Massachusetts Books

I thought these book reviews would help me form opinions on a presentation I have to give on the meaning of the physical letter "A" but after reading almost all of them, I felt inclined to add my opinion. (the book review helped a little, but I didn't really expect anyone to have written exactly what I was looking for anyway) I have to admit, I didn't expect the book to be exciting or great by the looks of the Custom House, which my AP English teacher actually had us skip. But once you get into it and promise yourself that you're not going to stop reading, you become involved in the story and you really get a deep understanding of human nature. Overall, I found the themes and symbols in this book depressing but with a large amount of depth. I would advise all of the readers who think little of the book to reread it with better expectations on what Hawthorne has to say, and to ignore the fact that the sentences are long- they will flow easily if only you immerse yourself in the novel.

I'm an average 12 year old who read "The Scarlet Letter"!!!!!!! And YES, I read the UNABRIDGED VERSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was reading all these reviews in confusion. None of the words were complicated. I didn't have to use a dictionary. All in all, it is an excellent book. Although a bit monotonus at times, it is an excellent book with an excellent reflection of the times. I would recomend it, and even if you have to look up every other word, ITS WORTH IT!!!!!!

I tried reading this once before and thought it would be depressing. I then tried to read it again and succeeded. It is definitely worth reading if you love books. I didn't expect it to be a love story, but it really was. What Hester and Mr. Dimmesdale did was wrong, but they were repentant. Hester should not have suffered like she did. The writing was so beautiful and turned the story from something generic into something truly beautiful.

This book is a treasure of information about the great homes north of Boston and contains outstanding rare and crisp photographs that tell so much. Due to the quality of this publication, I would not hesitate to add any book published by Acanthus Press, which obviously takes great pride in creating their architecture books. The preservation of the great remaining mansions and estates is vital to our continued rediscovery and appreciation of our past and this book is an important resource. I found that the award-winning author, Pamela W. Fox, to have great talent in writing an architectural book that is a joy to read. Probably you do the same thing with this type of book as I: you go through the volume the first time looking at the fine photographs and reading the captions, and then when you have time you read the text. I would call this getting triple the value, as after you have looked, and read, you will now use this book as a reference. (LarryLufkin@comcast.net)

This is a beautiful book and a great follow up to the book on Chicago's North Shore. These books are so luxurious and elegant, the craftsmanship is just amazing, I highly recommend both. It is wonderful to explore this well researched and interesting book. The black and white historic pictures are crisp and detailed and the history well researched. Anyone who has any interest in historic estates or just appreciates fine craftsmanship in a book will not be disappointed. I commend the authors and publisher for a job well done.

I saw this book and as soon as I started looking through it I fell in love. This novel chronicles the expansive mansions on Boston's North Shore, with black and white photographs of both the exteriors and interiors. These pictures made me feel like I was part of that life, and helped me understand how people actually decorated those "Maderley" type manor houses. I was shocked to know families actually lived in them, and furnished them so lavishly!

For anyone who is a fan of architecture or old houses, even victorian decorating, check this book out! I love old houses and seeing the way people decorated them, and this HUGE book took me further in than I ever expected. Some of these have blueprints, which helped me figure out the layout of these grand mansions, and how many rooms there really were.

Editor Barry O'Connell performs a signal service in making these forgotten texts available to a wider audience (and also
his very useful introduction). The writings of William Apess are, regrettably, still highly relevant even now. This is partly because of the universal import of the issues of religious conversion, ethnic identity and the personal challenges he confronted, but even more because American Indians are still denied the civil and human rights enjoyed by other Americans. Apess's fiery prose and profound insights into the American experience from his Indigenous perspective are guaranteed not only to shed much light on his life and times, but will shatter cherished misconceptions of European Americans concerning the presumed fairness of our society.

Opponents of multiculturalism would probably complain that yet another insignificant author has been dredged up from the past. But Apess is not obscure, rather, his brilliance was obscured through the neglect of those who most needed to hear his message. There is much more to his work than merely documenting the victimization of Indians. As author, minister and also activist on behalf of his congregation of Mashpee Wampanoags in the 1830s, Apess's life work testifies eloquently that Indians have always exercised agency in shaping their history and ours as a whole---even in circumstances not of their choosing.

