Book Description

One of the most distinguished women on the African continent, Mamphela Ramphele has been a prominent activist, medical doctor, anthropologist, teacher, and university leader, as well as a mother to two sons and lover of slain leader Steven Biko. Across Boundaries chronicles Ramphele’s inspiring journey, and reveals the staggering personal losses that coexisted with her astonishing political and professional achievements. Booklist writes, “what gives [this memoir} special power is not only the political freedom story, but her honesty about her failures and her fury and her survivor guilt.There’s deep commitment here, but not martyrdom…women everywhere will recognize her conflicts about her roles as mother, academic, political activist, lover, and friend.” ... Read more

Reviews (6)

interesting
This book is about Mamphelafs political life. Personal aspects of her life are rarely told unless they pertain to her activism or illustrate inequality. Individuals are rarely mentioned; those that are, are rarely mentioned more than once.

Donft read this book if you want an old-fashioned story with interesting characters who interact to create entertaining plots.

Read this book to learn about the battle of a black woman against patriarchal apartheid. Read about her gsuperwomanh strengths and the sacrifices she made for the movement.

A Mother's Struggle
Across Boundaries is an excellent book focussing on a mother's struggle to want a job and to be a mother at the same time. Even thogh this book was written by a woman from Africa it still pertains to many American mothers who struggle over the same problem. This book did not only focus on the mother aspect, but also on the fact that a woman wanted to help the condition of other woman also.

Mamphela's Struggle as a Woman
I found Mamphela Ramphele's autobiography very interesting and amazing. The struggles she went through during her life absolutely amazed me! She is one of the strongest women I have ever heard of. I enjoyed reading about her fight for rights, her relationship with Steve Biko, and how she balanced all of her activities. I found it very interesting that she did not put motherhood as a priority in her life as many other women do. I enjoyed reading "Across Boundaries" and I thought Mamphela did a good job of telling the true story of her life.

Over Coming Social Restrictions in Africa
Across Boundaries was an excellent book about a women's struggle to be amother and have a career. As said in the book "Recognising thatyou are a member of the global village is essential to lifting you above the narrow nationalistic interests and concerns of your own country (222)." Mamphela's life was a pursuit for women to rise above the boundaries and the story was very detailed, and well written! END

Across Boundaries
Across Boundaries by Mamphela Ramphele is a fascinating autobiography about the extraordinary journey of a South African woman leader. From historical events to her personal experiences, Ramphele describes these events and struggles with dignity. Throughout her endeavors as a young child and continued to her adulthood, she is committed and determined to succeed and to make a difference. An honest testimony that shows her fears and courage. This is an excellent book and it will keep you reading for this one woman's strength is amazing. Through moderate to difficult times and tribulations Mamphela Ramphele keeps a remarkable and uplifting attitude that helps bring new light to unfortunate situations. ... Read more

Book Description

"Most Americans recognize the name of John Birch because of the high-profile and often controversial anti-communist John Birch Society founded in his honor. But few people know the true story of this courageous Christian missionary and United States intelligence agent in China during World War II, to whom countless American airmen owe their lives because of his unrelenting tenacity. Even fewer know the story of his brutal murder, which was covered up by U.S. government officials for years.

James and Marti Hefley's book reveals the background of this patriotic young man who was gunned down and mutilated by Chinese Communists 12 days after the war ended and who many believe was the true unsung hero of the China War Theater in World War II. Captain John M. Birch, the son of devout Christian parents, landed in China in 1939 when he was barely 22 years old. Entering language school, he became fluent in Chinese to begin work as an itinerant missionary. The advancing Japanese army soon changed his plans. He went on to become an intelligence officer for Gen. Claire Chennault, legendary leader of the Flying Tigers of World War II fame. Chennault described Birch as "more valuable to me than any pilot" for his rugged, dangerous work behind Japanese lines.

The truth of who John Birch was and what he stood for negates the preconceived notions many Americans may have of this World War II figure and depicts him as the crackerjack sent out by Chennault to rescue American airmen who were shot down in remote areas of China.The story line takes the reader through a gamut of emotions--from the sense of security created by his warm, loving family, to his love of the people of China, where he was known as Bey Shang We. Birch's strong view of patriotism, coupled with his romance with a Scottish nurse, gives a sense of joyous release when victory is won in China. This contrasts vividly with the visualization of his mutilated body and the ensuing cover-up of his murder, theoretically to keep Americans from rising in their wrath and veto further appeasement of communism in that post-World War II China era.

The file, for decades marked SECRET and placed under lock and key, was finally declassified in 1972 through the Freedom of Information Act. Through countless interviews with military officials, Birch's officer colleagues, members of the Birch family, and other organizations, the Hefleys piece together this unprecedented look into the life of this intriguing and misunderstood war hero." ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A thrilling biography of one of the greatest Americans.
I found it difficult to put this book down before had I finished it, and I can't say that about many books that I have read.

The Hefleys did a superb job "painting a picture" of the short life of this incredible man. Birch was a very "intense" character; I got the impression he was always working on something, he was non-stop...whether it was the rescue of the Doolittle crew, or setting up an intelligence network across the entirety of China or most importantly, bringing Chinese brothers and sisters to Christ, John never let anything stand in his way.

It has been said (in this book and in other sources) that John's death was a result of his "irrational behavior" which in turn, was a result of 3 years of his non-stop activity behind enemy lines. But from what I read, I understand that John knew something that the rest of these people did not understand. You see, John was a very intelligent man...how many English-speaking people do you know are capable of mastering several Chinese dialects in 6 weeks?

John saw something about these "agrarian reformers--" he saw the pure wickedness within them. So John, at the very end of his life, was willing to sacrifice himself, in order to make a demonstration as to whether the Communists were our friend or our enemy. This very nearly became a tragic mistake--you see, John assumed that if the Communists killed him and thus demonstrated themselves to be our enemy, then the United States would immediately seek retribution and demolish the Communists, at least those in China. This turned out not to be the case. In fact, our US Government sought to cover up John's death. This the government did by listing the murder of Birch as an "accident--" that is, "he was killed by stray bullets" was the lie. And what was the reason for this cover up? Well, the Truman administration and their allies in the press did not want to make the murder public, lest there be resentment held by the American people against the Communists! And why would these conspirators care about something like that happening? Take a wild guess.

