Reviews (3)

It's a great read
This scholarly work of legal history comes in a surprising package -- a gripping tale of early Virginia families and early colonial life and the economy.What a great way to learn about the development of American laws and their foundations!!It is so well written that I didn't want it to end.

Wonderful Snapshot of History and Law
Excellent, well-writen and very entertaining! Mr. Pagan's book covers a lot of ground, detailing a series of related trials that define the foundations of American justice. A++++

Reviews (1)

Reviews (2)

Excellent book that humanizes the Puritans
The popular American view of Puritans is usually something out of Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter."That is, a bleak, dreary group of religious fanatics who take themselves entirely too seriously.While they did take their religion very seriously (your life on earth does determine whether you will spend eternity in heaven or hell, after all; it's best not to take chances), they did have fun.Bruce Daniels does an excellent job researching the relationship between Puritans and fun:What did they do?;How much time did they spend doing it?;What DIDN'T they do that might surprise us?; Did some groups have fun one way while others had fun another way?; and the all important question for historians:Why?

Two themes run through Daniels' work:the Puritan ideal with regards to fun is that recreational activities should a)not be sinful b)give one rest so that he or she can serve the Lord more efficiently c)be productive and d)not be an end unto itself.The second theme that runs through "Puritans at Play" is that, while the first generation of Puritans in America came pretty close to this ideal, as the years went on and New England became more heterogeneous, the ideal had great influence, but was viewed more as a guideline for recreation as opposed to a matter so grave as to have long-lasting (read: eternal) implications.

In this amazingly well-researched book, Daniels analyzed how reading (the ideal recreational activity in Puritan America), music, church related activities, public gatherings (such as public hangings or militarytraining days), dancing, eating, sex, bars, gambling, and sports (among others) fit into both the Puritan ideal and the Puritan reality.

The beauty of this book is that Daniels tackles such an all-encompasing subject with apparent ease.I feel he has accomplished the goal he mentions in his preface, to write a book suitable for both the serious scholar and the recreational historian (although my one complaint is that his first chapter made for dry, difficult reading).From Chapter Two on, Daniels introduces the reader to Puritans on their own ground, always making sure to put things in a cultural context.I would definately recommend it to fellow amateur historians.

Reviews (6)

A Great Supplement to a 1st year US History Course.
The Way of Duty is a great supplementary reading for those taking a first course in US History or for those wanting to know about the life of an ordinary woman and her family during the time of the American Revolution and pre-Revolutionary times.

This book has information about the First Great Awakening, and on the religious sermons that were preached during the Great Awakening. But this book tells a story about the life of Mary Fish Silliman, and the time (1736-1818) in which she lived. It's a good window to look out to see how a family functioned during the American Revolution.

A well researched and inspiring true story
I began reading this book as part of research I'm conducting on the Revolutionary War.It ended up as pleasure reading.I found the book not only enjoyable to read, but inspiring as well. Mary Fish Silliman, an upper class woman during the Revolution, shares her trials and joys in this wonderful portrayal of her life.Using Mary's journal and family letters, the authors do a fabulous job of bringing her to life, as well as the long ago culture in which she lived.Her faith and strength of character are truly inspiring, especially when she faces the untimely deaths of two of her young children, her young husband, and the possibility of losing another husband in battle.A remarkable woman in a fascinating age.

Isbn: 0312115067
Sales Rank: 413290
Subjects:  1. 1751-1820    2. 18th century    3. 19th century    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Feminism and literature    7. General    8. History    9. Literature - Classics / Criticism    10. Murray, Judith Sargent,    11. United States    12. Women    13. Women and literature    14. History / General    15. Murray, Judith Sargent   

Reviews (3)

Interesting Study on American Alcoholic Consumption
William Rorabaugh, an associate professor of History at the University of Washington, provides a very interesting study of alcoholic consumption in the United States from the 18th century through the mid 1800s.He looks at the issue from the supply side (expense and technology in the production of distilled beverages and the import of rum) and the demand side.There is some eye-opening information in this work.The annual per capita consumption of alcohol between 1800-1830 exceeded 5 gallons; nearly triple today's consumption (p. 8).The demand for alcohol (particularly whiskey) stemmed from such things as alleged medical and dietary benefits, social camaraderie, a way to cope with a rapidly changing society, and such particle reasons as the lack of alternatives (water and milk was unhealthy and other substitutes were comparatively expensive) and strong beverages were needed to overcome the bland, monotonous American diet.Rorabaugh also devotes much of this study to the medical and moral critics of alcohol, including temperance societies.One doctor in the 1740s favored moderation: "not more than one bottle of wine each evening" (p. 32). I believe there is a lot of over-generalization in this study, especially when disillusionment over the voting system and the burden of living up to the ideals of the independent man are used as reasons for drinking (although drinking probably came before such feelings).Still, the book is extremely well-researched, with source notes at the end and several appendixes on estimating consumption of alcohol, cross-national comparisons of consumption, and cook books.The text, excluding the appendixes, is 222 pages and includes illustrations.

