Kansas Books

Svobida makes no bones about being objective; his book reads like my late uncles and grandpas used to talk: blunt, pithy, and with a point to make. He must have been a man of incredible stamina, to read his accounts of his hours spent in the fields. And it's that huge, raw, stamina--bluntly expressed and without fanfare--that brings the pathos to the book. Even his seemingly inexhaustible energy was no match for the "Dirty Thirties" in western Kansas. He arrived on the scene, as full of optimism as Caroline Henderson (in Letters from the Dust Bowl) but, after making only one crop in six years, finally had to admit defeat. Thus, his entire outlook and narrative is tainted by that--understandable, but it limits the book's overall point. Nonetheless, his story is sadly common enough, and nobody can accuse him from trying everything he knew how to coax a wheat crop out of the ground. That's what books like The Worst Hard Time have to understand: that most farmers in the Great Plains were not "suitcase farmers," not out to make a quick buck. They were honest, hardworking folks, caught in a bad time in a bad place using bad farming methods. What worked in Ohio or even Nebraska just wasn't enough here. A good read.

This slim book isn't exactly an excellent read, but remains important for its facts and figures that add much to understanding a disastrous period in US ag farming. Especially the lessons learned. Wanting a little more data after I'd read The Worst Hard Time (absolutely great) by Timothy Egan, Lawrence Svobida's book filled the bill. Too bad he repressed nearly every bit of personal detail about himself, because he was obviously an intriguing, bull-headed, original young thinker.

Having searched for a first hand account of what it was like to attempt to farm during the dust bowl I was very pleased to find this work. Svobida provides a year by year account of his attempts to do that and I enjoyed learning from his trials and tribulations. The book is unique, as to this point, it is the only work I've found that gives the details of how farmers attempted to prevail during the dust bowl years. Increased an already high admiration for those who lived in and trhough the dust bowl.

This book is GREAT! Wonderful history, great patterns that have helpful hints. If you love vintage feedsacks and fabric, this is a must have for your collection!

I lecture on feedsacks and the historical aspect of this book is wonderful. The quilts featured are ok, but they aren't why I bought this book. The factual data more than met my expectations

I liked this book because of its colorful, informative content. The pattern directions are easy to follow. The templates are precise and easy to trace or copy to make the quilts in the book.

Percival Lowe started his western career in the dragoons but after his original enlistment was up he spent quite a few years in the freighting/pack train business, which eventually took a toll on his health. Lowe drops quite a few famous names throughout the book which starts off strong then slows down a bit during the "pack train" years. However, it is an excellent account of just what life was like back then. His army years are a great read and his account of the building of Fort Riley in the middle of a cholera outbreak is quite interesting and something that was new to me. Overall, recommended.

Percival Lowe was a gentleman, even if he was not an officer, and he was also a good soldier and a great frontiersman. If you want to know what it was like to be a Dragoon on the frontier this is the book. If you are interested in the history of the US Cavalry you need to read this book.

Percival G. Lowe's account of militart life in the pre-CivilWar west is a must read for the military historian, anyone interestedin American frontier history, or anyone who just likes a good read. Lowe's account is most enlightening because it is written from the enlisted troops point of view. Most histories of the day were written by the officers who were better educated and often said little about the enlisted life on the frontier. Lowe's memoir starts with his induction and training in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and his 3 month trip west to his first post. Just the story regarding his travels to his first duty station include canal boats, river boats, mule trains and just plain old foot slogging marches across a raw expanse only recently opened to settlers from the east and Europe. His writting about his troops escort duty on the early Santa Fe trail is also quite informative. The book is written in the style of the 19th century and is a colorful as well as interesting reading. Well worth the price and time involved.

Terrific book - just what I was looking for. Has been a great help.

It is very through and informative and I would recommend it to any one trying to identify birds.

A fine gem, summarizing the birds most likely to be seen in Kansas. Each bird gets a full page with photo and helpful information like how to recognize them, where to find them, and when to find them. The photos are excellent! New birders will quickly find a species without sorting through the clutter of a larger field guide. Experienced birders may glean details such as where and when to find target species.

