University of Nebraska Books

It's nice to get a perspective on this time in history from a Native American Woman rather than the usual english male historians. Very helpful in my research.

Beginning in the mid-Nineteenth Century, Mexico City became a primary destination for the multitudes of country folk who were in search of better economic opportunities. The depravity of life for many of the countryside?s population, along with those from nearby villages and towns proved to be a compelling force in the urbanization of growing metropolitan surrounding Mexico's Federal District. The economic opportunities were a direct result of the burgeoning industrialization of the region, which had been aided, in no small measure, by foreign investors whom had held the welfare of the Mexican laborers in pitiful regard. Though the indigenous industrialists, artisans and corrupt politicos were predominantly of the same ilk. As the population swelled, the physical dynamics of the city were transformed. Advances in transportation technology permitted the steady growth of suburbs, while simultaneously feeding into a distinct stratification of economic classes along geographical lines. As the numbers of workers, skilled and unskilled continued to escalate through the early part of the Twentieth Century, a series of national political revolutions changed forever their relationship in the political power balance in Mexico.
John Lear's Workers, Neighbors and Citizens explores the relationship between the physical growth patterns of Mexico City during its forty year period of continued industrial growth, 1880's-1920's, and the formation of skilled and unskilled laborers as a nearly unified class of workers. Lear's argument is one of multi-causation. Some of the elements that force the reaction of the workers fed into the revolutionary zeal of the age. The preponderance of foreign capital and foreign industrialists which poured into Mexico during this period, certainly allowed this Latin American nation to move forward in the global economy, however, the cultural indignation that the workers suffered, both men and women, at the hands of the paternalistic elite was not unnoticed, nor easily forgiven. As the Revolution swept through the countryside, the workers repeatedly made attempts at labor reform through political and economic pressures, both of which were new elements within Mexican society, and both aided the working class in achieving some tangible reforms, such as a reduction of hours and minimal wage increases.
The book is divided into three sections. The first discusses the physical geographical developments of Mexico City along both social and economic lines during the industrial expansion. Within this context the divergent paths of the elite and workers are very neatly laid out; the reader yearns with great anticipation of the inevitably of extreme conflict and unification by the close of the second chapter, a reoccurring phenomenon throughout the entire book. The following section, "Political Cultures and Mobilization" is of sufficient scholarly merit to stand alone as an individual work. The sense of class formation amongst the ranks of labor, along with the impact of the populist political rhetoric and unionism in the solidification of this configuration is not just analyzed succinctly; Lear's suggestive, detailed narrative encapsulates a great array of factors in an economy of words. Of particular note is his treatment of the mutual (and moral) aid societies, his astute handling of the three great vices and enemies of the family: alcohol, tobacco and explicit sexualisms, and the overtly paternalistic and sexist manner of the foreign business owners and how the laborers, especially the women react to these unacceptable societal components within Mexico City. The final section wraps up the author's overarching theme, which connects the workers with the national revolution. Absolute consensus does not occur as factions of support develop along the lines that support no political involvement, the Constitutionalists, and the impact of the foreigners, especially in the formation of unions, though strangely absent is any real treatment of the influence of the Communist party.
"Workers" is a study in depth that confronts the role of the social reform movements in Mexico City that greatly parallel the Progressive era reform movements in cities such as New York, Chicago and Detroit. The common elements that all of the reformers addressed were the number of hours that folk labored, the consumption or over-consumption of alcohol (cheap whiskey in the United States, pulque in Mexico), "proper" familial order - a reduction or eradication of spousal abuse, and a real voice in politics. Where Lear truly adds to the great library is within his attention to role of women within this climate of change, though it could be argued that until the third section of his tractate the mention of women and their roles is at best cursory, with a few notable exceptions, which could be attributed to the lack of women within the industrial workers ranks before the Revolution. The image of the woman in the framework of an identifiable class formation that enveloped the laborers is represented both in text and image in other words - decisive. This book is essential for any that might have interest in urban history, labor history or Revolutionary Mexico history. Lear is an adept writer; his literary devices make this work a pleasure to read.

