Illinois Books

Dieses Buch, wie sein Thema, wird wie ein Ziegelsteinouthouse aufgebaut. Unassailable Forschung. Gute Arbeit, Don.

This book is an excellent study, in marvelous detail
and analysis, of one of Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpieces
of architecture. Too often the words "artist" and
"genius" only dimly suggest the true nature of the
person or work being discussed; but this book with
its keen and accurate delineations about Robie,
the client and his desires, Wright, the architect/
artist/genius and his desires, and the work of art
itself -- the Robie House -- help one to fully
understand the harmonious combination of elements
which can come together in producing a masterpiece.
The author of this work is Donald Hoffmann, and
he has himself produced a work of magnificence
in this full presentation of the design and execution
of a "dream house." Hoffmann gives full and interesting
accounts of Robie and of Wright as their two psyches
come together to promote an "idealized" artwork which
pleases both client and architect.
The book also has wonderful footnotes filled
with insightful comments and quotes. Here is
an example of one:

Louis H. Sullivan at the end of his life wrote
quite beautifully that Wright was gifted with
"an apprehension of the material,so delicate as
to border on the mystic, and yet remain coordinate
with those facts we call real life." (p. 31)

The text itself is filled with suggestive and
provocative commentary:

Wright's ideal was the comprehensive and unified
work of art, the *Gesamtkunstwerk. German culture
fascinated him. He spoke of Bach and Beethoven
as the two greatest architects, and he confessed
his love for the old Germany of Goethe, Schiller,
even Nietzsche. (p. 14)

Wright stood almost alone in his intuition of
the prairie. * * * Everything about the site
suggested a long, low, stream-lined, ship-like
house: the prairie, the nearby lake, the new
sense of speed, * * * and the shape of the lot ,
three times as long as it was wide. (p. 17)

Radical and masculine, the Robie house would be
built in a part of Chicago characteristically
stern and urbane. (p. 13)
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The book is filled with "160 carefully selected
illustrations" --which include architectural
drawings and many photos, both of the house,
of Robie and his family, of Wright, and of some
of Wright's other previous houses leading up to
the Robie House. Hoffmann also did excellent
research by gaining access to complete
taped transcripts by Robie, and interviews with
Robie's son, and others.

There is something very compelling and involving
to my sense perceptions about Wright's long, sleek,
tiered approach to architecture, as well as the
various designs of lamps and chairs and lights
which he included in the house. But on seeing the
photos of the dining room...and the rigid but
beautiful "Gothic" like chairs, as well as the
photos of the "stuff" that the Robie family
cluttered the Spartan rooms with in their
attempts to "customize" it to their living
desires...the house seems incredibly beautiful,
but not incredibly utilitarian: idealized, abstract,
geometric beauty and organic harmony with the
beauty and structure of Nature, but not necessarily
"organic" in its relation to people and "common
creature" comforts.

who wrote some of the 20th century's most important books before he died at 32.

As a third generation native San Franciscan pushing 80, I am fascinated with what went on in my native city before me.

Carroll pens a thorough and illuminating account of an early African-American icon that Americans of all colors gradually forgot, Fritz Pollard. Fritz Pollard was arguably the first modern age African American athletic star that used his athletic prowess to further his opportunities in other fields such as movies, booking, investments, and even tax consulting. He successfully, although not without difficulty, negotiated the hazards, pitfalls, challenges, and bias of a racially charged America to become as Carroll maintains, "a pioneer in interracial relations." (4) Carroll promotes and attributes this pioneer theme to Pollard throughout the biography. The author also accredits Pollard's successes and pioneering nature to Pollard's family background and childhood. Although not overly sympathetic, Carroll clearly contains high praise for Pollard and his accomplishments contending that Pollard "established more `firsts' for his race than perhaps any other African American in this century." (239) The author is careful to temper this praise with accounts of Pollard's bitterness towards perceived injustices and mistreatment due to racism and lack of attention Pollard thought he deserved. The result is a commendable biography of Fritz Pollard as an early race relations pioneer, athletic star, and sometimes-successful businessman deserving of far more attention and memories than Pollard currently garners.
Efforts such as Carroll's help keep the memories of Pollard alive for those who have never heard of or fully grasped the achievements of Pollard. Carroll's assertion that Pollard was a pioneer in race relations, however, appears to fall flat in some respects. As Carroll points out, Pollard had to negotiate a subtle balance between asserting his race and accepting the tide of racism. Yet, it appears that Pollard endured more racism and contempt on the playing field rather than in business endeavors. Perhaps this was because most of Pollard's business activities were aimed at African Americans themselves, but it seems plausible that Pollard would face far more discrimination and racial injustices in the business arena than the sporting one. One must also question what Pollard really thought of his role in pioneering racial equality.
Towards the end of the book, Carroll notes that Pollard displays bitterness in regards to the racial animosities delivered his way. Pollard's daughter, Leslie asserts that Pollard deeply cared about his race and the cause of civil rights. (239) Acknowledging that some of Pollard's efforts were behind closed doors and diminished because of a natural assumption that the black middle class emulated white society too much, Carroll's contention that Pollard was truly a pioneer in race relations seems weak. Perhaps it is only a case of the author failing to connect accurately his argument to his examples. Whether his deeds pioneered race relations or not, Pollard deserves remembering for all of the firsts and successes he indeed accomplished.

