Texas Books

For how many years had the Apaches lived and survived in the Southwest, even with Spanish, Mexican, and Americans aggression? And yet within a matter of a few short years after Merejildo Grijalva leaves the Apaches, are the Apaches forcefully removed form their homelands. The author demonstrates that the strongest reason for the subduing of the Apaches is because of the valuable information provided by Merejildo Grijalva and other scouts to the United States Army. Devastating campaigns against hidden Apache strongholds could be conducted by the U.S. Army, with Grijalva leading the way. In fact it is my opinion that if Grijalva hadn't left the apaches, the Apache wars could have waged on for at least another 10 or 20 years. What would that have meant for America? With 2 world wars on the horizon, could the Copper and Uranium rich Arizona and New mexico territories have been fully utilized by the U.S. when needed?
If the book has one draw back it is that I would have liked to have read more about Merejildo's life in Solomonville, Arizona. My own family (the Garcia's) Settled in Solomonville at this time and lived on a farm right next to merejildo's. I would have loved to have read how Merejildo received the Gila River land and also why he chose to live there. If I could gleen some insight into his decisions I could possibly understand why my ancesters did the same. Lastly, I wish that more information was uncovered concerning Merejildo's relationship with the Freighters of the area, particularly Tully and Ochoa (Run by Esteban Ochoa with Sydney Delong and Michael Steck as silent partners), Mariano and his mom Raphaela Barela of Mesilla, Ex-confederate Jack Swilling, and The Western end of the Butterfield Mail Company (Brad Daley, Price Cooper, Etc.)
Ultimately though this excellent Book brings out more hidden truth about the South west than many can fully, currently, comprehend! You need to buy this book to understand the Rise and Fall of the Apaches!

I think this is just a wonderful book, not only because we have the same last name,but the name of Grijalva goes back into history, like Juan de Grijalva 1518 explorer, Juan Pablo Grijalva, with the 1775/76 Anza Expedtion. You have to read this book yourself to understand what Edwin R. Sweeney wrote in this book.

Merejildo Grijalva was an Indian Scout who was captured by the Chiricahua Apaches in 1849 and lived more than a decade among the people under such renowned Native American leaders as Miguel Narbona, Mangas Coloradas, and Cochise. Indeed, it was Cochise who used Grijalva as his interpreter in the late 1850s. In 1859, Apache agent Michael Steck encouraged Grijalva to escape the Apaches and two years later aided the American army working in the New Mexico Territory and out of Fort Bowie, Arizona. Edwin Sweeney's Merejildo Grijalva: Apache Captive, Army Scout is number 96 in the University of Texas at El Paso Southwestern Studies series and a work of impeccable scholarship that will be much appreciated by students of Native American studies and western frontier history.

I loved John R. Erickson's 1981 1st end edition of this book and wondered if the 2nd edition would live up to standards set by the first edition. I was not disappointed. Erickson gives a unique insight to cowboying. The chapters "Economics and the Cowboy" and "The Cowboys Wife" are in themselves enough to make this book a unique contribution to Western American literature.

I have only one small complaint about Erickson's work. That is that he gives feedyard cowboys the short shrift. His only discussion of them is a few condensending comments in "The Last Cowboy" chapter. He says he doesn't mean to disparage them and yet turns around and does just that. A book about "THE Modern Cowboy" needs a thorough treatment of feedyard cowboys. Moreover the distinction between feedyard cowboys and ranch cowboys is largely an artificial separation that exists only in Erickson's mind. The majority of feedyard cowboys that I've worked with have worked ranches and you will find quite a few ranch cowboys on the Great Plains who have put in their time in the feedyards. However, I would not let this one oversight of Erickson's keep me from reccommending this book to anyone and everyone.

