Washington University Books

This is an excellent book for those concerned about art in Christian and African forms. It gives concise backgound information on everything from goldsmithing to painting to textiles. It shows the rich history of a country and culture that was never colonized by a European power. I recommend this book for anyone who wants a different angle on art, culture and Africa.

This book is fascinating but somewhat over-written. Cantwell started out his research by working on a history of the Festival of American Folklife. When this project was curtailed due to foreseen circumstances, he reworked his research into a review and critique of the festival. The book examines the festival in terms of ways in which participants, performers, producers, audience members, and others in the cast of characters act out their various roles on the mall in Washington DC. Cantwell focuses his study on the idea that the festival provides a way to break stereotypes about other people. He develops his argument to emphasize that stereotyping can involve a range of factors including arbitration of meanings as well as enagements with "the other." Throughout the book, he makes deep inquiries into the salience of stereotyping within American history and culture. The book is best when Cantwell writes interpretive descriptions of what he observed at the festival and what he has researched in archives and libraries. At times, however, the bulky theoretical apparatus and the over-blown jargon detracts from the rich, sensitive insights that the writer makes about American (folk)life. Despite the opaqueness of many sections, this book is an amazing study of festivity in American life.

"guud san glans, Robert Davidson" is the full name of a contemporary Haida artist whose work was exhibited at Reed College in 1991. His work is in the Haida tradition: totem poles, but with modern techniques. For example, traditional totem poles were hollowed out, but many of his are in the round, meant to be self standing. Very attractive and desirable art, with cultural significance as well.

Carlos Schwantes, Pacific Northwest Historian at University of Idaho, and G. Thomas Edwards, American West Historian at Whitman University have co-edited this valuable book. Experiences in a Promised Land explores topics related to the states of Washington and Oregon,from the time of discovery to the modern age. Twenty-three scholarly articles in the book cover a wide range of subjects, including American Indians, women in the West, labor, and the environment. Six of the essays were written specifically for this project; the others have been reprinted from journals. With the exception of a few old classics, the collection of articles represents current scholarship of the region, and a conscious effort to move past the traditional reliance on political and ecoomic history,

An excellent, in-depth book that reads very well. It gives a wonderful narration and visual on every painting in this special collection. I was fortunate enough to visit the museum in Washington D.C. and see the actual works of art. It was an awesome show and the book follows suit. A very worthwhile book for the artist, student and those who just enjoy art!

In this book, Garver recounts the events that led to the 1996 missile crisis between Taiwan and China and explains the significance it has to the U.S. He begins by explaining how U.S.-PRC relations underwent increased uncertainty and instability due to the emergence of a democratic Taiwan. Taiwan's abolishment of martial law in 1987 allowed it to gain sympathy from other nations. This factor, reinforced by Taiwan's growing economic influence, allowed for it to expand its participation in international society and gradually drift away from China. China, on the other hand, faced growing international contempt due to the Tiananmen massacre. Furthermore, the Chinese government felt that its aspirations to rise as a world power was being thwarted by the U.S., as it believed that the U.S. was stopping China's growth through economic pressure and an excessive focus on human rights. The political and economic growth of Taiwan, coupled by China's belief that the U.S. was supporting such development, eventually prompted China to engage in large-scale military exercises geared towards Taiwan. The first wave occurred in 1995, during Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui's visit to Cornell University, and the second wave occurred during Taiwan's first presidential election in 1996. The U.S. took a hard line on such actions, as it dispatched two aircraft carriers from the Persian Gulf to ensure that tensions did not escalate in the Taiwan Strait.

Given the ambiguous position the U.S. has taken on the Taiwan issue, Garver believes that the 1996 crisis did assist in answering some critical questions about U.S. policy and its underlying intentions. It indicates that at least under certain circumstances, in the case of a Chinese attack, the U.S. will provide a degree of protection to Taiwan. The U.S. stance will increase the costs of China to employ military means to achieve unification, and will serve as an additional factor China must consider before it engages in such a war. What Garver cannot predict, however, is the U.S. response in the case that Taiwan recklessly provokes China and declares independence.

The author of this book, an internationally acclaimed theoretical physicist, desires that the public develop a better understanding of nuclear weapons and policy and offers his book as a tool for learning. He discusses the moral issues surrounding nuclear war, proposals in nuclear disengagement, and the importance of a public constituency that will thoughtfully and carefully address concerns related to nuclear weapons and policy.

False Witness is the story of Prof. Melvin Rader¹s experiences as a target of the Washington State Legislature¹s Committee on Un-American Activities in 1948. In his own words, Rader vividly describes the tactics and procedures used by Albert Canwell and others in this ³investigation². Although eventually able to clear his name, Rader¹s chronicle reveals the civil rights violations which led to the dismissal of three University of Washington professors, punishments for three more, and the abandonment of ³due process² in the rush to find and punish ³Communists². A short, easy, informative read.

Family of Strangers was a delight to read, especially after having hosted one of its authors, Mr Howard Droker, at our library. The book is a product of extensive research and very well done. Having been to many places in Washington and having come across several of the facts cited in this book, it brought the information to life. I especially enjoyed reading about the parts dealing with Seattle and its surrounding areas but throughout the book I had the sense that more could have been added. It seemed to present a brief overview of the many different areas in the state where development was affected in some way by the Jewish settlers. Though overall the book is a greatly needed addition to the collection of historical books on Washington state, it lacks the excitement of showing rather than telling. Nevertheless, as a whole it was an eye-opener and did present some information I had never seen before such as the Home Colony period and the existence of congregations in places like Aberdeen and the fact that there was a Jewish mayor in Port Townsend. This book should be in every library's history and/or Judaica section.

Dick Bakken's poetry ranges from the classical to the humorous oral to confessional ... and he makes each style work for the material contained within it.

"Yes I Am!" begins with a question and non-answer "Are you a mouse / or a man? Yes / I am. Yes I am." which transforms into joyous exuberance which transforms into sexual slang which transforms into nature-poet-laughter. This broad range of subject matter works in the playful, associative style of the poem.

"The Necklace of Seeds" begins "From her chamber Su Ch'in" - each of the semi-independent 5 line verses retains a flavour of well-translated Chinese poetry with subtle hints that the poem is contemporary American.

"Canticle For Her Bedroom" is a contemporary litany repeating "bless" in broken syntax. The ability to select the concrete and a perfect control of line breaks is highlighted in this style: "now only for Bill yes o bless / her white hands dropping combs bracelets rings / white blouse white".

"Adam's Poems" is a conversation between God and Adam with a surprising play on language and expectations.

The remainder of the thirty-eight poems in this collection are similarly diverse. Even the poems that did not speak to me required that I recognize the skill with which it was written.