"Stranger to the Game" can be enjoyed on at least two different levels. On one level, fans get all the details they need about Gibson and his journey with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1959-1975: the early struggles with racist manager Solly Hemus; Gibson's relationship with catcher Tim McCarver; lessons learned by the Cards in their strong run at the pennant in 1963, and the fruits of those lessons in '64; the frustrating seasons of 1965 and '66; the powerhouse Cards of '67 and '68, punctuated by what might have been the greatest pitching performance of all time in 1968, by the author; and the gradual decline of both Gibson's skills and the Cards. The early years of Gibson's life in Omaha, Neb. are interesting, too -- the influence of his older brother; the things he learned from playing basketball, etc.

But the book also offers some fascinating insights on what it means to be as fierce a competitor as Gibson was. On the field, especially when combined with great talent and intellect, it's a very powerful positive. But in so many other areas -- dealing with the press, trying to get and maintain other jobs in baseball after retirement, coping with the foolish things people do in everyday life, and perhaps even marriage -- it has been a detriment to Gibson. Several times in the book, he is appalled that people see him as "the meanest man to play baseball" (in the words of one fan who approached him in public). It doesn't make sense to him that people would fail to see that his angry demeanor on the mound, and when dealing with most opposing players off it, were designed for a very specific effect, one that made absolute sense in the context of his profession. Even within the limits of the diamond, people sometimes forget that while Gibson hit 90 batters with pitches, Don Drysdale hit 154, and Jim Bunning hit 160.

The racial element of course serves to underscore this misunderstanding, in Gibson's view. Those determined to see a black man as threatening are that much more likely to be unable to separate job-specific toughness with a person's normal everyday persona. This, as much or more than anything else, has kept Gibson on the periphery of baseball since his retirement.

Throughout sports, one of the key issues confronting any athlete is how, and when, to turn off the mindset he or she must cultivate for the playing field. In some ways, a competitve approach to life in general is certainly desirable, as so many of our daily struggles are battles, to one degree or another. Gibson portrays himself as being able to flip this switch on or off, depending on the situation. Others disagree.

Several years after "Stranger to the Game" was published, Gibson, at 66, had a physical altercation with a motorist (can there be any doubt who won?) who cut him off in traffic. The incident suggests that Gibson's competitive fires, perhaps combined with the machismo so intertwined with competition for most male athletes, still rage as intensely as ever.

What haunted me about "Stranger to the Game" is that I think there should be more room, both in baseball and outside of it, for someone who takes Gibson's approach to things.

Bob Gibson was the greatest pitcher I remember from when I was a young fan. My father, a man unbelievably tight with a dollar, bet on only one pitcher: the great Gibson. This book is a great autobiography and should be read by all baseball players whether they be a pitcher or a hitter. His mental approach to the game was unmatched, similar, I think, to Bill Russell of the Celtics or Jackie Robinson. I think Gibson, at his best, was the greatest pitcher for one game in MLB's history. He is unquestionably on the all-time competitor team.

Mr. Gibson reminds us of the good things about baseball the way it was and scolds the game for its shortcomings. His musings on what it takes to make a man and a game using memories of his career are especially poignent in light of the game baseball has become. Kudos to Mr. Gibson, an intelligent, articulate man whose umcompromising principles are an example to our children as to what a hero ought to be

This book is fantastic! Seemingly hundreds of gorgeous paintings including lots of discriptions of the paintings and their meanings. Beyond that, the book puts the art work in historical perspective with an explanation of the life and times of the people who created the paintings.

Want to know the greatness of this work, just open to pages 94 and 95. Opposite each other on the two pages are the following: "The Angels of Night" by William Degouve de Nuncques in which "angels kiss in a ghostly, supernatural park" and "Satan's Treasures" by Jean Delville where "luxurious bodies lie sleeping among the seaweed and coral as Satan, with a dancer's agility, bestrides and takes possesion of them."

In my opinion, symbolism in art is one of the most interesting topics in the world. This book is a fitting tribute to the topic.

