also there is another book written before Jean Favier's written by Louis Regnier iam trying to find one any that aren't in french.I want to thank Mrs Gillerman for bringing alot of joy to me which well go on to my childrenand grandchildren.Iam trying to find info.on one of my aunts again11th century Ide she marriedGuiilaume de Tancarville,also ancestors from Bayeux,Chatillon-sur-Marne,doing a genealogy is so time consuming and help {at no Cost} would be appreciated.Again my thanks to Mrs Gillerman for her wonderful book beacuse of the book i think i have become part of my computer.I will be in Rouen in May I can't wait hopefully I'll find family in Normandy,Paris .

Sincerely Yours, Anna Maria Contessa de Marigny

have read the book on Notre-Dame at Ecouis! My Grandfather and his brother Jean who was "Archbishop of Sens" are intombed in the chior of Notre-Dame at Ecouis now and forever!

I would like to thank Mrs Gillerman for the beautiful illustrated book on my Great Grandfather Enguerran de Marigny!Ialways knew about my Grandfather 11th century,I didn't know he had the Church of Notre-Dame at Ecouis built.I am the Contessa Anna Maria de Marigny,my brother is the Marquis,as the oldest son my Father became the Marquis Louuis Engurran de Marigny,our parents passed away many years ago my brother now is theMarquis!Iam doing a genealogy for my children and grandchildren seven to be exact!Through Dorothy I have been able to put a lot of pieces of my ancestors together!Iam now in the process of finding my Granfathers biography written by Jean Favier 1963 the book no is {call 901.6F272}Since Dorothys book I've heard from many profossors who talk about what a beautify written book it is !.Again the illustrations of the tomb of my Granfather,Iam trying to find information on my GreatGrandmother"Ailps de Mons".Also there is another book written before Jean Favier's written by Louis Regnier iam trying to find one any that aren't in french.I want to thank Mrs Gillerman for bringing alot of joy to me which well go on to my childrenand grandchildren.Iam trying to find info.on one of my aunts again11th century Ide she marriedGuiilaume de Tancarville,also ancestors from Bayeux,Chatillon-sur-Marne,doing a genealogy is so time consuming and help {at no Cost} would be appreciated.Again my thanks to Mrs Gillerman for her wonderful book beacuse of the book i think i have become part of my computer.I will be in Rouen in May I can't wait hopefully I'll find family in Normandy,Paris .

Sincerely Yours, Anna Maria Contessa de Marigny

have read the book on Notre-Dame at Ecouis! My Grandfather and his brother Jean who was "Archbishop of Sens" are intombed in the chior of Notre-Dame at Ecouis now and forever!

An anthropological viewpoint is vital to understanding FGM or female circumcision. Surprise, it isn't just an Islamic rite (some Christians in Africa adhere to this age old tradition) Surprise, it isn't mandated in the Koran. Surprise, strong village tradition makes it hard for parents to say no to the practice or even to marry off their daughters. Surprise, some women agree to have it done. It's important to have a researcher do the field work so that we can understand the origins, cultural background and practice of FGM for better understanding.

In "The Female Circumcision Controversy," Ellen Gruenbaum provides readers with a highly informative anthropological perspective on female circumcision that is not weighed down with anthropological jargon, making it highly accessible to the "average" reader. She takes on a cultural relativistic point of view, exploring female circumcision through the context of the different cultures in which it is practiced, highlighting how it can be affected by patriarchy, ritual, marriage, mortality, ethnicity, sexuality, and economic development. An important point that Gruenbaum stresses is that while female circumcision has been practiced by many cultural and ethnic groups, the practices themselves vary (i.e. what is removed in surgery, at what age circumcision occurs, etc.) and this point makes it hard to generalize and blame only one factor for female circumcision. She includes her experiences in the Sudan and at the end of the book discusses how female circumcision practices are changing and the how we in the international community can get involved.

Gruenbaum does not condone female circumcision but she believes that many anti-circumcision advocates have taken the wrong approach to fighting the harmful practice. She stresses the need for discussion (not one-sided lecturing) and the fact that other problems such as economic insecurity and education need to be addressed so women will not feel as compelled to continue female circumcision. While a lot needs to be done to ensure that women's rights are not infringed upon, Gruenbaum gives the reader hope by showing many cases of progress.