Now in its second edition, The Modern Cowboy strives to answer the query: who is the American cowboy? Where did he come from, and what is he today? Digging deep into American history, legend, and practical reality, as well as taking a solid look at the contemporary lives led today by men responsible for the welfare of cattle, The Modern Cowboy is a superb source of background material for anyone who truly wants to know more about the legendary figure who appears in so many Western novels and movies. Highly recommended both for entertainment and personal edification.

I just finished reading The Modern Cowboy by John Erickson. It is a very good book about the life of the American cowboy. Erickson covers every aspect of the cowboy working on a ranch in our country. He not only covers the day to day life of the cowboy, he gives the reader a view of what is in the future for cowboys and ranching. A great book.

Good update over previous edition. Author added some new material, but took away some from the previous edition. This book will get me through the state exam.

i came across this book AFTER i have finished reading Jacobus' Texas Real Estate. i hoped i have seen this book much earlier and tossed Jacobus into trash bin... much much better...

I liked this book because it is well organized and informative. At the beginning of every chapter the author includes a list of key terms; and key words are bolded and defined through out the chapters. In the back of the book, there's a glossary. This book covers the main topics of the Texas Real Estate Sales Exam in a very thorough, organized way.

"Moonglow, Texas" is a thoroughly enjoyable romp in which the characters' warmth can't help but be infectious. The writing style is outstanding and the strongly likeable Dan and Molly are two people who instantly draw the reader into their story. This is the second Mary Mcbride novel I've read ("Still Mr. and Mrs." is terrific as well). Molly (an alias forced upon her because of the Witness Protection Program) is spending her days hiding from terrorists in a forlorn Texas town where she encounters a scruffy but hunky handyman who (like Home Improvement's Tim) keeps destroying more than he can fix. Sensually attractive to Molly, but unbeknownst to her, Dan has a secret identity as a government agent hired to protect her. His past is fraught with pain and heroism, and the reader can't help falling for him as well. Other characters in the story are fully developed - and serve to bring Molly and Dan together. The novel has plenty of intrigue as well as intense, molten romance, and a silver thread of stylish humor runs through the entire book. We need more of Mcbride's delightful novels!

A chance viewing of a pale, white-haired terrorist and she finds herself whisked away to Moonglow, Texas complete with the new identity of Molly Hansen. She leaves behind her job, her fiancé, and her identity to protect her life -- a life she's come to intensely dislike until Dan Shackelford shows up to repair her government provided house. But Molly's no dummy, and it doesn't take long to figure out that Dan's no repairman even if he is a fabulous kisser. And his presence makes Moonglow and her new identity a pleasure. As women line up to welcome Dan back to Moonglow, however, Molly takes great pleasure in keeping him to herself and finds her new identity isn't so bad as long as Dan hangs around.

With his disreputable appearance, Dan Shackelford doesn't look like a deputy U.S. marshal. Bitter, dissolution, and drinking too much, Dan's on extended medical leave after he failed to protect his partner from a hitman. But when someone breaches the security of the witness protection program's database, Dan finds himself called back into service and returning to his hometown to protect Molly, even if word has it that all the members of the terrorist group that destroyed her life are now dead. As threatening phone calls begin to belie the assurance of no danger, however, Dan finds his skills not just as handyman, which are seriously lacking, but his reputation as well as the sheriff still treats him like poor white trash and women wish to rekindle the past.

Author Mary McBride creates a first rate romance with characters the reader can't help but care about in MOONGLOW, TEXAS. Despite the serious setting of the witness protection program, this lighthearted romance will but the glow on a sultry summer night. As Dan heals the scars of the past, and Molly faces the challenges of her present, watching them create a future together is pure pleasure. Amusing, entertaining, and heated, MOONGLOW, TEXAS comes highly recommended.

Molly Hansen doesn't particularly care for her home in Moonglow, Texas but when the U.S. Marshals' office sends over a handyman to work on her place, she figures it's not her place to argue. The house and the identity were given to Molly about a year ago when she entered the Witness Protection Program after witnessing a terrorist act. There is nothing about her new life Molly finds appealing and little she enjoys about Moonglow until the handyman from hell enters her life.