In spite of all this, a miracle did happen. A Chinese companion of John Birch, who was left to die with Birch, and who suffered nearly the same wounds as Birch, lived to tell his story. And the truth became known. Not by many people at first, but thanks to the loving dedication of Mr. and Mrs. George Birch (John's parents) and Mr. Robert Welch, the life and death of John Birch began to become known to millions of Americans. If it were not for the work of these three people, I guarantee you you would never have heard of this man John Birch, and neither would I be writing this review.

Unfortunately too many well-meaning Americans (some are even characters in this book) chastise Robert Welch for naming his Society after Birch. They say "John would never approve." From what I read in this book by the Hefleys, I get the impression that John would approve. (John's parents certainly approved!) John may not ever have joined the John Birch Society, however I know that he would have approved the hard work and dedication of Mr. Welch and members of the Society in "getting the word out." This is exactly what John wanted to have happen.

Fascinating story of Christian conscience!
Forget about the society that bears his name and read the Real Story of an unusual Christian hero. John Birch, soul-winner, soldier and patriot is a man you would do well to read about, and Hefly-- a foremost Christian biographer-- does a great job presenting his story and the decisions of his conscience in the light of God's Word.

Good reading for any Christian and especially any Independent Baptist.

The story the insiders don't want you to know
This book tells the true story of a real American hero. John Birch was a Christian Missionary serving in China when the Japaneese attacked China. John Birch put together the intelligence network that allowed the Flying Tigers to be effective in cripling the Japaneese supply lines to the war effort. At the end of the war, Lt. Birch was betrayed and was murdered by the soldiers of Mao Tse Tung and the Communist regime. ... Read more

Book Description

Oliver Otis Howard devoted his life to the service of his country, both as a distinguished army officer in two wars and as the founder of two universities. Olvier Otis Howard was a graduate of Bowdoin College and of West Point. Being reared in a pious New England (Maine) atmosphere gave him a deep sense of obligation to lead a Christian life, for the good of others and for the development of his own best self. He was often disturbed by the conflict presented him in his dual career in peace and war.

General Howard's strong sense of duty to his country brought about his distinguished career of command during the Civil War- at the Battle of Chancellorsville itself a disappointing rout, and at Gettysburg, where he recovered any reputation the earlier defeat might have lost him. Under General Sherman, in the Atlanta campaign, and as a leader of the Army of the Tennessee, he won special distinction. In total, Howard fought at the First Bull Run, Fair Oaks (where severe wounds forced the amputation of his right arm), the Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg.

The same strong sense of duty made him accept the commission of the Freedmen's Bureau and the promotion of African-American education. Following his service in the Nez Perce Campaign of 1877 he was superintendent of West Point and the founder of Lincoln Memorial University. His greatest service to education however, was as founder and president of Howard University, where his name and career are held in honor. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Awakenings
As a new member of the profession, Tompkins book enlightened me as to the reason we have paralysis in higher education - its not that the paralysis is required, but its a feature of those of who are a part of it. As I read about Tompkins discoveries, something as simple as recognizing that a teacher needs to 'read the room' and tailor learning to the mood, convinced me that I am doing something right. But the disturbing part to discover is that while Tompkins has awakened herself to new approaches to teaching, her colleagues are still largely unaware. her presentation of her childhood - and the final connection to how this affects her teaching was dead-on.

A must-read about Tompkins' journey through life & academe
I enjoy reading books by women about women as they perceive their journey through academe. This is an especially good piece of work. Tompkins is an English professor at Duke. The book is autobiographical and profoundly evocative. It is an intense interpretation of the innertwinings of her personal and professional life. Tompkins discusses her life--from elementary school, through her doctoral program at Yale, through her life as a nontenured and then tenured faculty member--and, in the process, discusses issues that are important to so many of us in the Academy. She writes wonderfully about teaching, learning, and working at a research university. This is a book that will make you laugh, cry, and shake your head because of the way that she is so thoroughly introspective and incisive. Here's just a sample: "Peacable kingdoms aren't born; they are made. And that is why it seems to me that the university, like other places of employment, needs to become aware of itself as a social organism. This would mean that the leadership would become self-conscious about the nature of human interaction on the campus, finding a way to involve everybody--undergraduates, secretaries, janitorial staff, administrators, professors at all ranks, part-time faculty, graduate students, and visiting scholars. It would mean devoting time and effort to building good relationships. Right now, the culture of the research university militates agains the quality of life because such concerns are regarded as peripheral to the university's main business. They're perceived as unintellectual, more or less on the level of housekeeping.... But if research universities like the one I work at are going to become places where people like to come to work in the morning, where the employees have a stake and feel they belong, then they will have to model something besides the ideal of individual excellence--the Olympic polevaulter making it over the bar. By modeling the way that they do business, they'll need to model our dependence on one another, our need for mutual respect and support, acceptance, and encouragement. If the places that young people go to be educated don't embody the ideals of community, cooperation, and harmony, then what young people will learn will be the behavior these institutions do exemplify: competition, hierarchy, busyness, and isolation." Her observations about undergraduate education and teaching, as well as the description of her personal jouney as a teacher, are first-rate. The chapters entitled, "Ash Wednesday" and "The Cloister and the Heart," are among the best--if not the best--in the book. For example, in the "Cloister" chapter, she writes: "The university has come to resemble an assembly line, a mode of production that it professes to disdain. Each professor gets to turn one little screw--his specialty--and the student comes to him to get that screw turned. Then on to the next. The integrating function is left entirely to the student.... It would be more helpful to students if, as a starting point, universities conceived education less as training for a career than as the introduction to a life." This is a must-read for faculty and administrators. Enjoy! Frank Fear, Michigan State University ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent Book
From reading this book a few days ago, I have to say that this is a excellent book surroung the life of a man who died at Columbine almost 6 years ago and I thought that this was a good exple of a life well lived.

As that his family are among the very few that I respect as a result from what happened at Columbine(with regards to their actions as well as their attitude since what happened), I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who want to know more about Dave Sanders and his life.

