Customer Reviews:
Great research tool, questionable organization.......2006-08-03
This is an absolutely invaluable resource for dating old photos. Don't expect much gearhead content- this is strictly a spotters guide, mostly compiled from sales art.
A few complaints about organization:
1. It's a compilation of three other books, so comparing, say, a '39 to a '40 Chevy or a '65 to a '66 Ford requires jumping ahead literally hundreds of pages. Even page numbering starts over in each new section.
2. It's ostensibly in sequence by manufacturer rather than year, but sometimes by model instead- for example, in 1965 and prior, 'Tempest' and 'Thunderbird' follow 'Studebaker', rather than being listed with Pontiac and Ford. Jump ahead to 1966, and they're back under the manufacturer again... makes navigation a serious act of patience.
3. No index, despite being 1,079 pages.
Warts and all, it's a fantastic resource.
The BEST Automobile Reference.......2003-03-06
Excellent reference guide to automobiles. Uses actual ads to present the cars. Also includes sticker prices. This is a great book!
M. E.
American Car Bible.......2000-03-16
The best quick reference guide for all makes and models of American automobiles I have ever seen. Gives key changes to look for to identify specific model years.
Book Description
National Bestseller
New York Times Editors’ Choice
Winner of the PEN Hessell Tiltman Prize
Winner of the Duff Cooper Prize
Silver Medalist for the Arthur Ross Book Award
of the Council on Foreign Relations
Finalist for the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award
For six months in 1919, after the end of “the war to end all wars,” the Big Three—President Woodrow Wilson, British prime minister David Lloyd George, and French premier Georges Clemenceau—met in Paris to shape a lasting peace. In this landmark work of narrative history, Margaret MacMillan gives a dramatic and intimate view of those fateful days, which saw new political entities—Iraq, Yugoslavia, and Palestine, among them—born out of the ruins of bankrupt empires, and the borders of the modern world redrawn.
Customer Reviews:
How we ended up where we are today!.......2007-10-13
Paris 1919 is a good book that looks at the "peace" effort that was forced on the World by the victors of the Great War. It is a good overall look at the competing interest and political difficulties that left the world divided and led to the almost endless struggles in Europe, the Middle East, and in other far off regions.
Paris 1919.......2007-08-23
Margaret Macmillan's Paris 1919 is a masterful work that shows the complexity of the negotiations after World War One and just how enormous the task at hand truly was. There is no blame for what happened, or what didn't happen. She does not blame the future on this treaty. her approach is fresh and inspiring. Her writing style is fast-paced yet she clearly understands her subject.
For many it is easy to follow earlier accounts and say that World War Two had its origin in Paris in 1919. Contemporaries of Wilson, Clemanceau, and Lloyd George used such predictions to drive home their point. When the Second World War erupted, many looked to these critics of Versailles and agreed. For some, these critics appear as prophets.
Not so, says Macmillan. It is an easy cop out to avoid responsibility to place blame, throw up one's hands and say there is nothing they can do, then brood. True, if the Council of Four (Three) had had a better grasp of their world they might not have made the decisions they did, but one cannot blame the past for the future. There were plenty of stubborn decisions at Paris, but the participants had their own hands tied by earlier secret deals and the like. None in Paris blamed the past that led to those secret deals for the quandry they found themselves in, so why should future generations blame the Paris negotiators?
This treaty is so vast, and so complex, it is a wonder Macmillan was able to cover it in just under 500 pages of text. She is a first rate author and a first rate scholar. It will take quite a feat to write a better account of the Versailles Treaty.
A Good Example of How Good Intentions Can Go Wrong.......2007-08-13
This book gives an excellant example of what can happen when people try to make a better world and let too much of the old world invade and frustrate what you are trying accomplish. It shows how when the Allies sat down after the Armistace was signed to create a peace that would last, too many of the promises and treaties signed during the war came back to haunt those same nations that had made them.
The format is interesting in each chapter zeroes in on a specific area of the conference. It is helpful in that all the informaton for say Poland is in one area, but kind of makes you lose the chronological flow of the conference where so many of these things were happening at the same time. It makes for a good reference in that you can look up a certain topic without having to skim through the whole chronological timeline to find it. A chronological scheme of events would have been even harder to accomplish since several topics were handled on the same day at the conference and the reader would have been lost in all the detail.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in WW1 and how the Treaty of Versailles was drawn up. It shows how all of the participants were human with flaws and strengths. It also shows how different nations can view the same idea differently and how you can end up with less than you hoped for when all is said and done.
