Central America Books

Definitely a book that I recommend to friends. If you are interested in the political process, Watergate, Nixon; or simply this tumultuous period in American history then this book is for you. And it's grammatically correct too. Rob--Fairhope, AL

Even today, it's difficult to be objective about Richard Nixon. Author Russ Witcher succeeds, however, in his seminal study about how Nixon dealt with the press in the two decades following his resignation from the presidency. Relying on articles about Nixon in the three national newsweeklies during this period, Witcher presents a dispassionate look at how Nixon's image improved in the national print media. By quantifying the number of positive and negative statements the newsweeklies made about the former president, Witcher avoids the subjectivity that has marred much of the earlier research that has been done about Mr. Nixon.

Russ Witcher's superb study of Richard Nixon's post-presidential rehabilitation in the media is long overdue. Many observers have said that Nixon was largely successful in improving his media image during the last 20 years of his life, but Witcher has the numbers to prove it. In an exhaustive look at every article written in Newsweek, Time, and U.S. News & World Report about Nixon from his resignation in 1974 until his death in 1994, Witcher finds that Nixon improved his image over time in all three of the newsweeklies. Such research is a testament to Nixon's perseverance to fight to be known as more than The Watergate Man. That fight found its ultimate culmination at Nixon's funeral when even President Clinton declared that the days of judging Nixon on anything less than his whole life and career were over.

Russ Witcher's book, that Watergate thing, is one of the best books that I have ever read. The tension kept me on the edge of my seat! The climatic conclusion is unparalled by anything except for certain Betty Davis movies. Keep up the good work, Russ. I hope to see more work from you in the near future.

Aiding Students, Buying Students charts the history of American student aid. Rupert Wilkinson provides an intriguing account of the progress of assistance over the past 300 years and the underlying factors behind its provision. Beyond the historical perspective it goes on to provide an insightful review of today's systems and proposals for reform. This book is written with authority and wit and unwinds a story that anyone with a professional interest in education will find both fascinating and thought provoking. Also, don't miss the pictures, a brilliant gallery from the 17C to modern times, with informative captions, sometimes funny, sometimes moving.

If we were to invent the ideal author for writing the history of American student aid, we might specify a person who knows the college scene very closely but has a distance on it, who has long nurtured a concern with the way elites are educated, and who writes with grace and vigor. Rupert Wilkinson began his career with a brilliant comparative study of how English elite schools such as Eton and Winchester prepared young men for leading roles in what was then an empire. He writes like an angel. As a professor of American studies at Sussex, Wilkinson had the opportunity to travel repeatedly to colleges in the U.S. to monitor his institution's exchange programs and as he went, to mine the archives on students aid and conduct searching interviews with officials. Aiding Students, Buying Students lays out a history engaging in itself and with obvious relevance to today's challenges in student aid.

America faces growing economic and social inequities--a problem that threatens the roots of our democracy. I was delighted to find that Wilkinson focuses on the the impact of financial aid on actual educational opportunities faced by students from low-income and middle-income families. I was also glad that he got beyond the erroneous conventional wisdom of addressing this problem solely in terms of ethnic minorities, and that he ends this historical study with a review of the current situation and proposals for reform.

Providing financial assistance to students has always been a complicated matter for academic institutions, and the complications have grown increasingly impenetrable, partly because of the mixture of motives that lie behind the provision of such assistance. Rupert Wilkinson has carefully examined a wealth of historical information on this topic, and he has achieved an admirable understanding of what lies behind that information. Possessed of a graceful and lucid writing style, he has elucidated his subject splendidly. Oberlin College is one of the institutions that he has studied, and as a retired member of its faculty I can attest that his treatment has been thorough, fair, and illuminating.

