Stuart Books

I read this book in my freshmen year at college, while taking Professor Prall's own class in Tudor and Stuart History at Queens College. Professor Prall, who leads an excellent discussion and is exceptionally knowledgeable about the philosophy and theology of the time, presents an encapsulated version of his own class in this book. The text is highly readable, compact, and limited to the most effective presentation of the facts. It can be read quickly by either the student, amateur, or scholar, and makes for an excellent introduction to one of the most turbulent periods of British history. In addition, he includes the latest historiographical advances in the field, especially those of J.J. Scarasbrick, the noted biographer of Henry VIII. At its best, "Church and State" shows the interaction of the religious and political currents in England between 1527 and 1688. At the same time, it offers a noted scholar's own interpretation of the motives and forces behind them.

As the world turns into a global entity, the United States has becomes a bona fide metropolitan nation. The 1990 census painted the picture of this accelerated pace of urbanization in striking numerical colors: Slightly more than 50 percent of us live in the 39 U.S. metropolitan areas with populations of more than a million people. By contrast,the mid-20th century census uncovered only 30 percent of the U.S. population living in 14 metro areas with million-plus populations.

But citistate realities don't just apply to the larger regions -- the New Yorks, Los Angeles, Chicagos, Bostons of America, the Berlins, Londons, Hong Kongs, Shanghais of the globe. All metropolitan regions face stiff competition and challenges. Include the United States' metro regions under 1 million people and the count exceeds 80 percent of the nation's people.

To put a human face on this fast-paced urbanization, three members of the Citistates Group -- Neal Peirce, Curtis Johnson and John Stuart Hall-- coined the new term "citistates." In their words, citistates are "not just the center city, but the entire metropolitan region - the 'real city' made up of center city, inner and outer suburbs, and rural hinterland so clearly and intimately interconnected in geography, environment, work force, and surely a shared economic and social future."

The transformation is apparent across the Atlantic, where Europeans have begun to describe their continent as a hodgepodge of powerful citistates -- from Manchester to Stuttgart, Lyon to London, Milan to Marseilles. Like U.S. citistates, these metropolitan regions are making economic and cultural transactions with little regard to their own nation-state governments.

The Citistates Group associates see a shift in thinking from the familiar governmental paradigm -- federal-state-local -- to one focused on function: global-regional-neighborhood.

* Global because critical issues have worldwide implications -- global warming, economic restructuring, rapid global market repercussions.

* Regional because the metropolitan areas, or citistates, share areawide transportation systems, media outlets, medical assistance, goods, services, even crime. Peirce argues that the success of the regional system -- on every measure from workforce preparedness to the quality of the infrastructure -- determines how competitive and successful the citistate will be for all its citizens in the long run.

* Neighborhood because it is on the personal, community level that escalating U.S. social problems can ultimately be dealt with.

Citistates includes six case studies based on Peirce Reports for the leading newspapers in Phoenix, Seattle, Baltimore, Dallas, St. Paul and Owensboro, Ky. These popularly written analyses examine each region's special problems and suggest potential solutions tailored to the local situation. The goal in each series is to identify ways out of a region's dilemmas by tapping civic energies -- forward-thinking talents and skills in business, civic, academic sectors -- to create a more sustainable citistate in the next century.

In his review of the book, George Knight, executive director of Neighborhood Reinvestment, took note of the role of neighborhoods in civic renewal. "Peirce gives full credit to community-based development organizations for revitalizing some of America's most devastated neighborhoods."

The book's wind-up chapter includes an 8-point formula for "citistate cohesiveness and strength." -- Craig Anthony Thomas, Senior Research Associate, The Citistates Group

DC History is one of the hardest classes to teach because of the difficulty in obtaining one of these books. In case you don't know...the DC Department of Education was behind the publishing of this book and wrote its entire set of standards based upon the contents of this book. Then...as only DCPS could do...they stopped having the book published and don't have enough for the students to use. Ohhh and they didn't rewrite the standards to reflect information that could not be found in any other single (or dozen)text.

This is a book that is designed to be used in a 12th grade Social Studies class and reads like it. It is an incredible resource and one that I could not teach the course without. It also is very detailed not very "user friendly", especially if your students do not read on a very high level.

