Kentucky Books

Great book on a little reported subject-POW life during the Korean War. Mr. Zellers does an awesome job conveying the fears and hopes of POWs during that time. You can viscerally feel their fear through his writing. I highly recommend this moving book to anyone with even a passing interest for Korean War history.

Larry Zellers, a newly married Methodist minister serving as a missionary and teacher in a small South Korean town near the 38th parallel, was taken prisoner in the early days of the Korean War. He and his fellow prisoners were American combat soldiers who were the very first to arrive in Korea from bases in Japan. The youngest among them had received only minimal combat training. All of the mean were inadequately trained and furnished with sometimes malfunctioning weapons. After being taken prisoner by the North Koreans, the men suffered incredible hardships of cold, hunger, physical abuse, lack of medical attention, fatigue, fear isolation, and intimidation. In Enemy Hands is Zellers' first-hand story of his captivity from June 25, 1950 to his release in 1953. Throughout his personal account Zellers shows that, despite the opinion that POWs live only for themselves, many in the camps worked to help others and conducted themselves with honor. Zellers became a U.S. Air Force chaplain after his release. In Enemy Hands is a valued, important, biographical contribution to the growing body of Korean War literature and a much appreciated contribution to any academic, public library military history collection.

Jack Sprat, Low Fat is the best healthy lifestyle book (including a very conscientious 28-day example complete with "wart hog days"!) that we have ever found (I am the mom, not the 12 year old!). The authors masterfully reveal the culprits that create un-healthy eating habits, and address the issues as they pertain to the informed middle-class American culture. They soundly convince the reader of the dire importance of eating right. Even with a health background, I find that the older we get, the less time there is to committ to even our best lofty intentions of healthy changes! Bryant Stamford and his co-auther R.N. Becca Coffin do NOT endorse or promote any quick-fix or product, but prevail with undisputable common sense and digestable physiological facts the importance of living healthfully. I applaud this book! If you are an informed individual, but still looking for that perfect healthy-lifestyle resource, then look no further. You will find this book in a class of its own. I hope that you will appreciate it as much as I do.

This no-fat cookbook/diet plan/informational book is full of useful information presented in a way that is easily understood. There is a light-heartedness to the approach that keeps the information from being tedious or dull. A good guide to more heathful eating and overall lifestyle.

Cotton Mather and PP Karan traveled the length and breath of Japan in a small red car, attempting to make the landscape "speak." Somewhere on the Kii Peninsula, south of Ise, what they'd been looking at finally began to make sense: categories and generalizations began. From this point on, their generalizations were tested and retested with the resultant Primary and Secondary Characteristics of what one sees in Japan: Paucity of Idle Land; Scarcity of Level Land; Compactness; Meticulous Organization; Immaculateness; Interdigitation; and Tiered Occupance among others. A nice explanation with plenty of photos by men who have been involved with Japan since the Second World War.

When i first bought this book for a gardening friend i thought i wouldn't like but it turned out i did. the next day iwent back and got one for myself.it was stimulating and inspiring and i thought it was excelent!

A very well-written biography of Crittenden and a good chronicle of the events that led up to the Civil War. Highly critical of the refusal of Abraham Lincoln to compromise and thus avoid a bloody war.

Full Disclosure: I am descended from John Jordan Crittenden, subject of this book. Nonetheless, I knew very little about him before I read this wonderful biography. As a student of American history, I am astonished that he is not better known to average Americans. Six-term United States Senator, governor of Kentucky, U.S. Representative, U.S. Attorney General under three presidents, nominated by three presidents for the U.S. Supreme Court, repeatedly the likely winner of presidential elections had he chosen to run, and the man who, had he been able to get a Republican-controlled senate to put his compromise plan to a vote, would now be remembered as the man who prevented the Civil War, John J. Crittenden led possibly the most selfless substantial career in American political history. Even after his heroic efforts to stave off war between the states, his successful effort to prevent the secession of Kentucky almost certainly saved the Union. Albert Kirwan's book is not only a thorough examination of one of the most unjustly neglected careers in American politics, but it is a clear and fascinating report which, for all its coverage of congressional procedure, never lags or fails to propel the reader through it. I have read biographies of all American presidents through Lincoln, and until this book, I never clearly understood how America developed from the united post-Revolution nation to the bitterly divided battleground it became by the mid-1800s. Never more plainly have I understood the tragedy of the Civil War -- not merely because of the bloodshed that it contained, but for the fact that, but for party politics and Lincoln's initial short-sightedness, the war need never have occurred. The fact is, there is a great and dramatic story in Crittenden's nearly successful attempt to save the Union, and Kirwan writes it with the skill of a master playwright. This is an impeccably researched book, but far more than that, it is a powerful story about a one of America's greatest heroes, now almost forgotten by the ages.

What distinguishes Tomarken from other critics? I'll tell ya' what. He uses words like "absolutistically". Then, right when the writing starts to get dull, he'll hit you with a good ol' "obsequious", followed by the 1/2 punch of a "lycencous", and of all things the "dunne" of the text. Tomarken's ability to finger through the Oxford unabridged dictionary in order to find the most obscurely outrageous words available is unparallelled by any other 21st century literary critic. In fact, it is rumoured that in a flash of brilliance in 1972, Eddie pulled out the word "antidisestabilshmentarianistically" in reference to genre and ethics, a stunt that has yet to be surpassed. Here's to you Ed. Far and away, one of the finest brothers to Peter Tomarken there is.

