Garcia Books

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (9/07)

In his introduction to "The Gospel of Cesar Chavez" Mario T. Garcia profiles the events in the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez. His intent in this manuscript was to produce a book of the spiritual reflections of Chavez which would inspire the reader to reflect themselves on the topics covered in relation to their own spirituality.

Within the pages of the introduction Garcia has provided insight into the influences that most impacted the character -- virtue, theology, philosophy, and political views of Chavez. Among those who had a profound influence on Cesar's life was Father Donald McDonnell, the writings of St. Francis of Assisi, and the teachings of Gandhi. From these men Chavez took a stance on nonviolence and the importance of sacrificing for others. Another man who was a key influence on Cesar's life was Fred Ross, a community leader for Industrial Areas Foundation.

In his crusade against the injustice of the migrant farm worker Chavez organized the people for effectiveness in strikes and boycotts. In 1968 the well-publicized Grape Boycott which lasted two years took on the moral nature of Cesar's crusades. In a 25-day march from Delano, California to Sacramento Chavez was drawing attention to the need for social justice.

Chavez had a keen awareness of the power of mass media. At the end of a 25-day fast, Cesar invited Bobby Kennedy to receive communion with him.

The 17 chapters of reflections of Cesar Chavez are drawn from countless newspaper articles, interviews, editorials, and various studies completed earlier on the life of Chavez. Garcia chose those reflections that revealed Cesar's spiritual training, his thoughts on the power of faith, human dignity, self-sacrifice, and the poor.

Garcia also included Cesar's views on social justice, non-violence, and the teachings of Gandhi. Individual chapters divulge his view of a pilgrimage, his thoughts on fasting, prayer, and meditation. The final chapters explore the spirituality of antiracism, ecumenism, brotherhood, and the spirituality of non-discrimination.

In recent years I have understood more fully the plight of the farm worker, and the discrimination against various ethnic groups. Reading "The Gospel of Cesar Chavez" has given me a new appreciation of the dedication, and sacrifice Chavez made in his crusade to correct this injustice.

Garcia's work is meticulously researched and documented and provides a wealth of information on the motivation behind the amazing results and effectiveness of Cesar Chavez's leadership.

"The Gospel of Cesar Chavez" is a book, not only for academics, but for the general public, of all backgrounds, seeking spiritual guidance. Mario T. Garcia has successfully provided a model for faith in action through the life and Gospel of Cesar Chavez.

Every city,every spot you looking for you find it here.Never got lost in Mexico with this road map. 5 stars.

For a considerable period of time the Mexican colonial period was viewed as a wasteland in the arts, a barren stretch awaiting the arrival of the Spaniards. Recent scholarship reveals that this was not the case. In fact, just the opposite was true as is showcased in this magnificently illustrated bilingual volume.

Displayed between these pages are eye-popping decorative and fine arts from the Mexican viceregal period (1521 - 1821). Included among the collection are paintings, sculptures, furniture, ceramics, metals, textiles, featherwork, lacquer, and books.

Five informative essays by Mexican and American scholars provide a backdrop for the arts of colonial Mexico, and extensive commentaries allow further exploration of individual pieces.

"The Grandeur of Viceregal Mexico" is an extraordinary volume shedding light on a previously little known segment of art history.

- Gail Cooke

Deseo un mapa guía de la ciudad de Guadalajara, Jal., yo vivo en una población cercana, pero voy a radicar en esa ciudad y me interesa ese mapa. Yo hablo el idioma español, no sé el idioma inglés.

Big Bucks! is the third in the series that started with Raving Fans and proceeded on to Gung Ho. Although you can certainly read Big Bucks! as a standalone, I recommend that you read the other two fine books first.

The subject is pretty simple: How to earn, keep, and enjoy substantial wealth. That description will probably sound like any of several hundred thousand self-help books written in recent years. In true Ken Blanchard style, Big Bucks! manages a refreshing new take on an old subject.

Len, our future multimillionaire, meets three spiritual leaders in a card game, who introduce him to three role models who teach him the three initial, and four eventual, rules of of getting, keeping and enjoying his Big Bucks!

Simple messages are powerful, because we can remember them. I subscribe to the themes in this book, and enjoyed reading how they were articulated.

Big Bucks! makes the pursuit of wealth seem downright spiritual, which of course it can be. In practice, the book is at its best in encouraging you to eventually have your own business. The perspective is certainly more that of an owner/manager than an employee. But the latter is addressed.

Those who do not like The One Minute Manager format will really hate this book, because it takes that format even further into simple stories and humor than usual. As such, the format is almost a satire on itself.

On the other hand, I greatly appreciate authors who can boil down important information into the gist of what needs to be done. Having considered those I know who have lived the Big Bucks! ideal, it is clear that they followed these principles unconsciously, if not consciously. I think Blanchard and Bowles have really put their finger on the pulse of the positive pursuit of wealth.

This book would be a wonderful gift for a young person starting on a career, an older person thinking about starting a business, or anyone who seems serious about acquiring wealth.

Even if you are not interested in having Big Bucks! for yourself, I think you will enjoy reading the book. And you never know. You just may decide that you are interested in Big Bucks! after all.

