Author
|
Title
|
Publisher
Information
|
Subject
|
Comment
|
| |
Hammond Odyssey Atlas
of the World
|
Hammond, N.Y., 1994,
72 pgs., index, map projections, world flags, paperback large format
|
Reference Atlas
|
An excellent set of
maps in large format.
|
| |
|
|
|
. |
Acemoglu, Daron & James A.
Robinson
|
Why Nations Fail: The Origins of
Power, Prosperity, and Poverty
|
Crown Business, N.Y., 2012, 529
pgs., index, references, end notes, bibliographic essay
|
Economic History, Finance,
Political Theory
|
A recent entry into the massive
literature on what makes countries or nations successful or powerful and why
others never make it or fail. The authors believe that political institutions
either promote or deter success. They discuss to discount various other
theories. On example they use is comparison between Nogales in Arizona and
Mexico.
|
Artz, Frederick
|
Reaction and Revolution:
1814-1832
|
Harper & Row, N. Y., 1934,
328 pgs., index, bibliography, illustrations, foot notes, paperback
|
Modern History
|
This is in the Rise of Modern
Europe series of histories. It includes much social and intellectual history of
the post- Napoleonic Europe up to the new revolutionary movement in France in
1930.
|
Bailey, Thomas A.
|
A Diplomatic History of the
American People
|
Appleton-Century-Crofts, N. Y.,
1950, 986 pgs., index, tables, bibliography, foot notes, appendices,
illustrations,
|
American History
|
Dixon Ryan Fox in his forward
comments. "Diplomacy has been a favorite theme of history since the times
of Thucydides, if not those of Homer. It has been the means of gaining benefits
for the group without fighting for them or of securing benefits which fighting
has already earned." He continues that diplomacy was reserved to monarchs
in the long past but now is decidedly influenced by democratic public opinion.
Therefore the description of how operates must change as well. This book begins
with the diplomacy conducted during the colonial period and then with the more
critical diplomacy between the colonies and French during the American
Revolution. It concludes with the initial phases of the Cold War, and a chapter
titled 'Toward a New World Order'.
|
Bailyn, Bernard
|
The New England Merchants in the
Seventeenth Century
|
Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge,
1955, 249 pgs., index, references, end notes
|
American History
|
A detailed scholarly study by a
noted authority on Colonial American History
|
Barck, Oscar Theodore &
Nelson Blake
|
Since 1900: A History of the
United States in Our Times
|
Macmillan Co., N.Y., 1952, 903
pgs., index, end notes, illustrations
|
American History
|
The book has the advantage of
including only 50 years of American history. But evaluations of that 50 years
may have changed since 1952. But the content is detailed
|
Beloff, Max
|
The Age of Absolutism 1660- 1815
|
Harper & Row, N.Y., 1962, 189
pgs.,. index, notes, maps, paperback
|
Early Modern History
|
The author points out that
dividing history's continuous story into artificial periods does create
problems. But it also enables one to focus. In this book he provides a general
background and then focuses on France, Spain, Portugal, Prussia, Austria,
Russia and Poland. He considers that the 'Maritime Powers" were in a
different situation.
|
Binkley, Wilfred E. & Malcolm
C. Moos
|
A Grammar of American Politics
|
Alfred A. Knopf, N. Y., 1950, 778
pgs., index,
|
American History - Government
|
So much has changed even since
1950 with the expansion of the welfare state that this book may be considered a
history rather than a contemporary civics text as originally published.
|
Black, Jeremy
|
The Power of Knowledge: How
Information and Technology made the Modern World
|
Yale Univ. Press, New Haven,
2014, 492 pgs., index, end notes
|
World History - Economic History
- Intellectual History
|
The author focuses on the role of
information, knowledge put to use, in the history of modern times. He believes
that superior use of information was a major cause for the development of what
can be called modernity in the West. (See Stark). He writes, "This book
will take information as a cause, measure and product of power, and show how
the relationships between information, modernity and power changed, and how
these changes made the modern world."
|
Bloch, Marc - trans. Peter Putnam
|
The Historian's Craft
|
Random House, N.Y., 1964, 197
pgs., paperback
|
History
|
The famous French historian
describes what a professional historian does, for the benefit of the lay
reader.
|
Bloom, Allan
|
The Closing of the American Mind
|
Simon and Schuster, N.Y., 1987,
392 pgs., index, foot notes
|
American Education
|
A critical analysis of the
decline in higher education in American colleges and universities. Saul Bellow
wrote an extended Forward.
|
Boorstin, Daniel J.
|
The Americans: The Colonial
Experience
|
Random House, N. Y., 1958, 434
pgs., index, bibliography
|
American History - Cultural and
Intellectual History
|
The first volume -The material is
organized more or less in a chronological manner, but the chapter topics are
focused on culture or concepts. The period of the book is from the Puritans to
the end of the American Revolution. This is an ideal companion to the typical
history text focused on political activities.
|
Boorstin, Daniel J.
|
The Americans: The Democratic
Experience
|
Random House, N. Y., 1973, 717
pgs., index, bibliography
|
American History - Cultural and
Intellectual History
|
The third volume - This is
structured like volume 1. The period is post Civil War America up to the
1960's.
|
Boorstin, Daniel J.
|
The Americans: The National
Experience
|
Random House, N. Y., 1965, 717
pgs., index, bibliography
|
American History - Cultural and
Intellectual History
|
The second volume - Like the
first and third. It is unusual to have such a large history text focused on the
period between the American Revolution and the Civil War.
|
Bowden, Catherine Drinker
|
Miracle at Philadelphia: The
Story of the Constitutional Convention, May to Sept. 1787.
