Washington Books

How did the Americans emerge victorious in the Revolutionary War? Was it due to the talents of George Washington and his commanders, as some historians argue? Or to the incompetence of a long series of British Generals and Admirals?

This is the question this excellent volume attempts to answer.

George Billias's book, originally published as two separate volumes, is now available as a single integrated work. In each of the book's two parts, a series of historians and scholars each examine the life and battlefields victories and defeats of a single individual general. The book is well balanced. Twelve American Generals are examined in the first part; twelve British General and Admirals in the second.

The result is an amazingly well written collection of essays on the men who won and lost the Revolutionary War. A great many myths are dispelled and a number of interesting military figures, both American and British, have been illuminated.

The editors (and authors) conclude that the relatively inexperienced Americans took timely advantage of a series of strategic and tactical mistakes by their British counterparts, on land and at sea, to win the war.

Those interested in learning more about the key military figures of the war will find this book a great read and a welcome addition to their library!

This excellent book provides compendium biographies for all the major commanding generals of both sides during the American Revolution. The average length of each bio is roughly 10-30 pages, which provides enough general detail for each personality. No book has put under one cover all the key military players of the Revolution. In addition to all the standards like Washington and Lafayette, the reader also gets many lesser known American generals, as well as the main British personalities like Howe and Clinton. The American Revolution was not a war that produced any brilliant generals on either side. Reading these various bios will show that military brilliance was not really displayed in the Revolution by either side. Washington was an inpired leader of men, but a poor tactican. Sir William Howe a good tactician, but a conservetive strategist. Readers may be surprised to learn how imcompetent many American generals were, and how basically competent most of the British were. This was a war about the hearts and minds of the American people, and this was a problem the British never really understood. Leadership displyaed by both sides was often haphazzard, and this book should provide ample evidence of that. There is a lot of duplication of events because many of the generals were involved in the same events, but each bio is complete in itself and should provide interesting reading on the major commanders involved on both sides during the American Revolution.

This book examines both Washington's subordinates (there were many) as well as his supposedly better trained British antagonists. Only recently have books surfaced positing that the British lost the War for Independence more out of failings in their strategy than brilliance by American generals. After reading this book you may agree.

The future United States lost more than 70% of the battles in the war. In some cases the losses were catastrophic. Yet the Americans won the war.

A Chinese proverb says, "The best lie is to tell the truth". As the truth comes out it makes me prouder to call myself an American. This is because one eventually comes to an understanding as to how we could possibly have defeated the most mighty nation on Earth at the time.

Enjoy!

This catalogue to the current Dou exhibition in Washington (NGA - 4/16-10/6,2000) is as splendid and intimate as the show itself - 35 small, exquisitely crafted paintings by the Leiden master who was Rembrandt's pupil while that master was himself still a teenager. Wheelock reviews the critical history around Dou's work - the minutely detailed paintings, with their startlingly accurate and refined light effects were highly valued and admired until Thore-Burger and the early modern critics heralded the taste for broad, expressive brushwork. They labelled his work as superficial and heartless, but more recent work has rediscovered sophisiticated and thoughtful themes in such works as the Quack (included) and the Braamcamp triptych (two closely related works are included). Baer's essay outlines the career, working method and subject matter of Dou, exploring some aspects of his extraordinary "reality effect" as well, while Boersema explores his extraordinary, painstaking technique, reviewing such technical evidence as paint samples and reflectograms from the Lady at her Toilet and the Young Mother, both part of the show. There's not a lot of new work on Dou, so this catalogue is especially welcome to those of us who love Dutch Art of the Golden Age. This NGA cabinet gallery show moves to the London National Gallery for Sept and Nov, and the Hague's Mauritshuis from Dec to next Feb. This catalogue's gorgeous reproductions and substantial bibliography make it a solid, up-to-date reference on Dou too.

This exhibition catalogue contains enlightening and thoughtful essays on seventeenth-century Dutch painter, Gerrit Dou. Dou, one of Rembrandt's students, was highly esteemed during his lifetime for his exquisite technique in painting, but as Arthur Wheelock explains in one of the catalogue essays, his work began to lose favor in the middle of the nineteenth century. This catalogue is a wonderful account of Dou's rise and fall from fame, as well as a study of his masterful painting technique. In addition to the informative text, the color illustrations are beautifully rich, and they do justice to Dou's incredible paintings.

