Columbia Books

This is a wonderful book-- for both scholars and general readers. Relatively little has been written (yet) about the history of women's liberation, and Gerhard's analysis of how and why sexuality came to matter to second wave feminism fills an enormous gap; it is sure to become essential reading. Like Dan Horowitz's influential biography of Betty Friedan, this book offers an important intellectual history of second wave feminism-- from early in the 20th century onward, and from Freud to Erica Jong; with a light touch, then, Gerhard is making many insightful points about the methods and sources that historians use, and the relationship between theory and history. And, not the least, the stereotype of feminists as "anti-sex" simply falls apart in the face of this analysis.

I teach US history, and my students have loved this smart and engaging book. But my mother in law loved it too!

This book does so many things well: it traces the intellectual history of ideas about female sexuality in pyschology and social thought, and it then discusses how feminists both challenged and used those ideas to make a feminist sexual revolution. But this important intellectual and cultural history is also incredibly fun to read. The chapter on "sex novels" is particularly innovative, and you'll learn more about the feminist "sex wars" here than anywhere else. Highly recommended!

My husband and I used this book to navigate the various anchorages around Desolation Sound and Discovery Islands this last summer. The decriptions, drawings, and photos of each area only cover a page to two pages but are very complete. The drawings illustrate the various areas one can anchor -- which was really helpful. We travel with a dog so we always looked for spots that gave us easy access to the shore for doggy visits. I would recommend this book to any traveler to this area!

I teach sailing and cruising skills, and the arrival of this terrific cruising guide is welcome. Beautiful photos and great graphic diagrams of harbors and every possible anchorage.

Should be on every charter boat, but often is not, so if you are chartering inquire.

This book contains all of the major (ionian mode) scales and all of the minor (aeolian mode) scales. These minor scales ascend in melodic minor form; meaning that the scale progresses in natural minor form until the seventh degree (tone) which is converted to major but then descend in natural minor form; meaning that the seventh degree converts back to a minor seventh (tone). A few notes worth listing are: The book itself is very light and thin, fitting easily on a music stand; it contains the encouraging words of Andres Segovia; it contains all of the scales in the aforementioned two modes; all of the scales are written in musical notation, allowing the beginner or professional to practice their sight reading skills; and all of the scales are written in ascension and descension. I commend anyone who has a desire to learn the guitar and this is a good resource to have. Perseverance, practice and most important of all asking oneself questions in exploration are what lead to mastery and creative expression on the guitar. A strong understanding of intervals is the key. Intervals are what form chords and scales and are also necessary for free improvisation.

This is about as simple as you can get. Eight pages long, including a one-page introduction from Segovia. The transcriptions of the scales are designed for classical guitarists, with major and melodic minor forms for every key. This is an incredible tool for learning the notes up and down the fretboard, and exactly what anybody studying classical guitar in a university setting will need.

With over 300 pages, countless well-reproduced color illustrations mostly from historic prints (printed in Italy- no surprise)and oversized pages around 10 x 14 inches, this book is one of my favorite "coffee table" books. But it is more than that. It is engagingly written and filled with information on the discovery of the Nile and more. I especially like all the historic maps reprinted in it. There is so much more, too, including David Roberts' prints in very accurate color. If you are at all interested in this subject, you will love this book!

The plates in this LARGE volume are absolutely stunning! If you are at all interested in the history of Africa, it will be well worth your while to get this book before all of the cheaper copies are bought up.

.......WE BOUGHT THE BOOK FOR OUR DAUGHTER WHO IS STUDYING..... ...LAW.....AND SHE FOUND IT ...WELL MARKED...AND INDEX ....SHE WAS VERY HAPPY...........WE RECEIVE IT ON TIME FOR REPORT SHE IS SUPPOST TO GIVE ON THE 14 OF MARCH.....THANK YOU TO THE SELLER......

Excellent text. Should be required reading of all law students. Packed with insightful essays from prominent scholars and practicioners in the field of dispute resolution. One of the most painless law books I have read so far.

Like many other good books, I'm puzzled why this is currently out of print. Kodera's work makes fascinating reading for anyone curious about Dogen's background in Sung China. A sterling translation of Dogen's Hokyo-Ki, supported by careful annotations and historical background material, this work formed the basis for Kodera's Ph.D. thesis at Columbia. Happily,it has the merit of being informative without ever being stuffy - not always the case with academic studies offered to the general market.

Rather more than what the title suggests, Kodera's work actually begins with an analysis of Dogen's background in the Buddhist centres of his native Japan, culminating in his search for the 'authentic teacher'in the temples of Sung China. The background of Ch'an or Zen in Sung China also comes in for assessment, and in fact, the translation of the Hokyo-Ki per se (a relatively short document), comprises a mere twenty-four pages, followed by copious annotations, an extensive glossary, bibliography - with the original kanji text. Minus Kodera's careful annotations, much about this text would remain obscure and the author's work helps to put it in proper context.