|
Little, Brown and Co., Boston,
1966, 346 pgs., index
|
American History
|
A detailed narrative and
commentary on the process at Philadelphia that created the Constitution
. |
Boyle, Donzella Cross
|
Quest of a Hemisphere
|
Western Islands, Boston, 1970,
633 pgs., index, illustrations
|
American History
|
The initial chapter describes the
explorations by Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and Swedes as well as the French and
English. But from there on the focus is on the English colonies and subsequent
establishment of the United States. The story concludes in the post World War
II period. The many illustrations are excellent.
|
Brandon, William
|
The American Heritage Book of
Indians
|
American Heritage, N. Y., 1961,
424 pgs., index, illustrations
|
American History
|
The many illustrations are the
main value of this book. The text narration explains these illustrations.
|
Brinton, Crane
|
The Shaping of the Modern Mind
|
Mentor Boo,, New American
Library, N. Y., 1953, 287 pgs., index, paper back
|
Intellectual History
|
The content is organized around
major themes such as humanism, rationalism, cosmology,
|
Carnes, Mark C. & John A.
Garraty
|
Mapping America's Past
|
Henry Holt Co., N.Y., 1996, 287
pgs., index, bibliography, maps, illustrations,
|
Reference, American History
|
Based on maps, but there is much
more with the extensive text and statistics displayed graphically with maps.
|
Carr, Robert K. & Marver
Bernstein et al.
|
American Democracy in Theory and
Practice: Essentials of National, State, and Local Government
|
Rinehart & Co., N.Y., 1957,
737 pgs., index, illustrations, tables, appendix
|
American Politics - Government
|
A basic text book that describes
Federal, State and Local government as the greatest result of democracy in
action. Government welfare policy is a presumed achievement. Everything is the
best in all possible best of all worlds.
|
Carson, Clarence B.
|
A Basic History of the United
States Vol 1 The Colonial Experience 1607 - 1774
|
American Textbook Committee,
Wadley Alabama, 1983, 183 pgs., readings, glossary, index, notes,
illustrations, paperback
|
American History
|
Excellent text for high school
history courses. The author includes topics slighted in many course books
today.
|
Carson, Clarence B.
|
A Basic History of the United
States Vol 2 The Beginning of the Republic 1775 - 1825
|
American Textbook Committee,
Wadley Alabama, 1983, 262 pgs., index, readings, glossary, notes,
illustrations, paperback
|
American History
|
Excellent text for high school
history courses. The author includes topics slighted in many course books
today.
|
Carson, Clarence B.
|
A Basic History of the United
States Vol 3 The Sections and the Civil War 1826- 1877
|
American Textbook Committee,
Wadley Alabama, 1983, 224 pgs.. index, readings, glossary, notes,
illustrations, paperback
|
American History
|
Excellent text for high school
history courses. The author includes topics slighted in many course books
today.
|
Carson, Clarence B.
|
A Basic History of the United
States Vol 4 The Growth of America 1878 - 1928
|
American Textbook Committee,
Wadley Alabama, 1983, 300 pgs., index, readings, glossary, notes,
illustrations, paperback
|
American History
|
Excellent text for high school
history courses. The author includes topics slighted in many course books
today.
|
Carson, Clarence B.
|
A Basic History of the United
States Vol 5 The Welfare State 1929 - 1985
|
American Textbook Committee,
Wadley Alabama, 1983, 346 pgs., index, readings, glossary, notes,
illustrations, paperback
|
American History
|
Excellent text for high school
history courses. The author includes topics slighted in many course books
today.
|
Commager, Henry Steele &
Richard Morris - eds.
|
The "Spirit of 'Seventy-Six:
The Story of the American Revolution as told by Participants - 2 vol
. |
The Bobbs-Merrill Co.,
Indianapolis, 1958, 1348 pgs., index, maps, illustration
|
American History
|
A massive collection of
eye-witness primary documents describing events of the American Revolution
|
Costain, Thomas B.
|
The White and the Gold: The
French Regime in Canada
|
Doubleday & Co., Garden City,
N.Y., 1954, 482 pgs., index
|
Early Modern History
|
The narrative begins with John
Cabot's voyages to the New World. Then came Jacques Cartier and Samuel de
Champlian. It was Champlain who did the most to organize French colonization
and Costain initially devotes most attention to his efforts. But the story
expanded greatly from that effort. Costain describes the efforts and deaths of
the Jesuit Martyrs and the victory of the Iroquois over the Hurons. King Louis
XIV takes an interest and becomes active. The French defeat the Iroquois. Jean
Talon improves colonial organization. Costain discusses the activities of
Radisson and Groseilliers and Frontenac. Then come La Salle, Marquette and
Joliet. Finally, Costain turns to the wars between French and English. The book
is especially valuable for students who generally learn only about the English
colonies.
. |
Crocker. H. W. III
|
The Politically Incorrect Guide
to the Civil War
|
Regnery Pub. Wash. D. C., 2008,
370 pgs., index, notes, illustrations, paperback
|
American History
|
Well, the book begins with the
section heading "Why the South Was Right ", so we can take the author
at his word for his title. One part of the book consists of summaries of
individual battles from First Manassas to Appomattox. The next section is
biographies of many of the leading generals. The book is written for the high
school student readers.
|
Davidson, James West &
William Gienapp, et al.
|
Nation of Nations: A Narrative
history of the American Republic, Vol. 1 to 1877
|
McGraw Hill, Boston, 2005, 400
pgs., index, appendix, illustrations, maps
|
American History
|
A basic high school text book.
