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Book reviews for "Smith,_John_Geddeth,_Jr." sorted by average review score:

Van Evrie's White Supremacy and Negro Subordination: The New Proslavery Argument, Part I (Anti-Black Thought, 1863-1925, Vol 3)
Published in Hardcover by Garland Pub (1993)
Authors: John David Smith and John H. Van Evrie
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White Supremacy and Negro Subordination
This book was published in 1868, but was actually written around 1860, before the U.S. Civil War, just prior to Abraham Lincoln's first term in the White House. Tension was building up between the North and South - the abolition movement was gaining support in the North, while the Southern economy depended on slave labor. White Supremacy is a response to these abolitionists.

Van Evrie's central theme is that white Caucasians are superior to every other form of life on this planet, and that God created other races of men, particularly black Africans, to serve whites. Because blacks are naturally inferior to whites, Van Evrie says, it is the natural order of things to force them to work, and what is called "slavery" in the United States is not slavery at all. Rather, because blacks are naturally subordinate, they are only free when put to such labor.

In support of this, Van Evrie includes a comparison of the white Caucasian and the black African, detailing the superiority of the white man's hair ("there is certainly no physical or outward quality that so imposingly impresses itself on the senses as a mark of superiority, or evidence of supremacy, as a full and flowing beard"), color ("color is the standard and exact admeasurement of the specific character"), features, language, senses, and the brain. This is all accompanied by hideous caricatures of the races, showing the tall and strong Caucasian, and the slouching, lazy Negro ("the anatomical formation ... forbids an erect position"), and all the races in between the most superior and most inferior.

Blacks all look alike, says Van Evrie - this is because, aside from age and sex, they are alike. They have no likes and dislikes, or at least not on the same level as whites. They cannot express emotions as whites can, and therefore do not have emotions at the same level. They do not learn like whites, and in fact peak mentally at about the age of fifteen.

Because of these things, it is ridiculous to want equality for blacks in the sense of treating them as whites. Rather, it is our God-given right, and even obligation, to use the "mud races" to our advantage.

It is a thoroughly disgusting work, but also an extremely important work, as it illustrates some popular beliefs during one of the darker periods in American history.


The Vanished Wife
Published in Paperback by Xlibris Corporation (2002)
Author: John Smith
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An Excellent Read, A Gripping Yarn
John Smith's "The Vanished Wife" is a thrilling detective novel that expertly fuses suspense with academic satire; it features a truly astonishing detective-hero, James Laud, and keeps the reader spellbound throughout. I couldn't put the damned thing down, and I'm a very discriminating reader! I don't like just anything, you know! BUY IT NOW. JOHN SMITH IS AN AUTHOR WHO IS GOING PLACES!


A Vocabulary of Powhatan (American Language Reprints, Vol. 4)
Published in Hardcover by Evolution Pub & Manufacturing (1997)
Authors: John Smith and Frederic W. Gleach
Amazon base price: $26.00
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Powhatan-English vocabulary list is small, but high quality.
A Vocabulary of Powhatan (American Language Reprints, Vol. 4) is a small but very high quality book. At first, I felt the price was a bit steep for such a small book, however, it is a hardback and Powhatan language resources are very hard to come by. The two points that make this book special are 1) the editors didn't just copy entries from the original word lists, they cleaned them up, making the book easy to read , and 2) the inclusion of Pamunkey and Nansemond word lists. Many thanks to American Language Reprints.


Western Literature in a World Context, The Ancient World Through the Renaissance
Published in Paperback by Bedford/St. Martin's (1995)
Authors: Paul Davis, Gary Harrison, David M. Johnson, Patricia Clark Smith, and John F. Crawford
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Lots of great literature all in one place
This is a good collection of literature from the Enlightenment to the early 20th century. Some of the choices were wuite interesting such as Wuthering Heights as the example of the Victorian novel, (I, myself, would have chosen Jane Eyre), but all in all this is a well put-together collection. The biographical information before each author is also interesting and puts the works into context. This is amust-have for English majors and literature fanatics alike.