A well written book about how love affected the mindset of Southern males in the Civil War era. However, most of the book is not, as the titles suggests, about the war period. It does begin with sketches of men's feelings during the Civil War, but most of it deals with their views in the 1840s and 1850s. The book, which makes heavy use of the Southern Historical Collection and the papers of planters and other members of the elite, is structured as a series of biographical sketches. The sketches illustrate how men--including the South Carolina Fire-eater Lawrence Keitt--felt about women and manhood, and the book provides some much needed insight into the sex lives of the Southern "aristocracy." One young man, for example, loses his virginity to a prostitute, who gives him VD. He joins the Confederate army eventually, but later succumbs to syphilis. As an explanation of the Victorian, romantic mindset of the Southern white male, the book succeeds. As an explanation of why men volunteered for the Confederate army and endured four years of slaughter, it is not as useful. True, troops wrote often and longingly about their loved ones. Most Confederates soldiers, however, were not married. If they were bachelors, they might have suffered the hardships of war in the hopes of winning the hand of a sweetheart. As Berry says at one point, slavery could not make a man march. That's perhaps true, but Confederates were not thinking of their sweethearts when they showed "no quarter" to black troops at the Crater or Fort Pillow. In suggesting troops fought foremost for women, Berry depoliticizes the war. If slavery was not that important, then it blurs the line between Northern and Southern troops' motivations. True they were all Americans, but they also saw differences in themselves that led to armed conflict.

This book is an excellent examination of perspectives of southern masculinity. Belongs with Cash's Mind of the South and Wyatt-Brown's Southern Honor as pivotal works on the mentality of the South. Takes a much more emotional glance at the southern male than the two other aforementioned works. Looks at the mentality of the southern male through the contexts of honor, religion and romance. Thoroughly researched and an enjoyable read. An essential addition to the library of anyone interested in the Civil War or southern masculinity.

All That Makes a Man really humanizes the Civil War. Too many histories of the conflict lament only the mangling of so many bodies. There is no sense of the abrupt end to so many life stories. By going back into the antebellum period, the author makes sure the reader knows the generation who fought the war BEFORE they got killed. By the time they do start dying you have a much better sense not only of how it happened but of what was lost. It wasn't that bodies died or hearts stopped beating; it was that somebodies died and all their hearts contained -- emotions, memories, promise -- was poured out like water. If you want a different perspective on the war, I highly recommend this book.

"All that Makes a Man", By Stephen Berry is the first installment of what should be a notable career for the young historian. As far as first books go, this one delivers the goods and never allows the reader's interest to wane. This is the story of the average men and women caught up in the maelstrom that was the Civil War, as told from the Confederate perspective. Berry provides insight into the motivations and pressures of southern manhood. He crafts a story that begins with the linking of manhood and patriotism in the formulating period of the rebellion, the love for woman as being central to a soldier's will to continue the struggle, and finally the reclamation of manhood and love to disengage from the humiliation of a losing war effort. By using the letters of the soldiers, the author provides evidence to support his claim that men do everything for the love of a woman, especially during the hyper-masculine victorian era. "All that Makes A Man" is recommended for anyone willing to penetrate deeper than oft repeated Civil War battlefield history to learn more about the reasons so many were willing to sacrifice everything.

I am very pleased to see the life and work of Don Agustin Rivas in print. This man has and continues to lead a remarkable life. Having worked with Don Agustin as a teacher for several years and heard many of the stories, it is good to see that the book remains true to them and captures the heart of Don Agustin's adventures. The book focuses on Don Agustin's personal challenges and accomplishments, but also contains many teachings and wisdom from one who has sacrificed much to be of service to the people and to the Earth. I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to know more about ayahuasca shamanism and/or the life of Don Agustin Rivas.

Amazon Magic by Jaya Bear is the astonishing biography of Don Agustin Rivas Vasquez, an ayahuasquero, or shaman who is skilled in visionary and healing plant medicines. From his childhood in a small jungle town beside the Amazon river; to his spending a year living with an Indian tribe; to visionary encounters with plant, water, and jungle spirits; Amazon Magic presents to the reader an evocative and amazing story of one man's journey to magic, enlightenment, healing, and wisdom. Amazon Magic is enthusiastically recommended reading for students of Shamanism, Metaphysics, and indigenous life of Peruvian Amazon indians.

