North America Books

Eileen Power studies the Middle Ages, not from an abstract historical point of view but from simple and real people and what we can know about them. I particularly like her study of Marco Polo, from his notes and diaries, which gives us a materialistic and realistic vision of what they saw of the world, and not what we want to see of what they saw. I also loved Madame Eglentyne, a prioress taken from Chaucer but at once identified to one particular prioress through real life archives and descriptions. A very interesting and useful book to enable us to capture the density of everyday life in the Middle Ages.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

Eileen Power's Medieval People sets out to study the Middle Ages not from the viewpoint of an Historical abstraction, but rather from that of the people who lived during the age. It is an account of six individuals who lived during the MA's; Bodo, a Frankish Peasant; Marco Polo, the famous Venetian merchant; Madame Eglentyne, prioress of Chaucer; an anonymous middle-class Parisian housewife; and two English merchants, one engaged in the wool trade and the other a clothier in Essex. The author has illustrated various aspects of social life of the era by drawing on such sources as account books, diaries, letters, records, and wills. She starts the work with a previously unpublished essay entitled "The Precursors," which describes the barbarian conquest of Rome. In this, she describes the lives of three men, Ausonius, Sidonius and Fortunatus and uses them to foreshadow the life that would re-emerge in the Middle Ages.
She starts by imagining a day in the life of the Peasant Bodo, in the time of Charlemagne. From her study of primarily economic documents from the Middle Ages of this time, she not only extrapolates but truly brings to life Bodo and his wife Ermentrude. From there, she goes on to the better documented life of Marco Polo, and also describes how he served as an inspiration for Columbus. Madam Eglentyne is next. Here, Power humorously details the inner workings of a gossipy nunnery and how Eglentyne would have gone about her life as an aristocratic women of God. She next details the life of a middle class Parisian housewife by studying the contents of the Menagier's Wife and validating many of it's points by citing other documents. She concludes by detailing the lives of the two Thomases; Betson and Paycocke of Coggeshall. Both are merchants and provide a chance for Power to really show off her grasp of medieval economics as well as an ability to compile disparate correspondences into a story of a life. This is a rare scholarly work that truly entertains while being read. One of the best books I've ever read.

This book is the catharsis of all books. Very good to read. It is a book that will allow you to read it in any position at any place where you can see the pages and words. Excellent.

Wonderful scholarship in a most readable written style. Goes beyond institutions to discover real people of the "middle" ages.

This book was written in 1866, while the memories of the War Between the States were still fresh in Von Borcke's mind. A lot of the personal accounts I have read were written years after the war and were not as accurate as they could have been had they been written sooner. But, most of the veteran's had a lot more to contend with, than writing a book. Von Borcke,sometime lieutenant of the 3rd Regiment of Dragoon Guards, came to Virginia from Prussia at the beginning of the war to offer his services to the Confederacy. Seeking adventure in the new land, he fell in with Jeb Stuart and found all he needed. Jeb Stuart made Von Borke one of his aides. Von Borcke writes about a lot of small details of Virginia at that time, that someone who was a native Virginian, would not have made note of because of already being familiar with these. He also has written of many humorous events that took place in camp and on the battlefield. Gives a good account of Stuart from someone who was close to Stuart in the good times and bad times. You will not regrett taking the time to read this to read this book.

In his personal narrative of his time spent with General JEB Stuart during the Civil War, Heros von Borcke gives the reader excellent insights into the war from the Cavalry rider's point of view. Additional background knowledge of certain battles does prove helpful has Heros does not always give a clear description of battle or the lay of the land. Maps would also aid greatly when he speaks of riding from town to town. Overall, the book was well worth the read. His vantage point enables him to faithfully detail to the reader an accurate picture of General JEB Stuart which makes the read quite intriguing. Borcke places the reader in middle of major battles and brings him along on his daring expeditions with Stuart. He gives his account of the war vividly and memorably, inserting those things that must have been mundane to him like the humor of others and the weather conditions.

