Clark Books

From time to time, a historian will write a book, as opposed to an author writing history. And when TWO historians write a book, you get what Bigler and Bagley have created here. The entire series, "Forgotten Kingdom" is dynamite, we are fortunate to have these books available to us.

David Bigler and Will Bagley are two of the nation's leading experts on the history of the Rocky Mountain Mormons.

They have combined to present an extremely readable history of the Mormon Battalion - an army unit that traversed thousands of difficult miles and never fired a shot in anger.

Extremely well researched, ARMY OF ISRAEL is must reading for those interested in the many facets of 19th Century Mormonism.

David Bigler and Will Bagley successfully collaborated to bring together a series of previously unpublished documents, as well as some published ones, in an outstanding collection of firsthand accounts and other primary sources on and about the Mormon Battalion's epic 1846 U.S. - Mexican War march and their role in securing the Southwest from Mexican control and claiming the territory that would become the states of Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah -- thereby fulfilling the mandate inherent in the concept of "Manifest Destiny". Several eye-witness sourced perspectives are provided including the journal of teenager William Pace, letters from some of the women associated with the battalion; as well as military and government correspondence. Army Of Israel: Mormon Battalion Narratives is a superlatively presented and informative contribution to American history in general, and the role of a unique military command in particular.

The significance of the events from 1846-1848 in the history of our country has long been overlooked. Education in many schools jumps from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War; completely disregarding the major influence the Mexican-American War had on our nation. Not only did the war result in the United States increasing it's territory by over a third, but the wealth of mineral resources in California, Arizona, and New Mexico helped to propel the United States to global prominence in the twentieth century. But if the war as a whole is neglected, the unique contributions of a single group to the formation of the U.S. border and to the development of American western migration is almost completely forgotten. The Mormon Battalion, which marched in 1846 from Iowa to California, blazed a trail that would define our nation's borders and history. Published in 2000, ARMY OF ISRAEL: Mormon Battalion narratives gives a fresh look at this regiment's history from their own viewpoint. The editors are both historians with backgrounds in journalism and a special interest in the American Far West. Mr. Bigler is a past president of the Oregon-California Trails Association, founder and first president of the Utah Westerners, and has served on the Utah Board of State History. He has also edited the diary of his great-uncle Azariah Smith, one of the members of the Battalion. Mr. Bagley has edited several books and narratives on the American West and serves as the chief editor of the series KINGDOM IN THE WEST: The Mormons and the American Frontier. The narrative focuses primarily on the events encountered by the battalion during the actual march from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Los Angeles, California in from June 1846 to January 1847. Thought the infantry regiment made the entire journey without firing a single shot, the march was the longest in the history of any American army. It's legacy, however, is much greater than simple trivia. On its way to California, the battalion occupied Santa Fe, Tucson, Yuma, San Diego, and Los Angeles, instituting the first American military presence in each of these cities. They were also to first to construct an east-west wagon road, which intersected the great mountain ranges of the Southwest. Previously, Mexican and Native American merchant traffic traveled north-south along the valleys. The roads were a major factor in the mass migration to California that would soon follow. The roads continued to be used until 1880, when the railroad was built along the same path. Interstate 10 now follows almost the exact same path that the company forged over 150 years ago. The little "Army of the West", made up of five regiments of one hundred men each, made President James Polk's vision of a continental nation into reality. In the Introduction the editors claim, "Only in recent times have historians begun to realize the achievements and the important role the Mormon soldiers performed in California and Western history. The narratives found in these pages reveal ... the significant part these men and women played in that history" (p. 29). Fortunately for us, a great number of the soldiers kept account of their experiences in pocket diaries, which many then transcribed into more detailed journals after the war. These documents not only provide us with detailed information on their day-to-day activities, but also give us eyewitness accounts of the major events of this period - the occupation of Northern Mexico, the opening of major transportation routes, and the discovery of gold in California. The book proceeds chronographically, beginning with the situation surrounding the Mormons and the U.S. government at the time. The Mormons were in need of money to finance their exodus to Utah; President Polk was in need of an army to occupy California. Polk's concern for the West Coast was not over Mexican possession but of the threat of British invasion. Once the deal was brokered, the Battalion set out almost immediately, under the command of Gen. Stephen W. Kearny and Lt. Col. Philip St. George Cooke. The editors utilize a great number of original documents from James Polk's presidential papers, War Department records, and Congressional archives. Correspondence between the Mormons and the government is also well recorded. The narrative then turns to the march itself, which is presented mostly by means of diaries and journals from the soldiers and their officers. The editors employ a framework that keeps the narrative interesting and ties the various accounts together, giving historical background for each event. This approach enables them to let the documents stand on their own merit but also provides them with the opportunity to accentuate events that demonstrate the importance of the Mormon Battalion campaign. The editors clearly explain the ramifications of events not only during the war but even down to our time. The result is indeed convincing. They make proper use of their source data describing not only the events but also their historical significance. The narrative is interesting and informative. An effort is made to include the journals of women who traveled with the army, as well as to maintain a balance between purely historical documents with entertaining stories. On the other hand, although the stated scope of the book is to present the experiences of the Battalion from their own perspective, there is very little information on Native Americans and even less about the Mexicans. Additionally, though the editors make an attempt to curb their glowing assessment of the Battalion by introducing a few arguments that call the Mormons' intentions into question, the effort is half-hearted and falls short of credibility. What remains is a biased depiction of the campaign that nonetheless does not detract from the authenticity of the source documents. The end result is an extremely readable book about an extraordinary group of people who played a part in our nation's history that often goes unnoticed.

