Product Description
Newly revised edition of a book that first appeared in1994 and sold out of the first two printings. The present editionbrings the history of Dallas up to date, reaching into the year2000. It's a lively but authoritative history of Dallas in the 20thcentury. Special attention to local politics, race relations, crime,and civic leadership. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Oustanding book on the history of Dallas
I grew up in the Dallas area so I have always been interested in Dallas history.This book by Darwin Payne is very interesting and readable, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Dallas history.Even if you aren't a history buff, any Dallas area resident will find this book just fascinating!I was lucky and took one of Professor Payne's classes at SMU many years ago.His love of Dallas history is infectious!You will see what I mean if you read this book!

Outstanding
I bought this book back in 1995 after seeing a local Dallas PBS feature on the book.It is well worth the money.An excellent history of the city, if you live or lived in Dallas you will enjoy it. ... Read more

Product Description
One hundred years ago in Brazil the rituals of Candomblé were feared as sorcery and persecuted as crime. Its cult objects were fearsome fetishes. Nowadays, they are Afro-Brazilian cultural works of art, objects of museum display and public monuments. Focusing on the particular histories of objects, images, spaces and persons who embodied it, this book portrays the historical journey from weapons of sorcery looted by the police, to hidden living stones, to public works of art attacked by religious fanatics that see them as images of the Devil, former sorcerers who have become artists, writers, and philosophers. Addressing this history as a journey of objectification and appropriation, the author offers a fresh, unconventional, and illuminating look at questions of syncretism, hybridity and cultural resistance in Brazil and in the Black Atlantic in general. ... Read more

Product Description

The twentieth century is nearly history, and since you probably weren't born yesterday, you should at least remember a few things about the last one hundred amazing years. For old time's sake, take this short quiz to see what you remember and how much you may have forgotten:

• Which came first, Velcro, spandex, or polyester?
• What kind of a detective was Ace Ventura?
• True or False: Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian.
• What was going on in San Francisco on April 19, 1906?
• What do Laika, Belka, and Strelka have in common?

Surprised? And those five questions are just a sample of the people, places, and things that come flooding back in We're History!, a host of cleverly designed quizzes that celebrate and test your knowledge of the twentieth century. With more than 2,000 creatively phrased and organized questions (short answer, fill-in-the blanks, true/false, "which came first?" and "spot the anachronism") and seventeen chapters covering every conceivable twentieth-century theme, innovation, and icon, We're History! will sharpen your trivia skills, dust off your memory, and, most importantly, provide you with what may be your last whirlwind ride through a truly memorable century.

Answers: Velcro came first in 1948; Ace Ventura was a pet detective; true; San Francisco is burning after a great earthquake; they were dogs, and also the first animals in space.Amazon.com Review
Who was rock & roll's Lizard King? No, wait, comeback--it's not trivia anymore, it's history. English professorJaime O'Neill intends to help "keep the past from unhappening," andwith his wry humor and creative arrangements, he makes it a highlyentertaining endeavor. We're not just having fun--we're preservinghistory! Sets of multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank questions (morethan 2000 of them!) with themes such as "Sex, Drugs, and Rock-n-Roll" and"Morbid Fascinations" engage and challenge us while keeping a constantstream of facts and humor flowing.

Unlike other books of its kind, We're History! isn't afraid toflaunt its opinions. Who was the "slimiest lawyer?" Roy Cohn! Who isthe "greatest inspiration to nerds everywhere?" Bill Gates! For all ofthe giggles to be had, O'Neill may have meant this to be read by agroup. As it stands, this is the perfect smarty-pants party book.

(If you're still wondering, the Lizard King was Jim Morrison. Youknow, the guy from the Doors.) --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very Interesting
It was very interesting to find out what life was like just over 100 years ago-- the things we had, the things we didn't have, as compared to now.For example, it was interesting to find out that 101 years ago, we didn't have the means to make a tuna fish sandwich-- no presliced bread, no jarred mayonnaise, and no canned tuna.People made their own bread. Ditto with mayonnaise. And canned tuna?You would have had to catch it yourself, and even then, it probably didn't resemble the kind you get from Starkist or Chicken of the Sea today.And forget about finding it in cans-- lead in cans was a big problem.In this book, you also get to find out, decade by decade, what things were invented and became available to the general public.Interesting.

