Vale's marvelously detailed history of public housing in Boston from the early Puritan settlements to the present day tells the story of our "alternating current of compassion and hostility" toward the poor in the U.S. Through his exploration of public housing in Boston, Vale writes a compelling sociological history of the tensions inherent in the American dream of home ownership, government subsidy vs. free enterprise, and most valuable of all explores the ideology of homeownership and its bearing on citizenship. Dense, meditative, often wryly humorous, this is a deeply researched work which yields uncommon insights about mythic American values of community as expressed through public housing and public spaces.

Particularly well-rendered is the recurring theme of how the government used its powers to dispense and dispose of land to reward certain Americans. The U.S. soldier was the first, and continues to be, a singular actor in this drama of service and reward. In the Jeffersonian post-revolutionary war period, veterans were rewarded with grants of land. In so doing, the government empowered these men to do the work of settling the frontier -- who better to perform such a task than those already trained in war? Civil War veterans were similarly rewarded.

From there, other "deserving" populations were rewarded with housing -- those who demonstrated their commitment to an American standard of behavior: industriousness, cleanliness, responsiblity being some of the key attributes for qualification for early public housing. Vale describes, for instance, how public housing developments in the Depression and postwar era were also used by politicians to reward their supporters, especially deserving working-class poor families who fit a traditional dual parent, father/provider schematic.

The early chapters exploring the city fathers erection and administration of jails, insane asylums, shelters for the poor, and the concomitant rise the settlement movement and the social worker are particularly well-rendered. Great illustrations, too!

Dean and Carra's FUNDAMENTALS OF PLAY DIRECTING is a step-by-step manual which deciphers the major technical and visual issues of stage directing. It includes specific "tricks of the trade" which remind all directors, beginning or advanced, of the mechanics of stage work. While the authors discuss dramatic theory, the book corrects examines technique, addressing the key concepts of stage focus, framing, stage pictures, and the creation of dynamism on the stage. It allows current students of directing to understand the "fundamentals" first in order to create new and exciting works later. Though expensive, it is the definitive text for directing students. FUNDAMENTALS OF PLAY DIRECTING is an important investment in a young director's theatrical future.

This text, I found, to be easy to read and understand. Following along through the fundamentals of business was a snap and made the semester much more enjoyable (if college can be).

I didn't think they could improve on the first version of Galactic Underground, but this new version is even better then the first.

As a born-and-raised Omahan, I'm biased.. but this book is great. As some of the reviews mention, it does a great job of tying local events in Omaha's history into the national goings-on of the time.

This is a wonderful book about the incredible history of Omaha.

This book talk about conservation that is a very important subject nowadays. It is necessary to learn more and more about this, becouse our local breeds are disappearing and it is necessary protect them. So, all papers and books that talk about this subject are very important to learn how to conserve and preserve our biodiversity.

In 1975 Ensign Berg became the first Naval Officer to challenge the Navy's ban on homosexuality. He is a Naval Academy Graduate who placed in the top 10% of his class. The trial took two weeks during which each side presented expert testimony. Dr. John Money came from Johns Hopkins University Medical School, and Vice Admiral William P. Mack the Suprintendent of the Naval Academy testified that he thought that Ensign Berg should be retained despite what the policy was.The most compelling testimony came from his father a Presbyterian Minister and career Navy Chaplain who won a bronze star while serving in Viet Nam. He testified of knowing undetected homosexual officers in the ranks of Commander, Captain and Rear Admiral. He also testified that he knew openly gay combat marines serving in Viet Nam. For his testimony Chaplain Berg was forced to retire from the Navy and later died of a horrible cancer having been sprayed by agent orange in Viet Nam. The Berg case was settled in 1981 with an agreement made between the Jimmy Carter White House and the Pentagon to give only fully honorable discharges to all gay men and women discharged from the military. They also made this policy retroactive so that all persons who had ever been discharged could apply and have their discharges up graded to fully honorable. This is a great book. Compelling, sad, infuriating, and informative. I cry every time that I read the passages of testimony by his father. The father's love for his son is so strong that he willingly gives up his carrer by testifying for his son and against the present Pentagon policies. It's also a great love story between Berg and his lover who is the author of this book

I am in the process of establishing partnerships with our firm's suppliers and subcontractors so that we may improve the service that we provide to our customers. The first step in the process is to be sure that our suppliers and subcontractors understand the concept of partnering for a win-win agreement. "Getting Partnering Right" is by far the best explanation of what I am trying to accomplish that I have read.After an initial meeting, I ask our potential partner to read the book and to call me when he has read it.Without exception, all have stated that "Now I get it". In a follow-up interview it is very easy to tell if they really do "get it". So far I have purchsed 28 copies for distribution to potential partners and to some our own employees. In addition,some of our partners have purchased more copies for distribution within their own companies. Maybe this one should be rated 6 stars!!

It is difficult to evoke excitement about the natural world in young teenagers, but I am devoted to trying! This book is overflowing with hands-on activities, games, and interviews with real people who have a passion for their work. I am an award-winning middle school science teacher, and this is one of the best resources I have found

This is a wonderful story set in ancient Rome about Atia, niece of Julius Caesar, who sails with the Roman fleet after a family wedding and is captured by pirates. Many adventures follow Atia and her brother but eventually a beautiful golden cup and hidden treasure lead her safely home.