5 comments about Journey Around Boston From A to Z (Journey Series).

1. It seems a bit strange to use an alphabet book format for middle schoolers, but the idea is well-executed in this nicely illustrated guide to Boston. The book begins with an undetailed map of the Boston vicinity, continues with a paragraph of introduction, and then moves on to the alphabet. Each letter gets a full page and has an alliterative title with a few explanatory sentences and some related factoids. For example, "M" is entitled "Minutemen made ready at a moment's notice"; text describes the events in Lexington and Concord on April 18, 1775; watercolor pictures show the Minuteman statue in Lexington and the Old North Bridge in Concord; factoids tell us that British soldiers were called "regulars" and that the midnight riders (Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott) called out "The regulars are out! The regulars are out!" as they rode through the night. End pages depict an alphabet of objects other than those seen in the book, such as Magnolia for "M".

   With nice art and layout, this book imparts quite a few interesting facts about Boston, though one thinks it might have benefitted from an overarching coherence with which to motivate the more sophisticated young readers at which it is purportedly aimed.




2. JOURNEY AROUND BOSTON is another title in the series created by author, artist and one time teacher Martha Zschock. Zschock was a third grade teacher at the time she wrote the book. As a teacher she has the respects both the natural curiosity and intelligence of children. A mallard, a duck often associated with the city thanks to Robert McCloskey's immortal MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS, leads visitors on a tour of Boston and the vicinity. Her book includes the familiar tourist attractions as well as lesser known and perhaps even ignored places in Boston. It serves as a wonderful introduction to Boston and its illustrious history.

   This book is a must for any family with young visitors coming to the city of Boston. It will also be of interest to the children of Boston who wish to learn a bit about the city and its history.




3. I discovered this book while doing a search for travel guides
   to Boston. I was surprised when this book popped up 2nd in the
   list, but since I collect children's illustrated books, I had to
   take a look, and found it to be absolutely wonderful. I do have
   to admit that it certainly would be for the very top end of the
   picture book gang, not those just learning their ABC's. But so
   what. It is wonderfully informative with beautiful illustrations.
   
   Whenever I run into an ABC book, I first look to the X's to see
   how the author handles that. I am pleased that this author
   did not feel compelled to use X's in the beginning of the words.
   Her X's became "Extraordinary Exhibits excite viewers." That is
   so much better than yet another xylophone.
   
   Perhaps my favorite page was "Y": Yarns have been spun at Ye Olde Union Oyster House for Years". The page was so compelling, I made special effort to get to the Oyster House though it wasn't
   on my original agenda.
   
   Besides a very attractive architectural illustration of the Oyster House, there is an insert that shows some of regional foods such as Boston Baked Beans and Boston Cream Pie. Below the
   pictures is a short paragraph about the pictures. In this case
   there is information about baked beans and why they were so popular with the Pilgrims. Below that is a wavy line (as there is on each page) with another bit of information, this time about
   lobster which is usually available in the waters close by.
   
   In September I am going to Cape Code and her A to Z book on
   Cape Cod will be part of my planning. I hope she keeps this
   wonderful series going, and if she branches out into Europe -
   so much the better! If you are reading this, Martha, I am going
   to London in the Spring next year and Venice in the fall, just
   in case you are looking for your next subject.
   
   Highly recommended.



4. A wonderful book to see Boston and find out about Boston. I would recommend this to anyone (adults and children) about to visit Boston. I am looking forward to buying more books by this author and illustrator.



5. I love Boston. I really do. This beautiful, progressive city known for being an academic, cultural and historical mecca is brilliantly presented in this delightful book.
   
   This book will take readers alphabetically through the city that has long established itself as the Cradle of Amerian History. The alphabet format is good and effective as readers will more easily remember the sites in and around Boston. The map of the Boston area is also a good idea and an excellent added touch.
   
   Using alliterative sentences is another good mnemonic device; readers will readily make associations with the places they are reading about in this delightful book about Boston. Readers also get text with chronicled detailed history about the places and historical events that took place in the Boston area. The lovely illustrations and rich history will delight readers of all ages. I highly recommend this one.

2 comments about From Puritan to Yankee: Character and the Social Order in Connecticut, 1690-1765 (Center for the Study of the History of Liberty in America).