I read this book from cover to cover today at work and being an "Andy of Mayberry" fan (and I love to cook, too), I found it delightful and typed 4 of the 'choicest' recipes. I'd love to own it and to give it to some special friends for Christmas, too.

This is a lovely publication, full of photos from the show and lots of great recipes. I collect cookbooks and this is now one of the "finds" of my collection. Thank you.

I bought the book thinking it was just a little "Andy Griffith" nostalgia, but was pleasantly surprised when the recipes were actually great! As a mother of 6, my family welcomed some new ideas for dinner (I welcomed that they were simple to make)! Also get "Aunt Bea's Delightful Desserts."

I took a walk down memory lane with Aunt Bee, Andy and Barney along with many other cast members! The wonderfully basic old-fashioned recipes brought back memories of simple times. The book is packed with black/white and color photos along with lots of dialog from the show which made me laugh and caused me to remember the episodes that I thought were long forgotten. The book has a table of contents each for Episodes and Recipes which made it easy to find whatever I was looking for. I am pleased that the recipes are simple and easy. Many of the recipes are created with basic ingredients that allowed me to use what I already had on hand in the pantry without running to the store to get a special ingredient and the results were scrumptious!

We count, we name the animals, and we sing while reading this book. How many 2 years old can name the snake, coyote, bat, firefly, possum, platypus and tell you there are skyscrapers on the last page. Very exciting book, my 2 year old loves it.

My two and a half year old son loves this book. We count each of the stars on each page.

My daughter enjoys reading this every night. She loves the little counting stars and the light up moon at the end is a real pleaser. This is a great gift and a book thats not always at the store.

Emma

The Baby Einstein product line has established a reputation for developing creative educational products that children enjoy, and BABY GALILEO SEES THE STARS is no exception. It is a concept book that combines counting with elements of astronomy in a way that will capture the attention of even the youngest of readers. The simple opening line "Ten stars twinkle," is indicative of the uncomplicated text in the book, yet, it is the illustrations that really bring the book to life. Each page includes three-dimensional stars that correspond with the number of stars mentioned in the text. The book counts down from ten and with each turn of the page, one of the stars disappear. In addition, each line includes an adjective describing a quality of stars, such as twinkle, sparkle or glow. By the last page, all of the stars have disappeared, but a moon (which lights up when the page is displayed) is depicted.

The illustrations in BABY GALILEO SEES THE STARS include various nighttime scenes and feature such elements as telescopes, bats, and an array of sleeping animals. Parents will find useful information on the back of the book that covers how the book can be used as a teaching tool or as a bridge to other activities. My son most enjoys pointing to each star as we count them together. This book is a wonderful way to reinforce pre-reading and pre-math skills with toddlers and to foster an early interest in science.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

My three-year-old loves to read Neighborhood Animals. When I found this in the store, I knew he had to have it. He loves trying to "read" the animal names that are written at the top of each page and the images are fantastic. He also likes reading about what each of the animals likes to eat.

My boy loves baby einstein and he recognize all the animals immediately and reads them out loud of each animal pic page. good buy

My daughter is very interested in the animals pictured in this book- she loves all the Baby Einstein board books we have, esp. this one and Neighborhood Animals. Would recommend!

BABY NOAH WORLD ANIMALS is a virtual trip to the zoo. In it,
nine animals including whales and zebras are introduced. The
layout of the book is simple, one page is a photograph of an animal
and the facing page includes the animal's name, some interesting facts about it and illustrations.