I picked up a copy of Michael Gibson's wonderful book at the largest exhibtion of Symbolist Art a few years ago in Toronto, and found it to be an excellent and thoroughly accesible introduction and overview of this fascinating and haunting art and the period of the "fin-de-siecle". The reader from AZ wants to know if there are any "better" books on the subject-- perhaps-- Phillipe Julien's classic "bible" of Symbolist Art, THE SYMBOLISTS and the follow-up, DREAMERS OF DECADENCE. In the early '80s Rizzoli/Skira published SYMBOLISTS AND SYMBOLISM, and in the '90's, Rizzoli published THE SYMBOLIST GENERATION, and Abrams published, THE SYMBOLISTS. All of these titles are beautifully produced, lavishly illustrated hardcovers that are unfortunately hard to find (and in good condition at a good price). Mr. Gibson's book seems to be readily available (in hc and pb), and it is truly a vaulable addition to anyone's art library, or to anyone curious about this beautiful school of art.

I owned this book in hardback a number of years ago and somehow lost it (probably loaned it to a friend). I was so glad to find it again. This book has great color pictures and a wide variety of well-known (and obscure) visual Symbolist artists, with an overview of other Symbolist art as well (music, poetry). I highly recommend this book over any other on the subject. If someone knows of a better book, please let me know!

Toyomi Gibson writes about the two most important and influential Mesdames Gibsons in her life. One is her mother who is Japanese and the other is her paternal grandmother who is black. She draws beautiful contrasts and cultural bonds between the two women; for example she describes the Japanese dinners her mother makes and the soul southern cooking she enjoys when she eats with her grandmother. Her mother is delicate and petite; her grandmother is husky and stout. Her mother is known for her quiet anger whereas her grandmother has a booming voice that she also uses for singing in church.

Both women encourage the young Toyomi to explore her rich ancestry; her mother has kimonos tied with obi sashes for her to play dress up in and her grandmother has a wide collection of hats she wears to church.

Although the two women look nothing alike and have contrasting expressions, they both love Toyomi and her father.

I can't recommend this one highly enough.

I am a biracial adult as well -mixed with Japanese and white American. I have been searching for biracial childrens' books for a long time. This is by far the BEST one I have found! Great story, great illustrations! I love it!

This is a fabulous book that explores the differences within a multi-cultural, multi-racial family (African American & Japanese American). Written from a child's perspective, this book focuses on the cultural and physical differences within a family while emphasizing the love the family members share. A positive book that deserves a place on the bookshelf of every preschool and elementary school where educators are concerned about the healthy development of bicultural children.

This book may not rival other books by the same author, but it does indeed provide a nice, compact story of how the Gibson Les Paul came to be, how the deal for it was set and its evolution. Deep research, presented in a very down to earth language, help the Les Paul enthusiast learn about the instrument and its different incarnations. Although the book could've used more pictures (or at least, different, detailed shots of the ones included) all the pics are in great color, and most of the models are shown here. In all, a great book about one of the finest musical instruments of the century.

50 Years Of The Gibson Les Paul by music author and guitar expert Tony Bacon is a superbly presented and succinct history of a classic model of electronic guitar invented by the legendary Les Paul and which was originally launched in 1952, going on to be favored by grand musicians throughout the last half century. Photographs enhance and illustrate this landmark presentation of the Gibson Les Paul's creation, and its prevalence in every decade to the modern day. A detailed, informative, highly readable and welcome presentation, 50 Years Of The Gibson Les Paul is especially recommended for the legions of Les Paul fans and electric guitar enthusiasts.

Ann Eden Gibson's revelatory book takes a second look at American art history of the mid-to-late 20th century and makes a strong case for a reexamination of artists whose work has been excluded. The importance of artists such as Norman Lewis, Beauford Delany, Hale Woodruff, Charles Alston, Alice Trumbull Mason, Michael West and many others has been marginalized because they were African-American or women or gay or Asian-American. How and why this happened is the subject of Ms. Gibson's clear-eyed and well-reasoned analysis. She writes of social, philosophical, psychological and historical matters which combined to create this widespread rejection in the mainstream art world.

One interesting area of discussion, for example, was the natural ability and inclination of the Outsider to perceive aspects of life in more than one way. This plurality, with its inherent sense of irony and a wider perspective, was the antithesis of the Abstract Expressionists' determined formula for success - to find a style and stick to it. Another fertile subject is that of the Hero, or heroic rebel, as epitomized by Jackson Pollock and idolized by most of the artists within the fold. This uniquely masculine, heterosexual and yes, narrow point of view catapulted certain artists into the limelight and pushed others with a more feminine or delicate or vulnerable approach to the sidelines.

