Hoffman Books

I got this book for my girls who just turned 2 and 3. They both love it, although the 3 year old is quickest at locating the hidden pictures. There are 32 pages of actual hidden pictures and they are in color which is great for the little ones. It keeps their interest more than the black and white pages. There are usually 6 or 7 things you are looking for on each page and sometimes multiples of each of those. We are on our 3rd go round with it now and it's actually become a "bedtime request".

The Fish Prince And Other Stories: Mermen Folk Tales is an extensive anthology of folklore tales drawn from cultures around the world, and all of which are about the mermaid's masculine counterpart the more popular female image. From Russia to Mali and Chile, the stories herein embody a vast wealth of different cultures and traditions. Retold by the collaborative efforts of award-winning children's authors and folklorists Jane Yolen and Shulamith Oppenheim, The Fish Prince And Other Stories is an exciting, exotic, enthusiastically recommended anthology for anyone entranced by mythological and folklore legends of the seafolk!

For anyone trying to learn about their family through church and civil records from Europe, this is an excellent tool. Since most records follow standard formats this book guides one through the "standard" verbiage and allows one to pick out the important details about a death, birth or wedding record. The only thing that would be more helpful would be a better guide to handwriting styles of the period for the various languages

I enjoyed this book immensely and relied on it heavily for a Master's thesis on the impact of medieval literature on the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hoffman's theories about the evolution of American archetypal characters is a must-read not only for those in the American literature academic community, but anyone desiring to write in a method that draws strength from that which is authentically American. Hoffman's analysis of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow sets an impressive stage, and his chapters on the impact of folk tales on Hawthorne's short stories are very insightful. The writing style is clear and scholarly without devolving into the common risk of pedanticism. On the creative side, as someone who is working on an historical fantasy set in early colonial Connecticut, I found this book to be helpful in tapping into the historical American voice. It is a volume to which I will often return.

During the early stages of the American Revolution, General George Washington lacked the resources to defend the harbor of New York City. Thus, a British fleet sailed through an undefended Sandy Hook, New Jersey and occupied New York City in 1776. From this experience the United States learned the importance of defending its shorelines through fortifications.

Fort Hancock is a historic fort that for many years protected the Harbor of New York. It is located on Sandy Hook, New Jersey about 19 miles south of Battery Park on Manhattan. Sandy Hook is a remote, six-mile peninsula that stretches into New York Harbor. Although there were earlier fortifications on the site, including fortifications during the Civil War, Fort Hancock itself was established in 1895 and named for Winfield Scott Hancock, a Union Civil War General, hero of the Battle of Gettysburg, and unsuccessful presidential candidate in 1880. Fort Hancock was utilized in the defense of New York City from the late 19th Century to the early 1970s. The Fort is now part of the Gateway National Park administered by the National Park Service.

This book on Fort Hancock is part of the "Images of America" series which has the commendable goal of presenting the local history of places in the United States through photographs. Thomas Hoffman, a Park Ranger at Fort Hancock since 1975, tells the story of the fort from its earliest days through the beginning of WW II. Hoffman offers a brief written introduction to the history of Fort Hancock followed by 128 pages of photographs with annotations and commentary. It is a fascinating story.

The fortifications at Fort Hancock began well before 1895, and Hoffman begins his account with the early days at Sandy Hook. He gives considerable space to the history of the Harlyburton detachment, (pp. 50, 86, 116-117) a group of 14 British sailors who died at Sandy Hook in 1783 while pursuing deserters from their warship, the H.M.S. Assistance. The sailors were buried at Sandy Hook, and their remains were rediscovered in 1908. A park and a monument at Fort Hancock were built in their memory.

Most of Hoffman's account centers upon the massive weaponry that the military constructed at Fort Hancock beginning in 1898 to protect New York City. The defenses consisted primarily of a string of large disappearing gun batteries, operated by elevators, which protected all aspects of the approach to New York City and which were modernized and expanded over the years. The defenses also included an extensive system of mines. Hoffman has many photographs and descriptions of these weapons, their installation, and the soldiers who manned them.