Included is a CD with original source documents. There is very little
discussion of the War of 1812, Mexican War or even the Civil War, as if the
authors sought to eliminate warfare.
|
DeVoto, Bernard - ed.
|
The Journals of Lewis and Clark
|
Houghton Mifflin Co./, Boston,
1955, 504 pgs., index, maps
|
American History
|
The Journals were a priceless
addition to early American's knowledge about the new wilderness Jefferson had
just purchased. DeVoto is just the man to prepare them for publication today.
|
DeVoto, Bernard
|
Across the Wide Missouri
|
Bonanza Books, N. Y., 1947, 483
pgs., index, illustrations
|
American History
|
One of my long time favorite
books. The stunning illustrations are by Alfred Jacob Miller, Charles Bodmer
and George Catlin, all original artist painters of the early western US and its
native inhabitants. This is the story of the 'mountain men' the fur trappers
and adventurers, scouts, and explorers of the Louisiana Purchase terrain, in
1833-38. During the time a Scottish adventurer, William Drummond Stewart
decided on seeing the area for himself. He took a young artist, Alfred Jacob
Miller, along. The result was spectacular. The Miller sketches reproduced here
look like photographs in their detail. In addition to his main text focused on
the fur trapper industry with the many Miller and a few Catlin and Bodmer
illustrations, DeVoto appends a fascinating chapter devoted to description and
analysis of all the artists who visited the West during the same period, with
most attention to these three.. It includes his expert evaluation of these
men's artistic skill, the quality of specific paintings and biographies of
their activities.
|
Dorf, Philip
|
Visualized American Government
|
Oxford Book Co., N.Y., 1947,
index, bibliography, illustrations
|
Reference text - American
Government
|
A basic text for high schools
|
Dorn, Walter
|
Competition for Empire: 1740-
1763
|
Harper & Row, N. Y., 1940,
424 pgs. , index, bibliography, illustrations, foot notes, paperback
|
Early Modern History
|
This is in the Rise of Modern
Europe series. It includes, political, economic, and intellectual history. This
era included the development of absolutism in government and also the
Enlightenment in intellectual fields. It includes the Seven Years' War., the
Anglo-Spanish War, The Italian War, Commercial wars, and The War of the
Austrian Succession
|
Dulles, Foster Rhea
|
The United States Since 1865
|
Univ. of Michigan Press, Ann
Arbor, 1959, 565 pgs. , index, readings, maps,
|
American History
|
This is paired with Michael Kraus
- The United States to 1865 - It is a straight forward history text book
for colleges. The author includes, economics, culture, politics, warfare,
literature.
|
Elliott, William Y. & Neil A.
McDonald
|
Western Political Heritage
|
Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs,
N.J., 1949, 1027 pgs., index, bibliography
|
History of Political Thought
|
Very comprehensive - begins with
Moses, Israel, Lycurgus, Solon - then Greek city state - Plato, Aristotle,
Roman law, Medieval thought, Protestant revolt - Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke,
Rousseau, Hume, Smith and on to many Americans.
|
Faulkner, Harold Underwood
|
American Economic History
|
Harper and Brothers, Pub., N. Y.,
1943, 784 pgs., index, bibliography, foot notes, readings, illustrations
|
American Economic History
|
Obviously dated now, but contains
more information on early 19th century than can fit now in recent histories.
|
Forbis, William H.
|
The Cowboys
|
Time-Life Books, N. Y., 1973, 240
pgs., index, bibliography, illustrations
|
American History
|
This is part of a Time-Life
series - The Old West - It is extensively illustrated with contemporary and
recent photographs. There are many detailed illustrations depicting such
activities as roping cattle or the components of a cowboy's dress and
equipment.
|
Furlong, Rev. Philip J
|
The Old World and America
|
Tan Books, Rockford Illinois,
1984, 382 pgs., index, illustrations,
|
European History
|
High School text
|
Furlong, Rev. Philip J
|
Our Pioneers and Patriots
|
Tan Books, Rockford Illinois,
1940, 505 pgs., index, illustrations, - with an answer key for teachers 50
pgs.,
|
American History
|
Excellent text for high school -
each chapter has review and test questions, with answers in the separate
booklet. Very brief chapter on 20th century ending with FDR, as publication
date will indicate.
|
Furlong, Rev. Philip J.
|
The New History of America
|
William H. Sadlier, N. Y., 1944,
618 pgs., plus index and appendix, illustrations, maps.
|
American History
|
The book is a text book for high
schools. The content begins with the explorers (Columbus and others) and
concludes during World War II. In addition this volume has a History of
California.
|
Gay, Peter & Gerald J.
Cavanaugh
|
Historians at Work Vol. Two Valla
to Gibbon
|
Harper and Row, N. Y., 1972, 406
pgs. foot notes, bibliography
|
History by Historians
|
Each chapter is an extract from
the original work of an important historian. - In this volume 14 are included.
It includes the time from the beginning of the Renaissance through the
Enlightenment. It was a time of revolution in the craft of the historian.
|
Gordon, John Steele
|
An Empire of Wealth: The Epic
History of American Economic Power
|
Harper Perennial, N. Y., 2004,
460 pgs., index, bibliography, end notes, paperback
|
American History - Economic
History
|
An excellent narration of the
development of the American economy from colonial days to present. However, I
disagree with his apparent approval of sizable debt in the process.
|
Gordon, Robert J.
|
The Rise and Fall of American
Growth
|
Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton,
2016, 762 pgs., index, references, notes, appendix
|
American Economic History - Pubic
Policy
|
The subtitle is "The U. S.
