Associations and Clubs Books

I read this book in one day and was astounded at the fantastic ending! I applaud Susan Sloan and wish she would write more great books!

This is a fantastic book... full of anticipation and the end is just FABULOUS... I can't go into much without giving away the great story but HIGHLY encourage you to read this book. I had a hard time putting it down and can't wait for her next book! Susan R. Sloan has that "something different" I was waiting for... this book is like nothing I have read and probably the BEST book I have read in a long time.

This is the second Susan R Sloan book I have read, the first being Behind Closed Doors.

Hands down, this was an amazing book. I couldn't put it down because I was so curious to find out what happens. I read a lot of books, and it's rare that I get so engrossed in a book as I did this one.

While I do find Sloan sometimes gives too much background information for even minor characters, I think that the way she wrote this story was excellent. I enjoyed how we travlled through the 60s, 70s, 80s & 90s and got a chance to see how the ideas about rape evolved. Not only that, I loved how she left me waiting for Karen to come face to face with her attacker.

In conclusion - an wonderfully written legal thriller.

I stayed up all night reading this novel. It had me on the edge of my seat from the intriguing beginning all the way to the heart-stopping conclusion. I recommend this book to anyone who loves suspense!

The book had me from the opening chapter. By the middle of the book, I was bored to tears, but then it began to pick up again, although slightly redundant, and pretty much predictable. I thought that the concept of the story was lame, but the way it's written will definitely get your attention.
I'd reccommend.

Yeah the skinhead thing never really appealed to me. If this book is, as it claims to be, the definitive book on skinheads then what little doubt I have that the skinhead scene at its roots was not any kind of real world working class movement but just another teeny bopper fashion/music scene pose mixed with bullying hooliganism has been erased. I will be fair and say a few good people have come out of that movement though. These people also grew up and moved on to other things. Sorry but anybody that feels the need to turn themselves into some sort of walking cliche and caricature, no matter how many real world risks they may put themselves in the way of, come off as just roleplayers who have no clue as to their true self or identity.

The author of this book writes in a very ranting "zine" like way (which I don't necessarily think is a bad thing) and is apparently a long time skinhead himself. Also this book is VERY English, which I suppose a skinhead history should be. The most interesting and useful stuff in Spirit of 69 is about the earliest days of the skinhead movement. After that it mainly consists of ska and oi music scene history and very poserish stuff pertaining to skinhead fashion and clothing. It does go into other topics like football hooliganism, the various factions and divisions of skinheads, the media circus that followed the skinhead scene during the 80's, some of the more infamous riots and brawls, there is even a fair amount of space given to those little Italian scooters that many skins in England used to zip around on. Its a mildly entertaining and interesting book in some parts, one thing I like about it is for the most part its an independent first hand history, which is something I would like to see more of on all topics instead of every non fiction book being written by professional academics, as is the case 95% of the time. Overall I wouldn't go out of my way to recomend Spirit of 69 to anybody unless they were highly into ska and oi music or they were some sort of retro fashion victim with a fetish for boots, braces and bald heads.

Man! This book is so original. Since i become a skinhead, this has been my only guidelines. I don't trust any zines or people that try to misled me in this culture. You see, in my place in Malaysia, there are many damn poseur that wearing those outfit like hell, but doesn't live even the pure way of a skin. Some of them even hated Oi! and ska music, even reggae. The SHARPs, neonazis, RASHs, GASHs, whatever, just the lies beneath this culture. Live the pure way! Oi! Oi!

I was looking forward to getting this book so I could finally get a "definitive" history of the movement. Unfortunately, I got a poorly written free association from some guy who is a skinhead. The quality is at the level you would see at an internet discussion group : not something worth paying for, barely worth reading. Do not waste your money on this book.

It is not at all clear from this book what the essence of the skinhead movement was or is. It seems what unites them is their uniform : the shaved head, suspenders, and black Doc Martins. Beyond that, the book gave me no sense of what the skinhead movement is all about. If you are a skinhead, and know all the jargon and history already, then you might appreciate the work. I, on the other hand, wanted to learn about the history of this group from the *outside*. The book is not written for outsiders, alas.

Very disappointing. I should have known by the title: this is not a history, it is a eulogy.

Like someone before me said; if you're into the skinhead scene, then there's probably not going to be a whole lot of new information here for you.

