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Books to read if you're planning a vacation in "Southwest", sorted by average review score:

You Can't Fight Tanks With Bayonets: Psychological Warfare Against the Japanese Army in the Southwest Pacific (Studies in War, Society, and the Military Series)
Published in Paperback by Bison Bks Corp (March, 2000)
Author: Allison B. Gilmore
Average review score:

A great book on psychological warfare.
The book follows the development of psychological warfare, at first with a little history and then getting into details about its use against the Japanese. The author points out that the use of propaganda was not very effective till the Japanese started to lose and till the Allies learned what did and did not work. Getting to know the enemy and finding his weak points is as important as selecting the right words to use and finding out if it's working. Truth is VERY important as you want the reader to trust you as a source of REAL information, information he/she can see as observable facts or can be checked on later.
The author breaks down the basics of GOOD psywar operations with a number of general conclusions near the end. A must for anybody interested in military history or the Pacific Theater during World War Two.

Invaluable Guide into Psychological Operations
As a former US Psychological Operations (PSYOP) specialist, I found Allison Gilmore's study of the US PSYWAR efforts against the Imperial Japanese Army during the Pacific War not only historically interesting but also invaluable. Psychological Operations is often misunderstood as "mind-control" and evoke a dark image of disseminating lies through Tokyo Rose and Bagdad Betty. Although such kinds of "grey" or "black" PSYOP is practiced, it represents a small aspect of PSYOP. Especially in the US PSYOP, truth is held to be the most important weapon in persuading and convincing enemies to give-up resistence. A prime example is the Gulf War, in which the US PSYOP campaign was credited with contributing to the massive surrender of the Iraqi troops: US PSYOPers provided essential news and battle situations information to convince the Iraqi's of their inevitable defeat. Gilmore describes the evolution of Allied PSYOP efforts from the beginning to the end. Contrary to the widely-held view during the war in the US that the Japanese soldiers were impervious to any kind of persuation to give-up their fight because of their dedication to their Emporer, superiors, and their nation, Gilmore delineates, step-by-step, how the Allied PSYOPers analysed impact of battle conditions on the average Japanese soldiers, sorted-out psychological "weaknesses," and formulated proper messages to exploit those weaknesses and evetually defeat the Japanese "psychologically." In a sense, this book provides "how-to" knowledge and dispels myths surrounding PSYOP. As the saying goes, "honesty is the best policy," in PSYOP, verifiable truths, rather than lies, will win-over your enemies. Anyone interested in learning more about PSYOP or Pacific War, "You Can't Fight Tanks with Bayonets" should be an essential part of their reading.


The Zuni-Man Woman
Published in Hardcover by University of New Mexico Press (May, 1991)
Author: Will Roscoe
Average review score:

A brilliant, provocative, readable insight into gender.
For this book The Zuni Man-Woman William Roscoe received the 1991 Margaret Mead Award presented by the American Anthropological Association and the Society for Applied Anthropology; and along with the high academic award, he has written an extremely readable book. For those interested in the impact of the dichotomous world-view of Western society on an individual's role in that society, this book provides an eye-opening experience. "Gender", the role assignment or assumption that individuals undergo, is clearly compared with "sex" characterized by individual sexual practices.Based on a study of Zuni gender roles illustrated by the life of berdache We'wha during the Nineteenth Century, Roscoe leads the reader to examine a third gender choice available in that matrilineal society. This "third gender" provided an avenue for the expression of variations in both sex and gender which allowed individuals to make unique contributions to their communities. Their contributions crossed the barriers imposed by traditional views of masculinity and femininity. The social, religious and artistic contributions made possible by an accepted "third gender" benefitted Zuni society by increasing the pool of individuals who could contribute their talents to that society.Today American gender roles are shifting also, and this author gives us historical evidence that many societies have benefitted from uncoupling "gender" and "sex" in the public imagination. As a result of this author's research, it is possible to view the employed mother's syndrome of trying to "do it all" and the questions men have about their inclinations toward artistic ventures, nurturing activities, and service to others in a new light. The historian Roscoe provides rich examples from a variety of Native American societies that avoided the trap of either/or gender identities. Further he provided a detailed review of the impact of both Zuni and Puritan ethics on the well being of the Zuni and the "American" tribes and their individual members.If you are interested in Southwestern Native Americans, the Nineteenth Century politics of ethnic absorption or extermination, or the impact of gender roles on individual opportunities and on the strength of a society, then you must read the contribution of this historian.