A tour de force in historical narrative.......2007-07-03
1919 masses a vast amount of information about the critical period of the negotiations of the Treaty of Versailles and tangential treaties that ended the Great War. At its best, 1919 ties it all together to draw relevance to today's world.
Macmillan charges through a dense web of diplomatic doings but livens the mix with vivid personalities and dramatic conversations. TE Lawrence, Kemal Ataturk, Bratianu of Romania, D'Annunzio of Italy. Macmillan strikes a neutral view overall, but one detects a sense of favor to Lloyd George, her great-grandfather. She teases him about his sense of geography, but generally he seems to rise above Wilson and Clemenceau in the telling. Woodrow Wilson is depicted as a sad and frustrated old man.
Each nation altered by the peacemakers is treated in turn. Ironically, Germany gets the least depth of treatment. Macmillan seems to say "you know the rest of that story" but still connects the dots to the next conflict. More focus is on the less told stories of how Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman empires were carved up and new nations formed.
A tour de force in historical narrative. Fascinating.
History woven with personalities and culture.......2007-06-04
What an incredibly powerful point in history. The ending of an era of dynasties lasting centuries and monarchy for several countries along with the evolution of communism. The personalities of the leaders and how they related in the process is fascinating. The process of breaking up the Austrian-Hungary empire as well as the Ottoman empire and the ramifications resulting are worth the read.
I enjoyed the cultural differences outlined between the French, English, American and Italian as well, not to mention the German, Japanese, Chinese, Greek and others. The evolution of America and the American position on foreign affairs is also worthy of note.
There is much complex material and much history of the areas in question but I recommend this book highly.
Book Description
From the era of Pan Am clippers, bias cut gowns, and free Cuba comes the nightclub—swank, sophisticated, and, sadly, no more. In their heyday, few destinations were as alluring as the Stork Club, El Morocco, the French Casino, Cotton Club, Latin Quarter, Cocoanut Grove and other clubs that lit up the velvety evening hours. Where else could one dine while Frank Sinatra sang, or sip a martini while Jimmy Durante and a troupe of Carmen Miranda-clad chorus girls danced across the stage?
For the first time ever, Nightclub Nights opens the door to that glamorous, colorful, and vanished world. Using gorgeous, riotously colored authentic programs, menus, and period photography, author Susan Waggoner brings the nightclub back to sizzling life—from celebrity sanctuaries like Sherman Billingsley's Stork Club, where the rope line was invented, to the Latin beat of the Tropicana and the Chinese flair of Khubla Khan's. Impeccably designed and printed on heavy stock that replicates the original quality of the authentic artwork, this volume is filled with period history and anecdotes about the clubs as well as the stars and other noteworthies who frequented and performed at them. Today, with the resurgence of the cocktail hour, ballroom dancing, and supper clubs, Nightclub Nights is sure to appeal to audiences young and old as well as to those interested in popular culture and graphic design.
Rich with color, style, and atmosphere, Nightclub Nights is the next best thing to a table for two at the Copa.
Customer Reviews:
Handsome Book, Good Source For Appreciators Of Cocktail..........2003-04-11
A handsomely bound book with lots of colour and a real feeling of nostalgia throughout. I thought the book was well set up for easy reading and the enclosed anecdotes were usually charming and interesting. Some very sharp looking sepia-toned photos throughout the book along with colorful graphics and photos. Nice reproduced images of the various clubs' promotional material as well. I would have myself liked to see more photos of the people who worked in these establishments in "action" so to speak. Meaning, photos of flashy bartenders mixing up a martini, or beautiful cigarette girls, or a waiter with a tray full of fancy drinks, etc. I would have also liked to know what ever happened to the clubs themselves after they closed. Were they bulldozed? Do some still exist albeit in another form? However, the book is one of the few tributes in printed form to the period of the luxurious dinner clubs and night clubs of the first half of the 20th century. That alone makes it a must have for enthusiasts of the long gone cocktail "set". I was in the club industry for most of my working years, so I do know a little of the lifestlye! Wish I could have been around the "French Casino" or the "Cocoanut Grove" back in the heyday. It looked like a marvelous time to be alive in America and enjoy the true meaning of "a night on the town".