This is a wonderful memoir of the author's year and half of active service on the staff of the legendary Confederate cavalry General, J. E. B. Stuart. Von Borcke was an aristocratic twenty-six year old former Lieutenant in the Prussian Army when, in 1862, he took passage on a blockcade runner to Charleston. With little command of English, and having burned all of his letters of introduction just prior to his vessel's inspection by Yankee blockaders, Von Borcke presented himself at Richmond unknown and friendless. He was eventually placed as a civilian adviser to Stuart, and soon became a commissioned officer on the staff, and one of Stuart's closest confidants. A giant of a man--he weighed 220, and must have been very tall--he was a gallant and chivalrous fighter. He seems to have been in the thick of every melee, and was often entrusted with special courier assignments by Stuart. Through this, we get wonderful glimpses of many of the great heros of the Southern side, including Lee, and especially of Stonewall Jackson, who shows a wonderful sensitive side to Von Borcke, not often seen by others. The author lyrical prose is delightful, especially when describing the beautiful Northern Virginia countryside, and the many fine families than dwelt in the area. The brilliant, and wonderfully-readable prose is more the remarkable due to fact that this book is in translation from the original German. No where did I find the translator's name, but whoever did it deserves high praise indeed. I have never read a Civil War memoir that was better, though Henry Kyd Douglas' "I Rode with Stonewall" deserves mention for its merit also. This is a wonderful must-read, and would be an excellent book for even those who are but casually interested in the history of the Civil War.

Heros Van Borcke brings alive life in the Confederate Calvary. From battle to battle, the personal emotions and the devotion to a cause of a country that he was not native to. Van Borcke is able to capture the intimate details of living day to day in the army, his relations with commanders and emotions the people of the South and the death of the gallent people around him. If you appreciate the sacrifices of those who fought and died in this conflict, this book is a MUST!!

If I had to bring just one guidebook on a visit to New Orleans this would be the one I would choose (out of the ones I have read).

The guidebook included several helpful maps and some nice historical/background detail.

It has a great section about visiting plantations along River Road to the west of the city. We rented a car and took a daytrip out along the River Road and found the info that was provided to be accurate and insightful.

The book's introduction to the Garden District, how to get there, what to see, etc. was excellent.

We followed several of the book's restaurant recommendations and were quite pleased - the book recommended both Mother's Cafe and The Acme Oyster House, both of which were gems.

Contains what all (good) travel guides do -- historical background, hotels, eating, nightlife, shopping.

Pluses: good coverage of French Quarter attractions; lists plenty of moderate and inexpensive restautants and hotels; helpful tips on navigating the city; easy-to-use maps; compact format

Minuses: index is not comprehensive (if you're looking for a particular restauant, hotel, or attraction, you have to browse the appropriate section); lodging and restaurant guides are selective, not comprehensive (doesn't mention Antoine's!)

Other: focuses heavily on the French Quarter, but also contains information for the rest of the city and surrounding area; contains information for gay travelers (clubs, gay-friendly hotels, etc.)

We (physically) looked at a variety of guides, and this is the one we chose. If it doesn't live up to expectations, expect a follow-up review after our vacation!

The more I read this book the more I like it. There are parts of this book that stood out in my head because they practically took me back to New Orleans. I have a great deal of respect for Samantha Cook, she is a great writer!

I was very glad to see the section listing books and, in particular, movies set in or about New Orleans. Whenever I am going through New Orleans withdrawl I check this guide for movies I haven't seen.

Besides the content, which on a whole is very useful and right up there with the best guide books, I like it's small size. It is easy to carry around with you.

This little guide is chock full of expert advice that makes your stay in this fun but grimy city much more enjoyable. Information about the one reliable cab company (and there are a lot of cab companies there), the St Charles streetcar line, and the best restaurants will keep you from looking like so many other tourists that we encountered--lost and frustrated. The writing is realistic, a little opinionated, but never snotty or incorrect. For instance, it has a small commentary on crime, but doesn't dwell on it, like other guides do. The bottom line is: use this guide and your own common sense, and you'll have a great time!

