North America Books

Don't be fooled by the first part of the title; for this book is really about Blacks, Jews, and the Changing Face of the Ghetto. Pritchett studies Brownsville in details, but never forgets to see the bigger picture, which should be of interest for any historian or social scientist. Pritchett is very good at giving you the facts, the analysis and the feelings as well. This book is not just about a ghetto in Brooklyn, it is indeed about urban change and inequality.

As someone who lived not far from Brownsville in the 1950s and early '60s, I can say this is an exceptionally accurate book. It is well-written and is the best attempt I've seen yet at explaining the phenomenon of the changing urban neighborhood. Not only does Pritchett provide many well-reserached, well-thought-out answers but, just as important, he raises insightful, penetrating questions. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in American urban history, particularly as it relates to New York City.

New Yorkers see constant small changes in their city, and the cumulative effect of those changes can remake the character and composition of a neighborhood almost overnight. That is what happened in Brownsville during the late 1950s and early 1960s. What had been an entirely Jewish neighborhood of sidewalk synagogues and old-world customs became an entirely black and Latino neighborhood. Pritchett captures that period of change and the various players -- community activists, business interests, government agencies and politicians -- masterfully. He tells a poignant story of idealistic neighborhood leaders who fought for integrated public housing to meet the needs of their community and were instead given massive projects built to house the city's poor who had been displaced by urban renewal. This is a great book for anyone interested in New York or urban history generally.

Kenner's book is an excellent narrative which chronicles the actual experiences of the buffalo soldiers and the white officers who served with them. The book is a pleasure to read because it goes beyond the dates and battles, opting instead to recreate their foibles and shortcomings as well as their valor and heroism. It takes a true historian to give the rest of us glimpses into such humanity.

Kenner's book is an excellent narrative which chronicles the actual experiences of the buffalo soldiers and the white officers who served with them. The book is a pleasure to read because it goes beyond the dates and battles, opting instead to recreate their foibles and shortcomings as well as their valor and heroism. It takes a true historian to give the rest of us glimpses into such humanity.

This is an incredible social history placed on the backdrop of the west. When most people think of racial issues in the American west, they think about White settlers vs. Indians on the warpath. Dr. Kenner's book presents a different picture of the West. His book focuses on the world of white calvary officers and their "colored" soldiers. Dr. Kenner talks about issues from the fighting skill of these often forgotten African-American soldiers to interracial dating to homosexuality. This is an incredible story, that no serious historian of the west should ignore.

He is a favorite from many approaches: Native American folklore, attractive art, great read-aloud choices.

Mr. Goble is to be applauded for his engaging stories and fine, impressive illustrations. All children should own at least one of his books. I think my daughter likes Buffalo Woman best because the child, who is the main character, saves the day.

A young hunter, waiting at a stream, sees his prey, a buffalo, slowly approaching for a drink and tightens his arrow against his bow. To his surprise, now he sees nothing but a beautiful woman and "he knew at once that he loved her."

She tells him she comes from Buffalo Nation and they she was sent because he had always had good feelings for her people being a good and kind man. "My people wish that the love we have for each be an example to both our peoples to follow."

They marry and have a son, Calf Boy, but the hunter's people are cruel to his wife and child. So they run away and turn back into their true form, buffalo. The man loves them more than anything and chases after them. He finally finds them (after they'd escaped him several times) and his son, Calf Boy, gives him some "tips" [this is what makes the story in my opinion] to help save his father from the buffalo and unite, not just his family but the entire herd and the hunters that hunt them. [Another interesting part of the story.]

I think there's a strong underlying message in this story, not just for us to respect and protect animals but to respect and love each other. "Mitakuye oyasin--We are all related." o8E
Soar!

I am a faithful listen of Don Imus' show "Imus In The Morning". One morning he was talking about this book and how much his son Wyatt loved it. He started telling the story, but just stopped short of the end. I was so intrigued I ordered one up!

The book, although for a child, teaches a valuable lesson about relationships and how strong their bonds can be. I don't have children, but think should be required reading for our youth. I'm 33 years old (at the time of this revies) and I practice some of the ideals revealed in this innocent children's book.

