Book Description
Here is a rare perspective on a story we only thought we knew. For Apollo 11, the first moon landing, is a story that belongs to many, not just the few and famous. It belongs to the seamstress who put together twenty-two layers of fabric for each space suit. To the engineers who created a special heat shield to protect the capsule during its fiery reentry. It belongs to the flight directors, camera designers, software experts, suit testers, telescope crew, aerospace technicians, photo developers, engineers, and navigators. Gathering direct quotes from some of these folks who worked behind the scenes, Catherine Thimmesh reveals their very human worries and concerns. Culling NASA transcripts, national archives, and stunning NASA photos from Apollo 11, she captures not only the sheer magnitude of this feat but also the dedication, ingenuity, and perseverance of the greatest team everthe team that worked to first put man on that great gray rock in the sky.
Customer Reviews:
Will use this in class........2007-05-12
I will use this book in my middle school curriculum when I teach about space. When I showed it to students, they pretty much just looked at the pictures. After they watched "Apollo 13" it made a lot more sense to them. Then they wanted to understand more about the technology available at the time. This book makes a great companion piece to "The Right Stuff" and "The Dish" as well. If you are trying to get a historical perspective on that time period and didn't live through it as some of us did, please do yourself a favor and read it. The current textbooks cannot portray the taste of adventure we felt each time the astronauts voyaged out into dangerous places,as students back home gathered around black and white TV's brought into the classrooms to watch splashdowns. Knowing that the support structures have to be so huge may help people both understand why it costs so much to run a space program as well as perhaps pursue careers in the aerospace industry that are not just in the small astronaut corps.
team moon.......2007-03-25
i thought this book was great. i added it to my classroom library and the students love it too.
A Good Read for all ages.......2007-01-10
Definitely a juvenile-oriented work, but nonetheless very interesting and full of information not generally provided in accounts of the first manned moon landing.
An Adventure in Science Fiction.......2006-11-22
Though I typically lean towards fantasy and adventure-themed novels, this was one of the few science fiction books I was able to appreciate, not only for its interesting word choice, but also for its unexpected suspense. The author of this book really paints an image in your mind. The beginning, for me, was something I had to somewhat struggle through, but once I got past it, I was able to dive into the past, understanding the fears of the unknown that the people of that time must have faced. What was it like to go to the moon, to step onto that land that no man can describe? And 400,000...that's no small number, just as it was no small feat to land Apollo 11 on the moon.
~From the reader
Simply Breathtaking.......2006-11-08
I apologize for paraphrasing the title of Dr. Jones's review, but it really is appropriate and fitting; the book does give you "a catch in the throat [and] a hint of a happy tear in [your] eye in admiration for the men and women of Apollo" on so many different levels. Through her compelling writing and her keen eye for selecting breathtaking photos (in Thimmesh's context, even black and white, mission control shots are "breathtaking"), as well as the stunning layout and design she herself put together for the book, Ms. Thimmesh truly impresses on the reader the incredible nature of the mission and the accomplishments of so many who contributed to the endeavor.
I would reiterate the comments dismissing out of hand Mr. Waldron's completely off the mark review (and would ask other readers to consider the response to Mr. Walderon's review by clicking on the comments to his review). It would be a shame if any reader (and particularly children who did not have the privilige of experiencing those historic events first hand) were disuaded from reading the book and sharing, at least at some level, in the wonderous accomplishments of so many. It is hard to understand how one could not encourage everyone they know to read this book; failing to do so would not only deprive someone of (re)experiencing the truly awe inspiring nature of this epic event, it also deprives those who did so much for mankind (and it is hard to overstate the importance of their accomplishments--if on no other level than the perspective it gave humanity on the chunk of rock they share with each other) of some long overdue recogintion.
This is truly a book that should be read by everyone--not just children--to try and regain that perspective. I recomend it wholeheartedly to everyone.
The book is Simply Breathtaking!
Book Description
Whether it's standing on the podium in Seneca Falls with the Suffragettes or riding on the first subway car beneath New York City in 1907, the books in Joy Hakim's A History of US series weave together exciting stories that bring American history to life. Readers may want to start with War, Terrible War, the tragic and bloody account of the Civil War that has been hailed by critics as magnificent. Or All the People, brought fully up-to-date in this new edition with a thoughtful and engaging examination of our world after September 11th. No matter which book they read, young people will never think of American history as boring again. Joy Hakim's single, clear voice offers continuity and narrative drama as she shares with a young audience her love of and fascination with the people of the past. The newest edition of Hakim's celebrated series is now available in an 11-volume set containing revisions and updates to all ten main volumes and the Sourcebook and Index.