The book's a little better than average, though I expected something a bit more considering how long I waited to get a chance to rea it. This book's a bit hard to get, especially when they're selling for over $100! I secretley suspect that George Marshall himself's got a stack and sells out a couple at a time.

The style guide at the end was pretty cool.

Spirit of 69 is a must for any skinhead (Trad or SHARP, even a nazi, maybe they'll learn their roots, or even the casual reader) It goes so in depth on the entire skinhead culture. It's so unbiased that it almost makes me mad. Marshall captures the mood and feel of the culture back in the sixties, all the way up to the rebirth in the nineties. The only flaw that I saw in the book is how deep he goes into the music in a skinhead's life. .... But still, a must. The only thing that I didn't like is that he portrays the nazi skinheads in a fair light, something that I believe they don't deserve. Anyway, have a good read.

In Rabelais' work Gargantua (which sadly, I have not yet read, but just ordered after reading this) , there is a section in which the author imagines a Utopian "abbey" named Theleme; the only rule of living there is "Do what you will." Ashe looks at this rule, and asks the question of what happened when people have tried living by this motto, both in reality and in fiction. Furthermore, he examines the question of libertinism being the same as liberty -- and the result is a look through a slice of history. I will tell you at the outset that this is not a book for the average reader, and it's not a titillating tell-all about the much misconstrued and notorious Hellfire Clubs.

Ashe takes the theme of Theleme through the book, looking into various individuals & organizations who have practiced the "do what you will" theme. Taking a road that leads from Rabelais, he examines John Dee and his assistant Edward Kelley, then moves to different erotic literature characters (and authors) of the 18th century, then the various Hell-fire Clubs, spending quite a bit of time with the one organized by Sir Francis Dashwood. His examination takes him into the world of politics, since most the highest-ranking members of this group were also members of government. Then it's on to Gothic literature, the Marquis de Sade, Lord Byron, Aleister Crowley, Anton LaVey (founder of the Church of Satan) and a wee bit about the "family" of Charles Manson.

Very well done, but it is important to realize that this is a book of history and as such, not something that a reader wants to choose lightly. It takes a while to get through it, but it is well worth it. I'd recommend it to anyone seriously interested in the topic, and anyone who is looking for a resource on the subject.

This book used to be titled "Do What you will" -though the Hellfire Clubs are the real subject matter. The saying, "do what you will" was a more tenuous connecting theme. There are some small updates to the original text (which I have also read), but it is again largely a survey of the wonderful antics of the early British, American (Ben Franklin was an associate of Satanist types at least) and Irish gentleman-Satanists and sandwich-inventors. I wanted a copy of my own and couldn't resist revisiting these agreeable rakes and their adventures and antics. These clubs were dedicated to drinking, wenching, political intrigue, blasphemy, and various other forms of debauchery. Many such clubs have existed among upper class englishmen, and still do; these were the most colorful, and the note of blasphemy had a strong political/religious component which would not be present today. One of these days I have to try out their recipe for chicken ("... of venus") and "scaltheen" (whiskey with butter and brimstone).

This book could have been juicy, but isn't.

The Hellfire clubs were phenomena that came into their peak activity in the 1700's and 1800's of the raucous activity of men. The Hellfire clubs were many things: a way to have fun, a way to rebel against current thinking, practices and social norms, a way to gather like-minded people, a way to express ideas and freedoms in a safe environment, a way to find an outlet for behavior that notable men couldn't safely exercise elsewhere, and a place to create uncivilized fun. Mostly, the Hellfire club activity itself seemed to be plenty of mockery of Christian rituals, light occult practices, and occasional orgies, some for ritualistic practices and others just for fun.

For a book titled, "Hellfire clubs", it has disappointing little say about them. Part of this of course, is because, mostly what went on inside the Hellfire clubs stayed inside the Hellfire clubs, so the historic record is scant. Therefore, the book makes up by telling the story around the Hellfire clubs, which isn't interesting.

The book starts in the 1500's with the founding of the philosophical themes that lead to the foundation and freedom of the Hellfire Clubs, the "Do what though wilt" that's been made ever-so-famous since. The book then traces this philosophical thread through five centuries, explaining how it built the formation of the Hellfire clubs. Since there's not much of a story about the Hellfire clubs themselves, the book then spend time discussing some of the major members of the Hellfire clubs and analyzing their writings, stories, and poetry in light of the "Do what though wilt" philosophy, which is not exciting.

