Book Description
Little Round Top, the Railroad Cut, Pickett’s Charge—these are the turning points within the most important battle of the Civil War. Even careful students of Gettysburg, however, can find themselves disoriented when visiting the site itself. Here, finally, is a convenient guide for serious student and casual visitor alike that makes plain the sweep of events and the geography of the battlefield.
This invaluable guidebook was created by scholars who have walked the battlegrounds, consulted with local experts and park guides, and studied the testimony left behind by the participants. Gettysburg will help you find all the important locales and understand what the participants saw in 1863, even if you have no prior knowledge of the battle. Designed to enhance the experience of both first-time and returning visitors, this guide can be used alone or as a supplement to a tour. Clearly written and illustrated with maps and photographs, this is the book to have when you explore Gettysburg.
Customer Reviews:
Take what you want, this is the only book you'll need.......2004-11-24
A masterful guide to the Gettysburg battlefield. I took several books on my trip to Gettysburg earlier this year but this was the only one I carried on the battlefield. It is organized around the tour stops, but also contains several side trips to lesser known areas, and simply tells you all you need to know about the events in that area at the time of the battle. It contains several maps and the directions it provides to areas on the battlefield are concise and easy to follow. If you wish to seriously tour Gettysburg National Park, this book is essential.
Made it crystal clear.......2002-10-23
I grew up near Gettysburg & have been there numerous times. I just spent 2 days there with this book on the battlefield--this book made the battle crystal clear! I ran out of time exploring the battlefield (it takes more than the 6 hours described in the book--my only criticism). This book brings the battle to life and explains the terrain like never before. I learned a lot about the battle that I never knew and many components of the battle came into focus in new and exciting ways. In particular, this book does a good job on overviews of each day and with it's clear directions, leads the reader through each stop--I really felt as if I had an expert by my side explaining all the facets of each aspect of the battle. Along the way, everything was just as the book described. The maps were excellent & it's nicely complimented with various portraits of leaders, common soldiers, etc. The guide brings the 3 days together as a cohesive whole. This is the book to get if you're going to visit Gettysburg; forget all the others.
I now live near Chickamauga and I plan on getting their book on that battle!
A Must for the Civil War buff.......2001-10-23
I recently took a trip to Gettysburg (my 3rd) and carried this tour guide for the 1st time. It is far and away the best experience I've had seeing the battlefield. It follows the battle chronologically and offers several sites and insights not offered on the audio tours available at the local shops. Many of the stops are multifaceted. At several points the stops feature 7 to 10 asides which often involve only a minor shift in position to point out various phases of the battle. It includes a side trip to the cavalry field which I've never run into on the audio tours. The driving directions are easy to follow but do veer from the order of the Military Park brochure and the audio tours to give greater detail to the battle. The book says to allow for 6 hours-it's more like 10 hours to give time for exploring beyond some of the "stand here and turn left" instructions. 11 hours total if you include a break for lunch. We started at nine on one morning, toured until about 4 with a break for lunch and finished the following day. Sites included on the audio and Park tours tend to start getting crowded from 11 to 3, so this will add to the tour time depending on time of year and crowd. To sum it all up and paraphrase a popular commercial-when going on a tour of Gettysburg-"Don't leave home without it!"
A great guidebook for first-time visitors!.......2001-06-10
An excellent, well-written guidebook and the best I've seen on the subject. I carried this book on my first visit to Gettysburg in Spring 2001, and it greatly enhanced the experience. The directions are clear and up to date, and the text is precise and detailed enough to be compelling without trying to be an exhaustive treatment of every minute detail. If used as a companion to an actual visit, I would strongly recommend reading the book in advance of your visit, then bringing it with you for reference. There are only a few very minor faults I might find with this guidebook. On the maps, it would be helpful to have present-day landmarks indicated in some way to help with orientation. Also, the book suggests the full tour can be completed in six hours, but in my experience to make all the stops and fully enjoy it you'd need at least a full day, or preferably two. You'll want to leave some time for reflection at such places as McPherson's Ridge, Little Round Top, the High Water Mark, and others to think about the enormity of what occurred on that ground.