This is a very nice read. Soft biography of Governor Brown and descriptive overview of the times. You really cannot miss on this one.

Ethan Rarick has written a great biography of a man who was to be one of the most well known of California Governors.Edmund G. "Pat" Brown came on the political scene as DA of San Francisco County. He would follow the path of Earl Warren as State Attorney General and then Governor. Brown in 1959 became only the second Democrat elected governor in the 20th Century; Culbert L. Olson served 1939-1943. "Pat" Brown picked the right time to run for governor when US Senator William F. Knowland figured to use the California governorship as a stepping stone to run for President. Popular governor Goodwin J. "Goodie" Knight was forced by Knowland to seek his vacated Senate seat. This broke the GOP is California. Then, Knowland endorced Proposition 18 "The Right To Work Law." This lost the labor vote for the GOP totally. Brown would win in a landslide. Four years later, the governor's race in 1962, Brown defeated former Vice President Richard M. Nixon. Nixon made the famous remark to the press: " You won't have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore."
"Pat" Brown, in 1966 faced in a run for a 3rd term, a washed up actor from Warner Brothers, in the 1950's the host of General Electric Theatre and now the host of television's Death Valley Days. Ronald Reagan running on the platform to "Clean Up the Mess in Berkeley." Ronald Reagan defeated Pat Brown as he tried to do what Earl Warren had done be elected to a 3rd term.
Governor Brown has many accomplishments the State Water Project; Freeways and many others.
UC Berkeley, Watts and many problems of a changing time came at Governor "Pat" Brown, during his second term.
Since 1958 except for a few years during the term of Gov. Reagan; the Democrats have controled the Legislature.
In the book we see Browns fellow party members infighting famed Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty and Speaker of the Assembly Jesse "Big Daddy" Unruh. The Brown family continued with Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. 1975-1983 present Mayor of Oakland. "Pat" Brown's daughter Kathleen holding statewide office and being defeated in her bid for governor. This is a great book on a man of California Edmund G. "Pat" Brown.

First I'll disclose that the author, Ethan Rarick, is a friend of mine.
Having said that, I'd have quickly bought and read this biography whether I knew the guy or not.
Secondly, as a lifelong Californian of 50, I guess I'm exactly the right demographic for appreciating this book--Pat Brown is the first governor I can remember. Having childhood memories of the events in this book certainly made learning more about them that much more satisfying.
But what makes this book so fascinating is how drastically the political landscape changed during the years of his administration, and how the changes ruined him politically--for a while.
When elected in 1958 Brown was a forward-looking liberal with an ambitous agenda for improving California, one at which he was remarkably successful: banning racial discrimination, expanding a great university, and building a massive project to transport water unprecedented distances from wet parts of the state to dry ones.
But by the time of his loss to Ronald Reagan in 1966, time had passed Brown by. Events like the Berkeley free speech movement and Watts riots pushed middle America into a sharp right backlash. The fact that he genuinely anguished over whether to have men executed or to spare their lives, unlike successors who adopted a safe, knee-jerk, blanket pro-death approach, injured him further at a time of increasingly pro-authoritarian attitudes.
By '66, Brown seemed a hopeless relic. Damaged by a rough primary against Sam Yorty, L.A.'s racist demagogue mayor, and by his own inept scheme to sabotage the Republican primary, he was creamed by Reagan in his quest for a third term.
Yet, by the time of his death 30 years later, Brown had again become an icon, hailed as the most effective governor ever by political wannabes of both major parties.
A great personal story and an interesting slice of California history.

Douglas Leighton is an amazing photographer. It's clear from looking through this book that he knows how to take photos worthy of publication. I've never been to the Canadian Rockies but now I intend to.

I recently went on New Year's ski trip to Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada (1998-99) and took some great pictures. Unlike my amature pictures, Douglas Lighton's pictures truly capture the spirit and raw beauty of this unsploiled landscape. In this book, on the inside cover, one line reads,

"Many of today's visitors are on their own kind of vision quest. These mountains rejuvenate tired souls."

