Washington University Books

Spenser's _Whirlybirds_ describes the evolution and development of the helicopter. Although Leonardo Da Vinci's notes and several European refinements are discussed, the book primarily concentrates on the efforts of four Americans: Igor Sikorsky, Frank Piasecki, Arthur Young, and Stanley Hiller.

Sikorsky, an immigrant from the Ukraine, is occasionally credited with inventing the helicopter. Although he did not invent the helicopter, he made many refinements. Sikorsky is still the first name in helicopters today.

Piasecki built a small helicopter at a young age. His company eventually became Boeing Vertol.

Young also got started with helicopters early in life. The company that he founded became Bell Helicopters, later Bell Helicopter Textron.

Hiller was unique among the four helicopter pioneers in that he started out in California, not on the east coast. He was somewhat isolated from the centers of early helicopter development. Hiller Aircraft exists today as a manufacturer of light helicopters.

Helicopters proved to be invaluable for the military, and served in wars from Korea onwards. Much of the onward development of these machines depended on continued military support. A number of commercial uses were developed too: crop spraying, aerial surveys and photography, air ambulances, etc.

Although Piasecki and Hiller developed small helicopters for personal use (like an automobile), they proved to be unaffordable for the vast majority of people. Helicopter "airlines" flourished (with Federal subsidies) in the 1960's, but fizzeled out about 10 years later due to high costs and accidents.

_Whirlybirds_ is long (almost 500 pages), but is well-written and easy to read. (It is helpful to have a nodding familiarity with aviation vocabulary such as "roll", "pitch", "yaw", etc.) I recommend this book for anyone interested in helicopters or aviation history.

This is a masterpiece on the four US helicopter pioneers -- Sikorsky, Bell (Arthur Young), Piasecki, and Stanley Hiller. Only faults to the book are (1) that it primarily focuses on the pioneers (hence the title), not the machines, and (2) he has nothing at all good to say about Hughes helicopters. In fact, it's pretty well damning. I think it should've been a little more objective. Also doesn't cover Charlie Kaman, who was also one of the early pioneers and still active today.

Whirlybirds is very well written account of the early history of the helicopter, and its pioneers. Filling a long needed gap in aviation history, this book tells how four men looked into the future of vertical flight, and turned it into a reality. This book is a must have. Jay Hendrickson

The author really took me there with him in his experiences. This is an older book, and I wish there were something more current like it. I know that things have changed since it was written. Also, being a woman, I would wish for something similar from a woman's cultural perspective and reality.

This book is wonderful -- it paints a vivid picture of modern Sampi, of both the landscape and the people. As well as the bugs and mice and smoke and wind. It is full of rich details and captivating anecdotes. It is never dull, never dry, but always beautiful and human. I loved every page.

This is a well written account of a thoughtful outsider's experiences and observations of the Sami reindeer herders. Dr Beach participates in the culture and gains insights into Sami ways and the problems they encounter. A great story of the realities and hardships of a culture under great pressure to change their way of life. The author did his research in the field and it resulted in excellent data unobtainable through other methods. Very enjoyable reading, I recommend it highly to those interested in culture in the far north.

A great many Jewish holidays and practices in their earliest understanding reflect the great innovation of Biblical religion which placed the emphasis on "historic events" in contrast to other ancient Near Eastern religions which stressed nature. As Abraham Joshua Heschel noted, faith is memory. The observances of Jewish holidays and of various Jewish practices ritually articulate theological ideas reflective of a collective Jewish memory.

That being said, one might assume that Jews and Judaism naturally place a great emphasis on the history of the Jewish people. Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi in his work Zakhor: Jewish History and Jewish Memory, however, argues that what has been understood as history in Jewish circles from the Biblical era until fairly recent times is considerably different that what the modern reader might expect in light of the importance of and emphasis placed on memory. Until recently as Yerushalmi notes, a general lack of interest in historical events that were disconnected to the theological concerns of the Jewish community existed, so much so that an interest in history was as Solomon Ibn Verga writing in the Middles Ages, seen as a "Christian" custom.

The seeming disconnect between memory, history, and histiography according to Yerushalmi is surprising given the fact that beginning with the Tanakh, an emphasis, or better said a command to remember is given. For Yerushalmi, the principal goal of Zakhor is to understand the relationship of Jews to their past and the place of the historian in that relationship. What Jews remembered, or chose to remember is the subject of Yerushalmi's quest. As he notes correctly, the actual recording of historical events has been anything but the primary vehicle through which the Jewish people have preserved their collective memory. Yerushalmi highlights the distinction between Jewish memory and Jewish histiography.