Wisdom of Adam Smith
Published in Hardcover by Liberty Fund, Inc. (1977)
Authors: Haggarety, Rogge, Adam Smith, and John Haggarty
Amazon base price: $12.00
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All Time Bathroom Reader!
This book provides fascinating insight on all topics from love to war to farming to manufacturing from an economic point of view. You do not need to subscribe to the classical theory to gain wisdom from this book. You don't even need an economics background to appreciate Adam's insight.


Witness to the Martyrdom: John Taylor's Personal Account of the Last Days of the Prophet Joseph Smith
Published in Hardcover by Deseret Books (1999)
Authors: John Taylor and Mark H. Taylor
Amazon base price: $19.95
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Great Book
This book was one of the best books I have ever read on the subject of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and and his brother Hyrum. It was historical, it was unedited, and gave me a unique perspective into the events that lead to their death. I had no idea that the entire state of Illinois was virtually at war with the Mormons.


Wort, Worms and Washbacks
Published in Paperback by Neil Wilson Pub Ltd (2001)
Authors: John McDougall and Gavin D. Smith
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Single Malt Success
If you love Single Malts, then this book is a value to add to your collection. It gives you a look inside the industry as it has developed over the last 40 years from a personal perspective. That being said, it is not a be all-end all-tell all book of the industry. So do not look at this as a great history of Whisky making these last 40 years. Just as a reflection on one man's journey within the industry.


Your Personal Medical Symptoms Diary
Published in Spiral-bound by M&H Press, Inc. (23 January, 1996)
Authors: Lawrence Smith, Frederick Hansen, and John Mikkonen
Amazon base price: $9.95
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You must take control of your own health
HMO's, PPO's, doctors who can only spend 10 minutes diagnosing a condition or illness...all of these are reasons for YOU to start a log of all your health-related symptoms and conditions. Gone are the days of the "family doctor" who knew you and your family and remembered your medical history. Now you are shuffled from doctor to doctor as your medical plans are changed, and no one is responsible for maintaining records about your health except YOU. This easy to use spiral-bound diary includes sections for medications, immunizations, weight, blood pressure, doctor's appointments, symptoms, and diagnoses. A very useful record keeping system for anyone over the age of 40 or anyone who experiences chronic recurring medical problems.


War Dragons
Published in Library Binding by Bt Bound (1999)
Authors: L.A. Graf, James T. Kirk, John J. Ordover, and Dean Wesley Smith
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A disappointing Kirk and Sulu team - up
To begin with Kirk and Sulu should have had their own respective Captain's Table books.

This team up was nicely conceived but badly executed. We are led to believe through various verbal references and within the context of the novel that there is a supposed twenty year difference between Kirk's and Sulu's stories. Kirk's tale takes place just after the death of Lt Commander Gary Mitchell in the episode: 'Where No Man Has Gone Before'. circa 2265 and Sulu's yarn transpires just after he is promoted to captain and is given command of the USS Excelsior in 2290. (According to the potted biographies of James Kirk and Hikaru Sulu at the end of the book and substantiated by 'The Star trek Chronology-The History Of The Future by Michael and Denise Okuda.) This, by my calculation is actually difference of twenty-five years; a quarter century not twenty years. The book also failed to enthrall me, there are quite a few tedious descriptive passages, hardly a page tur! ! ner.

A nice effort but a decidedly mediocre start to a promising premise.

I was also dismayed to hear that There would be no Captain Spock episode to this series. A serious over-sight. He was captain of the USS Enterprise 1701 from 2277 till 2285 albeit a Star fleet Academy training vessel.

Captain Garth of Izar from the the 'classic' episode 'Whom God's Destroy' would've made a fine protagonist in a tale outlining the basis for his legendary status. He is a contemporary of Captain Pike and required reading at Starfleet Academy. Captain Kirk himself considered Garth his hero and had read all about Garth at the Academy. Captain Morgan Bateman from the STNG episode 'Cause And Effect'; another fine candidate. I could go on.

Suffice it to say six books aren't enough; . this should be an on-going book series!

Almost had me...
I really enjoy the founding premise of this series; the stories told in the first person narrative of the captains themselves. However, I found the bar interludes a little cheesy. I find it hard to believe that in this particular time frame a Klingon or a Gorn would find themselves at a Federation outpost, especially Utopia Planetia.