Wow.This is a must read
If all ordinary people lived in extraordinary ways like this man, the world would be a better place.There is a piece of all of us in this book. ... Read more

Book Description

This unique and celebrated biography describes how a largely self- educated boy from a small village in Scotland entered the world of scholarship andbecame the first editor of the Oxford English Dictionary and a great lexicographer. It alsoprovides an absorbing account of how the dictionary was written, the personalities of thepeople working on it, and the endless difficulties that nearly led to the whole enterprisebeing abandoned. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The most comprehensive biography of the father of the OED
Elisabeth Murray writes a wonderful and highly detailed biography of her grandfather, James Murray. Simon Winchester reintroduced many in this country to Mr. Murray in his book The Professor and the Madman, which told the story of Murray and an American living in an English asylum named W. C. Minor. This book was highly readable, but not comprehensive as a true biography of Murray.

James Murray, the first editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, was a gentle man of words who dedicated his life to the study of the English Language. His efforts are best understood in this book by the descriptions Elisabeth gives of his scriptorum, where Murray spent the majority of his life, and where Elisabeth worked as a young lady.

In reading about this man's life and the effort that was required to undertake the construction of this dictionary, one really gets a sense of the vastness and complexity of the English Language, the historical richness and the regional diversity. One also sees in florid detail the life of one of the great late-Victorian pedants.

Fascinating history of a great man and a great work
This is really two books in one: the life story of James Murray, first editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, and the tale of the dictionary itself. Both are lovingly told. It's a must read for anyone interested in dictionaries or linguistics.

"J. Murray more major than W.C. Minor"
Elizabeth Murray, the granddaughter of James Murray, who was the chief editor of the huge Oxford English Dictionary on which every serious scholar of English continues to depend, has written an excellent biography of the greatest English lexicographer, and done more: she has also given an insight into his personality, and, yet more importantly, into the whole scholarly world of philology, lexicography etc. in Victorian England, and the difficulties which beset the creators of the dictionary. I recommend the biography most highly, and feel that all fans of *The Surgeon of Crowthorne* (chiefly on Dr W.C. Minor) should read this - preferably BEFORE that book (so as to get a sense of context), but otherwise after. - Joost Daalder, Professor of English, Flinders University (see "More about me')

Well written, but perhaps a bit self-serving?
I enjoyed this book for the most part. It really conveys the sense of martyrdom that Murray must have felt during the 30-some years that he worked on the Dictionary. After a while, however, it got a little old--chapter after chapter describing the horrible deprivation Murray suffered at the hands of the Delagacy of the Oxford University Press into which he was virtually forced.

Whenever there were "good years", the book would read something like "...and then the Delagacy let up on the poor guy for a while, but then so-and-so was named the new Secretary and he turned out to be an idiot". Then the author (actually Murray's granddaughter) spends another chapter detailing how so-and-so made Murray's life a living hell.

Like I said before, this gets to be tiring. It seems as if she has an axe to grind with the OUP after all these years and has made the main point of this book to be a crusade of some sort. She wants the world to know just how much pain and suffering dear old granddad went through. I couldn't help thinking that, in reality, he was just some kind of ultra-perfectionist nutcase and somewhat of a big crybaby.

Other than that, I recommend the book as being informative and interesting.

this is the one that should have been the bestseller
Finally, days after writing a review of the Madman and theProfessor, I remembered that this was the book that I enjoyed so muchmore. While the author of that book went for the cheesy effects and Victorian tricks, this author concentrated on the making of the dictionary itself and the extraordinary devotion of Murray. It is inspiring to read about people back in those days who really devoted their lives to invention and intellectual pursuits. Once you read the description of the scriptorium and how Murray farmed out assignments to literally thousands of readers, you'll appreciate why the OED is such an important reference work. If not for marketing, this book would be the best seller about the making of the OED. A great read from start to finish. ... Read more

Book Description

Bliss Wiant went to China in 1923 with the lofty goal of some day introducing hymns to Chinese Christians that would not sound foreign to them. It was a goal that occupied much of his life. The locale of his work was Yenching University, which was arguably the premier institution of higher education in China. There he established a department of music, and enabled students to discover and develop their musical talents. There also he taught students who had never before seen a western musical score, to sing and to love Handel's Messiah and other great music of the west. In less than 10 years after its first performance, the reputation of the university chorus was such that it was invited by the government of China to present the Messiah in Nanking, the national capitol, as the finale to a two-week exposition of the arts.

A major milestone in the pursuit of his life's goal was reached in that same year (1937), when a hymnal (English Title, "Hymns of Universal Praise") was published. This was the culmination of years of collaborative effort involving scores of individuals. Not only was the hymnal a uniquely inter-denominational achievement, it also included for the first time, a substantial number of original, indigenous hymns.

Wiant's work in China produced in him a great love for the people as well as a deep admiration for their culture, which he saw both as misunderstood and unappreciated in the U.S. Consequently he devoted much of his energy in the years that followed to being a cultural ambassador, representing China to his own countrymen. An important manifestation of this was his work and that of his wife, Mildred, in translating into English a number of the Chinese hymns that first appeared in Hymns of Universal Praise. Several of these are now found in hymns used in the U.S., in effect closing a circle begun when Wiant went to China in 1923.

Much of the account of Wiant's life experience is in his own words, taken from his letters to members of his family in the U.S. His years in China were among the most turbulent of recent times. They saw the defeat of the warlords by Chiang Kai-shek, leader of the Nationalist Government, and the strife that eventuated in the overthrow of the Nationalists by Mao Tze-Tung, founder of the present Communist regime. Between these two ascendancies to power, much of China, including the north, was under Japanese occupation. The constant turmoil of those years presented continual challenges to those attempting to maintain a semblance of normalcy in their lives and work. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Perfect
As a person that has studied East Asian cultural history academically for years, and a person who will be teaching China just four months from now, I found this book to be perfect.It was not written by a scholar, and I think in reality that is what makes it great.It is simply a man with a love for Asian culture, who came to be exposed to the reality of modern China.Still, even with all the hardships, his love remained.It is a testament to Americans that can see beyond the perceptions built by our own society, and also to the Chinese culture that was able to shine even under the political turmoil.Mark Salzman would not only write a wonderful book from his experience, but he also carried the beauty of wushu back to the United States, which is an accomplishment in and of itself.This book has incredible insight into Chinese culture, of course from an American perspective.There are too many good points about this book, and the movie that was produced as a result, to begin to list them here.I suggest you simply buy it and be prepared for a very enjoyable read, and maybe possibly a change in your perceptions.