1. In England, the Puritans defied church and state. In America, ironically, the Puritans established colonies which came to emphasize deference to authority. In colonial New England, a rough equality in condition eased most tensions of hierarchy in status. By the eve of the Revolution, however, several factors--religious, political, economic and demographic--worked to rekindle the Puritan tradition of agitation and radicalism. The Protestant emphasis on the authority of individual conscience was revived. Richard L. Bushman explores these developments in Connecticut, providing a colorful social portrait. He brings to life arguments and controversies, illuminating the convictions and feelings of each side. Bushman's work proves very informative and quite readable.



2. This book is a wonderful addition for the amateur genealogist of Connecticut families. Many things are explained here that flesh out the "facts" gleaned from documents about various family members. I particularly found helpful the discussion on property and town formations.

1 comments about What's Cooking at Moody's Diner.

1. This cookbook has a variety of recipes that I haven't seen served at Moody's, however, they are wonderful. I especially like the Sweet and Sour Chicken and Enchiladas Supreme. It is a great buy and offers a variety of recipes which allow you to cook from scratch while living on a budget.

5 comments about The Puritan Family: Religion & Domestic Relations in 17th Century New England.

1. i personly along with my puritan brothers and sisters am disturbed by the falseness in this book. we do not live as it is printed. my ancesters did not either. i wish we would stop being judged in this matter. we are tired of the jokes and it hurts our feelings.



2. This work provides a wonderful analysis of the intricacies of dailyn life in the 17th century. Although it may seem a dry subject, it is actually fascinating to learn about, and provides the reader with a great understanding of the real people that lived so long ago.



3. This is the (slightly revised) doctoral dissertation by Edmund Morgan, one of the most renowned of all American historians. It analyzes Puritan society by exploring the relationships among these early New Englanders. Although he discusses master-servant relationships, his main focus is on the family. The reason for this is that the Puritans saw the family as the highest social institution, and as the foundation of their churches and government. Indeed, he shows how the family relationship is extended to explain their relationship to God (ie-they saw themselves as both the sons of God and as the bride of Christ).

   It is one of Morgan's earliest works, and the concluding chapter sets the stage for his later "Visible Saints: The History of a Puritan Idea." No serious student of colonial New England can neglect this book, if only because of the enormous impact of its author.




4. I wasn't sure whether this was going to be a positive or a negative survey of Puritan life and times when I started reading it. Most people don't have very many nice things to say about them- usually comments about black clothing and the Salem witch trials. But the truth is, although the Puritans had plenty of problems, they've gotten a bit of a bad rap in history. They were actually far more lively and earthy than most people would suspect; they had much more in common with Shakespeare's times than with Victorian England.

   And so Morgan's thesis is not that the Puritan's were ascetics or prudes- they weren't. Rather, their real fault lay in a sort of 'Christian tribalism', in the belief that since the elect in any generation were few in number anyway, they could avoid evangelism in favor of spiritual isolationism. Since the reasoned that the Church of one generation was generally comprised of the children of the last generation, their only real task was to preach to the choir. And so they fell into a decay of the soul that manifested itself as outward prosperity and inward apathy. Their zeal dissipated into mere trans-generational commercial institutionalism and snobbery. And so the foundation they laid down gradually faded into the overall fabric of a quickly growing Colonial society.

   But in spite of their faults, the Puritans contributed a vast amount of effort and philosophy towards the make-up of American society today. And although they may be remembered for their obsessions with the devil and witches, they were not in fact the sum of their mistakes. It's easy to criticize in retrospect. Morgan's book helps provide a more thorough understanding of the why's and not just the what's of their history. Once the reader comes to an understanding of how the Puritans thought, he will have more appreciation for their contributions and more charity in his assessment of their foibles.

   The Puritan Family was an admirably balanced study of a people with a colorful past. It was first published over 50 years ago, and it certainly won't alter current perceptions of what Puritanism was, but it's still a very informative read for anyone who is interested in the truth, and not in stereotypes.




5. The professor who required this book in the class I took a few years ago knows the author, Edmund Morgan, personally. She told a story of how she and several other professors were having dinner with Morgan during a History convention. One professor remarked that Morgan's resume must be as thick as a book due to his successful career. Morgan responded that he had no resume and the other professors realized that if Morgan needed funding for a certain project, his name was all that was needed. After reading this book, I can understand why Morgan is so respected in his field. Not only is this work well researched but the writing style is very engaging. Morgan covers the following topics: Puritan ideology and views on freedom; marriage (a husband's authority was actually more limited than in other societies); parents and children (children-even girls-left home to live with their master as an apprentice in their chosen, or their parent's chosen, calling or, in the case of girls, house keeping); the importance of early education; punishment; masters and servants (a master was as responsible for the soul of his servant as he was for the soul of his child); the church and social order (Puritans should live in families as solitude was cause for suspicion); and tribalism. In the first chapter, Morgan explains the paradox between good conduct and salvation in Puritan belief. Good conduct was regarded as the result of salvation not the cause of it. . Anyone interested in Puritan life will find this 186-page book an excellent introduction.