Read this book and you'll come away with a good working knowledge of the three-day battle. Highly recommended!
The best Gettysburg guidebook around.......2000-02-14
I have tramped over the Gettysburg Battlefield a half dozen times with various books in hand. My hat is off to Mark Grimsley & Brooks D. Simpson. I found this book to be the most thorough and well written of any text I have used. In November, 1999 I went to the battlefield with the main purpose of studying the fighting around the Peach Orchard and Wheatfield. This book was very helpful in helping me understand the chain of events that occured in these places July 2, 1863. I also found the descriptions of the fighting July 1st around the McPherson Farm to be excellent.
A very good and practical guide.
Book Description
Little Round Top was the site of a climactic struggle between Union and Confederate troops at the Battle of Gettysburg. Many books have dealt with the history of Little Round Top, but none have adequately tied the known history to the rocky hill itself. Adelman, a licensed battlefield guide, presents a tour which solidifies the reader's understanding of troop movements while detailing the fascinating history of Little Round Top's memorialization and visitation over the years. Twenty tour stops, ten maps, and over 40 photographs make this book a must for all Little Round Top enthusiasts.
Customer Reviews:
Garry Adelman's done it again!.......2000-08-05
Being a smaller book, I was skeptical that I would learn so much! I had been to Little Round Top on more than 15 occasions before and when I took this book to Little Round Top, I understood things about the hill and the battle there like never before. Maps and lots of photographs make the tour easy to follow for first timers and veterans of the Gettysburg Battlefield. The section where the author challenges the reader to locate the positions of certain photographs is an interesting twist. Just like his Devil's Den book, I highly recommend this work.
Product Description
2 CDs and a 56 page guidebook.
Customer Reviews:
This is the one auto tour CD you need for Gettysburg.......2006-07-24
If you are going to take an auto tour at Gettysburg, then this is the guidebook you need. The narrator, Wayne Motts, is awesome. He paints a picture with words that makes the battles come alive. He is very descriptive in the setting, the players, and the action that took place. The booklet is also nicely produced, with short descriptions of each of the stops given along with pictures of the stop. Wonderfully done! Though I'm sure that there are other audio tours out there that are also good, I guarantee that this one is a sure thing.
Product Description
Audio cassette version of the listed audio CD version. Contains cassette and detailed handbook.
Average customer rating:
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Gettysburg: Stories of men and monuments as told by battlefield guides
Frederick W Hawthorne
Manufacturer: Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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Gettysburg
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ASIN: B0007BQWRW |
Average customer rating:
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The Gettysburg Battlefield farmsteads guide
Denise Carper
Manufacturer: Friends of the National Parks at Gettysburg
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ASIN: B0006RIZ4U |
Amazon.com
This book, a kind of sequel to or refinement of Alfred T. Mahan's 19th-century classic The Influence of Sea Power upon History, begins with a standard observation: In war, naval power tends to trump land power. But Peter Padfield makes an even bolder claim: "Maritime supremacy is the key which unlocks most, if not all, large questions of modern history, certainly the puzzle of how and why we--the Western democracies--are as we are." To put it more frankly: "Our civilization (if we can lay so large a claim), our beliefs, our dominance are products not of superior minds or bravery, cunning, greed, or ruthlessness--common attributes of mankind--still less of the Christian religion, the 'Protestant work ethic,' or blind chance, but of the particular configuration of the seas and land masses that has given the advantage to powers able to use and command the seas." That may sound incredibly deterministic, but also intriguing. The resulting discussion of military and economic might on the seas begins with the Spanish Armada and concludes with the founding of the United States. It's an engaging mix that will appeal to readers who like to tackle the big questions of history, as in David S. Landes's The Wealth and Poverty of Nations or Thomas Sowell's Conquests and Cultures. Best of all, readers need not agree with the striking thesis of Maritime Supremacy to profit from its ideas. In the end, more than a few may wind up agreeing with Padfield that "We are the heirs of maritime supremacy." --John J. Miller
Book Description
From "the best naval historian of his generation" (John Keegan), a brilliant exploration of the significance of maritime power in shaping the western ideal of political freedom.