A good story about wenching, carousing, forbidden and mysteries ceremonies, getting drunk, and causing trouble - this book is not. Buy this book if you're sincerely interested in the history of the period; otherwise, skip it.

Ave Everyone,

I have to say if your going to research all the Hell fire clubs this is the book for you. It sticks to facts about the clubs and it's members not like other books on the clubs that used mostly fiction. Geoffrey Ashe is a great writer and I am glad this book is still around. I recommend it to the people within the church I am in. So if you want to know what people do and some still do to have the most sexual delightful time then by all means buy this book.

Always In The Dark,
High Priest/Advisor Gino of the Temples Of Satan

Much to my surprise, this is a wonderful and witty history of not only Western anti-morality philosophies but also of British politics in the mid-nineteenth century. Ashe is a master at understatement, dry humor, and clear writing, making this a great and important read if you want to understand the underpinnings of British upper class society and politics in the nineteenth century (as well as some of the nasty pasttimes of some of that era's peers). I was pleasantly surprised that the book did not dwell on salacious details of the libertine "clubs" discussed, but gave just enough description for the reader to get the gist of what was going on and why. Ashe also deserves praise for making quite plain which supposed "facts" are (or were) rumors, disinformation, lies, or, unfortunately, truth. Clearly, Ashe spent much time and effort researching this subject matter; it plainly shows.
In the end, this book is a well-balanced and scholarly dip into the pool of both Rabelaisian philosophy and its influences, as well as British history and politics. What makes this book a gem is that it is never dry or too erudite -- it is compulsively readable. I found myself enjoying it more and more as I read further.

This book is composed of the theoretical explanation and its applications. I read only the first chapter of the theory of H.S.Sullivan about the structure of the mind. The second part of its applications was too hard to understand because of its slangy conversations.

The first chapter explains the mechanism of how to suffer from the psychopathic. H.S.Sullivan criticizes the hypothesis of Freud that misunderstands the most serious motivations of the human beings. The 'id' ('es' in German, also) is not influenced directly by the sexual desire, but depends on the social evaluation against it. It means that if the society is generous with this wish, it won't cause the psychiatric diseases. The reason that Freud determined 'id' as the sexual was the strict ethics of the time, which regarded it as a vice. This evaluation as immoral has made people, who has such a desire unconsciously, anxious and fearful. It is these emotions that cause the psychopathic. Since this redefinition of 'id' free from the physical, we have been able to recognize that the most important motives of the human beings are whatever brings anxiety and fear. It was the pivotal turning point where the transition from the physical to the social, that is, from the biochemistry to the sociology has begun at the psychiatry and psychoanalysis.

The importance of H.S.Sullivan will be re-estimated strongly in the near future, and should be so.

I was a residant at Gallinger City Hospital in Washington D.C. at which time Dr.Sullivan was on the Staff of St.Elizabeth Hospital and each week he lectured there. We( his students)were sure he was the worlds greatest Psychiatrist. He hardly ever wrote his books but always there was a student who took down every word. His works were a'vant garde to the extent that even he himself even feared he might be forgotten after his death.He died shortly after this while in an aeroplane his doctor had forbidden, going to Europe to lecture. His great heart did not survive the altitude. He has never been forgotten by his followers but much has been lost to Psychiatry. Since chemical cures have taken the place of psychiatry and today most Psychiatrists replace what Harry S.Sullivan did with his own brain based on based on intelligent observation. God bless you Harry Stack your work will rise again when they realize the truth about his works. place a'vant gard

Conceptions of Modern Psychiatry was the only book published inSullivan's lifetime. Originally 5 lectures published in the journal, Sullivan published it privately in book form in 1940 and again in 1947, selling nearly 20,000 copies (a remarkable figure for a private publication). Sullivan puts forward the major tenants of his interpersonal theory in this book, but is often unsure of his ideas. Shortly after his death in Paris in 1949, a group of loyal friends and colleagues at the Washington School of Psychiatry formed to insure that Sullivan's thinking would not be lost. Using lecture notes and wire recordings, this group published through Norton three books of his lectures, two collections of articles, an old unpublished manuscript of Sullivan's very early works, and Conceptions. Of these books, "The Interpersonal Theory of Psychiatry" and "THe Psychiatric Interview" are the most complete statements respectively of Sullivan's interpersonal theory and psychotherapy. For original sources start there. Barton Evans author "Harry Stack Sullivan:Interpersonal Theory and Psychotherapy" END

