Texas Books

Though a part of Texas A&M's military history series, this book often serves as more of a study in the political conflicts between the Defense and State Departments. As a result, it details enough of the conflict between the two to intrigue both Koreaphiles and those interested in the political process and posturing.

The author was in the unique position to know fully about both positions during key moments in Korea's modern history. The result is a read that is sometimes funny, often insightful, and always interesting.

Perhaps what is best about this book is that while it helps to have a basic understanding of Korea's recent history in advance, it is by no means required. Young's straightforward style makes otherwise complicated issues seem as simple as night and day. It also provides a wealth of information in under 200 pages without overwhelming the reader.

Eye on Korea is a tremendous contribution to modern Korean history. It is a very easy and entertaining read. It will appeal to those who know nothing about Korea, and to those of us who have lived or travelled there extensively. There is little to no jargon, things that would not be familiar to the average reader are explained quickly and clearly.

I have spent the better part of my adult life in Korea or working with Koreans. I was surprised and delighted by the things I learned by Eye on Korea. It filled many gaps in my understanding of how things went down in the late 70's and 80's. It was full of names, places and events that I recognized, but had never before had a coherent picture of how they all related. Eye on Korea provides that coherence.

If I am forced to complain about anything, it would be the brevity. I would have enjoyed a couple hundred more pages. It's evident from what Col. Young tells us--and from what he doesn't tell us--that he knows enough to fill volume upon volume.

This is a MUST BUY for anyone interested in Modern Korea or Korean-US relations.

James Young, one of the American military's first area specialists, has written what may well be the most interesting and definitive book on recent Korean-American diplomatic and military relations in print today. Young, a former Army Colonel, spent almost 20 years in Asia, including 14 in Korea, where he was an advisor to five American ambassadors and several Secretaries of Defense. In this appealing memoir, he writes with the expertise of an old Korea hand.

After four years of training in Korean language and culture, Young was a first hand witness and participant as American diplomats convinced South Korean President Park Chung-hee not to develop his own nuclear weapons. The lessons from this experience might well be of use today in dealing with North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

From the perspective of a military attache,Young provides new insights into the intrigue and behind-the-scenes efforts to derail President Jimmy Carter's troop withdrawal policies. His on-the-scene account of the military coup of 1979, and subsequent events, is extraordinarily authoritative and comprehensive, and provides new information for historians. He provides personal observations on the imposition of martial law and the Kwangju incident that followed, when Korean military forces ran amok during protests in the city and killed and wounded hundreds of civilians. For the first time, he details how the United States was caught flat-footed, and how policy makers at the time failed to respond, thus sowing the seeds of anti-Americanism in the years to come.

Additionally, Young's insider account of dealing with the senior leadership in North Korea in both diplomatic negotiations and business settings makes a major contribution to understanding the internal dynamics within this secretive state.

"Eye on Korea" is a great mixture of contemporary military and diplomatic history. It offers stories that are entertaining, provocative, and often humorous. Those interested in the region, the issues, and modern Korea will value this book.

Colonel Jim Young has developed a keen analytical eye for things Korean developed over a multi-decade career of study, friendship and focus on this fascinating but enigmatic country. Young uses the vehicle of autobiography to detail some of the high points in the modern developmental history of South Korea and along the way opens the curtain to an insider's view of US governmental machinations. The Colonel had an uncanny way of being involved over many years with key events in US-Korean relations such as threatened troop withdrawals under President Carter, assassination of President Park, the death of dictator Kim Il-sung in North Korea, the murder of US Army officers and many, many other events. Final chapters discuss nuclear North Korea and the complexity of the tense situation there.
This book offers the reader a fresh insight to events and analysis not seen elsewhere. It is written for a non-technical audience but is valuable for the cognoscenti as well. I recommend 'Eye on Korea' most enthusiastically to every concerned person who wonders what the future holds for America in the vital but tumultuous environment of the Korean Peninsula.

