Sine I bought the atlas some years ago, I found it very useful in finding info on aspects of Pennsylvania such as geography, history, population, and economic data.A must have for anyone doing research on Pennsylvania whether for school or personal use.

One cannot help but notice that in 19th Century English literature a lot of drinking (and eating) is the order of the day. Especially in the works of Charles Dickens, one is either in the local, gin shop, or having a "cordial" in a character's house. Convivial Dickens is the reference guide to the waxing and waning popularity of beer, gin and mixed drinks in Victorian England-specifically the England of Dickens. Each chapter covers a specific drink, beer or gin for example, gives the story of its popularization/decline, and includes recipes taken directly from 19th Century bartending guides. These allow the reader to do some "research" on their own, to fully enjoy the atmosphere of the times.
A pretty useful companion to any of Dickens' works, recommended.

W.E.B Du Bois (1868-1961) was one of the leading and most controversial African-American leaders of the 20th Century. He received a PhD from Harvard and wrote in 1903 a short book, "The Souls of Black Folk", which remains an American classic. He wrote several scholarly works on African-American history which are still valuable. He helped found the NAACP and for many years edited its magazine, The Crisis, which worked agressively and tirelessly for civil and political rights for African-Americans. Near the end of his long life, Du Bois became embittered with the United States. He became a communist,, renounced his American citizenship, and died in Ghana in 1961 at the age of 95.

In his informative and clearly-written history, Professor Wolters discusses the nature of Du Bois's accomplishment by discussing his relationships, his agreements and disagreements, with other African-American leaders of his day. The book is an important study of the history of black America (indeed of all America) and it sets out the many and varied approaches African-American leaders have used to bring justice to their people. Not surprisingly, it shows areas of agreement but also areas of strong disagreement and in-fighting.

Professor Wolters contrasts Du Bois, with his emphasis on academic education and on agressive support of civil rights, with that of Du Bois's predecessor and rival, Booker T. Washington. He also stresses the large areas of agreement between the two men. Similarly, Wolters discusses Du Bois's reactions to Marcus Garvey, a black leader in the 1920's with broad mass appeal who tried to get American blacks to unite and establish a homeland in Africa. He points out that late in his career Du Bois came close to Garvey's position in many ways, involving African-American self-help from the bottom-up rather than from the top-down. Wolters then describes Du Bois's break with the NAACP and its leader Walter White. The break was occasioned by the NAACP's commitment to integration. Du Bois had moved away from this approach arguing instead that black Americans ought to work among themselves and within their community to achieve economic, political and social justice. Wolters gives a relatively brief treatment to Du Bois's final years.

Wolters finds that a philosophy of pluralism governed Du Bois's efforts throughout his long career. Under his concept of pluralism, black Americans had two identities: an American identity and a black identity. He urged that blacks live in both worlds -- in other words, he urged African-Americans to share in the values of the American experience while creating their own uniquely black contribution to America and to civilization. Early in his career, Du Bois expressed his pluralistic vision as follows (Wolters, p.38):

"One ever feels his two-ness,-an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn assunder. The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife."

In his commitment to pluralism, Du Bois opposed the earlier 19th Century African-American leader, Frederick Douglass, who was assimilationist in his thinking (there should be no differences between Americans of different colors) as well as, to a degree, later-day integrationists, such as the NAACP and Dr. King. He came closer to the views of Garvey and to the views of Garvey's more modern successors. Du Bois became more militant in his beliefs as he aged.

There is a long disagreement between assimilationist and pluralist visions of America in many areas besides African-American history. The tension between the two visions is still with us today as we try to understand and shape our country. The assimilationist vision is that of a melting pot. Pluralists speak in terms of instruments in a symphony orchestra, each with its own voice yet contributing to a whole.

Wolters book does not describe in great detail the broader issues between assimilationism and pluralism. He gives an excellent carefully-crafted account of how this question affected African-Americans in their quest for justice. In expressing his own opinions in the book, Wolters is careful to point out areas of alternative interpretations among scholars. The reader thus may form his or her own opinions.