Let me tell you, I left my high stress corporate job and graduate studies for 8 days to enter the most beautiful area I have ever visited in my 28 years of existance. I fully agree with the author when he wrote, "These mountains rejuvenate tired souls." I came back to Atlanta changed forever by the utter sense of "awh" when we stayed in the magnificint resort town of Banff and visited the surrounding areas like Lake Louise. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the splendor of mother nature doing her finest work. I also recommend visiting Banff National Park in either the summer and/or winter seasons; either time of year you will get the full effect of this magnificent and rejuvenating area. By the way, the residents of this area are among the friendliest people I have ever met too!

If you're looking for the perfect "coffee table book" this is it. From first glance you will be captivated by the most beautiful pictorial you could ever lay your eyes on, no exaggeration! This book will have you calling your travel agent and planning a trip to Canada A.S.A.P. From Mt. Robson in Jasper to Red Rock Canyon in Waterton, over 100 pgs of full color landscapes, flora and fauna of the Canadian Rockies. Each picture is titled and described with historical facts and details which only enhance your enjoyment of this awesome book. I highly recommend this photographic masterpiece, you won't regret the money spent!

Kim Grant has undoubtedly composed quite a thorough and resourceful guide to Cape Cod! This book covers all the towns along the Cape as well as the two islands - Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. One will find information about sightseeing, shopping, dining, activities, etc.

I picked this book instead of Frommer's or any of the other travel books because Grant made it quite clear that she personally went to each and every place that is in this book - so she didn't merely compile the listings of businesses along the Cape, she went and saw them each with her own eyes. Hence, the book has more of a personal touch to it. It is quite evident that Grant spent a great deal of time putting together the valuable information which comes in pretty handy for those touring the Cape.

An excellent resource indeed!! All people who travel the Cape, regardless of the degree of knowledge you possess (or don't possess) of the Cape, have this book with you!

As a lover of the Cape; I enjoy finding new places to explore when I go there. This book has given me that and more. Ms Grant (no relation to me) gives a very personal look at places to see, places to eat, and places not to miss. I couldn't put it down. I found things in this book that I've never seen on the Cape before and I've been going there for over 20 years. Ms Grant gave very easy to read, accuarte details, phone numbers, websites and names. I've found in each area of the Cape she gives a brief, yet thorough description of stores, specialty shops, restaurants, ice cream shops. She has also included Museums, Courthouses, even Cemeteries. Also included is Medical Information. Motels, Hotels, Bed n Breakfasts, Cottages. Tennis, Golf and Miniture Golf Courses. Times, places. When they open in the spring, if they're open all year round, when they close in the fall. There was a great little specialty shop that I visit each time I visit the Cape. It wasn't in the book. So I emailed her and told her. She visited there, as did her mother and it was in the next edition she published.

Before I purchased this guide, I was able to use it in a cottage I stayed at recently. I found it extremely helpful and truthful, so I felt I needed to own it myself. I bought two and gave one as a gift. I highly recommend this if you are traveling to Cape Cod.

The Carpatho-Rusyn Americans - Paul Magocsi
The best introduction to the Carpatho-Rusyn people and country

This is a delightful book about the Carpatho-Rusyn people, culture and land. It is easy to read yet fully detailed about the major topics of this small but complex area of study. The author is the leading expert on Rusyn history and culture and this is his beginner's guide to this topic. The text is illustrated throughout with black-and white photographs, artwork, and maps and there is an eight page insert of color plates called "The Seasons of the Church" that illustrates the liturgical uniqueness of this group.

The first chapter, "From a Little-Known Land", is an introduction to the geography of the Carpathian Mountain region which is the Rusyn homeland. A 1914 map of northeastern Austria-Hungary shows this land when it was last united in one country.

The second chapter is called "The Homeland" and follows the history of this region up to the mid-1980s when the book was written. This region is in the geographic center of Europe and has been at the divide between Eastern and Western Europe for centuries. This is the land where the Roman alphabet changes to the Cyrillic, and where western Christian and Byzantine Orthodox theologies meet. It is the home of the Uniate church, a curious compromise where Byzantine liturgies are performed in churches owing their allegiance to the pope in Rome. The language is a dialect of Ukrainian, but has been greatly influenced by the Polish and Hungarian spoken in the countries the land has been a part of for centuries. The cultural awakening of these people in the Austro-Hungarian Empire of the 18th and 19th centuries is outlined. The division of the land between Poland and Czechoslovakia at the end of World War I, and the later removal of a section into the USSR after World War II are outlined.