Many of you, no doubt, have acquainted yourselves with the series of books that comprise the US Army War College Guide to Civil War Battles. The latest volume, the Guide to the Battle of Chickamauga, edited by Col. Matt Spruill, constitutes a new and worthwhile addition.

The series follows a particular format that bears mentioning. Each guide uses excerpts from after-action reports, along with topo maps and detailed driving and, occasionally, hiking instructions. This enables a reader to place himself at critical points on the battlefield with a solid understanding of the terrain's significance. Spruill does not deviate from this standard. The choice of maps and selection of battle reports (most from the Official Records) along with his brief comments clearly document the fierce fighting which took place on these fields. Considering the heavily wooded terrain and confusing ebb and flow of forces over the area, Spruill paints a remarkably clear picture of what transpired.

The great clash of armies at Chickamauga played out over two intense days of combat along a front some several miles long. On this ground, characterized by forests of thick brush punctuated with only a few open spaces used for small farm cultivation, the hostile lines came almost into contact before fighting was possible. Blind to what lay before them and often unaware of the success or failure of supporting units, commanders threw their troops into attacks that flanked and routed the enemy only to be flanked and routed in return. Scattered farmer's fields became killing zones as artillery concentrated their attention on the openings in the surrounding woods. Each side felt for the others vulnerable flank in a deadly race to capture and hold the road to Chattanooga. Soldiers entrenched at every opportunity and built breastworks, however shallow, whenever a lull in the fighting permitted time.

Spruill's book depicts this story very well, guiding the reader from one disputed point to another. For the most part, he allows the participants to narrate each scene. Yet he tempers their tale by reminding you how restricted a view each possessed. Invariably, men felt the fighting on their front to be the fiercest they experienced, during the war. As a consequence, we travel in our mind's eye along the paths of victory and defeat, where soldiers marched and fought and died to possess the ground where we now tread. Let me recommend the book to you.

I just completed a hike of the Chickamauga NBP, using Colonel Spruill's guide book. The book transformed a pleasant day outdoors into an informative learning experience. The hiking directions are precise. The selected narrations by the participants enhance understanding of the action on the field, and Colonel Spruill's additional notations explain the narrations in a larger context. If you're serious about getting the most out of a visit to Chickamauga, then this book is a required item in your rucksack.

The Chickamauga battlefield guide published in 1997 and the first not edited by Jay Luvaas. Matt Spruill maintains the series standards and format started with the Gettysburg guide. The book covers the first major victory of the Confederate Army of Tennessee in the American Civil War. This victory, coming after the defeat at Gettysburg and Vicksburg's surrender brightened Confederate hopes in the Fall of 1863. New features include a 30-page essay on Civil War medical and a section of aftermath. The Chickamauga Park covers two days of fighting and many positions overlap. This leads to some understandable confusion for visitors while viewing monuments and trying to understand the battle. For anything beyond the park driving tour, this book is essential.
The series format is directions to a point on the field, orientation, a general lesson on what happened in your view, followed by first person accounts of the action. These guides are designed using the general staff training concept of a Staff Ride. This is when a class is taken to a historic location, discuss what happened and see how the terrain influences the event. Staff Rides are designed to be intensive "on the ground" training coupled with physical observation in the hopes students will gain experience for later use.
I am not saying this to frighten you away from this guide but to tell you this is not a walk about and look at the monuments type of guide. This guide will have several pages devoted to the action at this point. It may contain a critique of the local commander's actions with possible alternates.
My experience is that reading the book prior to my visit works best. This allows me more time observing the field and less time reading the book. Of the tour options, a professional guide is usually the best but most expensive choice. The park driving tour is the best choice for a quick trip through the field to get the kids passport stamp. This book is the best choice for a serious student of the battle looking for a detailed explanation.

I have read and participated in the AWC staff rides of the battlefields and from that light these book can be instructive at they relate to events and field conditions. They are not for the casual reader or tourist. It is essential that the reader be versed in both the theory and tactics of the time before visiting the site and that you are to read these books while standing on the actual grounds.