When Dan Shackelford left Moonglow twenty years ago, he never expected to come back much less return posing as an itinerant handyman. He might not know much about home improvement but figures he can play his unexpected assignment by ear. Still suffering from the tragic fallout of his last assignment, Dan is less sure of his skills as a Deputy Marshal than as a handyman. When WITSEC is compromised by hackers, however, he accepts the low-priority case of protecting Hansen knowing it is his last chance to prove himself capable of his professional duties. He never suspects that his charge will give him new hope both professionally and personally.

Mary McBride has written a story that is nearly flawless both in style and characterization. The irony is that part of the charm of this book stems from the imperfections of the hero. Dan Shackelford is both amusing and admirable in his role as a reluctant hero. His desire to go through life in a drunken haze only increases when he returns to Moonglow, the town where everyone literally knows his name and his reputation for trouble precedes him. He finds his depression lifting every now and again as he comes to befriend and eventually love Molly Hansen whose unflagging faith in him stuns and shames him out of his self-imposed misery. Molly is a wonderful heroine who has come to accept her new life. She's smart and practical so it doesn't take her long to realize that Shackelford is anything but handy to have around the house. But she is drawn to him, the Moonglow lore about his troubled adolescence, and the man he has become. McBride does an excellent job of developing Dan and Molly's relationship and drawing an appealing image of Moonglow, which only gets better for both the reader and Molly when Dan reluctantly drove back into town.

Greta Anderson provides a glimpse into the lives of ten women that possessed a true pioneering spirit in pre 1900 Texas.As opposed to some historical accounts that can get bogged down in facts, this book represents history in short stories that make for an enjoyable read. It is wonderful to find a book like this that can tell the tale of history through the eyes of a woman.Greta successfully puts flesh on the bare bones of history.I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the role of women in history, particularly women of the south. I was inspired by this book and would love to see a second book containing more stories about the women of Texas.

These ten inspiring biographical accounts of 19th century Texas women who changed history are straightforward, well-researched, and so well-written that I would recommend the book even to young readers, though there is more than enough here to engage a curious adult. Of particular interest are the stories of Cynthia Ann Parker, raised by Comanches, Sara Estela Ramirez, a Mexican-born poet, and "Texas" Guinan, a nightclub owner and silent film star. Andersen's admiration and compassion for her subjects is evident, though she is careful to present the facts of their lives in an unbiased and impartial manner. More Than Petticoats is an important contribution to the existing literature on women's history and a must-read for anyone interested in Texas, feminism, women's suffrage, civil rights and pioneer history.

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to others. For me it was a quick, refreshing, and interesting read. I still think about the characters and stories months after finishing the book. For my 12-year-old daughter, the book was inspiring. Of the many stories, the most inspirational for her was Sophie's refusal to be fired as the railway doctor because she was a women. The book tells the stories of many strong women, and I was struck by the variety of ways in which women can become leaders and role models. I hope more books like this will be written so that women's history can be preserved.

This is the first compilation of Paul Dini's MUTANT, TEXAS comic stories. The star is Ida Red, a winsome yet spunky orphaned Texas gal who discovers amazing powers lurking just beneath her supposedly "normal" exterior. J. Bone's artwork has the timeless look of classic cartoons and the amusing supporting cast of talking armadillos, comical Texas politicians and villainous coyotes make this series a winner. I can't wait for more!

