Mexico Books

This is a great book to get the feel of what life was like in colonial NM...It is a bunch of short essays with a WIDE range of topics relating to life in NM.....Marc Simmons has a pretty nice style of writing too....I liked the part about the New Mexican "tube" socks!!!

As usual, Mr. Simmons takes you back in time and brings the everyday life of early New Mexico to life. He has done extensive research to enlighten us. This book covers everything from homemaking, dressing, Inidans and food. A must have for historical researchers.

This is my favorite book on the topic of the Spanish explorations into what is present-day America. In particular, this book covers the journey by Coronado through what is present-day Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado & Kansas. The book is a fantastic historical account but also a very interesting read. The author does an admiral job of painting a fair picture of Coronado and thus doing his part to reject la leyenda negra!

Even though the book is now more than 50 years old (!) it remains a very timely piece in Spanish Colonial history in the southwest.

Dr. Bolton has modified my view on Coronado considerably after reading his wonderful biography of the famous conquistador. Many people ideate Coronado as a bloodthirsty, overpowering man who unwontedly killed every Native American in his path for riches. Not so according to the unbiased research and scrutiny this author puts forth.

After hearsay of gold, silver and wealth to be found in our present-day southwestern U. S., the Viceroy of Mexico sends Coronado with over 300 men, several hundred Mexican Indian allies, more than 1,000 horses and mules, sheep, etc. to the north in search of these fabled fortunes.
Although the expedition as far as locating vast amounts of riches was a flop, Coronado's knowledge of the Indians and geography helped future generations of Mexico to settle and establish themselves in Arizona and New Mexico.

One adventure after another awaits the Coronado Expedition and this is what makes the book a page turner. There were battles fought no doubt, but basically when no alternative to peace could be reached among the Native Americans. As Bolton asserts, Coronado was the "gentlemen's conqueror" and compared to Pizzaro, De Soto, Cortes and others his exploits were gentle and mild.

An enjoyable and perceptive read.

this is by far and away best english language book on Costa Rican politics.

this book is the finest book on CR political economy in print.

I smiled and finally laughed out loud reading this wonderful book by Princeton-educated historian Philip Ashton Rollins (1869-1950), who grew up in the West and knew early cowboys firsthand. He organizes his encyclopedic knowledge of cowboys into 18 chapters covering such topics as cowboy character, what the cowboy wore, equipment and furnishings, diversions and recreations, the day's work, branding and round-up. At 383 pages in its 1936 edition, there's a lot of reading here for the Western enthusiast.

The subtitle of the book, "an unconventional history," alludes to the less than objective, tongue in cheek tone that Rollins often assumes. He obviously admires cowboys but also sees the latent humor and ironies in a hyper-male culture, where men on the open range bonded into a fierce fraternity of individuals. I laughed out loud at the point where he describes the boredom that led cowboys to memorize the labels on canned products (condensed milk, peaches) and then recite them in unison for amazed outsiders.

For readers fascinated by the minute details of the cowboy's daily life, his beliefs and customs, values and attitudes, habits, quirks, and prejudices, this book is a gem. You learn how cowboys wore their Stetsons differently in different regions of the West. Because Rollins is fascinated by language, you learn a great deal about cowboy lingo and how it also varied regionally. He also gets as close as he can to describing the particularly florid and inventive cursing of cowboys. You learn that cowboys wore vests but not denim. You learn the received method of one-handed cigarette rolling and lighting a match on the seat of one's pants. You learn how guns were worn and used. You learn plenty.

I'm happy to recommend this book on cowboy culture to anyone with an interest in the old west and the life of cowboys as it was actually lived. It was written and published in 1922, then revised in 1936, and is a classic that belongs on anyone's bookshelf of western literature.

This book is absolutely outstanding in its explanation of the cowboy period. It is the unvarnished truth about the twenty-odd year period we think of as the cowboy era. Yet while it is historically accurate regarding the nature and life of the cowboy it is also very readable and not at all like a dry history book. Anyone that wants to go beyond western movies and fiction to discover what being a cowboy was really all about should read this book.

This study of contemporary santeros working in northern New Mexico is illustrated throughout with color photographs. Kalb examines the role and meaning of tradition in the work of a number of artists, both living and deceased. For each of these artists, the meaning of tradition varies, and the issues of self-representation, cultural expression, preservation, innovation, and market demands are all complex, powerful, and delicate. It is both troublesome and rewarding to be able to support a family on the sales of religious images to Anglo buyers. The mainstream fine art world, tourism, religion, and ethnic politics all play roles in the creation of traditional works in a contemporary world. For all the santeros, the tangle of religious, commercial, political, and aesthetic forces requires complicated choices far beyond the basic relationships between themselves and their saints. Laurie Beth Kalb tells a fascinating and revealing story about a unique art form and its significance

If you are interested in wood carving and the tradition of the wood carvers in New Mexico this is a must have book. The secular and non-secular images displayed are excellent and inspiring works of art. The book is easy to read and entertains in a quasi-sholarly way. The glimpses into the various artists featured are interesting as they share insights into the way of life of these Santeros. The various profiled artists are unique, diverse, deceased or living and extremely talented. The section on Patrocino Barela and his family is fascinating and worth the cost of the book alone as it features some of his works which are extremely rare. This is a book that you will enjoy reading but more than that you will love looking at the works of art. Add this book to your art or religious section of your personal library. Be warned, you may not shelve the book as you will want to look at it over and over.

I thought this was a good book. My son who is more educated in Creek Indian culture differs in opinion. He felt that it wasn't authentic enough. My personal feelings are that it held plenty of knowledge for my interest level. It was a quick and fun read. I leave it in the guest room for visitors to browse. I had a few visitors who have stayed up too late because they got caught up in reading it. I would classify this as a book that might get you interested in knowing more. The author doesn't claim to be the last and only expert in this area.

