Watson Parker's book is a wonderful reference to use to understand the frenetic development of the Black Hills during its Gold Rush days. It also goes on to show the coming and going of little towns throughout the Black Hills. It is well organized and can easily lend itself to spending a day or more driving through the hills trying to find the remnants of the ghost towns. It is a book that I have gone back to year after year to learn about the Black Hills.

This book is a "must" for any person who loves, or will love, Bloomington, Indiana.

Bloomington, one of the premier communities in the United States, is a place that one visits and ends up staying because of its unmatched standard of living.

Offering the finest blend of small town ambiance and big city resources, Bloomington is home to Indiana University, which makes the community an oasis of sophistication in a traditional midwestern setting.

Located in the beautiful wooded, rolling hills of southern Indiana, the city, home to 65,000 Hoosiers, many who have left the hustle of large coastal cities to seek a higher quality of living, is a crown jewel of midwest communities.

The book captures all that is wonderful about Bloomington with stunning photographs and interesting, insightful text. Included are sections on the city's history, arts, sports, entertainment, businesses, educational institutions, economy, and volunteer activities.

Bloomington - A Contemporary Portrait, presented in quality large "coffee table" format, offers the perfect gift or purchase for the thousands of people who have a special place in their heart for Bloomington.

You won't be disappointed!

Grazian presents the world of Chicago's blues scene with the loving touch of a real fan, and the critical eye of a deep-thinking sociologist. His exploration of notions of "authenticity" in blues is penetrating and insightful, as he examines what it is in the blues experience that makes us think of it as "authentic" -- is it the color of the musician? The world-weariness in his voice? The ambience or clientele of the club? Or is it simply a construct of audience expectations, differing from person to person? Grazian, a blues player himself, skillfully points out how and why the authenticity we seek in our music is a reflection of our search for authenticity, the desire to "keep it real," in culture itself.

It has been 20 years since I last lived in Boise. This book and its numerous color pictures, however, confirmed for me that despite intense growth, the essential character of the place remains the same. The strength of this book is the writers' obvious sensitivity to the character of the place and its people -- a sensitivity that allowed me to make this conclusion. For example, although the title says Boise, the authors, through pictures and descriptions of the rugged and beautiful Idaho outdoors, display an understanding that Idaho wilderness is inseparable from Boiseans' notions of themselves. Very much worth purchasing.

You won't believe how much information is packed within 290 pages. I am not an actor, but after reading The Book I certainly have no doubts on how to get started, and I would be able to do so with confidence. The Book details how to relocate to Chicago, find trainers, coaches, photographers, write a resume, get an agent, cut a demo tape, join the union, break into theater or improv, and run a small theater company. Tons and tons and even tons of resources!

The writing is enjoyable to read, enthusiastic...and humorous!...

It helps to have been on an Iowa farm, I realize, but I found this book amazingly evocative. The pictures do it--the text is not by a person with an Iowa farm background, and, I am sorry to say, it shows. For instance on page 79 she talks of tying bales by hand. Maybe some people did such but I never heard of it--if one had no baler the hay was put up loose into a haymow, though I suppose there may have been balers which did not tie the bales even as in the far distant past there were binders which did not tie the bundles. Her discussion on threshing overlooks entirely a great tradition in I think most threshing rings: the afternoon lunch and often also the morning lunch. Minced ham sandwiches or hot dogs never tasted so good! But you cannot quarrel with what the pictures actually show, whether they correspond with one's own experience or not we know thay are authentic and effectively recall a time now gone. Do yourself a favor and get this book. You will savor it.

A handy and fun guide to "off the beaten path" spots for good food and some local color. Properly sized to keep in your car and complete with excellent directions to find the best small town resturants in the state, you will definately find this a favorite for that Saturday drive in Minnesota.

ini ada cafe baru, untuk orang yg suka ketawa. Kalo yg nggak suka ketawa jangan liat deh

I must say, not hailing from Cedarburg and never having been there, that I looked with trepidation on the reading of this book. But a friend insisted, and I began, and was instantly ensnared by this wonderful writer, historian, and stylist.
Many local histories are written by archivists or presidents of historical associations - but this wonderful stone-faced city by a creek was trebly-blessed to have a professional writer do its history. The book, which at its beginning traces the geologic and environmental factors leading to the Native-American settlements there, also relates how and why German immigrants transplanted their own culture there. Finally, and regretably since the book was such a ripping good read that I didn't want the history to be over, Gierach tells the story of how the town faced down the modernization movement of the 1960s and 70s to propel itself into the 21st Century by preserving the legacy of the German founders of the town.
In the main, the book is a general history done chronologically and with a focus on the cultural history. Gierach avoids the mind-numbing lists of most municipal histories by telling the tales of the town's leading lights in a cultural context - and in the doing helped me better understand how German heritage shaped, in large part, middle-American values.
Cedarburg is a history-oriented town, and it should be very very happy that Gierach did such a bang-up job on their history.
I can't wait until his second title is ready - I'll check Amazon frequently for his name.

A heartwarming story of six generations of one family on farm in Michigan. Follow a farm family's dreams and use of technologies from horse powered days to the present. I particularly enjoyed "82 Reasons Why Farming is the Best Way of Life."