The creative genius behind BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES, JINGLE BELLE and writer of the current hit ABC series LOST delivers his most imaginative work to date. Set in a marvelous, mystical corner of the southwest, MUTANT, TEXAS chronicles the adventures of Ida Red, a young cowgirl blessed with amazing powers. When her humanlike animal and plant friends are kidnapped and sold as freaks, it's up to Ida to assume the role of Sheriff and track down the villain varmints. Think Buck Rogers meets Roy Rogers with a big helping of Dale Evans thrown in, too. J. Bone's illustrations perfectly match the wit and whimsy in Dini's script. Bone's Ida Red is the consumate cowgirl, brave and strong of course, but playful and prone to the occassional moments of doubt that every young heroine must (and does) overcome. The chapter where Ida faces down an angry jaguar and tames it like a bucking bronco is a tall tales scene that would do old Pecos Bill proud. MUTANT, TEXAS is a delight for all ages. Kids will love Ida and her talking animal friends (Rolly the armadillo in particular is a hoot) and adults will enjoy the sly humor found in Dini and Bone's western wonderland.

I like Ida because she is fun and is a good role model for girls. I am tired of wonder woman. It was good to read about someone who is around my age and could maybe be my friend someday. It makes me also think I am a hero too.

Richard Trask's objectivity must be maddening to the conspiracy nuts since he clearly doesn't give credence to their silly theories, while at the same time he doesn't openly criticize their ideas. He isn't looking for a fight. He simply researches the objective photographic history and refuses to jump on the bandwagon of insanity currently awash in the country by those claiming the Zapruder film has been altered. I was glad that he did not spend a lot of time in this arena, it would have cheapened the high quality of work Trask is known for. ALong with "Pictures of the Pain" Trask must be ranked among the great photographic historians of this case. I highly recommend this work

I whole-heartedly agree with Mr. Von Pein's extremely comprehensive review. If you are into the photographic and film record of the Kennedy Assassination, as I am, than Mr. Trask's published works will satisfy your desire for an in-depth analysis of the major photos and films taken during the November 21st-November 22nd period of time. All three of his books are worth the investment for the wealth of photos they contain and the analysis of those photos.
As to NATIONAL NIGHTMARE, I liken it to that first cup of cold water after a long run. It is satisfying and quenches the thirst. Mr. Trask approaches the history of the film and his analysis of it with no agenda. He is not out to change anyone's mind as to "who dun it," unlike David R. Wrone, who does a good job of describing the history of the film in THE ZAPRUDER FILM: REFRAMING JFK'S ASSASSINATION, but then goes off into the wacky world of Zapruder film tampering by unknown conspirators. I consider myself a historian, an as such, am much more impressed with Mr. Trask's objective approach to his subject. One gets the impression that he discounts the conspiracy theories in favor of the Warren Commission findings, but it serves as an undercurrent, not as a presumptious raison d'etre for the existence of the book. Mr. Trask simply presents the photographic record in wonderful detail, leaving the theories for the reader to muddle over.
This is really an extaordinary book, and my hope is the Mr. Trask (I hope you're reading this, sir) publishes a book of all 400+ frames of the Zapruder film in the largest, clearest, most colorful format that technology can provide and takes a page to analyze each frame of the film. One frame per page accompanied by a page of analysis would amount to a holy grail of sorts for me and no doubt for all those who understand the importance of analyzing the history of November 22, 1963 through the numerous photographs and films taken on that day.

I love reading Richard Trask's books about the JFK assassination; and this one, published in late October 2005, is certainly no exception. It's very informative and definitely a worthy addition to anyone's collection of written materials surrounding the shocking murder of President John Kennedy in November of 1963.

"National Nightmare On Six Feet Of Film: Mr. Zapruder's Home Movie And The Murder Of President Kennedy" is a softcover volume containing 392 pages packed with just about every conceivable piece of information revolving around the infamous 26-second color motion-picture film taken by Dallas dress manufacturer Abraham Zapruder on November 22, 1963, which is a film which shows, in all its morbid detail, the assassination of an American President in broad daylight on a city street in Dallas, Texas.

Mr. Trask details the full history of the film and provides a good deal of background and biographical information on Mr. Zapruder, an ordinary Dallas businessman, born in Russia, who, by pure happenstance and coincidence, turned out to be the amateur filmmaker whose name will forever be associated with the death of JFK.