These and other arguments are all beautifully documented by Gibson, and a generous number of color, as well as black-and-white illustrations demonstrate the content and strength of the work of many of these unjustly neglected artists. This probing volume raises as many questions as it answers. Hopefully, this will be only the beginning of a much-needed reassessment of the history of recent American art.

In Other Politics, Ann Gibson has made me rethink all of what I thought I knew about abstract expressionism. From the

The easy way with which the great French novelist leads the reader into a realistic mysterical world , can only be described as brilliant. The world of Meaulnes is magical, but not in the modern, cheapish, "Celestine" way. This is the quality of Alain-Fournier. Nature plays an important role in the story. The adventures of Meaulnes can not be seen apart from the beautiful woods that always surround him at his journeys. The story is told by a friend of the main character, Meaulnes.

Meaulnes tries desperately to find the girl he once saw at a medievalesque party in the middle of the forest, upon which he stumbled by coincidence. Alain Fournier manages to surround the two boys with a world that is as riddling and magical as it seems real and authentic. The quest of Meaulnes bears strong resemblances to Proust's "recherche", and is in fact a 20th century, personalized, search for the holy grail. That is not an easy theme for a first novel. As Alain-Fournier succeeded so wonderfully, one can only speculate what the world has missed - Alain-Fournier died at age 28, defending his fatherland France.

In Alain-Fournier's richly written but thinly veiled book of lost innocence we can find a connection to our own lives and mourn the loss of love and innocence that we have experienced along with the characters, all the while losing ourselves in the striking language of the book.

Aztecs Under Spanish Rule is an in-depth study of the evolution of the historical relationship between the Native Mexicans and the Spaniards in Colonial Latin America. The story begins with the cultural differences between the two groups after the Spaniard's conquering effort over the Aztecs, 1519-1521. The social-cultural alterations and reorganizations that took place during the process of their co-existence within the Mexican mesa central from that point until Mexico's bid for independence, in 1821, are the general themes within the topics of each chapter. Gibson begins with a brief historical sketch of the landscape and human occupation of the Valley of Mexico, and each following chapter covering such historical topics as settlement patterns, land use, politics, religion and social structures literally has the potential of being its own disquisition. The author unleashes a flood of data, references and Indian names that cascade over the pages; unless the reader is in firm command of the Mexican Indian terminology, the glossary will become a welcomed reference bookmark. The overall effect of subjugation by the Imperial Spanish over the once Imperial Aztecs is visible in nearly all facets of life. This transformed society becomes the foundation for modern-day Mexico City and the greater Mexican society. The typical form of the chapters is a chronologically based essay. Beginning at or close to the point conquest, and traversing through the next three centuries, stopping at important junctions, at which point Gibson provides connecting vignettes that illuminate this region and inhabitant's path of history. Thus the scholarly Aztecs Under Spanish Rule is not overwhelming and is a quite digestible text that lay persons with interest in Mexican or Latin American history will find most agreeable. Even though the structuring of the chapters and their content is consistent and readable, Gibson's work is essentially a historical text that suffers from a lack of narration. The people and their situations do not come alive; they are presented in a flat, matter of fact manner, negating Aztecs Under Spanish Rule's potential as a page-turner. The most commendable list of primary sources permits the author to introduce an enviable texture, however, the fine combing does not occur, which would have produced a more human connected story. It is hard to imagine that the plethora of letters in the bibliography did not allow for the inclusion of longer, more personable and illuminating quotes. The very strength of each chapter as its own tractate, in this reviewer's opinion, becomes the book's undoing. At the conclusion of each topical chapter, we are back in the starting gate once again. That is not to say that Gibson's work is anything less than exemplary, rather simply that its topical structure somewhat takes away from author's ability to maintain the reader's imagination and focus as the story begins, unfolds, begins then unfolds, and begins and unfolds yet again and again. Once transported back in time, a connection is made, and an anticipation of the unfolding of the story builds. Severing this association repeatedly disconnects the reader from the flow of history. This could however be a matter of personal taste. Gibson states in his preface that he spent nearly twelve and one-half years researching and assembling this extraordinary piece of historical scholarship. His extensive appendixes, notes and bibliography speak well of his not brief dedication in compiling this work. For those aroused by the subject and feel the need to go deeper, this is a great starting point. The selection of maps and plates further illuminate this recommended history of Mexico. Try to remeber as well, that this work really stirred the waters when it came out, portraying the Spanish Conquest as, well, what a conquest is really all about.

