Texas Books

Perfect for the Aggie lover in your house. Awesome coffee table type book. Stunning pictures. Brings back memories.

The traditions at Texas A&M are unlike any other university in the nation. The Pride of Aggieland is a hardcover book, mixing excellent photograph and stories, taking you through the history and traditions of one of the most unique universities in the nation.

The book begins with with the changes in the mid-1960's that allowed Texas A&M to transform from a male-only military-based college to a full-fledged university . Previous to the mid-1960's, membership in the Aggie military corps was compulsory. The book makes it clear that this transition was controversial and opposed by many, then explains why the transition helped turn A&M into one of the top universities in the nation.

Football history is covered in the middle chapters of the book. A few things become clear here - Aggies love their football; they have had a good history, not a great one; and they love to beat the Longhorns more than anything on this earth. Aggie football greats are well-covered, from John David Crow, the Aggies only Heisman trophy winner to Dat Nguyen, the phenomenal linebacker in the 90's. The book doesn't pull punches when it comes to listing the failings regarding great coaches such such as Paul Bear Bryant and Jackie Sherrill. Both were involved in getting the Aggies placed on probation during their tenures at Texas A&M.

The history and tragedy of the 1999 Aggie bonfire in which 12 students were killed is covered in touching fashion as are the events at Texas A&M just after September 11, 2001. The book ends with an explanation of traditions which appear odd to outsiders, but are part of the biggest team-building exercise in the free world.

The Pride of Aggieland is a good coffee-table book for any Aggie alum who wants to reminisce, or have a 'show and tell' session. The layout of the book makes it easy to read, especially since there are many sidebar stories than can be read quickly.
The book does an excellent job of showing and explaining why the Aggies do what they do - good enough that they almost seem normal. (That's a joke, son - I've spent some time there myself.)

This is the book we Aggies deserve. It's got all the school's history, traditions and spirit. And lots of football. Tons of color photos. Lots of games and great seasons and stats. And bonfire, red white and blue out, and just about everything else. Written by an Aggie. It's fantastic!

Texas A&M is a school built on pride..from the freshman orientation to graduation school spirt is omnipresent. This a well written book on what makes the Aggies unique. The text is very interesting and the images are well executed. As a Texas Ex I always marveled at the sprit in Aggieland, I mean don't get me wrong I bleed burnt orange, but I do envey their spirit, we may own the overall football series, though in the last few decades it has been close to even, but we will never compete with Texas A&M's pride in their university and football program, they have spirit like no other.

The Raiders: Sons of Texas (Sons of Texas Series)

This was a great series. I picked up the first book in the series by mistake thinking if another author. Was very glad that I did. I ordered the rest of the series from Amazon, along with several other books by Elmer Kelton. I have not had time to read the other books that I purchased but expect they will be everybit as good as this series was. I would recommend these books for anybody that likes stories about pioneer life.

I really like following the familys. I can't wait for the third in the series.

Another Kelton masterpiece. It fleshes out the early settlers of Texas and fills in the history.

In book two of the Lewis family trilogy, THE RAIDERS: SONS OF TEXAS, veteran author Elmer Kelton delivers a finely wrought western set in the early days of Mexican-ruled Texas. To keep their land in Stephan Austin's colony, Michael and Andrew Lewis battle the elements and raiding hostiles. Michael's frequent wanderlust causes hardships for his wife, Marie, and small son. Andrew works Michael's land in his brother's absence, but Andrew's apparent fondness for his sister-in-law drives a wedge between the brothers. Their lives are endangered by the appearance of old enemies, the Blackwood brothers.

In an effort to ease tensions Marie suggests that Andrew should leave for a while and use the time away to hunt for a wife. While on his journey, Andrew visits Stephan Austin who sends him to Nacogdoches to ascertain if rumors of a revolt are true. Andrew meets a lovely young woman named Petra, but he is very confused about his feelings for Marie. During his travels Andrew makes a sworn enemy, Tolliver Beard.

Elmer Kelton's skillful narration exposes the resilience of love intertwined with gutsy determination. This second volume is rich in detail and strong characterization. I'm certain that the third book in the Lewis trilogy will be excellent reading.

Kathryn Casey writes a classic true crime book about a man obsessed with terrorizing women, starting with his wife. She follows the escalating behavior of a self-confessed rapist as he begins to "window peep" and then follow women and break into their homes and rape them; although rape wasn't his goal so much as total control and domination. I am in awe of Ms. Casey's talent as a writer. She is one of the best writers I have had the privilege of reading.

