Jimmy Lane chronicles his life from his childhood to present. Born and raised in West Virginia, he was one of eight children in a very poor family. He details the trials and tribulations that he overcame to win the Golden Gloves title in 1953 and 1954. Fascinating and heartwarming tales from his amateur and professional boxing careers.

Was extremely interesting, could not set this book down until it was read cover to cover. Thought the story was really great and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Very Interesting Story of Triumph! Jimmy Lane writes with honesty and holds "no punches" I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an uplifting story!

The amount of determination, courage and fortitude to travel the continent as an overlander in 1852 must have been unimaginable. This is a remarkable first hand account of the Boatman's journey from Illinois to the Oregon Territory, along with quotes from other overlanders' diaries during the same year. Suffering from the heat, thirst, food shortages for both emigrants and livestock, the cold, rain, mud, river crossings, cholera epidemics and other illnesses, exhaustion and death to many who attempted such an endeavor, this book has it all. The author, a decendent of the Boatmans, has put forth a most wonderful book depicting the hardships and misfortunes of the early day pioneers. A+

I have known the author for more than 30 years, so I have been aware of his 15-year effort to research, write, and publish this book as it unfolded. It is with pleasure, therefore, that I can attest to how well crafted it is. Rau tells the story of his great-grandparents' journey by employing extensive quotes from their written accounts and from the accounts of other 1852 Oregon Trail travelers. These quotes are woven together and amplified by Rau's observations of the physical, cultural, and social settings they experienced, including how the geology along the way influenced the development of the terrain. The book is also very well edited. I found but one typographical error and two place names missing from one map.

Besides being very well crafted, the book has left me with several strong impressions. The travelers, especially the men, approached the trip with a sense of romanticism. It was going to be a grand adventure with a pot of gold waiting at the end. A very different reality forced its way into their consciousness as the trip unfolded. The trip brought out all the best and worst traits of the travelers and those who sought to serve and usually profit from them along the way. They experienced disease, death, and discomfort. They and others suffered from cholera, scurvy, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Mary Ann and Willis' brothers both died on the trip, as did many others they met along the way. Mary Ann was pregnant for the whole trip and had to walk much of the way, in addition to performing the cooking and other housekeeping chores that fell to her. In addition there were extremes of weather, loneliness, homesickness, sorrow, grief, resignation, thievery, greed, and hardheadedness. These were balanced by bravery, resoluteness, kindness, compassion, neighborliness, concern, and assistance, sometimes from people they didn't even know. The journey had but three possible outcomes; they had to turn back and reach their former homes, get to the Willamette Valley, or die before winter hit. In some ways their journey can be compared with what the first interplanetary travelers will experience. Indeed, even after Willis and mary Ann reached the relative safety of the Willamette Valley and then the Puget Sound country, for years they felt as isolated and separated from their families as if they were on another planet.

If you have had no real appreciation for the magnitude of the feat that Oregon Trail travelers accomplished, you will have when you finish this book.

The fact that Weldon Willis Rau is a geologist who has turned his talents to the writing of history lends a special flavor to his book, Surviving the Oregon Trail, 1852. Basing much of his work on the notes left by his great grandparents, Willis and Mary Ann Boatman, Rau gives us a gripping and factual story of the wagon trip west from Illinois to Oregon Territory in that pioneer time nearly a century and a half ago. The recounting begins with the sorrows of leaving home and parting from loved ones. The sad picture of an old grandfather, waving a tearful goodbye, knowing that he will never see his beloved young ones again, moves the reader to compassion. Children as well as adults are disturbed by the upheaval of unprecedented departure. The trek to the Missouri River was not easy, but was yet a rather civilized journey compared to what was to lie ahead. Crossing at about the site of present-day Omaha the Boatmans followed the Platte and the North Platte westward toward Wyoming. Sickness was the great affliction along the those river banks. Many of the westward travellers died, particularly of cholera. Along the way. Mary Ann Boatman's young brother was among those lost to disease. Wyoming and Idaho offered many hills to climb, streams to ford or ferry, steep slopes to descend, and scenic wonders new and remarkable to folks from Illinois. Water for all and grazing for the cows and draft oxen were often hard to find. Dust whirled up by the wheels of the wagons and the hooves of the animals choked all the travelers in various places. In Oregon the great gorge of the Columbia was a traverse not equalled elsewhere on earth. During the gorge trek Willis Boatman's brother, John, died, leaving Willis and a pregnant Mary Ann the only family members left in the trip. The two arrived in Portland exhausted and nearly broke. Weldon Rau tells this story with great feeling and understanding. His respect for his pioneeer ancestors is manifest. Clearly he has explored nearly the whole route his great grandparents travelled. And his explanations of the geology that formed these Oregon Trail lands adds greatly to the reader's undertanding. This book is a welcome addition to any library.