5 comments about Memento Mori.

1. All the characters in Muriel Spark's novel are old people. There is Dame Lettie Colson who is pestered - but perhaps it is an illusion - by anonymous telephone calls with a voice saying only "Remember you must die", her brother Godfrey and his wife Charmian who live in a sort of ménage à trois. Their life doesn't get easier as they advance in age: senility and physical decrepitude are handicaps they try to live with, sometimes conscious of them but not always.
   Then there are the twelve female occupants of the Maud Long Medical Ward, a nursing home, who spend their time gossiping about petty scandals, mostly about wills being rewritten in the favour of another person for some trivial behavioural reason.
   The plot is both funny and macabre because all the characters are mean, jealous, curious, witty or confused, probably as they used to be all their life. It seems that old age does not transform our character much, for better or for worse.



2. A wonderful novel about a subject taboo in the 1950's in London... growing old. One of the very few books of its time to talk about those in their 70's and 80's without being patronizing or treating them as stereotypes. BBC Television produced a wonderful version filled with stars who had not held starring roles in decades (except Maggie Smith). Wonderful character studies and a clever premise. Vintage Muriel Spark, for me her finest novel.



3. This mystery novel is one of the most important works of Muriel Spark, a leading Scottish novelist as well as Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, who received many prestigious awards such as the US Ingersoll Foundation TS Eliot Award in 1922 and the British Literature Prize in 1997.
   
   The title, Memento Mori, is a Latin phrase that is commonly translated as "Remember you must die," and this has been widely used as a motif for artistic creations to remind people of their own mortality since classical antiquity. The original thrust of Memento Mori was "Carpe Diem", "seize the day" in Latin, which entails the advice to "Eat, drink, for tomorrow we die!" quoting from Isaiah 22:13. Spark's message, however, seems to differ from the idea of carpe diem in this novel, although the meaning is not literary mentioned anywhere in this book by the author. That means how Memento Mori should be interpreted is all up to the readers, and that is the key to solve the mystery in this novel.
   
   The eccentric yet very interesting idea of this book is the most of the main characters are the elderly people who are septuagenarians and over. They are total of 22 men and women in a variety of living environment---some people are rich and famous, some are ill and dying. In spite of their differences in age, sex, place to live, health and living conditions, they had only one thing in common; all of them received anonymous phone calls in different voice tones whispering a single baffling message, "Memento Mori." Spark depicts tactfully how each character tries to ferret out the culprit.
   
   The beauty of this novel is the fine way Spark describes the lives of the elderly victims. Although she delineates the scene from mental agony of dying woman to excretion in the hospital bed, there is no sadness or melancholy in her description. In Spark's world, everything seems to be able to be subjects of funny story. Mercy may exist somewhere much deeper from the point of view of a Catholic writer.
   
   Another thing I like to point out about the characteristic of this book is that Spark's writings are concise and easy to read. She even reiterates the same phrases and passages several times. As for a reader whose mother tongue is Japanese, since this novel doesn't require much referring to a dictionary, I am satisfied with Spark's novels as foreign reader-friendly books. Some of you may feel that Spark uses the same descriptions too many times. Nevertheless, I'm sure her writings are so pithy and to the point that repetitions are bearable. I'm convinced that you can receive fresh different sounds and meanings of words from the context each time even reading the same passages.
   
   Memento Mori is a mystery novel which has a basic structure of the connection of very modern, ordinary, yet scientific instrument and unrealistic mystique. Spark digs up something we usually forget, or even we never want to remember because of the unpleasant truth. Namely, this is not only a mystery book but also a literature work written in a little lofty style according to the scene. Therefore, if you're just looking for a so-called ordinary, heart-beating thriller, this book is not for you. However, I would like to recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery and wants to look back over your own life seriously and sincerely a little bit for a change.



4. The late Muriel Spark's crisply-written third novel and first genuine masterpiece, Memento Mori (1959), would be followed by nineteen more, including additional bona fide classics The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961), The Girls of Slender Means (1963), The Driver's Seat (1970), and Loitering With Intent (1981) before her death in April of 2006.
   
