Ohio Books

Thanks for sending this item promply. I really enjoy reading it and looking at the pics.

Many people outside of Ohio see it as a boring, gray state; the place where Alcoholics Anonymous and the Professional Bowlers Association originated... Well, Ian Adams (photographer) and Stephen Ostrander (writer) of "Ohio: A Bicentennial Portrait" prove that the Buckeye State offers so much more! "Ohio: A Bicentennial Portrait" walks you through the state's backyards and byways, highlighting its history and bucolic splendor. Chapters covering flowers, public art, schools, farms, seasons and other such architectural, agricultural, and natural wonders are touched upon by Ostrander's interesting prose and are massaged by Adams' delicious photography.

Stephen Ostrander's writing is straightforward and interesting. He did his homework and has added depth to what could have simply been just another art book. While his stories and facts are intriguing, you won't be able to keep your fingers from turning to the photos.

Adams' work (which graces one of the U.S. post office's newest 37-cent stamps) is a wonder to behold. The variety and texture of his photographs highlight his love for nature via majestic panoramas and tender close-ups. This book is yet another succulent chapter in his photographic career.

"Ohio: A Bicentennial Portrait" is the perfect gift for those friends, family and co-workers who have yet to see Ohio's silver lining. It is the perfect antidote for a gray day anywhere. It is a must, not just for your coffee table, but also for your desk, your nightstand, and your life. I highly recommend that you get two copies of this masterpiece - you WILL want one for yourself.

I have been a fan of Ian Adams' work ever since I picked up "The Ohio Lands" over six years ago. It was one of the first gifts I gave to my then-fiancée (my now-wife). I'm not saying that she married me because of it, but it certainly convinced her that I was sensitive, artistic, and proud of my state. We have since given most of our out-of-state friends his work (and many of them have picked up additional copies to share). Adams' work can also be found in: "The Holden Arboretum," "Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens" and "Midwest Landscape Design." They are all works of art.

I don't think there have been many, if any, WWII memoirs written from an enlisted woman's point of view. This one is superb! Gilbert tells of her naval training at University of Wisconsin, Madison, to become a radio operator, and talks about studying Morse code, and her subsequent adventures during postings to Corpus Christi and Pensacola. I was a Morse op for the army during the Cold War, and wrote about it in my own memoir, "Soldier Boy", so I could easily relate. Helen Gilbert, the writer, is a natural if there ever was one. This eighty-something year-old great-grandmother will certainly make you laugh, and you'll also ache for her, as she ably describes first what it was like being a woman in uniform during the war, and then the problems she faced as a wife, mother and a flawed human being in her life after the war. "Okay, Girls ..." is a welcome and necessary addition to the canon of WWII literature. Good job, Helen. Thank you for sharing your story.

Ever wonder what every day life during World War II was like from an every day woman's perspective? Helen Gilberts' earthy vignettes from her life (growing up in Philadelphia to becoming a Navy WAVE and her life after) quickly sketch out her tale with sure gestures. Her frank remembrances are told in a conversational tone - you can almost hear her hearty laughter as she sits back and unfurls her memories... rough nuggets, polished and presented with a salty vigor.

During World War II, James A. Dunn was a signalman on the USS Mason, a destroyer escort and the only ocean-going warship in the American navy to employ African Americans in positions other than cook or messmate. Manned by African American seamen (and commanded by white officers), the USS Mason made ten crossings of the Atlantic from 1944 to 1945, escorting convoys of merchant ships to and from the United Kingdom and North African, and operating in hunter-killer groups searching for German submarines. Dunn kept a day-to-day diary during his spare time on board the Masson. He recorded the daily life aborad the ship, including the duties and pastimes that made shipboard life endurable. The diary also reveals what it meant to be an African American in a white navy within a segregated American society -- including the shipboard tensions, cooperation and sense of unity. On Board The USS Mason is a unique and invaluable contribution to the growing body of World War II literature and eye-witness accounts, and will be of immense interest to students of Black Studies and American military history.

The crew of USS Mason's action in the North Atlantic was a showing of a well disiplined well led brave group of men. Being from Boston, Mass. I am aware of thier heroic actions,the DE Mason was built here at the Charlestown Navy Yard when I was about 6 years old. I personally feel the Captain on down took a real royal screwing.The Captain's log showed reason enough to be reconized but it was ignored by some predjudice Brass higher up the chain of command. The book well presented! A USMarine(caucasion)Korean Vet