Philip Jenkins did it again. His previous book, 'Intimate Enemies: Moral Panics in Contemporary Great Britain' talked about child-abuse hysteria that swept Britain some time ago. This new book is actually a history of the concept of child abuse and child abuser in USA in the twentieth century. The book talks in details how that concept looked like at the end of the last century and how it looks like now. I have never read before any book that is so accurate and detailed as this one. For anyone interested in the subject of how society viewed child abuse and child abusers and how is viewing it now, this book is must-have. And I am very happy that Jenkins decided to devote this book to the Joel Best who himself wrote similar book, "Threatened Children: Rhetoric and Concern about Child-Victims"

Contents:

1. Creating Facts, 2. Constructing Sex Crime, 1890-1934, 3. The Age of the Sex Psychopath, 1935-1957, 4. The Sex Psychopath Statutes, 5. The Liberal Era, 1958-1976, 6. The Child Abuse Revolution, 1976-1986, 7. Child Pornography and Pedophile Rings, 8. The Road to Hell: Ritual Abuse and Recovered Memory, 9. Full Circle: The Return of the Sexual Predator in the 1990s, 10. A Cycle of Panic.

The emergence of "the child molester" as Public Enemy Number One -- or, conversely, as an image for hip audiences to snicker over -- is the topic of this book, and it examines how American society has responded to pedophilia over the past century. The author sifts through an enormous volume of evidence, and his tone is as sober as a judge.

He suggests that concern with the sexual abuse of children has developed in waves over the past century or so. In each case, public awareness has gone through a kind of cycle -- from reluctant awareness of the problem, to increased public attention, then to a period of intense fascination and horror culminating in the demand that the government move in to act decisively.

Jenkins argues that we have, for some time now, been in the final stages of the cycle. The expression "moral panic," which gives the book its title, is a sociological term. Those who coined it define moral panic as a state in which public reaction to a problem "is out of all proportions to the actual threat offered, when 'experts' perceive the threat in all but identical terms ... [and] when the media representations universally stress 'sudden and dramatic' increases (in numbers involved or events) and 'novelty,' above and beyond that which a sober, realistic appraisal could sustain."

What makes Moral Panic absorbing is not so much Jenkins' diagnosis of the present situation as his careful reconstruction of how medical and legal institutions came to recognize and understand the existence of molestation. "In the opening years of the twentieth century," he writes, "social and medical investigators argued convincingly that American children were being molested and raped in numbers far higher than had been imagined ... By 1910, social investigators were confirming the worst speculations about the prevalence of child sexual molestation, and panic about sex killers and perverts became acute about 1915." A similar pattern of increased attention and growing anxiety ran from the late 1930s through the early 1950s.

Conceptions of the nature and extent of sexual abuse changed from decade to decade. Extensive documentation -- from social-scientific works, newspaper stories, and mass entertainment forms like crime novels and film -- undermines the impression that pedophilia was only recognized a short time ago. Particularly striking are the parallels between the early years of the century and the present day: "In a foretaste of the 1970s and 1980s," Jenkins writes of the Progressive era, "feminists allied with therapists, social workers, and moral reformers in order to defend children, and the new ideas were promulgated by a sensationalistic media." The wave of concern that peaked in the late 1940s brought with it demands -- also heard lately -- that sex offenders be turned over to more or less permanent psychiatric hospitalization.

Following earlier patterns, the cycle of attention, anxiety, and legislation that began in the late 1970s ought to have burnt itself out by now. Clearly it has not. And some of the bogus "data" afloat about the menace suggests that "panic" is just the right word. "Far from marking a new era of indifference," Jenkins writes, "the year 1995 was characterized by the furor over sex predator statutes and the fear of cyberstalkers. The cycle has been broken in the modern era, when child abuse has become part of our enduring cultural landscape, a metanarrative with the potential for explaining all social and personal ills."