Did you know that gorillas live in groups of thirty or more called
troops? Or that a hippo could eat one hundred pounds of grass in a
single night? Or that koalas or not really bears? These and other
interesting facts, are the things that children can learn from reading this book. The inclusion of such facts extends the usefulness of this book. Young readers can look at the photographs and learn the animals by name, and as they grow older, they can dig deeper and learn more about the featured animals.

As with other Baby Einstein products, BABY NOAH WORLD ANIMALS
includes information for parents, which consists of ideas for how
the book can be used with children of various ages. This book is another high quality product that children are sure to enjoy.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

When read in tandem with Paul Cilliers Complexity and Postmodernism, and Alicia Juarrero's Dynamics in Action, Andy Clark's Being There articulates the outline of a new philosophical framework: one which takes complexity, embodiment, history and context seriously. Kudos!

Clark develops in a very clear way the main threads of contemporary mind-body research. He argues for a non-dogmatic approach to the very difficult questions that epistemology, brain research and artificial life have put in the last twenty years. His position is with those who are not trying to explain everything from a single source or with single set of tools. Not reductionism, not holism or not only emergence or cognitivism or connectionism. Still, he sees the advantages of each theory and he gives a very subtle and insightful overview of what each strand has to contribute. I have read maybe twenty books on the subject in the past few months, from Varela to Jackendorf and from Minsky to Harré, but only Clark seems to be able to make the field transparent and coherent. If he sometimes loses in boldness, he certainly wins in promise. A book that should become a compulsary reading for anyone who wants to be introduced in the field.

Andy Clark provides us with a new framework for thinking about the mind. Gone are the old notions of a clean boundary between the thinker and the world. Clark does a great job of making the point that our brains are essentially embodied agents that profit profoundly from the local environmental structure. He introduces this new movement in cognitive science to study the brain, body, and world together as a complex system of interactions and dependencies and calls for a cognitive science of the embodied mind.
Clark is not proposing a radical idea. In fact, he defends at some length that his work is in fact a solution to the radical ideas that currently dominate the field. Clark suggests refining the tools of study used, and finding a middle ground between competing theories. I personally question whether a middle ground is appropriate in science. When anomalies exist in current models, does it serve us well to take the best of all available theories and smooth them together as Clark does? Perhaps in the case of the brain, this is a good idea, even though many other sciences (like physics) fair better with simpler one-size-fits-all solutions. Due to the brain's complexity unmatched anywhere in the known universe, maybe a simple (radical) way of studying it isn't possible (or at least within human capabilities).
Clark certainly builds a strong case, particularly by applying examples and comparisons throughout the book. His ideas are well thought out, his writing is clear (though perhaps a little repetitive), and the book as a whole is well worth reading.
Being There definitely gets you thinking.

For those dissatisfied with both dualism and West Coast eliminative materialism, Andy Clark's philosophy of mind offers readers an alternative: an embodied mind. Here's a philosophy that embeds the human mind in its environment, its culture, and its history. And and author who writes like a dream! For a revitalized philosophy of mind, read it together with Alicia Juarrero's Dynamics in Action: Intentional Behavior as a Complex System and Merlin Donald's Origins of the Modern Mind!Enjoy!

Morell's astounding level of research reveals the Leakeys individually, as a family, and as dogged searchers for the truth about man's origins--and as living, breathing humans. Through letters, diaries, journals, personal interviews, and family archives, they speak to the reader with unprecedented candor about their personal travails, but more importantly, about their early struggles for funding, their fossil discoveries in remote desert locations, their constant surprise by the historical record, and their uncertainty, to this day, about modern man's exact lineage.

Some Leakey peccadilloes, never secret, are fully documented here: Louis's constant womanizing and his "adoption" of young female researchers, such as Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas; Mary's scotch-drinking, her cigar-smoking, and her intolerance of those on her Stinker List, some of them other researchers; and Richard's boyish brashness and arrogance, along with his health problems and dislike of Donald Johanson. Less appreciated, however, is the fact that before Louis's work and significant discoveries, people still believed that early man was from China or Europe, not Africa. Mary Leakey was the first person ever to excavate a Paleolithic site, and her meticulous care about documenting the tools and animals found in the same stratae as her hominid fossils, told here in detail, revolutionized the way fossils were recovered and catalogued. Richard found as many hominid fossils in two years (1971 and 1972) as Mary and Louis found in 36 years, and his level of dedication to research since finding his first hominid fossil at age 6, his mentoring of young researchers, and his creation of museums and foundations in Nairobi have perhaps received less attention than they deserve.