A book on the essence of martial arts
This book, even though not written by a professional writer, tells the true life story of a martial artist and his search for a teacher. The story combines a description of China and its traditions , and the teachings of a true martial artist. It is focused on philosophy and changes the traditional view of martial arts as a violent art. It's a novel with a message. ... Read more

Book Description

In Meeting the Professor, Alexander Blackburn tells the story of growing up as the son of William Blackburn, the legendary professor of English at Duke University. Before his death in 1972, William Blackburn formed strong mentor-protégé relationships with such students as William Styron, Reynolds Price, Fred Chappell, and Guy Davenport, to name only a few. Styron would later describe William Blackburn as "unquestionably a glorious teacher."Through Alexander Blackburn's compassionate look at the "presence and influence of the unique and noble figures" of his parents, we also gain insight into his own struggles to become a writer and teacher. ... Read more

Book Description

The dramatic and warmly human story of the first woman to earn a university degree ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Review from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"This well-researched biography of the first woman to earn a university degree...conveys the majesty of the Italian baroque period and [the Lady Cornaro's] astonishing scholarship." (Donald Miller, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Senior Editor)

LADY CORNARO: Chosen as "Book Lover's Calendar" Feature
I recently noticed that the popular "Book Lover's Page-a-Day Calendar" chose to include THE LADY CORNARO as its featured "star" for December 11, 2002.

"You've probably never heard of Elena Cornaro," observes the calendar entry, "yet she holds a unique place in history. In 1678, she became the first woman in Europe to receive a Ph.D. Jane Howard Guernsey's book is the first full-length biography of this remarkably accomplished woman . . . an inspiring story."

I believe that it is highly appropriate for THE LADY CORNARO to be included in a book lover's daily calendar described as "365 days of good authors, good books and good reading . . . the calendar of passionate recommendations." Truly, THE LADY CORNARO is an outstanding book, worthy of a passionate recommendation!

One of the 100 most important people of the last 1000 years.
Although it is unlikely to happen, Elena Cornaro really should be nominated one of the hundred most important people of the last thousand years. In this carefully researched and highly readable book, Jane Howard Guernsey has successfully reconstructed the story of the Lady Cornaro's astonishing achievements and raised the questions they invite. The author has added to the recoverable information about the life of "The Cornaro," as she was affectionately known to her fellow Venetians, valuable contextual details about the life and milieu of Venice and Padua and about her tutors and contemporaries. These details elucidate both the uniqueness of the opportunities granted her and the enormous stress under which she lived as she labored to do the will of her earthly and her heavenly fathers. (Professor Rizzo's more extensive review of "The Lady Cornaro: Pride and Prodigy of Venice" may be found in "Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature," Vol. 19, No. 1, Spring 2000.)

A Joy to Read
This book is a must-read for anyone who has studied under the Cornaro Window in Thompson Library at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. As you may know, the stunning Cornaro Window at Vassar celebrates Lady Elena Cornaro, the first woman to be awarded a Ph.D (University of Padua in 1678). This book describes Elena's life in 17th century Venice, including her relationships with her parents, teachers, and friends. It was refreshing to read a biography about a humble and formidable person. I highly recommend The Lady Cornaro - Pride and Prodigy of Venice. ... Read more

Book Description

Born in Ballycoan, Northern Ireland, Ruth C. Schwertfeger represents history and memory in an impressionistic memoir of her childhood on a farm and attending a girls' school in Belfast. Through the author's girlhood and discovery of her own national and religious identity, this humorous memoir is shaped significantly by images of Schwertfeger's father--"The Wee Wild One"--who spent his childhood on the same farm in Ballycoan. Schwertfeger provides her own interpretations of characters existing before her time and connects these and her own childhood memories in Ireland to her life today.

These stories, unmistakably from North Ireland, are unified by a common language, which also emerges as a touchstone that draws all Irish home. Schwertfeger's voice reflects a shared and persistent desire to return to one's roots, all the while appreciating the experiences that took her beyond Belfast, traveling and studying German literature. She also explores many facets of social life in Northern Ireland that are often hidden behind the stereotypes of history and public rhetoric. Her stories convey a passionate and articulate woman seeking to connect the scars of her native land with her understanding of the Holocaust, which has been her focal area of scholarship as an academic. ... Read more

Book Description

Prior to his death in 1985, Cratis Williams was a leading scholar of and spokesperson for Appalachian life and literature and a pioneer of the Appalachian studies movement. Williams was born in a log cabin on Caines Creek, Lawrence County, Kentucky, in 1911. To use his own terms, he was "a complete mountaineer."

This book is an edited compilation of Williams’ memoirs of his childhood. These autobiographical reminiscences often take the form of a folktale, with individual titles such as "Preacher Lang Gets Drunk" and "The Double Murder at Sledges." Schooled initially in traditional stories and ballads, he learned to read by the light of his grandfather’s whiskey still and excelled at the local one-room school. After becoming the first person from Caines Creek to attend and graduate from the county high school in Louisa, he taught in one-room schools while pursuing his own education. He earned both a BA and MA from the University of Kentucky before moving to Appalachian State Teacher’s College in 1942; later he earned a Ph.D. from New York University and then returned to Appalachian State. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Essential for those interested in Appalachian Studies
The stories of Cratis Williams are essential for the getting a glimpse of Appalachia. He is/was indeed the leading spokesperson and scholar of life in the Applachian Mountains. These stories deal mostly with his childhood growing up in rural Eastern Kentucky. These stories are unforgettable and profound.

Cratis Williams eventually came to Boone, North Carolina to teach school. He returned again after receiving his Ph.D. from New York University. Appalachian State University's graduate school is named for him.

"The Cratis Williams Chronicles: I Come to Boone" is another book that goes into detail about his coming to the high country of North Carolina. Highly Recommended.

If you're at all interested in peeling back the stereotypical images of Appalachia and peering into a region with soul and character, give Cratis Williams a read. ... Read more

Book Description

Evocative and quietly mesmerizing, Thad Ziolkowski’s On a Wave is a poignant look back at adolescence, a memoir of his surfing years that Time magazine called "a sun-bleached 1960s period piece—a wistful, white-collar daydream."