It sounds crazy, but Carter really did a good job of capturing these horses' feelings. What's more, is that he photographed them so well. This is a must have for horse lovers and for people that are wanting a great coffee table addition.

You'll love this.

iKnow

Whoa! No one can begin to describe Keith Carter's style and vision. You have to experience it. It's not just what he sees, it's how he renders it, making it new and timeless too. This is a book you'll want to open often.

i admit i was skeptic when i first heard about this book, and i had no intentions of buying it. i'm not that crazy about horses. but i got a look at an advanced copy, and i saw the the work was just beautiful and i had to have it. be sure to look at orange tree and nude and arabian, which are my two favorite pictures.

I appreciate a good horse as much as the next guy. Looking at horses through Keith's eyes makes me love them. I'm not going to run out and buy tight pants and a helmet because of this book, but you get the idea. The images are well made and seen. Not all of the pictures have the tilt-shift look which has been overdone so that's good. The layout is great. A square book for a square image. Keith's little ditty about Ezekiel's Horse is a warm piece of writing. If you're a Keith Carter fan, buy the book. If you like horses, buy the book. If your interested in photography, buy the book. If your name is Mr. Ed, look for your portrait on page 29, then call your lawyer.

They say that everything in Texas either pricks, bites, or stings, and that isn't COMPLETELY true, but it's close. With this book in hand, you can identify your multi-legged assailant rapidly and accurately and decide whether you need hospitalization and an exterminator or just a Benadryl and a fly swatter. Besides, not all the bugs of Texas are bad bugs--they might still bite and sting, but YOU might not be the target species and the target species might be your enemy: look them up BEFORE you swat.

I was impressed by the overall quality of this book. I wanted an easy-to-use resource book to identify the hundreds of insects I routinely see at my central Texas home, and that's what I got and more! The book was clearly organized with well written description of insects, and in center of book were 63 pages of beautiful, high-quality color photos of the 381 most common insects found in Texas. My only constructive suggestion would be that the "Life Cycle" commentary did not always provide the life expectancy of specific insects.

I found this book to extremely useful for quick field identifications. The pictures are great, as is the accompying descriptive text. The book is well organized so looking up a particular insect is easy. Also the book not only describes various insects but also gives vital information about them, such as their life cycles, impact on man and the enviroment, where they can be found, and what they eat.

This book is very helpful in identifying common Texas insects. Our children love to look up bugs in this book. The only bad thing is having to flip back and forth from the color pictures to the description of the insect. Otherwise, a good book.

Constable's Apprehension is the most entertaining book I have read in a very long time. Laurie Moore's sense of humor is just plain funny. All through out this book, I would laugh out loud on a regular basis. Her characters are quirky and funny. The story flows very well and I couldn't wait to get to the next page to see what would happen next.

Raven's back! And Tarrant County Constable Jinx Porter thinks she's out to get him in the page-turning sequel to the critically-acclaimed CONSTABLE'S RUN. But Raven can't be responsible for the attempts on Jinx's life...not while she's being held hostage in her home by Yucatan Jay, a schizophrenic rogue who claims to be in the CIA. While Jinx's deputies track a slippery fiend who's trying to do in their boss, Fort Worth Police Lt. Sid Klevenhagen sets out to pin the caper on Raven (who's suffering from Stockholm syndrome), and you won't believe who's being paid for leaking confidential information to the crooks! Laurie Moore, attorney and 24-year law enforcement veteran, writes with authority in the latest in the Jinx Porter and Raven series. Climb on the roller-coaster and strap yourself in as you ride it through the heart-pounding, blood-pumping showdown where Jinx comes face-to-face with the person behind the bombings, attempts on his life and the lives of his staff. Moore, the author of THE LADY GODIVA MURDER, cleverly introduces Cezanne Martin into the equation, leaving me to wonder: will she pair up Cezanne and Raven in her next book about these Fort Worth lawdogs? I can hardly wait.