   Compared to these and other Spark fictions, however, Memento Mori is remarkable for its essentially straightforward plot (a number of elderly lifelong friends and enemies are harassed by a mysterious telephone caller who states "remember you must die"), its relatively stable mid-Fifties London setting, and the depiction of its cast.
   
   Unlike both earlier and later Spark novels, the characters presented are fairly unambiguous in terms of their natures: they're either essentially humane, decent, and humble, ethically and morally confused, or patently amoral. Thus, in terms of both characterization and the behavior that arises from it, Memento Mori can be interpreted as a highly polished but basic blueprint for all of Spark's future fiction, in which cultured blackmailers, undetected maniacs, manipulative appropriators, and aggressive human parasites abound. In fact, the endlessly conniving, money-obsessed Mabel Pettigrew remains the quintessential Spark villain.
   
   Like the best Spark's novels, Memento Mori also seamlessly knits pronounced metaphysical questions into its text, and addresses the question of human perception and objective control: who or what ultimately manipulates and guides human existence?
   
   As a meditation on human decency, morality, ethics, aging, and mortality, Memento Mori doesn't overtly concern itself with the literal mystery presented by its plot. Like the question of which student betrayed the Scottish school teacher in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, the mystery of the phantom caller is disarmed fairly early in the text, and thus subtly revealed as a mere plot device upon which the author effortlessly hangs her weightier themes.
   
   Sophisticated, sharply insightful ("If I had my life over again I should form the habit of nightly composing myself to thoughts of death. I would practise, as it were, the remembrance of death. There is no other practise which so intensifies life. Death, when it approaches, ought not to take one by surprise. It should be part of the full expectancy of life. Without an ever-present sense of death life is insipid. You might as well live on the whites of eggs," retired Police Chief Inspector Henry Mortimer advises the assembled cast), and hilariously comic whenever it chooses to be, Memento Mori remains essential Western reading in the new millennium.



5. This well-regarded meditation on life and death is one of those books I would have been unlikely to ever get around to had it not been selected by my book group. Our group tends to pick (and generally enjoy) classics or works by various well-regarded international writers (recent examples include Saramago, Eco, Calvino, Greene, Pamuk, etc.), so this book seemed like it would fit well within the group's standard range. So it was somewhat surprising to discover that, not only was I not the only one who showed up for our discussion with a rather tepid reaction to the book, but none of the six other well-read members found it in any way remarkable or edifying. Even the person who picked the book (a self-professed fan of Spark's other work) found it a disappointment.
   
   Set in mid-1950s London, the story revolves around an interconnected group of elderly people. In what might be considered a parody of an Agatha Christie book, one, and then another of the old folks start getting mysterious phone calls informing them that "Remember, you must die." However, this is not a detective story or a thriller, except perhaps in the metaphysical sense. Despite recreating the classic scene of gathering all the characters in a drawing room in a debriefing conducted by a retired police detective, Spark is purely concerned with their reaction to the idea of mortality, rather than revealing the true nature of the phone calls. Indeed, two of the calmer characters reflect that the calls may be from "Death" (with a capital D), reflecting Sparks own stated belief that the line between the tangible world and the supernatural is a very thin and blurry one.
   
   However, many of the characters take the statement as a direct threat and grow increasingly agitated, while others take it as a mere statement of fact, and at least one is in total denial, and another finds it an interesting scientific problem. What may be ultimately frustrating, however, is that none of the characters change in any way as a result of the calls -- if anything, their often negative characteristics are only amplified. One pessimistic lesson may well be that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, however it seems more likely that Spark is attempting to highlight the notion that those who contemplate mortality on a daily basis lead more fulfilled lives as a result.
   
   In any event, those who like the book repeatedly cite the venal, immoral, and foolish behavior of the elderly protagonists as a major source of humor. Our group felt that while the various indiscretions, blackmail, and outbursts of jealousy and vitriol may well have been sly and subversive in the '50s, they aren't likely to strike any but the most naive of modern readers as such. Ultimately, I would be inclined to second-guess my reaction to such a critically well-regarded book, except that six other people more or less had the same experience.

5 comments about The New England Cookbook: 350 Recipies from Town and Country, Land and Sea, Hearth and Home.

1. This book is by far the most stained and used in my collection. Its spine is broken, its pages spotted with grease and cheese, its margins filled with notes.

   Every special meal in our home has something from this book - on Thanksgiving, our table was graced by "Whipped Winter Squash with Cranberries," "Crumbly Cider Cornbread Stuffing," and "Shaker Cornmeal Pumpkin Bread." Included in this collection are glorious recipes for a traditional tuna casserole, (tuna casserole glorious, you balk? try for yourself and see!), banana nut bread, clams casino, pizzas and sandwiches, veggies and pasta, fin-fish and shellfish.

