Massachusetts Books

This collection of essays has a rather tight focus: it was compiled to mark the centennial of the "Shaw Memorial" in Boston by examining the events which inspired that sculpture, how the artist joined other media in celebrating the courage of black soldiers and their white companions, and how the saga of the 54th has moved out of Boston to take on a national life since the Civil War and especially since 1897. Thus the various essays present a nuanced picture of a widening cultural movement. Especially in the past half-century, black contributions to our national life have stepped forward to take their rightful place in our national consciousness, though much remains to be found out and held up to American society. Hopefully this volume marks the beginning of a national pride in which all can celebrate what blacks have achieved (generally at dreadful personal cost). I would have been interested in learning more about the poetry and fiction this regiment--and "the Shaw," its memorial--have inspired over the past 140 years. Whether they're wonderful or dreadful (and there have been plenty of both), stories and poems also demonstrate how our consciousness of black achievement has developed. We need all the help we can get, to learn from the past and move beyond it, but this book is a good start.`

I was sent jeffs book as a gift along with other items I must honestly say what a fantastic read it is too. the insight to the hous is superb the invaluable tying and usage descriptions are second to non although I have never been to the states reading jeffs book you can actually imagine being threr

thanks jeff a really treasured gift

I first read this book 25 years ago. I borrowed it from a friend at school and was heart broken when I had to return it. Even as an ignorant 15 yr old, I realised that this book was important. I have been looking for my own copy ever since and am so pleased with this new release.

If you are in any way interested in history, expecially from a womans point of view, this is the book for you. It never occured to me (as a 15 yr old) that women played a role in history until I read this book. Mind you, I attended a private girls school and I still had no idea that history could be relayed from the perspective of a woman; a migrant; a law breaker; you name it....this book covers all the gaps and presents a womans/migrants/law breakers point of view of New York in the 20's, 30's and 40's.

Most importantly, this book is an autobiography, so much more personal, warm and authentic. I really came to like Polly Adler and I truly admired her guts and her honesty.

25 years later, this book is a little more tame than I remember. I was outraged by the goings on when I first read it. Nonetheless, it is still powerful and dare I say it again, important.

This is possibly the best down-home earthy style book I've read about the Vietnam Conflict. It is heartwrenching and true, and something you'll not soon forget. I'm sorry that it has fallen out of print, because it deals with an issue no one wants to talk about: the war we lost, and the stashing of our veterans out of public view.

This is a poignant story, a window into the world of a "Negro boy" growing up in the White college town of Williamstown in the 1920's and 30's. What I like most about the book is that it is from such a personal point of view. Oscar Greene's vivid memories of his boyhood bring us back with him to that time. As he encounters life, we witness his inner reactions to the events that affected him. This engages the reader and conveys more about what life was like back then than could be described otherwise. I highly recommend this book.

This book is a marvel in its simplicity. Children make a connection between the past and the present through Stemple's photographs while Yolen's clear language allows for comparisions in lifestyles. After reading the book, you wiil find yourself making observations of buildings in your community and wondering about their stories.

Bunting's book is definitive, scholarly yet readable. He defines various architectural features, as well as outlining technological and cost elements, of representative 'mansions/townhouses' built in post civil war Boston. It is fascinating. I found it best read through once for the total picture then used as a selective reference (for example: the intersection of the changes in heating technology on design). Photos are provided to illustrate points made.

Given the recent interest in Harvard sparked by the women in science controversy, it seems many people are eager to learn more about the world's leading institution of higher learning (according to some, anyway) Because of the power the name Harvard commands, this attention is a good thing, and long overdue. How Harvard Rules is a collection of essays all by current and former Harvard insiders with tales to tell--the kinds of tales Harvard would not willingly make public itself. The tone of the volume is indeed critical, but these are not screeds--they rely much less on opinion than they do on straight history and facts. The lesson is this: we cannot afford to take for granted the benign nature of academic institutions. And not because the elite among them contribute to any kind of left-wing brainwashing of our youth--that's pure hogwash. Harvard is a revolving door for the wealthy and powerful, and as such does more than almost any single organization to validate the machinations of the world's rulers. Under a guise of books and ivy lies a corporation dealing in the joint commodities of knowledge and power. This book is a great place to start learning not just about Harvard per se, but the complex web of power and influence that it is essential to unravel to get at the truth about the way our world works. Get this book today!

This is one of three Paul Wellstone books I bought, and am I glad I did. The other two, which I am reading, and will review later are, The Conscience Of A Liberal and Politics the Wellstone Way. Each is a MUST read in my opinion. And here is why. Let me say that the author doesn't sugar coat what happened and he shows warts and all of those whom he worked for and how this helped people change and succeed.

