Indiana Books

If you have any sense of wonder in you at all, this book should capture it. It is amazing the lengths people will go to to accomplish their goals. The great engineering feats of American history are ample evidence, and many of those feats were accomplished by private capital via the railroads. The illustrations in this book are excellent and really show how much work and ingenuity went into these projects. This book makes a nice complement to the Routledge Historical Atlas of American Railroads, which is also new.

This is a descriptive history of the major civil engineering projects in the development of North American railroads. Bill Middleton is unusually suited to the task at his hand. He is by academic training a civil engineer (R.P.I.), and a journalist (U. Wisc.). With a career that spans both military and academic times, he brings a special appreciation for this subject.

Landmarks of the Iron Road is something to be appreciated by civil engineers, railway historians, and those with an concern for the history of North American economic development. It is a careful collection of photographs and essays, supplemented with "how to find" these special locations. Middleton's book constitutes a "landmark" in the literary sense.

Ray Scheele does a wonderful job of capturing the life of Larry Conrad, a true public servant. The reader is left wishing that all our elected officials embodied the same qualities that Conrad did, regardless of political affiliation.

This is an outstanding account of the life of one of the thousands of Americans whose public service nurishes and sustains the nation. Raymond Scheel has not only captured the contributions of a good and effective local and state leader, Larry Conrad, but he also places Conrad in context and makes clear why such men are important. Scheele has mastered an impressive amount of material, including extensive personal interviews. This book is an interpretation as well as an account of Conrad's lfe in crystal clear language.

This book was difficult for me to read because lena was my cousin.Her mom is my dads sister. I knew about the things that had happened but having to read about how Christine and Gary delt with their feelings was really hard. Even if you didn't know Lena and her family. You will feel close to them after reading this book.

This book was really hard for me to read but it was also the best. This book is about my best friend that was murdered and the horrible things her parents went through. Could you imagine following an ambulance to your home not knowing what was going on. Only to find out that some sick person had come in your home and killed you 14 year old daughter. You have got to know that family that this tragity happened to. They were a very close and loving family. Lena was to happiest person to be around and you could never be in a bad mood around her, all she had to do was smile. This book starts from a couple of days before Lena was killed and ends several months after she was buried. It talks about Gary and Christine (Lena's parents) going to pick out Lena's casket,the day the tragety happened, having to move out of their home after living there for 17 years, the sleepless nights the long lonely days. This book is straight from Christine's heart. I will tell you what she told me, "This book is by far sugar coated." Lena's sister Alicia is the one who found Lena first. This book contains court hearings of the killer which was her next door neighbor she had grew up with. I recommend this book to everyone. It really shows how life could be over before you expect it to be.

Larry Goshen's historical perspective of Indiana music is terrific. He not only features the knowns such as Michael Jackson, John Mellencamp, Wes Montgomery, and Cystal Gayle, but the unknowns like Dow Jones and the Industrials, P. S. Dump Your Boyfriend and many others. This book is a treasure chest of memories.

Compiled by Larry Goshen with the assistance of Mark Shaw, Let The Good Times Roll: An Anthology Of Indiana Music - Rock, Pop, Jazz & Country is a straightforward listing of dozens and dozens of Indiana singers, bands and music teams, offering very brief descriptions and illustrated with black-and-white photographs. Ranging from Michael Jackson; Axl Rose, and Hoagy Carmichael, to Janet Jackson, David Baker, and The Faith Band, Let The Good Times Roll is a simple and "user friendly" reference which is organized by decades from the 50s to the 90s with chapters dedicated to "Country and Western Guys and Gals"; "Jazzmakers"; and "Indiana Notables".

Fred Towers My wife and I chose to winter in Az at Paradise RV Resort to avoid the Canadian winters. In a short while, we met many friends at the park, including Mr R Stackman through golf, bowling and many card evenings and enjoyed his company. One day I mentioned to him that I was taking a writing course at the park to learn how to write my family's history. He mentioned he had written such a book of his childhood called "Life in a Rat Maze" many years ago and he loaned me his copy. What an amazing story of the struggle of the offsprings of this family, particularly Bob. He endured hardships unimaginable for such a young child, yet survived life's troubles to finally attain a Ph.D. and become a history professor at an important university. Such a treat to read his survival and the stamina he must have had. We thoroughly enjoyed the book and urge everyone to read this story, particularly those who knew of him. I cant imagine having to go through this myself. I have contacted Mr Stackman and urged him to finish the story by writing the continuing pages from then to the present because we all would be interested in knowing "the rest of the story". Come on now, Bob get busy and do it. Since then, I have purchased 2 copies of this book, one for myself and one for my adult children to share, since they too have met Mr Stackman now. Our adult children have a difficult time understanding how this tragedy could have happened.