In the great wars of modern history maritime powers have always prevailed over land-based empires, whether Habsburg, Napoleonic, Nazi or Soviet. This extraordinary book charts the growth of these powers in various western countries, while also revealing the way in which supremacy at sea freed thought and society itself. As noted historian Peter Padfield demonstrates, those nations attaining mastery at sea have been distinguished by liberty, flexibility and enterprise, a historical lesson of burning relevance today.
Maritime Supremacy details the struggles of the first supreme maritime powers of the modern age, the Dutch and the British, and ends with the emergence of the ultimate successor, the United States of America. Changes in society, politics, trade--including the slave trade--and in naval capability are interwoven with descriptions of the great sea battles by which world power was won. Bringing the characters vividly to life and immersing the reader in the drama of events, Padfield challenges our view of the evolution of today's world.
"A work of stunning originality...this book confirms Padfield as a historian of the highest order."--The Sunday Times (London)
Customer Reviews:
Entertainment for the Naval History Neophyte.......2007-10-16
A somewhat casual reader of non-fiction, though no stranger to history or economics, my knowledge of Naval History was extremely limited. I read Padfield's description of Philip's preparations for the Armada with newfound appreciation for the historian's insights. Padfield has the rare talent of writing in a manner that brings character and personality to the individual actors involved. His descriptions of events leading to, and battles of the Armada, Quiberon Bay and Chesapeake ... are all riveting. It reinforces how preparation and decisions of individuals truly shape history. These history lessons I didn't learn in school have helped provide a greater understanding of forces guiding the decision making of the leaders of the Western World during the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries. It certainly leaves the reader with an appreciation for the impact of Naval power.
The book is a gripping and compelling read that is pure fun. I've read it through twice and several chapters many times. I believe it can be appreciated, and reward the reader equally by chapter or in completion.
Unsuccessful Hybrid.......2003-09-08
"Maritime Supremacy And The Opening Of The Western Mind" is a book that fails, although it fails for a "noble" reason: the author is overly ambitious. Mr. Padfield didn't want to write just a political/social history of the maritime powers and he didn't want to write just a naval history, either. He wanted to combine the two types of history. He also wanted to compare and contrast the maritime powers and the continental powers. Although there is certainly nothing wrong with this idea, the execution, in this case, is poor. Rather than weaving all the material together, the author alternates chapters on naval campaigns with chapters on political/social developments in Spain, France, Britain, the Netherlands, and Colonial America. This "alternating current" constantly disrupts the flow of the book: just as you have settled down to concentrate on a sea battle, the author switches to a chapter on political infighting or government financing. The problem also develops the other way around: just when you've gotten your mind set on concentrating on Lord North or William Pitt or tax-farming in pre-Revolutionary France, it's time to read about broadsides and officers pacing the decks of ships, shoe buckle deep in blood. As a result, the reader feels disconcerted: you are never comfortable and you can never get "caught-up" in the narrative. Another problem with the book is that, considering what the author wants to accomplish, it is too short. The author tries to cover approximately ten naval campaigns, while also trying to explain political/economic/social developments in five different geographical areas, covering a span of 200 years. This is just too much material to cover in less than 300 pages. The specialist reader is likely to come away feeling he or she hasn't learned anything new- as everything is presented in such broad strokes. The general reader will likely be confused by the pace and the amount of information. In trying to do too much, the book accomplishes too little. Perhaps the best that can be said of this book is that, for the non-specialist reader, it may open your eyes to a particular naval campaign or to political/economic/social developments in a particular country. For example, the chapter on the Spanish Armada might lead you to read a more comprehensive book on the topic, such as David Howarth's "The Voyage Of The Armada" or the chapter on the Dutch Golden Age could lead you to Simon Schama's wonderful "The Embarrassment Of Riches". However, I don't think that's a good enough reason to read this book, which is why I have given it only two stars.