But, if it weren't for the prodding of his secretary, Lillian Rogers (who encouraged Zapruder to go back home and retrieve his 8mm Bell-&-Howell movie camera shortly before the President's motorcade arrived in Dealey Plaza), that brief and awful 26 seconds in history would probably have never been captured through Mr. Zapruder's lens.

Like Richard Trask's other books on the JFK assassination which focus attention on the photographic aspect of the tragedy, the text of "National Nightmare" is ever-readable, easily-understood, and refreshingly-non-biased when it comes to taking a "Conspiracy vs. No Conspiracy" position by the author. Mr. Trask lays out the facts and leaves it at that.

This book's endnotes/footnotes are all positioned at the back of the book in one separate section, so as to not clutter up the main text of the volume. (So keeping two bookmarks handy is recommended, because a lot of interesting info can be gleaned from some of these endnotes too.)

One big surprise to this writer when perusing this book was seeing a COLOR version of the Robert Croft photograph printed on Page 67 (within a 16-page spread of mostly all-color photos and Zapruder Film frames). I had never seen the Croft picture in color previously. And it's an excellent-quality print of that famous amateur photo that I found in this volume, too. The picture is needle-sharp and the color is virtually perfect.

The Croft photo, by the way, depicts the President's limousine on Elm Street, just after the car has made its sharp left turn from Houston Street in front of the Texas School Book Depository. It was taken at a point equivalent to Zapruder frame #161 (per this book's text and captions), which is just about the time the first gunshot was being fired in Dealey Plaza.

Other highly-recommended publications authored by Richard B. Trask (centering on the photography of President Kennedy's assassination) ..... "Pictures Of The Pain" (1994) and "That Day In Dallas" (1998). The latter is a condensed version of the former, focusing attention on just three of the photographers who took pictures in Dallas on the day JFK was killed (Cecil Stoughton, James Altgens, and Jim Murray).*

* = Although condensed into a smaller number of pages than that of its predecessor "POTP", "That Day In Dallas" does contain "revised and enlarged" material throughout its limited number of chapters. And the specific photographs represented within that volume are unrivaled in their clarity and quality of physical presentation, in this writer's personal opinion.

I truly enjoyed both of those books, and was very glad to see "That Day In Dallas" come out a few years after "POTP", because "That Day" provides a larger-print format for many excellent-quality assassination-related photographs, including several pictures you're not likely to see in any other book on the subject.

As a companion piece to "National Nightmare", I would also recommend highly the MPI Home Video DVD "Image Of An Assassination: A New Look At The Zapruder Film" (released in the summer of 1998), which contains four "digital" versions of the entire 26-second Zapruder Film in various formats, including "zoomed-in" variants and a previously-unseen "Widescreen" version of the movie, which includes the imagery between the "sprocket holes" from Mr. Zapruder's "camera original" film.

That DVD also contains some valuable and collectible "bonus" video programming, including interviews with Zapruder associates, as well as the March 1975 "Good Night America" program (hosted by Geraldo Rivera), during which U.S. audiences first saw the horrifying images of Mr. Zapruder's movie. The DVD also has a crystal-clear video copy of the Live interview that Abraham Zapruder gave on WFAA-TV just hours after he had filmed the assassination.

Many of the above-mentioned items from that "Image Of An Assassination" DVD are also referenced by Mr. Trask throughout the well-written pages of "National Nightmare".

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In "National Nightmare On Six Feet Of Film", Richard Trask has admirably filled in yet another in a seemingly-never-ending series of pieces of subject matter that comprise the wide and varied fabric that form the mosaic of literature covering the topic of the John F. Kennedy assassination.

Nowhere can be found a more detailed and fact-based history of Abraham Zapruder's historic film than that which resides within these 392 pages.