What distinguishes Tomarken from other critics? I'll tell ya' what. He uses words like "absolutistically". Then, right when the writing starts to get dull, he'll hit you with a good ol' "obsequious", followed by the 1/2 punch of a "lycencous", and of all things the "dunne" of the text. Tomarken's ability to finger through the Oxford unabridged dictionary in order to find the most obscurely outrageous words available is unparallelled by any other 21st century literary critic. In fact, it is rumoured that in a flash of brilliance in 1972, Eddie pulled out the word "antidisestabilshmentarianistically" in reference to genre and ethics, a stunt that has yet to be surpassed. Here's to you Ed. Far and away, one of the finest brothers to Peter Tomarken there is.

Keven McQueen has the potential to be the Stephen King of non-fiction! Like King he relies on the most horrific material to entertain the reader. The difference is McQueen uses the reality of the human condition to cause nightmares!!!!! "The Kentucky Book of the Dead" will leave the reader in a dilemma.............Should one be embalmed or risk being buried alive??

It takes a consummate master of the written word to make typically unsavory topics such as death by cesspool and olden embalming techniques come across as hilarious and not just plain morbid. Keven Mcqueen is a master, as proven by his latest book, The Kentucky Book of the Dead. He's got it in spades. He'll waste no time for the reader, offering up concise yet enthralling bits of death and factoids on the mayhem wreaked by the unlucky, uncaring, and just plain not so bright among us. He gives us a lagniappe of amusing tombstone headings as a little gift to the reader, which I consider a fantastic way of ending the book. Also, Kyle McQueen's illustrations help spotlight all the humor and pathos. Don't miss out on this one!

Crowgey has delivered a thoroughly delightful in-depth and detailed academic-level history of the origins of America's Native Spirit, Bourbon.

If you're looking for mixed drink recipes or techniques on how to make the latest shooter, you're in the wrong place. If you're truly interested in the wheres and whys of the origin of Bourbon, you'll be in heaven.

Crowgey's writing style can get a bit pedestrian at times but the facts and details here come through loud and clear. He debunks some of the myths, he lays out the facts as they were, and we're better Bourbon connoisseurs for having read him.

You can enjoy Bourbon without reading this book, but you'll understand Bourbon better if you do.

In tracing the history of distilling in Kentucky up to the eve of the Civil War, Crowgey dispels many of the myths and "pleasant legends" that have grown up around this native spirit.

There is, of course, much here for those interested in Kentucky history and the history of distilling. However, through his study of early bourbon making, Crowgey also tells us a great deal about early American agricultural history and the settlement and development of the frontier. Originally published in 1971, this is a wonderful little book that deserved to be reprinted.

I recently finished reading this book and found it to be one of the most interesting unit histories that I have ever read. This book is a history of the 4th Kentucky Cavalry (CSA) and is written by one of its members, George Dallas Mosgrove. It recounts the service of this unit in Eastern Kentucky and Southwest Virginia and under the command of Generals Humphrey Marshall, John Hunt Morgan, "Grumble" Jones, and others. It also provides a roster of members of the 4th and biographies of the Captains. The "classical" writing style of the author is evident throughout the book, yet it always keeps your attention and is easy to read. For those who have an interest in Kentucky units or the war in Southwest Virginia, this book is for you.

This work is more of spin off work from the Diary of Edward O. Guerrant who served with this book's author during the Civil War. Musgrove supplements Guerrant's Diary which has been recently publlshed under the title "Bluegrass Confederate" Edited by William C. Davis. Both works fill in the gaps about the actions that were fought in Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee where the Official Records are silent. Aside from a few local histories this book is one of the few that has such information. Highly recommended for students of this area of the conflict.

This cookbook is my cooking bible. Every recipe is full proof. I understand the Louisville writers of this book tested every recipe a minimum of 8 times to guarantee they would work every time. Try the Mighty Mustard, Henry Bain Sauce and the Derby Pie. You will make them over and over again. And the pictures give you a true idea of what Derby in Louisville is like from a local perspective!

Probably the best of all combination books that give the flavor and taste of what the Derby is all about. The photography is superb, the recipe' selections the best of Kentucky and the book itself a center piece for any coffee table

Kentucky Dreamin' had me fired up from page 1. Ron Stauffer does an excellent job of weaving suspenseful fiction with many historical quotes that ought to open a lot of minds. Those who are religious would gain some very good insight into their own philosophies from reading this book, and anyone who likes suspense will find it entertaining. Kentucky Dreamin' combines murder, romance and philosophy intelligently and entertainingly, while throwing in an extra bonus - the text of James Madison's short, succinct masterpiece, "A Memorial and Remonstrance."

Three cheers for Kentucky Dreamin' - a novel of mystery and romance that actually shows ATHEISTS for the good people I know them to be. Erin is a strong female lead; Paul is the kind of guy most atheist or agnostic gals seek. The suspense builds as terrorists strike and promise more savagery. The interwoven philosophizing of great voices of the past is a welcome break up of the action.