If what keeps you reading is plot, Wright Morris is not for you. If what keeps you going is a sense of longing and humor and an always surprising eye for detail in the most ordinary of lives, he might be. This is my favorite of his many novels about the people and place of the American Midwest in the first half or so of the 20th century. Morris was an awesome photographer and his writing is keenly visual. The stories tender to wander, as the lives of the people in them wander, too, as our own lives wander. There's a lot of loneliness in Morris, beautifully rendered, but always a twinkle of play as well, and a clear love for the people and the land. Morris is as much poet as storyteller, a master smith of phrase and thought. For example, this book begins with a line I'll never forget: "In the dry places, men begin to dream."Take Me With You When You Go

attention mike hittman please contact david andrews northern nevada paiute for the next book of yours. he has alot of investigations of the recent leades of the northern nevada tribes. good reading and i will bet a best seller! contact kay fowler and the special collections unr

I've read all of Mildred Walker's novels and have often wondered why they were set in Vermont, the Midwest or in Montana and how the author had such different stories to tell in each novel. Reading about where the novelist spent much of her life and with whom, it all made sense. I am anxious to re-read each novel, and compare my memory with the insights that Ms. Hugo had added about the circumstances under which they were written.

It was fascinating to read about about how Mildred Walker kept her life as a novelist separate from her life as a mother. And characters in her novels may not have been people she enjoyed associating with in life.

Thank you Ripley Hugo, for adding to my enjoyment of your mother's books!

Brandao tries to give an answer, why did Iroquois conduct so many wars in the 17th century. He says, that the most important reasons were these: to obtain captives (mainly to replace dead), get honor, preserve security or to revenge. Very important thesis of this book is, that economic motivation (i. e. obtain furs) played only minor (and in many cases no) role in Iroquois decisions to go to war. Brandao says, that so called "Beaver wars" did not in fact exist, especially in 30's and 40's of 17th century. His argumentation is often very good but not (in some cases) absolutely persuasive, because of limitation of primary sources. I think, that book is very usefull reading for all interested in history of North America in the colonial period

First of all I would like to mention what is missing in the Amazon advertisement for this book. The proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Yuchi chiefs for the support of their ceremonial grounds. This statement is found inside the front cover of the book.
Being of Yuchi descent I would like to provide a review of Mr. Jackson's book. Prior to his book being published there has been a very small amount of information about the Yuchi in print. If you are lucky enough to be able to find and afford what has been printed, it is mostly historical, the ways things were. Not only that, the material has very little comparitive analysis with the neighbors of the Yuchi, then or now. Jason's work is not only helpful in providing an extrodinary account of today's Yuchi but a very detailed comparative analysis of their neighbors. Something that I have yet to find with regards to Yuchi ethnology. Also, this comparison describes how their uniqueness does not support their inclusion into the Muskogee (Creek) Nation and that eventual federal recognition is only a matter of time. Anyone interested in native culture or how alive and well it is even today in the 21st century should take this opportunity with Jason's book.
I look forward to seeing Jason at this year's Green Corn Ceremony at Duck Creek and hope that this is but the first of his continued work with and amongst the Yuchi.

The tone and tenor of this excellent history of Alaska matches perfectly the subject it details: straightforward, lively, tough-minded, and sincere. She relates the history of the state from the first Russian fur trading stations of the 1700s through the most recent trends, including the building of the Alaskan pipeline and modern mining developments. Still considered a frontier up to the present day, Webb focuses on various "frontiers" throughout Alaska's history: the trader's frontier, the explorer's frontier, the miner's frontier, and others, including transportation (3 chapters), the military, and missionaries. Webb has a great feel for this vast land and for the people who have chosen to inhabit it; she obviously is concerned with the big issues, but she also includes the simpler human-interest concerns, such as what mail carrier Ed Biederman went through to deliver the mail in winter in the early 1900s. Her writing is vivid and the story of Alaska that she tells is interesting and informative from beginning to end. Highly recommended.

Written by the dying hand of one of the chosen men of his time. For any scholar of Grant, Civil War or Military History, these readings are a must. Grant's military genius was without equal. Had his superiors, early on, had his keen foresight, the Civil War could have ended a year or two earlier. Another great read is "Grant" by Jean Smith.

It is surprising that the most balanced and impartial view of U.S. Grant should be written by Grant himself. His style of writing is clear and sparse, recounting fact as fact and without lengthy editorializing. A must read for any civil war buff or serious historian.