I didn't read this book until after I'd read this author's other book that came out last year, She Wanted It All. Loved that book and decided to try this one. Gotta tell you, this one is pricey, but it's a great book. It's this author's first and she did a bang-up job on it. Really amazing detail, psychological insight. Fascinating case. I'd recommend it to anyone who reads true crime, mysteries, etc. Buy it and enjoy.

I confess, through most of this book, I was baffled by Linda Bergstrom - WHY DIDN'T SHE LEAVE?? Read on, and you will see why she didn't at first.

Kathryn Casey tells the complete story of a seemingly harmless man who accomplishes the unspeakable as his wife slowly begins to put together the bits and pieces of his 'other side'.

For those of us who read true crime and think "I would have never let myself be put in that situation" think again. It's not as easy to get away as you think.

I don't want to give away anything in this book but I hope you'll read this story of a woman torn between stopping a monster, protecting her child, and maintaining her sanity. It's a great read.

This is one of the best true crime stories I have read lately. Kathryn Casey writes with compassion for the victims and you can feel the triumph she feels for Linda, The Rapist's Wife, when justice is finally meted to her husband.

I worked in the Lower Pecos region with a group of students last summer, and had the honor of meeting Carolyn Boyd. She took time to give our students personal guided tours of the cave paintings, and they were enthralled. She is a gifted communicator, and passionate about her work. These same qualities come through in her book.

The first time she saw these paintings, she was an artist with no experience in archaeology. Her art background allowed her to see what others had missed; the myriad elements were part of a single canvas, composed by a single artist, invested with purpose and meaning. At that moment she held insights the 'experts' lacked, but she did not have the credibility or credentials to convince anyone. Rather than giving up, she went back to school and got her PhD in Anthropology, writing her Doctoral Dissertation on this cave art. She is now recognized as the world's formost expert on these paintings.

Rock Art Of The Lower Pecos by Carolyn E. Boyd (Executive Director of the archaeological research and educational nonprofit Shumla School) offers an expert and in-depth analysis of the rock art created four thousand years ago in what is now southwest Texas and northern Mexico. New interpretations and hypothesis concerning these mysterious yet evocative images left behind by hunter-gatherers of millennia ago fill the pages of this fascinating guide, which packed from cover to cover with the latest up-to-date findings, as well as an anthropological wealth of insightful ideas from a wide variety of experts and schools of thought concerning the uses of the art and the intentions of the ancient artists. Black-and-white as well as full color illustrations embellish this thoughtful and strongly recommended study.

Carolyn Boyd has done an outstanding job with Rock Art of the Lower Pecos! This excellent literary work clearly explains the rock art through extensive ethnographic research and analysis. Her contribution of this book is a landmark acheivment in the field of anthropology. I highly recommend this work to anyone with an interest in historic art or culture.

This author takes research on rock art and makes it concise and understandable for all of us who are interested in rock art in the Americas. But more than that, she takes us to the next level and gives us a basis for understanding WHY the images were produced in the first place and what function they served for the culture. This is must reading for anyone who wants to understand these images and who wants to go to the next level in understanding rock art world wide.

Salt Warriors is both a work of scholarship and a terrific read, one of those rare history books that is willing to consider the past on its own terms while reevaluating it in the light of the present. The best book on Old West history published so far this year.

The Salt War is one of those subjects that we have often heard without understanding its significance. Cool gives us an opportunity to catch up in a hurry. This book should appeal not merely to lovers of Old West history but to those who want to understand how it connects to the politics of our own time.

I have just finished reading Paul Cool's first book, Salt Warriors. The story of the Salt War in El Paso in 1877 is a complex saga of politics, greed and personal conflicts and Cool has done a wonderful job detailing the events and the combatants. He has exhausted every possible source in the search for new and expanded details on the conflict. In doing so, he has managed to deliver a very balanced account of the trouble. In particular, the author has used his outlaw/lawman research experience to help provide greater detail on all the participants. The result is a triumph of research and writing, that stands above previous works on the subject. Cool's ability to unlock background details of the key players allows for a greater appreciation of the motives of both sides and thereby engages the reader in the events. Salt Warriors is a great read and a truly important historical work, written by a gifted author and indefatigable researcher. Congratulations Paul Cool. The book was long overdue but worth the wait.