Standard of Living Since the Civil War. This is a huge text that descries the
author's thesis that the increase of the standard of living in the US since
1870 is unprecedented in history in size and rapidity but since about 1970 has
slowed to almost zero and will not expand over the next 25 years. The author
denies there was much if any improvement in people's standard of living prior
to the mid 19th century and that since the 1970's there has been an
unprecedented increase in the gap of living standards between rich and poor in
America. He claims the causes of this are the usual 'headwinds' of the elitest
liberal academia and recommends the typical leftist political soultions. He
uses the standard leftist concept of the economy as a 'pie' and claims that the
'rich' (wealthy 1%)are taking a larger slice of this thus leaving a smaller
slice to the poorer 99%. But the volumenous facts he well describes show that
the economic 'pie' is what has expanded vastly thus raising the standard of
living of all. By begining his analysis in 1870 and focusing on the US. he
falsely claims that there was no improvement of people's standard of living for
all the centuries before that and ignores the much greater differences between
the living standards of the most wealthy and poorest in many societies in the
past as well.
|
Gustavson, Carl G.,
|
A Preface to History
|
McGraw- Hill Books, N.Y., 1953,
222 pgs., index, bibliography, paperback
|
History
|
The author writes his purpose:
"The principal purpose of this book is to present an outline of the nature
of historical-mindness on a level sufficiently elementary to be suitable for
first-year college students. History, when treated purely as book learning can
be deceptive, for, unlike work in economics, mathematics, or the sciences, the
existence of inherent patterns of reasoning may escape the uninitiated almost
completely. When the untrained mind must grapple with the broader historical
problems, it finds its explanations in certain rudimentary concepts and gross
oversimplifications based upon inadequate observation and strong subjective
preferences." Of course the author intends to disabuse the foolish reader
from belief in any alternative theories about historical causation than those
he holds.
|
Hamilton, Alexander & James
Madison & John Jay
|
The Federalist Papers
|
New American Library, N.Y., nd.,
559 pgs., index, paperback
|
American History - Political
document
|
This edition has introduction and
notes by Clinton Rossiter.
|
Hamilton, Alexander & James
Madison & John Jay
|
The Federalist Papers
|
Arlington House, New Rochelle,
N.Y., nd, 527 pgs.,
|
American History - Political
document
|
This edition has introduction by
Willmoore Kendall and George Cary - highly recommended
|
Hamm, William A.
|
From Colony to World
Power: A History of the United States
|
D. C. Heath Co.,
Boston, 1947, 854 pgs. , index, reading, maps, charts, diagrams, appendices,
illustrations
|
American History
|
An excellent
standard history text for high school or college.
|
Hayes, Carlton J. H.
|
A Generation of Materialism 1871
- 1900
|
Harper & Row, N. Y., 1941,
390 pgs., index, bibliography, maps, illustrations, foot notes, paperback
|
Modern History
|
This is in the Rise of Modern
Europe series. It is between Robert Binkley's Realism and Nationalism 1852 -
1871and Oron J. Hale's The Great Illusion 1900 - 1914. During this
period expansion of industrial production and foreign commerce drove change in
society and the political response. Liberalism, religion and the arts are all
discussed. The author describes the European State System that had developed.
|
Heilbroner, Robert L.
|
The Worldly Philosophers: The
Lives, Times and Ideas of the Great Economic Thinkers
|
Simon and Schuster, N. Y., 1961,
309 pgs., index, further reading, paper back
|
History of economic thought from
Adam Smith to 1950's
|
Many considered this the standard
introduction to economic history for colleges throughout the United States.
That may be a major cause of current ignorance. He leaves out much of Austrian
School economic theory for instance von Mises.
|
Heilbroner, Rober L.
|
The Future as History: The
historic currents of our time and a direction in which they are taking America
|
Grove Press, N. Y., 1960, 217
pgs., index, paperback
|
Ideas about the future
|
This book serves as a masterful
example of the inability of trained academic minds to grasp even the barest
concepts of what the future will being. The predictions turn out to be so wrong
but history itself shows that this is common. In this case the author reveals
his own bias and political philosophy in the consistent nature of his faulty
predictions.
|
Hemming, John
|
Red Gold: The Conquest of the
Brazilian Indians
|
Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge,
1978, 677 pgs. , index, notes and references, illustrations, maps, glossary,
appendix
|
History of Brazil prior to 1760
|
This is a story much like the
Spanish conquests of Mexico and Peru - namely the attraction for gold. But the
missionaries did want converts and the settlers wanted Indian labor. The
terrible disaster to the population had the same cause as elsewhere in the
Western Hemisphere - the lack of Indian immunity to European and African
disease. However, there were also destructive wars between Indians and
colonists.
|
Hollingsworth, J. Rogers - &
Bell
Wiley - eds.
|
American Democracy: A Documentary
Record: Vol I, 1620 - 1865
|
Thomas Y. Crowell, N. Y., 1961,
625 pgs. ,index
|
American History
|
This contains 118 primary source
documents on American government and politics from Colonial government in
Virginia to Congressman Thaddeus Stevens' Speech on the South as a Conquered
Province, December 18, 1865. This is a terrific reference for teachers to use
in courses.
|
Horton,. Rosalind & Sally
Simmonds eds.
|
Great American Documents
|
Quercus, London, 2007, 255 pgs.,
index, illustrations
|
American history
|
An excellent compilation of
important original documents from a letter by Christopher Columbus to a missing
persons message board of 2001. The book is intended as a readings supplement
for High School
|
Jaffa, Harry V.
|
Equality &
Liberty: Theory and Practice in American Politics
|
Oxford Univ;. Press,
N.Y., 1965, 229 pgs.,
|
Political Theory
|
A compendium of 10
essays on various topics related to the reality of American politics.