Jenkins' book is a very well written and documented study of the various child sex abuse panics that have taken place during the past century. It demonstrates the role of the moral panic in the policy making process and shows how decisions have been made on popular opinion and misguided beliefs rather than solid facts. It is objectively written and is a very good resource for anyone interested in sex offender policy. The only down side of the book is its relatively limited information on moral panic theory as a general topic. For this, you will need to look at Goode and Ben Yehuda or Cohen.

The title quote is quoted in Chapter 13, "Full Circle."

Jenkins leads us through the history of the sex abuse "panics" from the Progressive Era to the modern day. We find that in the early 1900s research/science found there was a problem worse than imagined. How else could young children get STDs? When facts became panics, the problem was buried under political self gain and the requisite rhetoric: from the F.B.I. vying for funds and power against the newly created Federal Bureau of Narcotics, to the feminist blame of the "patriarchy," to the conservative cry of decadence. And so much more.

The real issue, as is happening today, got buried under rhetoric and unchecked extremism. Backlash was inevitable.

This book is a valuable read in general even if one is not interested in the subject. It is an excellent primer on how to read an article, or listen to a speech or a news anchor, and see though the propaganda and rhetoric.

To close with another Nietzsche quote: "A people wants to hurt with the evil that is evil today." This book explains how some can hijack a hot issue, worthy though it may be, for their own political gain. Anyone who cares about child abuse, especially knee jerk lawmakers too cowardly to speak their real minds about the shallow laws they pass, should read this book.

These Kumon workbooks are great! I find that my barely 2 year old is a bit young for them, but they will probably be appropriate when he is closer to 2 1/2. My 4 year old loves them just as much as the "older" Kumon workbooks. I have used these as an intro to cutting/pasting/printing since he is not attending 3 year old preschool. Turns out they are a great mother/son time together as we work through the pages. The books are progressively difficult so the kids don't get discouraged trying something too hard straight off and then not being interested in subsequent activities.

I love these products. You need to try them. My girls beg to do them.

I ordered this book after my son has completed his "Let's Cut Paper". It is not any harder than the "Let's Cut Paper", but it just gives him more chance to practice his cutting skills.

I bought this for my son who is now 3. He was a bit younger when we started using it, and he loved it immediately. We also paste our cut out pictures onto paper and put them in a binder so he can do "school work" like his big sisters. It's simple, fun, minimal mess and gives my son a great sense of accomplishment. I just ordered about 4 more of the Kumon books to go along with it.

I purchased this book when it was published in '68 and used it quite a bit for several years as I collected moths and butterflies. It is a wonderful resource for the collector.

This book has numerous full color pictures of hundreds of moths. Most of the similar species are on the same page which greatly aids the user in determining the distinguishing identifying marks for the common moths of North America.

In addition to the color plates which are pretty clear and a good size, there are drawn pictures throughout the book that emphasize things to look at when trying to id a moth. I'm very new to moth id - just curious about the moths that are in our yard so I picked up this book - so far I'm really happy with it although I'm not very good at the id itself yet.

This is a must have for any moth aficionado. A comprehensive guide chock full of valuable information. It is well illustrated although the photos are a product of their time and lack the clarity of modern day photos. It is considered the bible of moth books although since its printing many other books have since come out with better photos and more recent information in such the subfield of moth rearing.

Weaving the history of the Black Mtns with the author's personal diary made this book exceptional. I particularly enjoyed the theory on how mountain balds were formed and how native americans survived and made most of the land. I recommend this book to anyone who hikes or camps and appreciates the mountains.

What an excellent book! Timothy Silver has given us a two fold view of Mount Mitchell and the Black Mountains of North Carolina. A combination of the natural history of the area, and man's exploration/exploitation of these lofty peaks. I think what I enjoyed most about the book, were the short "interludes" where the writer inserts his many experiences of car camping, hiking/backpacking, trout fishing, or just marveling at nature while sitting at some well known spot, or some "hidey-hole" known only to people who frequent the area. These personal thoughts heightened my reading pleasure, because like the writer, I have spent a great deal of time in the Blacks and know of what he speaks.