Editor O'Connell has done something very valuable in making these forgotten texts available to a wider audience. The writings of Pequot William Apess are, sadly, highly relevant even now. This is partly because of the universal import of religious conversion, ethnic identity and the personal challenges he confronted, but even more because American Indians are still denied the civil and human rights enjoyed by fellow citizens. Apess's fiery prose and profound insights on America from his Indigenous perspective not only shed much light on his life and times, but will shatter cherished myths of Euramericans about the presumed fairness of our society. Opponents of multiculturalism would probably complain that yet another marginal author has been dredged up from the past. But Apess is not obscure, rather, his brilliance was obscured by neglect of those who most needed to hear his message. There is far more to his work than merely documenting Indian victimhood. As author, minister and also activist on behalf of his Mashpee Wampanoag congregation in the 1830s, Apess's life work testifies eloquently that Indians have always exercised agency in shaping their history and ours as a whole---even in circumstances not of their choosing.

Eurocentric assumptions perpetrated by white males have obscured the incredibly brave and noble work of Native American writers. As a feminist who is interrogating those eurocentric paradigms, I am delighted to come upon this wonderful book.

The Orphan Seal is a wonderful book that presents a true story full of scientific information in such a way that is neither condescending nor too intellectual. I found it to have the right mix of storytelling charm and facts. A child interested in science will love it.

The ORPHAN SEAL is a wonderful book for everyone. This true story is written with warmth and caring. Each of my grandchildren will receive a copy of ORPHAN SEAL because it is an educational and fun book to read.

The Orphan Seal is a heartwarming and true story of a tiny harbor seal pup separated from his mother by an April storm on the coast of Maine. Washed up on the rocky shore, coastal residents saw the pup and reported him to the Seal Rescue Program at the New England Aquarium in Boston. Two of the Rescue Program scientists verified the seal was orphaned and took the sick, malnourished pup to the Aquarium's hospital. Veterinarians treated him and by September the pup (named Howler by the Aquarium staff) was ready to return to the sea and was successfully released off the coast of Cape Cod. The Orphan Seal is wonderfully illustrated by Dawn Peterson in perfect accompaniment to Fran Hodgkins' charming, engaging story for young readers ages 4 to 10 of a young seal named Howler and the good people responsible for his rescue.

This book assumes you know nothing about sculpting. It is in larger print and clear diagrams for each step and technique. The basics are given along with a photograph of each tool, optional tools and supplies. The projects to make are in order of difficulty and rated with one to four stars. Several patterns range from a simple snake to a complex stegosaurus. Each page has a full scale pattern along with a picture of the finished sculpture followed by clear diagrams and instructions. This is great for kids and a classroom. There is a gallery of even harder ones pictured for those daring to create their own patterns and copy them on their own.

Paper, Scissors, Sculpt! has good pictures that you can trace onto paper which you can then cut, score and sculpt. The various shapes are rated from easy to more difficult, in that order, so that you can learn as you progress. The instructions are clear.
My 4-1/2 yr. old granddaughter was able to make a snake and a bat with little help from me. She was thrilled with the resulting snake (and added glittery eyes).
Though I haven't had time to make many of the animals I'm looking forward to working on the more advanced designs.

Paper, Scissors, Sculpt is an awesome book for all ages! It's way easier then origami and it takes almost no time at all. In this book, you can learn how to quickly make a snake that curls naturally or giraffe that actually supports itself...all with regular paper! Whats more, is that for each project you need no more than one piece of paper.

Anyone should seriously check out Ben A. Gonzales book for some amzing rainy-day (or any day) fun!

- JJ, 11

I have participated as a living history first person interpreter for over 6 years, and have been a visitor at many living history sites across the country. I am also the period costume coordinator for a living history site. I have seen first hand many effective and ineffective presentations.