Customer Reviews:
Kids enjoy it.......2007-10-04
I'm using this as part of the Sonlight curriculum for US History. Lots of great color pictures, painting reproductions, etc. My 8th and 11th grade children both enjoy it, each gaining different knowledge based on their individual maturity level and interests. My son tends to remember the wars and fighting; his younger sister remembers people and relationships. Well written. Great product and price.
Book Description
Whether it's standing on the podium in Seneca Falls with the Suffragettes or riding on the first subway car beneath New York City in 1907, the books in Joy Hakim's A History of US series weave together exciting stories that bring American history to life. Readers may want to start with War, Terrible War, the tragic and bloody account of the Civil War that has been hailed by critics as magnificent. Or All the People, brought fully up-to-date in this new edition with a thoughtful and engaging examination of our world after September 11th. No matter which book they read, young people will never think of American history as boring again. Joy Hakim's single, clear voice offers continuity and narrative drama as she shares with a young audience her love of and fascination with the people of the past.
Customer Reviews:
Grizzly Mama gives 2 thumbs up........2007-06-02
I am a product of the American public school system. US History, for me, was nasty, boring, dry - nothing but dates to remember long enough to get through the test. It wasn't until I married a man who adores history that I began to see a different view of it. It was all in the presentation! This set of books is a breath of fresh air. My 10 year old daughter and I have enjoyed reading through them this past year. I plan on using them when my 6 y/old is ready. I highly recommend.
Horrible .......2007-04-27
I'm not pleased with this "history." The first time I bought the set I didn't make it past page 17 before I ran out to the trash can in disgust. It's politically correct to the point of handing the nation over to an enemy on a silver platter. Virginia is a hornet's nest for espionage folk, freaky self motivated and independent cells, and insidious activism. It smelled like psychological warfare was being used within the pages. I then had to a year later reorder the set because I've bumped into too many people who find it "So so wonderful!" So I have been reading it resisting all urge to trash it. I've made it through the first book. It pretty much had the children laughing and mocking at any white Christian. The history is not accurate too boot. I have the Medieval Reader put out by Viking right beside me which gives elaborate instructions on how a servant is to bath his master. This was written for the servants to read because they could do so, though they probably aren't from the first female monasteries which introduced silent reading and was mandatory etc.,
Are you following me? I'm trying not to be confusing. The first book was confusing. I am looking at political correctness taken to the absurd, psychological warfare, and then on top of all this is transparent pro-Church of England. Obviously, some kind of protestantism influence abounds with the authoress.
Now, here is its saving grace. She says it is her own answer to boring history, I'll take her word for that. People can come off in a way that they didn't mean to do so. So I conclude it is a really screwed up history. I do not think she was appropriate historian material.
I'd find a different choice for a child and I'd leave the set in the hands of adults motivated to comb it carefully through. If you're a fan reread that first book. She has the children holding their nose, going, "Yuck, stinky,
white Christians!" Break the spell. LOOK at that THING! "Yeah, white Christians....they'd be the BARBARIANS!"
These are the areas of seeming psychological warfare.
Easy to read & comprehend!.......2007-01-05
I bought the books to homeschool my elementary aged kids. I have found them indispensable in so many ways. Ms. Hakim covers enough of nearly every part of our history to satisfy or engage curiosity for further study. The contents are easy to read & comprehend for all ages. The pages are laid out well & have an unbiased approach to many subjects that have sparked controversy throughout our U.S. history. Volume 11 is also a must for the set! Love 'em!
Worth the Money.......2006-11-10
As a homeschooling mom of two (ages 11 and 7.5), I bought this set of history books per the recommendation of Sonlight Curriculum. I thought about it long and hard, though, due to the cost. Amazon had the best price I could find, and I have been very pleased with the series. I consider it well worth the money. Hakim's style is quite readable and informative, without dumbing down any of the concepts or content. (While she does not dwell on unpleasant things, she does touch on them and treats them honestly, in a way that kids can understand.)