Herein lays one of the weaknesses of Zakhor. Yerushalmi does not sufficiently compare the nature of non-Jewish histiography during the various periods he addresses. While it is sufficiently clear from Yerushalmi's review of Jewish attitudes and the apologetically natured tone of many "Jewish historians" when introducing their works that general history was at best something interesting, but of little real value, the manner in which "general" history was perceived by non-Jews is a much needed comparison. He does not provide a view of how Frenchman, Spaniards, Italian, etc. understood their own sense of history.

Yerushalmi divides his study of Jewish history into four broad eras. The first is the Biblical and Rabbinic eras reaching until the early medieval period. The sources here include Biblical texts and selections from rabbinic literature through the redaction of the Talmud. Yerushalmi points to a variety of Biblical texts (e.g. Deuteronomy 25:5-9; Deuteronomy 6:10-12; Joshua 4:6-7, etc.) to note that while the Biblical texts are focused on remembering the "historic" acts of G-d's providence on behalf of Israel, they are nevertheless often connected to the lives of individuals in all of their fullness.

This reflects a seeming contradiction of the Biblical text and of a Biblical worldview and supports Yerushalmi's assertion that Jewish memory is selective, where kings and great events do not necessarily merit attention. This stands simultaneously with so much of the Biblical text that focuses on none other than great events and great individuals presented in historical narratives.

For Yerushalmi, the nature of Judaism's uneasy relationship with history is further seen by an almost wholesale dismissal of historical works after the writing of Josephus' Jewish War and Jewish Antiquities at the end of the 1st century of the Common Era. Yet here Yerushalmi does not address the very process of canon formation which in part might explain the paucity of certain historical events being retained among the sacred texts of Israel.

While he briefly mentions the three Jewish rebellions against Rome, he does not I believe sufficiently address the trauma these unsuccessful bids for freedom produced. Yerushalmi notes the almost wholesale dismissal of "the comings and goings of Roman procurators, the dynastic affairs of Roman emperors...even the convolutions of the Hasmonean dynasty...were largely ignored." The intensity and ramifications of the destruction of the Temple and in particular Bar Cochba's failed revolt surely dictated the manner in which many events were to be understood and remembered, out of a political necessity if nothing else. Here the significance of the events that Yerushalmi notes as being ignored may instead reflect pressures stemming from issues internal to the Jewish community as well as concerns stemming from Roman hegemony. He does not sufficiently address the fact that the "dismissal" of these events may lay instead in an agenda to place at a distance any memories such as the Maccabean struggle (where Yerushalmi notes, the Talmud places emphasis on the miracle in contrast to the battles) and other events of Jewish history that might lead to future disastrous consequences. Neither is the possible concern of Roman oversight of such documents mentioned.

The second era is primarily focused on the Middle Ages. The source material here largely consists of penitential prayers, fasts, the observance of "Second Purims," and memorial books. What follows in the realm of "Jewish history" until the early Middle Ages are largely composed of various works attempting to establish the legitimacy of the chain of tradition dating back to Sinai, or the challenge of "striving to interpret it [the history bequeathed to them] in terms of their own later generations." Here again, the lack of comparison with other contemporary non-Jewish attitudes on history are insufficient.

The third era of concern is that following the Expulsion from Spain and a flurry of texts written on Jewish history, many of which were influenced by the hope of messianic redemption. The last deals with Modern era from its roots in the Haskalah and more importantly in the rise of the "Scientific" study of Judaism beginning in Germany and spreading throughout academia. It is perhaps the last section which stands out as one of the most meaningful of Yerushalmi's book. In short, for Yerushalmi, the scientific study of Judaism and Jewish history has seen history replace Scripture as the arbiter of Jewish ideologies.

To understand the reason for the disconnect between history and memory, Yerushalmi contends that part of this may lie, in the complicated nature of history as drawn from none other than the Greeks, with Herodotus credited as the father of history. Yet the Greeks themselves appear to have failed to achieve a sense of the meaning of history as a whole. Herein lays, according to Yerushalmi, the great contribution of Jews to the subject of histiography.

The meaning of Jewish history, then, is Yerushalmi's principal concern. Yerushalmi argues for the inextricable nature of Jewish religion with memory, and yet its simultaneous selectiveness in what events it records. Yerushalmi argues for the delineation between meaning in history, memory of the past, and the writing of history. In contrast to the Greeks who were inspired to "know" if for nothing else out of curiosity, the sacred text of Israel establishes the religious imperative of remembering to the entire Jewish community. This I believe is the most important contribution of Yerushalmi's work. It is perhaps a simple statement, but reinforces the difference between "Athens and Jerusalem" on yet another point.

This book enjoys a well-deserved reputation as a classic in the field of Jewish studies. The author maintains that "Only in Israel and nowhere else is the injunction to remember felt as a religious imperative to an entire people." What follows is a brilliant discussion of the meaning and selectivity of memory in Jewish religious tradition. Yerushalmi then shows how secularization radically transformed the meaning of memory and history for Jews. Writing of the rise of Jewish historiography in early 19th century Germany, he notes: "For the first time it is not history that must prove its utility to Judaism, but Judaism that must prove its validity to history, by revealing and justifying itself historically."