The Leakeys believe at least two and perhaps three or four different hominids may have lived in certain areas simultaneously, sharing space for a million or more years, and that the exact line of descent to modern man is still unknown. Tens of thousands of extinct, fossilized species of hippos, elephants, saber-toothed cats, crocodiles, antelopes, and even insects, unearthed by the Leakeys, are overwhelming evidence that if species, including hominids, do not change and adapt, they die. While some may argue about how certain hominids are labeled, no one can argue with their existence in the historical record, and nearly all of them have been unearthed by just one family. These contributions continue beyond the purview of this book into a new generation: Dr. Louise Leakey and her mother Maeve (Richard's wife) found yet another completely new hominid species in March, 2001. Mary Whipple

This is an engrossing story of archealogy's first family. The title hints at their adventures, loves, intrigues, battles, all most passionate. I could not put the book down. The landscape of archealogy will forever be, for me, after this book, a color filled map with the land of our ancestors fully pictured in my mind. No longer will archealolgists seem to be dull digging tan people,but exciting real people, made of the passion of us all. A superb read

Amidst the splendor and corruption of Africa, this family battle the weather, the government, the prejudices, the lack of funds, and even each other. Their intelligence and love for the country is evident as they search for prehistoric evidence of earliest humans. The more I read about them, the more I admired their contribution to East Africa and to the world.

This is a long, engrossing, detailed book about the Leakey family and their impact on paleoanthropology in Africa. It's a real pot-boiler of a book--hard to put down and a totally fascinating study of the family. You get a real sense of their human failings as well as their triumphs. The family comes across as stubborn, intense, egomaniacal and prickly, as well as totally dedicated to their pursuit of man's ancestry in Africa. Although the author has a higher opinion of the Leakeys than some of their rivals (Donald Johanson), she by no means glosses over the more unsavory aspects of their characters. I would highly recommend this book, regardless of your level of familiarity with paleoanthropology.

i think that if i go to chicago, i will be able to stop in at mela's market, chat with sabina & her family, have a memorable lunch and leave totally gratified; the book is that real. just how clark made these characters come to life is remarkable; from start to finish, i couldn't put down this book and must admit i was totally caught off guard by the twist of fate that ultimately linked sabina, ted & vito. and how she dealt with it in the story was truly touching (don't want to give too much away).

in my opinion this book is a better read than its comparison, "my big fat greek wedding" and would make an even better movie. i used to be married to a big fat italian family (yes, you marry the entire family) who also owned a restaurant; clark captured every little nuance of the daily lives of the people and their culture in a way that is breathtakingly real. plus the way she brought the recipes into the storyline was truly unique.

whether you're a foodie or not, this book won't disappoint; it's a captivating read from start to finish.

"Between Courses" is a story that opens its door and welcomes you into a family with whom you feel completley at home. Eccentric characters with loving hearts, doing their best and often failing as we all do; and a love story that is not at all typical, which makes it all the more believable. I found I was rationing the pages towards the end - I didn't want to have to put it down and walk out the door forever. Much more depth than "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and every bit as deserving of praise.

I loved this book. It reminded me of the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"...only it was an Italian family. It was funny, sad, happy and exiting. Truly a great love story. Also, if you like to cook, there are great Italian recipes (family secrets) in this book. Several friends of mine have read the book and loved it too.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. It portrays a loving Italian-American family through the eyes of an `old maid' who never married and still lives with Mom & Pop above their Mom & Pop store. If you are of Italian heritage (or wish you were) and love to cook or eat (and what Italian doesn't), you will appreciate the many lessons offered in the art of Italian cuisine and the language of romance. But between all the lessons, you will find a unique love story that you find you can't put down until the last page.

I used to read this to my fifteen year old when she was little,she remembered it still, so I ordered it to read to my three year old.I had forgotten how well it was illustrated, and how kid friendly it was.I defenitely will NOT mind ready this one over and over again,,,,,again!Great book,cute storyline, and wonderful illustrations are sure to make this a favotite of your children too.

Sarah's old boots make a special sound and the fit just right. But then one day they have shrunk and no amount of stretching by filling them with rocks and other means will ever make them fit her again. When they go to the store to buy a new pair of boots the only ones they have are yellow with a fire engine red stripe and Sarah will never like them! They are taken home. She gives her favorite boots to her brother and he loves them because they fit him perfectly. After it's rained again Sarah's family pulls on their boots. And when they play in the puddles Sarah's new boots make a different sound, but she doesn't mind after a while because they are just as much fun as the old ones and now she is enjoying the puddles with her brother.

