Agnew Books

I read this book for a graduate class in American history. My understanding of American history during the period 1945 to 2000 has become enlightened and better informed by several of the readings in this book. The two areas of American history that the book has expanded my understanding pertains to America's actions as a world leader, and more especially, America's domestic struggles. In some instances, the book was pivotal in settling previously held beliefs about historical facts, and in other instances, the book broke new ground in exposing history that had not been researched until recently.

1945 was a watershed year for American history and foreign policy. The recent victory gained in World War II left America as a one of two super power nations on the world stage. America also found itself as the leader of the free world and in political tension with the Soviet Union. Several actions by the world's two super powers caused them to enter into an era known as the Cold War, which lasted until 1989 with the fall of the Berlin wall. Part III "Politics and Foreign Policy" finally settled the question of how pervasive Soviet espionage had become in the federal government prior to and after World War II. The authors' use of recently released secret documents from archives in the U.S. and the former Soviet Union made it possible to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA) helped the Soviets to infiltrate some of the highest places of decision-making within the government of the U.S. One example of a CPUSA member's complicity in nefarious spying activity for the Soviet Union was Alger Hiss, who had been a highly placed member of the State Department in the 1940's. "In the late 1940's and early 1950's, the internal threat posed by the American Communist Party, both as a subversive political force and an auxiliary to Soviet espionage, loomed large."

In the realm of America's domestic policy, I found that many of the book's readings pertaining to the civil rights struggle in America and the civil unrest during the 1960's changed my understanding of what really took place during those turbulent times. Prior to the course, most of my knowledge of these events were based on my observation of them on television at the time, or totally unknown to me. Several readings that I found informative dealt with Mexican American and Native American civil rights struggles and how these groups took unorthodox positions to fight for their rights. One reading that was most illuminating explained how the Mexican American community, in league with other civil rights organizations, successfully lobbied for the state government of Texas to pass a resolution in 1943 that essentially recognized them as Caucasians. The courts would later find that the resolution was unenforceable as law. However, the fact that Mexican Americans would take the unusual step of asking to be recognized as Caucasians instead of demanding that they be treated as equals to Caucasians, was counter intuitive to the civil rights struggles that Black Americans took leading up to and through the1960's. Another reading showed how Mexican Americans finally coalesced under the "Chicano" banner largely due to police brutality in Los Angeles in the riots of the late 1960's and early1970's.

In the field of Native American history one reading dealt with tribal identities and lands, was new history to me. Once again, the reading showed a history counter intuitive to conventional belief about Native Americans anathema to life on the reservation. In 1953 the U.S. House of Representatives, in an effort to extend full civil rights and benefits of citizenship to Native Americans, passed a resolution that would ultimately strip them of their tribal affiliation and sovereignty. Essentially, this resolution forced tribal leaders to fight for their people's cultural uniqueness and acceptance as Native Americans separate from America's "melting pot."

I also found most illuminating Part II on "Movements." The readings did an excellent job explaining the transformation of cultural and political attitudes of Americans from the 1960's. The book astutely proved that activism did not die in the 1960's. Instead, it took a slower more peaceful pace and in some instances, a turn to the right politically. The readings proved that the protest movements and events of the 1960's changed American history and have left their indelible imprint on the nation to this day.

As a graduate student, I recommend this book for anyone interested in American History, and Cold War History.

For the second time in her life, magazine editor Kiley Chapman is experiencing excruciating fear. After being kidnapped and terrorized 10 years ago, she had promised herself that she'd never be put into that position again, so she's reacting to threatening phone calls by stubbornly refusing to admit that they could actually mean something. While her uncle is busily trying to get her to accept a bodyguard, she is busy at the magazine, working on an article on a real life hero. She advertises for a real life hero, and is amazed by several of the responses she gets. These guys couldn't be for real. While interviewing one of her hero possibilities, the situations turns ugly-and the moment is saved when Scott Danger, another candidate for the hero article, barges in and saves Kiley from the aggressive applicant. She's stunned by his awesome physical appearance, and also by his macho, sexy demeanor. Could he really be the hero she's looking for?

Scott Danger, Security Specialist, accepts this one last assignment to be a bodyguard to Kiley Chapman because it means so much to his boss. But there's a catch that her uncle reveals-he must get Kiley to accept him into her life without letting her know that he is actually her bodyguard. He knows there will be no problem when he hears about the hero contest-he's done some incredible feats in his lifetime, so he can get her to accept him without revealing his true occupation. And when he meets Kiley, he is stunned and instantly drawn to her in a way he has no desire to be drawn to any woman. He pushes her into accepting a dinner invitation with him, and when the evening ends in the discovery that her best friend and assistant has been brutally attacked, Scott decides he's not leaving this pretty lady's side for anything. He's certain that the attack was meant as a sign to Kiley...a sign that she's going to be next.

Kiley fights the need for a protector, and when she finds out that Scott is actually a bodyguard hired by her uncle, she is furious and demands that he be let go. But is she really making the right choice? Not only is she sure that someone is out to get her, but she's also sure that the something she feels when Scott is around is something she doesn't want to let go. The battle of wills between the two, and the sparks they send flying, are a wonder to read about. They light a fire in the pages, making you zoom to the next page.

This is my first Denise Agnew book, and I can assure you it won't be my last. With hot, zippy writing, she makes the story fly by, and you're waiting with baited breath to see what's going to happen next. While we actually know who done it, Ms. Agnew weaves a level of suspense that will have you guessing, and a truly wonderful romance together splendidly. The big, sexy Scott is the perfect match for the spunky, independent Kiley, and she introduces a crew of characters that I can't wait to read more about. What an exceptional read!