This work has four major chapters each of which deals with a certain period of Jewish history, and its approach to Jewish Memory. In the first chapter Yerushalmi explores the Biblical and Rabbinic Foundations for writing history, and remembering it. This is the stage when the process of remembering is connected with the recording of, and participation in history.
In the second phase, the Middle Ages Yerushalmi outlines the major division which dominates the work, between processes of collective memorization through ritual and religious practice which are not connected with everyday historical happening- and between the writing of history which is connected with historical happening. Yerushalmi says that from the time of the fall of the Second Temple and most especially in this period of the Middle Ages, the Jews remember without remembering historical events. The 'collective Zakhor' or command to collective remembrance ( which he says distinguishes the Jewish Religion) is done without writing the history of the people. The history of the people is avoided. The writing of history is considered by Rambam a low form of intellectual endeavor. The process of collective remembering is done through the living of the Jewish holidays each of which connects up with some historical memory. It is done through Memorbuchs of communities which have suffered in the Crusades.
In the third period which comes immediately after the expulsion from Spain i.e. in the beginning of the sixteenth century there is somehow a return to looking at the actual events of contemporary history but this by framing them in world- historical narratives.
The last period Yerushalmi writes about is the modern one in which there is a return to attending to the events of Jewish history. Here the writing of history, what he calls 'historiography' becomes once again a subject of Jewish interest. And this as certain other processes of collective memorization are breaking down i.e. as the Jews are moving away from being a 'faith- community' in the fullest sense of the word.
Yerushalmi here does not go into the question of conflicting narratives of Jewish history. And the very interesting question of the way different kinds of Jews today construct different kinds of narratives of Jewish history as a whole.
This work has a brilliant introduction by Harold Bloom.
The work itself is recognized as a classic of modern Jewish scholarship.
I conclude with one small piece of Yerushalmi 's writing.

"When I spoke earlier of the coincidence of the rise of modern Jewish histiography and the decay of Jewish memory, I had in mind the specific kind of memory of the past, that of Jewish tradition. But hardly any Jew today is without some Jewish past. Total amnesia: is still relatively rare. The choices for Jews , as for non- Jewsis not whether or not to have a past, but rather-what kind of past shall one have."

This book blew me away. It is worth every cent even if all you do is look at the pictures. This book inspired me to become a geologist.

The study of Mount St. Helens is detailed and easy to follow. My friend got this book and now I am going to for a college resarch project. It provides the graphics and information necessary to get a good look at such a fantastic event of nature.

3.5.00 >! The title of this book is flushed stimulating to my constructive arrays thought interpretationals. >! Within effective dissolve i.e., the profound addressing to to emplode an sequence fort in examining memories about sports history. >! This is my mark to celebrate the existence of our the (GrEaT), baseball Player Mr. Vida Blue. >!

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3.5.00 >! The title of this book is flushed stimulating to my constructive arrays thought interpretationals. >! Within effective dissolve i.e., the profound addressing to to emplode an sequence fort in examining memories about sports history. >! This is my mark to celebrate the existence of our the (GrEaT), baseball Player Mr. Vida Blue. >!

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You won't find many of the usual right wing nut jobs reviewing this book, because it is very hard to libel documentary evidence. In law, we say "res ipsa loquitor," or "the thing speaks for itself." And this book has delivered the goods: documentary evidence in spades. If you don't come away from this book convinced that at the very least there is a prima facie case for indicting the US military high command, up to and including the shrub and Darth Cheney, on charges of aggravated war crimes and crimes against humanity, then you just haven't paid attention, or, worse, you are part of that portion of humanity--Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pinochet, Pol Pot, etc.--that thinks there is nothing wrong with torture and that, in fact, we should use it more. If that is the case, you will find plenty to warm your heart here.

This book is a great collection of the records of the Bush administration's torture policy. Seeing as it is a collection of documents obtained through FOIA some of it is redacted. This redaction lends the book that air of "what are they trying to cover up." This book would be great for research.

The introduction sets it all out in a nice brief synopsis. Thus, this book has little author influence as to opinion. It allows you to see for yourself.

This is a must have book for anyone who travels - esp on the adventure circuit of the road less traveled. Dr Sanford is travel doctor which are hard to find, who runs a health clinic at the Univ of WA in Seattle. He is has the latest information on drug protocols by Region of the world. Great to hear all those old tonics and folk cures are out the window thanks to Dr Christopher Sanford. It is a small book and could be easily carried or sent to fellow world travelers. As a NW resident, I was thrilled to have this expertise in our own back yard and a doctor who cares enough to help many people with this valuable book.