|
Johnson, Simon & James Kwak
|
White House Burning: The Founding
Father, Our National Debt, and Why It Matters to You
|
Pantheon Books, N. Y., 2012, 352
pgs., index, end notes
|
Public Policy, Finance, Economic
Policy, Monetary Policy
|
The authors correctly describe
the essential roles of government to maintain the rule of law, individual
private property, stable money supply and the rest. They write:
"Ultimately, our choice of government implies a choice of the kind of
society we want to live in." Their view of the kind of society they want
is one in which the government protects everyone from a host of potential
misfortunes. Their view is based on 'fairness'. So they deplore conservative
efforts to reduce taxes. They denounce the 'Tea Party' movement.
|
Kirk, Russell
|
Edmund Burke: A Genius
Reconsidered
|
Arlington House, New Rochelle,
N.Y., 1967, 255 pgs., index, end notes
|
Biography, Intellectual History
|
An expansive biography from the
author's essay on Burke in The Conservative Mind.He notes the large
volume of more information now available.
|
Kirk, Russell
|
John Randolph: A Study in
American Politics with Selected Speeches and Letters
|
Henry Regnery Co., Chicago, 1964,
485 pgs., index, bibliography, appendices, notes
|
American History, Intellectual
History
|
John Randolph was one of the
significant political leaders in America during the Revolutionary era. This is
not a biography of the man but a presentation and analysis of his thinking. he
was a strong conservative and opponent of both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.
The appendices consist of his letters and speeches. Kirk chooses to write this
as Randolph is so similar to Burke in his representation of conservative
thought.
|
Kirk, Russell
|
Beyond the Dreams of Avarice
|
Henry Regnery Co., Chicago, 1956,
339 pgs.
|
Social Criticism
|
A series of lectures and essays
from Britain and well as America. The author writes: "So these essays are
intended to be, in their imperfect and desultory way, some manner of answer to
the dominant doctrine that the end of man is gratification of carnal appetite,
- a doctrine preached on high in schools of philosophy and theology, and
vulgated by gentlemen like Mr. George Soule and Mr. Moriss Ernst. We are going
to have to search back far beyond Bentham and Marx, Freud and Dewey, for
measures to prevent the dehumanization of man."
|
Kirk, Russell
|
The American Cause
|
Henry Regnery Co., Chicago, 1957,
172 pgs. suggested readings
|
Political Philosophy
|
The book explains the essential
requirement for society to be based on moral principles. Among those categories
described in detail are - The Nature of Man - The Church and State - Ordered
Liberty -The Federal Republic, The Free Economy - American Economic
Accomplishment. There are chapters also discussing the Communist Claims and the
American Answer.
|
Kirk, Russell
|
Confessions of a Bohemian Tory
|
Fleet Publishing, N. Y., 1965,
308 pgs.
|
Personal Memoir
|
The author certainly has 'been
around', and in this memoir he describes some of the places, events and
personalities involved. He starts the first page with: "A connoisseur of
slums and strange corners, I have dwelt in more garrets and cellars, forest
cabins and island hovels, than I can recall. These random memoirs, vignettes,
and meditations are occasional fruits of a frugal and often picturesque
solitude." Since there is no index, the interested person will have to
read the whole thing to find out the details.
|
Kirk, Russell
|
The Roots of American Order
|
Open Court, Lasalle, Illinois,
1974, 534 pgs. , index, readings,
|
Political Philosophy
|
The author writes: "In this
book we examine the roots of order in the United States of America. Old and
intricate, these roots give life to us all. We can distinguish two sorts of
roots, intertwined: the roots of the moral order, of order in the soul; and the
roots of the civil social order, of order in the republic." And also:
"All the aspects of any civilization arise out of a people's religion: its
politics,, its economics, its arts, its sciences, even its simple crafts are
the by-products of religious insights and religious cult."
|
Kirk, Russell
|
Eliot and His Age
|
Random House, N. Y., 1971, 462
pgs., index, end notes
|
Literary criticism
|
The subtitle is: T. S. Eliot's
Moral Imagination in the Twentieth Century. The author writes: "A fresh
examination of the work of T. S. Eliot may assist in that reinvigoration. This
book is an endeavor at once to criticize an important body of literature, and
to relate that literature to the events and circumstances and prospects of
civilization in this century."
|
Kirk, Russell
|
Decadence & Renewal in the
Higher Learning: An Episodic History of American University and College Since
1953.
|
Gateway Editions, South Bend,
Indiana, 1978, 354 pgs., index
|
Higher Education
|
The book is about the progressive
decadence of American Higher Education establishments. The author writes: 'For
a quarter of a century, higher education in America has been sinking lower.
This book, of which the first part is chronological in scheme, gives a mordant
account of that decline. I have endeavored to express myself graphically,
though episode and vignette. In the later part of the book, concerned with
renewal, I permit some cheerfulness to break in."
|
Kirszner, Laurie G. & Stephen
Mandell
|
Patterns for College Writing
|
Bedford/St. Martin's, N.Y., 2010,
819 pgs., index, paperback
|
English writing
|
A detailed guide for better
writing with many examples of excellent writing by well-known authors.
|
Kraus, Michael
|
The United States to 1865
|
Univ. of Michigan Press, Ann
Arbor, 1959, 540 pgs., index, readings, maps
|
American History
|
This is paired with Foster Dulles
- The United States Since 1865 - It is a straight forward history text book for
colleges. The author includes, economics, culture, politics, warfare,
literature.
|
Lavender, David
|
Bent's Fort: A Historical Account
of the Adobe Empire that Shaped the Destiny of the American Southwest.