"Events of the Immigration", the third chapter, describes the conditions that led to a vast immigration of Rusyn people to the USA in the late 19th and early 20th century. This immigration was stopped by World War I and was reduced to a trickle after the war.
"The New World" describes the arrival of the Rusyns in the coal mines and steel mills of western Pennsylvania, and the factories of New York and New Jersey. The people brought their own Uniate priests who were often married and they built their own churches. They ran into misunderstandings with American Catholic bishops who had little knowledge of the unique situation of these eastern rite Catholic churches.

In "Assimilation and Adaptation" Magocsi tells the story of how these churches confronted their problems in various ways. Some of the early churches, led by Father Alexis Toth, converted to Russian Orthodoxy and built up that church in America. After World War I some churches formed a new church that was affiliated with the Greek Orthodox community. Of course, some remained in the Uniate churches of their ancestors, while still others started attending Roman Catholic churches. The Rusyn press and fraternal organizations in the USA are also described in this chapter.

The next chapter, "People of Prominence" , discusses some famous Rusyn-Americans and their contributions. Sandra Dee and Andy Warhol are the most famous of these but many others are also mentioned.

The last chapter, "Looking Toward the Future", describes the resurgence of interest in Rusyn heritage in the USA and mentions some of the prominent people and groups involved. However, since this book was written in 1989, years before Ukrainian and Slovak independence, the future described in this chapter appears a little dated. A new edition of this book has just been published, and hopefully will bring Rusyn history up to date with some information on the Rusyns of Slovakia and Ukraine.

The illustrations in this book really make it outstanding. There are illustrations of major historic figures like Cyril and Methodius, Prince Fedir Koriatovych, Aleksander Dukhnovych, Adolf Dobriansky, Reverend Alexis Toth, and Gregory Zhatkovich. Also lots of pictures are of ordinary people, like young girls or children in traditional costumes, dance or choral groups also in traditional dress, immigrants arriving at Governor's Island, miners and factory workers, church groups, and family groups. The unique architecture of Rusyn churches is represented by eight pictures from both North America and the Carpathian Mountains.

If you have one book about the Rusyn people, this should be it.

This is a delightful book about the Carpatho-Rusyn people, culture and land. It is easy to read yet fully detailed about the major topics of this small but complex area of study. The author is the leading expert on Rusyn history and culture and this is his beginner's guide to this topic. The text is illustrated throughout with black-and white photographs, artwork, and maps and there is an eight page insert of color plates called "The Seasons of the Church" that illustrates the liturgical uniqueness of this group.

The first chapter, "From a Little-Known Land", is an introduction to the geography of the Carpathian Mountain region which is the Rusyn homeland. A 1914 map of northeastern Austria-Hungary shows this land when it was last united in one country.

The second chapter is called "The Homeland" and follows the history of this region up to the mid-1980s when the book was written. This region is in the geographic center of Europe and has been at the divide between Eastern and Western Europe for centuries. This is the land where the Roman alphabet changes to the Cyrillic, and where western Christian and Byzantine Orthodox theologies meet. It is the home of the Uniate church, a curious compromise where Byzantine liturgies are performed in churches owing their allegiance to the pope in Rome. The language is a dialect of Ukrainian, but has been greatly influenced by the Polish and Hungarian spoken in the countries the land has been a part of for centuries. The cultural awakening of these people in the Austro-Hungarian Empire of the 18th and 19th centuries is outlined. The division of the land between Poland and Czechoslovakia at the end of World War I, and the later removal of a section into the USSR after World War II are outlined.

"Events of the Immigration", the third chapter, describes the conditions that led to a vast immigration of Rusyn people to the USA in the late 19th and early 20th century. This immigration was stopped by World War I and was reduced to a trickle after the war.
"The New World" describes the arrival of the Rusyns in the coal mines and steel mills of western Pennsylvania, and the factories of New York and New Jersey. The people brought their own Uniate priests who were often married and they built their own churches. They ran into misunderstandings with American Catholic bishops who had little knowledge of the unique situation of these eastern rite Catholic churches.