I count this (the second book of the 5 book Demon Princes series) as one of Jack Vance's best works and one of the all time best space operas. I think it is better than the first book of the series, "The Star King", for which he won the Hugo. The Introduction of the heroine is a wondrous conceit, the hero's adventures have a thoroughly satisfying taste, and there is stunning boldness to the plot. And, as is usual with Vance, you are treated to imaginative cultures and a rich linquistic taste. This read is a wonderful memory.

"Many fine things your father had planned for you: learning and useful work; a life of satisfaction and peace. All this is gone now, do you understand? But the learning you shall have - the use of your hands and mind. And useful work: the elimination of evil men. What work is more useful than this? Finally, I cannot give you peace, but I promise you ample satisfaction, for I shall teach you to crave the blood of these men more than the flesh of a woman."

These are the words uttered by Kirth Gersen's (sometimes called Keith Gersen) grandfather after a raid on their homeworld by 5 super-criminals (known as the 5 Demon Princes) leaves everyone but these two either dead or enslaved. True to his word, the old man forges his grandson into an unstoppable instrument of vengeance. In fact, Gersen often seems more a force a nature than a human being, more machine than man in his single-minded quest for revenge. His fighting prowess and physical abilities are without peer; likewise, his mind is sharp and focused.

This book, the second in the series, concerns Gersen's hunt for the second Demon Prince - Kokor Hekkus, also called "The Killing Machine." Like the first book in the series, "The Star King," this book again reveals Gersen to be an interpid man of action. Here, however, I feel there was more emphasis on Gersen's resourcefulness and mental acumen, which I found to be absolutely delightful. It gives Gersen the feel of being more than simply a one-dimensional character; he overcomes the formidable obstacles in his path with cunning and guile as often - or even more often - than he does with physical prowess. Also, like the first book, Gersen again travels far beyond the Gaean Reach (the area of space inhabited by man) in his quest for vengeance.

As usual, Vance's has created a rich and vibrant epic in which social mores, morals and manners vary from ours in extreme measure, yet this new world - so different from our own - is both convincing and credible.

Kirth Gersen, having won his conflict with the Star King now turns to the next of the Demon Princes who participated in the destruction of Gersen's entire home world - Kokor Hekkus. Or rather, happenstance (a series of kidnappings) leads Gersen to a kidnapping plot by which Hekkus is gathering a huge sum of money. Investigation brings Gersen to Interchange, an institution created solely to facilitate the collection of ransoms and the comfort of the victims - for a fee, of course. In a way, this is Hekkus' storehouse, not just of his victims while they await redemption but also of the ideas, which drive his dark fantasies.

At Interchange, finds an engineer who failed to satisfy Hekkus' need for an imitation giant centipede, and gains some insight into Hekkus's motivation. By playing on the Demon Prince's list for this mechanical device, Gersen discovers more and more, until, by a series of fortuitous events finds himself flying with the beautiful and mysterious Alusz Iphigenia in search of her home, the mythical world of Thamber. And on Thamber, Gersen confronts a world out of a romantic's fervid daydream. Somehow, he must penetrate to the nest of the spider that hides behind the fairy tale in order to quiet one of the voices from his own past.

This is the second of the Demon Prince novels, and over all, I think it is probably the weakest. The story relies heavily on the mechanism of coincidence or 'luck.' And that weakens its overall impact. Vance has always had a tendency towards baroque story lines, which, to be honest, is one of the reasons I like him. The strange cultural architecture of Thamber is a little too fragile and conflicts with what we have been told about Hekkus' character. Vance moves this complex plot through a volume of only 160 pages, so even the major characters are noticeably two-dimensional.

For all my grumbling, 'The Killing Machine' still is a wonderful piece of invention, introducing many of the mechanisms that Vance will go onto use in the volumes to come. I cannot imagine a reader of vintage science fiction who will not love its countless twists and turns. Quite successful in its time, it has gone on to become a monument on the science fiction landscape.

