Southwest Books

It's too bad this book is out of print, and so expensive, because it's a most enlightening book for those interested in 20th Century China and the immense changes it has undergone. Presumably libraries are the main customers for this book. Yet while it's very intelligent, it's not a dry academic book, so has broad appeal beyond scholarly libraries. The fact that this book focuses on an often neglected region of China (Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Tibet, Xinjiang, Yunnan, etc.) makes it all the more important. It would be interesting to see the ratio of books published on the SE coast vs. the far West.

A. Doak Barnett, a legendary China scholar, toured these areas in
1948 and again in 1988. He paints a rich picture by interviewing a wide range of people: government officials high and low, blue-collar workers, peasants, a former labor camp prisoner, etc. As well as, of course, adding his own observations of the changes.

The consensus among all is that the positive economic transformation in these 4 decades is enormous, yet poverty remains widespread (it could hardly be any other way). Many told Barnett that the biggest positive changes in their lives, materially, came in the 1980s. This is doubtlessly true, because only in the reform period did the government give up its obsession with heavy industry and allow the production of consumer goods and petty retail market activity to flourish. But it's also likely, and one can infer this from Barnett's observations and interviews, that the capabilities for reform period growth were enhanced by productive capacity investments in the pre-reform era, which were underutilized.

The biggest current problem in urban economic reform remains the "third front" industries. These are defense industries that were placed in the far west for strategic purposes during the cold war, but now are unneeded duplicates that lose money, yet at the same time provide employment for many. The main rural problem is how to diversify (diets are much more grain-heavy/homogeneous than in the central and eastern regions) and raise yields in a difficult geographic and economic environment. Yields went through a surge in the 1978-83 period, yet gains since have been slow.

Those with an interest in China's minorities will especially want to read this book. For instance the lay reader might not know that as many Tibetans live outside of Tibet than live in it. Barnett discusses the history of and meets the Tibetans of Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai; as well as the many other minorities in the West.

It would be great to update this book with a third visit.

This is the history of every indigenous people in Bangladesh...which is very important for our future generation.

There are lots of great old black and white photos here, most dated and their subjects identified. This would be a great gift for the amateur genealogist or anyone interested in Oklahoma or Choctaw history. It's a thin volume, not intended for serious research or scholarship. I liked the modern photos, including poet Leanne Howe but not sure why the author felt compelled to include pictures of Reba McIntire and Lane Frost, neither of whom is Choctaw.

The only complaint I have is the author did not expand his search beyond Choctaw territory and left out Choctaws in urban areas and other parts of the state. A casual reader might think all Choctaw people live only in this small area of the state.

Recommended.

We are still in the 'dreaming of retiring' stage, and so it is hard for us to judge how practical or accurate the advice in the book really is, as we are not yet seriously shopping. But it does give us a 'ball park' idea of what it would cost to move to the Southwest. When we take our next vacation out there, we plan to expand our 'dreaming', using this book, to scope out some of the communities recommended in the book as affordable vibrant retirement options.

Part of a series developed by World Book Inc. several decades ago for young people, these books have evolved into a rich storehouse of information for anyone of any age who enjoys learning the Christmas history, stories, native Christmas songs, Christmas crafts, and holiday recipes of many nations.

One of the highlights of "Christmas in the American Southwest" is the chapter that tells of the blend of traditions that have arrived there from "the old country."

The book is richly illustrated with full-color photos. Two unusual southwest carols with piano arrangements are "Cradle Song" and "From Royal Jerusalem." On the acknowledgments page, it lists Todd Smith for music so I'm guessing he's the composer of the carols.

Recipes in the book include Southwest Black Bean Soup, Margarita Chicken, and Texas Pecan Pie.

Collect the whole series for your home library and re-read them every December.

This book is a collection of short stories, excerpts from novels and non-fiction compiled with the common appreciation for the ancient city of Lahore. It seems as though all Lahoris share a common culture and that was apparent when many of the authors reiterated common cultural nuances of the people, sites to visit, foods, and famous artists, that I was very familiar with from the stories that I had been told time and time again from family members who have lived in Lahore. I definitely recommend this book to those who have roots in this city, but also for those who don't know the cultural significance of this ancient city. Also, I would especially recommend it to those who have not ventured to the old city of Lahore (fortified by the Mughals), which is essentially the heart of the city and where to this day craftsmen practice their craft that has been passed on since the Mughal Empire. The collection is intelligently separated into sections by editor Bapsi Sidwha, a quintessential Lahori, and contains articles from many very prominent Lahoris.

Much on recruitment of men from California and Otto Mears Battle of Glorita Pass etc. . 214 pp. Wel researched, with heavily annotated footnotes and index.

If you've read some of my reviews or looked at some of my guides, then you know cooking is a big part of my life. My hubby Dub loves good food and I love to cook it. I am always on the lookout for a good cookbook, always looking for something different. I've got quite a cookbook library and I spend a lot of time poring over recipes, altering them, making them better, sometimes not. Cooking is an art.

So when I stumbled upon this book the other day I was really impressed. From the "Home Made Flower Tortilla" recipe on page 34 to the "Powwow Posole" on page 69, you'll find plenty of recipes your little chef can whip up.

Not only is there a nice little Cody Coyote story here, but the recipes will help your child become a pretty good Southwest Cook and who doesn't like Southwestern, Mexican and Native American cooking. If you've got a girl at home (or a boy) who likes to cook, then I can't recommend this darling cookbook for kids enough. Three cheers for Cody Coyote.

Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

The totally accessible writing style makes the experience one of sitting down with an expert who is also a friend! The photographs are artfully composed. This handbook is loaded with information helpful for beginners and/or anyone who cares about this great, indigenous art form.

As you would expect, "Colors of the Navajo" is full of rich, color illustrations. Each page focuses on one color, much like an ABC book for colors. The illustrations on each page are predominantly in the color being described. The text beautifully teaches about one aspect of the Navajo World through each color. For example, "Turquoise" is used to share information about the history of silversmithing and the creation of jewelry with turquoise stones. "Red" is used to share the beliefs about sacred red ants and the use of sandpaintings in healing ceremonies. Although it appears to be presented in a simple form, the rich color illustrations will hold a child's attention long enough to read or listen to the rich historical and cultural information being given.