Vintage Classics!.......2001-05-07
I am here to actually review the author, Susan. I know how hard she works and her committment to presenting the best is phenomenal. Susan is an amazing author and I am honored to call her my cousin!!
Average customer rating:
- The Pope is Awesome
- Quotable Quotes from Pope John Paul II
- Inspirational!
- powerful words that inform, enlighten and inspire
- Inspirational
|
Pope John Paul II: In My Own Words
Pope John Paul II
Manufacturer: Gramercy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Religious
| Leaders & Notable People
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Catholicism
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Popes
| Catholicism
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Roman Catholicism
| Catholicism
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Pope John Paul II
| ( P )
| Authors, A-Z
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Bargain Books
| Stores
| Books
General
| Biography
| Bargain Books
| Stores
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Religious
| Leaders & Notable People
| Biographies & Memoirs
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
( P )
| Authors, A-Z
| Religion & Spirituality
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Catholicism
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Roman Catholicism
| Catholicism
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Religion & Spirituality
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Jesus of Nazareth
-
The Way to Christ : Spiritual Exercises
-
Crossing the Threshold of Hope
-
Memory and Identity: Conversations at the Dawn of a Millennium
-
The Wisdom of John Paul II: The Pope on Life's Most Vital Questions
ASIN: 0517220849
Release Date: 2002-08-06 |
Book Description
Spiritual father of millions, globally influential leader: Pope John Paul II's words have brought inspiration, solace, and courage to those who have listened. The quotes and prayers collected here are both for the faithful and for those who have been touched by and want to know more about this remarkable man. His words on love, family, truth, freedom, human relationships, the power of God, and the importance of hope and prayer explore what it means to be alive and what we are doing here on Earth, and offer answers to some of life's hardest questions.
Customer Reviews:
The Pope is Awesome.......2007-07-25
This is some words to the wise by the beloved Pope John Paul II. There's not really too much to get out of it besides some prayers. He is on a level of sainthood such as Mother Teresa and is probably the most famous pope in history. It was an international emergency when he deceased recently, I always hated people making fun of the pope in a cartoonish fashion, which they will surely rot in hell. We miss you, Jean Paul, and I hope to God Pope Benedict is doing a goodly job of filling your shoes. God bless. R.I.P. Pope John Paul II, god bless your soul.
Quotable Quotes from Pope John Paul II.......2006-11-04
`Pope John Paul II: In My Own Words.' Whose words? The title was ambiguous and misleading. Though I found the book on the stands I didn't buy it. Eventually a friend gave me a copy and I sat down with it. The inside flap cover of the book calls it "Pope John Paul II: In His Own Words." That title makes better sense. Whatever the title be, the book contains valuable quotes from the spiritual giant of our time, Pope John Paul II. These quotes and prayers from the Pope's pastoral letters, homilies, encyclicals, speeches and audiences are classified into different heads. There is also an introduction containing a short biography of the late pope. It is a nice little book on Pope John Paul II, useful for easy reference.
Inspirational!.......2006-03-24
This book is a collection of quotations by the late Pope John Paul II and covers a variety of topics, including Salvation, Truth and Freedom, The Christian Life, Marriage and the Family, The Priesthood, Mary among many others.
This is not the type of book where you should take large bites of in one sitting. This work is better off nibbled piece by piece. I found the passages in this book wonderful inspiration for reflection and prayer. I would rarely read more than a couple of pages at a time. I would read a limited number of passages (as few as one, rarely more than five) and pause to reflect on them and sometimes oven pray over them. I found them not only spiritually edifying, but also intellectual in content.
These quotes were selected and compiled by Anthony F. Chiffolo. The come from homilies, encyclicals, pastoral letters, his own autobiography, among other sources. They are highly inspirational. The holiness and love for God, Christ, and Mary that the Pope has is clearly evident. Even though he is on his eternal journey in Heaven now, for many people like myself, though we have a new Pope, he will always have a special place in the hearts of millions.
powerful words that inform, enlighten and inspire.......2006-03-24
Anthony Chiffolo has compiled the words of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II from many of the Pope's letters, speeches, presentations and encyclicals. The quotes and prayers of Pope John Paul II are arranged into fourteen short and concise chapters, with the subjects being the Trinity, Faith, Christian Life, Progress and the Modern World, the Church, Sacraments and the Priesthood as well as others. His words are personal and intimate, yet at the same time they reach out to everyone. They have the power to touch the reader and to inform, enlighten and inspire.