As a disenchanted, unemployed English professor, Thad decides one day to sneak away from his temp job in Manhattan and catch a wave off a dingy Queens shoreline. In the meager cold waves, he contemplates how he could have possibly become a semidepressed, chain-smoking, aimless man when for a few shining years of his boyhood, he was invincible.

His lapsed love affair with the ocean begins amid the late-sixties counterculture in coastal Florida. After his parents’ divorce, nine-year-old Thad escapes from his difficult family—notably a new brooding and explosive stepfather—by heading for the thrilling, uncharted waters of the local beach. In the embrace of the surf, he is able to stay offshore for years, until his life is upended once again, this time by a double tragedy that deposits him at a crossroads between a life in the waves and a life on land. Lyrical and disarmingly funny, On a Wave is a glorious portrait of youth that reminds readers of Tobias Wolff’s This Boy’s Life and Frank Conroy’s Stop-Time. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Brilliant and deeply moving
This was one of the best books I have ever read. The descriptions and prose were perfect. The writer brings you into his world in a way that anyone, especially someone of his era, can understand. I wish there was more! I was an avid surfer in Southern California, as a kid. But then came college, a job, life in a big city, marriage, kids, and soon you just forget about the surfing lifestyle, how it feels, what it means. I was hooked on this book from the prologue. And if that was all this book was about, then it wood have been a very enjoyable, good read. However, this book is so much more. It not only brought back the emotions of surfing, but also the emotions of childhood and growing up. I am so stoked to have found this book, and will pass it on to all my friends and family. I think I pull my board down from the rafters of my garage and clean it off this weekend. Who knows what could happen!

Excellent story. Well-written, funny, poignant
I am so sorry this book is over. It was a pleasure to read. Thad Ziolkowski is such a wonderful writer. His story is witty, eloquent, and moving. I have never had much interest in surfing, but that didn't change my enjoyment of the story. I particularly relished the parent-child dialogues and the amusing, self-deprecating recollections of childhood cognitions.

Best of the surf-book bunch!
I've read all of the surf-related books (including those offered here by Amazon), and I have to say this is the best! Great writing and imagery quickly took me back to my time in the surf, which is almost the same timeline as Thad (except on the other coast). Also note some early reading of Slater's "Pipe Dreams" looks to be a contender.

an engrossing, vivid memoir
I'm not a surfer, never even thought about surfing much, but once I started this book I couldn't stop thinking about it. Ziolkowski's book is a very deftly written story about coming to know the world through a focus on one thing -- the wave, in all its shifting, complicated, living grace. By studying that one thing with all his heart, the writer finds a way through the ordinary struggles of coming of age, but through some extraordinary ones, too. ON A WAVE artfully evokes a time and a place, and also a time of life. It's one of the best new memoirs I've read for a while. It really does share some of the strength and character of Frank Conroy's STOP TIME, which is serious praise indeed.

A fellow '78 grad of Mel Hi
This book took me back to a time that I am having a hard time remembering, now that I am slightly past 40. I used to see Thad in the hallways in high school, but sadly never got to know him. I also remember seeing a picture of his little brother Adam in Skateboarding magazine, as a profile for an up and coming skateboarder. Thad captured the mood perfectly of that brief time in the 70's where nothing else mattered but surfing (and girls). Several years ago, I rediscovered the almost religious feeling you get out in the ocean surfing with your buddies. While a lot of guys my age, at work, play golf on their off time, I've hooked up with several guys who like to arrive at the beach at day break, sip 7-11 coffee and paddle out in the lineup. Surfing can really be forever... ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A fascinating book of an academic pioneer and his work
Seeing Language In Sign: The Work Of William C. Stokoe by Jane Maher (Assistant Professor, Basic Education Program, Nassau Community College, Garden City, New York) is an informed and informative examination of the life and ground breaking work of William Stokoe, the man who dared to challenge the commonly held belief that sign language is not a true "language" in and of itself. Stokoe's study and intense research into the beauty, complexity, and linguistic formatives of what would come to be called American Sign Language forever transformed how the linguistic community would view the language of the deaf. A fascinating book of an academic pioneer and his work, Seeing Language In Sign is a highly recommended and invaluable addition to Linguistic Studies supplemental reading lists and academic reference collections.

Seeing Language in Sign
Seeing Language in Sign, by Jane Maher, held my attention to the last page.It is a true story about one of the most influencial hearing individuals in Deaf Society.William Stokoe was a true hero in his brilliance, committment and sacrifices to bring the true nature of American Sign Language to light.His story is inspiring and infuriating, as the reader learns of the obsticles placed in Stokoe's way as he strove to prove that ASL is a true language, full of all the richness and bredth of any spoken language. I was moved to tears several times and as I read the last page I wanted to meet this incredible man in person.The author wrote in such a manner that I felt as though I knew him personally.In my opinion, he deserves the Nobel Prize in Education.This book is a MUST READ for anyone who is serious about understanding ASL and Deaf Culture. ... Read more

Book Description

Anna Leonowens, a proper Englishwoman, was an unlikley candidate to change the course of Siamese (Thai) history. A young widow and mother, her services were engaged in the 1860's by King Mongkut of Siam to help him communicate with foreign governments and be the tutor to his children and favored concubines. Stepping off the steamer from London, Anna found herself in an exotic land she could have only dreamed of lush landscape of mystic faiths and curious people, and king's palace bustling with royal pageantry, ancient custom, and harems. One of her pupils, the young prince Chulalongkorn, was particularly influenced by Leonowens and her Western ideals. He learned about Abraham Lincoln and the tenets of democracy from her, and years later he would become Siam's most progressive king. He guided the country's transformation from a feudal state to a modern society, abolshing slavery and making many other radical reforms.

Weaving meticulously researched facts with beautifully imagined scenes, Margret Landon recreates an unforgettable portrait of life in a forgotten extotic land. Written more than fifty years ago, and translated into dozens of languages, Anna and the King of Siam (the inspiration for the magical play and film The King and I)continues to delight and enchant readers around the world.

