Central America Books

I found this book to be enlightening. Mirande's analysis is fresh and applicable not only to Latino men but to other men of color as well. I highly recommend this book for anyone who would like to develop a different way of re-imaging masculinity.

HOMBRES Y MACHOS has helped me understand my life because my father was Mexican (born in the US of parents born in Mexico), and about half of my family is now of Mexican heritage. I find it interesting that though the Hispanic population is now the largest so-called minority group in the United States, there are so few books available regarding the masculinities of Hispanic culture.

HOMBRES Y MACHOS describes that, contrary to the Anglo-Saxon model of the stoic muscleman, macho Hispanic men are typically colorful, loud, and emotionally expressive. I found this description to be a breath of fresh air because in my late teens I became loosely involved in the movement sometimes known as the men's movement. This movement focuses on combatting the stoic macho male model and introducing men to their emotions. I found this bewildering because, in my experience, the more macho the man the more emotionally expressive (my father, Arthur Olivo, who was very macho, had no shame about dancing, singing, crying, etc.). I came to realize that though I am not biologically Mexican - the father I refer to in this review was technically my step-father - I needed books that addressed the Hispanic male experience because that was also *my* experience.

Finally! HOMBRES Y MACHOS is the book I had been looking for. It helped me understand myself, my life, and it gave me a vocabulary, a framework, within which to perceive my journey. And it helped me understand what is perhaps the most complicated issue of my life: why my Mexican father did not consider me his step-son, but told people I was his biological son. As HOMBRES Y MACHOS details, fatherhood in Mexican culture is far more embracing than what is commonly thought of in Anglo-Saxon culture. According to the author, my father's approach to me as his son has precedent in Mexican culture. Just knowing this fact put a big piece of the puzzle in place.

I am so thankful to Alfredo Mirande for writing HOMBRES Y MACHOS and therefore aiding me in my journey of self-understanding, as well as in understanding the men I have grown up around.

Thank you!

Andrew Parodi

I read this for a sociology class on mexican Americans and could not put it down. Mirande weaves both qualitative and quanitative analysis to examine how Hispanic and Latino men really act.

Too much of the mass media assumes that the lazy, super-macho, virulent and violent Hispanic man is the cultural norm rather than the exception. Mirande shows that subjugation has more often than not introduced those elements into this culture, rather than the other way around. Because family is very important in the Chicano culture, these men are more likely to spend time with their children than Anglo men.

Also interesting was the section on GLBT chicanos and how culture influences acceptance of sexuality. Despite the predominance of catholicism in Latino communities (which usually disapproves of homosexuality)evidence presented in the book suggests that their culture's concept of sexuality is more fluid than the anglo counterpart. Furthermore, the author notes the 'Top' male in lovemaking is generally accepted in society while the passive one is the only person who is not regarded as a real man.

Doctor Mirande goes boldly where no Chicano has gone before: to provide a positive revisionist analysis of the term "macho." Using anecdotal evidence from his own childhood to flesh out his sociological study, Mirande shows that he is not an apologist, but rather an academic that is interested at finding the truth behind the myths instead of merely buying into them. The results of the studies were surprising, even for him! In the burdgeoning area of men's studies, this text should prove indispensable

I was given this book by a patient. The people in the stories are the same as today. The truths he tells and the antedotes are priceless. A must read for medical students and young professionals.

When I first picked up this book, I was interested in it because it was so old. As I read it, especially the first few chapters about his adventures in elementary school (I teach fourth grade) I was pleased. I feel better about the antics my students have gotten into. The rest of the book is an entertaining, yet infomative first hand account of the growth of the medical profession. We have come a long way. I am looking forward to seeing where we go.

I just finished this book last night. I have an interest in medical history, particularly american. The author gives a detailed insight into early american medicine. He was truely a wonderful man and physician. I am a physician and am surprised how many problems he experienced that are still currently problems in medicine. This book is a must read for anyone interested in early american medicine.

This book is excellent for understanding life in the mid to late 1800's, for understanding the speed with which the "practice of medicine" has grown, and growing in honesty with oneself. The humor and joy is the best! And I empathized with the pain and difficulty.

