University of Nebraska Books

This book is fascinating reading! Granted, because I have umpired some Little League games (and hope to umpire more), I may have more interest in this topic than the typical reader. However, I think even the "typical reader" would enjoy this book. I kept thinking that I did not want the book to end. A sequel would be more than welcome!

The interviews are laid out well and the reading is easy and entertaining. It is tied together well so that it does not seem like a jumble of questions and answers (it is not a question-and-answer format, but more of a prose format).

You get a feel for the game that you may never have gotten before. You get to hear a little about some of the great names of baseball (Williams, DiMaggio, Robinson, etc.) from a new perspective. It is amazing how similar all the different umpires feel about some players and managers. It certainly heightened my respect for the game, especially for the Men in Blue.

Every high school player should read this book. So should every college player or pedestrian professional baseball player. Men in Blue provides sound insight from the men who made the call on what makes them mad, makes them like a player, and how they make the rules fit the situation.

Gerlach provides the fan a better understanding of umpires. It convinced me to think twice before beefing at the ump when I go to games. Although written a bit like a text book without the excitement of a novel, the messages are clear and well presented.

Must reading for any true baseball enthusiast.

Larry Gerlach has done all baseball fans a supreme favor by compiling oral history accounts from umpires who judged the game from every possible angle. "Men In Blue" will linger in your mind for weeks, as one rich anecdote after another comes to mind. Umpires never enter the game for glory; most feel they are doing a poor job if you notice them. And to a man, they say that umpiring can be taught, but never learned; you either have critical judging ability or you don't. After reading this book, your whole impression of baseball as a simple game will have no legs to stand on. Not only do umpires rule, they make or break a great American tradition.

Clarence King sure knows how to tell a good story. Whether they are true stories, well that's for you to decide. But really, it doesn't matter. You'll read of him dangling from the edge of great cliffs and running from wild west bandits, all the while keeping the reader wondering how he'll ever live to tell the tale. Overall the book is a collection of stories by a man who loved the Sierra Nevada, for it vast wilderness was his playground.

This classic work by one of the great yarn-spinners of all time includes some wonderful descriptive information about California places and people in the early 1860s and some gripping, heartstopping tales about King's own mountaineering exploits. Even in his early 20s, Clarence King was recognized for leaderhip and intellectual ability. He served with the Army Topographic Engineers on the survey of the Western United States along the 40th parallel and was an intimate of Henry Adams and his wife in their small social/intellectual circle in Washington D.C. (See Patricia O'Toole's "The Five of Hearts"). He established his national reputation for being a shrewd, practical man of science when he discovered and exposed a stock swindle based on salted ore and fraudulent assay samples when asked to evaluate a mining promotion in Colorado. "Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada" is a non-chronological, semi-autobiographical reconstruction of some of King's time (circa 1862-63) with Josiah Whitney's Survey, commissioned by the State legislature to catalogue and evaluate California geologic and mineral resources. It is an entertaining and engrossing narration of one foolhardy, death-defying exploit after another. Like those of John Muir (another classic, albeit overrated talesman of the Range of Light), Clarence King's numerous renditions of his own hairsbreadth escapes from impossibly precarious positions by the power of luck, pluck and sheer physical prowess, while entertaining and enthralling, were made possible only by his own chronic rash foolhardiness, if not by tremendous powers of exaggeration. A better man was his fellow draft-dodger (the Civil War was going on back East all the while they were dancing around in the mountains of California, after all), William Brewer. Brewer served longer, harder and more responsibly than King in the Whitney Survey. Brewer also wrote a factually more thorough and reliable description of conditions in the young state of California in a series of letters home to his family in New England (collected as "Up and Down California"), with none of King's histrionics but just as entertaining in its own way. King's book does include some unique insights. One is his near-comic description of the "Piker" rubes (from Pike County, Missouri), rural folk residing in the foothills of the Southern San Joaquin Valley, which can be read as a precourser of all hilarious mountain folk descriptions, from Li'l Abner through the Beverley Hillbillies to Deliverance. But truth be told (rarely enough, one suspects), this book is mostly about the indefatigable King and his own personal exploits in the Southern Sierra. While King's literary talent was substantial, his writing (and indeed his entire public life and historic reputation) were seemingly unilluminated in any way by his own domestic arrangements. These included a life-long love relationship and common law marriage to a black woman, Ada, with whom he maintained a household including their several children. Not only did he keep the marriage secret from all of his prominent social contacts, but he kept his own notorious identity and true name a secret from his wife and children until just before he died. Still, under the constant strain of maintaining a double identity, he continued to support his family and maintained an exhausting schedule of international travel, geological consulting and writing until he died prematurely from consumption at the age of 59. (See Thurman Wilkins' "Clarence King"). You won't find any mention of King's real family anything King wrote for public consumption, or even for the consumption of his well-placed friends. Altogether, this book makes for a slightly less than satisfying cud to chew over, but it tastes pretty good the first time on the way down.

Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada is essential reading for anyone who both loves those mountains and wants to get a glimpse of life there before it reached the level of settlement it has today. Whether or not all the stories here are strictly factual, they are often both gripping and entertaining. Additionally, they bring the reader some sense of what rural central California life was like at that time.
Clarence King was a gifted wordsmith. His hilarious, politically incorrect descriptions of western characters are reminiscent of some of the best incisive commentary of Mark Twain. Then his descriptions of climbing in the mountains are so intense that you may even wince as you are carried along as he describes some of the most hair-raising brushes with death. Those who have been where King describes will certainly feel what King has written as they read along.
One reviewer, though entertained, seems to doubt what King says. I don't. Though there may be a little hyperbole in King's description of events, the reader should remember that at that time the average guy was far more physically fit than the average guy today. You had to be or you didn't make it, because every day in the wilderness was fraught with challenge and physical danger.
All in all, you could say that this book is a collection of bold tales well told. I particularly like the stories of his crossing the desert coming to California, of the hog farmers, of his escape from determined bandits, of his ultimate conquest of Mt Whitney, and of all the colorful characters he meets in his path both in the Sierras and at Shasta.
And though some might take him for a bigot because of some of his comments about the natives, remember that he saves the sharpest point of his pen for the most worthless characters of his own stock who abound in the California of his day. Whatever you think about what King has written, once you pick this up you'll find it hard to put down until you've finished the last paragraph.

Really I would rate this book at 4 ½ stars if Amazon would let us. It is a good book, but, at least for me, it does not quite make it to 5. I felt a little too much time was spent on the history of the missionaries sent to the Nez Perce lands. I do realize though that this was an important event that caused a rift in the tribe, so it needed to be covered. When I was reading the bits about the lives of the missionaries, the book started to bog down. I was more interested in learning about the Nez Perce than the settlers. Other than that, I thought the book was good, and well written. I will definitely be reading more on the Nez Perce in the future!

The appalling treatment of the Nez Perces is a sordid and shameful chapter in the modern history of the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Josephy carefully and meticulously describes the downfall of this peaceful and friendly people. His account begins slowly, but it accelerates with the momentum of a huge steam engine and thunders to a climax that left me in tears.

Growing up in Idaho, and in my youth occasionally hearing some of the stories of the tragic flight of the Nez Perce, led me to read several books on the subject. No other story in American history is as fascinating as this one. Many good books have been written about it (along with a few that are not so good), but this one is easily the best. It is the most detailed, most accurate, and yet the most readable of all of them. Be warned, however--it is long (700+ pages), and nearly three fourths of the book deals with events that occured prior to the well-known Nez Perce war of 1877. For a shorter read about just the war itself Beal's "I Will Fight No More, Forever" might be a better choice. But for a comprehensive history of the entire region and its people, this is the best.