A New Style of Naval History.......2000-06-22
Peter Padfield's latest work, Maritime Supremacy and The Opening of the Western Mind is unlike many traditional naval histories, and is indicative of the innovative writing style of this accomplished author. While this work builds on many of his earlier books, in particular Guns at Sea, Tide of Empires, Rule Britannia, and Armada, Padfield has made the leap - quiet successfully - of merging the importance of naval and maritime topics with the larger picture of Western Civilization and the development of societies.
As its subtitle denotes, Maritime Supremacy examines the major naval campaigns that shaped the modern world. From the defeat of the of the Spanish Armada in 1588, to Beachy Head in 1690, to the Battle of the Saints in 1782, these are only some of the key battles that Padfield focuses on. Additionally he includes chapters that relate to the rise and fall of the key maritime nation states, including Spain, the Netherlands, England, and finally the United States.
What separates the author from his contemporaries is his ability to examine the clash of fleets and incorporate their successes, or defeats, into the larger scheme of history. He identifies nation-states as either supreme maritime or territorial powers and it is this interaction, both domestically and internationally that provides the structure for his thesis and according to him, for modern history. The book builds extensively on his two volume Tide of Empires: Decisive Naval Campaigns in the Rise of the West, but unlike this earlier work, which is nearly twenty years old, it incorporates many new historiographical sources, while still utilizing primary resources for much of his information.
The greatest drawback to Maritime Supremacy is its focus on a rather narrow time frame. While it spans nearly two hundred years, it leaves the reader questioning what other maritime influences have impacted on civilization. Also, the lack of an independent conclusion, to tie together many of the key points addressed in his earlier chapters, would have benefited the reader. Overall, Peter Padfield's Maritime Supremacy and The Opening of The Western Mind is an ideal selection for both historians and the general reading audience seeking information on the role of sea in the dawn of modern history. What the reader comes to realizes is that changes in society, politics, trade, and naval capabilities are not independent events, but forces in the development of civilizations.
Book Description
A masterpiece of naval history, this book charts the growth of sea-fighting and trading and reveals the way in which supremacy at sea freed thought and society itself.
Amazon.com
Is it really the best medicine? Neurobiologist Robert R. Provine discovered that no scientist had ever looked into the weird, uncontrollable, and very human phenomenon of laughter, so he started off on his own. Laughter: A Scientific Investigation is his warm and--of course--funny report on how and why we giggle and snort with such regularity. Basing his views on field research conducted in a broad array of social situations (laughter being notoriously difficult to evoke in the laboratory), Provine posits that we use it as a universal, preverbal means of communication. Though animal research is controversial, it suggests that apes establish and maintain relationships using laughlike behavior, so it could be the missing link between animal communication and true language. He also explores instances in which we seem to laugh our way into and out of social situations, and includes a list of tips for keeping the laughs flowing. The irony of the scientific community not taking laughter seriously isn't lost on Provine, and he takes every opportunity to remind his fellows that even the seemingly most trivial matters can hide the most profound truths. If that isn't funny, what is? --Rob Lightner
Book Description
"[A] well-written, often amusing and always fascinating exposé." (Scientific American)
DO MEN AND WOMEN LAUGH AT THE SAME THINGS?
IS LAUGHTER CONTAGIOUS?
HAS ANYONE EVER REALLY DIED LAUGHING?
IS LAUGHING GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH?
Drawing upon ten years of research into this most common-yet complex and often puzzling-human phenomenon, Dr. Robert Provine, the world's leading scientific expert on laughter, investigates such aspects of his subject as its evolution, its role in social relationships, its contagiousness, its neural mechanisms, and its health benefits. This is an erudite, wide-ranging, witty, and long-overdue exploration of a frequently surprising subject.
Customer Reviews:
Scientific Review.......2007-07-16
It's a REALLY informative book; if you're doin' a paper or someth'n, but if you're try'n to learn to be funny, like I am, it's not really helpful - interesting, but not what I was looking for.
