The recent surge in popularity of on-line genealogical searches shows that as we move into the 21st century we are still looking backward at our family roots. How fortunate for history that author Kristi M. Youngdahl has taken the time to help an Idaho family chronicle its past in a remarkable book called The Arams of Idaho: Pioneers of Camas Prairie and Joseph Plains. I was impressed with how the author used family interviews and records, newspaper accounts and the like and wove them seamlessly into the narrative. This wealth of detail draws the reader into the story, making it come alive, and what a story it is! The Arams trace their lineage back to England (and to a notorious criminal and folk hero, Eugene Aram). The Arams became part of the westward migration after immigration to the U.S. in 1806. After stops in the Midwest, California and Oregon, members of this pioneer family helped settle one of our last wildernesses, central Idaho, starting in 1864. Ms. Youngdahl ably portrays the challenges of living in this rugged territory, as the family works to build shelter and plant crops, faces the Nez Perce Indian War of 1877 and establishes a cattle ranch. When James Aram loses this ranch in 1930 to foreclosure, this sad event feels to the reader as if it were a setback to one's own family because the author has shown the years of toil and tears leading up to this day. Son Jim (with one arm amputated due to an accident) helps his father rebuild through the Depression years, but finally the time comes when the Arams all have "scattered like so many seeds in the wind" to the world outside their remote ancestral home. This brought a real sense of loss to me. But fortunately memories of this period of history have been preserved in this book: memories of everyday ranch life, of cowboys and cattle rustlers, of Saturday night dances and basket socials, of surreptitious sampling of "moonshine" whiskey on holidays, of a family's love and loyalty to each other and to their home through generations. And at the end of this story the author says that the Arams still have the strength "inherited from their pioneer parents and grandparents--a strength tested daily in their youth by a wild and beautiful land." And we --and succeeding eras--have this wonderful book. I recommend it highly.

This is a book by a scientist, and he was writing for other scientists--But it can be read by anyone with an interest. The author watched a prairie dog town for several months a year for over a decade, marking each of the animals so he could track individuals. He describes details of how he made his observations, but most of the book describes the habits and social behavior of prairie dogs, just as the title says. The book has a LOT of detail, but is readable and interesting. Some is rather surprising, such as prairie dog mothers who attempt to murder their nieces and nephews, but who, if they don't succeed, will nurse these same infants a few weeks later.
Recommended, if you want to "know it all" about prairie dogs! For less intense studies and gorgeous photography, look for "Prairie Dogs, Sentinels of the Plains."

Garrison Keillor doesn't translate to print. You absolutely must hear his voice to catch his dry-midwestern humor. If you like his work, add this one to your library.

FIRE ON THE PRAIRE is a good example of why the American reading public's narrow focus on national politics is so unfortunate. There are thousands of political stories in the cities, counties and states of America that are never told because the presumed target audience is too small. Thankfully, Gary Rivlin decided to tell the story of Harold Washington, Chicago's first black mayor.

The book will appeal to anyone interested in politics, even if Chicago is of no particular interest. City-level politics is politics at its most raw. This story, set in the 1980's, features (literally) brawling aldermen, overtly race-based electoral appeals, bribery, graft and other interesting forms of corruption, and the more creative bad-mouthing that we'll likely ever hear on the national stage. The cast of characters - real political figures - read like they walked out of central casting. The impervious, heroic Mayor Washington, the nefarious but canny Ed Vrdolyak, the bumbling Jane Byrne, the barbaric Ed Burke, the big-talking con man Clarence McClaine, the ego-maniacal Jesse Jackson and on and on.

An unusual feature of this book is that while Washington is the central character, the book is almost not about him so much as Chicago politics in the 1980s. A third of the book devotees equal time to Washington and his arch-nemesis, Vrdolyak. Indeed, the Vrdolyak is painted with greater depth and may actually be quoted more than Washington. Washington comes off as pretty much impervious to corruption, pettiness, and most of the regular dynamics of Chicago politics - but he also comes off as inaccessible. The book plunges immediately into the political story without the customary 80 pages devoted to the central subject's early life. Rivlin never writes, "Washington thought..." nor does he report on conversations that occurred between two people, neither of whom subsequently spoke with Rivlin. The overall effect is double-edged - the story comes off as more credible but also Washington himself is left as something of a mystery.

A more serious problem with the book is that its fascinating emphasis on pure politics comes at the neglect of an in-depth exploration of Washington's policies. Policies are certainly mentioned, but I retained more about how Washington made a difference in the life of his city from an hour-long radio show on him that from this 420-page book.

The absence might be explained by what Rivlin explains is the difference between "white reform" and "black reform." Rivlin basically explains that white reformers are more concerned with process, where as black reformers are more concerned with results. White reformers may decry cronyism and call for the elimination of patronage jobs. Black reformers call for a more proportional share of the jobs. FIRE ON THE PRAIRE is written with a greater sympathy for what Rivlin would characterize as the black style of reform. The overarching point of the book was that Chicago's racial divisions were so great that residents (especially white residents) voted with their ethnicity against all considerations including logic and self-interest.

Washington's second term was cut tragically short by his untimely death. Rivlin does a great job of creating the sense of unfinished business as he continues the story of Chicago's political turmoil for 20 pages after Washington's death, until a new, interim mayor was elected. At that point I wanted to keep reading, but I also wanted to know what Washington was going to do next. Unfortunately we'll never know.

This book tells mostly about the history of the Dallas-Ft Worth area and it's aviation roots. The book explains the building and operation of one of the largest aiports in the world. This is a good book, but more could be said of the current operations.

This is an interesting, well written book. The towns profiled are described in both their past "glory" and their current state. There are many good pictures and engaging accounts from old timers who where in on the boom. I just wish there was a better map to help place these towns. This is a welcome addition to my collection.

This book offers wonderful extensions into learning from the Little House on the Prairie series so loved by many all these years. There are crafts, language arts projects and even a play included here. Wonderful gift for the collector or enthusiast!

Absolutely a gem. It was written by Ron Fisher, who has worked with the National Geographic Society for over 30 years. This is a book about the beauty of America's plains and prairies. Every page is glossy, and it is FULL of Wonderful Color pics! It conducts interviews with the real people of America. Goes into the culture and preparing of farming, talks about the training of the work, the animals required, and the history of America's farmlands. A must have for anyone who wants to learn what America used to be about!

Although I am biased, Pauline Neher-Diede is my Great Aunt, I was able to use this book for an extensive paper I wrote about the Germans-from-Russia heritage. The baby, Ottillia, is my Grandmother, and I now have a record of part of my family's history.

Although this book has a heavily political focus, it is still the best general history of Illinois. I have a colleague that still uses used copies for his Illinois History class.