While reading and searching for textbooks for our upcoming "Dame School" program for young ladies at our site, I came across this book. Since the text is clear and written to be interesting as well as educational,I have chosen it as a textbook for our "school". I believe our young students will be able to relate well to the book, and that we will be able to use this book to guide them to more effectual presentations. I also highly recommend it for adults.

This book is very good at giving hints on how to engage visitors in conversations useful in imparting stories of the site one is working, as well as methods to diffuse potential problems. It presents varied types of sites which were reviewed by the author, and gives good examples of what is effective and what is not. This book also discusses class distinctions and first person interpretations of difficult and traumatic events and activities of the past, such as slavery. To give a well rounded view of history, first person interpreters can't just present the rosy side of life!

The extensive listing of living history sites which is in the back section of the book would be very useful to persons who are considering the hobby or profession of first person interpretation.

As a new recruit in the growing international army of Civil War reenactors, I was anxious to evolve past the usual march-and-shoot mass maneuvers into effective first-person interaction with spectators. But having never even seen a living-history interpreter, I wasn't sure what to do. Then I found Ms. Roth's delightful book on the internet! She interviewed scores of experienced interpreters at the best living-history museums in the United States and Canada to find out how they hook -- and keep -- the interests of their visitors. The result is some imaginative out-of-the-box approaches that make visitors think they're being entertained instead of educated! The fun that the interpreters obviously have with their roles is infectious -- I could hardly wait to try it! This is a MUST read for anyone who's ever thought of going to a historical reinactment as either a participant or a spectator.

Television, movies, computers, even video games have changed the way we look at history. Recently written books on history are now in a style that gives the reader a greater understanding of what our founding father's and 19th century pioneer's daily lives were like.
Everything, it seems, is three dimensional today. Try visiting an American History museum - it's not your father's museum, that's for sure!
In her book, "Past Into Present," Ms. Roth just about covers every aspect of presenting history in all its glory and gore by using the process known as 1st person. First person brings the folks from the distant past back to life by having a re-enactor or a museum docent dress in period clothing, doing a job or a chore from the past, and speaking as if they actually ARE that long-dead person, alive again, here to share their knowlegde of times gone by. I, myself, impose a 1st person technique for my civilian impression in the 21st Michigan Civil War reenactors, and I must say that "Past into Present" truly helped me understand the importance of what I am representing while doing my impression. Through her book Ms. Roth also helped me see the pros and cons of being a 1st person living historian as well - how to stay in character, for instance, without jumping back and forth between first and third person.
From what I have seen at some re-enactments - and even at a museum - some living historians do not give the past the justice it deserves. They are the ones who should own this book as well. I've learned to give the reverence these folks from the past that we are emulating the respect they so deserve.
The writer can get a bit wordy (so can I, can't you tell?) but if you are one who is a bit more passionate about the past and would rather get deeper involved in history than the average person, then I would suggest you taking a gander at this book and read how you can become one from the past into the present at your next reenactment.

My husband & I are both descended from The Mayflower - He from William Brewster & Stephen Hopkins and I from William Bradford. This book has added so much information for our Genealogy. I cannot tell you how many times I have used it to add information to our family history file. It has many years of use.

There are hundreds of books out there about the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving and all that goes with the subject. But the majority of these books are written either in a stodgy, encyclopedic (read: Boring!) format, or they are written for children. Well, now I have one that is actually written for adults, as well as in an easy to read manner. Written mainly from a genealogical stance, the author, Eugene Aubrey Stratton, did his "putting flesh on the bones" research; that is, he sought out how the pilgrims lived their daily lives in all aspects of their time and place. Instead of the cartoonish figures we all see come November, Mr. Stratton actually gives an authentic look to these early Americans. He makes the reader feel that they now know the pilgrims, not only through their historical prominence in our early history, but by name, and we feel their hardships, especially of their first winter here. After the first time reading this book, I re-read it, only this time I read the 'Biographical Sketches' section, located toward the back of the book, first, THEN I went to the beginning. My advice to the first time reader is to do the same. You will then know who you are reading about as names are mentioned.
This book is, simply put, the best of its kind. Maybe more genealogists should write our history books! At least they bring history to life!