In the preface, the author mentions that the book is about "food & fun". That's true, however, to me, the main appeal is his diligent research into, sometimes obscure, areas, in order to find restaurants(and derivatives thereof) that combine good food, fine service, and fascinating atomosphere! The reader will be amazed to find so many interesting places, nearby, that they have not yet discovered. All places included in the book are in Ohio, with the exception of a few in Pennsylvania, Indiana, New York, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada. Mr. Zurcher takes you on journeys which include special places, such as...an 18th Century tavern that serves food from a 200 year-old recipe...a 19th Century bed-and-breakfast/tavern that includes beautiful and serene landscapes...an honest-to-goodness fifties drive-in restaurant with a chronologically-correct juke box(I loved it!)...a diner inside a Harley-Davidson dealership...a restaurant that features an antique-car museum and antiques in general...a tuba museum/restaurant...fine Amish restaurants(discover Amish history while in the area)...an actual castle with a restaurant that serves exotic food such as buffalo and ostrich...tearooms with elegant atmosphere and beautiful, rustic surroundings. He, in addition, provides a virtual "who's who" of purveyors of pizza, ice cream, cheese, hot dogs, popcorn, and more! Neil Zurcher's presentation is clever, concise, and really easy to read...the book will entice you onto the road. For a modest amount paid for the book, the reader receives a whole lot more than a "tankful" of memories and interesting dining experiences...TED DRISCOL

Having read Mr. Zurcher's two previous One Tank Trip books and having found them thoroughly enjoyable I approached this third edition with great delight. It certainly did not dissapoint me. I found the publication absolutely entertaining and full of great stories and places to eat. What a great surprise to open what I thought to be a book on restaurants and find myself laughing from cover to cover. The way the author intertwines reality with good old front porch stories and humor is nothing short of editorial wizardry. The book is a masterpiece of education and entertainment. I personally will not only use it as a where to go to eat bible but will undoubtedly re-read it for it's entertainment qualities. I highly reccomend the book and think it should be in every home, car and christmas stocking. Thank you Mr. Zurcher for the hours of delight. I can't wait for the next one.

Quite simply, this book is wonderful.

"Ordination" is insightful, sharp, and smart; its assortment of characters (charismatic missionaries, working-class former athletes, confused adolescents, preachers' wives, professional fighters) and wide range of topics (sexuality, marriage, ethnicity, religion, responsibility, grief, redemption) never seem too unwieldy for Kaukonen, who gently connects his stories with overarching questions of identity, truth, and faith. Never didactic or saccharine, the collection nonetheless provokes and moves its readers, challenging us to examine what it means to be human and flawed in our current world. "Ordination" is remarkable for its realism and for the precision and richness of its language (Hemingway-esque at times), and the book crackles with honesty, intelligence, and wit. However, after finishing the eight selections in "Ordination," you will probably be most captivated by what appears to be Kaukonen's natural gift: his ability to tell great stories.

Highly, highly recommended.

The stories in this book, while fiction, have the deep-down ring of truth about them. Character-driven, conceptually intelligent, they're convincing and more memorable on the whole than much of what one reads today or even sees in the case of dramatic films or cable TV shows. Kaukonen has a perceptive eye, a sharp sense of humor and something fresh to say about the experience of being fallibly human; there's an ethical angle to these stories that may remind you of Flannery O'Connor. Standouts include the title piece and "Punnett's Squares," which won the Chicago Tribune's 2004 Nelson Algren Prize. And of course, the collection won the 2004 Ohio State University Prize for Short Fiction.

Having grown up in Orange County, California I must say that the region discussed in this book is quite literally a world away. But I am drawn to it. My grandparents constantly told stories of the little college town of New Concord and how they met there after World War I and how they used to take long walks and swim in the lake there on summer evenings. Because of this book I have yearned to learn more about where my grandparents fell in love; to discover the town and the college and walks they used to take. I hear autumn there is something to behold. A great work of history that binds the generations together...

This work is an amazing example of local history at its best. The author has done a wonderful job of weaving the story of a small town and of a region with the greater saga of the civil war. A delightful read!

As a graduate of the U.C. College of Pharmacy, I found this book most interesting and memory jogging. It is a great undertaking that chronicals the history of the oldest school of pharmacy west of the Allegheny mountains. The important book took a massive amount of work to compile, with the help of scores of individuals who are credited in the book. The period from 1850 when Cincinnati College of Pharmacy was founded, through joining with U.C., to the offering of the Pharm D degree is covered. History is divided into chapters to show the earliest years (1850-1871) to the Fennel Years, depression and war years, to the 4 "Dean" years. A complete register of students by year and name, along with their degrees from 1873 to 2000 is provided !! It is fascinating to review how the practice of pharmacy has changed dramatically over this period and how the curriculum has been updated to meet the changes,challenges, and the needs of patients. 14 pages of detailed notes regarding the book are provided. Anyone believing that pharmacy is not a dynamic ever-changing profession will discover the truth in this volume. Most intersting is the chronicalling of pharmacy education during its infancy all the way to the 21st century. The University of Cincinnati periods are titled with the Deans' names: The Kowalewski Years, The Glasser Years, The Warner Years, and the new century with the Acosta years. There is a wealth of information in this book's 235 pages, along with some interesting pictures. They brought back memories to me personally, from the mid to late 50's, with Dean Joe teaching the freshmen "History of Pharmacy." Dean Joe personally interviewed each student prior to admission, and knew each student by name, and the pharmacy where he or she worked. This book is most informative, interesting, and well worth reading.