In "Assimilation and Adaptation" Magocsi tells the story of how these churches confronted their problems in various ways. Some of the early churches, led by Father Alexis Toth, converted to Russian Orthodoxy and built up that church in America. After World War I some churches formed a new church that was affiliated with the Greek Orthodox community. Of course, some remained in the Uniate churches of their ancestors, while still others started attending Roman Catholic churches. The Rusyn press and fraternal organizations in the USA are also described in this chapter.

The next chapter, "People of Prominence" , discusses some famous Rusyn-Americans and their contributions. Sandra Dee and Andy Warhol are the most famous of these but many others are also mentioned.

The last chapter, "Looking Toward the Future", describes the resurgence of interest in Rusyn heritage in the USA and mentions some of the prominent people and groups involved. However, since this book was written in 1989, years before Ukrainian and Slovak independence, the future described in this chapter appears a little dated. A new edition of this book has just been published, and hopefully will bring Rusyn history up to date with some information on the Rusyns of Slovakia and Ukraine.

The illustrations in this book really make it outstanding. There are illustrations of major historic figures like Cyril and Methodius, Prince Fedir Koriatovych, Aleksander Dukhnovych, Adolf Dobriansky, Reverend Alexis Toth, and Gregory Zhatkovich. Also lots of pictures are of ordinary people, like young girls or children in traditional costumes, dance or choral groups also in traditional dress, immigrants arriving at Governor's Island, miners and factory workers, church groups, and family groups. The unique architecture of Rusyn churches is represented by eight pictures from both North America and the Carpathian Mountains.

If you have one book about the Rusyn people, this should be it.

This is a delightful book about the Carpatho-Rusyn people, culture and land. It is easy to read yet fully detailed about the major topics of this small but complex area of study. The author is the leading expert on Rusyn history and culture and this is his beginner's guide to this topic. The text is illustrated throughout with black-and white photographs, artwork, and maps and there is an eight page insert of color plates called "The Seasons of the Church" that illustrates the liturgical uniqueness of this group.

This year 2000 revision of a 1989 text brings a classic introduction to the Rusyn people back into print and up to date. I call it a revision rather than a new edition because the changes are actually quite minor. Five paragraphs have been rewritten and two new ones added. To reflect the passing of eleven years, a few dates and numbers have also been changed. Two pictures were replaced with new ones and the captions to three others have been enhanced. Also, the two maps have been redrawn. On the page called Further Reading, three items were dropped and two new items added.

The illustrations in this new printing suffer from a common problem with reprints. the photos are darker and less in focus than those in the original edition. If the illustrations are the important part of this book for you, then seek out the original edition rather than this updated revision.

The first chapter, "From a Little-Known Land", is an introduction to the geography of the Carpathian Mountain region which is the Rusyn homeland. A 1914 map of northeastern Austria-Hungary shows this land when it was last united in one country.

The second chapter is called "The Homeland" and follows the history of this region up to the mid-1980s when the book was written. This region is in the geographic center of Europe and has been at the divide between Eastern and Western Europe for centuries. This is the land where the Roman alphabet changes to the Cyrillic, and where western Christian and Byzantine Orthodox theologies meet. It is the home of the Uniate church, a curious compromise where Byzantine liturgies are performed in churches owing their allegiance to the pope in Rome. The language is a dialect of Ukrainian, but has been greatly influenced by the Polish and Hungarian spoken in the countries the land has been a part of for centuries. The cultural awakening of these people in the Austro-Hungarian Empire of the 18th and 19th centuries is outlined. The division of the land between Poland and Czechoslovakia at the end of World War I, and the later removal of a section into the USSR after World War II are outlined.

"Events of the Immigration", the third chapter, describes the conditions that led to a vast immigration of Rusyn people to the USA in the late 19th and early 20th century. This immigration was stopped by World War I and was reduced to a trickle after the war.
"The New World" describes the arrival of the Rusyns in the coal mines and steel mills of western Pennsylvania, and the factories of New York and New Jersey. The people brought their own Uniate priests who were often married and they built their own churches. They ran into misunderstandings with American Catholic bishops who had little knowledge of the unique situation of these eastern rite Catholic churches.