I have a large shelf of books on indian basketry. This Shanks book will be put first in line. For the tribes included, the book covers historical, cultural, and ethnographic aspects in a very readable form. But its unrivaled aspect is in diagnostics and the technical details. Boring? Hardly! The authors show how the artisitic and aesthetic values derive from the weaving details. The authors trace the migration and fate of tribal peoples through analysis of their weaving. While the book is of "coffee table" quality, it not just a pretty once over dust catcher. I will certainly buy their next volume in the series.

To anyone interested in the artworks or culture of the American Indian, this is a must have treasure. In fact, it can well stand first in line among any indian textile, carving, pottery, or beadwork books that I have ever seen.

We had the author (Ralph Shanks) as a math teacher in sixth grade-- truly the best teacher we have EVER had! I've never read his books but he used to show us slides of the material, anyway, just be aware when reading this i'm sure fascinating book, that the author is a really good teacher ( which is completely irrelevant we know, but...)

More than exceptionally good regional art, California Indian baskets are amongst the most beautiful and finest baskets in the world. No other book covers basketry with the detail, care and insight of this volume. Approximately 200 baskets are shown in full color along with an enjoyable text that makes reading a pleasure. Basketry studies, anthropology, history, art, archeology and linguistics are all brought together in this unprecedented book. "Indian Baskets of Central California" is full of fascinating information. There are vibrant baskets covered with hundreds of tiny feathers, miniature baskets so small they literally can sit on the head of a pin, feast baskets so large it took several men to lift one when full, and culinary baskets as beautiful as a great painting. You will be proud to own this fine book.

Ralph Shanks has more than one passion that he writes about. He's known nationwide in Coast Guard history circles as one of the country's leading chroniclers of the history of the United States Life-Saving Service, a predecessor to the Coast Guard. But little do those folks know - except maybe those on the West Coast, of his level of scholarship as it pertains to a subject seemingly as far away from motor lifeboats as one can get: Native American basketry.

Indian Baskets of Central California is split geographically into three sections: San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay, the interior coast range mountains, and the Sierra Nevada and the Delta. Each section highlihghts the basketry of different tribes, both in text and imagery. The book, in fact, is heavily illustrated with photography of existing baskets from collections all over the west coast. The history of the development of each type of basket is told, as is the story behind its ultimate use. The details pertaining to each individual basket's story are as intricately woven into storylines as the baskets themselves were crafted.

Ralph and his wife/editor Lisa Woo Shanks have collaborated on several projects, including the North American Indian Travel Guide. Independently, Lisa is the editor of the Basketry of California and Oregon Series. Their expertise for this very precise subject shines through in this important book, one that will help keep alive fading arts and cultures of the past.

Indianapolis TV personality Dick Wolfsie is well-known in Central Indiana for finding fun, interesting human-interest segments for his station's morning show. Wolfsie continues this theme by digging up oddities from all over the Hoosier state that would interest any traveler who wants to stray from the beaten path. Wolfsie provides a description of the curiousity, organized by region and alphabetized by the town in which it is located. The book covers five regions and includes a map of that region that labels every town mentioned in that section of the book, no matter how small the town.

Examples include the RV museum in Elkhart, a jar museum in Muncie and the site of John Dillinger's first official crime in Mooresville.

Wolfsie includes addresses, phone mumbers, websites, e-mail addresses and contact names (some are only available through appointments). Rough directions from Indianapolis are included.

This book is amazing! It has many pieces of "useless" trivia - unless you stop and think about the uses of this knowledge. Did you know that a town in the Hoosier state seceded from the Union at the state of the Civil War? I didn't till I read this book - and I'm a major in that field with a wealth of knowledge on Indiana and the Civil War.

This book is really intersting and funny! It offers so much information about IN--things you never knew that are great trivia! Great for planning day trips in the state, too!

You'll enjoy this book even if you don't live in Indiana -- and you'll definitely enjoy it if you do. Packed with the odd and unusual, this book was filled with surprises even for me, and I've lived in Indiana for almost 20 years. Strange things you'll see along the road, folks who collect or build wierd stuff, bizarre legends and history... Dick Wolfsie explains them all with both wit and respect, and turns in a first-rate book that you should have with you on any daytrip you take around the Hoosier state.

Isabel Allende by Mary Main is a most interesting book. Ms. Allende has lived a fascinating life and triumphed over adversity. What makes this book so special is its balance between talking about Allende's work, and the telling of her life story. The author's tone is informative, interesting and compelling. This book would be an excellent choice for anyone- adult or child- interested in learning more about Isabel Allende.
I highly recommend it.