"Secret Ritual and Manhood in Victorian America" is an important book that explores the role of masculinity in the creation and popularity of fraternal societies in the nineteenth century. Freemasonry, the Odd Fellows, the Grange, and a host of other "secret societies" emerged as powerful forces in American society and politics during this period. Of course, the first to do so were the Freemasons, which extended back at least to early modern Europe and numbered among its membership leaders of the American Revolution and a wide range of U.S. Presidents. It even sparked an anti-Masonic political party in the 1820s that argued that a massive conspiracy of Masons was underway to destroy the Republic.

This story is well known and has long been a part of the master narrative of the early Republic. Mark C. Carnes does not repeat this in detail, but concentrates on why Masonry, and other ritualistic fraternal organizations, was so popular. Indeed, most adult males seemed to be affiliated with one of another of them during the Victorian era. No doubt they served valuable social functions, as well as provided contacts for business, politics, and other tangible objectives.

But Carnes argues in this uniquely convincing book that the popularity of fraternal lodges in the Victorian era were motivated at a rudimentary level by the desire to restore order and to resecure the patriarchal authority lost in the Industrial Revolution and its attendant social upheavals. Status anxiety about the loss of traditional male roles fostered the rise of this organization, and initiation ceremonies helped recapture the male's place in a fast changing society. He asserts that the centrality of women in the home, and their encroachment into a variety of male social and political concerns, prompted the creation of lodges as a haven from women. "Fraternal members built temples from which women were excluded," Carnes wrote, "devised myriad secrets and threatened members with fearful punishments if they should `tell their wife the concerns of the order,' and created rituals which reclaimed for themselves the religious authority that formerly reposed in the hands of Biblical patriarchs" (p. 79)

Carnes finds that efforts to secure traditional gender roles in a society in flux in Jacksonian America resonated with the male population of the nation and led to the attractiveness of these secret fraternities. This was in no small part because of the accelerated change resulting from the Industrial Revolution, as virtually all of the cherished ideals about life and home and family were altered in fundamental ways.

This is an important study in gender history and a must read for all who want to understand the rise of fraternal orders in the nineteenth century.

There is a lot of garbage out there on the topic of Secret Societies. This book is a refreshing change from all that, and a delight for the serious student of fraternal orders.

The author is an academic, and the book is exhaustively researched. This is no mean feat given the lack of public information on fraternal rituals. However, through what was undoubtedly a painstaking data-triangularization process and a good modicum of common sense, he seem to have cut through a lot of the hype.

The book focuses on what drove the huge growth in the membership of fraternal orders in the US in the latter half of the 19th Century. Particularly, it takes a look at how mid-century revisions in the rituals of the American Freemasons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Order of the Red Men fulfilled a need among young men for clear symbols of manhood in a society that eschewed such symbols.

In examining the rituals, he culls from the work of historians, cultural anthropologists and psychologists in order to view them in societal context. The veracity of the claims made by the orders is not the issue, although one gets the sense that he does, in fact, reject them.

It's not hard to see why he might do so, when you look at the astounding changes the rituals underwent in the 1840s-60s. It becomes rapidly apparent that the ritualists were more focused on providing compelling experiences for their members than on passing on ancient secrets about the bloodline of Christ or the fate of the Druids or whatever the newest ridiculous theory is.

Add to that the fact that the book is extremely readable, and you have a work that should be the starting point for anyone studying the rise of fraternal orders in America.

"Secret Ritual and Manhood in Victorian America" tells the story of the burgeoning nineteenth-century growth of "secret societies." These were clubs, the existence of which was far from secret, but which involved their members, mainly middle-class men, in secret ritualistic activities. By the end of the century, according to one source cited by Carnes, as many as 40% of American males belonged to one or another such society. What accounted for this popularity?

From the "sodalities in taverns" they were the eighteenth century, as the nineteenth century progressed, Freemasonry and Oddfellowship became more and more formal and ritualistic, the emphasis changing from the festive board to somber, quasi-religious ceremony. Entirely new orders were created, imitating the older ones. Many adopted a policy of teetotalism. Some of this was in reaction to the Anti-masonic movement that arose in the 1820s after the disappearance and alleged murder of "Captain" William Morgan by Freemasons.