   There is truly something for every occasion, from the fancy holiday table to the casual backyard lunch. If you are from New England, you'll feel right at home among these pages, whether you hail from the coast of Maine or inland Massachusetts. If you are from another region, you'll be inspired by the folklore and mystery of America's most frugally creative cooks. Fire up your stove and enjoy!




2. I bought this book after my trip to New England, and I was not disappointed. I love to cook, and I prefer cookbooks written by professionals who know the difference between restaurant cooking and home cooking, know history of cuisine they present, and share personal stories. All of the above I found in the Brooke Dojny's book. I have tried 15 recipes over the past 6 weeks, and all of the results came out terrific and tasting very much like what I ate in Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts. I also find the recipes that I have tried to be very easy to follow. Following the recipe for Italian veal piccata, I produced the dish that tastes better than in most Italian restaurants in California and other parts of the States. The recipe for meat loaf is simply the best available! I also appreciate all the forewords and notes for recipes.
   
   Many recipes are quite versatile. For example, the sauce for crab cakes is excellent for many fish or poultry dishes. Even if you serve it with boiled chicken or beef that you used for making broth, the dish becomes excellent instead of being something rather bland and eaten out of frugality and necessity :). This sauce can last in a refrigerator, too.
   
   This book appears to be very helpful when planning a dinner, whether it is a special occasion dinner or just a middle of a week meal. All recipes have specifications as up to which step a cook can prepare a dish in advance. I recently made a sea food feast for my husband's birthday in a middle of a week, and I used this book's recipes only. The feast was spectacular and original, and I was able to do all the shopping and preparations ahead on a previous evening. On the actual celebration day I just spent an hour after work for making four dishes. All in all, they constituted a lovely original coherent special dinner.
   
   After this book, I will gladly buy all books authored by Brooke Dojny.



3. Let me start off by saying that I returned the book and never tried a recipe. I was stunned by how mundane and unsophisticated the recipes are. The cookbook reminded me of one of those fundraising cookbooks put together by schools and churches where everyone contributes one recipe. The reviews were so good I was expecting something exciting and innovative but instead it was filled with dishes that are as common as dirt. If you own Fanny Farmer you already have everything in this cookbook. I grew up on Buzzard's Bay in Massachusetts and I was looking forward to some real New England favorites. The clam chowder recipe was not as good as one I already posses and the author advocates corn meal on her fried clams. No thanks.
   
   If you are looking for easy recipes that may or may not be authentically New England this may be a good cookbook for you. If you are a gourmet cook looking for sophisticated regional fare I say keep looking.



4. Just wanted you to know that I have had trouble ordering "The New England Cookbook". Amazon took my order but kept delaying their shipment of it, saying that they were out of stock (and kept pushing the date forward). I waited patiently for 2 months, then decided that they did not have the item they claimed was in stock.
   
   This was not the first time I have had problems with Amazon. If they have the product they ship immediately, but if they don't.....
   
   Sue in Illinois



5. I adore this cookbook for fall flavors. I also really disagree with one of the reviewers who seems to think sophisticated flavor has to involve complicated recipes. Being a student at the Culinary Institute of American in NY taught me that excellent food does not have to always be complicated. I love the Cranberry Walnut bread, Maple-Lacquered Game Hens and the Polish wild mushroom soup. While I would not make every single recipe here, the recipes that highlight products of New England are excellent.

No comments about Month-By-Month Gardening in New England: What to Do Each Month to Have a Beautiful Garden All Year (Month-By-Month Gardening in New England).

5 comments about Kishido: The Way of the Western Warrior.

1. Kishido: The Way of the Western Warrior
   I've been studying martial arts for over 35 years (karate, aikido, iaido, and tai chi), and I'm also an amateur historian. Along the Way I've read a good deal (in translation largely) about budo and the historical contexts in which it evolved.
   
   Recently I went in search of books to give as gifts to some of my students, and largely based on reviews at Amazon I picked 'Kishido'. However, to assure that it was 'worthy' for my purposes, I read it before presenting it. I could barely put this book down until I finished it. I've found little else that I've read that has touched me so profoundly and captured the essence of the martial arts, including autobiographies of the masters of the past century.
   
   Not only did I present this to my students, I've now shared it with my peers and teachers, as well as added it to my library. This is one book I'll read more than once, and I highly recommend it to anyone who shares my love of budo.