The Pictures are well done because they cause you to be drawn into the story and feel exactly how Sarah felt thru the detailed expressions on her face and the characters used to compliment her.

Opinion: Most well done childrens books (at least in my experience) become memories when children grow up, thru the illustrator's pictures, if they're done well. And then the story is remembered thru that art not usually the other way around, in ages about 1-8 or so, then as they start to get into books that are more grown up they create their own pictures thru imagination so illustrations aren't as important in older childrens books.

This book is very helpfull in helping children come to grips with having to give there favorite shoes away because they are too small. It helps them to see the advantages to growing older and getting new things.

My son received this book for Christmas, and we both loved it. The story line is really cute, and the pictures in it are great! I'd recommend this book to anyone with small kids.

My mother, Kristin Clark Taylor, is a wonderful and amazing woman. She has conquered many obstacles throughout her windy path of life, and she has the amazing ability to give birth to this amazing book. My mother writes this book so eloquently, is brings tears to my own eyes, just hoping to be just as an amazing mother as her mother was to her, and she is to me. This book is trully inspirational.

I can't say enough about Black mothers. I especially liked the pictures that the author included of black mothers and their kids from way back. There is scriptures included, and all so personal accounts from different people about their mother. The last chapter had me crying because it was dealing with people that had lost their mothers. A great book to have in your collection

The reviews of this book have been deservedly and enthusiastically positive. It's a wonderful and useful book in all ways. There is a wide range of sources and source materials, and evocative illustrations. The one additional thing that I wished for is an index, especially of the men and women quoted. In a sense this book really is to a large extent a collection of quotations, and an index would be appropriate.

All in all, a wonderful book.

Black Mother's: Songs of Praise & Celebration, is humorous and on point! It's humorous because IT IS ON POINT! (smile). I wasn't seeking the book out, I just happened upon it. It reminded me of things my mother said to me, or I've heard friends say their mothers said to them. And you know the old cliche "you'll never hear me say that to my kids"; well you do find yourself saying it to young people and you think two things - one, "I feel so old"; two, "I've turned into my mother - how'd that happen?"(ha-ha) Great book! Congrats to Kristin Clark Taylor. It was my first time encountering her work.

What sets this story apart from other fictionalized accounts of the Lewis & Clark Expedition is its unique perspective. Written from the point of view of a young member of the Corps of Discovery, Bold Journey is an insightful and absorbing narrative of the famed Mississippi-to-Pacific expedition as experienced by the men who lived it. As young Hugh chronicles the adventures, the hardships, and the occasional boredom of this monumental journey, he offers vivid glimpses into the personalities of Lewis and Clark. He also begins to grow in his understanding of people who are different from himself. Our family enjoyed reading this story aloud together.

This is a book that I have been reading to my children ages 5 and 7, and they LOVE it...and I love it too. The language is colorful and complex, the characters are memorable and texture of events or lack of events feel very real. I am hoping to find more historical fiction about Indian history, Lewis and Clark and early settlers. This sure beats reading children's books at bed time...and I am learning alot too. For example I didn't realize that whiskey was a staple in the army, or that it was 50 below by the Missouri in the winter time, and yet the Mandan Indians would play ball barely clothed with no apparant discomfort. The reader begins to get a feeling for what a ten days journey really is, even if it is a "small" hunting trip. Societal order, fitting in, bullying, choices and personal conduct are all explored by the first person in this story Hugh McNeal.

This book is a very intresting book.It talks about the north-west passage. the explorers are Lewis and Clark are tring to find the north-west passage. This expodition starts in the north-east were the American and Canadian border is. They wanted to find the passage, instead of going around or above north America. Every night they keep jurnals of what they find.Everyday they try to find new routs to find the passage.Up and down they go what did they find who knows? Will they ever find the passage?What problems will they run into? I really enjoyed this book!!!!!!!!

My book is called Bold Journey.
A novel by Charles Bohner. Some of the main characters are Jack, Hugh McNeal, sir Lewis , captain Clark, captain Bissell, and Charley.
The setting took place from the Ohio River to the Pacific Ocean. There was not really a problem until they ran into Indians. There was a big fight. During the fight Jack and Hugh ran into Charley while powdering up their muskets. They introduced each other to him. After they fled one of the Keelboats sunk. After they found the other Keelboat they also saw the Pacific Ocean a month later. Once they made it the ship mates jumped up and down as if they were drunk. What Charles Bohner is saying is never give up even if your goal seems imposable. If you like adventure I recommend this book because of when they looked for the other kealboat