So far, we've only read the book on the Civil War. She is certainly not unbiased, but we are talking about slavery! (It's not like I'd want a book that discussed the pros of slavery!) She does, however, refrain from demonizing Southerners and slaveholders (except where it is truly deserved), and, overall, does a very good job of presenting things as fairly and equitably as possible.
I have been quite satisfied with her writing style and the content and would recommend this series as an addition to any home library.
What a remarkable, inspiring adventure.......2006-10-21
A year ago, on the recommendation of others, I invested in this eleven-volume set. Over the course of the past year, my ten-year-old son and I have read through the entire series together. What a remarkable adventure of discovery, for both of us.
The benefits my son has gained from this exposure to the people and principles that have made up our country's history are impressive. (We homeschool, so this was his first in-depth exposure to the whole survey of American history.) In addition to having a broad sweep of the contours of history, he also has come to appreciate many of the core values that our country was founded upon. All I need to do is to say "We hold these truths to be self-evident," and he chimes in with the next several lines from the Declaration of Independence. He has gained an appreciation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights (and knows which powers of government belong to which governmental branches). He can recognize, and quote portions of, the Gettysburg Address. He has learned about people like Patrick Henry, Sojourner Truth, John F. Kennedy, and a multitude of others who have stood up for human liberty and dignity. Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King became three of his heroes. He has come to appreciate the rich history our country has -- and how we have never yet, in all our history, truly lived up to the values that we aspire to, and how that process needs to be ongoing.
Along the journey, we have been inspired to do more learning. We took a trip to Virginia and visited Monticello, the fascinating home of Thomas Jefferson. We watched the movie "1776" and talked about the differences between the movie and what actually happened. We explored catacombs of a church that was a station on the Underground Railroad. We took three trips to Antietam, exploring together what it might have felt like to be there in the midst of that climactic battle. We watched an online video of MLK giving his "I Have a Dream Speech," and during a recent trip to Washington, we noticed the spot at the Lincoln Memorial where he stood and where, engraved in the marble, you can see a commemoration of that event. We visited the World War II memorial and remembered Pearl Harbor. We stared at the names engraved on the Vietnam War Memorial and talked about a friend of ours who escaped, with her family, from Vietnam during the boat lift. We read about more recent events -- events that I remember -- including the Iran hostage crisis, the explosion of the Challenger, the advent of the personal computer, the signing of the INF, the end of the cold war, the 2000 election, and others -- and incorporated my memories into the story that was unfolding in the pages we were reading.
In short, this series of books helped history to come to life in our family. My son has come to claim his identity as a citizen of a country that stands for certain values and that has a long ways to go to fully attaining those values.
And then, there's what this series did for me. I went through public school. I memorized all sorts of basic facts about history. I had one really amazing high school teacher who helped me to understand and appreciate the significance of contemporary world events (right during the time when communism was collapsing). I had some great history courses while in college. But somehow -- even with all of that -- I realized, as I read through this series (designed for young readers!), that there was an awful lot I didn't know. I didn't know about Las Casas. I hadn't thought about the paradox that it was slave-holding Virginians who thought and wrote most about freedom. I didn't know much about the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, or the Alien and Sedition Acts. I had never heard of Red Jacket. I had never understood the significance of the debates between Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and Daniel Webster. I had never heard of the Amistad. I didn't know beans about Congressional Reconstruction. I had never heard of the amazing story behind Yick Wo vs. Hopkins. I didn't know, or didn't care, about the Muckrakers. And as my son and I moved into the twentieth century -- as we moved into territory that was more familiar to me -- I found myself appreciating this history in a way I never had before. I found myself constantly imagining, "What would it have been like to have lived in those times?" I was constantly marveling at the bravery and courage of people, in the past, who stood up for what was good and true and right, and at what that sometimes cost them. In short, I was inspired.
And I wept. Volume 10 (1945-2001) is worth reading all by itself. I dare you to read it and not be moved.
If you're looking for a good resource for children and youth to explore history and have it come to life, this is for you. If you're an adult and want to appreciate our history all over again -- and in a whole new light -- step into the pages of these books.
