Columbia Books

This is a book that belongs on the coffee table of every thinking person living in or interested in the city of Washington. A masterfully researched history, it shows how the city's designers set out to capture the essence of America: a respect for tradition combined with the prospects of a limitless future. Streets laid out in a conventional grid represent the former, while diagonal avenues radiating outward, seemingly to the horizon, represent the latter.

Mistakenly, I had always thought that Washington's design was the brainchild of Peter Charles L'Enfant alone, but this fascinating history graphically illustrates how it evolved over the next century, influenced by the thoughts and writings of Henry Adams, Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln and Walt Whitman, among others. Nor has that evolution ended. A growing Metro that stitches the city into its surroundings, and an ever-expanding Mall that honors our cultural diversity and the many who died to defend our liberties, stand as a welcome counterpoint to the political squabblings that dominate the daily headlines. Washington's architecture captures the spirit of America, and Dr. Luria's perceptive history brilliantly chronicles its evolution.

Harvey describes in considerable but not tedious detail the factors that led to the past and present tranportation corridors in southern British Columbia, spanning a period from the mid-nineteenth century, into the second half of the 20th. Every citizen should become familiar with the shenanigans of the big corporate and government interests that retarded transportation development, and the settlement and livelihoods of the ordinary working people in this part of the west. This account is a good start. The author takes us into the stupid and expensive competition between the early railroaders and the steamboat companies, and the struggle to build roads across the land from east to west. He describes the immense difficulties in creating east-west transport links across a rugged land of north-south valleys, and terrible mountain passes. Given the love/hate relationship many westerners have had with the big railroad interests, Harvey debunks the legends of some of the construction personalities, including the americans J.J.Hill and W.C. VanHorne. He is critical of the short-sighted company and government decisions that led to great inconvenience and delays in development of the interior of the northwest that lasted decades. Clearly a fan of the Sternwheelers in the west, he dwells upon their charms and gives us a clear sense of the romance of traveling the interior lakes, and on the Columbia, Fraser, and Kootenay rivers. He gives us an implicit warning here too, of the dangers of applying yesterday's technology to tomorrow's transportation needs. Harvey knows his stuff, at least partially a result of his long time employment in government Public Works. He has included maps, fascinating photos, good chapter notes, a bibliography, and an index in this well-edited book. This volume is written for the general reader in B.C. and western frontier history, and is recommended for those old enough to remember nothing but dusty gravel roads in the west, youth who think highways and railways have always just been there, rail and steamboat fans, and anyone who wonders why the northern Pacific coast is the way it is! This was an excellent historical read, very entertaining, and hard to put down. Together with it's companion volume, "Carving the Western Path - By River, Rail, and Road Through Central and Northern B.C.", Harvey has written a very good 'popular history' account of the coming of modern transportation and its' enormous effects on settlement and industry in the far west.

Fred Becky has been know in producing the most comprehensive mountaineering guide books for the Northwest. This particular book covers all peaks from the Columbia River (south) to Stevens Pass (north) and from Yakima (east) to Seattle (west). Within this area, routes for over three hundred peaks are described by Becky. This Becky guide also has an excellent introduction that includes Cascade Weather, Special Dangers, Geographic Aspects, and Winter Travel and Climbing to name a few. You will be given enough technical and grade information to fully understand exactly what type situation you are getting into. Please note that although easy peaks are listed, this is not a beginners "how to" guide

Each peak is listed with the exact height and the first ascent history. Since most every peak have more than one way to the summit, this guide explains each alternate route. While most of the routes are classic mountaineering, there are many technical climbing routes detailed. Almost every peak is photographed and accompanied with some other type of drawing to give the reader more detailed instruction. With over 300 pages, this one of the most comprehensive guide books for this particular region.

For example, on popular peaks such as Mt. Rainier, a 9 page history and geological study is given along with backpacking and climbing regulations. 15 pages of route description along with 16 b/w photographs of the Mt. Rainier gives the reader excellent beta that will necessary on summit day.

After reading through the guide, the reader gets an idea how enduring Fred Becky has been over the years. About the author states, " His intimate knowledge of the topography has been gained through many years of personal experience, including the ascent of hundreds of peaks - many of them first ascents - in all parts of the range". Well worth the price tag, this book will pay for itself weekend after weekend. Hell, you may even end up quitting your job and bagging peaks! full time.

Negotiating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through the United Nations was not the only post-FDR contribution of Eleanor Roosevelt. This extraordinary woman was a powerful force within the Democratic Party and America until the day she died and left a legacy in her own right on issues of civil rights and civil liberties that finds voice even today.

Black's book focuses on Roosevelt's post-White House years and brings ER's domestic front activities and contributions to light--showing the long-term and deep nature of Eleanor Roosevelt's convictions. The book traces ER's growth in understanding of issues and underscores the courage it took to live her life in the forefront of debate and controversy.