Aztecs Under Spanish Rule is an in-depth study of the evolution of the historical relationship between the Native Mexicans and the Spaniards in Colonial Latin America. The story begins with the cultural differences between the two groups after the Spaniard's conquering effort over the Aztecs, 1519-1521. The social-cultural alterations and reorganizations that took place during the process of their co-existence within the Mexican mesa central from that point until Mexico's bid for independence, in 1821, are the general themes within the topics of each chapter. Gibson begins with a brief historical sketch of the landscape and human occupation of the Valley of Mexico, and each following chapter covering such historical topics as settlement patterns, land use, politics, religion and social structures literally has the potential of being its own disquisition. The author unleashes a flood of data, references and Indian names that cascade over the pages; unless the reader is in firm command of the Mexican Indian terminology, the glossary will become a welcomed reference bookmark. The overall effect of subjugation by the Imperial Spanish over the once Imperial Aztecs is visible in nearly all facets of life. This transformed society becomes the foundation for modern-day Mexico City and the greater Mexican society. The typical form of the chapters is a chronologically based essay. Beginning at or close to the point conquest, and traversing through the next three centuries, stopping at important junctions, at which point Gibson provides connecting vignettes that illuminate this region and inhabitant's path of history. Thus the scholarly Aztecs Under Spanish Rule is not overwhelming and is a quite digestible text that lay persons with interest in Mexican or Latin American history will find most agreeable. Even though the structuring of the chapters and their content is consistent and readable, Gibson's work is essentially a historical text that suffers from a lack of narration. The people and their situations do not come alive; they are presented in a flat, matter of fact manner, negating Aztecs Under Spanish Rule's potential as a page-turner. The most commendable list of primary sources permits the author to introduce an enviable texture, however, the fine combing does not occur, which would have produced a more human connected story. It is hard to imagine that the plethora of letters in the bibliography did not allow for the inclusion of longer, more personable and illuminating quotes. The very strength of each chapter as its own tractate, in this reviewer's opinion, becomes the book's undoing. At the conclusion of each topical chapter, we are back in the starting gate once again. That is not to say that Gibson's work is anything less than exemplary, rather simply that its topical structure somewhat takes away from author's ability to maintain the reader's imagination and focus as the story begins, unfolds, begins then unfolds, and begins and unfolds yet again and again. Once transported back in time, a connection is made, and an anticipation of the unfolding of the story builds. Severing this association repeatedly disconnects the reader from the flow of history. This could however be a matter of personal taste. Gibson states in his preface that he spent nearly twelve and one-half years researching and assembling this extraordinary piece of historical scholarship. His extensive appendixes, notes and bibliography speak well of his not brief dedication in compiling this work. For those aroused by the subject and feel the need to go deeper, this is a great starting point. The selection of maps and plates further illuminate this recommended history of Mexico. Try to remember that this work was groundbreaking in its time.

First published in 1960, Neil R. Johnson's The Chickasaw Rancher, Revised Edtion, tells the story of Montford T. Johnson and the mixed and intermarried Chickasaw settlements of Oklahoma (and Indian Territories). Abandoned by his father after his mother's death and then left on his own following his grandmother's passing in 1858, Johnson had control of a piece of land in the northern part of the Chickasaw Nation (and some in the Oklahoma Territory that was often occupied by the Boomers) in what is now Oklahoma.
The Chickasaw Rancher follows Montford's family and friends for the next fifty years. Neil R. Johnson (Montford's grandson) describes the work, the ranch parties, cattle rustling, gun fights, tornadoes, (the unexpected return of Montford's father after a thirty-three year absence, trips to Florida and New York City), encroachment of white settlers, the run of 1889, the hard deaths of many along the way, and the rise, the fall, and the revival of the Chickasaw Nation. (The original edition ends with Montford's death in 1896. The revised edition covers the next generation's continued expansion of the family's business ventures ending with E. B. Johnson's death in 1935).
Including more than fifty previously unavailable photographs, illustrations, and maps, (and more than 20% new material) this revised edition of The Chickasaw Rancher, edited by C. Neil Kingsley-grandson of Neil R. Johnson-is the perfect addition to any reader's collection of the history of the American West.