Worth a look, but.... 3.7 stars.......2005-12-25
____________________________________________
_Laughter: a Scientific Investigation_ is just that. Too professorial for easy reading, but some cool, unobvious stuff. For instance, speakers laugh more than their audiences (doh), and women laugh at men more than men laugh at women. Well, maybe not so unobvious after all
Anyway, here's his Laugh Matrix, where S = speaker and A = audience
... ........ Number of ..... ...... % Laughing
... ........ Episodes ....... Speaker ... Audience
---------------------------------------
S(male) A(male) ...... 275 ... 76% ...60%
S(fem) A(fem) ... ... 502 ..... ..86 .. .. .. 50
S(m)A(f) ... .. ......238 .... ...66 .. .... 71
S(f)A(m) ... .. ......185 .... ... 80 .. ....55
Hmm, be darned if I can get this to format right in Ammie's primitive word-processor. Sorry!
He also suckered some poor grad student and his (Provine's) wife(!) into analyzing 60 opera scores to see how the composers scored laughter. The sensible ones simply insert "laugh" into the score. Or, in the case of I Pagliacci, Leoncavallo instructs the singer to "laugh bitterly". In Italian, ie "Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!"
He notes that "at study's end, we faced a sober reckoning. We learned a lot more about opera than about laughter..."
Oh, and laugh tracks really do work. He watched some sexy tickling videos, too.
I was skimming towards the end, when the book came due, and didn't feel compelled to renew it. Great cover, though.
Happy reading--
Pete Tillman
Interesting Insights into Studying and Exploring Laughter.......2005-04-09
A purely simple behaviour at a glimpse, laughter has largely been under-studied. Provine discusses how he learned how to study laughter, and provides simple facts about laughter that have gone largely unnoticed. Furthermore, he tackles the evolutionary links between bipedalism, speech and language through his studies on laughter. He takes a fascinating look into how laughter can serve as a powerful probe into social behaviours. Reading laughter will give you a whole new view of this instinctive behaviour, and it will begin to shed light on the psychological and biological importance of this ancient remnant. Laughter is an exceptionally entertaining book! It is not a complex read, but a must-read for the inquisitive-minded individual.
Disappointing.......2004-07-17
IMHO, this doesn't yield any valuable conceptual insights into humor.
If you're interested in the cognitive patterns behind jokes, comedy etc. you might want to check out Arthur Koestler's "Act of Creation" instead. He sets out to discover common patterns behind creative acts in humor, art and science and comes up with very broad original insights that I found very enlightening.
Another interesting (and more formalized) attempt to conceptualize creative thinking (including humor) is being developed by some cognitive linguists (Gilles Fauconnier, Mark Turner). Their concepts seem to go along very well with Koestler's findings. You might want to check out their book "The Way We Think".
Laughter is caused by a stuttering brain.......2003-09-15
Yes, yes, I know. Provine studied thousands of people but, what he failed to grasp is that laughter is the result of a "stuttering" brain. A person is confronted with anxiety and, the brain "stutters" and releases the vocalizations we call laughter. This brings the brain (rather mind) back into equilibrium and "solves" the dilemma . . .the anxiety.
Books:
- Gettysburg: A Battlefield Guide (This Hallowed Ground: Guides to Civil Wa)
- Great River: The Rio Grande in North American History/2 Volumes Set /Vol 1 : Indians and Spain, Vol 2 : Mexico and the United States
- Historians' Fallacies : Toward a Logic of Historical Thought
- Historical Atlas of the Islamic World
- Historical Dictionary of the Persian Gulf War 1990-1991
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History on Trial: Culture Wars and the Teaching of the Past
Books Index
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Gettysburg National Military Park (Civil War battlefield series)
Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg (Crown Journeys)
The Battle of Gettysburg: A Guided Tour
Gettysburg, Then & Now: Touring the Battlefield With Old Photos
Guide to the Battle of Gettysburg (U.S. Army War College Guides to Civil War Battles)
