Truman Books

A work of towering genius by one of the ablest historians writing on the Reformation today, Frank James does not disappoing his growing international fan base by writing a book of this outstanding nature. Every theology professor ought to buy this book

This book should really be titled 'Presidents at UNDECLARED War.' During the years since the founding of the republic, the United States has only been in five declared wars. During those same years the United States military forces have engaged in more than two hundred armed conflicts. It is not a new thing, Wikipedia says: 'The first United States military action overseas, executed by the U.S. Marines and Navy, was the storming of Derna, Tripoli in 1805 in an effort to bolster diplomatic efforts in securing both the freedom of American prisoners and an end to piracy on the part of the Barbary state. The opening line of the Marine's Hymn, From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli, refers to this action.'

This is a very interesting book in how it looks at the conflicts fought since World War II. It covers not the conflict itself so much the interaction between the President and Congress. It further raises interesting questions about how Congress acts in these cases. For instance in the vote regarding Iraq, Congress voted 77 to 23 in favor of the Iraq war.

With the current dissatisfaction regarding Iraq, it will be very interesting to see what happens, especially if the Democrats gain control of Congress.

Protestants And The Cult Of The Saints In German-Speaking Europe, 1517-1531 by Carol Piper Heming (Assistant Professor of History at Central Missouri State University) is a thorough and scholarly examination of 180 pamphlets published between 1500 and 1500 by religious reformers in German-speaking Europe. Heming presents evidence of the difficulties Protestants had in distancing themselves not only from the Catholic church, but also its many cults of saints. Especially focusing upon why the Reformation leaders so emphatically denounced the cult of the saints, and whether these holy patrons were expunged from Protestant worship without general protest among the Protestants themselves, is presented with an especially astute precision and an academically impressive historical insight.

Reformation and Early Modern Europe: A Guide to Research is an anthology of eighteen scholarly essays by learned authors discussing confessional, regional, social, and cultural trends in early modern Europe, especially 1500-1700 C.E. Each essayist draws upon extensive research and his or her expertise in the field; topics include art history; religious traditions ranging from Lutheran to Reformed to early modern Catholicism; regional paradigm shifts in France, Italy, England, Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands; and much more. "It should be recognized that cultural history does not always (or even usually) follow the lead or intentions of the cultural leaders or intellectuals. Important events often run directly counter to intent and expectation. Witchcraft historians have spent a lot of energy examining those figures who openly and explicitly opposed witchcraft trials... It has, however, turned out to be difficult to find any direct influence of the skeptic upon actual witchcraft trials." An excellent addition to world history shelves, especially recommended for college libraries.

If you are a fan of Truman Capote you shouldn't be without this superb collection. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is represented in it's entirety, along with numerous short stories and non-fiction pieces. "A House on the Heights" is a special treat. "A Christmas Memory" is one of the most beautiful prose pieces in all American literature. What makes this volume an absolute must is the inclusion of Capote's first non-fiction novel "The Muses Are Heard" - a delightfully funny account of a trip to the USSR with a traveling company of "Porgy and Bess." If you can find a copy of this BUY it, you will never regret it. This gem collection should be sold in Tiffany's instead of book stores.

This was required reading for a graduate course in the Humanities. William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (February 23, 1868 - August 27, 1963) was an American civil rights activist, leader, Pan-Africanist, sociologist, educator, historian, writer, editor, poet, and scholar. He became a naturalized citizen of Ghana in 1963 at the age of 95. David Levering Lewis, a biographer, wrote, "In the course of his long, turbulent career, W.E.B. Du Bois attempted virtually every possible solution to the problem of twentieth-century racism--scholarship, propaganda, integration, cultural and economic separatism, politics, international communism, expatriation, third world solidarity. After graduating from Fisk University in 1888, Du Bois took a bachelor's degree cum laude from Harvard College in 1890 (Harvard having refused to recognize the equivalency of his Fisk degree), and in 1892 received a stipend to attend the University of Berlin. While a student in Berlin, he travelled extensively throughout Europe, and came of age intellectually while studying with some of the most prominent social scientists in the German capital, such as Gustav von Schmoller. In 1896, Du Bois became the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University. After teaching at Wilberforce University in Ohio and the University of Pennsylvania, he established the department of sociology at Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University).

"The Souls of Black Folk" is the most well-known work of African-American W.E.B. Du Bois, a writer, leader, and civil rights activist. The book, published in 1903, contains several essays on race, some of which had been previously published in Atlantic Monthly magazine. Du Bois drew from his own experiences to develop this groundbreaking work on being African-American in American society. Outside of its notable place in African-American history, The Souls of Black Folk also holds an important place in social science as one of the first works to deal with sociology. In Living Black History, (p. 96) esteemed scholar and Du Bois biographer Manning Marable makes the following observation about the book: "Few books make history and fewer still become foundational texts for the movements and struggles of an entire people. The Souls of Black Folk occupies this rare position. It helped to create the intellectual argument for the black freedom struggle in the twentieth century. Souls justified the pursuit of higher education for Negroes and thus contributed to the rise of the black middle class. By describing a global color-line, Du Bois anticipated pan-Africanism and colonial revolutions in the Third World. Moreover, this stunning critique of how 'race' is lived through the normal aspects of daily life is central to what would become known as 'whiteness studies' a century later."