Some reviewers suggest that the series is too biased to be useful. Is it biased? Yes, absolutely. Hakim makes her bias quite evident: she believes that our nation was founded on certain principles, and that time and again we have failed to live up to them. Does the presence of this bias hurt the series? I say, "No." On the contrary, I think it enhances the series. The way she constantly reminds the reader of the founding documents of this country -- and other documents that stand in that tradition -- constantly make the reader ask: "Are we really living up to our country's potential?" Most of the time, the answer is no, not by a long shot.
Are there problems here and there? Sure. There were times when things were vague and I had to do a bit of extra explaining. There were times when Hakim would introduce technical terms without explaining what they mean. There were times when the significance of a particular event was unclear. There were times when portions of history are brushed away (her discussion of the Revolutionary War, for example, focuses much more on social realities than on military battles; and the Articles of Confederation are skipped over pretty quickly). Is any of this problematic? Well, I'm of the opinion that one has to start somewhere. My son will keep learning and growing throughout his life (and so will I!). He'll learn about stuff that didn't make it into these pages. He'll discover that other people have different opinions than Hakim does. He may come to question some of her conclusions. But does he now have a good understanding of the broad outlines of American history? Of course. Does he understand why our country was created and what a number of major historical figures think our country stands for? Yes, absolutely. Does he understand how our government works (including judicial process)? Yes, to a remarkable degree. Is he now totally hooked on history? You bet. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Was it fun and rewarding for both of us? Without question.
The question I am left with, at the end of this year-long adventure, is this: where can I find a history of the world that is filled with as much passion, as many pictures, as many quotations, as many stories of the lives of ordinary people, and as accessible to young readers, as this series is?
Book Description
Designed to accompany Joy Hakim's ten-volume A History of US or as a stand-alone reference, this collection of great American documents is ideal for all students of American history. Filled with primary sources, the Sourcebook and Index traces the gradual unfolding of ideas of freedom in America through letters, declarations, proclamations, court decisions, speeches, laws, acts, the Constitution, and other writings. Updated with a complete listing of the constitutional amendments and a listing of the presidents with key information about them, the Sourcebook and Index is arranged chronologically, beginning with the Magna Carta and ending with Ronald Reagan's 1988 speech at Moscow State University. Each document is introduced and placed in historical context. Difficult vocabulary is defined in the margins along with explanatory notes and commentary that aids in understanding the meaning and historical importance of each document. Neatly cross-referenced with key sections of A History of US, the Sourcebook and Index is an easy-to-use collection of the documents most essential to understanding American history. Included are some of the many voices whose words have moved the nation: Ben Franklin, Tom Paine, Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson, St. John de Crevecoeur, George Washington, Sagoyewatha, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, Alexis de Tocqueville, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, Chief Joseph, Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Ronald Reagan
Customer Reviews:
Easy to read, concise information.......2007-05-12
These books are indispensible to any family that enjoys a great home library. We are a homeschooling family & love to access the wide array of information available. The Sourcebook & Index is a must-have companion to all the other 10 books in this set. It is just that; an index of every topic covered & where to find it. Follow the guides to study the wealth of info, or just use it randomly to encourage more exploration on any US History subject.
Makes reading about American History fun.......2006-11-10
This entire series of books is wonderful. The author's style of writing is almost whimsical and makes reading about American history so interesting, you don't want to put the book down. The best books on American history I've seen yet!
90% twaddle or fluff, 10% fact and not very well written.......2006-08-30
We just completed the first three books in this ten-book series and are even more frustrated. I can only wonder if any of the reviewers who recommended these books actually read them for content. While reviewers have described her writing as 'telling a story', it is actually rambling on and on over minutia that is unimportant while leaving the truly important parts of history barely written of. Homeschoolers pay for vast collections of educational books and, as a group, we have high standards for what is worth paying $200 for. This series isn't even worth $20.
Time is valuable and the nine months we have spent on the first three volumes was 90% wasted. Hakim jumps from one part of a story to a different part of another story and then returns as though this is part of a natural thought process--it's not. She includes minute details about the way someone's maid or valet dressed and will ramble on for five pages regarding their footwear. While she may be interested in that twaddle, we are not. Most of the chapters are organized around what pictures she found fascinating, rather than actual history. Chapter after chapter, we read about people I would never waste my time on and the comings and goings of everything in their household, from what they ate, to how each person looked in appearance, to (again) their footwear. Aside from an obvious foot fetish, Hakim has nothing substantial to offer and rambles on, book after book, into nothingness. We were saddened to find many famous events given only one sentence (e.g. Shay's Rebellion), while many pages were devoted to insignificance (e.g. over 40 pages per book devoted to large pictures of insignifcant drawings).