A MUST-OWN FOR EVERY 20TH CENTURY SURVIVOR
I can't decide whether "We're History" belongs on my bookshelf next to "Only Yesterday" and "The Crucial Decade" or in the cabinet where I keep "Scrabble" and "Monopoly."Aswith his previous works, Mr. O'Neill has produced a thoroughly delightfulvolume which at once captures the author's astute observations about thiscentury and presents a compendium of challenging and entertaining quizzesthat test our memories of the people and events that have shaped our lives. The questions alone will provide hours of fun and nostalgia forget-togethers of friends, a couple looking for better entertainment thantelevision, or an individual whiling away a rainy afternoon.O'Neill's"We're History" is a must-own for every "20th CenturySurvivor." ... Read more

Product Description
This who, what, when, where, why, and how of American military victory and defeat includes:

* Every decisive battle waged by the U.S. military over the last century from the Boxer Rebellion of 1900 to Operation Desert Storm
* A comprehensive look at each leader and each army
* A detailed examination of the full operations and the specfic conflicts
* A complete overview of 20th-century American military history
* The 100-year evolution of military science and theory ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A very good introduction to American wars
This book is a concise introduction to the wars America was involved on the 20th century, covering up to Somalia, 1993. It starts with a brief about the Spanish- American war at 1898 and the WWI, where American forces were called "our Italians" by the British (US it to England as Italy to Deutchsland). Through the time, despite all the problems on the way and turn downs as Vietnan, the book shows how US defense forces became the most respected war machine of the century.

As not american and not having great knowledge on the topic, I found the book excelent and very informative, and also better wrote than the others in the serie. ... Read more

Product Description
Color is one of the most interesting qualities of glass, and many people collect according to color. Purple Glass is a sample of various collectible glassware made in the United States and Europe. Included are examples of Depression Era glass from American companies such as Tiffin, Fostoria, and Morgantown, to mid-century blown glass from Blenko; from Italian mid-century cased items to Scandinavian designer glass from Kosta, Orrefors, and Flygsfors. While focusing exclusively on purple glass, this book is also a survey of 20th century glass, because each design was also produced in other colors. More than 400 color photographs (including 80+ rare catalog pages for identification) and information on the 60 companies represented make this book essential for all glass collectors. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Naval Disasters
I purchased this book as a gift to my friend. He found the book to be so interesting that he finished it in one day.

Enjoyable, but Uneven, Treatment
On the one hand, this book is a very enjoyable introduction to the subject of naval disasters.The text is very readable, the authors do a good job of walking the reader through the basics of the ship's history and the particular disaster history, and the book is well illustrated.

On the other hand, there are some painfully obvious mistakes that led me to question the accuracy of other information in the book.When describing the history of the U.S.S. Missouri, the authors state that, in early 1945, the Missouri was in a task force that included the Lexington, CV-2.Of course, most students of naval history know that this Lexington sank in the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942, so it would have been quite challenging for it to have been a member of a task force in 1945.The authors undoubtedly were thinking of the later, Essex-class Lexington, but this simple mistake is a bit unnerving.Similarly, in the space of a few paragraphs descibing the World-War-II-era turret explosion on the U.S.S. Mississippi, the authors switch repeatedly from 1943 to 1944 as the year in which this incident took place.Again, its a simple mistake that makes the reader question how well the authors did their homework.

I was also disappointed by some gaps in the book's coverage.When describing the fire onboard the carrier Constellation, the authors briefly note a similar dockside fire onboard the liner Normandie.However, at the time the Normandie burned, I believe she had already been taken over by the U.S. government for use as a troop transport and re-named the U.S.S. Lafayette.Why wasn't this famous naval disaster discussed in detail?

Finally, I found the book's organization somewhat confusing.Incidents are grouped by type of disaster (i.e., grounding, explosion, fire, etc.), but within those groupings there is no apparent order to the sub-chapters, either chronological or otherwise.So, the reader finds himself/herself jumping from the grounding of the Missouri in the 50s, then back in time to the grounding of a destroyer squadron in the 20s, and then back again to more modern times.