This book should be read by anyone interested in Eleanor Roosevelt for the insight it brings and the truly interesting stories it tells. I particularly found the chapter on ER's relationship with John F. Kennedy fascinating and learned that ER withheld her support for his candidacy until he promised her action on civil rights. Ever the consumate tactition, she even rearranged the chairs at the famous meeting between them at Val Kil so she would be sitting higher than him.

"Casting" is pain-stakingly researched and well documented. Allida Black's interpretation of ER is founded on years of work with Roosevelt's papers and other sources.

I have not yet had the chance to visit the area this book covers.
From reading it:
This is one of the most comprehensive cave guides I have seen for an area giving maps, photos and solid descriptions.
The photos are excellent and make this book worthwhile on their own. A good summary of cave fomation and geology is included for many of the caves.
American cavers generally frown on this sort of book, but with luck the remoteness of these caves will prevent vandelism.

Author Loren Ghiglione begins his introduction to "CBS's Don Hollenbeck" by saying, "When I started this book thirty-five years ago"...and the conclusion to this lifetime effort is an absorbing, psychobiography of one of the most inspirational journalists of the McCarthy era. A deeply gifted and troubled man, Hollenbeck put a stamp on integrity that would be hard to find today. The times brought out the best of his talents and in a perfect storm, killed him. His legacy has long outlasted his relatively short life but it is all captured wonderfully by Ghiglione.

A native Nebraskan whose mother also committed suicide, Hollenbeck had a hard work ethic, a sense of purpose and a personal life that saw him consumed by three marriages and alcohol. How often it is that personal demons which can engage a person's genius can also have the opposite effect. Hollenbeck, while disciplined in much of his work, could also be rash and irrational in his outbursts, causing his many dismissals and resignations. While the first few chapters of "CBS's Don Hollenbeck" are more traditionally presented, the book really catches fire when Hollenbeck, having bounced around a good deal by the time he was in his early forties, finds a niche in "CBS Views the Press". From that first broadcast it's a rather fast track to his death.

Ghiglione structures the second half so that Jack O'Brian, Hollenbeck's nemesis from the Journal-American and possible igniter of Hollenbeck's suicide, is summed up in a few short biographical chapters. By not giving O'Brian a huge amount of "ink", the author reminds us that O'Brian doesn't need much exposure. He was a bully of the worst sort at a time when public attacks against liberals (and therefore supposed Communists) were seen as necessary patriotic moves by those who supported McCarthy and his tactics.

Hollenbeck held on, perhaps as long as he could, given his increased drinking and continuing assaults by O'Brian. While fellow journalist and friend Edward R. Murrow counseled Hollenbeck to ride out the O'Brian storm, it seems likely that Hollenbeck was already "gone" in a sense. His continuing referrals to suicide, increasing aloofness (although Hollenbeck was always a loner), the dissolution of his third marriage, his inability to keep O'Brian at bay....and, the booze...allowed Hollenbeck to paint himself into a corner from which he could not escape.

Ghiglione helps to balance Hollenbeck by pointing out that others of the time also committed suicide, yet many more who did not, survived and thrived... the point being that Hollenbeck should not be pitied but be understood. After reading this book, I do, indeed, feel that while empathy is certainly due Hollenbeck, his inner self was on a crash course to an early end. One of the most telling quotes (and there are many) is this one offered by his third wife, Anne..."he was a young man in search of a way to die".

As a narrative, the author builds a slow crescendo...the story is never hurried...and Hollenbeck's decency, courage and his reporter's eye for finding the truth is well-established. The sense and temperature of the McCarthy years add color to this terrific biography of a man whose talent and torture intersected with tragic consequences at the height of one of the worst eras in American history.

These texts are comprehensive and definitive. No question is left unanswered. New concepts are introduced in a clear, concise manner and all equations are derived from first principles. They are truly a pleasure to use as a student and as a teacher.

The service was excellent on this purchase. Book was in very good condition. I would recommend this source highly.

Savannas cover the majority of the world's tropical regions; the majority of the human population living in the tropics live in savannas. This book is the first major publication on the savannas (cerrados) of Brazil written in English, making the vast body of significant research conducted in this important biome FINALLY available to a wider international audience--thank you to the editors and contributors! The chapters are very well written and cover physical environment, plants, grass/tree interactions, fire, herbivory, insects, management, etc. The authors know not only their own systems, but are well-grounded in other work outside Brazil, making comparisons and contrasts throughout. The book is a MUST for anyone working in savanna research, management, and/or development. Prof. P. A. Werner (Florida USA and Australia)

First of all, this book is TRANSLATED by WTS Chan, it is, of course, a collection of the writings of the neo-confucian Wang Yang-Ming (1489-1529). I'm not a Chinese philosophy specialist, I am a zen Buddhist and martial artist. I found the book to be generally intelligible, despite my lack of experience with Confucianism. A scholar of Japanese martial arts suggested that I read it as the most important foundation book for Budo or Samurai philosophy, and it is clear once you read the book. In fact, a fusing of Zen and Confucianism might not be a bad philosophy for any age.-Nick