This reviewer delights in learning, especially about people and cultures who can and did make an impact...and natural medicines that have their roots in a period thousands of years ago. So, when author Jaya Bear sent me her book, Amazon Magic, I discovered a wonderful opportunity and biography, as well as a narrative filled with mystery about a totally different reality.

Don Agustin Rivas Vasquez (1933-) was born in Tamshiyacu, Peru, a small jungle town along the Amazon River. What is was to grow up in this totally different (from us) environment...learn to be a shaman...and acquire the skills to use healing plant medicines such as ayahuasca, are the subjects of this fascinating new book.

Amazon Magic enables the reader to walk in the shoes of a shaman and understand his experiences and adventures...and his training and discipline to achieve his widely-regarded status as a profound healer. This reviewer was fascinated by not only plant medicines, but the spirits that reside in the jungle. And how ayahuasca, for instance, can help one see the spirits, and the demons. "Each of us has our demons, and ayahuasca shows them to us so we can face them and heal. Ayahuasca teaches us truth about ourselves".

Author, world traveler, artist and student of many spiritual cultures, Jaya Bear, felt drawn to travel to Peru after her husband died. She met Don Agustin Rivas Vasquez, and has continued to work closely with him since that time.

The result is Amazon Magic, a fascinating look at a culture and individual that have made an impact. Jaya Bear presents this revelation in an easily- read- and- understood fashion that captures Don Agustin's words, love and compassion!

Many years on from THE WIZARD OF THE UPPER AMAZON this book is an engaging adventure story of the same time. Endearing frankness ... from multiple sexual adventures to cannibalism ... combine with a fearsome determination to excel in his shamanic world, years of undergoing plant diets (ayahuasca the principle plant medicine but there are many more discussed here) ... all make this man seem oddly trustworthy. The directness of style is nicely free of many literary conventions ... these are Don Agustin's most striking memories, told in a clear way, worked into a book by Jaya Bear. I enjoyed it as a fine adventure story, a great jungle yarn.

This book is a breath of fresh air in a day when people would like to change the history of our country. Dr. Beller goes beyond even the declaration that our country is Christian...he goes to the heart of the matter; that Baptists had a major influence in the foundation of this nation.
Dr. Beller points out the facts that We as Americans have lost touch with our heratige, and those of us who are Baptist have lost touch with our heratige. Neither of which is a good thing! He remedies the problem by giving the facts, and in a way that it is a joy to read.
Dr. Beller has several other books which are worth the time spent reading them. He also gives lectures on the Coming Destruction of the Baptist People, which are also excellent!

This book has a wealth of information that can not be dismissed becasue of the facts and that the Baptist is not just another religon it is Bible.

This is simply the best Baptist/American history book out there. A real treasure in the Christians library.

"America is a Baptist nation"
From this quote on I was spellbound. This is unlike any other history book I have ever read. The facts are presented, but in a way to inspire, encourage, and enflame the child of God to run the race seeing "we are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses."
I had no clue that our nation was founded so firmly on Baptist principles. I knew our founding fathers were moral, but had no idea such a large majority were Baptist.
This book has deepend my appreciation for the Baptist and the doctrinal (Biblical) stance they have taken through the couse of history. I pray The Lord will once again bless our nation with more Shubal Sterns', Daniel Marshall's, John Clarkes, Isaac Backus', Obadiah Holmes', and others. Men who stand on the truth of Scripture - who live by it and die by it!
This is most definitely an absolute-must read for every Christian. If you haven't read it - READ IT! If you have read it - RE-READ IT!

I needed this book for a class I am taking, however, I would have read this book just for pleasure, I finished it before the class even started

This is a comprehensive analysis of the threat without being alarmist.

It is far too easy to find shocking explanations of the biological weapons potential that do not describe some of the difficulties in their procurement and delivery. This "sexy" approach captures our attention and makes for good entertainment, but the `Chicken Little' approach doesn't help us develop rational methods for dealing with the issue.

