Shooting Back is a wonderful book of images taken by homeless children. The images are photographic stories told by these children "in their own words". The tables are turned on traditional images of homelessness as the children themselves define the area in which they live and the content of their lives. The result is a moving collection of images of homelessness that challenge dominant modes of visualizing poverty and homelessness.

Compiled by child psychiatrist Robert Coles, When They Were Young is a wonderfully presented showcase of retrospective black-and-white photographs drawn from the Library of Congress, and which highlight the memories and images of American childhood and what it was like to grow up in a yesteryear American culture. Many of the images hail from the late 19th century or the first half of the 20th century, and are accompanied by a thoughtful commentary adding background and depth to this memorable and visual treasure trove showcasing an impressive and memorable retrospective of American childhood.

I'm an armchair history buff, but not a historian. This book was pretty "to the point" (thus the name) and interesting from the beginning through the 19th century, but the 20th century components were not compelling to me.

The book was dry. I'd recommend it if you are preparing for a visit to Charleston -otherwise find something else to read.

I've just returned from a short visit to Charleston and Rosen's "Short History to Charleston" was a perfect comrade in preparation for the tour. His book is a fun and quick read full of all the sort of information one needs to delect in Charleston's fascinating history. Not only does it give a rather complete, albeit brief, historical account of Charleston's dramatic evolution from beginning to near present day, but every page provides descriptions of remarkable individuals or events which enhance and delight the reader's experience of Charleston's history all of which are most often embellished with remarkable illustrations. I highly recommend this book.

We were, there in this wonderful, historic southern gem on vacation. In a wonderful, large, bookstore, we inquired, what book if you want to learn more about the history. This is it, the local experts said.

It is, well written from the beginnings of Charles Town up to Hurrican Hugo, the prose is lively and attention keeping.

Especially to be enjoyed is the side-bar entries of primarily people and architecture which add much to the verbal discussion going on the page.

To go further in study, the author provides this wisdom: "there appear to me to be more bad books written about Charleston than just about any subject I know." So he lists those he knows are worthy and recommended on each time period. Helpful!