Excellent for understanding history of gender diversity
There is a growing movement of gay lesbian and gender diverse people to discover their own history, to learn what was taken from us. When we learn how vast our history is, how it has spanned the full reaches of time, we can challenge those who would deny us our beauty and purpose in the world.

Read this book, it is one of the classics to gaining this understanding.


1824 Josefina: Teacher's Guide to Six Books About America's Southwest Frontier
Published in Paperback by Pleasant Company Publications (March, 1999)
Author: Pleasant Company
Average review score:

Excellent Resource
This teacher's guide for the Josefina series of six books is an excellent resource for teachers and other adults who want to use this program for educational purposes. It contains an overview for the series, which includes a map and the historical context for the books. Each book is addressed individually with plenty of teacher's notes. Plot summaries and themes are explained for each book, and margin notes bring in additional information. There are vocabulary words for each book, and the teacher's introduction includes suggestions for working with vocabulary.

Worksheets cover "Before Reading", "As You Read", and "After You Read", which is a common process used for going through literature in the classroom. There are four worksheets for each book and each worksheet has three to four thought provoking questions. Charts, diagrams, and other word mapping graphs are used on some of the worksheets. For those who believe that hands-on learning is best, there is an extended idea section at the back of the guide. "Give a Tour of Josefina's Home", "Interview Abuelito and Patrick O'Toole", and "Make a Model of Josefina's Home" are three of the five ideas presented.

The structure and the type of materials in this book will be familiar to teachers. This curriculum would work well in the classroom. I did not see a grade level recommendation for this guide, but I have taught all elementary grades first through fifth, and I would not use it before fourth grade. My recommendation is for fourth through eighth grades. Adults instructing second or third graders may find the information useful, but the materials inappropriate (unless you want to use it with gifted third graders). But, as all teachers know, you take the information and materials that are appropriate for your group, and leave the rest. If you are using the Josefina books with a group of students, though, you won't want to leave this guide behind.


The 23rd Dream: A Novel (Southwest Life and Letters)
Published in Hardcover by Southern Methodist Univ Pr (November, 1993)
Author: Kathlyn Whitsitt Egbert
Average review score:

A wonderful story about living and dying.
I loved this story...it is set where I live in South Texas and where the author grew up...The charting of the last year of a dying man might seem gruesome, and yet, I finished the book with a greater understanding of what living is all about, and how Adam and his family came to be at peace in the calm of the beautiful Rio Grande Valley. This unsentimental story I found hard to put down until I finished it.


Adventures in the Santa Fe Trade 1844-1847
Published in Paperback by Univ of Nebraska Pr (May, 1995)
Authors: James Josiah Webb, Ralph P. Bieber, and Mark L. Gardner
Average review score:

Informative
James Josiah Webb was a young enterprising man in his twenties who made several trips down the Santa Fe and Chihuahua Trails in the 1840's and this is his account of what life was like then. While not exactly filled with tales of high adventure or edge of your seat drama, it is a good character study of relationships between Americans, Mexicans and Native Americans. The chapters on his 1846 trading venture during war time Mexico are very insightful and gives the reader a feeling for what it must have been like going through those tense and turbulent times of political unrest. A good book.


Aldo Leopold's Southwest
Published in Paperback by University of New Mexico Press (May, 1995)
Authors: David E. Brown, Neil B. Carmony, and Aldo Leopold
Average review score:

Learning about Leopold
This book provides an excellent chance to learn more about Aldo Leopold, one of the most important conservationists ever. The editors have assembled a highly instructive sample of Leopold's essays and articles written throughout his career. The essays provide insights into Leopold's development from a predator-destroying wildlife manager to world-class conservationist. The editors' introductory essays to sets of Leopold's writings are themselves first-rate. Brown and Carmony provide the reader with the historical context for understanding the significance of Leopold's essays as his career unfolded. Highly recommended.