I stumbled upon this little gem while visiting my grandparents in Arizona over the Thanksgiving Holidays. Needing something to read, my grandfather suggested I read a book that had been written and independently published by a member of his church. The expression on my face must have shown my disinterest and distain at reading somebody's amateurish memoirs so my grandmother suggested I pick up some paperbacks at the neighborhood gently used book store. During the remainder of our stay, I finished the 2 books I had gotten at Book Traders and was once again in need of something to read. It was my grandmother this time who suggested I take the copy of Life in a Rat Maze with me on my flight home. She went on to say that the book was extremely well written--the author was a former history professor who had spent most of his childhood in an orphan's home in Indiana--although he was not an orphan! She compared the book to Angela's Ashes--a book that I had gotten them for Christmas several years past--and reminded me that Frank McCord was just a writer of amateurish memoirs until someone with the right connections published and marketed his book.

Humbled a bit, I took the book with me and started reading it in the airport. I was immediately impressed with the author's style.
Although it was obvious by the typeface and layout that this book had been published by a small publishing house--there was none of the "amateruish" feel I had dreaded. Instead, I was treated to the story of one Robert Stackman, who, at the age of 6 was placed--along with three of his brothers--in an orphans home because his parent's "lacked the necessary parental skills."
Peppered with anecdotes that were both humorous and heartwrenching, Stackman detailed the eight and a half years he spent as a ward of the state of Indiana in the "Oh Aitch" with amazing restraint. What amazed me was the absence of bitterness, anger or hurt in his voice. He tells his story matter of factly and introduces the reader to his mother--who visited the boys every Sunday without fail--Mr. Bowen, the "man in charge" who was very physical--to an older "guardian brother" who became a surrogate parent; his supervisor, friend, sponsor and protector as well as tormentor who could drive to "the brink and over." If ever there were personal demons from this experience, it seems that the author has laid them to rest. When mentioning that his beloved guardian brother could at times be cruel, he wistfully remarks "take the good with the bad; there was far more good than bad in our relationship. It would have, indeed, been a lonely, wearisome struggle without him. I feel sorry for those many youngsters who had to face institutional life all alone.

A skillful writer, Stackman blends historical facts with a sad and sorrowful story of growing up in a dysfunctional family during the depression. It has been said that everyone has a story to tell--All they need to do is either open their mouth or put pen to paper. R. Robert Stackman has done just that and the result is a fascinating and thoroughly satisfying story. I urge everyone to support this book. it is legions better than the two books I picked up at Book Traders.

An important book on life insurance by the most knowledgeable author on the subject. THE book to read.

Joseph Belth provides the analytical consumer with a rational, systematic approach to understanding personal insurable risk and how to transfer that risk to an insurance company. Readers can browse the chapters to get answers to questions specific to their individual situation, or read it cover-to-cover for a comprehensive overview. Of particular value are the strategies for assessing how good your policy is and whether it's a "good deal". Although a bit dated, it is still the best book on the subject. Those interested in a more current discussion of the industry, company ratings, and consumer issues are referred to Professor Belth's newsletter THE INSURANCE FORUM, PO Box 245, Ellettsville, Indiana, 47429.

In half a lifetime of writing history and poetry about the...communities of the Jasper [Indiana] area and their German antecedents, Krapf has shown a sense of place and ethnic identity that radiates out to universal brotherhood....He reminds us of the all-American Walt Whitman, who remained "a part of all that I have met" and of Wendell Berry, who sings of his beloved Kentucky that he has seen the worst and best of humankind there.

- Dan Carpenter, The Indianapolis Star

The past often turns up in Krapf's poems, but not in a nostalgic way. The poet does not nostalgically pine for or color the past because it is so lively in his memory anyway. That a "shopping mall and a big/black parking lot" have replaced the packed-dirt basketball court of the poet's youth is not cause for sorrow or regret because when he sees this, the poet hears in his mind "that leather swish/inside a cord net like the sound/of an angel landing in heaven." [from "Barnyard Hoops"] The poet has memories which nothing can take away from him. But these do not pale the immediate or remove the poet from it. Rather, they give fullness and a wide emotional expanse to the present; as when in "Going to Church" two elderly widowers smile and move with a grace that "says ladies they love/are going to church, too." Throughout his life, Krapf has retained his connection to his German ancestry in various ways. This is seen in this volume with black-and-white photographs by the German photographer Andreas Riedel at the beginning of each of the four sections.