Inspirational.......2005-12-23
It is hard to imagine not having this in my personal library now that I own it. I struggle at times to find a springboard for my prayers, and after opening up the pages of this book, it was easy to find sources of inspiration. It is a well organized collection of some of Pope John Paul II's most interesting and moving quotes taken throughout his papacy. I recommend it for people who seek an introduction to this Pope's life and legacy.
Book Description
The twenties and thirties witnessed dramatic changes in American life: increasing urbanization, technological innovation, cultural upheaval, and economic disaster. In this fascinating book, the prize-winning historian David Kyvig describes everyday life in these decades, when automobiles and home electricity became commonplace, when radio and the movies became broadly popular.
Customer Reviews:
Not very satisfied.......2007-01-17
Last time I could chose free freight, but this time no free freight.
Not so much daily lives.......2007-01-04
My real interest in this book was to learn how ordinary people coped with life in a great depression. What interests me is in finding out how certain parts of society experienced it as I am sure the impact varies greatly.
This book - despite its title - clearly fails to answer this. Sure it tells me some of the reasons around the boom and bust, and some statistics on unemplyment, etc. But what I really wanted was the 'how they lived their lives' aspect that the title and blurb teased me with.
Despite my annoyance, I can't give this a 1 star (which is what it is worth to me) since it is a well written book and covers the topic well.
Informative.......2006-01-05
I wanted a book that give accurate information about life during the 1920's and 1930's. This book definitely does that, but I felt like I was back in history class in high school. I found myself skimming over a lot of it because there was so much detailed information. And I hate to sound like a third grader, but I would have liked to have seen more photos. This book is great if you have to give a report or gather historic information, but I found it a bit tedious to read during my lunch hour.
A broad overview laced with fascinating details.......2005-12-07
The automobile and electricity are so common in today's society that it is difficult to imagine life without them. It is easy to forget that at one time these things we take for granted were new innovations that altered every aspect of life. In Kyvig's thoughtful examination of American daily life through the 1920s and 1930s, he explores the innovations that changed daily life and the varying speeds at which changes were accepted. He begins his enlightening examination with a discussion of daily life in the 1920s, prior to many of the changes he later discusses. Then he smoothly transitions into a discussion of the technology that completely changed the lives of contemporary Americans in both rural and urban settings, including the automobile, electricity, radio and cinema. Kyvig's clever and insightful portrayal demonstrates the full implications of technology. For example, he shows how the automobile made it possible for people live farther from work, led to the school consolidation movement and changed dating rituals as teenagers ventured farther than their own front porches with their dates for the first time.
His discussion on the Great Depression, however, changes its focus to a discussion of government adminstration and programs, and is not as fascinating or focused on "daily life" of common people as the rest of his book.
This book was enjoyable to read and covered a variety of aspects on the daily lives of Americans, so it would have wide appeal for a number of readers. It is backed by solid scholarly research, and includes fascinating pictures that add to the enjoyment of the narrative. Kyvig has a true talent for writing, and this is apparent through reading his book. His study should not be overlooked as just another book on daily life in the 1920s and 1930s - it is an all-encompassing study that provides insight into a number of aspects of daily life. It also provides a detailed, fascinating history of the development of the automobile and its impacts on life.
Very general, but worth the read.......2005-05-31
Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940, by David E. Kyvig, traces the developments in American culture and lifestyle during this critical period. Using US Census Data, Kyvig calls attention to the demographic changes that occurred over these dynamic twenty years, one of the strong points of this book. Among the technological developments discussed are the automobile, electricity, radio and movies. There are two chapters devoted to the day-to-day aspects of life during that time covering such topics as food, fashion, hygiene, courtship, etc. Kyvig also discusses the impact of the Great Depression, the New Deal and the expanded role of government during that era.
As a former history teacher, this book reminds me strongly of an expanded version of the typical US History chapter covering this time period. It isn't terribly deep, but does provide a solid overview. It is well-written, easy to read, and is a good starting point for people interested in the time period (or for students who need help for a research paper). Those of us who want more detailed information will need to look elsewhere.
Book Description
This text presents the best synthesis of current scholarship available to emphasize the theme of expansionism and its manifestations. The inclusion of recently declassified documents allows for new perspectives on American intervention in the Bolshevik Revolution, the origins of the Cold War and the Korean War, and the Cuban missile crisis.
