Jim Wagner is the ultimate folk artist. This coffee table book is packed with useable information on folk art and its origins. His whimsical artwork will make one smile and laugh out loud. Has anyone ever seen Santa's sleigh being pulled by fish! . The way he sees the world is beyond most people's imagination. This is a book that can be picked up again and again and each time see a different aspect of his artwork.

This book is packed with information. James William Park does an exhausting study of Rafael Núñez. Moreover, he explains in great detail how regional differences destroyed attempts for national unity. Still and all, this book is dry. Facts are compressed and do not always come to life.

One feature I found valuable is the description of Colombia's many civil wars. Although the text does not go into great detail exploring the events leading to the "War of the Supremos" from 1839 to 1842 it does an outstanding job of defining the political differences that lead to the civil war of 1860 - 1862, the civil war of 1876 - 1877 and the civil war of 1884 - 1885.

This well-researched text also has excellent charts with data on government federal expenditures, federal income, income from customs and valuable regional population statistics. Park includes an excellent protrayal of the many problems between the Liberal and Conservative parties. He also defines the many problems implementing national railroads, a national education policy and negotiating the delicate relationship with the Catholic Church.

Any serious student of Colombian - American affairs must read this book to understand the long government pattern of ignoring the needs of citizens in the interior of the nation in favor of those in the big cities. Overall, Park explains how Rafael Núñez overcomes many political and personal obstacles to unite Colombia under one flag.