Although not as resonant in American borderland history as the Alamo or San Jacinto, the El Paso Salt War left a lasting imprint in Anglo-Hispanic relations, especially in western Texas and New Mexico. With this first full-length study of the Paseño insurrection in El Paso and environs, borderlands historian Paul Cool has advanced both our knowledge of history and our understanding of the roots of present-day borderland issues. Cool, with prodigious research and use of a myriad of untapped primary source material, has shed new light on this 1877 insurgency that saw murderous clashes between Mexican-Americans, known as Paseños, and newly arrived Anglo-Americans.

Hispanic settlers had apparently been communally utilizing and selling nearby salt deposits as a cash crop for generations. With the coming of Anglos and a differing concept of resource ownership, a culture clash and an ensuing clash of arms was inevitable. Paseños thought the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo guaranteed their unfettered access to the salt even as the region was ceded by Mexico to the U.S., but the Anglo-dominated Texas legislature had other notions. Mix in the personal tragedy of putative manager of the salt lakes and provocateur of Paseños, Charles H. Howard, his angst explained by Cool's insightful analysis of his humiliation and his southern notions of honor and gratitude, and the triumph of violence over diplomacy was unavoidable. And triumph it did, for three deadly months.

Neither institutions nor individuals come off particularly well- the Texas Rangers, the U. S. Army, local law officers, the main protagonists or antagonists- although the author probes the motives and depths of each and makes it all compelling. Most on the Anglo side are incompetent or craven to one degree or another, several are plain cowardly. Others, notably a Silver City contingent of hardcases masquerading as a peace force, led by Dan Tucker and John Kinney and including killer Jim McDaniels, are worse, functioning as little more than a gang of robbers, rapists and murderers. An especially valuable section for the reader's closure is a follow-up on the key participants in the Salt War drama, tracing their later, post-insurrection, years, often with poignancy.

This overdue study is beautifully written, and is a significant achievement in the scholarship of southwestern history.

The best book about the war over the salt flats just west of the Guadalupe Mountains in West Texas.

I've read all of Ms. Hingle's Desires and they are constantly getting better and better. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Secret Agent Dad. I started and finished teh book within one day. Blake and Josie are wonderful characters. Ms. Hingle brings them together in a very clever way and, as always, the sexual tension is amazing. Ms. Hingle excels with sexual tension. I loved the twins--Miranda and Edward. There was a little twist at the end of the book that I found a little surprising and very pleasing. This book is part of a five book series, the Texas Cattleman's Club, with each of the five books written by a different author. I read probably 5 to 6 romance books during an average week. I would highly recomment Secret Agent Dad. It is a book that definitely puts a smile on your face and leaves you feeling good. Try it, you'll like it!!

What a great read! This is the first book in this series of 5 that I have read, but I will read the others! Can't wait to find out what happens to the other members of the Cattleman's Club. Sure hope the other authors are as talented as Metsy Hingle. I read this in one sitting, couldn't put it down.

I loved every second while I read this book. Josie is a woman down on her luck and alone. She is not glamorous or outstanding, just a woman who takes life day by day and wishes for her dreams to come true. They do when she meets the extremely sexy Blake Hunt. This book kept me so interested I looked for every book by the author I could find. Take the time and read this book. It is worth it!

Royal twins Miranda (sugar britches) and Edward have lost their mother. Now they are in danger of being political pawns, and their aunt wants them brought to safety. That's where the Texas Cattleman's Club comes in. It's a club of five wealthy bachelors who set out to rescue a princess, and in the process each find true love. In book four of the series, author Metsy Hingle leads us through a royal rescue and a new romance between Blake Hunt and the widowed Josie. Blake, who has former Cobra training, is assigned to enter the palace and rescue the twins right out their cribs. Next he is to deliver them to the aunt in Royal, Texas. Naturally, when so much is at stake, what ever can go wrong -- does. While transporting the babies, Blake finds himself driving through the worse storm Texas has ever had, and he has already decided babies and bachelors do not mix. Widow Josie, who Blake renames, takes him and the babies in once she discovers them. There is instant chemistry; physical attraction is no doubt mutual, but Cupid can't seem to get the deeply hidden romance off the ground until both partakers' pasts are cleared up. Do they both have that kind of patience? And will both be accepting of each other's past lives once Blake's amnesia is cured?