The Drunkenness of the American Tradition
If you enjoy reading history, pull up a chair and pour down the whisky because you are going to read "The Alcoholic Republic."It is on the drinking patterns in the United States and the reading is simply interesting as well fascinating.You thought drinking was terrible these days lets go back to the great alcoholic binge of the nineteenth century.

"It was the consensus, then, among a wide variety of observers that Americans drank great quantities of alcohol.The beverages they drank were for the most part distilled liquors, commonly known as spirits.. whiskey, rum, gin and brandy.On the average those liquors were 45 percent alcohol, or, in the language of distillers, 90 proof." (Page 7)

It is simply a fun history book to read and recommend the drunkenness to anyone interested in the drinking habits of previous Americans.I give it five stars because it is one of the most interesting history books I have read in a long time.

Reviews (9)

A Fascinating Microcosm of the Burned-Over District
In this work, Paul Johnson has taken a relatively small and unknown event and used it to illustrate not only an interesting event but also an interesting perspective on the Burned-Over District as a whole.It touches on everything from sexual corruption to radical doctrinal innovations.The Burned-Over district saw the beginning of numerous religious movements such as Mormonism, Adventism, Christian Scientists, numerous smaller religions that did not survive, and even significant political movements such as Antimasonry.

This book is the story of one of those movements.The prologue introduces Matthias as he went to Kirtland to visit with the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith.While this event occurred near the end of Matthias’ activity, it is obvious that he stole many of his ideas from Joseph Smith.Matthias initiated the practice of the washing of feet which was common to both the followers of Joseph Smith and Ellen White.He also believed that the truth of the Gospel had fallen from the earth shortly after the time of Christ another Mormon belief.In addition, he had a sword which he claimed was ancient similar to Smith’s sword of Laban, as well as naming the Priesthood after the order of Melchezidek. Likewise, his early mentor Mordecai Noah taught that the Indians were actually a branch of the Israelites which is a central idea found in the Book of Mormon. All of these ideas came out before 1830 when Matthias began his activity.

The most humorous part of this history is the anecdotes that relate to Matthias’ enemies trying to shave off his beard.Johnson has done an excellent job condensing all the most relevant information in this short work.The Kingdom of Matthias is an enjoyable read and a must for anyone interested in this interesting period in American religious history.

Wondering About Christianity
I did too.I read this book with an amazement on how basic Bible priniples can me misused to the detriment of oneself and others around them.Please read this book to understand the confusion that enslaves so many Christians.If you truly seeking God, you that they way they tried to find it in this book is not the way to find him.

Reviews (4)

The Fire of Nat Turner
This book is about the insurrection of Nat Turner against his slaveholder. This book is very good for a person who enjoys factual historical events about a slave striving for freedom. The book demonstrates the acts of the human spirit. It also shows the things Nat Turner did for freedom, however some of those acts were not becoming of a just person. Overall this is a great book that depicts the historical background of Nat Turner and his rebellion.

Learning the truth about the legend
Nat Turner led the largest slave rebellion in American history. That is anindisputable fact. Unfortunately, not much else is known about the life ofthis legendary figure. Why did he do what he did? How was he able to do it?What was it about the man that made people follow him into insurrection? Inhis book, "The Fires Of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion",author Stephen B. Oates attempts to answer these questions. Oatesclearly did extensive research on his subject. He manages to unearth manynew facts about Nat Turner that were previously unknown. Oates presents avivid picture of what Nat Turner's life must have been like as a slave. Hepresents enough facts about Nat Turner to give the reader the beginnings ofan idea of what motivated the man. He describes in detail the visions thatNat claimed to have had and the formations of the planned rebellion. Then,once the rebellion starts, Oates gives a moment by moment account. As Iread it I found myself picturing what it must have looked and sounded likeas it was happening. I felt real tension. Unfortunately, many factsabout Nat Turner will simply never be known. The historical records justdon't exist. Despite this, Stephen B. Oates has crafted an extraordinarybiography. His work has brought us closer than ever to understanding whoNat Turner was and what he did.