In this age of jet travel, we tend to forget the perils facing Buddhist monks who ventured across the sea in flimsy wooden boats - if needs be, vowing to 'bury their bones' in far-off lands - or risk being lost at sea, in order to acquire experience of the Dharma - and transmit it to their fellow men. Such, also, was Dogen's journey. Needless to say, the high point of Dogen's trip and mission, was his encounter with Master Tendo Nyojo (Tien Tung Ju Ching) on Mount T'ien-Tung. Depicted in highly moving terms, it was, of course, the defining moment in Dogen's career. Curiously, it seems that the crucial idiom - 'shinjin datsuraku' 'casting off mind and body' was in fact Dogen's homophonous reconstruction of his Chinese master's words, meaning to 'drop dust from the mind.' Be that as it may, this was the decisive encounter - for Dogen. Still, Dogen's earlier encounter with the Chinese 'Tenzo' or cook-monk, while still aboard the boat, was also crucial in its own way, the discovery that drying mushrooms for the community of monks, was no less Dharma-work, something re-stated by Dogen, when stressing the need for Zen-ki or 'total exertion' with the practice.

My only reservation about this text, concerns Dogen's rather jaundiced view of Rinzai Zen, in the person of Ta-hui Tsung Kao. Kodera acknowledges the infidelities in Dogen's account (i.e. the claim that Ta-hui advocated a 'dissolution of consciousness') but left it at that. Oddly, Hee Jin Kim (cf. Dogen; Mystical Realist) also raised the issue, only to drop it, leaving it unresolved. Prof. Yanagida Seizan - usually reliable, also ducked the issue (virtually in 'denial' over it) - attributing it to 'early senility.' Here, we must understand Dogen as a man of flesh and blood, rather than a flawless 'patriarch.' There is great beauty in Dogen's spiritual writings and poetry.We might also learn to understand him as a person, with his own hopes and fears. Hokyo-ki is part of that.

I was lucky enough to run across this book in a used bookstore, having only read brief synopses of Dogen's life in other Zen books. I had not even realized such a biographical document in Dogen's own hand existed! So many touching details of the master/student spiritual relationship are revealed here; both stories that are timeless in their humanity, as well as stories that reveal the unique character of the Zen culture of 13th century China. Though, the famous story of 'body-mind drop-off' is not recounted by Dogen himself, as I was surprised to learn, other revealing anecdotes are - such as Dogen involuntarily weeping whenever he sees his teacher, and the teacher himself commenting on the auspiciousness of that sign. It is a true love story, in a way.

Herman Pleij created a really thorough study of Cockaigne in an amazing resource for any researchers dealing in utopia, middle ages or folk literature. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. All the best to all of you.

Written by a professional lecturer of Dutch historical literature, Herman Pleij's Dreaming Of Cockaigne: Medieval Fantasies Of The Perfect Life is a meticulously researched and superbly presented history of the medieval fantasy paradise of Cockaigne, a dream world noticeably more accessible than the more exclusive heavenly afterlife. Ably translated into English by Diane Webb, this compendium of actual stories and artwork provide rich reference for the legend of Cockaigne; black and white illustrations add depth to Dreaming Of Cockaigne's extensive historical account of the myths people held. Numerous appendixes, a bibliography, and an index round out this scholarly, comprehensive, and strongly recommended study.

Shaw Livermore, Jr., who passed away in October 2007, wrote _The Twilight of Federalism_. His father, Shaw Livermore, Sr., wrote _Early American Land Companies_. If at all like his son, the senior Livermore must have been a wonderful person also.

Just thought everyone should know that the author of this book, Shaw Livermore, died, at age 80, at 5 AM this morning (Sunday 10/21/07) at his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was retired from the University of Michigan as Professor Emeritus of American History.
He was my friend and I `ll miss him.

Bernie Klein Ann Arbor

I gulped this book down in just two evenings. Now I am reading it again, much more carefully, as the wealth of material is simply amazing for a book of this size. And then the footnotes: these are a story in themselves, I would say. It is really very good that finally there is a well researched publication which not only dispels some myths but also factually shows what really happened. I love this period in history and for anybody interested in 1920's and 1930's in Europe (the consequences of things happening in Yugoslavia were felt elsewhere too...) this book is simply indispensable. I can only hope that he goes on and publishes more really soon!

A scholarly, balanced and thoroughly researched study, based on archival previously non published documents in the United States, Great Britain, Croatia and Serbia. The author dealth with a complicated, difficult, and complex subject necessary for understanding Yugoslavia in its first two decades prior to the World War Two, the Communist rule and Yugoslavia's disintegration. A minutely documented study with dispassioned conclusions.

Although The Essential Feature was published in 1990, it is still extremely useful, well written and interesting. I am surprised, however, that the publisher has not issued an updated version reflecting the changes that have taken place in the writing field.

Vicky Hay was by far the best English professor I have ever had, and many of the "tricks of the trade" she taught us in class are in this book. The suggested reading lists after each chapter are particularly helpful. I also appreciate the Appendixes, which include Basic Punctuation Rules, Twenty Rules for Good Writing, Useful Editor's Marks, a Glossary of Magazine and Newspaper Terms, and more. There is something here for everyone.

Vicky Hay makes writing a feature article understandable for the beginner. She takes the entire process apart, and leads the reader through an A-B-C approach to conceiving, querying, researching, writing, and spinning off feature articles. Don't be fooled by its ability to lead a beginner gently into the publishing jungle, seasoned writers will find her style and suggestions equally beneficial in honing their ability to make one topic and set of interviews pay, pay, pay. Hooray for Vicky Hay! The best "How to" writing guide avaible today. Her pointers apply to all genres of writing, not just features and newspaper articles. Read and apply the suggestions in this book, then start collecting clippings featuring YOUR byline!