No Survivors
`When my parents bought me No Survivors, I could not wait to read it. First, it is a very action packed book that has a ton of old western weapons. This book is a book written about the Custer Battle. Second, it is a very good book to read if you like old western gunfights and bar fights. There are a ton of gunfights in this book. Last, this book will work very great for a social studies project. The main charactors are Custer and his gang along with Sherif Pete Wilson. The main setting of this book is in the old west when there were lots of gunfights. The main events are all of the battles and gunfights. This book tells all about historic battles and the famous phrase "Don't shoot till you see the white of their eyes." I would recommend this book for anybody who likes war books.

This book was written over a half-century ago in 1950, yet the author holds the attention of current readers easily - something not easily done in today's hectic world.

A Well written document. One keeps reading the book and going back to historical accounts to see if John Clayton ever existed because the story is so convincing and so 'possible'.

I am an amateur historian and this sent be back to the documentation of the period (1860-1878) to see what I could find... I'm still searching the records.

Very good book - I recommend it highly.

I picked this book up in a hostel while travelling through europe, at first by the cover I thought it would be silly, but after reading the cover and looking at the first couple pages I still thought so. I read it anyways and I loved it. Its the true story of a former confederate soldier, who knew many famous people and fought with and against them all, including crazy horse, sitting bull, buffalo bill cody and custer. I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't know anything about the battle of little big horn or someone wanting to know more about the ogala indians. The battle with/against custer is a important part of the book but not what the book is all about. Its mainly about a soldier who becomes a member of the ogala tribe and all the things that happen along the way. read it!

Wonderful glimpse into history from a very bright young girl. Names of those long gone are brought back to life in this narrative. Highly recommend!
T. Addison

This book was excellent. Written through the eyes of a young girl growing up in Deadwood, it makes you feel as though you are there. I live in Deadwood now and it is interesting to actually see the streets and parts of town that were written about in this book.

It was very enjoyable to learn about the west in the days of Deadwood, the place, people and adventures. Ofcourse the real thing is not as exciting as the T.V. series, but I really enjoyed it because its what really happened.

Reading a book like Pitching in the Pinch will stir an earnest yearning in my heart. It is Christy Mathewsons ghostwritten account of his career in major league baseball. It is a classic work of baseball writing. Mathewson was a 373 game winner in his career and had a lot of great thoughts on the game. He shares insight into John McGraws management skill and he delves into the psychology of the game. You can learn a lot about Americas past-time before Babe Ruth revolutionized the game.This is a highly entertaining and educational book.

What an amazing read. It makes you realize that not much has changed since Mathewson once ruled the roost on the pitching mound. The things he say, the wisdom of experience he imparts sounds so fresh, so immediately relevant to the game as it is played today that it might as well have been written yesterday.

Particularly impressive is the idea that there are pitchers who are fabulous when there are no runners on base, but once the pinch is on (hence the title of the book) they become tentative shrinking violets. The pinch, Mathewson writes, is the true test of a pitcher's character. How right he is, in this true baseball classic. A must read for all who love the game.

If you want to have an insider's view of how the world of baseball was in the early part of the century, this is the book for you. Mathewson takes us there in all its glory. Well done

Recollections of a Handcart Pioneer of 1860 (Second Edition): A Woman's Life on the Mormon Frontier

As a Gr Granddaughter of handcart pioneers, I've wondered what could have driven them to such extreme efforts, but my ancestors left very little in writing. This book was a small window into a culture that is difficult to understand. I only wish she had gone into more detail. Her calm acceptance of polygamy, and her courage in raising 7 children in such a desolate place, almost single-handedly, leaves much unsaid.