While vacationing in other countries can be a fresh and exciting experience, a sudden injury can make one miss the skill of American doctors. "The Adventurous Traveler's Guide to Health" is a must-have for travelers who want to experience the world as a whole and not be held back by fears of health concerns. Also containing valuable information on traveling when one suffers from chronic illness or other similar ailments, "The Adventurous Traveler's Guide to Health" is a must for any health conscious traveler.

Geza Roheim lifts Hungarian and related cultures' mythology from its hiding place, and brings it to light in an academic paper bound as "Hungarian and Vogul Mythology (American Ethnological Society Monographs, No 23)." His approach is scientific and methodical, and his arguments hold throughout.

This hard to find volume, as short as it is, is a valuable research tool for any student of Hungarian literature. Early Hungarian literature was not recorded, and so their mythology is difficult to pinpoint. Unlike the Greeks, and even the North American Indianns are abound in material to draw from, but Hungarian mythology is fragmented.

This isn't an anthology, but a connecting of the dots, how similar Hungarian mythology is to Finnish and others, but also how the archetypes of story are just as present as they are in other cultures. It is a mixture of folklore, liguistics and anthropolgy, with occasional looks at psychoanalysis.

Roheim cites as he can from the myths. He explains the symbols, themes and origins. His research is multilingual, as seen in his bibliography. German, Finnish, Hungarian and English sources are listed.

An excellent feature is his appendices of Uralic, Atltaic, and Paleo-Siberuian Peoples and Languages; The Hungarian Chronicles [discusses four early historical texts]; and Ugric Ethnic Names. These each shed light on Roheim's thesis, and

There are a few good texts out there reviewing and analyzing Hungarian literature after 1600, but few take on the task Roheim has.

I fully recommend "Hungarian and Vogul Mythology (American Ethnological Society Monographs, No 23)" by Geza Roheim.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

This brief essay, completed by professor Róheim just before his death in 1953, is a good source of information about Hungarian and Vogul material, since there are lengthy transcription from ancient Latin, Russian and Hungarian documents, not avaiable otherwise. (Róheim sustains that the Hungarians are identical in origin with the Vogul in Western Siberia).

However, the analysis of all these material, based on Freud's psychoanalysis, isn't very memorable. Indeed, it is shalow and without interest.

The book has 6 chapters:

I. Hungarian myth and Hungarian history, p. 1
II. The Hungarian origin myth, p. 11
III. The meaning of world-surveyor-man, p. 30
IV. North American parallels of Vogul themes, p. 38
V. Totemism and shamanism, p. 48
VI. Individual "double" - clan "double" - national god, p. 51

After the sixth chapter (p. 69), Róheim summarizes his conclusions:

1. Fragments of ancient Ungric mythology survive under the guise of history in the Hungarian Medieval Chronicles;
2. All these fragments are totemic origins myths;
3. The mythology of the doe, of the Milky Way, and the returning hero god who was also the chief of the migrating birds was the common property of the Hungarian and Vogul tribes;
4. A peculiar feature of the exogamous two-class system of the these tribes was the identity in name of one moiety and the tribe as a whole;
5. Dual-hero myths in this area frequently represent two tribes, or nations, or moieties;
6. The Magyars originate from the Mós moiety of the Vogul;
7. The representative hero of the Mós moiety is Gander-Chief or World-Surveyor-Man, and he is probably identical with the God of the Hungarians;
8. Analysis of the Vogul Gander-Chief reveals that myths are composed of two elements: a) the son in the Oedipus complex, and b) the flight and return of the soul, and the dream origin of the shamanistic flight myths;
9. Ethnic stratification of Gander-Chief: The relation of the Ungric shaman and the North American culture hero;
10. Dream origin of the myhts of the Mylky Way with the primal scene as myth motivation.

(86 pp.)

Wonderful vignettes of American history are illustrated in this book with brief descriptions and a picture of the archival document around which the story is built.

It's all here from the Louisiana Purchase to the Emancipation Proclamation to the telegram notifying FDR of the raid on Pearl Harbor to a photo of Neil Armstrong on the moon to the infamous picture of Nixon and Elvis (the US Archives most requested document I understand).

The format is a document and description to a page. This is a great book to flip through or to introduce the young teen reader to interesting snippets of US history.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Seeing important historical original documents that you would otherwise have to go to Washington, DC to see (if on display), was a delight. My teenage son also enjoyed seeing and reading about the documents in this book. Highly recommended for people interested in historical archived documents.

I bought this book from the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

I have been fascinated with Native American tribes in South American for most of my life, particularly Panama and Colombia. This book is so thorough in expressing all aspects of life for the Kuna (or Cuna) that I would almost say this is the only book you would need to learn about the Kuna. It truly is incredible in its information as well as its photographs. It is VERY well done! Bravo Senorita Salvador! Espero ver mas libros de usted!

I agree that this book is an authentic documentation of one of the world's most fascinating group of Indians.