Book Description
Updated to include events through the year 2000, the Millennial Edition of The Timetables of American History -- an entertaining, authoritative survey of our nation's history, presented in the popular Timetables format -- not only chronicles the events occurring in American politics, arts, science, and technology, but relates them to simultaneous developments throughout the rest of the world. From breakthroughs in the sciences to breakdowns in international relations, from the heroes who mastered the playing fields to masterpieces of art and literature, The Timetables provides a comprehensive account of the march of civilization.
The Timetables of American History is an invaluable resource for serious students and dabblers alike.
Customer Reviews:
Loaded with Interesting Facts but a bit of a Lightweight.......2007-06-12
For a light read this book is ok, and one can get lost reading it to pass the time. Those looking for a bit more will be disappointed. The facts are listed by year, but the actual date of the event is not given. A big draw back to me. The facts they picked were interresting, but I thought they would have included other events, but one can find this in any book on history. For a general read, this book is fine. For a history reference book, you'll need to look else where.
great book.......2007-01-05
A great way to get those history facts organized in one's head. Lots of every day facts and events, but lots of little known information as well.
The Timetables of American History, updated edition.......2000-06-11
A wonderfully concise look at American History in respect to other happenings around the globe. I read this book at our local library and was so impressed with it that I decided to order it from Amazon.com!
Customer Reviews:
LET'S HEAR IT FOR WOMEN.......2004-04-30
Taking the position that women were relegated to secondary status as history was written, the author, who has penned several studies on women in the Middle Ages, seeks to rectify that oversight.
Archeological evidence, qualified as somewhat ambiguous, sheds some light on the lives of women in prehistoric times. For instance, 26,000 years ago the portrait of a woman was crafted in ivory. Nearby that discovery was found what might be her grave, apparently the burial was an honored one.
The Middle Ages produced some talented artists, often nuns who copied texts and colored the illustrations; 23 female painters lived in Bologna in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Prodigious research makes this text both fact-filled and fascinating. Women's history from the dawn of civilization to a mass march on Washington, D.C. is carefuly documented.
- Gail Cooke
Book Description
Originally published by UNC Press in 1952, The Railroads of the Confederacy tells the story of the first use of railroads on a major scale in a major war. Robert Black presents a complex and fascinating tale, with the railroads of the American South playing the part of tragic hero in the Civil War: at first vigorous though immature; then overloaded, driven unmercifully, starved for iron; and eventually worn out—struggling on to inevitable destruction in the wake of Sherman's army, carrying the Confederacy down with them.
With maps of all the Confederate railroads and contemporary photographs and facsimiles of such documents as railroad tickets, timetables, and soldiers' passes, the book will captivate railroad enthusiasts as well as readers interested in the Civil War.
Customer Reviews:
CONFEDERACY'S WEAKEST ASSET.......2007-10-12
A MAJOR INOVATION IN THE CIVIL WAR WAS THE STRATEGIC USE OF RAILROADS ON BOTH SIDES. THE CONDITION OF THE SOUTHERN RAILROADS AFFECTED BOTH THE CONFEDERACY AND THE UNION IN THIS WAR. DIFFERENT GUAGES OF TRACKS, WHETHER THE TRACKS RAN NORTH AND SOUTH OR EAST AND WEST WAS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE. THE ABILITY TO REPRODUCE CAPTURES OR DESTROYED ROLLING STOCK AND RAILS WAS A MAJOR FACTOR. IN THIS WORK BLACK ENLIGHTENS US TO THE PROBLEMS AND PROGRESS OF THE CONDEDERACY'S RAILROADS AND GIVES US A CLEAR PICTURE OF THEIR OPERATION AND MILITARY VALUE. A BOOK WELL WORTH READING.
A very useful and fascinating book.......2000-01-20
After reading dozens of scholarly books, and writing published articles related to the Civil War myself, this book was a refreshing read. It is a reminder of the enormity of the task faced by the bureaucrats and businessmen behind the Confederate armies. Yes, the tide did turn at Gettysburg.
But for those who like to play "What if?" and speculate on the fortunes of war, this book is a bleak testimony to the long odds the south confronted. The Confederate States were almost completely unequipped to fight a modern, industrial war.
One shortcoming of this book, and it is a minor one, is that the story is told primarily through the eyes of railroad tycoons, and ignores to a great extent the perspective of well-known military personalities. This stems in part from the fact that Black relies heavily on the railroads themselves (their annual reports) for his source material. More research from military source material would round the picture out.
On the whole, however, Mr. Black must be commended. As I said, "fascinating."