These books supplement case studies at the AWC in tactical and strategic thinking. Observe the battleground as a military officer would and try to put yourself in the mind of the writer. What you will be reading are the after action reports written by the officers assigned to write them, of their viewings of events on the field. Beware sometimes these reports can be self serving so take that in mind.

Reading the reports and standing on location will help to give you an incite into field situations and problems that the military officer must see, recognize and solve. One key point to remember is that of communication is not what it is today. The field of battle only existed as far as the individual officer could see. He generally knew nothing of events occuring several hundred yards away let alone a mile or so away in real time. All he knew what what was right in front of him. He never sees the big picture that today's communications can provide or seek instant clarification of orders.

With this in mind and a knowledge of the methods of Civil War fighting these books are very instructive.

Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg are about six months apart but very close in distance and in personal. These are the last two great victories the Army of Northern Virginia would enjoy. The Union army would finally get a commander structure that would stand and fight as intelligently as possible. Never again, would Lee find victory through failures of the other army commander. There are many firsts in these battles and no easy answers. This excellent book covers both battles in detail and gives us the Battle at Salem Church too. I had this book with me when touring this area and recommend it to you. I would never have found many sites without it.
The series format is directions to a point on the field, orientation, a general lesson on what happened in your view, followed by first person accounts of the action. These guides are designed using the general staff training concept of a Staff Ride. This is when a class is taken to a historic location, discuss what happened and see how the terrain influences the event. Staff Rides are designed to be intensive "on the ground" training coupled with physical observation in the hopes students will gain experience for later use.
I am not saying this to frighten you away from this guide but to tell you this is not a walk about and look at the monuments type of guide. This guide will have several pages devoted to the action at this point. It may contain a critique of the local commander's actions with possible alternates.
My experience is that reading the book prior to my visit works best. This allows me more time observing the field and less time reading the book. Of the tour options, a professional guide is usually the best but most expensive choice. The park driving tour is the best choice for a quick trip through the field to get the kids passport stamp. This book is the best choice for a serious student of the battle looking for a detailed explanation.

These series of books are the best available resource for conducting ACW battlefield tours - assuming that your purpose in touring battlefields is to study and understand the applicable tactics, strategy and terrain and to develop an appreciation for the objectives and efforts of the participants. If you go to ACW battlefields to gawk and gossip as an everyday tourist then you do not need to study these guides. If you have an active interest in ACW history, military history in general or fascinating chapters in human history, then these guides are remarkable values, "Best Buys". Thorough but not intimidating, insightful and objective, with no deficiencies noted.

Hiking Guide to Kansas is an excellent book. It gives detailed accounts for hiking trails through out the entire state of Kansas. It is well written in an easy to understand format, unlike some guide books where the author(s) seem to be talking down to the reader. I bought this book about five years ago and hiked about a quarter of the trails described. Contents of the book provides: maps, pictures, directions, and even if some of the trails are compatable for horse back riding, pets, or bicyles. The maps and directions are quite easy to follow; if you do not arrive at your desired location you did not pay attention to detail. I took a year off from hiking and started up again this year. I thought I had lost this book, I was actually moping around like a lost puppy, and was about to purchase another when I accidently found it on a book self. Though not as cleverly written as some other hiking guide books seem to claim, this is a very good guide book for hiking the Sunflower State. Bet many people out there do not even think that you can hike in Kansas.

The Hiking Guide to Kansas is a high-quality guide to hiking trails in Kansas. There is no stone unturned. If you are going to be hiking in Kansas, you better bring this book with you! It is THE hiking guide for Kansas throughout the entire world!

I have always loved hiking in Kansas, but there has never been a really good book with the extensive detail that "Hiking Guide to Kansas" gives. The maps Young makes are very accurate, and the trail descriptions by Kate Hauber are excelent. I fully recommend this book to anyone who loves the outdoors in Kansas and wants an outstanding guide book.