Mary Main knows how to tell a story-an especially valuable gift when it comes to writing biography. The author captures the spirit of Isabel Allende, from her early years in Peru and Chile to her life in America. And along the way, she shows us what it is like to create a great novel and how it is possible to overcome suffering and live with grace. This is a compelling and stunning book, one that's guaranteed to intrigue young readers.

This biography is easy to read and very interesting. Allende has led an unusual life battled by political conflicts, and personal growth. I think anyone would find her life story of interest even if you are not a fan of her books. I read the book in a few hours, it is fast paced and easy. Good for kids and will keep an adult's interest as well.

Isabel Allende was born in 1942, in Lima, Peru, and lived in many countries, until becoming a permanent resident and citizen of the United States. After twenty years as a journalist, Isabel became an award-winning author of children's fiction, memoirs, short stories, and novels that run the gamut from enchantment to tragedy.

A stanch feminist viewpoint and intimate family bond became Allende's inspiration for writing. Tragic events such as the sickness of her adored grandfather and a coma that imprisoned her beloved daughter stirred Isabel to write daily about her life and family. Isabel's boundless enthusiasm is evident in the magic of her writing.

With skill and candor, biographer Mary Main portrays Allende as a passionate woman, loving mother, and gifted author. This biography entices the reader to explore the books of Isabel Allende.

My almost 4 year old son LOVES this book and even my 2 year old will sit through it. We are trying to get our boys to use more Spanish (mixed heritage) and this is a great way to do that.

Every page is full of brilliant Latin colors; we could stare at the pages and be happy. The language is rich and poetic- it breathes magic (or magica). It is mostly in English, but the Spanish words and phrases are put in a way that reader and child can understand them. There's even a glossary in the back so you can know for sure what the words mean and how to pronounce them correctly. It's even forcing me to remember that high school Spanish.

Beautiful book.

I love reading this to my 3-year old daughter. The pictures are so colorful and full of detail.

The language and tone is so fine. The author slips in and out of the two languages, Spanish and English so easily. It is the best way to read a story. It is fantastic for my daughter's imagination. She is flying just like Rosalba, just like we all did when we were young.

We also love her other book "Abuela".

This book is wonderful. As I read this book to my second graders. They feel like they are flying and actually doing what the characters are doing. They really get into the book

I read this book and the author's other children's book (Abuela) with my daughters (ages 2 and 4) who both enjoyed them immensely. Dorros does a great job of mixing the Spanish phrases in and repeating words in both English and Spanish that the story flows nicely and children can pick up some Spanish very naturally along the way. The pictures are very fun as well. I highly recommend it, in fact I came here to look for more books by the same author but unfortunately, didn't find any. I hope he has more in the works, we love them!

Jack's New Power is great. The best chapter is at the end when he goes to the cock fight and loses a piece of money. Even though his sister is annoying, she ends up being right. I felt bad for Jack, kind of, at the end. He's off to Florida and he doesn't know what that is going to be like.
The funniest part was when he is totally purple and is trying to hide that fact by running around the neighborhood at night when it is dark. Even though he doesn't want to see anyone, someone else is running at night too. He ends up being his friend.

I loved this Book about Jack and his Memoirs. I read it in One week!!!!

i know this is a kids book, and i read it a few years ago, but every once in a while i get it out and read it from cover to cover again. every time i read this book i get inspired about life. does that seem a little drastic? i love this book. it's like my security blanket. read this book!

What a truly great book. I read this when I was in 4th grade.It has a beautiful mix of comedy and just plain interesting writing.It's the best book that I've ever read in my entire life. I also own my own copy of it. I would automatically recommend this book to anyone who wants a good laugh. This is a great book for all ages. I would also like to recommend "Heads Or Tails" which is also in the same series. I am also currently reading the third book in the series, "Jack's Black Book". It's great. Everyone should go out and buy copies of all three books and read them.

Dr. Ward's work adds much needed academic perspective on America's cultural history. This is not a book you can just breeze through, but the payoff is high. Dr. Ward writes with a true passion for the music as well as a subtle wit.

what i dig about this Book is it's honesty.Music along with Sports have brought people of all Races together but when it's over folks go back into their Enviroment.The Music Speaks of Being Free&that's How People Get into Music but not Viewing the person as a Human Being is very sad.this book points that out&more.it's cool to Emulate James Brown, but being him?the business has always been Unequal.the charts have Pop,R-N-B/Rap(now Lumped as one)then Country,etc.....this is a Must Read.I Understood it all&then some.