The last detail that made this series so disappointing was the obvious slant of Hakim's writing--slamming one framer, while making another out to be a saint. Like those who start a sentence with the words "I'm not prejudice, but...", Hakim starts her books with the preface that she is depicting what happened with no prejudice toward any belief system--not. As homeschoolers, we have learned to read with a critical eye those words that are used to incite an emotion--wasted, hated, dictated, etc.--Hakim uses them much too frequently. Hate words should be removed from history books, they just don't belong.
My children have asked me to add that what they dislike most about this book is that Hakim's definitions are so incredibly inaccurate. Just today, she defined the word paradox so poorly that we had to grab the dictionary to read the correct definition. Oxford should hire a better fact-checker.
review for the sourcebook A History of US.......2005-10-19
This is an amazing book. I think it is geared for older childern 5th-6th grade and up. It has writings in it that I have never seen. It is very though.
A supplemental collection of documents that shaped America.......2003-08-14
In an idealized world, or more particularly a perfect classroom, it would be nice if there was a CD-Rom that came along with each set of history textbooks for a classroom that would contain all sorts of wonderful study guides for teachers along with a collection of documents from American history that could easily be printed and then copies created for the students. The current alternative is a volume such as this "Sourcebook and Index," compiled by Byron Hollinshead with introductory notes by Steven Mintz as a supplement to Joy Hakim's 10-volume A History of US series. Of course, this volume also works as a stand-along reference, providing a collection of great American documents, most of which are touched upon in your standard American history textbook. I have a strong affinity for primary documents, and this collection provides almost 100 of them in this collection of letters, declarations, proclamations, court decisions, laws, acts, speeches, the Constitution, and other writings, all arranged chronologically from "Magna Carta" through Ronald Reagan's 1988 speech at Moscow State University. The goal is to illuminate the experience of the diverse groups that make up American society, so that in addition to influential Presidential speeches that are scattered throughout this volume young readers will also find the voices and experiences of Native Americans, African Americans, immigrants, women, and many other groups represented as well.
This sourcebook presents excerpts from many of the documents recommended on state frameworks and that support the National History Standards. At the beginning of each excerpt there is a note on where you can find the document or topic discussed in the series (e.g., John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address does with Chapter 17, Book 10, "All the People"), a headnote that provides background on the document and discusses why it is important, the text if the document, and definitions in the margins that will help readers understand unfamiliar word or unusual meanings as well as identifying historical figures mentioned in the documents. I especially appreciate the later because having co-edited a collection of great speeches I was quite proud of the annotations we provided and Hollinshead and Mintz are doing something similar here. The focus is on helping young readers tease out a document's assumptions, uncover its meaning, and assess its historical significance. For example, there are only two lines from "Magna Carta" but the analysis emphasizes the ideas of preserving rights, obeying the law of the land, and extending rights to all citizens.
By devoting an entire volume to such documents Hakim is able to get well beyond the few documents of state that often end up in the back of an American history textbook (i.e., the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc.). Here you will find the Articles of Confederation, the Homestead Act, and the Civil Rights Act. The Gettysburg Address is short enough to make its way into most textbooks but students will also find words from Lincoln's "House Divided," debate with Stephen Douglas, and Second Inaugural Address. When the authors works in John Marshall Harlan's dissenting opinion in Plessy v. Ferguson you know that they have done their homework and gone beyond the obvious possibilities. There are easily a dozen other impressive additions, from John C. Calhoun's speech on the Compromise of 1850 and Franklin D. Roosevelt's message to Congress on "The Four Freedoms" to Thomas Jefferson's "Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom" and Martin Luther King, Jr's letter from Birmingham City Jail.
Among the reasons why I would prefer a CD-Rom to a book in this matter is that you would not only be able to include many more documents, but you would also be able to provide them in their entirety. Even a relatively short speech such as Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!" is edited (and there is no reason you cannot either provide both complete and edited versions of the longer works and/or allow teachers to edit them themselves before making copies). However, I am well aware that my preference for primary documents may well be greater than your average student of American history. Even if you are not using Hakim's series, American history teachers can certainly use this volume to help expose their students to some of the most powerful words in our nation's history.