2. ....ask those who have gone before. Sometimes, I struggle to blend eastern thought with everyday western living. Peter Hobart helps by taking years of experience and distilling it down to an essence over a few pages. Pick out either an idea or concept listed, and gain a new thought (or revisit an old one semi forgotten) to work on. Not just for the martial artist, also for those who wish to live, rather then exist.
   The chapters may be thin, so what?! Never say in 300 words what can be said in 30.So, if you are wanting to stetch your mind, or just want a degree of clarity in everyday living, then perhaps this is the book for you.



3. This collection of short stories is very philosophical and eclectic spanning a wide range of topics that all have to do with personal growth. The story Ihtaram: A Civil Code takes place takes decades ago on the Arabian Peninsula. The author incorporates Bushido principles as he tells of a good host allowing a murder to happen rather than violate the code of hospitality. The point of this extreme story is to show that the host chose to find resolution by working within the mandated code. I don't exactly agree with this viewpoint but the story was intriguing. I also loved the calligraphy and the quotations.



4. I thoroughly enjoyed "Kishido: The Way of the Western Warrior" by Peter Hobart. The book can be read pretty quickly. It contains 50 short chapters in 161 pages and then includes a short Glossary of Japanese terms used in the book as well. While the chapters are short, the contain some very important lessons.
   
   The book is a series of lessons that Hobart's martial art master passed to his students while not only teaching martial arts, but teaching virtues embedded in all traditional martial ways. The instructor taught through example that conduct is just as important as ability. He exemplified integrity, dignity, courtesy, chivalry, truth, trust, benevolence, and wisdom. He passed these lessons to his students, and now Hobart has written them down so the reader can blend the philosophical and spiritual concepts found in martial arts with the physical and technical training of their specific art.
   
   The lessons include:
   
   Part I: Foundation
   
   1. Kishido The Way of the Western Warrior
   2. Bumon Lineage
   3. Shoshin An Open Mind
   4. Junshin A Pure Heart
   5. Fudoshin A Determined Spirit
   6. Ihtaram A Civil Code
   7. Enkyoku The Winding Way
   8. Ganshiki Insight
   9. Discretio Mater Virtutis Restraint
   10. Noblesse Oblige Obligation
   
   Part II: Range
   
   1. Bangei Versatility
   2. Bunbuichi Sword and Brush
   3. Bokuden, Ima Anachronism?
   4. Koji The Master Texts
   5. Nihongo The Lingua Franca
   6. Shika, Doka, Renga Expression
   7. Heiho Strategy
   8. Koan Mumonkan
   9. Kanpo Healing
   10. Garyotensei The Eyes of the Dragon
   
   Part III: Strategy
   
   1. Yohei Mercenaries and Merchants
   2. Gi Right Decision
   3. Yu Bravery
   4. Jin Benevolence
   5. Rei Right Action
   6. Makoto Truth
   7. Meiyo A Matter of Honor
   8. Chugi Loyalty
   9. Ichigo, Ichie The Power of One
   10. Hanare Time to Let Go
   
   Part IV: Harmony
   
   1. The Dao Interconnectedness
   2. Docere Versus Ducere Instructors and Educators
   3. Primum Est Non Nocere First Do No Harm
   4. Chaqun A Son Gout Horses for Courses
   5. Shojin Demagogues and Curmudgeons
   6. Stare Decisis Tradition
   7. Girei Professional Courtesy
   8. Kiki Opportunity
   9. Kouhei No One is Above the Law
   10. Tatsutoriatowonigosazu Leave Things a Little Better Than You Found Them
   
   Part V: Void
   
   1. Kotan Elegant Simplicity
   2. Heisei Serenity
   3. Fuga Refinement
   4. Enryo Reserve
   5. Panache A White Plume
   6. Gyakute The Unexpected
   7. Hokosaki Advance and Be Recognized!
   8. Okunote The Other Hand
   9. Matsunen The Final Days
   10. Renzoku Passing the Torch
   
   
   As you can see, there are quite a few topics with quite a range of lessons. I think some of the most important are illustrated in the final chapter, those of gi, yu, jin, rei, makoto, meiyo, and chugi; or Right Decision, Bravery, Benevolence, Right Action, Truth, Honor, and Loyalty.
   
   The book is full of stories and examples of how the master not only taught the lessons, but lived them as well. I'll say again, you can read through this book quite quickly, but it will mean more if you savor each lesson and look to see if you are applying it to your own life. I know I related many of the lessons to teachings that I've had from my instructors and I looked for ways that I could better live by the code outlined in this book to make me a better teacher as well. I hope to be an example of these traits to my students also, and I truly believe if you are going to teach someone skills that can hurt or kill someone, you must also instill the positive character traits so that person will only use those skills if necessary and will never misuse the teachings.
   