|
Doubleday & Co., Garden City,
N. Y., 1954, 450 pgs. index, bibliography, end notes, map
|
American History
|
The subtitle seems rather
overdrawn, but in his introduction Lavender does provide enough of a summary of
the events to be described in the book to draw the reader's attention and try
to find out if it is true that the Bent brothers and their two forts played
such a decisive role.
|
Locke, John
|
The Second Treatise of Government
|
Bobbs-Merrill, N. Y., 1952, 139
pgs. notes, bibliography, paperback
|
Political Theory
|
The classic study of government
that was extremely influential with American Constitutional authors. There is
valuable introduction by Thomas Peardon. Today the book is much more mentioned
than read, but it should be studied. See Willmoore Kendall - John Locke and
the Doctrine of Majority Rule
|
May, Henry F.
|
The Enlightenment in America
|
Oxford Univ. Press, N. Y., 1976,
419 pgs., index, end notes,
|
Intellectual History - American
History
|
The author is a fan of
Enlightenment thinking. As he describes in his lengthy and excellent
introduction he has been focused as an historian on 19th and 20th century
American thinking. He recognized that there must be an intellectual background
and precursor to early 19th Century American thought in the 18th century. He
finds this background in two dominant intellectual threads - Protestantism and
Enlightenment thought. In this book he skips Protestantism to focus on the role
of Enlightenment thinking in America and its influence on the Revolution and
post Revolutionary era. He organizes his subject into interesting thought
periods. - 1 Moderate Enlightenment 1688-1787 - 2 Skeptical Enlightenment
1750-1789 - 3 Revolutionary Enlightenment 1776-1800 - 4 Didactic Enlightenment
1800 - 1815. Throughout he not only describes but also explains, comments,
evaluates thinking, the origins of the thoughts, and the consequences or
results of the thinking. This is an excellent companion to histories of the
events.
|
Morgan, Edmund S. & Helen M.
|
The Stamp Act Crisis
|
Collier Books, N.Y., 1955, 384
pgs., index
|
American History
|
Discussion of the important event
that lead to the American Revolution. It is a fascinating read. I am always
amazed at the volume of personal letters by unofficial individuals that remain
in archives from the 18th century Exploiting this vast quantity of material the
authors have produced a very detailed account of who did what on both sides
during this conflict over Parliament's right to tax the colonies.
|
O'Neil, Paul
|
The Rivermen
|
Time-Life Books, N. Y., 1975,240
pgs., index, bibliography, illustrations
|
American History
|
This is part of a Time-Life
series - The Old West - It is extensively illustrated with contemporary and
recent photographs. The story is about the life and activities along the
Missouri - Mississippi rivers north and west of St. Louis,
|
Palmer, A. W.
|
A Dictionary of Modern History
1789-1945
|
Penguin Books, Baltimore, 1962,
363 pgs., paperback
|
Reference - History
|
An alphabetical listing of short
entries useful for quick reference.
|
Palmer, R. R.
|
The Age of the Democratic
Revolution: A Political History of Europe and America 1760-1800 - The Challenge
|
Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton,
1959, 534 pgs., index, foot notes, appendix
|
Modern History
|
Volume One of Professor Palmer's
study of the American and French Revolutions. This volume describes the
background - the ancien regime and the political thought generated by
Enlightenment authors. It also includes the American Revolution.
|
Palmer, R. R.
|
The Age of the Democratic
Revolution: A Political History of Europe and America 1760-1800 - The Struggle
|
Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton,
1964, 584 pgs., index, foot notes, appendix
|
Modern History
|
This is volume Two of the study.
It shifts to the French Revolution on Bastille Day of 1792. It moves on to the
revolutions in Holland, Italy, Helvetia, and Germany. Then it discusses
reactions in Great Britain and America. The content concludes in 1799, before
Napoleon.
|
Parkman, Francis - ed Mason Wade
|
The Journals of Francis Parkman -
2 vol.
|
Harper & Brothers, N.Y.,
1947, 718 pgs., index, end notes, map, illustrations
|
American History - Literature
|
A wonderful primary source from
the famous historian. Parkman visited many of the places about which we wrote.
The Oregon Train journey in 1846 is especially important, but prior to that he
visited Canada, New York and New England, the locus of the French and Indian
Wars. And he made a tour in Europe in 1843-44. And after the Oregon Trail his
note books extend to 1892. The editor has provided critical commentary and
explanation about Parkman's motives and efforts in making these extensive
tours. It is rare enough for an accomplished historian to visit the locale
about which he intends to write, let alone provide us with his personal notes
about his sights and thoughts..
|
Parrington, Vernon Louis
|
Main Currents in American
Thought: An Interpretation of American Literature from the Beginning to 1920
|
Harcort, Brace & Co., N. Y.,
1930, Book 1 493 pgs,. Book 2, 429 pgs., index, bibliography, foot notes,
|
Intellectual History - Literary
criticism, American political history
|
The author analyzes literature,
but much of it is political writing or cultural (for instance religious texts)
that were politically influential. Basically it is a study of the influence of
ideas on action. The first section is on the Puritan Heritage in 1620-1660.
Each intellectual development is thoroughly described along with its impact.