I think this is the only real account you can get of the civil war. It's...Great!

This book really provides incredible insight into Grant and what made him a great general. In a plainspoken & straightforward manner he gives a recount of his role in the war and his military philosophy (attack). Unlike a modern autobiography we get nothing personal or confessional (not necessarily a bad thing). Any mention of drinking, or his dismal presidency are omitted and his family gets only a paragraph or two; which is fine because no one is interested in Grant's parenting or presidenting tips.

Although Grant doesn't blow his own horn, a close reading of his campaign accounts supports the "revisionist" view that far from being a butcher of men and Lee's inferior, Grant's victories (other than Shiloh) were tactical in nature, not brute force charges. (OK, there was Cold Harbor, but that was one mistake in a year-long campaign to destroy the South before the North lost its will to fight. Time was not on Grant's side.) Furthermore, Lee, Jackson, Johnson, et. al. always had the easier side of the equation, playing defense and disrupting the North's long lines of supply and communication.

This is also an interesting study on how an apparently unremarkable person find greatness within himself when he is in his element, and how a great general can fail as a president because the leadership roles are quite different.

There is a dry wit in much of Grant's writing which makes it a fun read even if you don't care for the details of his capture of Vicksburg and his eventual destruction of the South's Eastern armies. Grant does not shy away from describing the slogging nature of the war or his mastery of maneuver warfare.

I personally didn't mind the interpretation of a white man (Neidhart) translating Black Elk's legendary stories into a published work of art. The book was a very easy read and insinuated deep emotion and spiritual awareness. I higly recommend this book to anyone who has the slightest interest in Indian culture and tense relations between Indians and Cowboys (Federal Government)

Both Thomas E.Mails and John Niehardt have brought to life the true nature of the Native American in their masterly renditions of their interviews with these Medicine (Holy) men, both Fools Crow and Black Elk. The result is an understanding of the simple honesty, good nature and trust that initially left them so open to exploitation. More importantly, they demonstrated a sincere belief in God that the 'White Man' was singularly lacking in the early pioneers. Their beliefs ran parallel with the Primitive Church as established by Jesus during his ministry in the Middle Ages.Fools Crow

This is an exceptionally moving book for anyone yearning to know more about Native American spirituality. Black Elk was truly a man filled with the holy spirit. It reminds me of the book, Walking the Trail, One Man's Journey Along the Cherokee Trail of Tears. Both are highly recommended.

It says on the jacket of this book that Black Elk Speaks belongs in the company of 'religious classics'. Maybe so, but even if you regard his visions as indicative of a religious experience, the parts of the book dedicated to the description of these visions make for rather tedious reading. The real meat of the book is his decriptions of the last of the major indian battles at Rosebud, Little Big Horn (Custer's Last Stand), and Wounded Knee. Black Elk and his friends were there, and lived through those harrowing days. A must-read book for anyone who wants to know how it really was.

_Over the years I have read this book in the wilderness and in the wasteland. Every time that I have reread it I have come away renewed.

_There are just so many levels on which this account can be appreciated. It is one of the best first-hand accounts of plains life- from camp life, to the march, the hunt, courting, healing, etc. It is also one of the best first-hand accounts of historical events- the Fetterman Fight, the Wagon box Fight, Red Cloud's Treaty, the Custer Fight, Wounded Knee... It is also a first-rate autobiography of the deepest thoughts of a man who fears that he may not have lived up to his God-given destiny. But, above all, it is a legitimate Revelation from the world beyond.

_At times Black Elk seems to despair that he didn't live up to his great vision. Personally, I do not see this. He did what he was supposed to do. First, he brought his vision to his people in the form of the magnificent Horse Dance. Then, in his twilight years, he wisely brought the same vision to the outside world in the form of this book. This was too powerful and universal a vision to be confined to one people alone. Every part of it resonates with the Perennial Philosophy, the eternal religion that underlies all true Tradition- from the World Tree at the center of the people's hoop, to the certain knowledge that the things of this world are but a shadow of the true Reality of the next.

_As far as the sacred herb of four blossoms is concerned that he saw at the end of the forth ascent- that was the rebirth of the sacred tree from sacred seed. This book is that seed.