Southwest Books

"The Silver of the Sierra Madre," which plays off the title of B Traven's masterpiece, is a history book that reads like an adventure story. It centers on the Americans John Robinson and Alexander Shepherd, and others like them, who came to northern Mexico to get rich by opening silver mines. Hart uses primary sources such as diaries, letters and obscure books in both English and Spanish to chronicle the difficulties these American capitalists had as they searched for silver. The book is centered on Batopilas, one of the most unusual towns and earth, at least as difficult to reach as a Nepalese town in the Himalayas. To get there you had to ride on mules through some of the most beautiful and dangerous country on the planet, the Barranca del Cobre, a system of seven canyons that makes our Grand Canyon seem small by comparison. This is a little known part of American history that professor Hart makes come alive with the skill of a novelist backed up by the research of a great historian .

For anyone interested in the Copper Canyon region of the Mexican State of Chihuahua this books is a welcome addition to the rather small canon of works about this area of Mexico (in English no less!). Hart provides a good synthesis that is equal parts, travel log, 19th century business practices study, all set within the cultural back ground of the residents of the canyons. Many people who have interest in this area of Chihuahua are well acquainted with Grant Shepherd's book "Silver Magnet" and will find this an excellent "prequel" as well as a scholarly counterpoint to that work. The first half of this work is dedicated to the ownership of the mines in Batopilas by John Robinson, and the second half to the ownership of the mines under Alexander Shepherd. To round out the work Hart provides us with 25 mostly historic photographs of the area. Shepherd's business practices are well exposed as are those of the Mexicans in the second half of the book and it is easy to understand the frustrations of the lower classes. For those of us in the United States similar conditions frequently existed though the response in the early 20th century brought the system back to equilibrium unlike Mexico which erupted in violence.

Hart's writing makes for a fast and interesting read though he does tend to relate some points more than once throughout the book. He also has a tendency to alternately refer to the principal characters by their last names then by first names where it is my experience most writers of history tend towards always referring to their subject by last name only. Then again this more casual style may well be the ultimate reason the book is more reader friendly compared to some other history books.

Curiously, Hart mentions at least twice in this book that John Robinson's grandson married General Luis Terrazas' only granddaughter. It would seem from Mark Wasserman's book "Capitalists, Caciques, and Revolution" that General Terrazas had a multitude of granddaughters. Also, in the introduction Hart's mentions that Batopilas was under the political administration of Nueva Galicia and perhaps this should instead read Nueva Vizcaya.

Hart is to be commended for taking up this particular subject matter and especially for choosing the setting of the Sierra Madre of Chihuahua. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Copper Canyon and to those who have family origins or relatives from that area of Chihuahua.

Beautifully illustrated, this book is a delightful authentic Native American tale. Every child I bought this for has loved the drawings.

Geri is a genuine Native American storyteller (Navajo) and one of the few authentic indian authors of children's books today. This book reflects her creativity, while the vivid and beautiful illustrations excite the imagination! "Snail Girl" is based on a story from the Navajo creation myth which imparts respect and honor for a most precious substance, water. Highly recommended.

This book is well thought out, organized and highly informative. Trying to grow anything in the different soil and conditions found in the Southwest can be frustrating. Unless you can find a little gem of a book like this. It is like finding the key to a lost treasure chest. The book as a whole is indispensible. It walks you through soil condidions, there is a chapter on why the Southwest is different, has the usual list of perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, etc. She also has a monthly calendar of to do items that I find extremely helpful. She includes cute sketches throughout the book and I am now studying the planning and landscaping examples in the back of the book. A MUST HAVE for any New Mexico gardener.

Pat

Although Roasalie died several years ago in her late 90's, she was still an active gardener. She was only sorry she couldn't do a new book and add lisianthus.

Southwest Lite; Full-flavored, Healthy Cooking by American Southwest culinary expert Bob Wiseman showcases fabulous dishes that are heart healthy, weight issues friendly, and absolutely palate pleasing. Superbly illustrated with full-color photography, the dishes range from Cisco's Bagel Bites; Curried Tuna Salad; Buttermilk Meatloaf; and Sweet Southwest-Style Pork Chops; to Cajun Shrimp Scampi; Fried Green Tomatoes; Fiesta Jalapeno Cornbread Muffinettes; and Baja-Style Baked Rice Pudding. With each individual recipe laid out in a completely "kitchen cook friendly" and easy to follow format, Southwest Lite is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to any household cookbook collection.