If you don't know Fritz Pollard you must read this book. It provides insight into him and the people closest to him. It raises your spirits and makes you want to accomplish great tasks. This is an A+++++++ book for any football fan.

This book steps inside the modest bungalows of ethnic blue-collar workers in greater Chicago at the turn of the century. It examines the bungalow as a housing form that evolved from multiple influences, and considers the meanings that consumers constructed around their homes. A must read for folks who want to understand how ordinary people lived, and how Home, Sweet Home became part of every immigrant family's version of the American Dream.

I started genealogy research for our family this summer. Our ancestors hail from the Hammond and West Hammond areas featured in the book. The author does far more than merely focusing on the housing designs. He provides an interesting look back at the social, political, and economical climate the immigrants / early settlers lived in. The Notes section is packed with references and has proved to be invaluable as I continue my family history and local history research. I can only hope the author chooses to pick up where this book left off.

The book From Mission to Madness proves that mental illness can afflict even the posterity of the Prophets. David H. Smith, son of the famed Mormon prophet Joseph Smith, never lived to know his father; he missed the fatherly embrace by five months. Much to Brigham Young's dismay, David became affiliated with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and was one of its most effective and revered missionaries. Mental illness overcame him, and he spent the last three decades of his life in a mental hospital. Avery performed wonderfully well in framing his life story, using personal and official RLDS church correspondence. I felt the heartache and pain that David's family experienced as they struggled, hoped and despaired. This book was so engaging that I actually read the entire book in less than two weeks (which, for me, is noteworthy when considering any non-fiction work over 100 pages). David Smith's life was replete with pathos and unfulfilled expectations (he was destined to take his father's place as Prophet). The book also adequately describes the perpetual tension that existed, and at times does currently exist, between the Utah and the RLDS Mormon churches. Even though Avery placed an inordinant emphasis on Smith's poetical works, I would recommend this book to all.

I hold a master's degree in history and am particularly interested in Mormon and Western history. This is perhaps one of the best books I have ever read. This has been a research topic for the author for nearly twenty years, beginning as her doctoral dissertation entitled "Insanity and the Sweet Singer." Avery took great pains in researching this book, and delayed its publication until full disclosure of all works became available upon the death of David's final grandson. David was like a young prince, forced to live in the shadow of a famous father and older brother, both leaders of respective churches. Avery shows the slow descent into madness experienced by David Hyrum Smith as he tries to find his place. A disasterous mission to Salt Lake City to convert Mormons will be of interest to Mormons, Reorganized LDS members and readers in general. The look at the Elgin asylum is an fascinating topic for interested parties as well. You cannot go wrong with this book.

This book is a facsinating view of how racism, policy, and science converged into state practice in the Third Reich. The depth of research is overwhelming;yet, inspiring. Some of the practices remain in our own society today. Practices which act to seperate and identify us as different from each other. The book echos to many issues we currently face.

This book is a combination of carefully researched historical analysis, biographical vignettes, and personal memoir written by medical anthropologist Gretchen Schafft. It documents work done by German anthropologists employed by foundations, academic institutions and the German government from the 1930s until the end of World War II. These anthropologists apparently embraced Nazi ideology so thoroughly that they left behind their scientific methods and ethics to become co-opted into the processes undertaken by the Nazi party, the SS and other government officials to eliminate political opponents, people of color, homosexuals, Roma, Polish, and Jews from German and German-occupied territory. Their ability to deceive themselves into believing that their work in categorizing people destined for death camps was scientifically valuable is astonishing. The fact that they were never punished for their complicity in the Final Solution is extremely sad.

Dr. Schafft has done an extremely thorough job of reviewing holocaust literature and newly available archival materials from both the Smithsonian Institution and sources in Europe to bring the reader extensive understanding of this co-option. She places the activities of the Third Reich's anthropologists in the context of other well known events from the rise of Nazism and the war. This convincing saga has, as Schafft says "no smoking gun" pointing to the crimes (including euthanasia, trafficking in body parts, and unethical torture filled medical experimentation) that these anthropologists very probably were complicit in.

I bought this book because I am interested in the moral lessons of the holocaust. As an applied anthropologist myself, this disturbing and detailed story awakened in me a desire to deeply evaluate my own work as an applied anthropologist. The book is well written, although some of the translated German memos have a stuffy bureaucratic sound--attesting to their authenticity, no doubt. I recommend this book to general readers as well as professional specialists in history, anthropology, and the history of science. It will change how you think about the German public's awareness of the evils perpetrated by Hitler's regime.

by Charlotte Miller, Ph.D.