In doing research on my own ancestor who was a passanger on the Mayflower and one of the original Pilgrims, I have used over 50 books. This one is by far the best. Very readable, this book provides an excellent narative of many of the events of the first 70 years at Plymouth, and detailed descriptions of many of the Pilgrims. For anyone interested in this era, this book is a must.

The education of America's children is so important to us as a society. Yet very few people know what's really involved in how children learn and how teachers teach.And even less is known about the role of educational publishers. This is an eye-opening insider view of how Houghton Mifflin went about it, told not only by Miller but by his colleagues in the business. Those in charge of seeking solutions today would do well to take a page or two out of this experience.

Publishing: A Leap From Mind To Mind by Harold T. Miller (President and Chairman of the Houghton Mifflin Company) tells the true and complex story of the independent publishing firm of Houghton Mifflin from the years of World War II up through 1990. From Houghton Mifflin's recruitment of expert authors; to develop cutting-edge textbooks of the finest possible learning programs; to Houghton Mifflin's work in developing solid standardized tests for aptitude measurement; to ongoing business nuances of an ever changing and always competitive market place, Publishing: A Leap From Mind To Mind is an involving real-life saga arising from the publishing industry and highly recommended reading.

For anyone who longs to know what really happens in the process of publishing books -- and even in areas such as reading textbooks, math textbooks, or children's books -- you should consult Publishing: A Leap from Mind to Mind. The former CEO of Houghton is as candid as he is insightful, presenting a variety of topics in a compelling fashion. Unlike most books on publishing which show how the barbarians have taken over, this refreshing volume shows how to create a successful publishing enterprise. And the final chapter on the Culture of Independence should be read and thought about by everyone in, or thinking of going into, book publishing.

I am an avid reader of historical texts. I am very interested in the history of America and am always hungry for more knowledge. I recently took up in interest in discovering more about the Quakers. I had almost given up after reading the endless selection of rather boring texts, leaving me either sleeping or wanting to. Then, I found Quaker Nantucket. From this book, I have learned volumes of information, and had a good time doing it. This book is interesting, and begins every chapter with an exciting section of the ongoing saga. I enjoyed myself, and hope to have the chance to congratulate Mr. Gow and Mr. Leach myself.

The authors provide detailed information about the rise and fall of Nantucket's Quaker community and its whaling industry. If your Nantucket ancestors include family names like Macy, Starbuck, Coffin, Bunker, etc., you'll gain additional persective on the interconnections between family, religion, and whaling, the "splintering" of the Quaker community, and some reasons for migration off island.

This is an amazing book. The author takes you into the life or Quakerism. You learn how it all began with George Fox, and how in ended. Also, you learn about how the whaling industry affected Quakers on the island on Nantucket. This is a must read.

This is the best kind of academic writing: direct, technically accurate and concise, yet intriguing, lively and infomative. Segal clearly has affection for his subject, yet does not hedge on Ford's notoriously disagreeable qualities. A clear-eyed look at a complex man and his ideals.

This book is fabulous! It captures this topic better than any I've ever read. It's very interesting to me, and I'm not in the least way associated with Ford. Great book and enjoyable read!!

Henry Ford is famous for setting up the basic concepts of mass production. And some of his factories Highland Park, River Rouge and Willow Run to name three were truly huge facilities producing huge numbers of vehicles, even aircraft. Yet at the same time he was concerned about the social aspects of the businesses.

In the early 1920's he was instrumental in Ford setting up nineteen smaller 'village industries.' Each of these industries were set up to provide some kind of easily specified component that would be used in Ford vehicles or manufacturing. These included things like voltage regulators, twist drills, manufacturing test equipment, etc.

After his death, in the late 1940's and early 1950's these nineteen was shut down, usually merged into a large factory in the newly formed parts division. This effort cannot be considered a failure. All in all, the nineteen plants were too small, too hard to manage.

Now similar outside suppliers provide such sub component manufacturing, but they are larger, and independently owned. This same concept is also followed closely in Japan where smaller independent suppliers make components for automobiles and other products.