These concerns aside, I enjoyed this book on a somewhat obscure, but very interesting, subject.

A very good book.
From the grounding of the Missouri in Chesapeake Bay to the disapearance of the Cyclops to the sinkings of Thresher and Scorpion, Great Naval Disasters covers in detail, both written and illustrated, the great disaters the navy has suffered in the 20th century. Among them include Destroyer Squadron Eleven, The loss and rescue of the Squalus and the mysterious explosions onboard the Iowa and the Mississippi. They should revise this so they can include the Greenville collision in it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Gung Ho!: Good to go!
Great story in the tradition of Harry Flashman (George MacDonald Fraser) and his American "cousin" Fenwick Travers (Raymond Saunders). Fans of the Old Corps of pre-WW II will like the attention to detail and the insider's ear for the tone and texture of the times. A worthwhile and enjoyable read. Semper Fi!

A wry view of Marine Corps history from the Boxer Rebellion.
The half Chinese son of missionaries and a second generation Marine,Archie Smallwood meets presidents, Chairman Mao and famous and infamous notables of Marine Corps history from the Boxer Rebellion through WWII. Archie will remind one somewhat of Flashman.This is more than an entertaining read; there are unexpected nuggets of history and philosophy on every page. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

American Art of the 20th Century
I found that this book existed from the flap of another art book.
For the low, low price I paid...when the book arrived, filled to
the brim with American art I realized I struck Gold. I always feel
when one is reviewing a book with images, artists, especially....
want to know color vs.B&W, and how it balances out. There are many
b&w, yet in this book , it is balanced with colorful images peppered
through the book and I felt satisfied with the color images they chose
to print.
I was surprised that at the turn of the 20th century,all modern,
colorful works on the edge did not come from Paris. This book is divided into
the waves of American change and growth.There are artist that created great
works, but as buildings.Sculpture is reveiwed on the same pages as the
paintings that turned heads in their time.Of course, Georia O'Keeffe, Arthue Dove,
Hartley, John Marin, and others start off at the beginning of the 20th century.
We go into Abstract Expessionism, with images popping up here and there , small , large,
and for me very usefulto see the progression in what Americans found stimulating
during the speed and chaous, highs and lows of American life.
It does show that after WW2, America becomes the center of the Art World.
The book is a study of American Art History and I am sure used in College
classes.I say WOW , what a peek into the American growth along with it's Art.
The book takes us into the early 70's and if you can get it for the low price.Do get it ... Read more

Product Description
The division has proved itself a durable organizational concept for the U.S. Army. Despite numerous permutations, it prevailed as the Army's preeminent fighting organization throughout the twentieth century. Its robustness, flexibility, and adaptability have allowed it to absorb and exploit new technologies and doctrinal concepts. This brief history of thedivision examines the changes the division has undergone, exploring the most significant rationales for each step in the evolutionary cycle. It asks important questions about the division's future and recommends serious and intense experimentation to determine whether the division has outlived its usefulness or is still the optimal unit to best serve the Army and the nation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very general study
The book is a good start for anyone who wishes to learn something about the evolution of the structure of the US Army Divisions from their inception in 1911 until 2000, but it lacks the depth and the detailed analysis. The reader finishes the book in a few hours and although he receives a good synopsis he finds himself having many questions and not the answers. For a far better perusal on the subject look to Wilson's masterful work "Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades". ... Read more

Product Description

During the 1950s and 1960s True Detective magazine developed a new way of narrating and understanding murder. It was more sensitive to context, gave more psychologically sophisticated accounts, and was more willing to make conjectures about the unknown thoughts and motivations of killers than others had been before. This turned out to be the start of a revolution, and, after a century of escalating accounts, we have now become a nation of experts, with many ordinary people able to speak intelligently about blood-spatter patterns and organized vs. disorganized serial killers. The Rise of True Crime examines the various genres of true crime using the most popular and well-known examples. And despite its examination of some of the potentially negative effects of the genre, it is written for people who read and enjoy true crime, and wish to learn more about it.