Reviews (17)

Enjoyable, but far from the truth...
I am 15, so to establish my credibility I must explain that I am currently writing an enormous research paper on the controversy over various written and film versions of Anna and the King of Siam. After roughly three months of extensive background research, I read this book and found it to be almost entirely untrue. I believe that those who claim King Mongkut would not have accomplished what he did without Mrs. Leonowens counsel are disillusioned and clearly have not read much on the subject. He was an extremely enlightened and well-educated monarch with no reason to engage in conversation with an English schoolteacher. Many people actually believe that she met the King only once, or not at all. Despite the glaring errors, however, I have seen both the musical and the newest version with Jodie Foster and enjoyed them immensely. Read this book and see the movies only if you are aware that they are fictional.

anna and the king of siam
Many months of living and learning about the wonderful people in Thailand made me appreciate Anna and the King of Siam even more. This book provides many realistic details about the Thai culture during the 19th century. I read Anna and the King of Siam after reading Anna and the King. I found the contrast between the two books facinating. Although I enjoyed reading both books equally (for differenct reasons), Anna and the King of Siam provides more realistic version of interactions between an unkown foreign English teacher and a powerful king. The people of Thiland truly love and respect their king for many good reasons. Understanding this, however, one can understand how both movies regarding the story of Anna Leonowens (The King and I & Anna and the King) are currently banned in Thiland.

A great book!
"Anna and the King of Siam" is really a great book. Even though a lot of this story is fictional and based on some facts, its still fascinating. The book is very in depth, with a lot of detail. The story does become dull at times, particulary after Tuptim's death, but the book still picks up again. It was interesting to see how many more characters there are, their weren't used in all the movies of this story.

This book is definetly a great book for anyone interested in finding out more of the story of Anna and the King.

Anna and her vivid imagination
I can only adequately describe this book as dull and downright boring. Historically it needs to be taken with a grain of salt, although I accept that some of it is pertinent. As Jodie Foster's character in the recent remake of this saga posits, "England's ways are the ways of the world." Landon, with fervent missionary bent in hand, shouldn't have stayed in Thailand for so long given her contempt for their way of life.

Ultimately the books so called historical authenticity is the very thing you question. The idea of underground torture chambers or cellars, granted that Bangkok is at best marshy swamp and 6m above sea level, is ludicrous. And we are talking about the area of ratanakosin, one of Bangkok's lowest points vis-a-via the water. Also, did Landon not bother to look at Siamese history prior to her arrival and reposit the politics of the harem against contemporary Siamese history? Was she so blind to the success of Mongkut, and certainly Chulalongkorn, not to question the integrity of what Leonowens (a reinvented woman, if ever there was one) was writing?

The book just drags on about the role of women (a worthy issue nontheless) and the perfidous Siamese. It doesn't offer any insights into why the Siamese are this way, supposedly, and it smacks of neurotic Christo-centric 19th century morality, which bugs the hell out of most people. I can only reiterate that its ugly moralism and at times, often poor narrative, kill what could have otherwise been an interesting read.

Save your money and don't get the latest cinematic representation regardless of how well dressed up it might seem.

Fiction or not? That is the question. . .
"How old shall you be?"
"I am 150 years old, your Majesty."
"In what year shall you be borned?"
"Seventeen hundred and twelve, your Majesty."
"How many years should you be married?"
"Several, your Majesty."
Pause.
"How many grandchildren shall you have by now? How many? How many? How many? Ha! You do not answer that so quick. I make better questions than you answers, hmm?" (pages 58-59)

This is Mrs. Anna Leonowens (an English governess's) first introduction to the eccentric 59-year-old King of Siam, King Mongkut, in the 1860s. Margaret Landon's 'Anna and the King of Siam' is an intriguing, historical tale based on ancient, Siamese records and the secret diaries, letters, and conversations of Anna in Bangkok that reads like fiction but is amazingly genuine [some parts]. Anna, along with her six-year-old-son Louis, embark on an erratic odyssey through a foreign land of a cryptic culture that will, in a few months, become traditional to them. Yet there are some seemingly barbaric issues to be cleared up. Among them are slavery, the King's concubines in the harem, and the unjust treatment of several subjects. While Anna may have altercations with the King, she comes to revere his intellectual methods of attempting to create Siam a scientific nation in modern times but expresses severe criticism on needless occasions. As a governess, her duties are to instruct the royal children (of which there are more than 67; however, only the eldest participate) and aid the King in composing extraordinary letters to renowned world leaders, such as Abraham Lincoln and Queen Victoria. Prince Chulalongkorn, Anna's most prominent and smartest pupil, is heir to the throne on account of being the eldest; she attempts to steer him onto the positive path of ruling the country justly. Also bestowing color to Anna's experiences, including misadventures, other than irrelevant talks with the King on that of Moses and ethics is a cast of supporting characters: Tuptim (the slave), Lady Thiang (the King's head wife), Lady Son Klin, and countless others. Across Anna's remembrances, a message is conveyed: despite one's differences they must master the skill of understanding the outsiders and point them to salvation, excluding falsehood by supplanting it with truthfulness. 'Anna and the King of Siam' is a fascinating web of Siam's (now Thailand's) superb past filled with rich descriptions for a journey neither the reader or Anna will let sink into oblivion even until the breaking end. --P.J. Persad ... Read more

Book Description

Forrest McDonald is a legend in his own time. The NEH's sixteenth Jefferson Lecturer, he is one of our most eminent historians and the author of numerous provocative works on the early American republic, the Constitution, and the American presidency. Renowned for his sly wit and iconoclasm, he is also a conservative in a mostly liberal profession, a man who believes that his discipline has been subverted by those who serve public policy agendas. He now candidly recounts and reconsiders his own career, mixing in equal measure autobiography with a sharp critique of the historical craft.

Beginning in 1949, McDonald has traversed a sometimes rocky academic road from Brown University to Wayne State and finally the University of Alabama. He rose to prominence by arguing against the popular histories of Frederick Jackson Turner and Charles Beard, and his rebuttal of the latter was published as his seminal book We the People. Recovering the Past carries forward this critical tradition with McDonald's pointed comments on fellow historians from Kenneth Stampp to William Appleton Williams, his admiration for Oscar Handlin's book Truth in History, and his distaste for the revisionism of the New Left historians who depict the American story as an epic of oppression.