This book is a gem! It has also made me rethink some things that I thought were "normal" in my culture.

I had to read this book for an anthropology class in my freshman year at college. It's a real eye-opener. I had no idea before this book that FGM was practiced anywhere outside of Africa. The description of what can be done was enough to make me mildly uncomfortable (inserting a straw during the healing process to make an extremely small hole for urination and menstruation?) but I could not put the book down. I have a drastically different perspective of this practice now that I understand more of it's cultural significance, rather than seeing it as a cruelty carried out to keep women in a totally inferior state.

The book reads like a diary, but it's a fictionalized story of the real Civil War surgeon Zabdiel Boylston, and it would make anyone grateful for modern medicine. Amputation was pretty much the treatment for everything, and that he was burned in love a couple of times during his period as a combat surgeon puts a very human face on this story.

I got it at my local library; it was part of a display in advance of the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth.

I enjoyed this book tremendously. The research and realism was amazing. I was fortunate to see the author lecture on the subject in Indiana. Dressed in the full civil war soldier uniform I thought the author to be an enthusiastic Civil War Buff. I was amazed to find out that the author was a modern day trauma surgeon whose interest in the civil war goes beyond the superficial, dry information one reads in text. His interest draws on real life experiences with bullet wounds and infections that he has treated in modern times.

An excellent novel of a surgeon who signs up to serve in the Union army during the Civil War. Written by a modern surgeon, Kernek obviously had researched his predecessors well. It might be a bit detailed for the squeamish, but for those who want a good "feel" for what a surgeon went through during the Civil War, I highly recommend it. It is a relatively short read, and the story line carries one right on through. This book belongs in every Civil War buff's collection, because it tells about an often overlooked part of the war and tells it very well. At this price, one can't afford not to buy it!

Pennsylvanians had to wait 20 years for Governor Casey to come to office. On three separate occasions in the 1960s and 1970s, Bob Casey lost elections for the office of Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On the third such occasion in 1976, many observers attributed the election result to voter confusion in which many Casey supporters cast their votes for another person named Robert P. Casey who was a candidate for Lt. Governor. In 1986, he made another run for Governor, this time as "The Real Bob Casey," and he won. In 1990, he was reelected, receiving 68 percent of the total vote. Shortly after his reelection, Casey learned that he was suffering from a rare, incurable disease that sometimes affects persons of Irish ancestry who live in the Appalachian region. Three years later, Casey underwent a heart/liver transplant that enabled him to finish his term in office and write this autobiography. He died in 2000.

This short (215 pages) book presents Bob Casey's vision of politics and government. Essentially, Casey believed that it is a function of government to help the weak and the oppressed in the community. Throughout the narrative, the Governor often mentions some segment of the population and then briefly describes the policies of his administration that provided that segment of society with assistance and support, be it in education, healthcare, job training, child support etcetera.

Especially important to Casey was the subject of abortion, which "excludes an entire class of fellow human beings from our care and protection." In Casey's words, "Who speaks for the child?" When Casey sought to "speak for the child" at the 1992 Democratic Convention the convention managers refused to let him speak, all the while putting pro-abortion speakers on the program. Despite that public insult, Casey chose to stay with his Democratic Party and try to change its present posture from within. The book sets out Casey's thoughts on that subject and also explains his evolving view on the relationship between the Supreme Court of the United States and the chief executive of a sovereign state with respect to interpretation of the Constitution.

Unlike most autobiographies, this one is not written in a sequential format. Instead, the heart/liver transplant is the main framework, spread throughout the book from beginning to end. From that main story, the book moves back and forth in time to cover Casey's family life, his early years in Scranton, his college years at Holy Cross, his law school years at George Washington, his early law practice and his political career. It is an unusual approach to an autobiography - but it works.

It is an excellent book.

"Fighting for Life" is a unique book of alternating stories connecting one person. One story is that of a man facing a fatal disease, undergoing and surviving a rare heart and liver transplant, and returning to productive life. The other is the story of a man who facing adversities reaching his goal of becoming Governor and, on his fourth attempt, is elected and serves two terms. Both stories are of the late Governor Robert P. Casey, and this book is his autobiography.