The battle between the Mountain's namesake, the Rev. Elisha Mitchell and his former student, future Confederate general Thomas Clingman about who measured the mountain first, is fleshed out completely, and is probably the definitive account of this famous row.

The end chapters deal with mankind's interventions on the mountain, and the consequences of these acts. This is followed up with concise information about the acid rain/woolly adelgid issues affecting the Fir and Red Spruce trees on the mountain tops, along with some discussion about the growth cycles about the above mentioned trees, which in my opinion, clears up some of the misinformation out there. For years, the problem was blamed on woolly adelgids, then on acid rain. I personally feel like these two scourges work together hand in hand to decimate the once proud Fraser Firs.

This is truly a groundbreaking book. I'd like to see more works that follow this vein. Nicely illustrated.

Timothy Silver has given us an excellent history of Mount Mitchell and the Black Mountains.
The work is titled as an environmental history, and it is supported by a wealth of factual information, but the whole presentation is a wonderful flowing story of these peaks in western North Carolina, and their history as they were shaped by nature and by man.
Of special interest is the account of the feud between Elisha Mitchell and Thomas Clingman. The story encompasses misunderstandings, fragile egos, and desperate politics. When Mitchell fell to his death in 1857, the public mind established Mitchell as a hero and martyr who died to establish these peaks as the state's best known landmark. His body was later moved to the higest peak, which is forever known as Mount Mitchell.
We are also able to see the history of man's interaction with nature. In the case of the Blacks, it is often with tragic results, and even when the intentions are good, the outcome is often marginal.
Dr. Silver leaves us with a compelling book that provides much information and asks many questions that we should consider not only for this mountain range, but for our environment as well.
I highly recommend this book. The author has done us a great favor.

What a terrific book Timothy Silver has crafted! Anyone interested in mountains, hiking, fishing, environmental issues, natural history, or the local history of North Carolina's mountains will enjoy this wonderful account. Professor Silver, a historian in western North Carolina, has written a book in which Mount Mitchell stars at the center of his narrative--and both general readers and professional historians can find meaning and pleasure in his tale.

Like many environmental historians, Silver sees in the reciprocal interaction between nature and culture a larger story of a region. And he brings us this compelling story from a variety of intriguing angles. He offers his own assessments, ones generated on his extensive hiking and fishing trips in the Black Mountains of western North Carolina. He provides insight into the steamy 19th century historical controversy between rivals each seeking to determine which was the highest peak in the region--and to see who could do it first and most authoritatively. (And as a New Englander, I found the tale inviting even if our White Mountains fall short in elevation to North Carolina's peaks!) Professor Silver also examines logging practices and regional boosterism, the antecedent of eco-tourism.

The book has something that will be compelling for a wide audience of readers interested in the natural world and local history--and the style is accessible and enjoyable. Whether you've hiked a lot, love North Carolina, want to investigate stormy political and personal feuds, or wish to know more about regional environmental history, "Mount Mitchell" is a fine read. I commend it to you!

This has been a great book for my son (age 3). He can't wait to work on a few pages each night and his skills have improved quite a bit as we near completing the workbook. This book is engaging and gives great instructions for the parents as well to encourage development while still focusing on encouragement. The skills develop incrementally which means the kids get better without realizing the skills are getting harder. My normally easily frustrated son is progressing rapidly and loves every minute of it! I'd recommend this entire series!

On another note, my two year old (25 months) has been using the "Let's color" book in this series for 2 and up and I'd say that he's a bit young still for that book, let alone this one. I would say that the 2-3-4 recommended here refers more to the average 2.5 year old rather than a young 2 year old.

I can't say enough about Kumon books. I got 5-6 books for my 2 1/2 year old. My daughter is very interested in painting but not so much into crayons and coloring. I wanted her to get interested in coloring as that is the basis for writing later. She is very interested in the coloring books and the fact that the coloring spaces progress from small to large is very thoughtful. The paper quality and picture quality are excellent. I will probably purchase this coloring book and the others in the series again and it will be good to see how she has improved.