Carnes correctly ties the Anti-masonic movement to the influence of women. The connection between teetotalism and early feminism is well-documented. Maurice Healey quite perceptively suggests that prohibitionism was a popular feminine cause because women believed it would force their husbands to spend their time at home attending to domestic duties, rather than at taverns, and their money on fineries for their wives, rather than on strong drink. Yet while making the connection between Anti-masonry and female influence, and pointing out that lodge affiliation amongst males was in many ways both cause and consequence of the feminization of religion, Carnes attributes teetotalism in the lodges to rising "middle-class values." He neglects the obvious connection between female influence and low Protestantism's elevation of teetotal abstinence to a Christian virtue - though completely foreign to Him who made water into wine at Cana. Finally, how much religious antipathy to the orders was simply a consequence of their successful charitable fundraising, which some critics may have felt diverted money from its appropriate channel through the churches?

Carnes relies heavily on nineteenth century ritual exposés of the various fraternities, while neglecting, or perhaps avoiding, much excellent historical work that has been done by such bodies as Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076, E.C., the American Lodge of Research, and the Scottish Rite Research Society. He falls into errors that someone familiar with fraternal orders from personal experience would not have done. For example, he states (p. 178) that "...the crucial story concerning Hiram Abiff in the Master Mason degree was introduced into Masonic ritual in 1825." The Hiramic legend in Masonry is at least a century older than this, being found in such early exposés as Pritchard's "Masonry Dissected" (1730). Carnes's explanation of the Ancient/Modern division in Freemasonry is equally ill-informed.

Another area in which Carnes's coverage is faulty concerns supposed drastic revisions in ritual during the mid-nineteenth century. It is true that American masonic ritual differs substantially from that in use in England. American ritual is derived from William Preston, whose late eighteenth-century recensions were used only by his splinter Grand Lodge in the north of England. They little resembled the work of London lodges except in the essential obligations, words, and grips. Preston's work was adapted by the American Thomas Smith Webb in the early nineteenth century, widely spread by the masonic lecturer Jeremy Cross, and has remained essentially unchanged since then. English ritual changed dramatically with the union of the Ancients and Moderns under the Grand Mastership of the Duke of Sussex in 1814. The one major American masonic ritual change of the nineteenth century was that of conducting lodge business on the Third rather than the First Degree. Otherwise, American ritual more resembles Scottish than English practice. Far from having been radically revised, it represents the survival of archaic usage amongst an immigrant population - a phenomenon well-known to linguists and anthropologists.

Albert Pike's career is discussed more factually in Carnes's book than in most sources. However, the claim that Pike completely re-wrote the degrees of the Scottish rite is repeated here uncritically. The Francken manuscript, one of the eighteenth-century source documents for Scottish rite ritual, shows that in most cases Pike elaborated on established themes. He seldom created anything completely original. Carnes, despite his emphasis on fraternalism as a northern, urban phenomenon, sets little importance on the distinction between the Northern and Southern Jurisdictions of the Scottish Rite (Pike's authority was over the Southern Jurisdiction). He pays no attention to the intense jurisdictional conflicts, including that over Cerneauism, which raged in the northeast during the middle nineteenth century.

Carnes is confused about York rite ritual. For example, the the Past Master degree as a prerequisite for the Royal Arch was not an American innovation, but a survival of the requirement that the candidate have "passed the chair." In England, this archaism was completely abolished. In American Royal Arch work the High Priest is not a chaplain, but the presiding officer. This is a real departure from English work, where the First Principal represents the King. Carnes often conflates and confuses Freemasonry with Oddfellowship, Pythianism, and other orders. At the same time he misses some obvious points, such as that Oliver Kelley, founder of the Grange, was the first man made a mason in the first masonic lodge in Minnesota (today's Saint Paul Lodge No. 3). Oddfellowship's First Degree borrows from the masonic Order of the Secret Monitor, and the Knights of Pythias borrow a part of their Third Degree from another masonic side-degree.

Freemasonry never involved an insurance scheme, whereas most of the other fraternal orders did. The Woodmen, for example, even now have a sizable insurance operation headquartered in Omaha. This difference was reflected in the different class of people from which Freemasonry derived its membership as compared to the insurance-based orders. Carnes does not emphasize this contrast, yet it seems more significant than his treatment implies. The decline of many orders may be traced to the Great Depression, which led to the introduction of unemployment compensation, Social Security, pension plans and employer-funded benefits. These rendered fraternal insurance much less important. The foregoing may seem a litany of fault-finding. Still, Carnes's book is worthwhile, and blazes a trail for further investigation.