Although Rembrandt and Vermeer are the two most discussed and honored of the Dutch Masters, and deservedly so, Gerrit (or Gerard) Dou had a far more dramatic influence on 17th century art in the Netherlands than either of his better known countrymen. It is Rembrandt's later work, with an individuality so far ahead of its time, and Vermeer's penetrating psychological touches that make them fascinating to us in light of modern movements in art. But the paintings of Dou, by the laborious nature of their creation if not always their actual subject matter, give a much deeper insight into the culture and times in which he lived, and the growing taste for luxury from the then newly-emerged Dutch middle class. His images were themselves like jewels, with beauty almost impossible to imagine coming from a human hand, and the artistic perfection that began with Van Eyck found a worthy successor. When such virtuosity became less appreciated in the late 19th century, however, Dou then suffered the fate that Vermeer had known all along, and his name was all but forgotten. It is to the world's benefit that recent showings at the National Gallery in Washington, as well as this flawless book, are begining to change that. As with all of the other volumes that Arthur Wheelock has compiled and edited, this book provides a thoroughly detailed examination of Dou's work, with the kind of objective insight that can re-emphasize his importance to all those just learning about this amazing painter.

Book is clear and well laid out. Color. Thin format. If you need a map that goes further north than Lynnwood or further south than Kent, you need to get the larger Thomas guide. Occasional errors in showing streets that go through when in reality they dead end. Useful tool.

This map is clear and easy to follow, even for a first-time visitor

The best set of 8.5x11" maps I've found for the Seattle area.
The 42 maps are clear and easy to read. They cover from
Lynnwood to Kent, and West Point to Sammish/Issaquah. I've
been using a five year old version and really wanted an
updated version.

It doesn't cover anything on the otherside of ferries. It
would be better if it also went upto Everett.

One of his many on the city's neighborhoods, this book captures the old balck U Street in all its glory. Nicely done indeed!

I really enjoyed the book, being a native Washingtonian it brought back some old memories.

I really enjoyed the book, being a native Washingtonian it brought back some old memories.

You might appreciate knowing the contents:

Foreward.......... 7

JAPANESE HAIKU
Buddha Nature.......... 11
Happiness.......... 23
Phases of the Moon.......... 29
Birds.......... 41
Creatures.......... 63
Spring.......... 77
Summer.......... 113
Autumn.......... 159
Winter.......... 181
New Year.......... 207

WESTERN HAIKU
Traditional.......... 217
Modern.......... 231

Acknowledgments.......... 253

***
For most of my life I did not know that the haiku art form existed. When I discovered it I was instantly smitten and developed an intense desire to know everything about it including how to compose it.

This book does not teach you how to compose haiku, and yet indirectly it does because the poems within serve as the best examples of successful haiku. I mean after all, these originally came from the likes of Basho, Buson, Issa, Shiki and Chiyo-ni (as well as some lesser known but no less skilled classical-era haiku poets). If one would want to learn from the best, then study the haiku from this book. Read them very slowly both out loud and to yourself many times; concentrate on one and discover what it has to offer in terms of meaning as well as imagery; search out the subtleties in tone, mood, etc.

***
There's a section containing some very good modern english haiku toward the back of the book.

Admittedly, (for right now anyway) I favor reading and studying the classical Japanese haiku from the masters preceding the twentieth century. That isn't to say that I ignore or don't appreciate modern haiku (or modern Western haiku). Indeed, I certainly 'can' and 'do' appreciate great haiku created by anyone in the world today.

I think it's only that I instinctively understand in my spirit that the "fundamentals" for learning and developing haiku-composition skills are to be found in the classical-era haiku of the recognized masters... and one should always start with the fundamentals.

***
The english translations by R. H. Blyth are excellent; they are very satisfying.

The book itself is a relatively small, sturdy hardcover; it is well-made; it has a permanent bookmark ribbon to keep your place with.

***
I often found myself reading each poem as slowly as possible, not wanting to reach the end of the book.
I was enjoying these haiku too much -- savoring each one. That's when it is best; that's when you are more likely to be rewarded with an insight -- when you spend significant time on just one before moving on.

***
I recommend this haiku collection to you if you are at all interested in reading (as well as studying) some of the haiku from the great masters.