Read this book if you want a levelheaded examination. It also contains a good description and solid recommendations for a national strategy.

In a very good way, I got more than I bargained for by reading this book. While seeking a solid source to inform myself on the "nuts and bolts", policy implications, and development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), I continued to come across this title. Expect some dense and intense reading; there is not a wasted word here. The book focuses exclusively on the covert delivery of a nuclear, biological, or chemical weapon against an American target, exploring possible methods, limitations, locales, preventive measures, and consequences. This book will considerably broaden the knowledge of any first-timer looking into WMD and likely provides substantive material for discussion among policy makers and experts in the field.

I picked up this book as a research tool for a paper. Not only did I find the book to contain everything I needed, I became so enveloped in the reality of what I was reading that I couldn't put it down. A fan of Tom Clancy novels, this book describes the harsh reality that we live in, while detailing both the strengths and the weaknesses of the US response to bioterrorism. A must read for those with an interest in national security issues.

I need to declare first that I wrote the preface for the original US edition of this book, so obviously I think highly of it. Re-reading it again recently, I found that it moves me still, very strongly, with the vision that the steady strengthening of the individual human being is a force in history. The USA, whose world role is so complicated at this point, has had a great deal of strength in its "individualism" -- whether Jefferson's or Emerson's or the slaves, native Americans, women, immigrants, trans-continental migrants and all the rest who had to strive to establish their personal worth. This book helps me feel that we in the USA will find our way back to the humane ideals which are part of our true contribution to the world of the future.

Dr. Ben-Aharon's book is perhaps the most original contribution to the theme of Globalization, US, and social responsibility I ever read. He is not only an expert source of US policy and globalization' strategy, his unique contribution lies in the fact that he is capable of suggesting new, positive ways, socialy-and spiritualy productive. The concepte of Initiation, in particular, as developed in chapter 15, in connection with the evolution of consciousness and social life, is most illuminating. Its the first book on the topic known to me that combines depth of social analysis and spiritual insight, with wonderful sense of hope for the future of the US and humankind.

All I can say is fascinating, in depth and very stimulating. I'm really glad I stummbled across this gem.

This book was amazing. It should be read by everyone concerned with what is going on in the world today and America's role in it. If you are wondering if you should get the hell out of this country or stay and fight for better solutions instead of running from the problem(and be "truly" proud to be an American)...read this book. The big plus about this book for me was its spiritual element in relation to world social events.
I just finished reading Owen Barfield's, "Saving the Appearances," before reading this book, unaware that it would be a great primer for what Mr. Ben-Aharon has to say. We definitely are living in interesting times.

The author was the public relations spokesperson for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, thus he had a great insiders perspective. He includes insightful insider stories. Great read!

From the very first page, I felt like I was there. Dick Yarbrough combines incredible professional credibility and integrity with expert story-telling. What a great read!

I was always suspicious about the goings-on behind the scenes during preparation for the Olympics in Atlanta.While Richard Yarbrough's book has not completely convinced me that all was well, it awakened me to the fact that the folks working in the trenches performed admirably under very adverse circumstances. It also confirmed my belief that the Committee's goals were undermined by a selfish and greedy city government. Yarbrough's account of preparation for the games, the bombing of Centennial Park and the competition is must reading for those who, like me, need to know the truth. Good going, Richard!

Dick Yarbrough's well written book really tells it like it is (was) with no holds barred. It is a fascinating behind-the-scenes peek into the very political upper levels of planning and running the Atlanta Olympic games. I highly recommend it to everyone. It is a must-read for Atlanta residents!

This is a truly amazing trip through the minds of the ancient Maya who wrote in an elegant and complex system. Michael Coe clarifies and demystifies the beautiful texts on all forms of media; ceramic, stone, shell etc. But best of all, Justin Kerr's photographs are a thrilling excursion into the realms of an exotic society. This partnership of scholars enables the reader to sit back and explore the depths of the beauty and intellectual achievements of an ancient culture. Frankly, I was blown away!