IMPORTANCE OF RAIL TRANSPORTATION DURING THE CIVIL WAR.......1998-06-27
This was a fascinating book as it put the Civil War into a slightly different context. It spotlighted the fact that many of the the major battles were fought over areas which were strategic rail centers - the best example being Atlanta.
It also clearly pointed out that the South was severely hampered by three different track gauges limiting the ready ability to carry freight long distances. In addition, even though the track gauges of a connecting railroad might have been the same, many of them were state owned. And some states would not permit rolling stock to cross state lines. This meant offloading and reloading freight at the state border.
And the Southern railroads never came under a unified control until very late in the War - in contrast to the North. And the South only had about a third of the track miles that the North had.
I highly recommend this book to any serious student of Civil War history. You don't even have to be a rail fan to enjoy it.
Book Description
From the first African communities in North America to the days of slavery, from the aesthetic achievements of the Harlem Renaissance to the political triumphs of the civil rights movement, from Harriet Tubman's creation of the Underground Railroad to the election of Carol Moseley Braun -- the first black woman senator -- in 1992, this comprehensive book illuminates African Americans both famous and little known.
Thousands of entries document historical moments, laws and legal actions, and noteworthy events in the areas of religion, the arts, sports, education, and science and technology. The varied accomplishments of black Americans come to life in brief profiles of Louis Armstrong, Salt-N-Pepa, Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin, Joe Louis, Wilma Rudolph, Paul Robeson, General Colin Powell, and hundreds of others.
Customer Reviews:
TRULY PROFOUND BOOK.......2002-02-26
I reviewed this book two years ago. What I found moving about this book were the laws enacted to prevent African Americans from moving forward and in contrast, the achievements reflected in the book from science to art to technology to inventions in spite of the laws. The book showed the true spirit of African American people.
This book is a must have for all........1999-07-14
I was privileged enough to be a research assistant for Dr. Sharon Harley on this wonderful book project, and I was enriched by the information that we uncovered about the history of african americans, and world history in general. So many facts have been misreported over the years, and this book unravels many myths, while spotlighting many well deserved accomplishments of african american men and women. The knowledge is endless. Children and adults enjoy it equally as they leaf through the pages year by year unlocking "secrets" of our past. This book should be on every coffeetable and bookshelf in the world. I only wish that I could have had it as a child. --David Jason Orr, University of Maryland at College Park, African American Studies Program, BA, 1996
Average customer rating:
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Timetables of Sports History
William Jarrett
Manufacturer: Facts on File
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Sports & Activities
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General
| Sports
| Sports & Activities
| Children's Books
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General
| Football (American)
| Sports
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General
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ASIN: 0816019193 |
Book Description
Few will dispute the profound influence that African American music and movement has had in American and world culture. Dancing Many Drums explores that influence through a groundbreaking collection of essays on African American dance history, theory, and practice. In so doing, it reevaluates "black" and "African American " as both racial and dance categories. Abundantly illustrated, the volume includes images of a wide variety of dance forms and performers, from ring shouts, vaudeville, and social dances to professional dance companies and Hollywood movie dancing.
Bringing together issues of race, gender, politics, history, and dance, Dancing Many Drums ranges widely, including discussions of dance instruction songs, the blues aesthetic, and Katherine Dunham's controversial ballet about lynching, Southland. In addition, there are two photo essays: the first on African dance in New York by noted dance photographer Mansa Mussa, and another on the 1934 "African opera," Kykunkor, or the Witch Woman.
Customer Reviews:
Dancing Many Drums.......2003-04-14
This is the most helpful book that I have found on African American Dance. From Hill's essay on Katherine Dunham's Southland to Green's work on Pearl Primus, this is an excellent resource on dance culture, especially as a form of resistance. DeFrantz also provides a useful and well-written overview in his introduction that contextualizes many of the essays. This book is very accessible and extremely valuable.
Dancing Many Drums.......2003-04-14
This is the most helpful book that I have found on African American Dance. From Hill's essay on Katherine Dunham's Southland to Green's work on Pearl Primus, this is an excellent resource on dance culture, especially as a form of resistance. DeFrantz also provides a useful and well-written overview in his introduction that contextualizes many of the essays. This book is very accessible and extremely valuable.
A seminal study of African-American music and dance.......2002-07-14
Expertly written by dancer and choreographer Thomas F. DeFrantz (who is also an Associate Professor of Music and Theater Arts, Massachusetts Institute of Technology) , Dancing Many Drums: Excavations In African American Dance is a ground breaking and seminal study of African-American music and dance, ranging from ring shouts and vaudeville to Hollywood movie dancing. A scholarly, well-researched, fascinating analysis that studies the very heart of the dance, Dancing Many Drums is a very highly recommended contribution to Music History Studies; African/American Studies; and Cultural History Studies supplemental reading lists and academic reference collections.