Over the years, I have managed to buy about ten copies of the text so that I can have something approaching a "class set". I have found, unfortunately, that I have only been able to assign the book to one student as an actual "textbook". Instead, I have begun to take the book and "edit" it, rewriting much of the material, section by section, to attempt to produce a useable product. Soooo...in other words, if you need to have a resource on this topic that is without peer, I highly recommend this book for you. I do NOT recommend that you buy this book as a class set, uless you have a class that is reading on a 12th grade + level.

This has been a favorite of mine for several decades (now, that's scary thought!). A wonderful romanticized account of a bee colony's life and survival, based on the actual way bees live. Written in 1947, the writing style, while a bit archaic, is nonetheless a great excercise in using the English language descriptively and expansively, perhaps as in days gone by. It tells the story, somewhat poetically, of how bees work to provide for their colony and, if need be, lay down their lives to protect it. A thoroughly enjoyable book with a little entomology thrown in. I've read it many times, and love it every time.

This book gives an excellent review of the many issues presently being debated concerning the balance between civil liberties and an effective national security. The essays that the editors have chosen are concise and cogent arguments for the different positions. It is very easy to pick up and read one essay at a time right before bed. Overall, a worthwhile purchase for anyone interested in an accessible analysis of the divergent viewpoints on this issue. While not the most in depth book available, it definitely gives a decent analysis of the key issues from racial profiling to torture to surveillance. Recommended for those with an interest in this debate.

This masterpiece contains thousands and thousands of citations, arranged by author, of Civil War books printed from 1861 to 1996, including multiple and subsequent printings. Broadfoot is a recognized expert on the trade, and his values are accurate. Included also is a listing of Civil War book dealers, descriptions of book conditions,a nd more. If one is a fan of books written during OR ABOUT the period, this resource is a MUST!

Book was delivered quickly and in exactly the condition as described. Pages were like new and the photos are outstanding. Very informative. Highly recommended!

This is a delightful little book that will not take up much space in the backpack or other bag. It is full of short; 2-3 page sermons that, hold the reader's interest because although they are mostly about the nativity, they are distinctive, being as they are from Christians of various denominations, who lived in different eras.

Mr Bell has compiled excerpts or "adapted" the sermons / writings of: Charles Spurgeon, Henry Vaughan, John Milton, Christina Rossetti, Edward B Pusey and Ambrose of Milan among others.

There are also a few non nativity Christmas related essays. For example the telling of how 'Silent Night' came to be written: We almost missed this beauty.

This is preaching at it's most meaningful but not heavy as good preaching sometimes is. Good to read anywhere especially while traveling. Great for Urban residents traveling on subways and trains or anyone.

This book is also nicely produced with cream color pages that are easy on the eyes. A lovely book.

Mr. Ayris has given us a psychological trip though the minds of his characters. While not the easiest book to read, it is "Cormac McCarthy-like" in many ways. The evil and good of each person lies just behind carefully drawn facades... not allowing a clear picture of these unusual personalities. There is no easy answer to the mystery he is setting up. What happened to Little Norman? Who is Laura? We not only read about evil behavior, but witness human frailty when confronted by evil. We don't learn until the end whether the particular soul of the character will be won in the final analysis by good or evil. A complex set of relatonships all oddly intertwined to keep one reading and searching for answers. He draws it all together for a satisfying end. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes the mental challenge of travel over the landscape and hidden recesses of the human condition.

Julie George

Stuart's stories of the backwoods during the first half of the 20th Century are a piece of Americana. They haven't lost anything with time, though they've become more foreign. It's clear they're written for a readership that savors a good yarn and has the appreciation to savor it again sometime in the future.

Watch a blusterer, proud of his prowess as an eater almost kill himself in a kernal corn eating contest with a chicken. Spend the day traveling with a drunk who votes in 36 different precincts in a single election. Experience the remorse of a thief, convicted of disassembling an idle steam-shovel, carrying it away on his back, piece by piece, and reassembling it in his barn, all because he fell in love with it.

Bear wrestling, youthful mountain romance, digging worms for fishing surrounded by a coal mine and a moving love for the land; these are all the meat and potatoes of Stuart's delightful, entertaining stories.

Excellent reading, one story at a time. You'll save the book and read it again. This isn't fare for the disposable-minded, 'Yeah, I already read that one' culture, but the 21st Century might profit by reading it anyway.