The norm is to write for one's fellow historians, he says, but that seems to me to be wrong-headed and to result in stultifying reading. I have chosen, instead, to write for that elusive critter called the general reader, or, more precisely, for the vast number of people who genuinely love history for its own sake--which, as will become evident, I regard as eliminating a sizable majority of professional historians.

As McDonald observes, thinking historically facilitates our knowing who and where we are, and the reward of studying the past comes when one realizes how its many parts fit together. As the pieces of his own past fall together, they form a story that will engross, inform, and even gall readers seeking an inside look behind the ivied walls of academe. Recovering the Past offers an eye-opening look at one man and his discipline; more than that, it is a manifesto for those who truly care about history. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Eros and Tragic
A painful but very compelling read. Culianu's death has not been solved on either the profane or more importantly,the occult level. The University of Chicago has quite a nefarious reputation starting with the fact that Rockefeller dollars control the place-not to mention it being a hotbed of Ayn Rand-ism amongst other unsavory things. Culianu's death reads more like some kind of ritual sacrifice-of someone who could have shifted the curriculum back to one that affirmed life and its magic instead of negating it into some deadpan charade of statistics and bar graphs. The murder of Professor Culiano represents both symbolically and literally the final demise of esoteric knowledge as a living and vital thing-at least in the academic world. Reading both Culiano's books as well as this one is a start towards a much needed revival.

Jaye Beldo: Netnous@Aol.Com

Eros and Magic.
If you enjoyed Umberto Eco's _Foucault's Pendulum_, you will undoubtedly enjoy this true life tale of magic, European politics, and murder. The book gives an accounting of the life of Ioan Culianu, a professor of comparative religion at the University of Chicago, from his birth in Romania to his untimely murder. Professor Culianu provided astounding insights into the world of magic and attempted to explain its occurrences through complexity. He published many books on magic, comparative religion, shamanism, and gnosticism. Like Mircea Eliade, a fellow Romanian and his mentor before him, Culianu contributed a great deal to our understanding of religion and magic. He also wrote several novels along with his fiancee Hillary Wiesner. This book provides a look into not only the worlds of Eliade and Culianu, but also a disturbing examination of far-right politics in Romania. Culianu's murder remains unsolved despite its obvious link to his outspoken views on the Romanian revolution which occurred just prior to his murder. However, many disturbing coincidences abound regarding this event.

A True Murder Mystery, by fermed
The shot that killed professor Ioan Culianu while he was sitting in a stall in the men's room came from a small Beretta: a .25 caliber gun, fired at leat 18 inches away from his head, for there were no gunpowder traces around the entry wound. It was the work of an expert, a person who stood on the toilet seat of the adjoining stall, and fired downward and into the back of his head; probably the shot of a left hander. Why only one shot? Why such a small caliber gun? Professionals are more heavy handed, more redundant, more brutal. This was exquisitely done, with minimal fuss and no traceable clues.

It was May, 1991, a little after one in the afternoon, at the University of Chicago Divinity School. Prof Culianu, a handsome man in his 40's had three books in press, was about to get married, was loved and respected by students and faculty, and was at the peak of his profession as a historian of religion. His work was recognized internationally, and he could look forward to the honors and comforts of a successful academic career.

Ted Anton presents the true tale of Prof. Culianu with deftness and care. It is a story that to this day continues to reverberate in academia and law enforcement because it has never been solved. Far more exciting than fiction, the story of this professor takes turns and dips that keep the reader on edge and breathless.Culianu was an expert not only on the traditional aspects of religions, but had an interest in the occult arts that formed part of the ancient rituals and practices. He was an expert in divination through geomancy, and was about to teach a course in this practice. He gravitated towards the occult. He knew about near death experiences and about the transmigration of souls; and at the same time he maintained his status as a legitimate scholar and teacher in one of America's prestigious universities.

Fictional stories about crimes and police work are very enjoyable, but reading a book like this renders the others insignificant by comparison. Of course truth is stranger than fiction, but it is also more exciting, more interesting, and finally...more scary.

Crime, politics, religion and the occult
Culiano taught religious studies at the Divinity School of the University of Chicago--the hand-picked successor to the great Mircea Eliade. Culiano specialized in magic, dualistic heresies and mystical experiences. He practiced what he studied as well, entertaining students and aggravating colleagues. But he also wrote political articles and fiction for a Romanian journal. These got him in trouble with the Romanian secret police; his murder has never been solved.

Blending religious studies, occult phenomena, political analysis, and true crime journalism, this book is also an entertaining and intriguing look at Culiano, academics in America, Romanian intellectual traditions. I hope many people read and enjoy it.

Critism on "Eros, Magic, and the Murder of Prof. Culianu"
Thought the title may be misleading, Anton's book about the never-ending quest for knowlage of a very intellectual Prof. Culianu is quite extential. Though he took four years to create it, the detail he shows through the litterary sense is astounding. He paints Culianu's life in such a way that he makes this great scholar's life and breakthroughs in the feild of comparitive religon illuminated to the rest of the world. This is a great work and does the late Ioan Culianu well. ... Read more

Book Description

Hailed by critics and readers across the country for its wit, irreverence, and unflinching honesty, Doing Battle illuminates the events and experiences that changed not only Paul Fussell but his entire generation.

Plucked from the pastoral middle-class sanctuary of Pasadena, where he grew up, twenty-year-old Fussell battle in southeastern France. While recovering from serious wounds he suffered in combat, Fussell vowed never to take orders again. His book makes clear how this newly subversive sensibility came to color all his later years -- as a Harvard Ph.D. student, as a professor of literature, and as a cultural commentator and author of such abidingly relevant books as Thank God for the Atom Bomb, Class. Wartime, and The Great War and Modern Memory.

Doing Battle is at once a summing-up of one man's life and a profoundly thoughtful portrait of America's own search for identity in the second half of this century. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Needs some ghosts and a couple of Prime Ministers
Somewhat by chance, I read this book immediately after reading Robert Graves' "Goodbye to All That" which I had read immediately after Samuel Hynes' "The Soldiers' Tale". I knew that Fussell would take inspiration from Graves but it wasn't until the end of this book that I discovered that he knows Samuel Hynes professionally.