Customer Reviews:
Looking back at history without blinkers.......2006-06-30
In this book, Richard Maybury attempts to present a point of view of historical events which are linked to the rise of Nazi Germany and later, World War II. Without condoning his excesses in any way, Maybury shows that it was the political circumstances of the times that created the egregious nature of the Hitler that we know. And the same circumstances that led to the making of a Hitler, are present in today's society in good measure. And that we are to be forewarned by hindsight.
Certainly Hitler was no angel. However, as Maybury shows, neither were Winston Churchill or Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In order to contain Hitler, they ended up siding with Stalin, who was one of the worst murderers in human history, displaying clearly through actual facts and figures, exactly who was responsible for more lives lost. Maybury debunks the widely accepted theory that Hitler was the only megalomaniac the world has ever known and that the Allies (the proverbial good guys) were forced to do what they did (carpet bombing) in order to extinguish him in the larger interest of the world. He shows that the number of civilian lives lost on account of Allied activity in Germany, was in fact, far greater. He goes on to show that the Allied military machinery was so much more precise, so much more well- oiled and so much more powerful. This point is illustrated by using the analogy of a wolf against a lion. The wolf (in this case it is Hitler) can have the initial advantage over a sleeping lion (the Allies), but never, a final victory.
Besides putting across a totally new and refreshingly original perspective on historical events, Maybury makes some interesting conjectures. One question, for instance, Japan was ready to surrender after Hiroshima. Was the Nagasaki bomb needed? Why was it deployed? Another question is about Pearl Harbour. Was it planned (by the Americans)? Did the Japanese walk into a trap? What was the real motive of the Allied powers? World Domination? All these questions are increasingly valid today.
Of course, all the conjectures need not be valid, and our so called heroes, leaders and statesmen (no women, unfortunately) possibly had a little more greatness or courage in them than Maybury gives them credit for. However, isn't it high time that the widely accepted version of history and historical events presented in school textbooks is publicly questioned, so that these legendary figures are not made into the kind of idols which they are made out to be?
Read this book with an open mind. It will make you think. It will shatter a few illusions. But you will feel the stench of truth.
oh no, another anti-government book.......2006-02-07
If you are a homeschooler with a deep mistrust of your government, then this is the book for you. I make that statement as a homeschooling mother, myself. The basic premise of the book may have a small amount of credibility,(yes, Stalin murdered lots of people, too.)But to make outrageous claims like, "The Jewish Holocaust gets the publicity because it is regarded as the justification for Jews to have a Jewish State (Israel) in the Mideast." (pg. 36), and, concerning Pearl Harbor, "Few are willing to face the possibility that the President and his cronies planned it all." (pg. 162), really show the author's bias.
In short, if you are looking for a book with facts and the whys and wherefores of WWII--this ain't it! Look somewhere else.
absurd view sprinkled with real facts.......2005-10-11
The premise of this ridiculous book is that the U.S. should not have fought World War 2 because Stalin was worse than Hitler. Book might impress some grammer school children who have not studied much history, but will not be taken seriously by anyone that has any real knowledge of the subject or is not a neo-nazi crazy person.
You, yes, you!.......2004-12-21
Hey you, yes, you. You gotta read this book! Its all that the positive reviews say it is. A real eye opener on the real motivations for all those wars of choice undertaken in what turned out to be the pursuit of economic interests.
Amazing how the tales of valor we have all grown up with, written by the victors, collides in the fullness of time with what turns out to be documented facts.
If we only knew beforehand, eh?
Mary Mueller is prejudiced.......2004-10-19
Before I bought this book, I read librarian Mary Mueller's original review of it. I was particularly interested in her comment (which has since been removed from her review), "He makes numerous other outrageous claims, which he supports with historical scholarship that is questionable at best...."
So I found her contact information at the school where she works and emailed her about her comment, asking her what she meant about the author's "questionable" scholarship. She wrote back saying, "Maybury uses sources that could best be described as fringe, and they are not sources that are published by mainstream publishers or university presses."
Well, I bought the book anyway, and I learned that Ms Mueller's remarks were highly prejudiced. Maybury's sources were researchers who had combed through U.S. Government records released under the Freedom of Information Act. In other words, in Ms. Mueller's view, the U.S. Government's records can't be trusted because they're neither "mainstream" nor "university." What a crock!