Sylvanus Thayer's mark is still very much in place at WP. Read this book to learn about his decree banning alcohol at any cadet Christmas celebration - or any cadet celebration. If you are interested in American history, this book is rich in details of our country in the mid 20's. The "shenanigans" of the cadets are probably similar to today's college students. However, you won't believe the names of the cadets who participated. It put the significance of being a cadet today into a true historical perspective.

I found this book easy to read and understand. I thought I would be intimidated by this book, but instead found it fascinating. The book help better my understanding about the path that the mental health profession has taken since the 19th century. And the struggle of the mental ill to get others to be compassion and understanding about this disease. Anna Agnew was years ahead of her time. Thanks Dr. King

This is one of the best textbooks I have seen on the growth of the world economy. It has historic depth and covers all parts of the world not just the US and Europe as do so many others. It also isn't obsessed with multinational corporations as if they were the only story about the evolution of the world economy. There are lots of interesting maps and boxes that even students who have only just graduated from the "painting by numbers" class can understand. The box on how Barbie is made and marketed is a gem. The only problem I have with the book, beyond the fact that by now some of the data are yesterday's news, is that too many definitions of key terms are crammed into the first two chapters. Put them in a glossary at the end!!! Not all students have trouble turning to the back of the book.

As Dr. Agnew's former student, I can attest to both his engaging style and his comprehensive understanding of geopolitics. This book is sure to be well worth the time and money to read.

There are a number of things that make this anthology an excellent departure point for further thought and study. As a third year Geography student, bored with practical geography that felt like fourth form social studies and hungry for theory, this anthology provided me with an expansive, comfy place to rest as I worked out my own ideas and principles, recognising the things that attracted me to Geography, and understanding the things that will keep me attached to the discipline as my life and job change over the years.

Clarence Glacken said in Traces on the Rhodian Shore, his magnum opus about the way nature and the environment have been viewed over the centuries, that there have always been three key ideas about the environment in the history of Western Thought. The editors of this anthology have taken a similar approach to the way they have organised their readings under general themes or concepts that have always been relevant to Geographers: Region, Nature, Culture, Time, Space, and Place. This allows them to gather extracts taken from fundamentally important essays in a way that is useful and informative, in ways that are both historical and practical. The chapters allow you to contrast different approaches that Geographers have taken to key concepts, producing an anthology that is supremely functional, as all great anthologies should be. The readings are challenging, but manageable, and have been selected carefully to provide a budding Historical or Theoretical Geographer with not only the most well known, but also the formally overlooked, providing a well-rounded and fairly un-biased collection. The different paradigms carry equal weighting, allowing you a sense of the struggle that has occured between quantitative and qualitative schools over the years.

There's something for everyone. Kropotkin, Mackinder, Sauer, Glacken, Haagerstrad, Tuan, Anne Buttimer, Aldo Leopold. The anthology also has helpful introductory pages for each thinker with well written, concise biographies outlining their contribution to the discipline, as well as theoretical influences and heirs. Anything but dry, and as useful as any social research methods handbook. Don't discount or neglect the theory when it's been presented in such a stimulating and accessible format as this!

Enjoyed reading about dating experiences that happened to me too. Entertaining book that reminds you that you don't have to have a man to be viable. Being picky is a good thing. Enjoyed the recipes, especially the chocolate ones.

IN A TEAPOT is a small gem, a story of revenge carefully planned over a period of time. The writing is flawless, the story is short enough to read in an evening and long enough to satisfy. Faherty writes with humor and a light touch, murder notwithstanding.

The year is 1948. An independent producer wants to cast members of Hollywood's aging "British colony" in a movie version of Shakespeare's final play, "The Tempest." Names like Ronald Colman, Charles Laughton and Basil Rathbone are bandied about.

So far, the only actor to sign a contract is Forrest Combs, who's dating a burlesque queen. The producer knows that the Brits won't sign if there's a hint of scandal. Unless Combs gives up the girl the movie won't happen.

Enter Scott Elliott, a former actor now working for Paddy McGuire, president of the Hollywood Security Agency. Their specialty, as Scott observes, is pulling clients out of a jam. "Also hushing up, paying off, and leaning on."

An example of Faherty's smooth and judicious use of language is this brief exchange when Paddy and Scott meet with Jeffries, the producer:

QUOTE:
"It may mean some money changing hands," Paddy observed.
Jeffries took a pen from his pocket and wrote a figure on a damp cocktail napkin. I counted three zeros when he pushed it across to Paddy.
"Promise her that much to forget she ever met Combs. And a second payment the day we finish shooting."
Paddy tucked the napkin into his watch pocket. "Consider it done," he said.
END QUOTE

As Scott and Paddy drive away, Paddy says, "I smell a fish," and the story takes off.

Outdoorsman and western history buff Jeremy Agnew presents Life of a Soldier on the Western Frontier, a reference that quite literally lives up to its title as an accurate portrayal of the day-to-day life of young men who joined the frontier army, particularly in the 1840s through the 1890s. Inspired by tales of glory and battle, their realities consisted of hard work seven days a week, drills, questionable meals, cramped living quarters, badly-fitting uniforms, little opportunity for advancement, and harsh discipline, all for $13.00 a month. Black-and-white photographs and maps help round out the reader's understanding of the challenges enlisted men faced as they helped conquer the American frontier, in this fascinating presentation sure to intrigue western historians, Western storytellers, and lay readers alike.