Georgia Books

The mega class-action discrimination suit against Shoney's in the 90's appears to have been overshadowed by the better publicized case against Denny's occuring about the same time. But the flagrant and pervasive discrimination shown by Shoney's management toward its own staff is shocking stuff (Supervisiors were told to blacken the "o" in "Shoneys" to identify job applications from minority applicants). Terrific book - it reads like a detective novel and is hard to put down. Well-written and highly recommended.

P.S. Note that this book was first promoted at the top of a well-known commercial publisher's list, but inexplicably dropped before going to press -- presumably due to legal threats from an offended source. It's out of print now; get it if you can!

This is an excellent book written by a master referee who emphasizes the spirit of the game and the role of the referee in promoting fairness, protecting players and letting the game flow. Dirk Baay was a player at Ajax and has been a referee in Colorado for many years. He has an insider's understanding of the game. He presents the rules and shows how to apply them to help the game flow and keep it under control. He has a knack for briefly summarizing his advice: "Don't blow what you see, blow what you must." At the end he presents an interesting series of game situations and disucsses how to handle them. I have recommended this book to two referees who tried hard but just did not get the game. The book is a must for referees who did not grow up with the game and valuable for those did.

This is an excellent adventure story set in the hidden and occasionally dangerous woods of the Blue Ridge mountains. When it becomes a matter of life and death, two teenage boys learn that friends share much more than just the place where they live.

Just the title provides food for thought: Blue Ridge 2020, An Owner's Manual, reminds us that the public has a responsibility for effective stewardship of the public lands in the Blue Ridge. I also like the play on words of 2020--hindsight is 20/20, and if we don't take a hard, clear look at what is happening to the ecology of the Blue Ridge and work hard to improve it, we will have deep regrets by the year 2020. The human scale of twenty years is very effective. I'm 31--what kind of Blue Ridge will I experience at 51? As a local environmental activist in the Page Valley, I find this book is a tremendously useful and motivating resource. In one book, Steve Nash provides an overview of specific problems and practical solutions. His writing style is clear and accessible. If you care about the health about the Blue Ridge or want up to date information about the quality of air and water in the mountains, this is a book you need to read. This is one of the best "state of the ecology" books I've read, and it is particularly useful for its regional approach.

As I read The Bookbinder, I felt as if Jackie Cooper was sitting there talking to me. I kept wanting to respond--to tell him the things we have in common. I laughed aloud while reading some of the anecdotes, like the one about getting his coat caught in a newspaper vending machine, and smiled at others. A few brought me near tears. His book isn't a thriller, but if heartwarming and uplifting are what you're looking for, read it.

The fiftieth anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education in 2004 brought forth a plethora of related media. In addition to the tributes, there were also dismissive and negative revisionist histories claiming, for example, that Brown had no impact at all, or worse, that it actually interrupted and delayed the inevitable process of desegregation already unfolding in the South following WWII.

James C. Cobb (Spalding Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Georgia) responds to what he sees as distortions of Brown's legacy with scholarly guns a'blazing in this series of lectures presented for the Mercer University Lamar Memorial Lectures . In the first chapter, he makes quick work of the revisionists' claims that Jim Crow teetered on the brink of collapse by 1954. The second chapter challenges writers who claim that Brown's contribution to civil rights progress was ultimately less significant than its role in energizing white resistance to it. The final chapter argues that Brown and the ensuing civil rights movement accomplished more than its critics acknowledge, not insignificantly by allowing blacks the opportunity to embrace their identity as southerners. He examines the current trend of black migration to the south, as well as the trend to self-segregate not merely by race, but economic class.

His writing is clear, concise and engaging, his research rock solid and his attitude unabashedly liberal. I appreciated the inclusion of his personal observations as a white Southerner growing up under Jim Crow. And he doesn't mince words; in the final chapter he notes that dismay with the civil rights movement could be due in part to expectations. He writes "Many black and white liberals assumed that removing racial constraints on opportunity would somehow produce an unending stream of Alice Walkers but never a Condoleezza Rice." (Or, for that matter, a Clarence Thomas.)

This slim volume packs a wallop, and is must reading for anyone interested in Brown in particular, or Jim Crow in general.

As a native Atlantan who grew up in Buckhead, I read Ms. Barnard's book with great interest. While my initial reason for picking it up was the hope that I might discover some leads on tracing my family ancestry (which I did), I found myself skipping around in the book and haven't found a passage yet that failed to catch my interest.

Even though the story of Buckhead could easily be done in multiple volumes, Ms. Barnard has successfully summarized the history of the area in a very concise and interesting manner, managing to hit the high points as well as the lows.

The Buckhead area has grown almost beyond belief, today being almost unimaginably different from my childhood in the 50's. More than once I found myself wishing for the simpler days, and Ms. Barnard managed to help me resurrect many memories long forgotten.

A very satisfying book. Thanks to Ms. Barnard for writing it!

Exceptionally useful manual for all who deals with local government budget management. This collection of discussions can be used as a basic source on the formulation and execution of the annual budget. This book equally addresses the needs of public administration students, instructors and practicing public financial managers. This easy-to-use guide is presented in two parts: part 1 focuses on budget development, opening with readings designed to place the process of budgeting in the context of political economy, offering a review of budget setting, revenues and expenditures ; in the second part the authors discuss budget execution, cash and bebt management, controls (i.e. established accounting procedures), reporting practices, and acountability devices (auditing). Both parts introduce the reader to the variety of skills, perspectives, and concepts critical to budget management. Very reliable source of information about traditional practices and latest developments in the field of budgeting at affordable price.

Business and Project Management for Contractors (Georgia Edition)

This book entered my life during my 2nd year of college, and it opened my eyes in so many profound ways. Dr. Peter Cranford details keen aspects of life in the World's Largest Insane Asylum (in central Georgia), and offers you a tantalizing glimpse into a disturbing world not often discussed in mainstream forums. You'll hear amongst his fascinating diary, tales of mad experiments and desperate crimes, top secret asylum procedures, twisted statistics, and MANY shocking tidbits of hysteria. If you're interested in asylum histories and data, or human psychosis then this is the book for you. You'll certainly have a hard time putting it down! :D