There are Social Historians and there are Intellectual Historians. It is a sad thing that people today seems to prefer the findings of the Social Historians over the Intellectual Historians. For example, the Reformation is today analysed by many from the perspectives of economic pressures, political climate and social conditioning when the most crucial perspective of analysis should be centered upon the "Battle of Ideas".

This book seeks to do just that. Steinmetz shows Luther as someone born to Theology as much as Bach was born to Music! More than that, Steinmetz's Luther is a fighter - a wrestler! Like Jacob of old, here we see Luther contending with his "contemporaries" - by that I mean the characters and ideas that more than any social concerns or pressures occupied his thoughts and demanded an appropriate response. We see Luther versus Abraham, Luther versus Isaiah, Luther versus Paul, Luther versus Augustine, Luther versus Ockham, Luther versus Erasmus and ultimately we see Luther versus himself and Luther versus God!

In short, we see Luther's beliefs as the product of conflict/crisis - much unlike the convenient/functional sort we see in many today. Reading this book allows me to see many Lutheran doctrines with far greater clarity than ever - e.g. the Hidden God, the Bondage of the Will, etc. I see Luther as someone like Jacob in the Book of Genesis holding on to the LORD, clinging on for his dear life! Then I see Luther limping away after his fights... a better man, a defeated man, a victorious man, a rebel and a worshipper. Israel.

Read Althaus' "Theology of Martin Luther" as your primer on Lutheranism. Then read this book to see everything in clearer perspective and context. I dare you to remain cool and disinterested after experiencing these vigorous battles of the mind and spirit.

David Steinmetz brings an excellent study with "Luther In Context" (2002). This 195-page paperback offers 20 pages of informative endnotes and a helpful 7-page index. Steinmetz writes authentic Luther!

Steinmetz brings a very readable style presenting a fresh new look at the originator of the Protestant Reformation. The book is replete with Luther theology (from salvation by grace alone, to only Scripture, to virtue arrives only through grace). Luther is diligently compared to Aquinas, Pelagians, Occamists and Anabaptists (and found superior to each). The book's discussions range from Augustinian doctrines that influenced Luther's early thinking, to the Zwinglian controversies that required Luther's later response (Luther strongly disliked the militant Protestant Ulrich Zwingli), to Luther's own commentary on Scripture (bringing, for me, his best Protestant effort).

Steinmetz teaches the great Reformer's reasons for translating Scripture form Latin into German. We discover Luther's "Two Kingdoms" for 16th century political theory. The author submits chapter 9- "Luther and the Drunkenness of Noah"- to effectively demonstate how Brother Martin went about Scriptural exegesis.

Perhaps Steinmetz makes his best effort with chapter 8- "Luther and Calvin on Church and Tradition". This is a brilliant presentation hosting Luther and Calvin together. We hear of the brief theological inter-play between the two Reformation icons (Luther was almost two generations older than Calvin). Steinmetz's account makes one wish for a presence during the Luther-Calvin 1539 conversation.

This book is recommended to all students of the Reformation, Luther readers, students of Church history and those curious about Martin Luther. Amazon.com's price is good, order yours soon.

I can't recommend this book enough for Indiana fans, especially those like me with no memory of the 1953 championship. It was incredibly well-researched, with great information about the state of the game at the time (coming off the point-shaving scandals at CCNY, LIU, and Kentucky), the opposing teams and coaches, the individual players on the team, and the play-by-play action of each of the games. The play-by-play was especially exciting for me, because I went into the book without knowing which games we'd won and lost, so I didn't know the outcomes until the final whistle sounded. It is full of quotes by the players, coaches, and the press articles of the time. Buy it and read it - you won't be disappointed.

Here's a few anecdotes to whet your appetite:

- Indiana lost 3 games that season, and each of them were lost on the last-second shots.

- Branch McCracken told his players at the beginning of each season to avoid "drinking, smoking, and gambling." This worried the players, because they knew these were three of Bobby Leonard's favorite things.