The final chapter, written in 1930, treats the 'liberal' now we call
progressive, movement of the pre-World War One as a mostly spent force. Little
did the author predict the following 70 years.
|
Perkins, Edwin J.
|
The Economy of Colonial America,
2nd ed.
|
Columbia Univ. Press, N. Y.,
1988, 226 pgs. , index,
|
American History - Economics
|
A scholarly study of American
Economic History. The author describes colonial America as a very dynamic place
with output expanding 12-fold between 1700 and 1774. .By the time of the
Revolution the colonies were rapidly gaining in economic output with Great
Britain itself. Even so, the economy was mostly rural and agricultural. Total
economic development was largely due to population increase. He gives these
numbers: White population in 1650=40,000 - in 1700=235,000 - in 1770=1,.8
million. The black population went from 13000=1690 to 465,000 in 1770.
|
Reagan, Ronald - ed Douglas
Brinkley
|
The Reagan Diaries
|
Harper Collins, N. Y., 2007,767
pgs., glossary, index, illustrations
|
Biography, American History
|
Douglas Brinkley in his
introduction expresses the central thoughts one has when reading the diaries.
|
Reitran, E. A. - ed.
|
George III: Tyrant or
Constitutional Monarch?
|
D. C. Heath, Boston, 1964, 106
pgs., readings, paperback
|
Modern History
|
This is a booklet in the problems
of European civilization series designed for teachers to use in classroom
discussion. It seems to me that one can be both a tyrant and constitutional
ruler. The booklet has 12 essays proposing various opinions on the subject.
Four are by contemporary authors such as Burke and Walpole, two are by Whig
historians, three are by Namier 'school' of which two are by Namier himself,
and three are responses to Namier. The editor provides a long introduction in
which he quotes Herbert Butterfield's point that there is a problem in
determining who is conservative and who not. And he describes the work of Sir
Lewis Namier as starting a modern look at King George. The result is a booklet
full of able arguments that a teacher may use for class discussion.
|
Reman, Edward
|
The Norse Discoveries and
Explorations in America
|
Univ. of California Press,
Berkeley, 1949, 201 pgs., index, foot notes,
|
Medieval History
|
The chapters are organized for
each of the major Norse explorers, Gunnbjorn Ulfsson, Erik the Red, Lief
Erickson, Thorvald Erickson, and Thorfinn Karlsfni
|
Rossiter, Clinton
|
The American Presidency
|
Mentor Book, N.Y., 1956, 166
pgs., index, appendix, paperback
|
American Politics
|
A short but condensed description
of the American Presidency including topics such as Powers, Limits, history and
relationship of modern presidency to the Constitution.
|
Sedeen, Margaret - ed.
|
Our Fifty States
|
National Geographic, Wash. D. C.,
1991, 264 pgs., index, maps, illustrations data tables
|
Reference - atlas
|
Organized by region. Not only
state maps but also flags and text.
|
Sellers, Charles and Henry May
|
A Synopsis of American History
|
Rand McNally Co, Chicago, 1963,
434 pgs., index, tables, map, paperback
|
American History
|
A study aid for high school
students. The content is political history with the commentary on the liberal
side.
|
Simkins, Francis Butler
|
Virginia: History, Government,
Geography
|
Charles Scribner's Sons, N.Y.,
1964, 672 pgs., index, illustrations, appendix
|
American History
|
This is a high school text
describing Virginia from Jamestown in 1609 to the 1960's. Fully a third is
devoted to colonial period and another 150 pages or so to the period through
the Civil War.
|
Sloan, Jared
|
The Effects of Video
Frame Delay and Spatial Ability on the Operation of Multiple Semiautonomous and
Tele-operated Robots
|
Thesis submitted for
degree of Masters of Science, University of Central Florida, 2005, 38 pgs.,
bibliography, tables, paperback
|
Psychology
|
A very interesting
and timely case study based on experiments judging the capabilities of human
operators to control unmanned aerial robots.
|
Sloan, John
|
A Comparative
Application of the Methods of Stokes and Hirvonen to the Computation of the
Undulation of the Geoid
|
A Thesis presented
for fulfillment of Degree of Master of Science, Ohio State Univ. 1960, 63 pgs.,
bibliography, tables, paperback
|
Geodetic Science
|
The study was based
on gravity measurements around Pike's Peak in Colorado. Advanced mathmatics
were used to compare the historic methods developed in theory by Sir George
Stokes with modern methods using more gravimetric data and the methods
described by R. A. Hirovonen.
|
Standford, Les
|
Washington a Frenchman's Vision
for our Nation's Capital Survived Congress, the Founding Fathers, and the
Invading British Army
|
Crown Publishers, N., Y., 2008,
353 pgs., index, end notes, map
|
American History
|
Interesting narrative and
commentary on the early history of Washington D.C. Every aspect of the creation
of the National Capital, from location, to design of every structure was
subject to intense political struggles. Then the British came and burned much
of it down. At least Dolly Madison insisted on saving Gilbert Stuart's
full-length portrait of George Washington before she would depart the White
House. Interesting that Charles Carroll was the one to take her to Bellvue.
Immediately the British left the new political struggle over rebuilding began.
The completion was years away, but in the end L'Efant's design won out.
|
Stirling, Matthew W.
|
Indians of the Americas
|
National Geographic Society,
Wash, D. C., 1955, 431 pgs., illustrations
|
American History
|
The numerous, color illustrations
are the chief value of this excellent book. The book includes not only North
America but also Central and South America
|
Swinton, William
|
First Lessons in Our Country's
History
|
American Book Co., N. Y., 1872,
208 pgs., tables, maps, illustrations
|
American History
|
A 19th century grammar school
text book. The author writes : "The extension of the study of United
States History into the lower grades of our schools has suggested the need of a
class-book fitted to their wants." The reader now can judge the quality of
education at that time and compare it with today. At the end of each chapter
there are review lessons. One such, "Did the English try to make
settlements in North America during the sixteenth century?" And on the
Civil War "What was the first important event in the West in 1862?"
And "What was the first great event of 1863?"
|
Tansill, Charles Callan - ed.
|
The Making of the American
Republic; The Great Documents, 1774-1789
|
Arlington House, New Rochelle, N.