I was a little disappointed by how Sulu was characterized, a little too soft for my taste. Specifically, all that business about the lizard he found in the gardens. I haven't found a story beyond those of canon, yet, that has really captured the Sulu we know and love. The characterization of Kirk was pretty on. What really halted me on the story was in the characterization of Chekov. A lot of his character development is based on a faulty premise. The premise being that the crew of his first command post, The Reliant, had been killed during the Kahn incident. That is completely UNTRUE. It is KNOWN that Khan did not kill the crew of the Reliant, he stranded them down on Ceti Alpha V. After the incident Kirk returned with the Enterprise to pick them up. I might as well have been reading unlicensed fan fiction. The whole mess developed Chekov in to someone he shouldn't have been.

That part aside, the book wasn't bad. One of the cool items was the FL-70. A neat piece of technology, wouldn't mind seeing it again. A decent plot, however, not so much a page turner as others I've read. I hate to come off as a total Trekkie crank, but someone had to do it. The book is worth a read if you are bored or are delving into the whole Captain's Table series as a whole.

A nice start
The first "Star Trek" novel to be told from the first person perspective through the eyes of captains James T. Kirk and Hikaru Sulu is a treat to read. Each character takes turns telling his story and it works rather well. Graf has captured both captains well and getting to hear their takes on things is a real treat. The best part is the first half of Kirk's story that deals with his first days as captain of the Enterprise and the building of the legendary crew as a unit, working together. After that story ends, it's a rather pedestrian affair to stop insterstellar war in the movie era. However, based on the strength of Kirk's narrative in the first half of the novel, I highly recommend it.


A Mountain in the Wind: An Exploration of the Spirituality of John Denver
Published in Paperback by Findhorn Press, Inc. (01 February, 2001)
Authors: Christine Smith, Christine Smith, and Lynn Barton
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A Mediocre Result with Great Intent
You'd have to be a pretty dedicated JD fan to like this book. It clearly has positive intent and there's no question the "Everyman" approach John Denver took to his own spirituality was appealing to a broad audience. This book just "misses" in so many ways that it's a difficult read.

A Treasure Written by Christine Smith!
Christine Smith's book "A Mountain in the Wind - An Exploration of the Spirituality of John Denver" is a sensitive, comprehensive, intuitive and inspiring book delving deep into John's soul and spirituality. Her extensive research and keen insight of John's relationship to the universe and his place in it, how he evolved as a spiritual being, who his mentors were, and how he learned his belief in miracles and of hope are all written with utmost affection and in pure honesty by the author.

Throughout the book, Christine often refers to lyrics in John's songs to further witness his spirituality and to provide more indepth analysis of his message. She has also included 8 pages of color photos of John and ends the book with a series of moving essays comprising a beautiful memorial to John by the author herself.

I truly believe you have to be a spiritual person to fully appreciate John Denver - his music, his message - the man himself. So kudos to Christine for enlightening us about the inner John plus also for portraying a powerful blueprint for us to transform our own lives through spiritual discovery and growth.

Since I do not want to give the whole book away, I'll simply say you have to read it! Thank you, Christine, for your time and effort in writing "A Mountain in the Wind"! I know it was a labor of love for you. And thank you, John, for being her inspiration for the book. It's a treasure! Peace. Carole

A MAN OF FAITH, DEDICATION AND COMPASSION!
Who among us has not been touched in some way by the voice and words of at least one of John Denver's beautiful songs? John 's legacey to the world was his care and concern for the environment and the people who dwell here. His Rocky Mountain High's came from the heart and each recording he made was filled with love and passion for the universe that came from deep within his soul. Each time I hear his voice, I am reminded of his simple, easy-going manner as gentle as the wings of a butterfly, his incredible gift as an artist and his ability to evoke emotion in the listener.

"A Mountain in the Wind" is indeed how John lived his life and this wonderful book is filled with his love for humanity, his respect for nature, his own personal inner strength and his spiritual beliefs. His sudden, tragic death moved people around the world. Wherever John may be today, I hope he truly does have, "Sunshine on his Shoulder" and the peace and contentment he believed in. For fans of Denver, this is a five star book and highly recommended reading.


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