My son had a lot of fun with the Kumon First Steps book "Let's Color" and so when Kumon just recently released "My Book of Coloring", I bought him one. It is very very similar to "Let's Color", only is in a bigger format. There are 40 pictures to color, all on the right side pages. On the left side pages, are "mazes" for the child to go thru, to learn crayon control. The coloring pages are in full color, the maze pages are in black and white. The coloring pages have only partial white areas for the child to color, a white circle in the cherries, a white sqare in the cheese, a white triangle in the fire truck. Later pictures have more than one white space to color, and then it becomes coloring things like, the stripes on the tiger, the spots on a giraffe, the strawberries on the cake. Some of my favorites are at the back: finish coloring the prince and princess, the robot, the magician, the tropical fish. Artwork is pleasing and fun, cute, but not babyish. The book is recommended for ages 2-4, but I think older children will like it too. My son is 8 and he likes it. Some children don't like coloring; a whole blank page to color can crush the spirit of some children to even start. Kumon gives the child only small areas to finish in the picture, so the completion of the coloring page is more quickly realized, and the child is satisfied. I guess I would have liked to see this coloring book be a bit beyond the first "Let's Color", and have had more pages like the ones at the end of the book, with a bit more white areas to color. The purpose of the book is for the child to learn control of a crayon/pencil (my children have all enjoyed coloring with colored pencils best), and to match colors. This book teaches these skills in a fun way. My son is always amazed that if he colors neatly, and the colored pencil he chooses really matches the surrounding printed ink color, that it's hard to tell where he colored it! Printed on heavy white paper, My Book of Coloring is a far superior book to the junky coloring books printed on flimsy newsprint paper that you find at the local store. I think any child just learning to color would love this book, and I think it will please parents too! Note: cover art does NOT represent the inside art. Be sure to also give a nice box of crayons or colored pencils when you give this book to a child! I recommend Prismacolor colored pencils and Crayola twist up crayons.

As a teacher, and mother of a 3 year old, I think this workbook deserves a good solid A. The only thing the designers of this book could do to improve it would be to provide more practice of the same skill. My daughter loves the book and asks for it when we are out to eat.

my grandson is three-years old and loved this book! he sat down and in one day had gone through the entire book. my daughter and my son-in-law erased the pages when he was sleeping so he could do them all over again!

My daughter loves these "Kumon" books. We now have several and the Amazon price (with free shipping) was cheaper than we'd pay at our local store. Also the selection here is awesome!

My son (5) loves all the Kumon books we have tried so far (Numbers 1-30, Capital Letters, Mazes - Animals and Mazes - Things that go). While he normally does not like to practice writing skills, he spends a good amount of time on the Kumon books and I consider them a good investment. His 3 year old sister is very skilled with the mazes as well (we bought her the beginner maze book, also excellent). The quality of the paper and images is superior as well, compared to most activity books out there. Highly recommended.

This is a lovely book, but it really seems to be for 4 or 5 year old kids. Or precocious 3 year olds.

I bought this book for a class in First Nations Social Justice to give us a background on the American Indian culture and beliefs. This was one of my favorite books of the class. It was easy to read and understand as well as a great story. The author breaks down each concept such as the types of souls or beings in the "afterlife" and discusses their roles in it. From a western point of view, learning about the culture of the Great Lakes American Indians was a really interesting comparison that made me WANT to read a "text book."

Highly recommended!

I've had the pleasure of being taught by John Boatman at the University level... he is very knowledgeable and passionate about his subject. If you only read one book on this topic, this should be it.

The book is a quick read. It is written in plain language, but filled with forceful words. If all could read it- it would help make sense of alternative philosophies other than those of our European ancestors.

In this book, Boatman tells us the stories, myths and legends of Western Great Lakes Native Americans. It is an insightful book of stories rendered directly from tribal elders. Boatman explains the reverance of all life held dear by Native Americans. He also explains the inconsistancies normally beheld in books on the subject written by outsiders and Europeans. This book is thought provoking and enlightening. We can all learn from these teachings, weather we are Native American or not. This is a universal book, filled with timeless lessons