This book is for the child in all of us who used to canter, rather than walk, to school. The illustrations show Oliver's love for both horses and the Native American craft designs. The loving care and detail of the beautiful trappings indicate how truly the Native Americans loved and valued their horse companions. Each illustration is identified on the back and most all are recreations of historical artifacts from major museums. Children can enjoy this book and will want to cut out all the items to dress the horses up. But adults will enjoy it also as a great source of information on the different tribes and styles, which has been carefully researched. A great gift for the horse-crazy little girl (and boy) in all of us.

This book is for the child in all of us who used to canter, rather than walk, to school. The illustrations show Oliver's love for both horses and the Native American craft designs. The loving care and detail of the beautiful trappings indicate how truly the Native Americans loved and valued their horse companions. Each illustration is identified on the back and most all are recreations of historical artifacts from major museums. Children can enjoy this book and will want to cut out all the items to dress the horses up. But adults will enjoy it also as a great source of information on the different tribes and styles, which has been carefully researched. A great gift for the horse-crazy little girl (and boy) in all of us.

This book is for the child in all of us who used to canter, rather than walk, to school. The illustrations show Oliver's love for both horses and the Native American craft designs. The loving care and detail of the beautiful trappings indicate how truly the Native Americans loved and valued their horse companions. Each illustration is identified on the back and most all are recreations of historical artifacts from major museums. Children can enjoy this book and will want to cut out all the items to dress the horses up. But adults will enjoy it also as a great source of information on the different tribes and styles, which has been carefully researched. A great gift for the horse-crazy little girl in all of us.

I was born at Winters, Runnels County, Texas yet grew up in the Piney Woods of East Texas, Smith County. I bought my copy of The New Handbook of Texas when it was first available. When I was in high school we took Texas History as required subject. I doubt that it is even available as an elective subject now. In that class I acquired a strong desire to investigate further knowledge about "my state".

I have yet to want to know something about Texas and not be able to find it in The New Handbook of Texas. It has been available for my grandchildren to use in writing themes, essays, etc., assigned in their schools. It is valuable beyond the cost of the books.

This is a great book containing information about Texas. It is a beginning resource and should be used. It has everything from Alvaez to Zavala

If you love Texas, you gotta own these books!

Literally an encyclopedia of everything Texas, this set of books is the ultimate resource for all things Texan. Wanna know why your town has the name it does or who was that guy they named that road after? This is the place to go.

There's no way you'll cuddle up in your bed with one of these books, but you'll love `em just the same.

I own six other cookbooks and often my girlfriend has told me just use this one. Pyles is a mastermind. Elaborate but easy to follow recipes. Deep history and personal experiences make this not just a cookbook but a Texas experience. Some favorites are Smoke Pheasant Salad with Texas Goat Cheese, Whole Wheat Tortillas, Barbequed Duck Tacos and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. You can not miss with this book!!

Hell yeah! This is what Texas cuisine is all about. If you like Rick Bayless or Jane Butel, then you will definitely be impressed by this book. The recipes are complex and rewarding as Stephan creates dishes that are both original and traditional. Best thing is that he insists on using native southwestern ingredients in all his recipes. Mas tequila, baby!

Once you have tried a single recipe from Stephan Pyles' "The New Texas Cuisine," you will undoubtebly be starstruck by the culinary brilliance that Mr. Pyles brings forth through his creative dishes that blend the flavors of Mexico, France, Tex-Mex cuisine, and Barbeque into savory meals. Like other well known Southwestern chefs such as Mark Miller (owns Coyote Cafe) and Dean Fearing (owns The Promenade), Chef Pyles uses many ingredients that are native to his Texas area. This results in authentic tastes that trully match the title, "The New Texas Cuisine." If you are familiar with the work of Chef Miller, Chef Fearing, or the great Mexican tastes of Rick Bayless, dive into Chef Pyles' Southwestern odyssey. This book will satiate the most avid fans of Southwestern cuisine.