Reviews (1)

Reviews (62)

A relative of mine
-As an author myself, I recommend that you purchase this book for personal study. "The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" is a fascinating book and video that helped me understand one of my relatives.
Author. "Knowledge For Tomorrow" Quinton Douglass Crawford

Compelling
I know it's a cliche to say a book should be read by everyone, but I agree with the other reviewers that this one really should be read by all Americans.

In addition to its historical significance, it's a well told story and I could hardly put it down. I see why Douglass was considered a great speaker for the abolitionist cause.

Also, Douglass' insights into the "psychology" of slave owningcould be described as universal comments on human nature, applicable to situations going on today.

In the book he left out some information to protect people who had helped him out of slavery. By researching on the internet, I figured out these were his friends in a black intellectual circle that met in Baltimore. One of them was Anna Murray, a free black woman who loaned him traveling money. "Anna was a few years older than Frederick and was a servant for a wealthy Baltimore family. Although Anna was a plain, uneducated woman, Frederick admired her qualities of thriftiness, industriousness and religiousness. Anna and Frederick were soon in love and in 1838 they were engaged." In the book he wrote about how he loved this group of friends and how hard it was to risk leaving them for an uncertain future. Yet he opted to continue seeking freedom. Later he was able to reunite with Anna, and they were together until her death in 1882.

Reviews (4)

Just Bad
This book was deplorable. It was obvious Dr. McPherson started out with some preconcieved ideas of what he wanted to prove with this book, and then he proceeded to force the data to meet his theories. In addition, the logic he used was overtly flawed. This was one of the worst Civil War books I've ever read. What a waste from a really good author.

What made a Civil War soldier fight?
This is a different kind of book about the Civil War.Instead ofdiscussing all the "official" reasons for the war--in other words, instead of examining why Lincoln and Davis said the war was being fought--and instead of looking at the causes of the war from a philosopher's or idealist's point of view, James McPherson examines what really made men fight.After reading thousands of letters and scores of diaries of simple soldiers, McPherson attempts to explain why the men who participated in the actual combat of the war were there.

His process is simple.He looks at a group of Confederate soldiers (just under 400) and another of Union soldiers (a little over 500) and tries to discover what made them tick.In the book (which was originally a series of lectures), he quotes from many of them, and cites such causes as preservation of the Union, abolition of slavery, and individual liberty as reasons for fighting.Certain classes of soldiers are either over or underrepresented by his study, but McPherson makes allowances for these, and attempts to hypothesize what his data mean on a larger scale.

The Result?Basically, McPherson's study is a refutation of the recent scholarly belief that the common man fights in war more in a spirit of comradery than for any other ideal.In other words, men become dependent on each other, and fight to save their own skin and that of their buddies.While this may have been true for the world wars and other conflicts, McPherson alleges it was not the case for the Civil War.And he makes his case pretty well.From his sample, it appears that a great deal of Civil War combatants were actually fighting for something, and believed in the cause for which they struggled.For this reason, this book is essential to any study of the war.McPherson has broken new ground with this study and helped us to better understand the human side of the Civil War.

The finest of its kind
James McPherson's stunning work on the ideology of Civil War soldiers is a fascinating look at the lives of the remarkable men who fought in that bloody conflict. Its value, however, lies not so much in the examination ofthat ideology but in the disclsure that these men in fact had an ideaologyat all, which comes through with stunning clarity as you read their lettersand diarys.

Editorial Review

Consider a war in which 25,000 soldiers are killed or wounded in a single battle, as they were at Gettysburg, or 16,000 in a single day, as at Antietam.The degree of suffering and hardship during the American Civil War has been well documented and analyzed in books and films from Margaret Mitchell's fictional Gone with the Wind to Bell Irvin Wiley's classic studies of Civil War soldiers, The Life of Johnny Reb and The Life of Billy Yank. All these sources agree on the brutality of the combat, but what motivated soldiers to continue fighting under such bitter conditions is the cause of some controversy.Until recently, the common stance has been that soldiers enlisted out of economic need and stayed out of loyalty to their comrades. The respected Civil War historian James M. McPherson weighs in with a different point of view in For Cause and Comrades.

Reviews (1)

Reviews (2)

Powerful words

Ida B. Wells was an African-American woman of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. She was born and grew up in the South, born in Mississippi during the Civil War. It is significant the impact of the legacy of slavery on her life -- she recounts how her parents, who were married as slaves, remarried each other as free persons after the war. Wells was a determined and intelligent woman -- her parents died while she was young, yet old enough to be left with the responsibility of her younger brothers and sisters. At the age of 14 she found herself at the head of a household with five younger children.