With skyrocketing crime rates and the appearance of a frightening trend toward social chaos in the 1970s, books, documentaries, and fiction films in the true crime genre tried to make sense of the Charles Manson crimes and the Gary Gilmore execution events. And in the 1980s and 1990s, true crime taught pop culture consumers about forensics, profiling, and highly technical aspects of criminology. We have thus now become a nation of experts, with many ordinary people able to speak intelligently about blood-spatter patterns and organized vs. disorganized serial killers.

Through the suggestion that certain kinds of killers are monstrous or outside the realm of human morality, and through the perpetuation of the stranger-danger idea, the true crime aesthetic has both responded to and fostered our culture's fears. True crime is also the site of a dramatic confrontation with the concept of evil, and one of the few places in American public discourse where moral terms are used without any irony, and notions and definitions of evil are presented without ambiguity. When seen within its historical context, true crime emerges as a vibrant and meaningful strand of popular culture, one that is unfortunately devalued as lurid and meaningless pulp.

Customer Reviews (1)

Intelligent and Entertaining both
Jean Murley discusses the rise of "true crime" as a form of entertainment in a scholarly but most readable manner.At least I read it all, and my attention span lasts as long as a grape fizzie in warm water.From pulp magazines in the 30's to websites trading rumors circlingaround the latest "missing white woman of the week"a very nice survey.You HAVE to love a book with the phrase "incendiary ambulance-chasing pseudojournalist Nancy Grace..." I read it, I really enjoyed it, and I put it on my blog "Dull Tool Dim Bulb". Since I love the physical object known as "book" I hate to say it, but a good book to kindle. ... Read more

Product Description
This great reference features over 650 color photographs showing details of individual houses, several hundred pieces of furniture made of metal, wood, paper and plastic, and delightful full sets. Thoroughly researched information is provided for more than one hundred dollhouses, which date from 1900 to 1990 and range in size from the miniature Marx Newlywed model to the large Mego Walton Farmhouse. The biggest names in dollhouse manufacture are well represented -- from Bliss, Converse, and Schoenhut to Strombecker, Kilgore, Tootsietoy, Built-Rite, Renwal, Ideal, Plasco, Marx and many others. The book also includes a list of sources for securing dollhouses and furniture, addresses of publications in the field, and a comprehensive price guide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Fantastic!I love this book!
This book filled my burning desire to know everything about dollhouses & furniture from the last 50 years.There are no gaps of missing information or omitions of important items in this detailed andcomprehensive book.Quite a relief after seeing an army of inadequatecollector books flood the market.I'll have hours of fun reading this.Myonly complaint is some of the photos are dark or of poor color quality.Iwant to view these things in their full glory.

A walk down the memory lane of my childhood!
This book is jam-packed with useful info, great pictures, and a very enjoyable writing style.I found myself constantly saying "I had that -- I remember that -- my friend had that one!"The book has been my constant companion ever since it arrived.What's more, it has sparked a new interest in collecting the old tin litho houses from the 50s and 60s -- items I had all but forgotten when I moved on to 1" scale wood miniatures.Thank you for a truly remarkable book, one which many of my friends will be enjoying, too.

The BEST comprehensive book on contemporary dollhouses.
Zillner has actually answered burning questions I've had on dollhouses and their furnishings. This is by far the BEST reference I've seen in 25 years of collecting. I highly recommend the book.

A must for a collector's reference library!
Informative, well written, well illustrated.If you're a collector, this book is a great reference.

Superb reference book, one of a kind in its class.
After searching for a reference book of this type for many months,I finally discovered this book through the internet.I have over 50 collectible reference books in my library and this one I would rate at the very top.A comprehensive, beautifully photographed, helpful reference guide. ... Read more

Product Description
In this powerfully argued book, John F.X. Knasas engages a debate at the heart of the revival of Thomistic thought in the twentieth century. Richly detailed and illuminating, his book call on the tradition established by Gilson, Maritain, and Owen, to build a case for Existential Thomism as a valid metaphysics. This book is a comprehensive discussion of the major issues and controversies in neo-Thomism, including issues of mind, knowledge, the human subject, free will, nature, grace, and the act of being. ... Read more