Joan Scott's "Gender and the Politics of History" is one of the landmark books in the field of gender history. What is gender history, you ask? To a large degree, that's a question this book is trying to answer. This book can be regarded as an explanation of *what* gender history is (as Scott defines it, at any rate), why it's important, and how it can be done.

Essentially, the book is a set of collected essays organized around the idea of "gender and the politics of history". The first few essays are polemical/theoretical-- and in them, Scott puts forth her argument as to what gender is and why it's an important category of historical analysis. In many ways, these are the most important essays in this volume-- and I *highly* recommend them as a primer to folks who are interested in learning more about why historians are now talking about "gender". In a nutshell, Scott argues that that one of the most fundamenal ways in which people, in all times and plaes, have organized their intellectual/cultural/political world has been through the use of gender-- and that historians should treat gender as a fundamental category of historical analysis-- along with class, nationality, etc. In making this argument, Scott carefully distinguishes between what she calls "gender" (i.e. by which she means the network of arbitrary and socially constructed meanings, ideas, and assumptions that are attributed to masculinity and feminity *and* the way in which these meanings are deployed in everyday life and discourse) and mere "sex" (mere biological/anatomical distinction between men and women). This is subtle point, but it's an essential one-- and it has many important implications for Scott's view of gender history. Of especial note, it means that she understands writing about the history of gender to be a specific kind of intellectual/cultural history-- she is *not* talking about merely writing the social history of women. For her, gender is an idea that gets used in discourse because it involves very basic, and highly value-laden assumptions-- and the task of the gender historian is to understand *how* and *why* it has been used and changed. Scott thus sharply distinguishes what she would call "gender history" from the so-called "women's history" that was pioneered back in the 70s (whose main emphasis was to recount how women had been dominated and abused in the past and to correct the errors of previous historians who had ignored the contributions and experiences of women).

The remainder of the essays fall into three groups. One pair of essays are historiographical-- they are methodological critiques of two of the most seminal works on English labor history: E.P. Thompson's "The Making of the English Working Class" and Gareth Stedman Jones' "Languages of Class". Though Scott recognizes-- and lauds-- the contributions of both of these works, she also notes that they ignore the role that notions of gender played in the formation of working class identities and politics. She also suggests how their descriptions of the 19th century English class would be different if they *had* considered gender as a factor.

The next set of essays are case studies in how gender can be used to explore different issues pertaining to 19th century French labor history. While the actual arguments here aren't probably going to be interesting to anyone but other labor historians, these essays are more valuable as illustrations of how Scott's methodology can actually be used in practice. The variety of sources she uses in these essays (including several whose use of gendered categories is subtle) shows just how powerful, and useful, a tool that gender analysis can be in the writing of history (labor history, at any rate), regardless of the source material.

The final pair of essays are more concered with "historians" today than with the past. In one, Scott address the famed sexual discrimination trial against Sears in which both sides hired femal labor historians to testify about the history of sexual discrimination. In this, Scott shows how their own claims were shaped by notions of gender-- notions that they did not consciously articulate, but which seemed to lay in the background as unstated assumptions. The final essay has to do with how one might try to deconstruct the "false opposition" that our own contemporary value system has established between the notions of equality and difference-- particularly in the field of legal rights and opportunities.

Overall, this is an important, thoughtful, and extremely influential book. I *highly* recommend it to all historians or would-be historians-- and I'd especially recommend it to anyone who's really not sure what gender history is supposed to be or why anyone would want to do it. I could make a few criticisms of some small details (e.g. pointing out the title probably should be "Gender, Class, and the Politics of History" or "Gender, Labor, and the Politics of History" to reflect the fact that's Scott's primary interest is in applying gender theory to the field of labor history-- or that a lot of her criticisms of straw-men like "conventional labor history" and "traditional intellectual history" are unfair), but those really are minor nitpicks in an otherwise eye-opening and profoundly important work.