Raven returns in the sequel to CONSTABLE'S RUN, and getting past the vigilant nurses at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital to see her ex-boyfriend, Tarrant County Constable Jinx Porter, is the least of her worries. When she returns home, dejected, she finds herself held hostage by Yucatan Jay, her schizophrenic cousin who claims to be in the CIA. While Jinx befriends Sid Klevenhagen, a former homicide lieutenant who thinks Raven's out to kill Jinx, they divine a plan to keep an eye on her by hiring her to find out who's leaking confidential information from the office and endangering the lives of the staff. There's Dixie, the new secretary from the temporary agency, Georgia, who refuses to come back to work until the assailant is caught, and tough but gentle Dell, who can't seem to get through to Raven that he's the man for her. This was a great amusement park ride and I enjoyed every page of every chapter. You'll never believe who's selling information to the crooks, and it looks like Moore, who writes with authority on all of her police procedurals, is setting up a future book where Raven and Cezanne Martin (THE LADY GODIVA MURDER) pair up as super-sleuths. I can't wait! While it's not imperative for the reader to read these books in order, you must eventually pick up a copy of CONSTABLE'S RUN and THE LADY GODIVA MURDER. Satisfy your lust for a great read! You'll thank me.

Jinx Porter has returned as the Tarrant County constable following the resignation of his former girlfriend Raven. However, his second coming is not quite as pleasant as his first sixteen year term was. Deputy Ivy did everything wrong as the team went to arrest Newton Marble Eye. Instead the felon escapes but not before he shoots Jinx.

Jinx resides in the hospital with his roommate being former homicide detective Sid Klevenhagen, who abruptly dies but his body vanishes. Sid sneaks back into his room to inform Jinx that he obviously did not die, but that Jinx was the target. As Jinx struggles to survive, everyone wonders if Raven is the culprit even while every single male that she knows proposes marriage to her except the one stud she loves.

The latest Jinx-Raven police procedural is a fun tale that provides immense entertainment to sub-genre fans. The story line is as exciting as the previous books in the series, but much more personal as Jinx is the target. Laurie Moore continues to furbish a solid series with a novel that hooks the audience from the moment Jinx explains to his outrageous bunk mate what went wrong.

I loved this book. My new novel, Texas Poker Wisdom, has stories about Benny Binion on the gambling wars of Dallas and Ft. Worth. I knew Benny Binion. The world that Ms. Archer describes so very well might come as a surprise to your ordinary folks. This is one fantastic read. Everyone will enjoy it. I write about gambling and am working on an article about Benny Binion's great promotions. One promotion from this book was to have a sign on a pet burro that said follow me to this Mexican restaurant/crap game. They would let the burro loose in a different part of Ft. Worth each day. It would walk on home, a moving sign.
I promise you that you will love this book.
Johnny HughesTexas Poker Wisdom

this is a very interesting book especially for those of us who live in fort worth texas. all kinds of neat facts about one of our most popular highways. all about the gangsters and gamblers. ann arnold did a fantastic job on writing it.

Dr Arnold does an excellent job of taking hold of a sizable hunk of Fort Worth history and recording it in a very readable fashion. A number of pictures are also included to help visualize the antics of early Fort Worth residents (and visitors).

Since some of my family members were mentioned I was disppointed the author did not double check all of her facts. Other than that it is a good book.

L'Engle's Genesis Trilogy is a refreshing breath of crisp, clean air. As I turned page after page, I found freedom from some long held conflicts with my faith. Not only does she present a picture of God that is outside the box, she throws the box away. Thank you!