Interestingly enough, after I bought the book, I revisited Amazon and found that Ms. Mueller had changed her review, removing the damning passage and replacing it with a broad-based rejection of Maybury's political viewpoint. At least she realized that she was wrong then. Too bad she doesn't realize she's wrong now, too!
The Uncle Eric books are generally good, and the viewpoint they provide is desperately needed in this country. My only complaint is that they're very repetitive, often duplicating the same arguments verbatim. It's as if the author simply copied-and-pasted whole sections of previous paragraphs and chapters. I'd have given the book five stars instead of four if the author hadn't resorted to this dumbing down tactic.
Still, this book is well-worth reading.
Book Description
Designed to accompany Joy Hakim's ten volume A History of US or as a stand alone reference, this collection of great American documents is ideal for all students of American history. Filled with primary sources, the Sourcebook and Index traces the gradual unfolding of ideas of freedom in America through letters, declarations, proclamations, court decisions, speeches, laws, acts, the Constitution, and other writings.
Customer Reviews:
History the fun way.......2007-03-09
These books will have all ages learning or reviewing history with fascination as if reading a good novel. Joy Hakim informs with a humorous, plain-spoken manner that will keep you glued to the pages. My kids and I are enchanted by Hakim's flowing presentation and always read more of her information than we need for the sake of homework.
Book Description
Features a complete index and vocabulary to the series, as well as a collection of 94 primary sources relating the U.S. history that will make every history lover ecstatic. This sourcebook traces the development of the fundamental ideals on which our society is based: free speech and a free press, religious toleration, due process of law, racial equality, and government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Beginning with the Magna Carta and concluding with a speech delivered by President Ronald Reagan at Moscow State University in 1988--celebrating the spread of American ideals of freedom at the end of the Cold War--this sourcebook allows students to analyze the charter documents of American freedom. These include our society's basic constitutional documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, landmark Supreme Court decisions from Marbury v. Madison to the Pentagon Papers case, the most influential presidential addresses, and documents illuminating the experience of the diverse groups that make up our society.
Customer Reviews:
A supplemental collection of documents that shaped America.......2003-08-14
In an idealized world, or more particularly a perfect classroom, it would be nice if there was a CD-Rom that came along with each set of history textbooks for a classroom that would contain all sorts of wonderful study guides for teachers along with a collection of documents from American history that could easily be printed and then copies created for the students. The current alternative is a volume such as this "Sourcebook and Index," compiled by Byron Hollinshead with introductory notes by Steven Mintz as a supplement to Joy Hakim's 10-volume A History of US series. Of course, this volume also works as a stand-along reference, providing a collection of great American documents, most of which are touched upon in your standard American history textbook. I have a strong affinity for primary documents, and this collection provides almost 100 of them in this collection of letters, declarations, proclamations, court decisions, laws, acts, speeches, the Constitution, and other writings, all arranged chronologically from "Magna Carta" through Ronald Reagan's 1988 speech at Moscow State University. The goal is to illuminate the experience of the diverse groups that make up American society, so that in addition to influential Presidential speeches that are scattered throughout this volume young readers will also find the voices and experiences of Native Americans, African Americans, immigrants, women, and many other groups represented as well.
This sourcebook presents excerpts from many of the documents recommended on state frameworks and that support the National History Standards. At the beginning of each excerpt there is a note on where you can find the document or topic discussed in the series (e.g., John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address does with Chapter 17, Book 10, "All the People"), a headnote that provides background on the document and discusses why it is important, the text if the document, and definitions in the margins that will help readers understand unfamiliar word or unusual meanings as well as identifying historical figures mentioned in the documents. I especially appreciate the later because having co-edited a collection of great speeches I was quite proud of the annotations we provided and Hollinshead and Mintz are doing something similar here. The focus is on helping young readers tease out a document's assumptions, uncover its meaning, and assess its historical significance. For example, there are only two lines from "Magna Carta" but the analysis emphasizes the ideas of preserving rights, obeying the law of the land, and extending rights to all citizens.