Federico Garcia Lorca, of Spanish origin, is considered to be the second best poet of all times (after Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, writer of "Don Quijote") by many literary critics, and for no small reason. His work "Romancero Gitano" is a collection of baroque-styled poems about death and the life and superstitions of Spanish gipsies. His style is remarkably fluent and entertaining, yet provides a complex and satisfying reading experience. Lorca, member of the world famous group of writers known as Generacion del 27, encloses the reader in his heavily metaphorical writings, with strong phrases that evoke images such as a female virgin gypsy running away from a mad wind that wants to rape her, or a young boy lying dead while several gipsies mourn him. It is, of course, not the ideal reading material for a child, or for somebody who does not want to begin a complex reading that may take more than seconds to understand. But for those who are bold enough to enter a beautiful world of fantasy and strong, powerful poetry, "Romancero Guitano" is the ideal book.

I have not been able to stop thinking about this book for the past three years, since I read it in a Latino Literature class in college.

The story is of a "white trash" boy who grew up moving around Texas with a dead-beat dad, and an under-protective mother. The plot goes through many twists and turns as the main character (a boy of 8 or so and ending in adulthood)experiences hard times at an early age. This book takes you through the pains of a boy who is abused, through the embarrassment of puberty, though the sadness of losing innocence, and through the hardships of sibling relationships and death.

I have read and loved stories such as Their Eyes were Watching God, the Awakening, Snow Falling on Cedars, etc., and I find Hardscrub to be a piece of literary art along those same lines. The reasons I find Hardscrub to be just as good, if not better, are that the plot is amazing, the characters are fully developed, and even though Garcia is not white, he portrays the hardships of a "white trash" family very well.

I loved this book, and I am sure you will too. It gave me a completely new understanding of those with less money and opportunities than myself and was entertaining at the same time.

Co-authored by Hazel Dicken-Garcia (Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Minnesota) and journalism/free speech researcher Giovanna Dell'Orto, "Hated Ideas And the American Civil War Press" presents a detailed and comprehensive analysis of newspaper coverage of such controversial subjects as abolitionism and slavery during the period of the American Civil War. The basic findings are that the Civil War conflict strengthened the idea of journalism's responsibility to the public, that newspaper editors often held eloquent free speech discussion, and that even opposition presses were sometimes defended under the ideals of free speech. Nevertheless, it was often the case that the principles of free speech and the tolerance for opposing ideas was not adhered to in the heat of events arising under wartime conditions. "Hated Ideas And the American Civil War Press" is a fascinating read that is an informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. A work of impressive and seminal scholarship that is especially commended reading for journalism students, free speech advocates, and Civil War buffs. Also available in a hardcover edition (9780922993895, $79.95), "Hated Ideas And the American Civil War Press" is a unique and highly recommended edition to personal, academic, and community library Civil War Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The title says it all in this novel about the counterculture movement. Turn the book over and the line at the top of the book will really peak your interest "From the Counterculture of Jerry Garcia to the subculture of Jerry Falwell", so how can you resist reading and the author does not disappoint. The author is Preston Shires who has a PhD from the University of Nebraska and teaches history at the Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Nebraska and makes a strong but interesting point of how the hippie counterculture movement of the 1960's evolved into the Jesus Movement of the 1970's and the 1980's. But than again as Shires points out the 1960's hippies seem to follow the Golden Rule philosophy of the Bible which is "Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets" (Matthew 7:12) even if they themselves did not know it at the time. From this philosophy it just seemed to birth into the Jesus Movement as the hippies grew older and looked for a deeper meaning of the whole "love" thing and still didn't want any part of their parents' religion. This reviewer feels the author puts it best - "Although the youth of the sixties rebelled against many of the strictures of their parents' generation, they did retain at least two important older-generation principles. They never abandoned in the main, a commitment to the golden rule ideal, and they never relented in their pursuit of freedom or expressive individualism. What they did reject was the conformism that forbade them the right to do new things and think new ideas".

Read how the religious leaders at the time became involved such as Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, David Wilkerson and many others. Also read of some of the leaders that came from the hippie movement into the Jesus Movement like Keith and Melody Green and the beginning of their ministries.

Exceptional book at explaining the Jesus Movement, a definite read for the 60's historical buffs, or even a great subject for a debate team, great for Christians or anyone interested in how modern day Christianity evolved from the hippies to the Jesus movement to now. Overall this book would be great for a group study as it does read like a textbook but it's amazing that so much information is contained to only 242 pages. The notes at the end of the book; just give an added depth to some of the information and requires reading as well. The bibliography book list is really great for a further reading or study. There is even an index that makes it great for going back for rereading of certain sections. This book has this reviewer's vote in agreeing with the author's argument but read it for yourself and than decide.

En este libro el Dr. Gervasio Garcia de la Universidad de Puerto Rico trabaja los problemas de la historia en general y su aplicacion a la historiografia puertorriquena. En ocasiones el trabajo del historiador enfrenta retos grandes que llevan a conceptualizaciones erroneas y difelemas que crean divisiones en su interpretacion. Aunque son saludables la realidad es que no permiten en ocasiones un concenso temas de importancia. Excelente obra y recomendada para todos aquellos maestros y futuros historiadores.