Massachusetts Books

This is a nice little book of early radio on Cape Cod - it was a short read with neat pictures of early Marconi wireless equipment.

This book tells the improbable but true story of a woman--Maria Mitchell--who grew up in a poor family of 9 children in Nantucket to become one of America's most notable astronomers and scientists of the 19th century. Mitchell's big break comes when one night in October 1847 she peers through a telescope on her roof to discover a comet (the kind that will visit us once and never again return to our solar system). Despite unsought fame resulting from her discovery, she continues to live in Nantucket working as a librarian at a classic "athenaeum" for learning and accepting a post as official navigational "computer" of the movements of Venus, before eventually traveling to meet other great intellects in Europe and serving her later years as a professor at the newly created Vassar College (where she lived spartanly for years on a cot in the observatory). Renee Bergland seamlessly stitches an intriguing account of life in old Nantucket, the emergence of astronomy as a true scientific and mathematic discipline, and the daunting challenge facing Mitchell--and women in general--to gain acceptance as scientific inquest increasingly professionalized from the "parlor" to more formal academic settings. Mitchell herself reflects in her diary on the character it takes to maintain intellectual independence against the pressures of indolence and social conformity: "When we consider ... how short is life and how much shorter are the petty vexation of life, it seems strange that we should not act up to our convictions of duty and disregard what may be said of us by our fellow men. For what is my neighbor more than that I should succumb to his view in preference to my own? And what possible good can come to me from such submission? I cannot please him for very possibly his expressed opinion is not his own but that of some other neighbor of whom he stands in awe. ... And so we have a chain of ignoble submission reaching perhaps around the world. I cannot suppose it comes from cowardice and I therefore suppose it comes from a still more despicable weakness--that of indolence. Thinking is hard work." I was transported to a bygone era by this provocative and enlightening book!

A must-have if you have ever spent time in Marion, or plan to do so. The text outlines the interesting historical aspects of Marion while 'walking you through' this beautiful village by use of photos and captions describing 200 historic houses in this small seafaring town.

One of the most fascinating accounts of sailing, history and economics I've ever encountered, this book is a must if you have an interest in the great age of sail.

Certainly more than a dry recounting of historical events, Morrison helps you understand the passions, motivation and impact on the economic development of the western world of those who came and went from Boston and other East coast ports in the early to mid-1800's.

The last two chapters, in particular were absolutely rivetting. The era of the clipper ships was not only amazingly brief, but possibly one of the biggest catalysts for economic change in the 19th century. In particular, the extremely detailed description of the activities on the deck of a huge clipper moving into a berthing at a Boston pier, completely through the skill of the experienced captain literally moved me to tears. Understanding the pride of a seaman in presenting the best face of his ship and crew to the watching throngs on shore is something that any sailor can readily identify with.

You'll find it a very rewarding read.

Although I have, as yet, been unable to read the book, I have had the opportunity to be a student of the author's. He is an amazing teacher, full of insight and a passion for the English language. As far as I am concerned, anything Bruce Michelson writes is well worth reading. Look for his new book next fall.

I want to preface this review by saying I grew up at the same time of Mark's fight and in the neighboring town the Hoyles' crusade ignorance took place. I remember hearing everything that was being said about the family and read everything being written about Mark's story.

Jay Hoyle's story of his beloved son Mark was the first book that ever made me cry. Written from his perspective, Jay Hoyle does an incredible job of telling his family's difficult story in a small, unknowing town. Mark was one of the first people in southeastern Massachusetts to contract AIDS, and not much was known about the disease at the time. The family had to battle an entire town and region for acceptance, but their story took a backseat to Ryan White, who became nationally known for his battle against society at the same time. The Hoyles' story is inspirational and touching and will make anyone who reads it question their thoughts and beliefs on certain things in this world.

"Mark" is a wonderfully touching account of a family's struggle with a disease many people knew little about. Jay Hoyle holds nothing back in this memoir and the family's story will inspire anyone who reads it. From the first time Mark started getting sick to finally receiving the fateful diagnosis, the Hoyle family stuck together and expressed nothing but unconditional love. Mark's battle with the disease was difficult, but he and his family kept nothing but optimism alive. The chronology of Mark's down-turn is sad and it made me wish a cure for this horrible disease was found. Even nearly 20 years after Mark's death and 15 years after reading this book, I still remember his story from what I read in this book.

Once again, Robert Kaufman has done it! Take a trip through Massachusetts with this incredible talent.

To an extent, colonial Massachusetts had the most important affect on the emergence of the United States out of the thirteen colonies. The Boston Massacre, the fighting at Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill, the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere's ride, are just a few of the events that took place in Massachusetts. This slim book will tell you all about it, and more.

The "Portrait of America" series is a wonderful introduction for pre-teens to the 50 states and to the places and events that shaped the history of the United States. This "Massachusetts" installment is particularly good. The book is broken down into sections like "History", "Culture", "Economy" etc., and each section is thoughtfully written and edited. The "History" section is, of course, the most satisfying part of this volume.

This book, as well as the entire "Portrait of America" series, will prove to be a valuable teaching tool to all primary school educators.

The pilgrims in America was predated by Martin Luther and John Calvin in the early 1500s. It says but doesn't spoonfeed that Catholic was like 1,000 years out of date, leading to Luther's founding of Protestant. The pilgrims started in like the 1580s or 1590s, landing on The Mayflower, my ancestors in the like 1623. Only 100 and some survived that first winter, but they deliberatly had tons of kids together to keep it going. Those indians who weren't killed were kixed with the mostly French pilgrims, my ancestors- you needed SOME indian blood in you to adapt to the polar to tropical climates of the New World in America. So I'm a trade Indian. Very few generationals of those pilgrims who landed on The Mayflower survive today nearly 600 years later, but those who do are treated like royalty. The first edition in 1974 still hasn't sold out on this booklet, so get it while you can to learn the story of your ancestors' founding of Plymouth colony in present day Plymouth, Massachussets and Jamestown, Pennsylvania. Those whites who migrated to the South are still around today, but thrown up as horror and gothic icons, their repoutations and history tarnished by yesterday's wannabe goths looking to exploit their look and image for "star" purposes, to put it that way. But I see still the real thing every now and then...

This wide-ranging and insightful study effectively synthesizes behavioral risk factor data for the State of Massachusetts. Epidemiologist Jeanne Holden-Wiltse presents an incisive analysis of the myriad threats to public health and well-being.