In How the Rural Poor Got Power -Narrative of a Grass Roots Organizer the late Senator writes back in the 70's long before he ran and successfully was elected by the good people of the state of Minnesota. It begins in the early seventies in chapter 1 titled The Struggle for Recognition, in Rice County located directly south and adjacent to the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

He lays out in great detail the economics of the area, the make up of the area by age, marriage, unemployment and under employment etc., and how he helped the poor organize into a group called Organization for a Better Rice County and the hell, literally they had to go thru, the insults the powers that be thru at them and how they were beaten up so many times, but never ever gave up, and in the end, succeeded in so many ways.

How sad it was to read of so many hard working poor and WW2 veterans who lived in horrid housing, had no public assistance what so ever in the county and the mistreatment those who were qualified for medical assistance, like the family with the child with cancer who were given the run around and even targeted for harassment.

Or in Chapter 2 titled Welfare Rights of OBRC President Therese Van Zuilen who received notice from the welfare department that her family was no longer eligible for food commodities and medical assistance, because the welfare department had taken upon itself to price her home as more expensive than it was. And then how the same welfare department played fast and loose and attempted to deprive her of due process and how when she showed up the next day for the hearing, which under the law would have required a ten day notice of hearing, the state welfare official was annoyed by the situation and called a halt to the meeting.

The book is rich with a journal like lay out of how these people, step by step and some stumbles, succeeded starting at the local level and moving on up to the state house and Governor, to make Minnesota the progressive and humane state it became. And an example of how a state should care for those who simply need some assistance to keep from drowning. And these were not you conservative minded stereotypes of bum and lazy people, but the elderly who lived with no heat and often no indoor plumbing. Married couples who both worked and had to rent, but the many landlords in the county along with the bigger businesses, used scare tactics to keep good honest, patriotic citizens down.

Its a book that is as powerful and useful in 2006 as it was in the 1970's when first written, because its a call to arms, those who are disenfranchised and being held down by certain people in elected office and on certain media outlets who simply dislike with a passion the idea that society owes even crumbs to those in need. So much for being 'pro life'.

This is a valuable book (resource) for budding entrepreneurs. It seems to try to cover all the bases for starting a small business, but it can't do them all well in the space available between its covers. The book is only 288 pages long. If you are in the planning stages of starting a small business, then I highly recommend you get a copy of this book. Read it, study it, and outline it. There are helpful checklists to help you grasp the subjects. You will come up with a plethora of keywords and terms that you will want to google to find Web pages giving more detailed (and maybe more current) information.

I am a SCORE counselor (Senior Corps of Retired Executives) who typically does face-to-face counseling sessions three nights a month. It would really be neat if my clients would read this book BEFORE they came to their session with me because they would pretty much be "educated customers" ready to ask educated questions. Our sessions would be so much more beneficial.

My favorite chapters were:

1. Initial business concerns
2. Your business' structure
3. Business start-up details
5. Sources of business assistance (SCORE is mentioned here)
7. Your smart business plan (and a good sample plan is included)
8. Obtaining the financing you need

The book is weak when it comes to how the Internet can be used in corresponding, hiring, and marketing. But this is just one example of how googling keywords and concepts found in the book will make the book more complete. Don't treat the book as authoritative on the law. It isn't. Nor was it ever intended to be. It is light on tax information as it relates to small business.

I was particularly impressed with the material presented in Chapter 2: Choice of Legal Entity. That subject is sorely ignored in most small business books, and it is critically important. It is a subject I regularly must spend a great deal of time discussing at my SCORE sessions. This book does a pretty good job on the topic.

Chapters 4 and 9 through 12 are easy to find fault with. The topic of each could fill a book. But having these topics covered definitely will help a budding entrepreneur know some of the issues they raise.

I would have liked the book more if Chapter 6 (marketing) had been less superficial. When I read it I got the impression that the author was more a public relations expert than a marketing expert. I generally categorize public relations as a subset of marketing. Marketing includes advertising, public relations, and a whole host of other promotion techniques. I did not get this message when I read the book. I also would have liked the book better if the Internet, email, and Web sites had been discussed more. But there are many books on those subjects. Therefore, I can't complain too much about the limited discussion of computers.

When you read this book it may feel a little like it was produced on an assembly line. Maybe it was? There are 51 versions of this book sold; one for each state and the District of Columbia. Content is king, and this book has it. 5 stars!