Columbia Books

Collaboratively written by Theda Perdue (professor of history, University of North Carolina) and Michael D. Green (professor of American studies, University of North Carolina), The Columbia Guide To American Indians Of The Southeast is the first in a seven-volume reference series on the history and culture of Native Americans. This fine volume is divided into four major parts: Part 1 provides an overview of cultures, history, and key points of controversy; Part 2 is an alphabetically arranged compact encyclopedia of individuals, places, major treaties and more; Part 3 is a chronology of major events; and Part 4 includes bibliographies, museums, Internet sites, addresses of tribes and much more for the fascinated reader to further his or her wisdom. A solid, heavily researched, reliable reference, fun to browse through, and superb for looking up facts, figures, and history about Native Americans of the Southeast, The Columbia Guide To American Indians Of The Southeast is a welcome, invaluable, scholarly addition to Native American studies reading lists and reference collections.

A choice, concise guide to Asian American experiences is offered by Gary Okihiro, the recipient of the American Studies Association Lifetime Achievement Award and past president of the Association for Asian American Studies. The experiences of Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Hmong, Indians and more are contrasted in chapters exploring migration patterns, racism issues, gender issues and much more. Columbia Guide To Asian American History is a recommended pick for any high school or college collection focusing on Asian-American immigrant, multicultural, or ethnic group experiences.

This comprehensive and very impressive "encyclopedia" of contemporary Afro American Literature, also contains a bountiful index and copious bibliography that includes journals and reference materials as well as books.

Not only does this book examine, and critique, but it also acquaints the reader with various associations, such as the National Association of African American Studies, and also delves into literary movements such as the "Negritude" movement which originated "in 1930's Parisian cafes". It does not overlook Oprah Winfrey's Book Club, which was a major catalyst to the recognition and promotion of contemporary Afro American literature.

Although slim, this book is very impressive, and a powerful addition to the discipline and study of Afro American fiction -- presenting authors as well as their works, in an in-depth descriptive and informative manner that introduces the reader to much-lesser known authors whose personalities, as well as whose works, are just as thoroughly covered as are those Afro-American authors whose literary products are much more well-known.

This book is a worthy, unique and valuable contribution to the appreciation and research of Afro-American fiction.

Niewyk and Nicosia have given us an indispensible addition to the vast literature on the Holocaust. Due to legally required Holocaust education in some states, many people whose specialty is not Holocaust studies are required to teach about the Holocaust. The biggest worry in this is the serious possibility of the Holocaust being presented in a way that is kitschy, usually with no more important lesson than Santayana's trite witticism about repeating history. What *The Columbia Guide to the Holocaust* provides is a wonderful overview of the Holocaust especially designed for non-experts. While the text is concise and readable, the best parts of the book are outside the normal text. Niewyk and Nicosia provide several sections that make this book ideal for beginners in Holocaust studies and educators that must teach about the Holocaust: biographies of many important individuals, "location" biographies of the major death camps, ghettos and other important sites (such as Babi Yar), and an enormous annotated bibliography of books, music, museums, documentaries and movies, and internet sites. While there is not much here for the established scholar (though even they may find the extensive bibliography useful), for beginning students and especially for educators, there is no better source to have by your side when studying, discussing or teaching the Holocaust.

I'd come across this book while trolling through dozens of websites related to the Vietnam War (most of which are good; some of which are terribly inaccurate). With the perspective of 25+ years since the end of the war, David Anderson is able to put together a very complete look at the war.

The chapters are clearly written and cover major issues: background; maps; American involvement in the war; diplomatic attempts to end the war; and even the impact on American culture.

The book has a very complete bibliography, as well as useful timelines and a "Vietnam A to Z." Simply having all of the statistics on the cost of the war accumulated in one place is priceless. That may make this book sound dry -- but it's not, as Anderson cuts through to key issues quickly and even provides vivid descriptions of major websites.

Professor Edgerton provides an excellent history of American television, providing his unique insights as a media expert in an engaging writing style that is enjoyable yet scholarly. The book is filled with antidotes and critical events that tell the fascinating story of American's favorite pasttime. The book will be valuable both to those who seriously study television and to media professionals who create and produce television. American and international students and educators will also find the book especially insightful about the important role of television in American society. As a scholar and media practitioner who has studied television around the world for the past 20 years, I highly recommend it.

Apart from the Indiana Companion, there is no more wide-ranging or authoritative history of Chinese literature available than this titanic achievement. The survey is comprehensive, the information (as far as I can tell) accurate, and the judgements fair-minded and balanced throughout. Time and time again, I was able to find in the admirably thorough index obscure writers who were not otherwise easily accessible, and many of whom don't feature even in the two volumes of the Indiana Companion itself. Particularly useful features are the appendices which give the Chinese names of (almost) all the names and titles mentioned in the text. No one who's genuinely interested in Chinese literature, either ancient or modern, can afford to be without this exemplary work of scholarship.

All of the Altitude Superguide Books are awesome. Very informative and easy to read. I'm trying to find out if they write for travel books for the US. Best guidebook I've seen.

For those of us who would like to see and walk on a glacier up close and personal, and would also like to be able to drive to it, this map and guide gives you the information to do just that, as part of a road trip to Banff and Jasper National Parks, in the beautiful Canadian Rockies.
A detailed map, complete with contour lines gets you located and provides information about the Columbia Icefield and the various glaciers it feeds, plus hiking trails, etc. The guide gives detailed descriptions of the major trails, and also brief descriptions of backpacking routes and climbing opportunities. Also, information on where to stay, including campgrounds, hostels and lodges is provided. Then, descriptions are given of the Icefield and the Athabaska Glacier, which is the one which is close to the Icefield Centre (the Icefield feeds some 34 glaciers), recommendations as to what you can do there in a given amount of time, including SnoCoach tours and Guided Ice Walks, and info on Glaciology and Geology, wildlife in the area, and history of the Icefield.
Several color photos also make this map and guide well worth having to enhance a unique opportunity, indeed.

After wading through many articles and books dealing with osteoarthritis I was pleased to find a book that I felt comfortable reading. The author takes the reader on a virtual tour of this disease.Starting out with the progressive symptoms the reader is given information to gather before making that first visit to the doctor. This includes what questions to ask as well as being prepared for the questions the doctors will ask. The book is written in terms an average individual can understand. What a relief! This is a book that is practical and gives the reader a feeling of belonging. No longer that lost feeling as well as the panic that can accompany an illness. The author believes that a well informed patient is the best asset in managing an illness. The author doesn't offer a miracle cure. But rather he has included solid steps to deal with arthritis. This includes steps for those just noticing symptoms as well as for those facing total joint replacements. The author takes the reader through the entire process of joint replacement, including the decision to have surgery right through the rehab after. The author takes the fear of the unknown away from the patient and gives control and understanding. The reader no longer feels alone against the disease, but rather part of a team that cares. No matter what stage of osteoarthritis you may be at this is a helpful encouraging guidebook.