This is simply a wonderful anthology. It is designed to be read whenever and fits in one's pocket or purse. The first section of the book comprises of R.H. Blyth's translations of the Japanese masters. This section is devided into themes such as; Buddha nature, phases of the moon, birds, creatures, and the five seasons--New Year's--is considered a short season in Japan. The second half of the book moves to the other side of the Pacific and is title "Western Haiku". This half of the book is then broken down into two remaining chapters "Traditional" & "Modern". The one issue that some practicing haiku poets have concerns about is the "Traditional" chapter where haiku-like poems by Wordsworth, Scott, Keats, Shelley, Thoreau, Whitman and many more apprear. However, these critics somehow did not read carefully Peter Washington's introduction. He writes:"In an appendix to his magisterial work, Blyth makes the controversial suggestion that the spirit of haiku is present in all great poetry, claiming that there are many haiku 'buried' in familiar English poems. In part two, bearing a universality in mind. I take up this idea, offering some of his examples and more of my own." Therefore the examples in the section are NOT haiku, but have present some components of the haiku spirit. So this is important to note. The last section titled "Modern" finds haiku on the shore of an English language literary world. We see how haiku develops through time and understanding starting with Pound and ending with several contemporary poets. There is a slight feeling that the last chapter of the book could continue, and that is true. However, this simple could reflect the editor's feeling that haiku continues to thrive that the ending should be left open.

This book does not pretend at be all inclusive, quite the opposite. I feel the intention is to offer the reader a beautifully bound book of classic haiku and small poems that can be taken anywhere to be enjoyed. It does that. I highly recommend this book.

Well I was shocked when I heard Tony & Justin had written a book. When I found out it was a book on Haiku I was even more shocked. I haven't read or wrote many haiku but I do care for them. I remind me of early Atari games. At first you don't quite get what is going on. Then after a few times it gets easier and fun. The style is simple yet the games can be challenging. In a day when the world has HDTV, PS2, X-Box and other forms of electronic gaming it is nice to never forget Atari. The roots of video gaming, the forefather of video gaming. I think the Handsome Brothers new book is the best think to come along since the joystick.

This is a great book about the rich history of Washington Irving High School located in Clarksburg West Virginia.It is highly recommended!!

This is a great book about the rich history of Washington Irving High School located in Clarksburg West Virginia.It is highly recommended!!

This is a great book about the rich history of Washington Irving High School located in Clarksburg West Virginia.It is highly recommended!!

Hair of the Dog is an immensely interesting tale of the life of an American translator aboard Soviet fishing trawlers during a Joint-Venture in the late 1980s. The story gives insight into the lives of the Soviets and how they lived with constant observation by the political commissars and KGB agents while working alongside the Americans. The friendships formed by the author and the experiences she had as both a translator and representative of America were solid and left me wishing I could have joined her out at sea. The story flows well and was an extremely easy read for anyone interested in Russia, the Soviet Union and the people of both great countries.

She gave a detailed of how the journey would go through out the ship voyage and gives reader a great idea of how brave she was on the ship. This book does not only show the readers that even you only spend most of the time on the ship that you can still have fun and this a once a life time experience. You can imagine how people who sail or working on the ship most of the time, and how they spent their time. It's a great and fuuny book and gives me a imagination of how her journey is.

This is a special book and a very enjoyable read. Oakley perservered in getting it published and we are all the beneficiaries. Give yourself a treat and get a glimpse of US-Soviet relations that few Americans have witnessed. This book is not just a factual account of life at sea; it is a view into the Russian soul and psyche. You will not regret it.

Broughton's book is a collection of almost 40 stories of people who helped develop aviation in the U.S. You'll only recognize a few names (EAA's Paul Poberezny among them), but they are a mix of men and women who were there when great events happened. One helped Wilbur and Orville Wright in early test flights; unaware of what was happening, one was flying a mission nearby when Nagasaki was devastated by the atomic bomb; several tell details of experiences as fighter pilots.

Broughton's book doesn't have a theme or direction -- it simply tries to bring out the most-significant accomplishments of each flyer's life. It starts with the early days of flight, progresses through time and ends with a story of space flight and one from the Vietnam War.

This book tells the story of real pioneers in the field of piloting. Some of their experiences would shock today's pilots. Without the dash and daring of these pilots we wouldn't be where we are today in the diverse fields of aviation.