Book Description
Defining the Wind is a wonderfully written account of one man’s crusade to learn about what the wind is made of by tracing the history of the Beaufort Scale and its eccentric creator, Sir Francis Beaufort. It’s as much about the language we use to describe our world as it is an exhortation to observe it more closely.
Customer Reviews:
Some letdowns true, but still pleasurable.......2007-09-22
The first seven reviews cover both the pleasures and problems with this book. For me, the major disappointment was in the almost cavalier way that the author dispenses with the actual writer of the 110 words of descriptions that inspired his research into Beaufort and everyone/everything associated with that amazing character. After over 200 pages of so much detail and background, all we are told about the 'North Shields observer' takes up less than 4 pages. I for one would have loved to have seen more examples of this person's writing style! It is a mystery to me why neither the author nor his agents would have thought a more complete description of the community, buildings and people involved would have been a natural 'fit' with the rest of the story.
The author salvaged (for me at least) a fourth star with his closing chapter on the 'Beaufort moment'; the act of true interaction and awareness of the world around us instead of relying on pure data alone. His observation that technology alone will never take the place of personal observation and involvement is something to remember and cherish, and ALMOST makes me forgive his skating over the true writer of the scale's poetic text.
An enjoyable read, a wonderful book to dip into and savor, worth discovering for all the 'degrees of separation' that connect Beaufort with other prominent names from that time in history.
A breezy read.......2007-09-15
As a child, I owned a book about storms. I don't recall much of the specifics, but I do remember a table categorizing the different wind forces. Though I didn't really think much of it at the time, this was the Beaufort Scale, which creates 13 categories for wind, from 0 - Calm to 12 - Hurricane. Each force is defined by not only a wind speed but also a description; for example, Calm is described as "calm; smoke rises vertically." For Scott Huler, the Beaufort Scale is the best piece of descriptive writing ever, a blend of science and poetry; his adoration of the Scale resulted in Defining the Wind.
Defining the Wind is an ode to and a history of the Beaufort Scale. Of course, one of the principal parts of this history would be Beaufort himself, and Huler's biography of this British admiral is one component of the book. Francis Beaufort did a lot of wonderful hydrographic and cartographic work for the British navy in the first part of the nineteenth century. His role in developing the Beaufort Scale, however, was only partial.
Huler gives us the history of the Scale. Beaufort was not the first to develop such a scale, but he did implement the zero-to-twelve system and came up with descriptions that focused more on the sea than the land. The actual wording of the modern Beaufort Scale - which can be found in most full-sized dictionaries - was created a half-century after Beaufort's death. Even the attachment of his name to the Scale was done after he died, so it isn't like he really tried to steal the idea for his own glory; he merely improved on existing scales for the benefit of the Navy (and science).
The big lesson in the book is the importance of description in scales. Most people like to break things down into an organized fashion. We love lists - the top ten songs or the top 100 movies - and we enjoy scales. Even the Amazon reviewing system employs a scale - from one to five stars - and we often use the scale to make judgments about what to buy (or see or eat). But the Amazon scale is truly subjective: what three stars means varies from person to person.
What the Beaufort scale does is not only provide a quantitative value for a certain type of wind (for example, a gentle breeze is 8-12 miles per hour), but also a qualitative one ("leaves and small twigs in constant motion; wind extends a light flag"). The difference between a gentle and light breeze is not only no longer subjective, it can also be seen by those who don't have an anemometer. It's as if a four-star Amazon review was defined as "a book of 500+ pages with at least seven characters and twenty chapters"; that might be a silly definition in the case of a book review, but at least people would know exactly what they were getting (of course, in that case, no "average" rating would be required).
Although Defining the Wind does ramble a bit in places, overall Huler has done an excellent job in making a subject interesting that most people don't even really think about. If you like reading about weather-related topics (or have a scientific or historical bent), this can be a fun book to read.
A delightful book - recommended for all ages.......2007-05-20
A wonderful personal odyssey by a reporter curious about the origins of a metereologic scale and its poetic expression. Takes us through history - into the life of Francis Beaufort, a man obsessed with recording his observations of the world around him in exquisite detail, to others who influenced him and who he influenced (including passing mention of Charles Darwin). This is not just about the wind but about natural science and its history, how we observe and express ourselves, and the joy of learning and discovery. I'd recommend it for all ages.