I, too, started out as a fan of L'Engles fiction work. I was in my mid 20s when I started reading her non-fiction. And she never ceases to amaze and inspire me. This book made me think. While she infuses her fiction work with her theological beliefs, this trilogy truly lays it all out in a thoughtful and thought provoking way. Every time I read this book I see something new and am forced to think. And being forced to think is a very good thing. L'Engle does indeed, think outside the box. This book is probably not for "Christian" "fundmentalists" (or "fundalits" as L'Engle would call them). It is, however, for people who believe in the fundamental value and truth of the core teachings of the Bible - whether those people call themselves Christian or not. L'Engle incorporates the stories from Genesis with her own life experiences and weaves an outlook on the world that is both unique and timeless. This book altered my outlook on life for the better, and every day I am presented with new and overwhelming evidence that she hit the nail on the head. Amazing book.

I have loved Madeleine L'Engle's fiction since my fourth grade teacher read A Wrinkle in Time to the class. Now that I'm older (gasp, almost thirty) I enjoy her non fiction even more. Reading this trilogy is like reading and discussing the book of Genesis with a friend. The author invites you into her life as she reads and reflects on the first book of the Bible. She lets you know the connections her mind makes and in doing so gave me a list of other authors to read. The storytelling, poetry, and personal stories create a gentle Biblical commentary for those who might be intimidated by a more traditional commentary. Joyful! Beautiful! Wonderful!

I reread this book every time I feel myself being drawn down by doubt and mired in the poisons of what Christians can do to one another. It reaffirms me and strengthens me!

It is very telling, when you click on the concordance, that the two biggest words are God and Love.

I, too, have loved L'Engle ever since I first read her books. I picked up the first part of the Trilogy _And_It_Was_Good_ at a yard sale thinking that it was another of her fiction works. I got halfway through the book in a single sitting, never realizing that I was reading theological reflections! From then on, I was hooked!

Given how often I return to this work, I do wish that it was available in hardback, so that it would be a little more sturdy!

After reading, and thoroughly enjoying one of Mr. Morgenthaler's other books (Boerne...), I bought this also. No disappoinment.

The first sentence of his introduction says it all...
"The Texas Hill Country is the sweet spot of Texas..." It both portrays his love of the Hill Country, and states an inarguable fact.

His engaging writing style makes it a delight. There is a lot more to the Hill Country than The Alamo and LBJ. Very rich stories told in an entertaining way.

Another wonderful book by Morgenthaler about a wonderful land and people.

Jeff has produced another book that very clearly gives us a vivid look at the background of why and how our ancestors settled the Texas Hill Country. THANK YOU! Art Wilson

The Hill Country is considered by many Texans to be the sweet spot of Texas. This new account of the settlement of the Hill Country by German immigrants vividly portrays the mass influx that more than doubled the population of then West Texas in little more than a year.

This remarkable story of these colonists--whose ideals and culture ultimately spawned today's German-Texan vernacular architecture, a tradition of Hill Country sausage-making, and lingering turnvereins and schuetzenverins--is well-researched, well-written and quintessentially Texan.

I highly recomend this book for anyone who is interested in the early German settlers who came to Texas from Germany. I bought the book because I was married to a man from Fischer, TX, and I am in the process of learning all I can because I am working on geneology of his family, who came and settled in the Hill Country. I learned a lot by reading this book. It is well writen, and very in depth about the hardships these people suffered, but survived. It helped me to understand why these people seemed so distant and different, from the way of life I was exposed to in Alabama.
NH

The butchery at Goliad assured the victory of Houston's rag-tag force over the better trained troops of Presidente Santa Ana. "Remember Goliad! Remember the Alamo!" they screamed as they ripped into the disintegrating Mexican line. There was little quarter as the drove the terrified Mexicans into the Buffalo bayou. The Texans were there to avenge an atrocity.

Alamo? Sure. But the men at Alamo died at their posts and Alamo was, for the most part, was an honorable fight. Goliad was something entirely different. Under the leadership of the vacillating Fannin, four hundred Texans were given incompetent orders. "Reinforce Alamo." But when a couple of wagons broke down a short distance from Goliad, Fannin issued an order to return to the fort. When ordered by Houston to march East and join the main force, Fannin procrastinated.