I thoroughly enjoyed Irv Broughton's HANGAR TALK. His interviews with pilots from the early days of flight to those involved in the gulf war conflict provide a fascinating oral history of flight. Broughton has written a brief reflection on each pilot's life and significance to flight, followed by a series of inquisitive questions that allow the pilots to reflect back on their adventurous lives. What was especially enjoyable about this book was reading about the many facets of aviation. The early barnstormers daring willingness to land their planes almost anywhere has always amazed me. There aren't many people left who witnessed the beginning of flight and the early developments. HANGAR TALK has interviews with pilots whose roots go back to the earliest pioneers of flight. Interviews with crop dusters, bush pilots, and experimental aircraft designer/pilots are also included. Of course, pilots involved in the wars provide a higher percentage of the drama in this book. Many stories of combat flying and flying related to the military portray the courage of those that served our country. This is a book about extraordinary people, many who influenced the development of flight. I highly recommend this book to all interested in aviation.

I recently picked up this book - Wow guide - North Cascades.

In addition to exploring the outdoors I seem to collect guide books and I have to say "Thanks! to the authors. The attention to detail and the writing from an actual experience of personally being there comes through.

This book just happens to cover the area I call my backyard. Having been on most of these trails, I can tell you that little advice like... "at 2.5 mi you might notice a faint trail beginning to countour right (northeast). Ignore it. It goes to....." really makes a difference.

I have been in the outdoor industry for most of my life, either in the field or behind the scenes helping others get out there. So I have an appreciation for accurate and grounded information.

Going to the North Cascades (America's Alps)? There are hundreds of miles of trails to choose from, and everyone has limited time to spend hiking. The authors take an opinionated approach about which hikes are the best - because they have the best views, get you up and out of the forest, and otherwise have a lot to offer. Most of the hikes are in Washington, in and around North Cascades National Park, but a few are in Canada.

I didn't know this book existed when I went up to the area, and I was surprised at how useful it was. I had a week to go hiking, and all of the hikes that I did from the book were spectacular. The authors make a great balance of telling you what to expect without giving the whole hike away. The book has amazing color photos for each hike, and simple maps, elevation gains, topo map suggestions, etc. Each hike review is separated into opinion and fact, which makes for easy reading.

I wish the authors could write books like this for all the major hiking areas of the country - it would have saved me a lot of not-so-memorable hikes. I look forward to their upcoming Utah hiking book. One thing to note is that most of the hikes are fairly serious endeavors, even the day hikes. If you also enjoy doing easier hikes, you will have to purchase another guidebook, or rely on park information.

Craig and Kathy have updated their opinionated prior work "Don't Waste Your Time in the North Cascades" and have done a spectacular job again. I wanted to wait to write this review until I had the opportunity to use the book during a recent extended backpacking trip to the North Cascades, and wasn't disappointed in the quality or accuracy of this guidebook and the opinions expressed by Craig and Kathy Copeland.

I agree with their approach. I flew 3,000 miles to backpack in the Glacier Peak Wilderness with my 23 year old son, and didn't want to have a second-rate experience of slogging through uninspiring stuff to get to the "WOW" stuff. So this book was a big plus.

It all depends on what you want. Yes, the entire wilderness is wonderful. Yes, it can be appreciated regardless of whether the scenery is spectacular. But spectacular makes me shiver with excitement, and while I don't mind working for it (and working hard, too!), I definitely want the WOW. If you want this type of mountain experience, then get this book.

By the way, I also purchased the MP3 on their website about bears which is a must download. Their thoughts on water purifying technology and trekking poles are also invaluable for those unfamiliar with such topics.

So, if you are planning a day trip or backpacking trip to one of the places the Copelands write about, and you want to maximize your experience...then buy their books and enjoy.

Hiking Washington's Geology is a well-written, informative book that describes the geologic evolution of a wide and varied landscape. I especially appreciate the detailed directions on how to get to the trailheads and equally detailed descriptions of things to look for while hiking. This book is a must-have for anyone interested in the geologic natural history of Washington....

This is an excellent read! The book highlighted some outstanding hikes and I learned lots about the interesting geology of the PNW. This book is a must for any hiker in Washington!!

This is a great book outlining interesting geology in Washington State, and offers suggestions of which hikes should be done.