- The Minnesota coach was Ozzie Cowles, who went to Minnesota from Michigan, where he led Michigan to their first ever NCAA tournament appearance. After returning from the NCAA tournament, here's what Cowles had to say: "We'd been gone for a week, but no one seemed to notice. A couple of days after we got back, Fritz Crisler [UM AD and head football coach] stuck his head in my office and asked me where I'd been. That was when I decided that Michigan was no place to coach basketball."

- Because of the draft for the Korean War, there was an exemption that allowed freshmen to play in 1951-52, which allowed Don Schlundt to play as a freshman. He was a sophomore in 52-53, and (answering my trivia question below) he broke the all-time B10 scoring record a bit more than halfway through his sophomore season. Remarkable.

- Though IU beat Kansas in the championship game, it was that Kansas team that really changed college basketball in the years that followed. Kansas had lost Clyde Lovelette the year before and weren't considered contenders. But they changed the way they played defense and adopted Iba's Oklahoma A&M pressure defense that Iba played in the final few minutes of the game when down by less than 6 points. This was a pressure defense that played passing lanes and guarded players without the ball (and new concept). That year's Kansas team decided to play that way for the entire game and almost road their defense to the title.

- Kentucky was banned from playing the entire 52-53 season because of recruiting violations and point-shaving. Kentucky chose not to penalize Rupp, though. At all.

The book starts by laying an excellent historical foundation prior to the '53 seaon. The GI Bill, growth in big state universities, increased emphasis on college sports and the invention of the point spread all led to corruption that threatened the legitimacy of college athletics in the early post WWII years. Hiner goes into fascinating details involving Godfather-like characters with names like Sollazzo to illustrate how the great New York City basketball colleges were brought down by gambling scandals.

Game fixing struck not only the east coast but migrated out to the heartland. Hiner discusses the corruption that forced Kentucky to give up its 1953 SEC season.

The next chapters involve the individual players and how they ended up coming to IU.

There was Leonard, the deadend runt from the railroad tracks of Terre Haute who grew from 5'4" as a sophomore to 6'3 in high school. Rangey Charlie Kraak, whom Branch McCracken snagged from Illinois' Harry Combes' backyard. Dick Farley , the poor kid from a huge family in southern Indiana (Winslow). Burke Scott, the gym rat from Tell City who never really quite believed that McCracken wanted him, and had to decommit from Western Kentucky to attend Indiana. And Don Schlundt, the "rich kid" from South Bend. Schlundt was rich because his family could afford to give him a basketball, which was a rare possession in those days. As a young kid Schlundt was so fat, dumpy and lacking in skills that he needed that basketball so that other kids would play with him.

The following chapters deal with Branch McCracken. Starting with him as a boyhood neighbor of John Wooden to Branch's excellent playing career as a high schooler, collegian and pro. Terrific background on the things that shaped McCracken's philosophies on coaching. Through every phase of his playing career, McCracken loved the running game and couldn't wait to implement as a coach.

To use the running game effectively, McCracken was a stickler for conditioning and Hiner does a good job of describing all the things he did to keep his players in shape, including having them spied on if necessary.

The rest of the book effectively weaves the games of the great '53 IU seaon with wonderful personal stories involving players, coaches, family and friends. The details on the games themselves are very thorough and greatly appreciated by an IU basketball historical nut like me. But since I knew a lot of those details, I liked the personal stories even more. I loved reading about what a scoundrel Bobby Leonard was, and it was all McCraken could do to keep him in line. There are a lot of other nice gems, but one that sticks out is how a few college kids, with no money or a plan to speak of, get themselves to the champioship game in Kansas City and end up storming the court in victory.

If you have much interest at all in the tradition of Indiana University basketball, then you'll enjoy this book.

In these days of explosive population growth and burgeoning suburbs where anonymity seems to be the order of the day, it's good to be periodically reminded that there are still small towns with restaurants "where everybody knows your name." The author does an excellent job of capturing the unique ambiance of about 140 of these Indiana restaurants, complete with their "liars' tables," plaques with pithy (and somewhat slightly raunchy) sayings, and waitresses who never let the newcomer remain a stranger for long.

This is a fun book to read, and a way to find some good eats when you are on the road in Indiana.
Basically, it is a record of mom/pop resturants in small town Indiana, places that look like they did 50 years ago. Most are on Main Street in the town, and all are frequented by early traffic (5:00 am in most places) Usually the food is good, the coffee is hot and the pie is excellent!!
Be sure to check ahead if possible, because, with the competition from fast food and franchises, some of these wonderful places have gone out of business.
Enjoy!