Susan Cummins Miller, a very gifted editor and writer, has scored a hit with this one! It should be read by every woman, young and old, desiring a woman's insight of the events of the West during its formative years. The book gives the reader a woman's perspective as to the hardships suffered along with moments of humor and the joys of discovery and exploration through essays, travelogues, poetry and letters. The editor has blended well a group of women writers who lived this age of discovery and settlement. Almost all the cultures in the West during the period are presented with their particular view of the events as they lived them. It is a unique collection and I wish I had read this book in college. It certainly would have broadened my horizons and complimented the materials presented in my history and literature classes. Hey, professors! You need to add this book to your must read lists. And, to the author, many thanks for finding a unique niche that had been missed and filling it with a great group of women writers, broadening our historical and literary minds and giving us one great book that can be enjoyed many times over. It will hold a sacred place on my bookshelf.

From the moment I heard about the premise of this book I waited with anticipation. What joy that it fulfilled everything I expected. Susan is a gifted writer and brings these women's words to life. The book made me desperate for more, both in depth and scope. As easy to take as a novel, it is a history lesson - should I say HERstory - and then some. Superb work.

For the first time I really understand the role played by WOMEN in settling the West. This collection of writings by women of all cultures took me to that time and let me feel the joy, loneliness, laughter, exhaustion and fulfillment of settling a new country. It also let me see the life of the American Indian through the eyes of women for the first time. Excellent read.

One of the best photographers of our time or of any time. Gary Leonard has that rare gift of the photographer's eye that captures "the" shot. Complex in its simplicity. It is what many a serious a photographer works too achieve. Gary Leonard is a natural. He's the real thing.

The sheer simplicity of Gary Leonard's work might cause you to initially overlook it, but don't. Leonard is close to becoming a national treasure and, fortunately, someone was smart enough to publish a collection of his work. It's funny, weird, passionate and poignant all at once. And I couldn't believe that every page was better than than the last. Gary Leonard is so cool.

No one sees L.A. the way Gary Leonard does; this compendium of his life's work--so far--says it all. From the famous to the infamous to the dreaded, downtrodden and dreary, he finds them all in L.A. A must read for anyone in a love/hate relationship with Southern California who wants to be reminded just why.

Let me just say that it is nice that someone wrote more than just what plants to use. It is fairly easy to find prairie journals and books that describe everything except how to implement your prairie project. Packard had the good sense to know that seeding rates and implementation techniques are necessary information.

This is a top rate restoration hand book. Amazing amount of information from people who are out doing the work. It is a collection of essays/chapters written by the front-runners in the field. Everything you wanted to know from site selction to seed collection to fire management. Since it is written by actual prairie restorationists, not theorists it is practical and easy to understand. I will recomend it to everyone who is interested in the field.

As a prairie biologist, I refer to this seminal volume frequently. It is the very best compendium of prairie restoration and management information.

Anyone who has been taken by the ecological romance of the tallgrass prairie, and hopes either to know in detail the ecology of these biomes, or to plant or manage one, needs to have this in the personal library. It's mostly technical, but wonderfully engaging for the "prairieophile." One doesn't really know the prairie until having read this book.

A wonderful, wonderful book. Please reprint it. I would buy 11 copies!

52 Stories and rhymes by Kathryn and Byron Jackson with over 100 pictures by Gustaf Tenggren (1948 copyright by Simon & Schuster). This is a 96 page, 10 x 13 inch Giant Golden Book with exceptionally good rhymes, stories and artwork. The two page illustrated poem, The Wildcat's Picnic was a favorite bedtime read aloud for my son. Using a family on a ranch as the main characters the 1-2 page stories are often told from the viewpoint of the little 6 year old boy named Jon, or his similarly aged indian friend Little Bear or his sister Susie. Some story titles: Cattle Rustlers, Ghost Town, The Calico Colt, Prairie Fire, The Tornado, Lazy River Ranch, Calf Branding, The Square Dance, Snowbound, The Totem Pole, The First Buffalo, Three Little Indians, Indian Housecleaning, The Nice Tipi, The Stampede, etc. There is a Chinese cook named "No Pow Wow, on a ranch also populated with Daddy and Mother, Grandpa sister Susie, and various ranch hands. This is a wonderful bedtime story book especially for 4-9 year olds. Many stories teach virtues, or reflect common values. A beautifully done book. I wish Applewood Books would take it on as a reprint project.

Since I grew up in cowboy country during the late 40's and early 50's, I loved stories about children growing up on ranches and Indian children. As an adult, I shared this book with my own students, discussing with them not only how the way of life in the West has changed, but how attitudes and beliefs about minority groups, such as Native Americans, has changed. The pictures in this book are delightful. The stories and poems about everyday life in the West long ago provide a basis of interesting discussions in the elementary social studies classroom.

Texas Food Companies: A Tasty Guide by Texas author Rhonda Cloos is a unique and impressive, encyclopedia-style reference to over one hundred food companies located within the confines of the Lone Star State. Each entry contains a brief history of the company, information on food factory tours, and buying and ordering information in order to get hold of company foodstuffs. A web guide to ordering favorite foods online make the mouth-watering ingredients listed in Texas Food Companies effectively available to all. Whether as a specialized travel guide reference for visitors or for gourmet cooks seeking direct order ingredients for Texas ethnic cuisines, Texas Food Companies is a welcome and highly recommended reference.