Any player seriously intent on understanding the rules must have this reference work. It is both enlightening and entertaining. Remember, all the scenarios here are real-life occurrences - often more bizarre than anything you could make up.

To Destiny above: You don't need the Decisions to solve your question. Look in the Rules of Golf, Definitions: Stroke

The Rules of Golf are not interesting. But the Decisions on the Rules are both interesting and informative. There is no better way to get an understanding of the rules than by reading this book. I know it sounds crazy but I actually found it interesting, even if if fails to address a situation which must arise frequently: Is it a double hit when the club strikes a sand-blasted shot in flight? (Keep in mind that the club doesn't initially contact the ball because of the layer of sand that intervenes when the ball is propelled out of the trap.) I actually read the 1993 Edition (not 1992 as Amazon is listing it). Maybe that question is addressed in the 1995 Edition.

This opened my eyes to women's status in the Gilded Age in a typical good-sized Midwestern town. I couldn't put it down.

My godson is taking his orals for his PhD, and as a requirement, was told to read this, among 100 other assigned books. As he knew I was a Davenport native, he thought I might enjoy reading this. As a female, I found it especially fascinating as it deals mostly with the status of women, both prostitutes and women who owned small businesses, worked as clerks and in other professions, in the Gilded Age. I had no idea that prostition was once legalized in Davenport and such establishements were licensed. I also was surprised to learn how the German influence led to widespread flauting of Prohibition. I had gone to the Lend-A-Hand club as a small girl after school, and reading the history of that venerable institution was really heartening. My grandfather ran a Shell Service station at the base of the Government Bridge and it was amazing to read how that area was a hotbed of vice from 1880-1920.

I bought this book for my mother, who grew up in Davenport, and who is now 90. She knew many of the names in the book, attended school with one of the girls, and was amazed to hear all this come to life. Many of the facts and stories were told her by HER mother, and she was taken back in time when these stories were confirmed. She is now busily engaged in digesting the book.


But the book is better than simply a Davenport history snapshot. As a woman, I was disheartened in the extreme to read of the cruelty practiced on young girls, as young as 11 who were forced into prostitution after having been raped. The Good Shepherd Home in Dubuque proved a godsend for many of the unfortunate girls. They were given a new life and dignity. It left me with new respect for the work of the Catholic Church in restoring people's lives.


This book gave me a view of middle America that caught me off guard. I hope this book gains wide currency, as it deserves it.

I was doing research into conspiracy theories and secret societies when I happened upon this book. Looking back I'm glad I found this book first, before I went on some wild goose chase following unsubstantied rumors and sinister allegations. The author is obviously very learned in this area and while I haven't read them I would also suggest his other books that have to do with religions and occult societies as well. The author doesn't indulge in some of the more preposterous accusations against the Masons, the Rosicurians, and the Illumanti, but instead presents the history and the teachings of these orders in a straightforward and informative manner.

The author has something unique in his book, he doesn't hesitate to say "I am not sure" when he isn't (something rarely found in most books today). Mr Barrett did a very scholarly book, which has plenty of details and doesn't hesitate to show that some of the ealier "experts" were not really experts at all but were more flamboyant than knowledgeable. If you want to know verifyable facts about freemasonry, Rosicrucianism and other secret societies, this is a good book to start with (alhtough not an end all book on the subject). One of my few criticism is that some groups like Martinism and Melanchthonism have been left out of the book...

A worthwhile read!

This is a one of a kind book about cults I hope they make #2. It was very informative.

Paul Elliott's book is very well-researched and entertaining to read. It doesn't go into a great deal of detail but the author manages to fit quite a bit of information into the seven chapters. The cults covered are the Greek and Roman Mystery cults (one chapter each), the Knights Templar, the Assassins of the Middle East, the Thugs of India, the Ninja clans and the Chinese Boxers. Each chapter stands by itself but there is a fair amount of cross-referencing which helps tie the whole work together. Stylistically, there are a couple of very minor problems such as strange grammar (which may just be a difference between American and British conventions) and the odd use of exclamation points here and there. These shortcomings are easily overlooked, however. If you are interested in history, martial arts or the truth behind certain myths and legends, this book is for you.