Written for middle school students, this history is spiced with tales, photos and sidebars seldom seen in history books. My daughter loved the book because these characters match her fictional favorites for fortitude and impact. "Hey, Mom, listen to this..." Apparent exhaustive research, unusual photos, strong creativity. The story-telling charm is off-set, however, by misspelled words, omission of prehistoric eras, and rewrite of characters who are not socially mainstream or exemplary. Kansas was more diverse and colorful than this book portrays. Was truth thinned to assure that the book would "sell" to schools? History is meant to be rich. It is about life, itself.

I have read this book and I found it a great read! The art work is very good. The Kansas school children should feel special to be able to use such a informative book. The photos are super and there are so many of them! The end of the chapter postcards are really a neat idea. This brings Kansas history to a level of interest for everyone. Wish my state had one like it.

Well- it's about time! This book will let the world know that there much more to Kansas that those drab monochrome tones we see every time we watch the beginning scenes of the Wizard of Oz!. While still being very informative, this book was a real pleasure to read. It's done in a "story style" that was certainly more interesting that the boring old history texts of my youth! The book really allows the reader to relate to the many fascinating historical figures as genuine people rather than mere ghostly gray figures of days gone by. The whole book simply struck me as "being about real people for real people". The great original artwork and wonderful photographs and post cards were the "icing on the cake". Well done to the team that assembled this fine work! I hope its serves well those curious to know about the Sunflower State for years to come!

Girard has an ability I usually don't find in this genre, to give detail of settings and people to make you feel you are there along side them. Rather than the typical supreficial, get to the story nature of mysteries, it goes several levels deeper. The people become very real and you care about them as much as you care about whodunnit. The people are not some stereotype. The weaving of contrasts and similarities between the three main characters puts us on a level with them, we've all been there in some way. What starts out as bleak lives, mistakes are made, hope is lost, leaves the reader feeling there is a future. I can't wait for his new novel to come out.

"The Late Man" is an elegiac, beautifully written novel whose story happens to fit the constraints of genre. But to say that it is not strictly speaking a "genre novel" is meant as praise; this is a beautiful book that sneaks up on you and lingers with you long after you have turned the last page. I recommend this book to all "genre" lovers- be they crime novels, detective novels, or murder mysteries- who want a little more weight, a little more feeling with their entertainments. "The Late Man" makes me hope that this was not a one shot from Mister Girard; that many more novels of this caliber will issue forth from him.

The writing is very smooth but the writer spent too much time to paint the veiled several key characters with very very long paragraphs, sometimes a whole page only got about 1-1/10 long paragraphs which were usually very tiresome to focus and read. The prose style writing may be very good but also kills the pace to an almost dragging, snailingly crawled monologue styled narration, just like the late man who rode a bus and look outside the window, the smoky glass made everything distant and vague and made the scenary going back and disappeared. A mystery should not be written like a some kind memorial stuff lingering in yesterday. Like a chess game, both players got to meet the time limits, reading a novel or mystery is the same thing, you just can't have too much time wasted in blabbing and making the reader waiting too long and too much

The edited letters and journals of Capt. Barnitz and his wife provide a gripping picture of the experiences of an officer in the early years of the Indian Wars. The book also provides wonderful insight into how Custer ran the 7th cavalry and what his officers thought of his leadership. A truly enjoyable book!

This book is composed of Barnitz' personal diary and letters written to his wife, which she conviently kept over the years. Additional information is detailed and follows the letters and diary entries in chronological order. Barnitz enjoyed writing, wrote his wife often and made regular entries in his diary. The book is full of interesting phographs, many which I have never seen before, even though I have been a Little BIg Horn buff for quite a while. An excellent biographical glosssary is included that includes the histories and significant events of many important Indian War personalities. A must for any serious Custer library.

Albert Barnitz was a Captain in the Seventh Cavalry. He was wounded and not a member of the unit by the time of its' famous defeat at the Little Big Horn. Barnitz through his letters to his wife describes life on the Plains with the Seventh Cavalry and it's Lieutenant Colonel Custer. His first hand description of events he experienced and personalities he knew gives life to persons and events from Western history. This book will interest those desiring a first person report of life in the Seventh Cavalry on the Great Plains.