Kansas Books

I was a little skeptical at first because I thought everything that could have been written about the Younger Brothers has already been done. A few pages into the book told me this was not the case!!
Mr Koblas has done an excellent job in his research and of shedding new light on an already well-known subject.
Not only does he offer an excellent biography of Cole Younger but provides an in-depth description of the what the times were like and what factors (political, social and economical) were involved in shaping the later years of the Younger Brothers.
Can't go wrong with this one! - Roger Ashton

Very few of the adults pictured in this book smile with their teeth showing. You can see why by the handful who do: the teeth tell you better than anything else that this is Kansas in the 1930s and dental care is an unaffordable luxury.

The earliest photographs in this book were created on behalf of the Farm Security Administration, a New Deal project which (among many other things) attempted to educate the public about rural poverty. These photographs show closed banks, empty expressions, and farms turned to dust -- the people here did not know what had hit them or when the Depression would be over. The late 1930s photographs are not entirely bleak: they document 4-H fairs and the FSA's improvement efforts. The photographs from World War II show Kansas at work: at Fort Riley, on trains, in wartime industrial jobs. By the time the post-war photographs were taken (for Standard Oil of New Jersey), Kansas had recovered to become a different, and more modern, state.

Oddly for a photography book, the text commentary is so outstanding that it almost outshines the pictures. The author, Donald Worster, gives the reader an interesting history of Kansas as it approached the "Dirty Thirties," when the dust turned day to night, no one had a spare dime and the state started to empty. Worster describes the state during World War II, when young men went to war and everyone else went back to work. Although the state slowly recovered, the Depression, the war and their aftermath scarred all Kansans who lived through them. Worster's erudite and highly readable commentary creates in one's mind a separate, unique set of pictures that enhances the experience of viewing the actual photographs.

A well put-together book, small enough to be carried to the field. Has excellent photos and the range maps are very useful. Information provided on each species is well written and very useful. The second half of the book has a wealth of information covering a diversity of butterfly subjects such as photographing them, raising them, gardening for them, and a wealth of other useful information.

This book provides the reader with a solid background in the hate speech forum. Specific cases set the groundwork for current rulings on censorship cases. Great for those interested in censorship/freedom of speech issues.

This book was very interesting in how stella would work with the one having difficulty with some aspect of life and her articulate way in which she would review first of all how the person was dealing with the problem. If she felt they were not dealing in a reallistic manner she would first ground them at how thier attitude about the matter was causing the difficulty. I was fascinated with how such a change in perception would bring about such a profound change in the life of her pupil.

There are probably very few Wesleyiana scholars in the past half century that can write with the authority of T. Crichton Mitchell on the life of Charles Wesley (or Charles' brother John, for that matter). I had the pleasure of studying under Dr. Mitchell in the late 1980's while he writing this book, and was afforded the opportunity to discuss the work at great length with the author several times. His desire was to make the life of Charles Wesley come alive, and to thus make that life story accessable to the average reader.

The writing style is exquisitely readable. One does not therefore have to be a scholar to appreciate the volume. The detail and quality of the work, however, also makes it a valuable resource to the serious student of Wesleyan and Methodist history. I highly encourage both the casual reader and the student to read this remarkable work by a man whose knowledge of all things Wesleyan is still respected several years after his going home to be with the Lord.

Dazzled by celebrities, bombarded by constant advertising messages, many in western culture pursue wealth, status, power, importance, or popularity. Author Brett Rickey describes this process as "chasing cool" --- in other words, rushing after and seeking the images our culture entices us with every day, instead of wanting `the right stuff.'

Writing in the style of Donald Miller and Rob Bell, author Rickey shows us the damage being done by this cultural onslaught, damage that is not limited to the secular realm but instead infects western Christianity with unhelpful viruses like materialism. Convincing but never preachy, the author enlightens us by treating the reader with respect.

In some ways this book is like having a personal conversation with Leonard Sweet. Pastor Brett leads a contemporary, vibrant, growing church in the midwest and he is clearly plugged in to what the culture is doing. Meanwhile he relies on a compass that is ultimately more reliable: God's Word, especially as revealed in Christ.

Instead of "chasing cool" Rickey wants us to be "following Christ." Using stories, metaphors, and everyday language, Rickey draws the reader toward a fuller understanding of what it means to seek after Jesus --- and how different this behavior is from simply parroting the culture and trying to be liked or admired.

Brett Rickey is a gifted communicator: You'll enjoy the insight and wisdom of this book!

Dr. David Frisbie
The Center for Marriage & Family Studies
Author of Raising Great Kids on Your Own: A Guide and Companion for Every Single Parent

Natural and/or man-made catastrophes and trauma occur every single day all over the world. Children and Disasters: A Practical Guide to Healing and Recovery, edited by: Wendy N. Zubenko and Joseph A Capozzoli, provides readers practical examples and ideas based on theoretical principles about what to do to help children, adolescents, and adults cope with traumatic events in a healthy manner and normalize their experiences. The book is a compilation of various professionals and disaster mental health (DMH) experts providing specific and useful material that can be utilized not only by all those involved with children such as parents, teachers, administrators, but moreover for psychologists, counselors, and relief workers aiding children immediately after a traumatic event. Many of the authors draw from personal experience in dealing with children and adolescents that have encountered various sorts of loss, grief, and/or bereavement and each chapter provides readers detailed developmentally-appropriate intervention techniques to help youngsters handle and survive the trauma

In the first chapter , I thought it was a book centered on holiness as a central theme....oh it is....but from the perspective of real life....and things I thought few women ever dealt with. To my surprise...the author is totally relevant with exciting Bible references....Great book. Couldn't put it down till I finished. Have a poor self image? Read this.

Very intewresting. I loved the stories and pictures. FUn to see and read about the days gone by. Wonderful gift for anyone who grew up or lived in Kansas City.