She worked hard to make sure that her education did not suffer, and eventually (a rarity for women of any colour in America at the time) went to work for a newspaper.

In an incident that foreshadowed Rosa Parks, she was once removed from a train for sitting in the wrong section, despite her ownership of a valid ticket for the seat. She sued the railroad and won (newspaper headlines read 'Darky Damsel Gets Damages' without concern for the racist tone), but the judgment was overturned on appeal, and she later discovered her lawyers had been paid off by the railroads, and the appellate judges had thought she was just being uppity to pursue the matter.

Such was the state of the African-American community that none came to her assistance as she pursued this fight. This made her more determined to organise and fight.

Several of her newspaper partners and other friends in Memphis were lynched for these efforts, and Wells was threatened herself, and left the South, but did not give up her crusade. Where ever she went, through cities and towns in the North as well as over to Europe (where, she said, she felt like she was treated as a real human being equal with others for the first time) she decried the injustice of laws which dismissed charges or gave light sentences if victims were coloured, and prosecuted more strongly, gave out harsher sentences, or even resorted to lynch mobs if the defendant (who was often not guilty) was coloured.

She continued speaking and publishing up to her death in 1931. She was never afraid of making herself unpopular, and often upset the African-American community by being critical of their complacency (especially the upper and middle classes). She became unpopular by standing against the military service during World War I, because of prejudicial and discriminatory practices, and never quite recovered in popular esteem from that.

But Wells had courage and determination that is rare in persons, male or female, of any colour, of any time, to take on such a task as the exposition and combat of lynching in the South during the post-Civil War decades. Talking directly with governors and even a president, Wells made her voice heard, and it was a difficult hearing in a difficult time.

This book, edited and introduced by Jacqueline Jones Royster, includes three primary publications of Ida B. Wells:

Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases
A Red Record
Mob Rule in New Orleans

These three publications highlight the problem of lynching, something that continued well past Wells' death in 1931.Despite this, Wells' campaign made significant strides to bring media attention and organised resistance in different ways to the problem of this violence.Presented in the text, the reader gets to read the actual writing of Wells, as well as introductory and appendix information helping fill out the context and additional details.

This is hard reading, but necessary for understanding some of the more tragic parts of American history.

Reviews (3)

The Ghost of the South or the Ghost of America?
Ms. Smith's honesty and eloquence in telling a profoundly American story about the perfidy of the South of her childhood is a literary tour de force about an immensely important slice of American history.It is a profoundly American tragedy fashioned from the most basic of human materials, human fallibilities, many of which still consume us as Americans--black or white, north or south.This book is the most sombering account of who we Americans are--as opposed to who we wished we were--anyone is likely to ever encounter.Unfortunately, since her death, Ms. Smith's story of about race, sex, religion, politics, economics and deception in the south has become the American way of life, writ large.

The Unspoken Story
The lucid and careful telling of Ms Smith's story is a great contributions to understanding our time and place.The hidden issues of race and injustice continue to plague our country.So much of it seemsincomprehensible because it is wrapped in Christian Theology.Ms Smithreveals the secrets that keep the evil and pain alive.

Reviews (45)

Still a Vision for Tomarrow
In sharp contrast to the raving, misanthopic Capitalist who gave this excellent book one star, Bellamy laid out his vision for a humanistic society... one which was natural and beneficial to humankind, rather than one which takes advantage of the poor, weak, or less talented. It is sad that Bellamy's vision for the 20th century only saw some chance of coming true with the New Deal and some of the social movements of the 1960s. Today, when crony coporate capitalism, fundamentalist religion, and evil seekers of oil, money and power rule the mindset of this once hopeful country (USA), the chance for humanism is slim indeed.If only the likes of those misanthropic capitalists who mock and distort Bellamy were to dissapear, we'd have a much healthier planet.

And by the way, what we saw in the former USSR or in China today is NOT what Bellamy had in mind; but itself a misantropic, power-based dictatorship-based government which was/is just as unhumanistic as the U.S. is now.

Back when communism looked good
Bellamy's year 2000 is a socialist heaven for the army of workers, a land of ease and plenty. Everyone has ageeable work, and the Victorian distortions of relations between men and women have fallen away. All of industry, in fact all of society meshes harmoniously under the benevolent wisdom of the central planners.