This book is an institutional history of the College of Pharmacy of the University of Cincinnati prepared in commemoration of its 150th anniversary. Begun in 1850 as a private school of pharmacy under the sponsorship of the Cincinnati Pharmaceutical Association, the school remained independent until its merger with the University of Cincinnati in 1954. The book is divided into eight chapters, the first four of which deal with the independent school, and the last four (organized by College Dean) with its history after the merger. The book concludes with six appendices listing students, faculty, etc., a bibliography, and a section of notes. As is to be expected, the book deals largely with administration, faculty, and building changes, though the authors' also make some attempt to trace changes in the curriculum and to set their story within the context of the city's history and important developments in the history of pharmacy as a whole. Indeed, each chapter concludes with a time line, summarizing both local and national developments.
Though books of this type are seldom of interest to readers who are not among the faculty, students, or alumni of the school itself, they are of vital importance as the first stage of documentation for larger, more generalized histories. And, as any one who has ever worked on such a history knows, they involve an incredible amount of painstaking research to track down names and dates. The authors are to be congratulated on a job well done and the College of Pharmacy for its willingness to support this historical endeavor.
As the book's acknowledgements indicate, among the rich archival sources available to the authors were the wonderful collections of the University of Cincinnati Medical Heritage Center, assembled over the last 30 years by Billie Broaddus, and strongly supported by the College of Pharmacy. Consequently, it is ironic that this book's publication should be followed by the announcement that the University has seen fit to close down the center and disperse its holdings - a tragic event, not only for the Cincinnati medical and pharmaceutical community, but for historians in general.

Growing up around the three rivers I was not aware of how much of Americas history flowed past their banks. This book helped to illuminate such moments. The pictures and the captions bring life to an era where steel was king and the rivers its mistress. You will not be disappointed. Buy it!

Not only do the images in this book portray an important city's life, growth and development along its three rivers, but the captions are replete with fascinating facts (and some surprises) about the region. This book is a must-have for anyone interested in Pittsburgh's history.

Hi, just wanted to let you know that bill wrote a very good book, i don't necessary agree with some of the things he wrote about because i know the person that killed milo and i know dear. he wanted to write another book but the person who killed milo wanted to just let it go. he was a very young man at the time and has served his time.with out his help there would not have been a solved muder.with out him the people involved would not have been brought to justice, this is why i loved the book, bill did all he could to write about the truth and the muder happen just as he wrote but the results were much more dramatic.

If true murder mysteries are your thing, this book may well become one of your favorites. I literally had to read the entire book the very day I purchased it, trying more than once to put it down. Having lived within 20 miles of the actual murder scene while attending college in the late 90's, I was drawn into the mystery like none other. Worth every penny!

One of _Power Play_'s unique features is its CD-ROM,
which includes an interactive introduction to wayang golek
that covers wayang history, puppets, and performance practice.
The book's text focuses on the many layers of political maneuvering
that make Sundanese wayang golek such a vibrant cultural production.

The CD-ROM, with mp3 files (oops, should have been OGG/
VORBIS, I suppose), lots of photographs and video clips,
as well as an authoritative text, makes for a much more
entertaining introduction to wayang than any introductory chapter
ever could, and is worth the price of the book all by itself.
Which is not to say the book part isn't good, too -- lots
of ethnographic and biographic information and keen cultural
analysis.

You can see Andrew's book's blurb at

http://www.ohiou.edu/oupress/FW2004/weintraub/

by the way, you can take a (very limited) e-book tour of
_Gamelan: The Traditional Sounds of Indonesia_ at

http://ebookpreview.abc-clio.com/?185109511X

Cheers,
--Henry Spiller

I think Power Plays is a very good book. What I most like bout it is the way the book unfolds -- Weintraub seems to lead the reader slowly into the different modes of being of wayang golek and gets across a sensation of the density and depth of the genre and its practice. One of the manners in which this is done is the way the content is presented, slowly building the density of multiple forms of significance of Wayang. I also like the way the humor of the performances is actually presented in the book.

To me this is an ethnography in a very deep sense of the word -- the time the author spent there permeates the book and the fact that he has multiple entry points into the subject-- performance practices, structure of sound, discourses on wayang, changing policy attitudes throughout different historical moments, characters and their roles--- is something that one can only learn or perceive with a thorough understanding of the genre. The book covers the politization of entertainment, the discussion of the relation between policy and performance; the fun people have perofmring or listening to Wayang Golek and the significance of that. I also found the discussion of sound structure and changing tuning of instruments and their social signification a crucial contribution of the book.

I think this is a really good book that can stand as an excellent example of how ethnography is done in a globalized world.