Book Description
The presidential election of 1920 was one of the most dramatic ever. For the only time in the nation’s history, six once-and-future presidents hoped to end up in the White House: Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, and Theodore Roosevelt. It was an election that saw unprecedented levels of publicity — the Republicans outspent the Democrats by 4 to 1 — and it was the first to garner extensive newspaper and newsreel coverage. It was also the first election in which women could vote. Meanwhile, the 1920 census showed that America had become an urban nation — automobiles, mass production, chain stores, and easy credit were transforming the economy and America was limbering up for the most spectacular decade of its history, the roaring ’20s. Award-winning historian David Pietrusza’s riveting new work presents a dazzling panorama of presidential personalities, ambitions, plots, and counterplots — a picture of modern America at the crossroads.
Customer Reviews:
Entertaining and Insightful.......2007-09-03
Pietrusza's volume brings the vivid history of the 1920 election to life. Both entertaining and insightful, it provides exceptionally well crafted "mini" biographies of the Six Presidents and how their careers intersected that year. The narrative is rich and compelling as it peeks into the backrooms and describes the national mood. Pietrusza's handling of the personalities, issues, trends and techniques that went on to define American politics in the first half of the 20th century is to be recommended to anyone with an interest in presidential biography or U.S. political history.
Lively Account.......2007-08-31
I really enjoyed this engaging account of the 1920 election. Mr. Pietrusza's portraits of the main players in this drama were especially colorful, while successfully avoiding caricature. This reader was prompted to reflect on the fact that human nature really doesn't change, even though times and circumstances certainly do.
The narrative moves at a brisk pace, even while interspersed with the personal profiles. Pietrusza tells a fine story, and his turns of phrase display both a fine wit and a keen power of perception.
I highly recommend this book to any non-specialist as an unbiased, yet entertaining and highly readable work of popular history.
Insightful and fascinating.......2007-08-29
Gets to the heart of what history is about - the interplay of persons, the motives that drive them, and the consequences (intended and otherwise) of their choices.
The writing style is engaging; sounding more like story-telling than like a textbook. But don't let that fool you into thinking this is history-lite; it is obviously well researched (and well cited) and sets forth facts, not judgements.
In preparation of the 2008 elections, read this book. It will remind you that the quality of the person is as least as important as the the politics of the party.
Not for the serious reader of history.......2007-08-27
A fascinating subject ... laid out in simplistic terms, skipping over huge sections of important history, utilizing unexplained leaps of logic and so jerkily written that the reader has to keep flipping back to find the one brief reference already made to a person on Page 9 who is suddenly in the thick of the action on Page 31.
And I stopped reading after I hit the raving, homophobic chapter on FDR.
Two stars are for an interesting premise. Zero stars for execution.
Gripping and -- remarkably -- unbiased popular history.......2007-07-22
Though Pietrusza, the author of a number of works of juvenile history and a well-respected biography of the notorious gambler and World Series fixer Arnold Rothstein, never really does explain why the year 1920 "witnessed the birth of modern America," his clear and captivating narrative succeeds in convincing the reader that this was one heck of an event-filled twelve-month period. The six presidents referenced in the title - Woodrow Wilson (the sick, declining, and bitter incumbent), Warren Harding (the unlikely Republican nominee and election winner), Calvin Coolidge (Harding's running mate and eventual successor upon the former's death), Herbert Hoover (the ill-fated but then-revered "Great Engineer" and "Great Humanitarian"), Theodore Roosevelt (the former President and likely 1920 Republican nominee had he not died in 1919), and Franklin Roosevelt (the energetic and ambitious vice-presidential candidate of what turned out to be a doomed Democratic ticket) - did indeed all play significant roles in public affairs that year, though T.R.'s was more indirect, more in the nature of a long shadow cast over the 1920 Presidential campaign. (William Howard Taft gets mentioned numerous times, but he was more of a judicial sideline watcher by this point.) Critical opinions of these men wander all over the map and tend to be strongly colored by ideological biases, but it is to Pietrusza's credit that he doesn't play favorites, though one can detect a slight tilt towards Coolidge (not surprising, given that the author had some role in the Coolidge Memorial Foundation) and a certain amount of disdain for Wilson's arrogance and bullheadedness. Such touchy subjects as women's suffrage, the Sacco and Vanzetti case, Socialism, civil rights, and the Ku Klux Klan are presented in the same straightforward manner. Pietrusza goes against the grain by arguing that the supposedly "bossed" Republican convention was more prone to be swayed by delegates' enthusiasm than the Democratic conclave, though his argument rests rather strongly on the Republican delegates' overwhelming endorsement of Coolidge for vice-president over several better-fancied candidates. It is refreshing to read a popular historical tome that does not pay much attention to drawing conclusions that are politically correct, but instead presents a multi-faceted - and somewhat tragic, given the ultimate fates of Wilson, Harding, and Hoover - view of a stormy epoch in 20th century American history. Very highly recommended.