Enjoyable, sometimes underestimates his audience.......2005-05-21
This book has a little something for everybody - for historians, it has a little science; for scientists a little history, for the rest of us an amusing story of the fun of losing oneself in research. I enjoyed learning some history not just of Beaufort, but of the time in which he lived, particularly of the state of science at that time. Plus, even as a land lubber I found the sailing info interesting.
Huler seemed a bit breathless about his personal discovery of how important it is to keenly observe one's world. This, coupled with his occasional inaccurate use of terms like "fission," betrays that the author is an arts guy not a sciences guy. (Although unlike our president, I would bet that Huler does know the difference between "nukuler" energy and "nuclear" energy.) The inaccuracies would be less grating if Huler realized that carefully observing one's world is quite a natural activity for the science-oriented segment of his reading audience, and probably for a big chunk of the rest of his readers.
Short of the proselytizing about this observing stuff, I found the book informative, and it threw some perspective on the evolution of thought during the 18th and 19th centuries. Overall, an enjoyable read if you just let the overdone parts breeze by.
I just can't give it 5 stars.......2005-01-13
For an author who repeatedly touches on his admiration of the beauty of the writing Admiral Beaufort brought to the wind scale, the writing style of "Defining the Wind" falls short for me. It seems the author couldn't quite decide if the book was an academic text or a popular history volume and the inconsistency grated on me. Especially the use of pop culture references feels gratuitous (e.g. use of "white Ford Bronco" for a simile for a slow moving sailing ship) and makes a book that could be readable for years seem dated almost out of the wrapper. The book also seems very repetitive. The same source text is referenced often in chapters that seemingly are about a new topic. I think the book was worth reading, I just found the author and the writing style came to the forefront much too often as I read instead of the content and Admiral Beaufort himself.
Book Description
This systematic investigation of the interaction among international and European institutions provides both a theoretical framework for analysis and the first broad overview of this largely uncharted field of research. By offering detailed case studies and a systematic analysis of results, the book examines the effects of institutional interaction on environmental governance and explores the ways in which international and European Union policies can either reinforce or undercut one another.
After a conceptual overview in which Oberthür and Gehring identify three causal mechanisms by which institutional interaction can affect environmental governance, ten case studies apply this theoretical approach. Six cases use an international institution as their starting point and four begin with a European Union legal instrument. The international regimes examined include the widely known Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the World Trade Organization and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The EU instruments analyzed include lesser-known directives on the protection of habitats, the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms into the environment, and air quality. The studies show that although conflict and interference among different regimes and institutions do take place, synergistic interactions are common. The findings on the importance of, and mechanisms behind, these outcomes offer valuable insights for both scholars and policymakers.
Contributors:
Beatrice Chaytor, Clare Coffey, Andrew Farmer, Thomas Gehring, John Lanchbery, Sebastian Oberthür, Alice Palmer, G. Kristin Rosendal, Jon Birger Skjærseth, Olav Schram Stokke, Ingmar von Homeyer, Jacob Werksman, Jørgen Wettestad
Books:
- The Vietnam War Almanac
- The Visigoths from the Migration Period to the Seventh Century: An Ethnographic Perspective (Studies in Historical Archaeoethnology)
- The West Point Atlas of American Wars: 1900-1918 (West Point Atlas of American Wars)
- The World We Have Lost: Further Explored
- Thomas Pynchon's Narratives: Subjectivity and Problems of Knowing
- Time 100: Leaders and Revolutionaries, Artists and Entertainers (Time 100 , Vol 1)
- Time Warp Trio: The Seven Blunders of the World (Time Warp Trio)
- Titanic: A Survivor's Story and the Sinking of the S.S. Titanic
- TITANIC NAMES: A Complete List of Passengers and Crew
- Unsolved Mysteries of American History: An Eye-Opening Journey through 500 Years of Discoveries, Disappearances, and Baffling Events
Books Index
Books Home
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- Nuclear Energy: An Introduction to the Concepts, Systems, and Applications of Nuclear Processes
- Samurai: An Illustrated History
- Artists & Writers Colonies: Retreats, Residencies, and Respites for the Creative Mind
- Light Microscopy in Biology: A Practical Approach
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The Timetables of History: A Horizontal Linkage of People and Events (Timetables of History)
Timelines of World History (Myths & Legends)
The Great American History Fact-Finder: The Who, What, Where, When, and Why of American History, Updated & Expanded Edition
The American Reader: Words That Moved a Nation
Timelines of World History