This book is a most unusual account of life on the range. It describes the life of Montford Johnson, a friend of Jesse Chisholm, from around the time of the Civil War until after the land runs in Oklahoma prior to 1900.
The unique value lies in the specifics of living on the range, the daily routine of the cattle drive, and the reality of cowboy life.
Taken largely from the journal of his son, it's a story that Hollywood could use.

IF YOU ARE A FAN OF ANTHONY TROLLOPE, DO NOT OVERLOOK "THE CLAVERINGS".

"THE CLAVERINGS" MAIN PLOT CONCERNS A YOUNG WOMAN WHO GIVES UP THE MAN SHE LOVES - AND WHO LOVES HER - TO MARRY AN OLD, VERY RICH, UPPER CLASS GENTLEMAN. THE MARRIAGE IS A MISERABLE FAILURE, BUT LUCKILY THE OLD GENTLEMAN DIES, LEAVING ALL OF HIS FORTUNE AND PROPERTY TO HIS YOUNG WIFE. IN THIS MARRIAGE, THE WIFE'S REPUTATION IS ALSO SULLIED BY RUMORS THAT SHE IS HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH ANOTHER MAN.

WHEN THE YOUNG WOMAN FINDS HERSELF A WEALTHY WIDOW, SHE DISCOVERS THAT SHE IS UNABLE TO ENJOY HER WEALTH AND TITLE DUE TO THE SLANDEROUS RUMORS THAT BESMIRCH HER CHARACTER. HER WEALTH BRINGS HER NO JOY AS SHE IS ALONE AND SOCIALLY RUINED. SHE THUS BEGINS A CAMPAIGN TO WIN BACK HER FIRST LOVE WHOM SHE WISHES TO SHOWER WITH HER RICHES.PERHAPS THEN SHE WILL FIND HAPPINESS AND RESTORE HER TARNISHED REPUTATION.

IN THE MEANTIME, HER YOUNG MAN WHO TRULY LOVED HER HAS BECOME ENGAGED TO ANOTHER FAR LESS HANDSOME AND QUITE POOR WOMAN.

THE MAIN ACTION OF THE BOOK REVOLVES AROUND THE RELATIONSHIP THAT DEVELOPS BETWEEN THE ENGAGED YOUNG MAN WHO CANNOT TELL HIS PAST LOVE THAT HE IS NOW ENGAGED, AND THE NEWLY WIDOWED WOMEN WHO IS UNAWARE OF HIS ENGAGEMENT AND ATTEMPTING TO WIN HIM BACK.

AS IN ALL OF TROLLOPE'S BOOKS, THERE ARE MANY SIDE PLOTS THAT ARE EQUALLY AS PSYCHOLOGICALLY INTERESTING.

ANTHONY TROLLOP DELVES INTO THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ALL HIS CHARACTERS. IT IS NOT AN 'ACTION' BOOK BUT A STUDY OF LOVE AND GREED AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES.

I IMMENSELY ENJOYED THIS BOOK.

Since its first appearance in 1867, this novel has been acclaimed as one of Trollope's most successful portrayals of mid-Victorian life. A novel of conflicting choices in love, often accounted one of Trollope's best, but I still prefer the wicked THE EUSTACE DIAMONDS.

Sidey's review is for the wrong "The Cobweb." There are in fact two books by this name:
1) "The Cobweb" by Stephen Bury, published in 1979 by Bantam, ASIN 0553575457.
2) "The Cobweb" by William Gibson, published in 1979 by Simon & Schuster, ASIN 0689705905.
I have yet to read either book, but thought people should know this link is indeed for the book by W. Gibson!

First of all, this book is by Stephen Bury, not William Gibson...though Stephen Bury is the pen name of Neal Stephenson who wrote Snow Crash (which is similar to Gibson's work).

This book is a terrific political thriller. I don't remember the details of the plot, but I do remember conspiracies, backstabbing, and DC intrugue done with style.

If you are into that sort of thing, this will be a page turning treat for you.