Customer Reviews:
History? If you are kind!.......2003-02-14
I don't mean to be unkind, but this book is really pretty worthless as much more than something you leave on your coffee table to impress your less perseptive guests. All the other reviews must have been written by the author or his friends, because their descriptions have little to do with my own perception of this book. In the first place, it is written in a style that does not inspire confidence; the tone is somewhere between that of a rookie newspaper reporter and that of a game show host. In the second place, the content of the book, which proports to be "social history", is of the caliber of a weak television documentary, barely organized and calculated to entertain. Too be sure, the accouterments of a real historical work are here (notes etc.), but the "You Are There" approach is more appropriate for an eighth grade social studies text than a serious work of history. I suppose that if you are seeking a mildly amusing read that requires little thought or contemplation, this would do. But surely the author, who is a professor of history, is capable of approaching this promising subject with some professionalism. If so, it is not evident here. Don't waste your time.
The Development of a City Culture.......1999-11-24
This book really touched me very deeply. My family came to the city during the late 1800's. The struggles of the people and the mass of challenges they faced seems daunting to those of us who are ancestors.
This book truly gave me a new perspective on the struggles that my family went through when they settled in Chicago. It gives me a new view of life as we now have it compared to those days.
One would never really understand what the people of Chicago faced during the growth of the city during the era discussed in this book. Duiz captured the essence of the struggles quite well.
To the author, I say, "Thanks for the wonderful insights you gave me! "
The Development of a City Culture.......1999-11-24
This book really touched me very deeply. My family came to the city during the late 1800's. The struggles of the people and the mass of challenges they faced seems daunting to those of us who are ancestors.
This book truly gave me a new perspective on the struggles that my family went through when they settled in Chicago. It gives me a new view of life as we now have it compared to those days.
One would never really understand what the people of Chicago faced during the growth of the city during the era discussed in this book. Duiz capyured the essence of the struggles quite well.
To the author, I say Thanks for the wonderful insights you gave me!
stories of our city's infrastructures-told like a novel........1999-04-19
Fascinating prose on subjects I would rarely consider interesting. Yet this author makes the stories of the city's infrustructure read like a novel. Truly impressed by his referenced work and his knowledge of the city. Made me wish I could step back in time.
A must read for every reader of Chicago history........1999-01-29
For anyone who knows the challenges of "coping with every day life" in Chicago, in this book lies many surprises. Modern day dwellers of Chicago will appreciate all those who came before them. Modern day historians of Chicago will wish they wrote this book. I, admittedly a representative of both groups, look at Chicago and it's history with a greater understanding of the people who "coped" before me. People are the key. From the first page the reader begins to identify with the needs and dreams of people just trying to make ends meet. The origins of our neighborhoods and the history of the people who built them give meaning and surprising insight how Chicago is the sum of all it's parts. Challenging Chicago also offers a treasure of old photographs that add to the story of everyday life in Chicago. If you're buying a book on Chicago this year-buy this one. Your next walk down the streets of Chicago will come alive with the stories of people who walked there first.
Book Description
Unique for its breadth of coverage and depth of analysis this uncommonly readable book is certain to become a classic. Five of the book's ten chapters provide in-depth analyses of representative companies and the remarkable people who led them. These firms include McDonald's, Procter & Gamble, Boeing, General Motors, and Ford-all of which began as entrepreneurial startups and grew to become big businesses. Their success stories are counterbalanced by a detailed dissection of the monumental failure of RCA, long the world leader in consumer electronics but today all but extinct.
Interspersed with the company-centered chapters are five brief "overview" chapters: one each on women and African Americans in business, and three on vital sectors of American business: first finance, then chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and, most recently, computers, Silicon Valley, and the Internet.