   I highly recommend this book. I believe the teachings Hobart has shared from the wise master will enhance your own martial art journey.
   
   Reviewed by Alain Burrese, author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice.



5. This book is a great read for anyone who is a student of life, not just of a martial art. It is philosophical, historical, and somewhat autobiographical in nature, and its lessons can apply to everyday life. I found the short chapter entitled "YU" or "Bravery" particularly relevant and moving to me personally.
   
   Peter writes that "There is a grace, a depth and a character to the movement of the expert, akin to the fit of a well-broken pair of boots." Peter personifies this. He seems to glide gracefully through life. He is always the gentleman; always the master willing to lend his hand and expertise to the willing and eager student. At times, even in his own well-worn pair of boots! It is an honor to know a man of his character.

2 comments about Acadia Panorama: Images of Maine's National Park.

1. Alan Nyiri combines a sensitivity of light, a keen sense of place and obvious love of nature to produce this marvelous collection of images. In this book the artist explores and expands the panoramic format in the exquisite setting of one of the most beautiful parks in all the world. If you're a fan of panoramic photography, a fan of Mount Desert Island, or are considering a visit to that enchanted island, you'll want this book.
   
   Full disclosure; I'm a friend of Alan's and an admirer of his work.



2. Alan Nyiri's notes accompanying the images caused me to see them differently than I expected to upon sitting down and opening Acadia Panorama. One gets the faintest notion that his use of panoramic equipment puts Nyiri self-consciously outside the norm, as if he were requiring us to use a GAF Viewmaster or employing some contrivance to interpret the scenes. Reading the notes increased my curiosity and intensified my inspection, corner to corner, edge to edge, over and over. Somewhere along the way there was a spark of recognition. I had been there once before, not to Mt. Desert, but to that place where you can tell yourself you have nothing better to do than to wait and watch, gather in a bunch of seemingly wasted moments till you apprehend THE moment. I wanted to be there again, so I slowly turned page after page, imagining the ascent to the vantage point, thinking how brisk the air must be, how my beard must be getting a bit straggly after several days, how little I am missing revving engines and ringing phones. Thank you my dear friend Mr. Nyiri, for taking me to that place again.

5 comments about King Philip's War: Civil War in New England, 1675-1676 (Native Americans of the Northeast).

1. I got interested in this period of history after reading Parkman's masterful "France and England" series. Drake's book is the opposite -- dull, politically correct, completely lacking a sense of drama, written more with a view to securing tenure than increasing knowledge of this period. There's all the buzzwords -- indentity and gender and sexual politics, hints of Foucault and Derrida... an absolute waste of money. I pity his students. I pity the study of history. Morrison, Parkman, Freeman, Foote -- where are you when we need you?



2. This is a clearly written and thoughtful analysis of King Philip's War. While some may disagree with the author's characterization of the conflict as a "civil war," Drake effectively illuminates the important and complex connections that developed among the New England colonies and some Native American nations and how those connections helped to bring about the war.



3. Historian James Drake presents an intriguing thesis in this book. In his view, King Philip's War was a civil war that tore apart a highly integrated European-Indian society. On the face of it, this idea seems ludicrous, but Drake presents a very convincing case. Even if Drake does not win you over, you learn a lot about both colonial and Indian societies. Even the most ardent critics of the work must admit that Drakes presents some significant challenges to conventional thinking.

   The problem is that Drake does not know how to write well. The book is dreadfully slow and dry, with little penchent for anything but the most academic trivia. If one stays awake, you will find some very fascinating insights mixed together with the horrendously slow treatise, but often, it's not worth it.

   For fans of colonial history, it's a must. For anyone else, be warned: it will be a tough read.