By devoting an entire volume to such documents Hakim is able to get well beyond the few documents of state that often end up in the back of an American history textbook (i.e., the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc.). Here you will find the Articles of Confederation, the Homestead Act, and the Civil Rights Act. The Gettysburg Address is short enough to make its way into most textbooks but students will also find words from Lincoln's "House Divided," debate with Stephen Douglas, and Second Inaugural Address. When the authors works in John Marshall Harlan's dissenting opinion in Plessy v. Ferguson you know that they have done their homework and gone beyond the obvious possibilities. There are easily a dozen other impressive additions, from John C. Calhoun's speech on the Compromise of 1850 and Franklin D. Roosevelt's message to Congress on "The Four Freedoms" to Thomas Jefferson's "Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom" and Martin Luther King, Jr's letter from Birmingham City Jail.
Among the reasons why I would prefer a CD-Rom to a book in this matter is that you would not only be able to include many more documents, but you would also be able to provide them in their entirety. Even a relatively short speech such as Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!" is edited (and there is no reason you cannot either provide both complete and edited versions of the longer works and/or allow teachers to edit them themselves before making copies). However, I am well aware that my preference for primary documents may well be greater than your average student of American history. Even if you are not using Hakim's series, American history teachers can certainly use this volume to help expose their students to some of the most powerful words in our nation's history.
Customer Reviews:
A tragic event glossed over........2007-08-15
I was very disappointed, not enough detailed information. This book seemed to be written for children. The day's events deserved more coverage.
Book Description
In an intimate and moving portrait of the occurrences of September 11, 2001 and its aftermath, A Nation Challenged is a tragic, yet ultimately reassuring record of the most pivotal event in modern American history. After witnessing such monumental acts of destruction and violence, America's children were inundated with new fears. Some of them grieve for lost loved ones, some of them grieve out of sheer confusion and anxiety, and some of them cannot grieve at all, unable to comprehend the enormity of what happened. This book will answer their questions about how and why these acts occurred in
Customer Reviews:
Straightforward account for children.......2006-07-05
The book was written for elementary school readers and tells a straightforward tale about people doing heroic deeds. In this case, the passengers in a hijacked plane decide to over power suicidal Muslim terrorists. By doing so, the passengers saved the White House or Capital, and all the people who might have been in the building had the plane crashed into it.
After introducing the reader to the situation, the next several chapters try to explain the motivations of the murderous hijackers. There are general comments about Islam, Al Qaeda, and jihad. The book concludes Islam is a religion of peace, jihad is a personal struggle, and Al Qaeda misinterprets the Koran. There is also an introduction to the captured 5th hijacker, Zacarias Moussaoui, who would have been on the plane had he not been arrested. There is a brief discussion of Moussaoui's planned role, and the possibility that a 5 man hijacking team could have held off the passengers until the plane crashed in Washington DC.
The story is told without any fictionalized conversation. The style is documentary, with many quotation of actual conversations between passengers and people on the ground.
Excellent Book.......2003-05-10
This is an excellent book, and I would so say even if the author weren't my sister. This book has excellent information, including things I wasn't aware of from what I gathered from the news. It is written so that children will understand, but great for adults, too.
Books:
- The Ancient Maya, 6th Edition
- The Army of Flanders and the Spanish Road, 15671659: The Logistics of Spanish Victory and Defeat in the Low Countries' Wars (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern History)
- The Book Thief (Book Sense Book of the Year Children's Literature (Awards))
- The Bookseller of Kabul
- The Celtic Way of Seeing: Meditations on the Irish Spirit Wheel
- The Chemistry of Everything
- The Cloud Atlas
- The Clouds Should Know Me By Now: Buddhist Poet Monks of China
- The Destruction of the European Jews
- The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Munchkin: Kill the Monsters, Steal the Treasure, Stab Your Buddy
- Christmas in Camelot
- Stress, Stress Hormones and the Immune System
- Simulation and the Monte Carlo Method
- Watchdogs of Democracy
- Community Policing: Partnerships for Problem Solving with Infotrac
- After the Finish Line: The Race to End Horse Slaughter in America
- The Horizon Book of Great Cathedrals,
- The Art of Color: The Subjective Experience and Objective Rationale of Color.
- Grass Beyond the Mountains: Discovering the Last Great Cattle Frontier on the North American Contine
Exploration & Discovery
| History & Historical Fiction
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
The Higher Power of Lucky
Rules (Newbery Honor Book)
Flotsam (Caldecott Medal Book)
Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea (Scientists in the Field Series)
Hattie Big Sky