What a surprise to see such a creative Southwest cookbook. The recipes are not only healthy but sparkle with the zesty flavors of "red rock country." I made the soft-cheesy crackers Wiseman calls "Devil's Kisses" and was dazzled with the great flavor and the zesty touch of chipotle heat, caught me off guard. Indeed a pleasant surprise. As for the photography, what more appealing photos could you ask for. Whomever this fellow Chris Marchetti is he sure knows how to take food shots. This book should be on the shelves and in the kitchens for a long time. I hope Wiseman does another. Pennigan

This has very unusual patterns - some are appropriate for beginner and others for the more experienced. The patterns could possibly be used for sewing appliques, beadwork, or other mediums other than wood or metal.

This is an excellent workbook / pattern book for both the beginner and intermediate scroll sawyer, another Spielman success with the contribution of Dan Kihl. There are about 150 full size patterns in the 154 pages, and with the suggested variations on each project, the possibilites are endless.

As usual, the first 22 pages deals with instuctional guidance with photos. Some good instructions on wood selection, transferring patterns, definition cuts, and stack sawing. Then, for the more experienced, Spielman gives advice on combining various metals, plastics and leather with the traditional wood projects. It takes an ordinary project to an extra ordinary project with the "simple" inclusion of different medias.

Also for the more advanced, tips on segmentation and inlaying are provided, again, with photos. Perhaps the most interesting chapter, is on finishing tips, including acetic-acid bath of copper combined with shiny copper inlays. The eight pages of color photos offer great assistance with how different finishing techinques can look.

The are some very unusual patterns in this book and with the combination of the various techniques discussed and presented with photos, makes this book a must to have and you will refer back to it time and time again, just like I do, for some different ideas to apply to other projects.

We have purchased this cookbook before and this time we gave it as a gift. It has wonderful recipes and the pictures are wonderful to look at.

We do a lot of southwestern cooking, and over the past ten years or so this has been the cookbook we come back to again and again. This book collects recipes from both well-known chefs (such as Mark Miller of Coyote Cafe) and regional home cooks. It has a lot of traditional southwestern (and southern) recipes, and also some more modern treatments that you would find in more innovative restaurants around Dallas, Sante Fe, or Scottsdale. The recipes are generally well written. They range from easy to moderate in difficulty. Some of the pictures of the food are wonderful.

I recently went to Southwest Museum and Autry National Center and their shops are still selling this book at cover price!!! It's an amazing book and reflects the rich collections of the museum!

This is a great book and resource for anyone interested in textiles, weaving, or Native American history. I called the Southwest Museum shop in California and was told that they still have copies of this book and it's at a cheaper price than what's listed here. I believe they can ship as well.

Did you know that the squash blossom necklace, probably the most recognizable of all Navajo jewelry designs, was an innovation only introduced during the 1870s? That most of the pottery produced in Isleta Pueblo is made by only two families? That the famous Zuni cluster jewelry didn't begin to emerge until the 1920s, when turquoise became more readily available for jewelry making? That symbols included in Native American art were often commissioned by traders, who would then concoct a "meaning" for those symbols to please their non-Western buyers? That jewelry was pawned on the Navajo Reservation as late as 1976? That permanent sandpainting art - in contrast to those paintings actually created during a Navajo healing ceremony - didn't emerge until the 1950s and often includes alterations from the paintings' religious meanings to protect the maker from illness? That basket weavers sometimes travel as far as 50 or 100 miles to gather specific plants, but that an hour's work generally earns them no more than a dollar or two in wages? That American coins were barred from being used in silversmithing in the 1890s, but Mexican silver pesos continued to be used for another 40 years, to only then be replaced by sterling silver; that however the Indians never mined the silver used in their jewelry themselves? That the Hopi have well over 200 different katsinas (kachinas), all of which have distinctive meanings? That Native American artists now use materials from as far away as the Kalahari and Siberia in jewelry making? That even today, a tribe's revenue from its crafts averages no more than 1 - 20% of its total income?

Authored by anthropologists Tom and Mark Bahti, with color photographs by Bruce Hucko, on its just over 60 pages "Southwestern Indian Arts and Crafts" provides a comprehensive introduction to every aspect of Native American arts and crafts, from basket weaving and bead making to fetishes, Hopi katsinas, Navajo rugs and sandpaintings, paintings, pottery, silverwork and turquoise jewelry. Along the way, the authors provide not only background information on the origin of each discipline and the materials used, as well as the major methods of manufacture and important recent developments, but they also destroy a few myths, such as the one according to which every symbol used in Indian arts and crafts invariably has a set meaning, or that the squash blossom necklace has been a part of Navajo jewelry since time immemorial. The Bahtis consider the relationship between aesthetics and economics, the importance of the individual in Indian art (such as innovations introduced by certain trendsetting artists) and newly evolving trends, but they also present traditional methods and designs familiar to any visitor to the Southwest, such as Hopi overlay silversmithing, stamped and sandcast Navajo silverwork, concha belts, Zuni jewelry made from a variety of techniques (including mosaic, inlay, cluster, needlepoint and petitpoint), double-stranded Navajo jocla and other beaded necklaces, the major traditional Navajo rug patterns and the meaning of the symmetry-breaking "spirit line," eagle, owl and clown Hopi katsinas, clay storyteller figurines, as well as baskets and pottery in all manner of shapes and styles. A map in the centerfold identifies the major Indian tribes represented and some of the better-known designs associated with them; and the text closes with a few recommendations on buying Indian crafts and their care.