The one intermingled story is of Bob Casey's fight against Appalachian familial amyloidosis, a rare disease found only in a few people of Irish descent in Kentucky, West Virginia, Chicago, and then Pennsylvania. (Ironically, a similar disease would later prove fatal to both the Mayors of Pittsburgh and Erie.) It would be his Auditor General successor Catherine Baker Knoll who would get Bob Casey to read a book on transplants by Dr. Tom Starzl that would later lead Dr. Starzl to successfully perform this rare two organ transplant. This is a story of incredible medical work and a fighting patient who survived these procedures and not only would be only be return to work as Governor but continue to become a national leader on several issues.

The other story is that of Bob Casey, the State Senator, Auditor General, and then Governor. Bob Casey would arise from political death after losing three races for Governor. In his first race, he won the endorsement of the Democratic State Committee, failed to respond to his opponent's "man against the machine" campaign, and discovered too late the mistake in not answering the charges as that slogan helped defeat him. In his second race, he distanced himself from the political machines, only to discover the political machines such as that of Mayor Jim Tate's in Philadelphia, who then distanced themselves from Casey. In his third race, he was hampered by the inclusion of other Caseys running on the ballot which may have cost him some votes in the confusion.

Still, the name "Bob Casey" held some political magic, even if not initially for Robert P. Casey. Robert Casey, no related to the future Governor, was elected State Treasurer on the basis of having the same name. (Indeed, the Treasurer candidate avoided campaigning to allow the confusion over the two names to build.) Another non-relative named Robert Casey won the Democratic primary for Lt. Governor. Thus, when Robert P. ran for Governor the fourth time, he advertised himself as the "Real Bob Casey".

Bob Casey is to be credited with upgrading the office of Auditor General. Prior to Casey's tenure as Auditor General, it was mostly a lesser functioning row office usually held by a relatively inactive politician. Bob Casey turned the office into an aggressive auditor, not only of government finances, but of government functions. This not only provided a more powerful check on executive branch functions, but it also prepared Bob Casey to learn how to become a good Governor.

Finally, on his fourth try in 1986, Bob Casey hired Jim Carville, who had never managed a winning campaign, to be his campaign manager, believing that people who have tried hard without winning would work harder for victory. This proved to be the case as Casey finally won elected as Governor. Jim Carville went on to manage the successful Presidential campaign of Bill Clinton.

As Governor, Bob Casey writes that he is proud that he put "family formation" on a similar perspective as "capital formation". His Administration fought dead beat dads and made Pennsylvania the top state in child support collections. He fought for and won passage of laws making it tougher to get abortions. He stopped efforts at bringing legalized gambling to Pennsylvania. He created a program that eradicated water borne diseases that had plagued parts of Pennsylvania, providing us all with safe drinking water that today we all take for granted.

This book summarizes Bob Casey, the politician, and Bob Casey, the man struggling against a rare disease. This is a terrific autobiography that brings together Bob Casey, the person.

Governor Casey writes eloquently about his opposition to the violence of abortion, while trying to advance politically in a party that has wholeheartedly embraced unrestricted abortion on demand. His pro-life beliefs were only strengthened by his own life-threatening health challenges as he became even more convinced of the importance of protecting lives that others have concluded are not worth living (the weak, the disabled, the unwanted).

At the same time he makes the case for protecting and respecting the innocent unborn baby, he insists that society must have great concern and compassion for the young women who find themselves in the desperate position of having an unplanned pregnancy.

There are no easy answers to abortion, but Gov. Casey's prescription of love and compassion for BOTH mother and baby would certainly be a good beginning to a possible resolution to this tragedy.

My son still throws lines at me from this book from time to time! He is now 12 and remembers it well. We read it daily (sometimes more than once) for about 2 years between his ages of 3 and 5 and now, when we do the annual bookshelf cleaning, he still insists on leaving that one on the shelf! No, he doesn't pick it up to read anymore (boo hoo...they all have to grow up), but boy, on that bookshelf-clean-out-day, he likes to remember! Also, when someone brings a child to our home, its one of the first he chooses to read to him/her! This book is beautifully illustrated, reminds us of our hometown (Lancaster PA) and has a GREAT alphabet learning rhythym with this prose! I reccomend this book to parents with toddlers and to early readers!