I have been haunting used book stores for some time because someone borrowed my copy and never returned it. .... I discovered that I could keep on hand a supply of books, videos, etc., the use of which would almost always "trigger" grief reactions such as the kind of gut-wrenching sobs, quiet tears, or whatever it might take to remind me that I, too, had been given that beautiful treasure of simple, human vulnerability. And, once again, I could begin to operate in the midst of my humanness with Joy. Among the best of these resources (along with the movie, "Places in the Heart,")was Nina's little book, "Go Out in Joy." Why hadn't I thought to simply check with Amazon.Com? Well, now I have, and am submitting my order for this treasure-store of open human-to-human encounters ... and looking forward to that tiny lady-bug who could always be counted on to come along and melt me down again to who I was "meant" to be.

J. Kent Borgaard
...

As a child growing up with a disability, it was hard to find books that I could relate to. Go Out In Joy was the first book I read that showed the HUMAN side of disability; the first book to address MY disability and say "Yes, sometimes it sucks!" It helped me feel not so alone.

Good Hearts: Catholic Sisters In Chicago's Past by Suellen Hoy (Guest Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame) is an introduction to the history of influential women in the Chicago's Catholic community. Ably compiling a concise biographically anthology as the basis for an in-depth study of meticulous scholarship, Good Hearts offers readers the wisdom of the nuns spanning a time period from the mid-1800's through the twentieth century, and with a particularly focus on the era surrounding the social and cultural issues of the 1960's and the activism contributed by Catholic women. Also available in a hardcover edition (0252030575, $50.00) Good Hearts is informative and recommended reading for non-specialist general readers with an interest in Chicago history, Women's Studies, the American Catholic church, and the historical influence of Catholic women in American social reforms.

In the book "Good Hearts: Catholic Sisters in Chicago's Past," Suellen Hoy takes a look at the kinds of work that nuns have been involved with over the years. She focuses on sisters/nuns in Chicago, but much of what she says could be said about so many other sisters and nuns across the United States. These women are presented as dynamic and powerful forces of change in society. They emphasized the importance of education, and showed how it could be used to move upwards in society, and could also help move equality forward. Very interesting, and very "readable" book.

: Sunday Chicago Tribune Book Section--Editor's Choice!

"Celebration abounds but never gives way to sentimentalism in this sixth volume of poetry by veteran author Ira Sadoff. Often spare in his descriptions, Sadoff allows objects and observations to suggest their stories rather than overstate them. In many of the poems, a whimsical but wise voice presides, especially in 'An Improbable Delirium,' where a speaker slyly ruminates: 'Something tells me it's the job of poetry/ to bring some wretched character out on stage,/ to gesture wildly, giving a soliloquy....'"--Carolyn Alessio, deputy editor

Ira Sadoff, Grazing (University of Illinois Press, 1998)

I find it very hard to write reviews of Ira Sadoff's books; there's nothing I can say about Sadoff's work that will be objective in the least. I am a slavish fan to the pen of Ira Sadoff, and find each of his books to be pure delight. So when I say that Grazing may well be Sadoff's best book (arguably, the brilliant Emotional Traffic stacks up), it's saying something.

Grazing is, above all, an angry book, and the poems where it's not angry seem almost as if they're lulls during the storm. And despite the fact that Sadoff is one of those "academic" poets who are so often sneered at in the small press for being dry, dusty, and antiquated, it's impossible to read Grazing and not feel anger radiating off the pages. After all this anger, the book's final piece, "The Inner Life," resounds with a desolation it might not otherwise have. It's impossible to instill a sense of the way this poem works with the rest of the book by excerpting it here, but it still deserves quotation:

..."Going off like a buzzer
in a factory, where we charge out of the doors denouncing
the one who sticks his head in a stack of papers
then comes out shrugging, giving us the thumb."...

This is powerful stuff, folks, and well worth the time it takes to hunt down. Get to know the work of Ira Sadoff. The man is amazing. *****

If this book were fiction, it would rank up there with The War of The Worlds for exciting reading-BUT IT ISN'T. This insane incident occured and the [people] involved got a very short prison sentence for almost kdnaping the president's body to get a counterfeiter out of jail! I won't reveal anything, but get this book-it's [a good price] and reads like a great mystery, but it all happened in 1879 and its all true and all unbelievable!!

This revised edition of the Great Abraham Lincoln Hijack, story of the 1876 attempt to steal President Lincoln's body, first published in 1990, is footnoted with foreword by Thomas F. Schwartz, Illinois State Historian. Bonnie Speer has made a notable contribution to Lincoln literature and this study deserves a place on the shelves of Lincolniana. It is most readable and factual. Wayne C. Temple, Illinois State Archives