Y., nd., 1115 pgs.
|
American History - Reference -
Political Science
|
A marvelous reference to American
Constitutional history - over 30 of the priceless, primary documents from the
Declaration and resolves of the First Continental Congress in 1774 to
Congressional resolutions submitting the first 12 amendments to the
Constitution.
|
Taylor, George Rogers - ed.
|
The Turner Thesis: Concerning The
Role of the Frontier in American History
|
D. C. Heath, Boston, 1949, 106
pgs., readings, paperback
|
American History
|
One of a series of booklets
designed for use by teachers in classroom discussion. There are 9 essays
including a section by Turner from his book.
|
Taylor, Lonn & Kathleen
Kendrick & Jeffrey Brodie
|
The Star-Spangled Banner
|
National Museum of American
history, Smithsonian Institution, Wash D.C.. 2008, 182 pgs. , index,
illustrations
|
American History
|
Spectacular book that is a
memorial to the Star-Spangled Banner. It describes the huge and expensive
conservation program the museum accomplished to mount the flag in a new, highly
protected place. And also a very interesting history of the flag from the War
of 1812 to today.
|
Tocqueville, Alexis de - trans.
Henry Reeve
|
Democracy in America
|
Arlington House, New Rochelle,
N.Y., nd., 431 and 382 pgs.,
|
American History - Politics in
America
|
This edition has introduction by
Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn. It is a classic appraisal of America by noted French
author.
|
Turner, Frederick Jackson
|
Frontier and Section; Selected
Essays of Frederick Jackson Turner
|
Prentice- Hall, Englewood Cliffs,
N. J., 1961, 171 pgs., paperback
|
American History
|
Turner's thesis about the closing
of the American frontier was very influential and still draws a lot of comment.
This book has an Introduction by Ray Billington who writes: "The essays in
this volume have been selected to show Frederick Jackson Turner in his true
light, not simply as the father of the 'frontier' and 'sectional'
interpretations of American history, but as a scholar whose interests were
universal and whose views were as modern as tomorrow." There are 9 essays.
They may be classified as contributions to historiography.
|
Underhill, Ruth Murray
|
Red Man's America: A history of
Indians in the United States
|
Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago,
1953, 400 pgs., index, bibliography, end notes, illustrations, map
|
American History
|
The author notes that this must
be a very limited survey, since full coverage of the many Indian tribes would
require volumes. She organized the work with an initial description of the
arrival and spread of the native Americans. After that the organization is by
region, begining with the southeast, then north east.
|
Webb, Walter Prescott
|
The Great Plains
|
Grosset & Dunlap, N. Y.,
1931, 525 pgs., index, maps, bibliography, paperback
|
American History
|
This is a special study focuses
on what happened when the Americans encountered the huge plains area west of
the Mississippi.
|
West, Ray B. Jr.
|
Kingdom of the Saints: The Story
of Brigham Young and the Mormans
|
The Viking Press, N. Y., 1957,
389 pgs., index, bibliography, map
|
American History
|
This is also in part of biography
of Brigham Young, but only as he was the founder, leader of the Morman
experience. The story is about the entire period of their move to Utah.
|
Westin, Alan F. - ed.
|
The Uses of Power: 7 Cases in
American Politics
|
Harcourt, Brace, and World, 1962,
375 pgs., sources, paperback
|
Political theory, Politics
|
Seven case studies on American
Congress, Presidency, Supreme Court, Regulatory Agencies, Political Parties,
State and Local Governments and Pressure Groups.
|
Whalen, R. Christopher
|
Inflated: How Money and Debt
Built the American Dream
|
John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken,
N. J., 2011, 393 pgs., index, references, end notes
|
Economic History, Banking,
Finance
|
This is an economic history of
the United States focused on the role of banks and credit in the monetary
system. The author is very positive about this. He describes the role of the
modern central bank - FED -in expanding credit=inflation which he contends has
been instrumental in creating the American Dream..
|
Wilentz, Sean
|
The Rise of American Democracy:
Jefferson to Lincoln
|
W. W. Norton Co., N. Y., 2005,
1044 pgs., index, end notes, maps, illustrations
|
American History
|
The narrative and analysis is
divided into three sections: 1 - The Crisis of the New order (Jefferson in the
election of 1800 generated a revolution in American government organization). 2
- Democracy Ascendant, (of which Jackson's administration is center piece). 3
-Slavery and the Crisis of American Democracy (of which of course the continual
struggle between Northern and Southern societies over the status of the west
was significant). This is a huge book focused on the title subject (rise of
democracy). For instance, the Mexican War is analyzed in terms of its impact on
sectionalism and the fight over slavery. His chapter including the War of 1812
begins; "The coming of the war with Britain, and the war itself,
permanently altered the structure of American politics." Throughout, the
author not only (a) describes events, (b) analyzes them in terms of political
results, but also (c) discusses popular and historiographical thought about
them even now.
|
|
The Seventeenth Century
Background
|
Doubleday & Co., Garden City,
N.Y., 1953, 316 pgs., index, paperback
|
Intellectual History
|
The book begins with the end of
Scholasticism as the leading intellectual school. The author then discusses
Bacon, Sir Thomas Browne, Descartes, Hobbes, Joseph Glanville, Milton, John
Locke and other philosophers. The author sought to provide readers with a view
of the 17th century intellectual scene. He focuses on poetic and religious
expression in literature.
|
Wood, Gordon S.
|
The Creation of the American
Republic 1776-1787
|
Univ. of North Carolina Press,
Chapel Hill, 1969, 653 pgs., index, notes,
|
American History - Political
Science - Intellectual History
|
This is about the political
theory and practice in colonial America that resulted in the Creation of the
Constitution.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