With 35 photographs and a comprehensive bibliographic essay, this compact, enjoyable work will be highly appreciated by anyone interested in how American business powered the twentieth century.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent reference for academic use or personal enjoyment.......2000-12-28
I read this book for business school and enjoyed it thoroughly enough to recommend it to friends and family who are interested in the recent history of business. This book documents the major events and themes in American Business during the past 80 years. The writing gives enough detail without being boring. In addition, I found it interesting to see how certain themes persist through time proving that history does repeat itself. The book is a very quick read and provides the reader with enough information on each era. After that, the reader can use the suggested reading list to learn more about the subjects, eras and people that might interest him/her. Overall, a great read.
Amazon.com
When Abstract Expressionism burst on the American scene in the 1940s, it elbowed another kind of American expressionism off the stage. Vivid evocations of the poor and disenfranchised in paintings by Jack Levine, Bernece Berkman and many others were now seen as stodgy and unsophisticated. In American Expressionism: Art and Social Change 1920-1950, cultural historian Bram Dijkstra argues that a generation of important left-wing artists, many of them Jewish, were the victims of intellectual, political and corporate interests bent on promoting a brighter, shinier United States. Unfortunately, Dijkstra undercuts his thesis with a haranguing tone, unconvincing analyses of individual works, and a dated view of abstraction as inherently "anti-humanist." His sweeping denunciation of "Nordic" (i.e., white, Protestant) artists leads him to view even an heroically scaled painting of a black soldier by John Steuart Curry—a "Nordic" artist collected by the NAACP—as a racist cartoon. At the heart of this contentious volume are 233 illustrations by dozens of little-known artists united by a passion for social justice. These works can be seen in a traveling exhibition at the Columbus (Ohio) Museum of Art from May 16 to August 24, 2003.—Cathy Curtis
Book Description
During the 1920s and '30s and until the end of World War II, a distinctly American form of Expressionism evolved. Most of the artists in this movement, children of immigrants from eastern and southern Europe, African Americans, and other outsiders to American mainstream culture, grew up in the urban ghettoes of the East Coast or Chicago. Their art was sympathetic to the dispossessed and reflected a deep concern with the lives of working people. Providing a fascinating look at this art--and at the beginning of a new movement, Abstract Impressionism which followed it--cultural historian Bram Dijkstra offers new insights into the roots of painting in America today.
Dijkstra examines the new emphasis these socially conscious artists brought to the pursuit of the American ideals of equality, dignity, and justice for all. Provocatively he suggests that Abstract Expressionism came to be used as part of a backlash, deliberately fostered by conservative political and corporate interests, against the socially conscious Expressionist paintings and the WPA projects supported by the Roosevelt administration. Profusely illustrated throughout with works of art seldom seen today, the book coincides with an important traveling exhibition of the art of this period.
Customer Reviews:
Just excellent.......2007-01-30
An excellent compilation of a mid-century American art style. Despite the promised controversy, Dijkstra's commentaries are brilliant and quite convincing. This is certainly not a pretty or unemotional art. But what a rewarding experience.
A masterpiece!!.......2003-08-16
AMERICAN EXPRESSIONISM is a beautiful book and one could have no better guide that cultural historian Bram Dijkstra. He is passionate, articulate, intelligent and knowledgeable about his subject. I am richer and have a deeper appreciation for the world of expressionism for having experienced this fine book.
Bravo.
Books:
- Mysteries of the Middle Ages: The Rise of Feminism, Science, and Art from the Cults of Catholic Europe
- National Geographic Concise History of the World: An Illustrated Time Line (Timeline)
- National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States, 5th Ed. (National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States)
- Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel, and the War on Terror
- Ojibwe Waasa Inaabidaa: We Look In All Directions
- One Grain Of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale
- People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present (P.S.)
- Rain of Gold
- Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know--And Doesn't
- Rick Steves' Croatia and Slovenia 2007 (Rick Steves)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- History: Fiction or Science
- Wild Orchids of the Northeast: New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey
- Membrane Fusion Technique, Part A, Volume 220
- Quantum Mechanics and Its Emergent Macrophysics
- The Art of Florence
- Wild Justice
- Understanding and Training Your Dog or Puppy
- Painting the Forth Bridge: A Search for Scottish Identity
- Rem Koolhaas: Conversations with Students
- Cytology of ferns of the Western Ghats, South India