For Du Bois the problem of 20th century is problem of color line. Concept of double consciousness is looking thru eyes of others. Notion of authenticity what does it mean to be authentic? His idea is very Freudian. Du Bois says authenticity is a longing for Blacks, but impossible because blacks can't be authentic have to live another way. Cornell West says Du Bois is a pragmatist. He is connected to the Harlem Renaissance. Paul Gilroy says Du Bois is more connected with Pan Africanism experience of displaced Africans around the world. What does he mean "souls of Black folk"? It is a metaphor for spirituality. Book is meant to provide progress for black folks. Freedman's bureau had some success like schools. He had issue with B. T. Washington populist message of wanting blacks to concentrate on jobs not the vote, higher education, or civil rights. Du Bois resents Booker T. Washington as spokesperson for blacks. Critiques American materialism. Standard of human culture and lofty ideals of life, the talented tenth. Book is pioneering for 6 reasons: 1. Identification of hyphenated self. 2. Recognition of Black culture like music, the Blues vernacular culture. The soul of the nation itself, West says musically is key to text, it "sings" the "sorrow song" is motif of life. 3. Important to Harlem renaissance period. 4. Pioneering work of sociology and psychology. 5. Higher education is means to self realization. 6. Relations to economics drives development of black life.

Double consciousness. His double consciousness gives us a vivid picture of how tragic the racist discourse is, defined by skin color. Black or white thus it strengthens arguments that each race had unique properties thus polarizing us. His book gives us this understanding of our mind and self identity. If Blacks accept the racial divide they then deny equality. He does see a black identity and celebrates difference made real in Black experience. Celebrates difference made real in peoples experience and beyond our racial fictions. How does he do this, what is the key? It is music the "sorrows song." Those voicings, these songs speak to slow tragedy. He precedes each chapter with sorrow song. The doubleness of consciousness is extended throughout the work. They convey resistance and defiance. Last chapter how prejudice works on people. Whiteness is non race. The great chain of being, your place in society. Rise of Enlightenment human is now sovereign leads to systematic study of man.

Du Bois was investigated by the FBI, who claimed in May of 1942 that "his writing indicates him to be a socialist," and that he "has been called a Communist and at the same time criticized by the Communist Party." Du Bois visited Communist China during the Great Leap Forward. Also, in the 16 March 1953 issue of The National Guardian, Du Bois wrote "Joseph Stalin was a great man; few other men of the 20th century approach his stature." Du Bois was chairman of the Peace Information Center at the start of the Korean War. He was among the signers of the Stockholm Peace Pledge, which opposed the use of nuclear weapons. In 1950, he ran for the U.S. Senate on the American Labor Party ticket in New York and received 4% of the vote. He was indicted in the United States under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and acquitted for lack of evidence. W.E.B. Du Bois became disillusioned with both black capitalism and racism in the United States. In 1959, Du Bois received the Lenin Peace Prize. In 1961, at the age of 93, he joined the Communist Party USA.

Du Bois was invited to Ghana in 1961 by President Kwame Nkrumah to direct the Encyclopedia Africana, a government production, and a long-held dream of his. When, in 1963, he was refused a new U.S. passport, he and his wife, Shirley Graham Du Bois, became citizens of Ghana, making them dual citizens of Ghana and the United States. Du Bois' health had declined in 1962, and on August 27, 1963, he died in Accra, Ghana at the age of ninety-five, one day before Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.

Recommended reading for anyone interested in history, psychology, or philosophy.

I'm ten years younger than Margaret, but was well aware of her when her dad was President "Give 'em Hell" Harry Truman. After recently falling in love with her Capitol Mystery books, I wanted to know more about this talented lady.
SOUVENIR, her early life story, has been everything I hoped for. Being a musician myself, I was very interested in her experiences in the concert world. We had ALL heard about how her father was so loyal to her as a singer, so this was great to hear it from her vantage point. One joke we heard at the end of World War II when Truman fired MacArthur...the reason given was "he criticized Margaret's singing!" Anyone who would like to recount the war years, will enjoy Margaret's impressions of the various heroes, such as Winston Churchill etc. She writes in such a down-to-earth and interesting style...how I wish she had written her memoirs from her later years! So interesting to be privy to such experiences at a pivotal time in world history.

I was thrown by how fantastic this book was. The illustrations, done by the author himself, were incredible. The stories themselves, were brought to life in a way that made you want to go back in time to learn more about the characters. Both the "good guys" and the "bad guys" were treated with the same degree of research to make those black and white lines become a lot greyer, and a lot clearer at the same time. It was truly inspiring. Having read The Leatherstocking Tales, which by the way, were a real Snore-fest, Mr. Truman treats the reality of those times with so MUCH more vigor than his predecessor in the art - a boring Mr. James Fennimore Cooper.
Thank you, Mr. Truman.

This is the Truman book you will truly enjoy-- after reading the 5,000 others. Harry S Truman was a real old-fashioned communicator who understood the value of honestly telling others what was on his mind (a great and thoughtful mind) at any appropriate juncture. He also had the good judgment-- once he had dictated and reviewed a letter to some notable-- to at times keep a particular letter from the mail, and save it exclusively for his own files. Truman spared himself countless embarrassments using this discipline.

If you liked "Harry and Ike," you'll love Poen's book, which you have to search for. The work is worth it-- Truman was the last of the Mohicans, a president who believed in telling both the American public and those with whom he interacted his honest assessment of a situation.

When I studied at the Truman Library in Independence in 1985, two years after first reading this book, I found the original correspondence. It is as priceless as Poen thoughtfully put it all together.

Michelangelo's famous painting "Last Judgement" is arguably one of the most important works ever created in the history of Western art. It is also the subject of Valerie Shrimplin's strikingly acute and original observations as she careful examines a wide range of both primary and secondary sources employing a comprehensive methodology, developing significant new research, and reaching fascinating and insightful conclusions respecting the cosmological symbolisms employed by Michelangelo. Sun Symbolism and Cosmology in Michelangelo's "Last Judgement" is an impressive work of considerable originality and scholarship, an invaluable and fascinating contribution to the study of Michelangelo's work and thought as representing by a single, major, and enduringly influential artistic achievement.