Brian Ward is currently teaching "The Southern Civil Rights Movement" at the University of Florida. As a scholar his knowledge on the civil rights movement is exhaustive. Not only that, Ward knows his music. In Just My Soul responding Ward displays extensive knowledge of black music ranging from fifties R&B and Doo Wop to seventies Funk & Soul. Not surprisingly Ward has written several publications on the relation between mass media and the civil rights struggle.

"Just My Soul Responding" focuses on the relation between the struggle and Black music, and black popular music to be precise. Ward doesn't take Jazz into his analyses by stating that this was music for the intellectual crowd. Ward is more interested in the influence popular music had on the advance of the movement and what it meant for race relations.

The strength of this publication lies in the fact that it's not burdened by a drive to prove cultural imperialism. Some scholars on the subject of black music at times tend to get blinded in their effort to show how the white co operations tried to steal or destroy black music. Although Ward acknowledges such mechanisms, he paints a much more subtle picture. Ward shows us how black and white music influenced each other, that the lines weren't always as sharp as they seemed. Most tellingly is his analysis of Southern Soul, now often seen as the epiphany of black music. Ward dissect Southern Soul and shows how much of it is actually a multi-racial effort. A lot of the music was backed by integrated bands. White musicians brought Country into Soul and vice versa. Ward doesn't take the road of easy analyses but tries to pierce the way segregation worked, and how far it extended. Through the course of the book we get a picture of where the racial lines blurred and where the space of advancement lied.

Ward's publication is interesting reading for those interested in the civil rights movement but also for those just interested in the music as well. The book is littered with amusing anecdotes of Black music's most influential artist. Going though the book it becomes clear that for true appreciation of Black music knowledge of the civil rights movement is essential.

I found this book informative and readable; a thoroughly documented guide to black music in the 50s, 60s and 70s by someone who is evidently a fan yet who does not allow his passion for the music to lead him into simplification or wishful thinking. Some parts of the book are a very useful corrective to this tendency in other books I have read - for example his treatment of black consumption of white music. He is particularly interesting on the subject of the sexual politics of the music and its relation to the social and political background. An accessible and entertaining book which maintains scholastic rigour throughout and is never guilty of sloppiness or turgidity.

Delorme Gazetteers open up another world for people who like to just "cruise around" and not get lost.

Looking for an adventure? Then look no further that the Kentucky Atlas and Gazetteer. These easy to use maps provide excellent political and some geographical detail of the roadways and byways in the state. Get off the interstate and explore!

Have done alot of biking in Western Kentucky and this atlas is a lifesaver when it comes to looking for riding routes. Also very useful when looking for addresses in the country.

I love these DeLorme "Atlas and Gazetteer" maps. We have one for Texas and found it very useful. We hope the Kentucky one will be just as informative. Includes all the little known roads not shown on standard highway maps...a true asset.

A definite favorite in our house! Love the many sounds, the adorable illustrations, and the great story line.

I am becoming a big fan of this storywriter/illustrator. His illustrations are always fun, colorful and almost jump off the page. My 2 year old loves seeing all the different animals and making their sounds/noises throughout this book while waiting for Martina to find the grand finale "beautiful noise". With it's big pages and easy to read large print, this book is still at the top of the pile for our daily reading and enjoyment.

This is a classic book. My daughter is 3 and she just loves la cucharacha Martina's quest for the "beautiful noise." It helps that my husband is an entomologist - the two of them get a big kick out of this book. Spanish is woven into the book, in the signs and in names, but you don't need to speak Spanish to read and enjoy the book. The pictures are beautiful, fascinating to children. All around, a family favorite for us!

This book was wonderful! Although written for younger children older children and adults will enjoy it too. The illustrations are crisp, bright and whimsical. The story of a beautiful cockroach is based on a Caribbean Folktale. It is a fun read and a great book to share with others. The book has lots of secrets in the language. Look for the meaning to the many spanish signs and symbols located throughout the book. I shared this with my college classmates, my adolescent children and younger children as well. They all enjoyed the story and were equally intrigued by the illustrations.