What a great quick read. The mixing of intrigue and romance has always been a plus for me in category romances. I liked the way Ms. Hingle handled the replay of the royal rescue as Blake relived it. Written in italics, the scenes carry a presence of danger and intrigue; I found myself whispering the scenes in my mind. The story is well written; the characters are likable and true to form as far as I'm concerned and the plot is very good.

The Texas Cattleman Club series titles are: Texas Millionaire by Dixie Browning, Cinderella's Tycoon by Caroline Cross and Billionaire Bridegroom by Peggy Moreland. Secret Agent Dad by Metsy Hingle is the forth in the series and Lone Star Prince by Cindy Gerard, which was out in December of '99, was the last title in the five part series. They are all available at Amazon.com, and I heartily recommend them to any romance, but especially category romance readers.

Kudos to the author for writing this book - very few books written specifically about Honduras. Honduras has much more national park than Costa Rica (who does a GREAT job marketing that they're a "natural" country) but gets very little attention. Anyone who's hiked Sierra de Agalta or camped in La Muralla knows what a breathtaking country Honduras is. Kudos for writing this book.

(From Planeta.com) -- Kudos to author Mark Bonta and to Texas A&M Press for publishing Seven Names for the Bellbird, one of the best books of the year. Few books document the challenges and merits of including locals in conservation. Bonta, a university professor and former member of the U.S. Peace Corps provides a frank account of biodiversity conservation and birding in of the most mountainous regions of the Americas. The beautifully written narrative is complimented by maps and photos. Excellent!

I too was a Peace Corps volunteer (99-01) working in Sierra de Agalta National Park and its surrounding communities. Mark's book wonderfully captures the "ornithophilia" of Olanchanos, and puts together a stong case for conservation at local scales that build upon existing needs and environmental concerns. A must have for all conservationists working in Honduras or anywhere else for that matter.

Seven Names for the Bellbird goes beyond typical discussions of environmental problems in Latin America to show how real people and real birds interact in their shared landscapes. The wealth of details in Bonta's discussion makes a significant contribution to the study of human-animal interactions. Easily accessible and yet provocative, Bonta shows how conservation activities need to be based on local practices and control of resources--a lesson not just for environmentalists working in developing countries, but good advice for people working to protect their own neighborhoods.

P A Ritzer spins a Texas tale that was both informative and entertaining. If you are interested in the historical settling of the Texas plains or just want a great cowboy story this book will hit the spot.

I have to admit that the first few chapters were a little slow, as the author introduces the characters and sets the scene. But this hard work will reward the reader during the last chapters. This book introduces the characters during a series of fortuitous meetings in Dodge City complete with the political and cultural flavor of the day. Dreams are dreamt and a plan or fulfilled to take 2 families to the pinnacle of happiness and then to the bottom of despair. The last 200 pages are so intense that you will not want to eat, sleep or work till you are finished.

Can't wait till part 2 is out...

The product of four years of traveling and research through Kansas, Colorado, and Texas by author P.A. Ritzer, Seven Ox Seven Part One: Escondido Bound is the first volume of a western trilogy. Opening at the meeting of two cowboys, Luke Stuart and Tom Schurtz, during the height of the 1877 cattle-trade season, Seven Ox Seven draws the reader into a partnership between the cowboys and Luke's devout wife Elizabeth, with the goal of establishing a ranch at the edge of the Staked Plains, the Llano Estacado, recently (if not completely) vacated by the Comanche. Their determination will be tested in challenge after challenge, and their goal is shrouded by a host of mysterious happenings. A dramatic epic unfolds, richly flavored and brought to life with keen historical accuracy.

This is not just another historical fiction book. It is an authentic and compelling look at the men and women who represented the best of Texas, and America, in facing life's great challenges with more faith, determination, and bravery then most modern Americans can imagine. Ritzer spins a tale rooted in the True Texas few understand. His outsider, Roman Catholic, traditional Republican take on Texas history adds a new dimension I've wanted to read but have not found in other novels. Once you become friends with the novel's characters, you'll want to cheer for them, pray for them, hug them, help them, and know them as neighbors.

I have never read historical fiction before, and generally find myself reading novels by Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child, Jeffery Deaver, Michael Crichton and similar authors. However, I really enjoyed this book by a man whose family I had the honor of meeting recently. I found myself really interested in the lives of the characters and looking forward to each time I could escape for a while and read. Considering the size of this book, it only took me a little over 2 weeks to finish it in between taking care of my family and work, since it kept my interest (sometimes into early the next morning).