With the Mexican cavalry under Urrea breathing down his throat, he opted for a last minute retreat. Urrea caught them in the open but, even then, it was entirely possible to retreat to a nearby woodline and stop the Mexicans. Incredibly, Fannin decided to fight in the open and then, with the woodline retreat still an option, he decided to surrender under "honorable terms."

Santa Ana, hearing of it, ordered the immediate execution of the Texas rebels. Urrea complied and four hundred men were shot, clubbed and bayoneted. Only a handful of men escaped the slaughter. It was military murder but didn't terrify the surviving Texans as Santa Ana intended. Almost every member of the tiny Texas force had lost friends and relatives at Goliad and Alamo. These men became extremely angry.

When Houston tried to retreat to the protection of Louisiana and the United States, his troops refused his orders. They intended to fight with or without Houston. Houston, wisely, decided to make the best of a bad situation and the rest...is history.

To paraphrase de la Pena, one of Santa Ana's own officers. "Travis was a rebel and a criminal but he died like a hero for his cause. Santa Ana, when given the opportunity to die for his country, proved himself a coward. He traded Texas for his own neck."

Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God" on the Conquest of Mexico

You don't have to be a Texas history junkie to enjoy this well done and very readable story. "Goliad" chronicles the issues, events, decisions and people (a few wise, many otherwise) that led to Santa Anna's massacre of the band of American soldiers who opted to surrender rather than defend the fort at Goliad. The book raises all kinds of interesting questions such as "Why did so many military leaders think it was important to defend fixed positions which may have been strategically meaningless?" I personally found the portrayal of, and insights into, Sam Houston particularly interesting. Houston comes across as notably superior to most of his counterparts, both in terms of his independent, pragmatic thinking and his ability to expect the unexpected. Meanwhile most of his peers held to the conventional wisdom (like the Mexicans would never attack during the winter, or cross a given river at a particular spot) - all of which contributed to their eventual demise.

Bill Bradle should have started writing earlier in his career as we all would have been the beneficiaries. Given his command of history and military strategy, I would enjoy seeing him tackle the question of just how much wiser and better prepared for today's brand of warfare our current military leaders are compared to those of two centuries ago. It would be an interesting assessment. We've made great progress in the science, strategy and tactics of warfare, yet the challenges we find ourselves facing so frequently today still seem to remain one or two steps ahead of our leaders' knowledge, assumptions, plans and abilities. Why is that and how can we close the gap? Mr. Bradle I await your answers.

Great book. Enjoyed every page. I consider myself a Texan but didn't get to Texas until my 20's which meant I missed learning how the Republic of Texas was founded. Being a non-native Texan, I knew the history of the Alamo (been there too) but knew nothing of the massacre at Goliad. Very interesting. I have read several books on Texas history, most written by people that are hooked on their subjects. They were generally poorly written, telling the same stories over and over for 200 pages but no this one. Well written and takes you through the events leading up to Goliad and the final battle. What I find amazing about the people that lived through these times are the things they did afterward and how long they lived. The story here lives.

From what they tell about this writer in his bio, his background is business and finance, but his passion is history. Well, it's a great combination because Bradle brings the critical eye of an MBA to the motives, methods, logic, actions and reactions of the many colorful players in the fall of Goliad. I just finished an epic bio of Thomas Edison and his era, and it read like the encyclopedia - no, it wasn't even that much pleasure. This book is a compelling, enjoyable (well, if slaughter can be enjoyable) read and a page turner. If you're a history buff like me, or just someone who likes keen insight into human behavior and misbehavior, it's a steal. Besides, the story of Goliad makes for some great anecdotes and is sure to come up on Jeopardy, sometime soon. Buy it, read it, pass it along.