I have used this book in my classroom for many years. The information is excellent and there are many wonderful activities. The activities are based on different grade levels and support the various chapters. This book can be used for students from Kindergarten through 6th grade and each grade level will get more and more out of it. The children love reading about whales, doing the activities and even becoming a giant whale themselves. This book can be an entire semester's unit.

Vivid metaphors, a complex narrative, rich characters, and keen observation of life in small towns at the bottom of the plains all come together beautifully in this first novel, which I recommend highly. Short, smart, and accessible, it would make a fine assigned reading for a course on the modern American west or in women studies.

Randy Lewis

A work of art! full-color cover of German folk art and reproductions of wood blocks by Albert Durer from the Nuremberg Chronicle, 1943. It is a treasure of art and wisdom. This book is a beautiful addition to personal collections, as well as a thoughtful gift.

Examples of German proverbs:

"We hang minor thieves and tip our hats to major ones."

"Revenge is a meal that must be eaten cold."

"Death is the poor man's doctor."

"He who believes easily is easily deceived."

"Sweet song has betrayed many."

"Remorse is lust's dessert."

"Sweet wine makes sour vinegar."

it was a great book if you like this book you'll like Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson! Was a great book i fell in love with Lila punch's sister it was a great book enjoy

Each of the seven stories in this book has as its setting a different western ghost town and is about a kid's encounter with a ghost or ghosts in that town. The seven towns are Tombstone, Arizona; Shakespeare, New Mexico; Maiden, Montana; Virginia City, Nevada; Grafton, Utah; Bodie, California; and Fort Griffin, Texas. My two favorites in the collection were Buried (set in Shakespeare) and The Magic Eye (set in Grafton), which certainly taught the lesson to be careful what you wish for! I would reccomend this collection to kids who enjoy reading ghost stories or who are interested in ghost towns.

"Gift of Life: A Spiritual Companion for the Mother-to-Be," by Joan Swirsky, is a unique new book that every mother-to-be will cherish. It is a rich and deeply meaningful "treasure" about the miraculous and spiritual nature of bringing a child into the world, offering numerous invaluable suggestions to guide every expectant mother (and her partner)through the joyous yet complex months of pregnancy. This "gem" is the FIRST and ONLY book to address the spiritual and awe-inspiring aspects of the greatest miracle of all -- creating a new life! Every other book ever written about pregnancy and childbirth contains lots of clinical information about morning sickness, sonograms, stages of labor, the list goes on... But "Gift of Life" reminds anyone contemplating pregnancy or already pregnant (whether it's their 1st, 3rd, or 10th baby) about the importance of recognizing and appreciating the joys of carrying a child, giving birth, and becoming a parent. This inspirational book encourages both a woman and her partner to value their lives and the life of the tiny and precious person they have yet to meet. In our modern, often hectic and chaotic world, "Gift of Life" celebrates this magical time. Anyone who is pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, should read this special book. Elana Hayden :)

Joan Barclay invites the reader to simplify his/her life without diminishing true abundance. In her clear and thoughtful style, she provides easily followed instructions whether the reader wants to simplify his/her entire life or only a single area within it.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the way Joan told the story of all the characters and the way she would develope her characters history and the way she moved from character to character. Hers was one of the rare books that I could follow with ease and not get confused, with needing to constantly turn back pages (especially since I don't have the time to read books straight through), to figure out "what was going on and with whom, was exactly how and when did they come in". So many books that have a lot of characters tend to get confusing with all the details that get a little lost when you have to put a book down. Other writers should take note. I also enjoyed her discriptions of the outback of Australia and the different types of Opal's. I felt like I was there! I would like to see a sequeal - just to know what happened to some of the lesser characters in the book. Joan made you really feel for each one of her characters. This book has a little bit of everything from a little romance, to some suppense and a mystery. I highly recommend it as a very enjoyable read!

My kids loved seeing the principal, lunch ladies, gym coaches, and teachers chase a gingerbread kid around the school in this book. The story is entertaining (with some repeating phrases kids liked to say along with the book) and the ending was a good surprising twist. The illustrations are REALLY cute and appealing. This book's well worth the money.