The book's paperback edition looks deceptively like the cheap, flashy pseudo-"guides" on Southwestern culture all too often found near the cashiers of the region's supermarkets and souvenir stores - but don't be put off by that. While this is a comparatively slim volume and, according to its introduction, primarily addressed to the "casual" visitor, it's an excellent starting point for any exploration of the world of Native American arts and crafts, a great inexpensive supplement to any purchase, and simply a marvelous souvenir, not only for the occasional visitor to the Southwest.

Also recommended:
Southwestern Indians: Arts & Crafts - Tribes - Ceremonials
Native North American Art (Oxford History of Art)
Here, Now, and Always: Voices of the First Peoples of the Southwest
Four Corners: History, Land, and People of the Desert Southwest
The New Encyclopedia of the American West

As with going to the opera, recording are a pail reflection yet help you remember your experience. This book is the next best thing to the real thing. There are colorful pictures depicting many different types of Southwestern Indian Arts and Crafts. It can not do justice to any one craft but serves as an introduction. Each section on a particular craft shows some of how it is made and the purpose it serves. At the end of each section is a suggestion for further reading.

The double page center shows an outline of Arizona and New Mexico and the contemporary designs from geographic areas. On page 24 is a larger southwest state outline showing the different types of turquoise found and their characteristics. There is also a small section telling that to survive this day and age they are now turning to new materials for their art.

Being a Hillerman fan I tend to gravitate to the Navaho art; however there is a depiction from 35 different tribes.

There are not many books that stay in print for thirty five years, especially one with such a narrow ambit, but this one deserves the honor.

Tony Hillerman has done an exceptional job of writing the Preface and the Introduction, and in collecting the eleven other essays contained in this excellent compilation. It's impossible to summarize the treasures; here are a few of the fragments I particularly enjoyed.

Tony Hillerman: "Pretentious as it sounds, and tough as it is to prove, there does seem to be something about New Mexico which not only attracts creative people but stimulates their creativity."

Oliver La Farge: "What is New Mexico, then? How to sum it up? It is a vast, harsh, poverty-stricken, varied, and beautiful land, a breeder of artists and warriors. It is the home, by birth or by passionate adoption, of a wildly assorted population which has shown itself capable of achieving homogeneity without sacrificing its diversity."

Winfield Townley Scott: "The breadth and height of the land, its huge self and its huge sky, strike you like a blow."

Ernie Pyle: "We like it here because we're on top of the world, in a way; and because we are not stifled and smothered and hemmed in by buildings and trees and traffic and people. We like it because the sky is so bright and you can see so much of it. And because out here you actually see the clouds and the stars and the storms, instead of just reading about them in the newspapers."

Oliver La Farge: "If you stay on, and if you keep quiet, the rhythms of drum, song, and dance, the endlessly changing formations of the lines of dancers, the very heat and dust, unite and take hold. You will realize slowly that what looked simple is complex, disciplined, sophisticated. You will forget yourself. The chances are then that you will go away with that same odd, empty, satisfied feeling which comes after absorbing any great work of art."

In a compelling way, this collection constitutes a "work of art", informed by an appreciation that D.H. Lawrence describes as "for greatness of beauty I have never experienced anything like New Mexico.... It had a splendid silent terror, and a vast far-and-wide magnificence which made it way beyond mere aesthetic appreciation."

If you have any interest in seeing New Mexico as a number of excellent writers do, this is the book for you.

Robert C. Ross 2008

This is a must read for anyone seriously interested in the state of New Mexico.

This was the greatest. I want to buy copies for Christmas gifts..I was laughing, agreeing, crying, and laughing again. Drink Cultura was just as awesome, I wish I could meet you in person, and have you sign my book...Que Viva la Raza..Y que Dios los bengiga con mas y mas...

When i opened up the book I had zero expectations because i had never heard of this author. As I started reading I found myself laughing out loud. I nervously looked around to check if anyone was around. Its that kind of book. As a mexican I found I had alot of things in common with many parts of this book. I feel very strongly that all latinos will be able to relate with some or most of this book's content. I really recommend this book to everyone. If you are not a latino or chicano you will be able to enjoy a slice of my culture as well as the culture of chicanos. I would frequently show tidbits of the book to my friends. This book has the right mixture of humor, inside jokes, facts, and deals with some serious issues. A book to be read more than once.