Read the introduction. Absolutely hilarious. Old geezers indeed! My husband couldn't (wouldn't) boil water if his life depended on it. Besides the fantastic recipes, this cookbook has a lot of charm and personality. I believe that for a firefighter (just like other professions), their job is a "calling." Contributor's bios and photos reflect the passion for their jobs and their love for family and fellow firefighters.

The recipes mirror the personalities of the firefighters; diverse, hearty and no fancy frills. Just simple good cookin'. A few of my favorite recipes are Captain Ward's Goulash, Galveston Gumbo, Southwestern White Chicken Chili (have you noticed there is always a great chili recipe in a Firefighter cookbook?), Milky Way Cake, and Sore Throat Cookies.

I especially liked Erasmo Lopez's chapter (page 99). I grew up in Florida and my cooking background was southern style cooking. When I moved to the southwest, I struggled with learning a new style of cooking, wanting to take advantage of regional produce and spices. "Mo's Guacamole" recipe was a winner. Simple and perfect!

I actually got this book because of the jambalaya recipe that I tasted at a party. As it was cooking, I read the accompanying writeup on the fireman who gave the recipe and ended up reading the entire book. I thought the stories of the fireman added a nice touch. Recently I gave a copy to a firefighter friend of mine and he was delighted (which was definitely a first). There needs to be a "More Firehouse Cooks", so I'll have a Christmas present for him next year.

I stole the above title because it's perfect. I've only had time to try a few recipes, but so far, so good (agree with the above recommendation for the Jambalaya on page 150). It's the stories of the firemen that make this book so special-like the stories about the chefs in Top Texas Chefs: Favorite Recipes. Great gift idea!

This is a great cookbook but a lot more. The stories of the firefighters, their families, how they feel about their jobs, were funny, moving, inspirational, and more. Get this one even if you never intend to enter another kitchen. (The receipes are great, too. Check out page 150, for sure.

Beautifully photographed with interesting history on the diversity of Texas homes, this book details the unique blend of European sophistication and "homegrown" design that combined to create a truly unique architecture. This book makes a wonderful gift for any favorite Texan.

Great Houses of Texas would be appreciated by anyone with an interest in great architecture as exhibited in this book. Many of the houses included are well known, but some are hardly known at all. O'Neill Ford's house for the Steves family should have been included, in San Antonio. Its omission is my only disappointment in the book. The text is adequate though not extensive and the photographs, alone, are worth the price of the book. I know of only one other book on this subject, and that was written years ago, so such a book is long past due! Lee Govatos

Though some readers may quibble over the title of this book, it is clear that the book is focussed on the greatest houses still occupied in Texas. This is a subtle but important distinction. The houses shown are not dead great houses, of which there are many in Texas and many of which are greatly admired; Germany instead has focussed on private homes occupied by individuals. With that in mind, it is a fascinating read.

There are many things to admire about this book, the images are well presented, the text is informative and overall I liked it, but WHO selected these houses. The book should have been titled, some great and not so great houses in Texas. How could you write a book about Great Houses in Texas and not include the Sealy House in Galveston, the only McKim Mead and White house in the South, or the most famous house in the state, the Bishops Palace in Galveston, or not include Bayou Bend!!! or the McFaddin Mansion in Beaumont, a house that is considered by architecture scholars to be the best example in Colonial Beaux Art in America..it's just incredulous. Many of the houses selected were great, such as the mansion at Kings Ranch which graces the cover and leads you to believe all the houses in the book will be to this standard and they unforunitely are not...the Crespi House in dallas by Maurice Fatio is great as well as is the Bass House in Ft. Worth, as well as the Pease House in Austin, but many just leave you thinking..WHAT!..Im from Texas and am very familar with the grand houses in the state, so I shocked to see some of the most famous houses in the state not present in this book. This is not a bad book, I give it four stars, but it could have been great..too bad whomever selected the houses for this book, was not as thorough as they should have been, nice book, but a disappointment to those of us familiar with the truely great houses of this singular state.