The Allure of Turquoise
Published in Paperback by New Mexico Magazine (July, 1996)
Authors: Mark Nohl, Marc Simmons, David Gomez, Jon Bowman, Richard McCord, Jack Hartsfield, Patricia O'Connor, Ray Nelson, Emily Drabanski, and Arnold Vigil
Average review score:

An Excellent Introduction.
The cover alone is worth the price! Each stone in this photograph of 46 specimens of turquoise is identified at the start of the book. High quality natural stones from the most important mines of the Southwest are pictured side by side with treated and plastic versions.

The book is a collection of 10 articles written for New Mexico Magazine. Titles include "Turquoise and the Native American", "Buyer Beware: Hidden Facets of Turquoise", Young Native Jewelers Signal Change of Guard" and "The Plight of Old Pawn". High quality photographs of famous mines, artisans and jewelry, both historic and current, will whet the appetite of would-be collectors but also leave an impression of love and respect for the land and its native inhabitants.

Read this book under a strong light to catch the full depth of color!


American Indian Cooking: Recipes from the Southwest
Published in Paperback by Univ of Nebraska Pr (November, 1999)
Authors: Carolyn J. Niethammer, Jenean Thomson, and Ann Woodin
Average review score:

Unique, accessible, fascinating, "reader friendly".
Based on wild/natural foods grown and gathered by Native Americans of the Southwest, American Indian Cooking presents a wealth of information on plants, uses and updated recipes for their consumption. Each plant is listed, described and illustrated painstakingly, followed by the plant's uses and recipes for serving. A great deal of Native American agrarian history is effortlessly presented in this attractive book. Some eye catching recipes are given for: Saguaro Cactus Jelly, Sweet Pumpkin Muffins, Walnut Corn Bread, Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, Blue Corn Mush with Onion Gravy, and Zuni Succotash. Take a walk in the desert and see what wonderful edible plants nature has provided.


The American Southwest and Mesoamerica: Systems of Prehistoric Exchange (Interdisciplinary Contributions to Archaeology)
Published in Hardcover by Plenum Pub Corp (January, 1993)
Authors: Jonathon E. Ericson and Timothy G. Baugh
Average review score:

Comments by one of the contributors.
An excellent collection of thoughful review articles on patterns of ancient trade and exchange. There are nine chapters, covering the Chaco Anasazi (F. Mathien), Northern Anasazi (E. Blinman & C.D. Wilson), Hohokam (R. McGuire), marine shell exchange in N. Mexico and the SW (R. Bradley), Mesoamerican turquoise (P. Weigand & G. Harbottle), Mexico (R. Santley & C. Pool), lowland Maya (P. McAnany), and southern Central America (J. Hoopes). The introductory chapter by Baugh and Ericson provides a good overview of relevant archaeological theory.


American Southwest Travel-Smart (American Southwest Travel-Smart, 2nd Ed)
Published in Paperback by John Muir Pubns (May, 1998)
Author: Daniel Gibson
Average review score:

Take-along Travel Guide
I can't say enough about how useful this Travel Smart guide was on our recent trip to the Southwest. As Daniel Gibson claims, he only includes the best of what there is to see and do, only the best places to eat and stay. All this info is rated 1-4 stars and we found the ratings to be surprisingly accurate compared with our own opinions. The book is so organized that it's easy to find what you're looking for; places are cross referenced for easy research. We kept the book with us and read ahead about what was coming up as we traveled. Prices were either right on or close to present charges. Descriptions were interesting and fun to read, and detailed enough to help us decide whether or not we wanted to stop at each attraction. If you only want to take one book along on your next trip to the southwest, you won't go wrong with this one.


Related Vacation Book Subjects: united_states Deserts
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