Readers looking for a contrarian view of World War II should read Fussell's Wartime, one of my favorite books. This is more of a personal autobiography which I enjoyed for what it is. As it happens I enjoy reading about blood and guts but also about Poetics, so this is (also) my cup of tea. He doesn't really get in gear until he gets into the war. He could have added a lot more detail about growing up; he has a tendency to tell what his childhood was like rather than showing us, but the stuff about the poor training of the American infantry in World War II is really informative. I also find it interesting to read what it was like to get a PhD in English at Harvard after the War, and I wish he had actually gone into more detail about this, but that's just me.

I am a little surprised that he didn't add some ghost stories here and there and more references to famous people, like Prime Ministers and famous poets.

TO BE READ IN ONE SITTING
Since "Class" and "The Dumbing of America" are the only two of Fussell's books I've ever read, I was expecting more cranky musings of the "Catch-22" variety. This book both delighted and surprised me. It takes to task the revisionist history that American soldiers in WWII were intrinsically noble and motivated only by ideals. While this is a comforting notion, it is also an unlikely one. It may cause discomfort that Fussell refuses to deify the American vet of the second world war, since the "goodness" of that conflict is an idea embraced by our culture. The fact that incompetence and cowardice were also part of the story may not be palatable, but I'm impressed by the author's honesty in presenting his own experience. To those who take exception to some of the "facts" in this book, it is important to point out that this is a memoir not a history. In whatever way the author chooses to remember "his" war is entirely legitimate.

My only objection to "Doing Battle" is that it seemed to be two books. I would have preferred that it end with his release from the army. While the last chapters were engaging, they were to me somewhat gratuitous. The author's adventures in academia could be a book in itself.

I read it in one sitting and was sad to finish it.

Thank you Paul
His name must rhyme with tussle else the students he had at Connecticut College were not very good at poetry.
Very important point: his own description of his book "Class" (see especially p. 280 in "Doing Battle") describes it as straight irony. "Except for a page or two the book is unrelentingly facetious, packed with exaggerations and palpably irresponsible assertions, and I was astonished to find how many readers took it seriously." Beware of taking "Class" seriously!
I have to thank Paul for a very interesting autobiography. It continues to amaze me that biography makes so much clearer than does an author's straight forward critical work. You certainly need both. But a sense of the person who writes makes what they write so much more sensible. This book is more enjoyable than some other autobiographies. Still, it leaves me in a quandary. Much that PF says strikes home but there is always a sense that PF lives within a particular narrative (by the way, he critiques those that talk in terms of narratology on pp. 212-213 "The all-but-universal worship of science, social science, and analytic philosophy would soon encourage the half-educated to pepper their discourse with terms like narratology, disciplinarity, engendering, and interface." "Half-educated"? I have a t-shirt that says, "The truly educated never graduate." (Of course this places me in a class.) Today there are books with titles like these and I would hardly refer to the authors as half-educated. It feels almost like C.S. Lewis in "Words" critiquing their misuse. But new words are invented all the time and come to mean things by their use. I wonder if someplace PF critiques the concept of "meme". Clearly, PF's classical education is way superior to mine. He would certainly join the defense in the war against grammar. I have a programmable thermostat that I can't figure out how to work.
But I am partial myself to the narrative I suspect he follows. I was never in battle though I am retired Army. Should I try a book called "Doing Peace"? Imagine having a full career in the military without ever being in battle? Assuming I could talk about the experience would annoy PF far worse than Glenn Gray. At least Gray was within miles of such action.

I wish we were neighbors
Other reviewers here seem to be approaching this book from the perspective of WW II experiences, or from reading Fussell's war books. I chose to read this book because I had already read two of his other extremely entertaining and thought-provoking books, "Class" and "Bad". This book is never boring. It took me awhile to read it, because every few pages I would have to stop and think about things he had said. One can always depend on Fussell for honesty and frank discussion. I am happily making my way through all his books, and look forward to reading "Uniforms" next. His discussion of the hot summer spent in training near Gainesville, Texas, was especially interesting to me since I grew up in a town 30 miles east of Gainesville. This book is worth reading.

H.L. Mencken Meets Robert Graves - Review of Doing Battle
Doing Battle is an excellent book for these troubling times. Though obviously a prickly sort, Fussell his kept his critical faculties intact and properly skewers ineptitude, careerists, rationalizers, martinets, and soft-headedness. The center-piece of this autobiography is Fussell's experience as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in France and Germany in WWII. Fussell takes aim at the military - recounting the caprices and cruel arbitrariness of his own service with a scalpel-like pen.

Fussell also has little use for the beer-fueled sports culture that now dominates the American cultural landscape. He is first and foremost a defender of elitism - not an elitism based on social or economic class, but based on what and how one thinks and comports oneself in doing the tasks of daily life. Doing Battle is about honor and integrity, with Fussell having been lucky enough, or bright enough, to have had a series of teaching jobs that allowed his convictions and sense of honor and self to survive largely intact.

Fussell writes beautifully and movingly. He also lays himself bare in Doing Battle. It is a rare book in that it is scholarly as well as a good, quick read. The influence of Mencken is clearly felt. You put the book down at the end regretfully. You then begin the processs of recommending it to your special friends - the ones that you think will "understand."

I recommend the book highly. ... Read more

Book Description

The mother of gifted education has been forgotten, even though her words of 100 years ago are still as relevant today as they were back then.

Born in rural Nebraska in 1886, Leta Stetter Hollingworth (1886-1939) rose above a traumatic childhood and prejudice to become an influential psychologist, feminist, educator, author, and advocate for gifted children.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of Nebraska, she helped form the Heterodoxy Club in New York City, joined the faculty at Columbia University, founded the Speyer School for the Gifted, and published numerous articles and books that provide insights into the education and special needs of gifted children and adults.

-Early education of gifted students

-Feminist and other social causes

-New sources, including interviews

-Previously unpublished photos

-Needs of profoundly gifted children ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Biography, history combine for an insighful book!
Far more than a biography, this book is also a history of gifted education and a snapshot of the life of the exceptionally gifted in our society. I learned a great deal while reading it, not only About Leta Hollingworth and her contemporaries in gifted, but about myself, and my fit within my world.

As a biography, "Leta" captures the imagination, taking you to turn-of-the-century Nebraska during the westward expansion. Life