If you are descended from any of the Nations that are from the SE of the US, you should read this book. It is a great book that gives a first person account of traditional Mvskogi medicine traditions passed through a particular family of the bird clan. Ok, there was an anthropologist involved...but he keeps his distance and admits his shortcomings. I really commend him for that. The account is what the medicine person himself wanted to say...

Readers of American history in general and Southwest events in particular will find Crisis In The Southwest, a survey of the US/Mexican struggle over Texas, to be clear and well done. The logic and events of the Mexican War and Texas Revolution come clear with a story which covers both ideologies and underlying roots of conflict.

The latest addition to the outstanding Scholarly Resources "The American Crisis Series", historian and civil war expert Richard Bruce Winders' Crisis In The Southwest: The United States, Mexico, And The Struggle Over Texas is a thoroughly "reader friendly" historical study clearly laying out facts, battles, and the profound impact the conflicts had upon history of Mexico, the European powers of the day, and the emergence of the Republic of Texas, eventually culminating in the role Texas was to play in shaping the events that were to ultimately result in the American Civil War. Black-and-white maps and illustrations enhance the carefully researched text, which presents life-and-death struggles in direct and simple language accessible for readers of all backgrounds.

For many people, passing on one's life story can be as simple as telling family members and friends personal vignettes that have shaped who they are, and hoping that those stories get passed on to future generations without being altered, embellished or completely forgotten. But when those stories are put on paper, they can preserve a treasure trove of information that can make for fascinating reading decades later.

Such is the case with "Crossing the Rio Grande: An Immigrant's Life in the 1880's" by Luis G. Gomez. Originally published in Spanish in 1935 under the title "Mis Memorias" by a small print shop in Rio Grande City, Texas, this translated edition published by Texas A&M University Press is a labor of love and devotion by a grandson determined to safeguard not only a piece of family history, but Texas history as well.

Guadalupe Valdez Jr., the author's grandson, first learned of his grandfather's book in 1934. Gomez told his then 17-year-old grandson that he was writing two volumes of "notable incidents" of his youth for a "public who loves to read." He also hoped that the book would "be of great help to the young."

Valdez finally saw a copy of the book for the first time in 1947, 10 years after his grandfather had passed away. The grandson never put the book out of his memory, and as he himself grew older he began giving formal presentations on it to genealogical organizations. It was at one of these conferences that he met someone who put into motion the opportunity to translate and publish the book for a new generation of readers.

"Crossing the Rio Grande" is an English edition of Gomez's memoir translated by his grandson with assistance from Javier Villarrreal, a professor of Spanish at Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi. An introduction by Thomas H. Kreneck explains the book's value to academia and describes what has been learned of the publication history of the original Spanish-language book.

Gomez came to Texas from Mexico as a young man in the mid-1880s. He made his way around much of South Texas, finding work on the railroad and other businesses, observing the people and the way of the region. From the moment he crossed the Rio Grande at Matamoros--Brownsville, he sought his fortune in a series of contracting operations that created the infrastructure to help develop the Texas economy.

Through setbacks and perseverance, Gomez has crafted a heartfelt memoir that is beautiful in its simplicity and historically valuable in its glimpse into the rugged frontier of the Lone Star state. No exact record exists as to how many copies of the original book were printed, but what is known is that five copies remain in existence today. Interestingly, a second volume is alluded to, but has never been located.

This current edition is a testament to the bond between a grandfather and a grandson that has stood the test of time, language and culture. Regardless of your position on today's immigration reform debate, it will give you insight into one man's struggles to achieve a better life in a country not legally his own.

"Crossing the Rio Grande" is a small volume, but don't be fooled by its size--it packs a powerful punch. It's sure to be on the "Top Ten" list of any Texas border community considering a "One Book, One City" reading program.

This is a great read! It was very interesting to read about his memories of this time. It was as if I was reading about my great-great grandfather's life during this time period!

I was drawn to the book by the powerful and fun photographic images. Ledbetter does an outstanding job capturing the images of Cuban life in a way that allows you to both celebrate it and to empathise with the struggle of the Cuban people.

The Essays are an unexpected extra in a book of this nature that make the work a multi-dimensional experience. It appeals to those interested in both Photography and Cuba. I highly recommend it!

This magnificent collection of photographs captures the beauty, spirit and mystery of Cuba, the USA's often-overlooked neighbor... Ledbetter's clear, passionate and respectful eye has created a stunning work -- the book takes us far more deeply into the Cuban culture than the soundbites of recent news stories (Elian Gonzales, President Carter's visit) allow. Ledbetter's photographs and the accompanying essays make this book essential for anyone who wishes to understand Cuba more fully; the book also richly rewards the reader who simply appreciates great photography.

My parents bought this book in the early 50s on our trip to Yellowstone Park, and my mom read it to us several times, as we kept asking for it. Later, I had the same worn and cherished copy and read it to my own kids, who also loved it. Now I'm buying copies for them for Christmas, so they can read it to my grandkids. It's not only a highly entertaining animal story, but it teaches children a lot about the natural world, as well. When Cubby and his mother visit Yellowstone Park in the summer, he is introduced to the whole array of animals who live in the park, and learns about their habitats and their ways. Fun, and a great learning tool.

My grandmother read this to my father when he was a little boy and he read it to me when I was very young. Now I am going to read it to my children. It is a great tale of a young bear cub experianceing the world for the first time and learing about different animals that inhabit Yellowstone National Park.

A must read for any young child.