Massachusetts Books

The best kind of humor turns a mirror to the world and shows us the absurdity in our daily lives.

On the one hand, this is a very instructional book with good, practical advice on driving and parking in the Boston area. On the other hand, it's simply hysterical. I almost wish I had this book when I first started driving in Massachusetts, but I think having experienced it all before reading the book made it that much funnier.

Anyone who lives and drives in Boston, or anyone moving to Boston who plans to drive a car, should read this book. Afterwards, you will fit right in on the Massachusetts roadways. Even if you aren't interested in using these techniques, understanding them helps protect you from other drivers who do. And the more you've actually experienced Boston drivers, the funnier it gets.

A sample quote, regarding increased enforcement of traffic laws: "[T]here is a renewed emphasis on FORM. You must avoid the APPEARANCE of impropriety. For example, illegal turns should be done smoothly, without signaling and without guilt. One-way maneuvers should be done in reverse gear -- your car will be facing the right way, you won't stand out, and you won't get a ticket. Establish your rule of the road with finesse and class, so that it appears to be the natural order of things."

I hope it comes back in print soon.

Fully illustrated to elicit howls of laughter, this is possibly one of the funniest books I've ever read. I found it in a Boston bookstore and have had to fight off my friends, all of whom keep trying to steal it.
Wonderful pointers for pronunciation abound.

This book is wonderful in every respect! There is a great deal of history provided in the book, and practically walks the reader through the historical town of Boston feeling as if they were re-living the experiences of the individuals written of in the book (i.e. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, John Hancock). Also the reader absorbs the culture and environment of historical Boston by envisioning the architecture and designs of the houses, meeting places, state buildings and so forth.

A thoroughly written book, with a knack for meticulous details, is one highly recommended for history buffs and loyal Bostonians.

Compiled and edited by Ken Mallory (Director of Publications, New England Aquarium, Boston), Boston Harbor Islands: National Park Area is a beautiful and impressively informative introduction to the national park islands of Boston Harbor. Featuring lavish full-color photographs, at-a-glance capsule information concerning access, description, facilities, special interests, and agencies of each island, and inviting, easy-to-follow narration of each island, Boston Harbor Islands: National Park Area is a joy for armchair travelers, and an excellent introduction for anyone looking to spend quality vacation time in the national park areas of Boston Harbor Islands.

In this penetrating and highly readable examination of twentieth century Boston expressionist painters, Judith Bookbinder shows that fine scholarship can serve both the academic specialist and the general reader.

Focusing on the life and works of Karl Zerbe, Jack Levine, Hyman Bloom, David Aronson and other gifted expressionist artists who worked in early twentieth century Boston, Bookbinder illuminates the interplay and results of the artistic, historical, and social forces in each artist's life and work. To be sure, Bookbinder's keen analysis of each artist's use of form, color, and composition in their respective explorations of German-inspired expressionism will be of greatest interest to the specialist, espcially as she explores the tension with the contrasting French-inpsired abstract art championed by the Museum of Modern Art and others in the New York-centered art community. At the same time, Bookbinder's sensitive examination of the varying effect on these artists of poverty, religious feeling, and family pressures allows the general reader to understand the underlying energy that inspired such powerful expressionist creations. This is a book that other scholars should emulate.

The Boston Renaissance: Race, Space, And Economic Change In An American Metropolis is the detailed story of how Boston was transformed from a city with declining manufacturing base, depopulation, and racial unrest back in the 1970s, to the confident, multicultural, high-tech industry oriented, prosperous cosmopolitan city it is today. The authors draw upon a wide variety of historical and contemporary resources to explain Boston's impressive rebirth and redevelopment, and vastly improved ethnic and racial co-existence. Still very much a work in progress, Boston's story could well serve as a template for other troubled communities, large and small, anywhere within the confines of the United States as we progress through the first decade of a new century.

Sheehan presents and discusses the issue in a balanced and effective manner which sheds new ligth on all aspects of this modern day dilema. A must read for anyone interested in this issue.

I got this book because I need it for a class, but I actually started reading it before the class started. It's a great book to give you the basic info about a lot of popular and historic places in Boston. Each site has about 4 pages of info, including websites, phone numbers, and other tourist info. I wish I had known about this before my senior year of college in Boston.

What a great book for the person who loves bridges or has lived in or around the Boston area!!! I purchased this for a gift for my husband and he is really enjoying it!!!!

Very enjoyable read. I've read a number of books on Boston's history, but "Boston's Back Bay" is outstanding. One feature I particularly like is that the book points out 19th century place references in term of present day landmarks. This is enormously helpful, and in my experience, it is unique.