Back in 1888, it seemed like a good idea. That was before the rise of national-scale communism, and long before its fall in Europe. Somehow, when it finally came, it wasn't as shiny as stories like this made out.

It's easy to criticise in retrospect. Perhaps the central fallacy is that human nature will change so that "The coarser motives [of dread of want and desire for luxury] ... have been replaced by higher motives unknown to the mere wage-earners of your age." It's not going to happen, and it didn't happen when the experiment was tried.

The fact is that communism really does work in specialized environments like some monasteries. It is easy to see the higher motives and dedication, as well as the communal living at work there. That make it tempting to create a causal relationship between personal dedication and communalist practices.

The fallacy, of course, is that the higher motives of a monastery have just about nothing to do with the monks' housekeeping arrangments. The household economy serves the devotion, it neither drives it nor is driven by it. Also, a monastery is a relatively simple environment, with a small and homogeneous population, without child rearing or family complexities, and usually with access to the economy and services of the greater world. However successful such an enclave might be, scaling it to a full and heterogeneous society is difficult at best.

Still, Bellamy's book preserves a snapshot of his age's thinking. Almost 120 years later, it helps us understand the ideals behind the social experiments that have since been relegated to the "dustbin of history".

//wiredweird

Isbn: 0312133936
Sales Rank: 378730
Subjects:  1. Foreign public opinion, Americ    2. Foreign public opinion, American    3. History - General History    4. History: American    5. Holocaust    6. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    7. Press coverage    8. Sources    9. United States    10. History / General   

Reviews (4)

Courtship is America
A change of courtship occurred from the 1920s and 1940s was the shift from the girl's household to the vechile and away from the watchful eyes of the community.It was a change from sitting at the parlors at the girl's family.A boy would have to be invited to a girl's house causing the woman to have the authority and control, but those things changed.A boy could not go to a girl's house without her permission, but at times changed the guy began to take the authority from the girl.Dating was what was causing the changes of courtship.It moved the girl and the boy outside the home and created a shift from the parlor at the girl's house.Examples would be the replacing of the girl's house with the car.

Bailey's book is great for reading and will take only a day to finish (143 pages).Also, it is a really nice looking book.It covers the roles of consumption and competition in courtship, and the understanding that courtship has changed in American society.I give the book four stars.

A Fascinating Story--But Please, an Updated Version!
I'm a college professor and I use this book in my classes all the time.Students (male and female) love it, and they remember it.Many of them give the book to their parents to read.Bailey is an engaging writer whoemploys a wide variety of sources to demonstrate the path from calling todating to going steady, and the changing meanings of those words.Anhistorian, Bailey provides helpful social and cultural contexts.It'suseful gender history.But what the book really needs is an update thatwould take this topic to the present.The Epilogue doesn't explain enoughabout dating nowadays, and thus the earlier chapters are best.

Reviews (5)

Exceeds Expectations
I purchased this book to learn more about Jackie Robinson and his relationship with Branch Rickey. Jules Tygiel gave me that (in an unbiased, thorough manner with great historical perspective) and then some! I gained an increased appreciation for the role of the Negro Leagues in the development of Major League baseball. I gained insight into the changing perceptions of baseball management, players and fans toward African-Americans and their contributions to the game. I was momentarily transported to that time, not as long ago as I would have thought, where non-white players were treated as second-class citizens. It was really an eye-opener. In addition, Mr. Tygiel's style was so honest and even-handed that I can't wait to read his book, "Past Time: Baseball As History," which I ordered today!

Well Done
This scholarly yet readable look at baseball integration from 1947-1959 goes well beyond the inspiring story of Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey. Author Jules Tygiel also informs about such secondary figures as Larry Doby, Bill Veeck, Hank Aaron, Pumpsie Green, etc. Tygiel shows that integration proceeded slowly and in the face of strong resistance - the Boston Red Sox didn't add a black player until 1959, three years after Jackie Robinson retired. We also see how baseball integration spurred civil rights, while hastening the end of the Negro Leagues. I'd have liked more coverage of baseball's declining attendance after 1949 (probably caused by television), and the suspected correlation between athletic dominance and underclass poverty. Still, BASEBALL'S GREAT EXPERIMENT is a well-researched look at an interesting period in sports history.

Isbn: 0195029194
Sales Rank: 381875
Subjects:  1. Afro-Americans    2. Blacks    3. Civil Rights    4. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    5. Greensboro    6. Greensboro, NC    7. North Carolina    8. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    9. Race relations    10. Sociology