This book is a fine study of the life and ideas of a man who, as Wolters observes, is one of the leading figures of the 20th Century.

Great basic math review! Topics in this book are named appropriately: The Sales Tax, The Tip, Making Change, Salary Deductions, Extending Recipes, Figuring the Areas and Volumes of Bowls and Pans, then an Exam where you can see how much you have learned. Then there is an answer key to the practic exercies and exam. In each section, say "Ye Olde Eat Shoppe: The Check", the book gives you a situation, then a menu. Then they show a sample check. Finally, there is a practice exercise about reading and calculating checks/bills. Then the book goes on to sales tax, tip, making change, and so on.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn just the basics of math to get by in math. I would definetly not recommend it to someone who is in algebra II or beyond because it is just to easy, unless you don't know how to balance a checkbook or deduct a paycheck, etc.

I read this book particularly to learn more about the United States Christian Commision which operated during the Civil War. The subject of the book, Edward Smith, was instramental in organizing and operating this orgnization in the western theater of the War. the Chrisian Commision provided material and spritural assistance to soldiers during the war. This included, reading and writing material, food and clothing, nursing of sick and wounded and providing spiritural support through christian tracts and church services. All of their assistance was provided free by volunteer "delegates". This publication devotes five chapters to Edward Smith's leadership in this significant organization.

I found this book to be an excellent read and one that taught me a lot about Wm. Tyndale. The film of the same name is well-worth the watching and is quite entertaining given that it is set in the 15th century.

This is a textbook, no doubt about it. But it's still very readable and informative. The author attempts to limit himself to description of those events for which contemporary or near-contemporary accounts are available. For example, he omits all description of Rome under the kings, since the earliest manuscripts about them are from hundreds of years later. He even goes so far as to state that Romulus may not have been a historical person! There is a ruthless zeal to de-sensationalize Roman history by omitting scandalous details, making the book less exciting than it could be. But this is a textbook, not entertainment. There are excellent sections on economics, agriculture, literature, and the arts as they developed through Roman history. Significant treatment is also given to the Roman military system and its evolution as a core element of Rome's culture. If you want to learn about Rome and don't want to hear about the "juicy details", get this book. Otherwise, to AD 100, get Livy.

In late 1698, four ships sailed from France under the command of Pierre le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville.Aboard were some two hundred people destined to become the first settlers of a French post in the lower Mississippi River. Iberville landed first at Dauphin Island near modern Mobile, then moved further East to Ship Island. Sailing up to the great River Iberville visited with the bayou goula Indians on the west bank. Rene Robert cavalier Sieur de la Salle who were a wealthy important immigrant to Canada who heard of the voyage of Marqette and Joliet and comprehended the strategic significance of a fort at the mouth of Mississippi. During the winter of 1682, La Salle led an expedition of fifty-six persons, including ten indians women and three children down the Mississippi to its mouth.He reached salt water on April 6, placed a cross in the mud and claimed the Country for France. He gave the name of Louisiana, in honor of king Louis XIV. That's was the basis for France's claim to Louisiana,though the Spanish Explorer Hernando De Soto had discover the Mississippi and crossed it 140 years earlier. Louisiana was a French-Speaking Spanish colony when the nineteenth century began. Twelve years later Loisiana was one of the United States, successfully operating a system of goverment radically different from the autocracy tempered by ineffiency that had gone before.

My professor suggested this book and deemed it the "Bible on Evidence". I bought it and it is. A great book that will clear up many of your questions. If you don't understand what your law professor is saying, this book will make it clearer.

Read this book! Not only was "The Philadelphia Negro" a groundbreaking piece of sociological research in its day (the late 19th century), the book also goes a long way to explain the historical roots of much of what we see today in Philadelphia and other cities in America. Organized simply and effectively into clear chapters, we learn how African Americans really lived in Philadelphia after emancipation; detailing family and household arrangements, employment, education, health and religion. Elijah Anderson's introduction is a fantastic bonus, helping to illuminate the book even more. Everyone living in Philadelphia should read this!