This is a cover to cover must-read for any "foodie", from the serious food historian to chefs, to serious or amateur home cooks, Texans, Texas travellers, and on and on...
The author captures the essence of culinary company history, proving that the Texas heart is as big as its lore. From chocolate to bar-b-q, settle in for a mouth-watering ride across the Lone Star State. You'll be wanting to fill your chuckwagon along the way!

This is one of the finest books(non fiction ) that I have ever read. The mouth-watering contents are truly revealing and the writing is concise and very informative. Rhonda Cloos has the gift of making one almost taste the scrumptious contents of thisbook. I recommend this Texas Food Company guide to anyone who appreciates the culinary arts. Reviewer: Bob Cohen Evanston,Il.

When I received this book as a gift and initially thumbed through the pages I was in awe. Though I was familiar with the work of Wyman Meinzer and was already a fan of his, I really didn't beleive that anyone would ever have the talent to put a book like this together. Truthfully, many of the photos made me swallow hard with emotion because the images elicited such special feelings. Though the photos could easily stand alone, the quotes are very well chosen and compliment each image well. John Graves is wonderful of course. When I escape to Texas Sky, I think about the pure exhiliration in being able to stand at each of the places in the precious few moments when the sky was so spectacular. Have you ever regretted not having your camera in your hand, or perhaps ran to get it but were too late, or even snapped the shot only to realize later that you didn't get it right? Well, all of our missed shots are captured flawlessly by Wyman Meinzer in Texas Sky. The only disappointment was that Mr. Meinzer didn't write more. Just read the preface, page 61 or the acknowledgment, you'll want more too. In my opinion he is the photographer by whom all others should be judged and the writer all writers should strive to be like. I will forever be envious. Everyone should own this book. PS I just got Texas Seasons...one of his most recent books....awesome again, Wyman.

Texas is my home. One doesn't have a home somewhere in Texas. Once you claim it the entire state is home. I wasn't certain exactly why that was true, until I received this book as a gift today. The Texas state of mind has as it's roof the Texas Sky. Wyman Meinzer has captured through his impeccable lenses the beauty that makes us hurry home. It is a book with a catch in it's throat on every page. I'm purchasing a new easel to do it honor.

I bought this book for my father, who is a friend and fan of the photographer. Now I have to go buy one for myself! The pictures in this book are incredible, and truly capture our magnificent Texas sky. Way to go Wyman!

How could historians have overlooked such an important and colorful piece of American history? The book is a fast read and filled with vivid descriptions. Once you read it, you won't be able to believe that something like this happened in America.

This book is probably the most complete and balanced view of the Mine Wars in West Virginia, an almost unknown yet significant part of American history. It details how and why things happened and gives very vivid accounts of the struggles of the day in the coalfields. This was the largest insurrection against our Federal Government outside of the War Between the States, and was the only time bombs have been dropped from planes on American soil. A must read for anyone interested in Appalachia or coal mining.

I really enjoyed this fascinating account of the coal wars of west virginia. Not enough has been reported about the events that occured there, and this book sheds light on the subject.

Although the original essays and reprinted material in this book make fine reading, the real contributors are the 13 photographers whose images of mustangs on nearly every page will please anyone with an interest in horses and the landscape of the Western states. Some shots are of horses grazing or standing still, looking back at the photographer, ears up and altert, but most are of horses in motion, sometimes in tight telephoto closeup, sometimes against rolling hills or sage-covered flatland. There are many kinds of weather as well, foggy, stormy, snow, wind, spring sunshine, dusty summer, and horses of all colors and markings. A handful of shots include saddled horses with cowboys.

The book has also been very handsomely designed. Page layout, typography, end papers, variety of image placement and use of white space, balancing of images and text, all serve the subject wonderfully and please the eye. Nearly all the photographs selected are crisply cear, motion frozen with a high-speed shutter. The wide pages make possible many double-page spreads that look and feel panoramic.

Editor Mark Spragg has brought together the work of seven writers, including himself, and an Assiniboine tale to accompany the images. The writings are mostly contemporary, but a few hark back to earlier times, such as Charley Russell's cowboy theory about the origins of horseback riding and Ben Green's account of trying to capture a band of mustangs, while nearly losing his hand to an infected horse bite. Spragg's harrowing essay "Wintering" appeared later in his collection of essays, "Where Rivers Change Direction." There's also an informative essay by New York Times writer Verlyn Klinkenborg, who writes eloquently of the rural life and has visited wild-horse territory earlier in his book "Making Hay."

I highly recommend this beautiful book to lovers of horses, good writing, and the Western landscape.

This book reads like a group of short stories, of which they are all by different authors. The combination of their stories gives one the true feeling of the multitude of facets of the wild horses. It will make you realize they are carved out of the landscape, and an intrical part of nature. A creature of survival sometimes at the risk of their very own life. The stories are memorable and unforgettable. A definate must for the armchair western adventurer.

This is a great book for anyone interested in the Mustangs. It shares stories and legends of wild horses and people's interactions with them. The stories range from heart warming to tearful. Each brings you a step closer to understanding the difference of the wild and domesticated horse. Throughout the book are beautiful pictures that capture the spirit of the mustangs.