A fascinating peep into the everyday life of one woman who, along with many others, braved the trail west. Her story is told simply and factually - it has the feel of sitting down with an old friend you haven't seen for a long time and catching up on the news. Whether you're of the Mormon faith or not (I'm not, but enjoyed the book for its historical content), you can't help but admire the hardy spirit of this pioneer woman in the face of death and hardship and rejoice with her in the simple delights that come along just often enough to make it all worthwhile. Though the title sounds like the book focuses mostly on the trail experience, it actually tells her story through the rest of her life.

I must admit that I am a bit biased, since Mary was my wife's great grandmother. A touching book, and does not white wash the trials experienced.

Books about Abraham Lincoln written by those who knew him are fascinating. This one is especially so in that Lamon was not only a friend and legal colleague, but during Lincoln's presidency, his bodyguard.

"Hill," the president-elect told him before leaving for Washington, "I need you." So he went.

Of special interest are two chapters:

One, that deals with Lamon's explanation of something Lincoln was criticized for. After a particularly bloody engagement of the Civil War, Lincoln visited the battlefield and during that visit, requested that Lamon sing a few ballads for him. (Lincoln was in the habit of asking Lamon to do this, as apparently, Lamon had a good singing voice.)

And another in which Lamon tells of Abraham Lincoln's prophetic dreams, including a recurring one he'd had ever since he was a youth that presaged Lincoln's rise to the presidency and his bloody death.

As I said, there is interesting material here, the stuff of legends. Well worth the attention of any Lincoln fan, or indeed, any student of U.S. history.

Richard Salva--author of Soul Journey from Lincoln to Lindbergh [UNABRIDGED]

This primary source finally cleared up for me what really happened on that famous ride back from the Soldier's Home.

Didn't one TV 'dramatization' depict Lincoln showing his hat around, with a bullet hole in it?

A valuable primary source.

I found this book to be interesting for its personal stories and perspective, but this is also what makes its downfall. Lamon was a personal acquaintance of Lincoln's and it is evident that he revered the man greatly. This gives way to much bias being placed on Lamon's accounts, failing to mention many negative things about the assassinated president. Lamon refrains from using opinionated words in much of the biography, but his personal opinions are sometimes evident. This book is kept interesting through his personal stories and the hand-written letters that are included. It is good as a resource about Abraham Lincoln, but take Lamon's opinions with a grain of salt.

Does anybody know anything about my grandfather, James H. Johnston, prosecuting attorney for Cooper County, MO who presided in the trial of Hobbs Kerry in the Otterville train robbery in 1882 or there about? Hobbs Kerry was the only gang member caught in the assault. Your feedback will be greatly appreciated.

A well-written account of outlaw Jesse James's life featuring such colorful characters as the Youngers. Full of interesting facts (did you know Jesse was wounded during the Civil War)?

Countless books have been written about the outlaw Jesse James and his brother Frank over the last 120 years. This is one of the best. Robertus Love knew Frank James, and also knew some of the bandits who rode with Jesse and the eyewitnesses who saw the crimes. This book, written in the 1920's, was the first attempt at an honest biography of Jesse. It still holds up after 80 years. Love has the ability to take the reader back in time to those wild days of the Old West. While some of his stories are more legend than history, this book is still a great read and essential reading for anyone with an interest in our country's most famous outlaw.

This book captures the true issues that all Caribbean people live with daily. I am using it in my literature class of 16-18 year old and they have much to say about the issues highlighted. They feel very strongly about them and identify with them. It is a great work and I strongly recommend that all read it. It is a great must have for your personal library.
Thank you M. Chamoiseau for such a great work.

This is as satisfying as a book can get. I had a hard time putting it down once I started. The narrative is spiced with brilliant word-pictures and dialogue that will bring smiles to your face. As well as entertaining, it unfolds the drama of life for the Creole in Martinique. Well worth it to pick up this book and give yourself a superb treat.

School Days is one of the most charming, delightful books that I have ever read. It is filled with bold imagination, clever and expressive language, and a beautiful artistic vision. The excitement and love that this book inspired in me was so strong that it took several days after I had finished reading the book before my emotions dissipated.