Better than the usual A-Z teaching tool in that it's a well-written piece of prose--how surprising. Lovely illustrations with an Amish theme. Will please adults as well as the young.

I used the book with my students and they really enjoyed it. They learned about the Pennsylvania Dutch and their life style along with the alphabet. A new word, "row", was introduced and lead to a wonderful dictionary lesson.

This comprehensive book beautifully illustrates an extraordinary home built by Henry Mercer in Doylestown, PA. The color photographs give the reader a glimpse of this tiled concrete castle. What a fascinating book about a fascinating home!

In 1908, tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer turned his artistic talents to planning and constructing Fonthill, a "castle in concrete". Fonthill served as Mercer's residence and a personal museum for his decorative tiles, prints and artifacts from 1912 until his death in 1930. Fonthill: The Home Of Henry Chapman Mercer is an informative survey and presentation of this architectural achievement, enhanced throughout with photography (22 b/w, 56 color), heretofore unpublished illustrations, as well as sketches and comments from mercer's own construction notebook. The photography, architectural cross sections and floor plans for each level of Fonthill highlight the innovative design, artistic detail and decorative tile work comprising an original American architectural treasure. Fonthill: The Home Of Henry Chapman Mercer is very highly recommended reading for architectural students and anyone with an interest in American architectural history and the National Historic Landmark series.

I have visited Fonthill Museum many, many times and finally there is a book that does this fantastic place justice. The color photographs and the floorplans alone are worth the price of the book. Fonthill is a unique artistic expression of a relatively unkown renaissance man, Henry Chapman Mercer. As the book describes, despite its random apperance from the exterior and interior, the house is built with a great deal of thought, intent, and philosophy. If you love tiles, architecture, archaeology, the Arts & Crafts Movement, and history, then this book is a must read, and Fonthill is a must visit!

This is a great book. Philadelphia was blessed with some beautiful buildings and sad to say many did not service so called progress. The vintage images were very interesting and the text was very informative. Philadelphia did lose many buildings that never should have been destroyed, but many of the historic buildings on Society Hill or great buildings like Independence Hall and its annex buildings, survive and I do like what the park service did to house the Liberty Bell, it's sort of Modern Georgian. It's hard to believe that the iconic City Hall building was so close to being pulled down, it barely survived, I mean can you image Philadelphia without City Hall?!!! so it could have been worse...and Wannamakers is still extant, though it's now called Lord and Taylor and at least the greatest of department store buildings is still open and glorious, but i do wish they would get rid of that ridiculous steel stucture substituting for the great Franklins home..its awful..just rebuild it and let people know it's a reproduction..this is BEN FRANKLINS HOUSE, people!!! I do love how Philadelphia cherish's the great Franklin, he is the greatest of the founding father's and he gets his due respect in his home town..i still cant believe that he does not have a huge memorial in Washington, it's a travesty. Great book..if you have any love at all for architecture history of Philadelphia in general...oh and Philadelphians dont let them tear down Lynnewood Hall in Elkins Park, it's the last of the great Gilded age estates in Philadelphia, it's on it's last leg..dont let it go the way of the late, great Whitemarsh Hall.

Tom Keels has produced a treasure of a book. There are many compilations of photographs of old Philadelphia, but Keels supplies what others mostly lack -- a brief but rich history and context for each of the lost buildings he documents. Many of the photographs will be familiar to anyone interested in Philadelphia history, but this should not discourage you from buying the book. You will learn a great deal, thanks to Keels' perspicacious research. Moreover, his prose is graceful and witty, never stodgy.

This is an amazing book and concept! It's a guided tour of Philadelphia history like no other. The maps in the book are especially effective in highlighting the changes in the Philadelphia landscape over the years. I used the same Philadelphia based cartographers, NaZa, for ABC Philadelphia to highlight the best and most current places for Philadelphia families today, now I'm wondering about the best family places in Philadelphia from yesteryear. This will be on the top of my holiday list this year.