Sumptuous, a true visual feast, Michael Coe's foray into the world of the Maya artist reveals the talents and personalities of the Maya scribes. Lushly illustrated by Justin Kerr, the world's foremost photographer of Precolumbian art, this coffeetable-style book looks at what scholars understand about the individuals who created the Maya's sculptural and painted repertoir. Coe brings his knowledge of hieroglyphic writing to bear on this previously little-known subject, revealing the names and titles of Maya artists and other significant facts. Following in the tradition of his best-selling BREAKING THE MAYA CODE, which describes the scholarly-community's halting attempts at decipherment, Coe relies heavily on cutting-edge breakthroughs in reading Maya script. But more than this, he demonstrates an ecellent knowledge of art history and archaeology, setting forth quite a rich array of information. A fine book by one of the great Precolumbian scholars of all time, amply supplemented with line drawings and an effective design strategy.

This is an amazingly beautiful book both visually and because of the way the articles accompanying these glorious pictures illuminate our understanding of the role of the scribe in the Mayan culture and how they worked. The images provided are simply exquisite and well chosen. It is impossible for me to flip to a page and not learn or see something new even after owning this book and looking at it for several years. There is just so much here that even as your eyes become familiar with it, you begin to see more deeply into it.

The authors show us how the writing developed, matured, and how the scribal tradition passed away. They also show us how western scholars tried to deal with this writing before the great decipherment happened in the second half of the twentieth century.

Yes, this can make a gorgeous coffee table book and can spark much discussion, but unlike books found on such tables, this one deserves to be read closely and multiple times. It is a book I treasure deeply.

Many calligraphic traditions, such as Egyptian, East Asian, Islamic, and Western European, have been long studied and are generally well understood. However, much less attention has been given to Mayan calligraphy (from the South Americas). This magnificent book seeks to rectify the imbalance with an insightful, well written account of not only the meaning of Mayan calligraphy, but also its remarkable aesthetics.

The Mayans seem to have written on everything: seashells, jaguar skins, walls, rocks, wood, pottery, dishes, vases, caves, etc. The book beautifully reproduces and deciphers these writings, many for the first time. The world that emerges is neither Eastern nor Western, spiritual yet at the same time profoundly secular.

The Maya lowlands were known as "The Land of the Red and the Black," because their books were written with red and black pigments. Reproductions of some of their finest books are included here, though tragically, many of their books were destroyed.

The Mayans still have a lot to teach us. This book offers the curious reader an essential foundation for understanding a brilliant, often neglected civilization.

This book is a MUST READ for ANYONE who deals with customers. My employer believes in this book so much, They designed a class around the book that every employee had or has to attend.

This is a great book for owners of businesses or people who work for corporations. I enjoyed the chapter about managing young workers.

A MUST READ for EVERY manager, employer, CEO, anyone who is a leader of just one or thousands of employees! It will literally change the way a leader looks at their company and what it takes to be successful by demonstrating how the employees MUST come first as the company's NUMBER ONE asset! It will cause a total shift in the leader's thinking, from "customer oriented" to "employee oriented" way of doing business. The author emphasizes as the company takes care of the employee, they, in turn will take care of the customer. Karl shows you how to do it with excellent concepts and ideas that work! Reading this book will cause the reader to lose sleep, to be haunted if they choose to ignore Karl's leading! Perhaps losing valuable employees in the process, never realizing why. Karl shares how companies spend thousands of dollars on learning how to catch and keep customers, when the real key, like Karl demonstrates, is how to catch and keep EMPLOYEES, who catch and keep customers. The business then thrives! Karl is an amazing author.

Karl Arlbrecht discusses customer service strategies and programs and the failed application of manufacturing ideas to service organisations. I was amazed how accurate his book was at describing many of the failures that my past two employers made. It was as if he had worked for us! An excellent reference book for management in service based businesses.