In "Assimilation and Adaptation" Magocsi tells the story of how these churches confronted their problems in various ways. Some of the early churches, led by Father Alexis Toth, converted to Russian Orthodoxy and built up that church in America. After World War I some churches formed a new church that was affiliated with the Greek Orthodox community. Of course, some remained in the Uniate churches of their ancestors, while still others started attending Roman Catholic churches. The Rusyn press and fraternal organizations in the USA are also described in this chapter.

The next chapter, "People of Prominence" , discusses some famous Rusyn-Americans and their contributions. Sandra Dee and Andy Warhol are the most famous of these but many others are also mentioned.

The last chapter, "Looking Toward the Future", describes the resurgence of interest in Rusyn heritage in America and mentions some of the prominent people and groups involved.

The illustrations in this book really make it outstanding. There are illustrations of major historic figures like Cyril and Methodius, Prince Fedir Koriatovych, Aleksander Dukhnovych, Adolf Dobriansky, Reverend Alexis Toth, and Gregory Zhatkovich. Also lots of pictures are of ordinary people, like young girls or children in traditional costumes, dance or choral groups also in traditional dress, immigrants arriving at Governor's Island, miners and factory workers, church groups, and family groups. The unique architecture of Rusyn churches is represented by eight pictures from both North America and the Carpathian Mountains.

If you have one book about the Rusyn people, this should be it.

The second edition of "A Cherokee Feast of Days" is as uplifting as the first. One can follow it daily to get an insight or inspiration, or, as I often do, scan it to find something that is pertinant now. The second edition uses more modern day situations than the first, so it will be more meaningful to young people. I only wish this edition had an index like the first edition. So far I have given 3 copies of the firt edition and 3 copies of the second edition to family and friends. I am ordering 4 more copies today.

A collection of uplifing anecdotes--the format is a modern 2 paragraph quote for the day from the writer which is followed by a statement from an Indian from years ago. Well done.

The second edition of "A Cherokee Feast of Days" is as uplifting as the first. One can follow it daily to get an insight or inspiration, or, as I often do, scan it to find something that is pertinant now. The second edition uses more modern day situations than the first, so it will be more meaningful to young people. I only wish this edition had an index like the first edition. So far I have given 3 copies of the first edition and 3 copies of the second edition to family and friends. I am ordering 4 more copies today. It is a wonderful little book!

The middle school-aged children I've shared this with enjoy the story. It inspires many good questions and comments from them.

I teach reading and language classes. This book is an excellent resource to encourage reading, to introduce new language, and to increase my students knowledge and understanding of other cultures.

This literary piece is well written with the exquisite paintings that amplify the story over all. To have the visual images interact with the writing so well, I have to wonder how such an artist would only have illustrated a few books. A must read and a visual pleaser to the afficianados of art. Irving Toddy is a fine artist whose work should be sought out more. Eve Bunting is a good writer whose work is always complemented by the illustrator. In this case, to have a Native American-Navajo illustrate and to have lived the characters experiences is great.

I love it when I get find a book that I can't stop reading, and this is one of them. Each chapter is as good as the last and Ms. Conley writes in such a way that you feel as if you are right there with the subjects. I was especially moved by Tommy, the Korean street child. No two characters are the same and this book really opened my eyes to the everyday struggle of immigrants in this country. Go get it!!!

These stories are addictive in their drama and passion. Each time you wonder how the next chapter can match up to the last one, you are surprised by the poignancy of the voices of these immigrants, which Conley preserves in their original forms. You can almost smell the herbs and cheeses from the various corners of the world from which her subjects hail. Required reading for any citizen of our now-globalized society.

Ms. Conley's collection of stories offers a vivid insight into the lives and experiences of recent immigrants into the US. As a recent immigrant, I found I could identify with many of the experiences and feelings lived by the actors in this book. I felt like finally someone had given voice to my own emotions.

I strongly recommend this to anyone who wishes to understand the plight and struggles of immigrants into contemporary America.