The book also shows the distinctive architecture that was constructed at Fort Hancock to provide a place for the soldiers to live. Hoffman shows the series of quarters known as "officers row" together with the barracks constructed for enlistees. He offers photos of soldiers going about their duties and their daily lives at Fort Hancock that will be of interest to those readers who have lived themselves in a military installation. With the coming of both WW I and WW II, Fort Hancock expanded dramatically, both to prepare for possible military attack and to train the many new soldiers who swelled the Army's ranks. Hoffman's book documents the expansion of Fort Hancock during these years, as well as visits to the fort from Charles Lindbergh and President Franklin Roosevelt.

Fort Hancock's most active years were those during WW II and its aftermath, when the it was used as a missile site. Hoffman's book only touches these years lightly, focusing instead on the early years of the fort. Perhaps the subsequent history of Fort Hancock will be discussed in a follow-up volume.

I have never visited Fort Hancock or the Gateway National Park, but this book brought an aura of familiarity to the site and made me want to go. Readers who have served at Fort Hancock, or similar sites, or those with an interest in the coastal defenses of the United States will enjoy this fine book.

Robin Friedman

I was very glad to read about the history of my first duty station during my army days. It told me a lot I didn't know about Ft. Hancock. I was a member of the 526 Missile Bn., Nike, and was based at the fort in early 1953.

this book includes one of the most helpful accounts of the connection between the 'social contract'and the 'second discourse'in rousseau's philosophy that i've ever read. hoffman is clear and to the point, but manages, at the same time, to bring up original and insightful points about the rousseauian project. i highly recommend it.

Nancy Newhall was (and continues to be some 29 years after her accidental death) one of the best writers on photography I have read. She was a confidant of such luminaries as Alfred Stieglitz and Ansel Adams (she was his first biographer), the acting curator of the Department of Photography at New York's Museum of Modern Art in the 1940's, a driving force in the influential magazine and publishing concern Aperture, and an avid writer of photography books.

The writings collected in "From Adams to Stieglitz: Pioneers of Modern Photography" represent a wonderful cross-section of her work. Her knowledge of the history of photography is amazing as she writes about the motivation driving the development of the medium. Two of the pieces are remarkable:

"Controversy and the Creative Concepts," written in 1953, compares and contrasts the photographic style of the "Parisian School" as represented by Cartier-Bresson and the "Western School" represented by Group f/64, Alfred Eisenstaedt, and Helen Bourke-White. Worlds diametrically opposed, each equally valid. The article presents an important overview of 20th century photography.

"The Caption: The Mutual Relation of Words/Photographs," written in 1952 for the first issue of Aperture, looks at the different types of captions that can be attached to a photograph (if any: Stieglitz refused to put caption on his work) and how one should write them. This essay provides nice insight into the practice of photographic writing.

Anyone with an interest in 20th century photography will find this book an essential part of their library. Her writing style is unique and wonderful, an absolute joy to read.

I can honestly say this book has changed my life. It has left me with a deeper and clearer understanding of what is possible when we follow our heart and listen for our truth. It is a story in which the author is fully committed to her healing journey regardless of challenges she faces. It's filled with wisdom and heart felt expression of the author's truth. It shares her life experiences that leave the reader in awe. It also inspired me to go further in my healing journey. This is a book that will open your heart, touch your soul, and give a deeper meaning to your life.

I loved this book. Each essay inside has a great perspective on what fashion of the future could be. It's a great read and very informative if you're in the business and it's a must read for everyone who's not in the business! Some of the damage we have done to our planet in the name of fashion is astounding.

A rare 1976 book by Bob Hoffman, developer of the Hoffman Process - the world's best kept secret for healing the root of anger and hurt since 1967. The Hoffman Process has evolved much since its original format. Presented in an 8-day residential retreat setting around the world, this book is a detailed account of the basic structure of the process. Although it was reformatted in 1985 from a 13-week series, much of the Hoffman Process remains true to the signature syllabus of Bob Hoffman. Hoffman was in a class by himself during the counter-culture encounter era of human potential groups that flourished in the San Francisco area during the 70's and 80's. Hoffman was not about positive thinking but freeing people from the grips of their deeply rooted and hurtful past. If you are curious about the origins of one of the most profoundly healing programs in the world, endorsed by Joan Boryshenko, John Bradshaw, Ken Blanchard, and many other medical/psychology experts ... this is the quintessential guide. It won't give you the result but it will give you a taste of how this method was groundbreaking then and now. A must read for Hoffman graduates!