The story starts in Kansas (Dodge City), but quickly moves to Texas for the majority of the book. Two cowboys, Tom Schurtz and Luke Stuart, meet in Dodge after cattle drives and decide to head south together since they're heading in the same direction. Once at the Stuart home, Luke and his wife Elizabeth share a plan to homestead in a 'secret' canyon, only seen by those native to the area--Escondido canyon. Tom agrees to partner with them and a family member, Andy, goes with them and they move to and start building and living in this Texan eden. They encounter surprisingly few challenges until others start moving into the same area. I won't share more than this since I don't want to be a spoiler, but from this point I flew through the book and am anxiously awaiting the next installment of this three part series. The integrity of the Stuart family and Tom Schurtz was also a refreshing aspect of this novel and I found myself thinking a lot about my Catholic upbringing and my uncle in Puerto Rico (who is a missionary priest there).

I'll admit, the historical backgrounds intrigued me, but there were times I tended to lose interest, hence the 4 stars. Again, this may be just me and my lack of historical reading. However, this has encouraged me to consider reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's 'Little House' series that my daughter received as a gift a few years back and so far has had no interest in reading. I'd like to read more about pioneers while I wait for Ritzer's next book, so that's probally where I'm heading next.

As a student of Rangeland Ecology at Texas A&M University, I have used this book extensively to identify numerous plants for my classes, as well as my own collection. This book is very precise and the line drawings on each plant are invaluable. It is well worth the price for this plant "Bible."

I am a botanist and have a collection of many books on floras. I am currently working on a flora of Northeast Alabama and using the Flora of Texas (1999) as the standard to follow.

I'm a botanist/naturalist, and a botanical collector from North Central Texas. I find the Illustrated Flora of NC Texas invaluable to anyone who wants to learn about plants of their region and their ecosystems, plant communities, etc. The book has an excellent introduction, over 70 pages along, to introduce you to nomenclature, toxic and exotic plants, endangered and threatened plants, geology, climate, etc. It also includes excellent information on some of the history of Texas botanists. It is a must for any naturalist or botanist, and a bargain for a book with over 1600 pages!

In a concise word, this book is awesome. Truly an outstanding example of definition, beauty and detail. As a native plant garden designer and botanical collector in North Central Texas I have found this book invaluable. Not only for the professional but easily understood and used by the layman, this is the botanical 'Bible' of NC Texas and sets a precedent for all others to follow. This inspirational guide of botanical brilliance is an absolute must read.

I read this along with Mr. Casson's "The Ancient Mariners"; it was an excellent accompaniment to that volume, which is lacking the abundant illustrations that are included in this book. Along with providing a complete, unbroken (as we know it) timeline of the evolution of shipping and development of ancient men-of-war such as the Trireme, Quinquereme, sixes, sevens, etc. the greater gift of this book as I see it is it will teach people how to look at the art. With every single example in this book are numerous references to fine detail that the artists included which are picked out and described by Mr. Casson. One of the first things I learned in Art History was that the living conditions contemporary to a society are ALWAYS reflected in the art, which is why there are so many sculptures and mosaics referenced here. Another unexpected thrill from this book was the absolutely fabulous color plates included, depicting among other things some of the finest photography I have ever seen of the Greek red figure/black figure vases. All the photos, with very few exceptions, are top notch. Absolutely one of the most enjoyable books I have found in quite some time.

I checked out this book from the library, and am enjoying it so much that I'm buying a copy. If you love practical, how-it-was-done histories, you'll really like this book. The chapter on triremes is my favorite so far, partly because of the description of these amazing ships, and partly because of the accounts of deeply stupid naval blunders on the part of the greeks. Best of all, there are tons of pictures, including reconstructions of several ancient ships. Neat book! Buy it!

This book is essencial to everyone interested in ships. Also every reader interested in history, from casual to scholar will find in it a valuable resource to understand the origin and evolution of seafaring until the end of the middle ages. It fills a huge gap sadly existing in every history book.

In this captivating account of travel by sea, the author provides the origins of the boat, the vessel, the trireme and the supergalley. He writes about the importance of this means of communication and travel in the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia. Widely illustrated in black and white, the book includes a short bibliography albeit with very useful titles. Recommended for its wealth of information.