4. I was born and raised in New York state, though now I reside in Rhode Island. Such being the case, on occasion I have thought to familiarize myself with the history of the state and of New England. I discovered the book,KING PHILIP'S WAR: CIVIL WAR IN NEW ENGLAND, 1675-1676, by James D. Drake. I read it because the issues raised in that war continue to bedevil Rhode Island. A brief resume of the war is that: In 1675, the Wampanoag Tribe under the leadership of King Philip, also known by his native name, Metacom, rebelled against the English colonies in Southeastern New England with whom they had various alliances, and against whom they had various grievances including the peremptory hanging of two Wampanoags. (The author is excellent on the causes of the war.) The Wampanoags were joined by some but not all other tribes in the region. After initial success in fighting the war, the rebels were defeated by the English settlers, and essentially eradicated. As part of that war, there occurred, in 1676, in the area now known as West Kingston, RI, a battle called the Great Swamp Fight,in which the Indians were defeated, and the war ended. The Great Swamp Fight is considered to be the first massacre of native peoples in America. The reason the war continues to be a factor in Rhode Island is that the remnants of the native tribes, melded into a single tribe now called the Narragansetts, have been attempting to get the right to build a casino under terms of the Indian Gaming Act passed by Congress in 1988. They have been frustrated in doing so by Rhode Island's leading politicians,---and hypocritically because gambling exists in other venues in Rhode Island, and is increasing. (The politicians pander to the moral sense of the people while advancing gambling in other guises. Further, prejudice is involved because the Narragansetts intermixed with the descendants of African slaves, though of course the politicians deny it.) The Narragansetts obviously are considered a threat, though there are hardly 3000 of them, as compared to about 1 million residents of the state! Further again, there continues to this day to be litigation about the Narragansetts attempting, a few years ago, to open a smoke shop where federal and state taxes were not collected on tobacco products. The Rhode Island State Troopers, under the Republican Governor Don Carcieri, forcibly closed the smoke shop, though now it is admitted that force was not needed but that legal warrants could have accomplished its closing until the issue of sovereignty could be decided. Further once more, it is impossible to get away from associations with that era. Indian names are part of every section of the state. The Wampanoag Trail is a major highway from Providence to the communities on the eastern part of Narragansett Bay. Nearby to where I live, there are the names of streets: Metacom, Pokanoket, Massasoit, and on and on. I live on Wamsetta Avenue. Finally, neither is it possible to avoid the names of the English settlers who prosecuted the war in the New England colonies: Winslow, Winthrop, Coddington, Church, Cotton, Denison, Eliot, Mather, Gorton---I could go on and on with such names, also. These names fill the telephone books, and those persons are related to the colonial figures, in some manner. I agree with Drake that King Philip's War was not a racially premeditated war of the English settlers against the Native American tribes. However, that might be a close call. As the author is careful to point out, while some of the Indians, in tribal groups and as individuals, fought with the various English colonies, none of the English colonists sided with the rebels. Furthermore, the Native American tribespeople were greatly outnumbered by the English, on the order of about 18 thousand to about 60 thousand. And with the English way of fighting, which was annihilatory (both the Indians of that time and the author condemn it), the outcome was predictable. I also agree with Drake that the origins of America are multiple and not exclusively linear from the New England colonies. However, neither is the 17th century experience of those colonies discontinuous with the development of the United States,---even though there are many "Americas," from colonial, to revolutionary, to the national period, to civil war, to the rise of finance capitalism (the Gilded Age), to immigrant, to the Great Depression Era, to WWII, industrial, cold war, Vietnam, etc., etc. I came to intellectual awareness in the early 1960s and know from personal experience that that era differs so much from the era of Bush II, 9/11 and the Iraq War fiasco as to comprise a different and distinct political entity. But America is a case of "e pluribus unum" not only with persons but with politico-economico-cultural eras. There is a grisly contemporary note in Drake's fine book. We know of the barbarity of the Islamic terrorists in decapitating some western hostages. The Native American tribes that rebelled against the English colonies were considered to have committed treason because they had made certain alliances with those colonies. That was English law in the 17th century. It is doubtful that the tribespeople understood the English law. However, the penalty for committing treason was to be drawn and quartered. King Philip was killed in the Great Swamp Fight. Nevertheless, his corpse was dragged out of the bog and the punishment was administered to it. (In case you do not know what it means to be drawn and quartered, I will tell you. First, the head is cut off. Then the body is separated at the waist, and the torso and legs are each halved.) Surely, the Islamic terrorists are barbaric, and just as certainly were the 17th century colonists, and so are we who are their direct descendants, as described above. In fact, reading Drake's fine, precise, well-researched and well-written book it appears to me less that I am engaged in an exercise of the understanding of ancient, local history than in reading a subtext to the daily news. T.R. Catanzarite



5. I didn't read this book until I'd finished Prof. Drake's classes, but just like his class lectures, this book is great! I have rarely read a more "readable" war-related book. There are a number of references he made in his classes and credited them to some "source" or "author" on the subject, and I had no idea HE was the source and author! I hope there are more books to come.