Books

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Pity Me
"Mexifornia", The Truth Finally Told
Please take the time to read this; it ought to scare the pants off you!
Mexifornia
Arrogance and Hubris Abound

Mexifornia: A State of Becoming
Victor Davis Hanson
Manufacturer: Encounter Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Mexico | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1893554732

Book Description

This book is part history, part political analysis and part memoir. It is an intensely personal book about what has changed in California over the last quarter century.

Customer Reviews:

Pity Me.......2007-06-29

I read Mexifornia soon after it was initially released. My feelings for the author and the book varied from pity to anger. "Good Mexicans" are those who attend his classes in the Classics. "Bad Mexicans" are usually "Indians from the small towns" and others who cling to their heritage and bring it with them. Hanson's historical amnesia excludes the fact that California was stolen from Mexico in a war of aggression so blatant that US Grant quit the army in disgust. Dr. Hanson happily earns a living on this stolen land and resents "bad" Mexicans from invading his private Anglodom. No mention of California Indians who no longer apparently exist. History is only for nice Anglophones in his home town, although "some best friends" are Mexican. No solutions here, just resentment for Mexican existence. Forget the book.

"Mexifornia", The Truth Finally Told.......2007-01-11

"Mexifornia" is a must read for those concerned with preserving our forefathers culture in the United States. Davis sees it as it really is and pulls no punches in laying the blame squarely on those who are at fault in this dilemma.

Please take the time to read this; it ought to scare the pants off you!.......2006-09-15

We know Dick Lamm as the former Governor of Colorado. In that context his thoughts are particularly poignant. Last week there was an immigration overpopulation conference in Washington, DC, filled to capacity by many of America's finest minds and leaders. A brilliant college professor by the name of Victor Hansen Davis talked about his latest book, "Mexifornia," explaining how immigration - both legal and illegal was destroying the entire state of California. He said it would march across the country until it destroyed all vestiges of The American Dream.

Moments later, former Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm stood up and gave a stunning speech on how to destroy America. The audience sat spellbound as he described eight methods for the destruction of the United States. He said, "If you believe that America is too smug, too self-satisfied, too rich, then let's destroy! America. It is not that hard to do. No nation in history has survived the ravages of time. Arnold Toynbee observed that all great civilizations rise and fall and that 'An autopsy of history would show that all great nations commit suicide.'"

"Here is how they do it," Lamm said: "First, to destroy America, turn America into a bilingual or multi-lingual and bicultural country." History shows that no nation can survive the tension, conflict, and antagonism of two or more competing languages and cultures. It is a blessing for an individual to be bilingual; however, it is a curse for a society to be bilingual. The historical scholar, Seymour Lipset, put it this way: "The histories of bilingual and bi-cultural societies that do not assimilate are histories of turmoil, tension, and
tragedy." Canada, Belgium, Malaysia, and Lebanon all face crises of national existence in which minorities press for autonomy, if not independence. Pakistan and Cyprus have divided. Nigeria suppressed an ethnic rebellion. France faces difficulties with Basques, Bretons, and Corsicans."

Lamm went on: Second, to destroy America, "Invent 'multiculturalism' and encourage immigrants to maintain their culture. I would make it an article of belief that all cultures are equal. That there are no cultural differences. I would make it an article of faith that the Black and Hispanic dropout rates are due solely to prejudice and
discrimination by the majority. Every other explanation is out of bounds.

Third, "We could make the United States an 'Hispanic Quebec' without much effort. The key is to celebrate diversity rather than unity. As Benjamin Schwarz said in the Atlantic Monthly recently: "The apparent success of our own multiethnic and multicultural experiment might have been achieved not by tolerance but by hegemony. Without the dominance that once dictated ethnocentricity and what it meant to be an American, we! are left with only tolerance and pluralism to hold us together." Lamm said, "I would encourage all immigrants to keep their own language and culture. I would replace the melting pot metaphor with the salad bowl metaphor. It is important to ensure that we have
various cultural subgroups living in America enforcing their differences rather than as Americans, emphasizing their similarities."

"Fourth, I would make our fastest growing demographic group the least educated. I would add a second underclass, unassimilated, undereducated, and antagonistic to our population. I would have this second underclass have a 50% dropout rate from high school."

"My fifth point for destroying America would be to get big foundations and business to give these efforts lots of money. I would invest in ethnic identity, and I would establish the cult of 'Victimology.' I would get all minorities to think that their lack of success was the fault of the majority. I would start a grievance industry blaming all
minority failure on the majority population."

"My sixth plan for America's downfall would include dual citizenship, and promote divided loyalties. I would celebrate diversity over unity. I would stress differences rather than similarities. Diverse people worldwide are mostly engaged in hating each other - that is, when they are not killing each other. A diverse, peaceful, or stable society is against most historical precedent. People undervalue the unity it takes to keep a nation together. Look at the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed that they belonged to the same race; they possessed a common language and literature; and they worshipped the same gods. All Greece took part in the Olympic games. A common enemy, Persia, threatened their liberty. Yet all these bonds were not strong enough to overcome two factors: local patriotism and geographical conditions that nurtured political divisions. Greece fell. "E. Pluribus Unum" -- From many, one. In that historical reality, if we put the emphasis on the 'pluribus' instead of the 'Unum,' we will balkanize America as surely as Kosovo."

"Next to last, I would place all subjects off limits; make it taboo to talk about anything against the cult of 'diversity.' I would find a word similar to 'heretic' in the 16th century - that stopped discussion and paralyzed thinking. Words like 'racist' or 'xenophobe' halt discussion and debate. Having made America a bilingual/bicultural country, having established multi-culturism, having the large foundations fund the! doctrine of 'Victimology,' I would next make it impossible to enforce our immigration laws. I would develop a mantra: That because immigration has been good for America, it must always be good. I would make every individual immigrant symmetric and ignore the cumulative impact of millions of them."

In the last minute of his speech, Governor Lamm wiped his brow. Profound silence followed. Finally he said,. "Lastly, I would censor Victor Hanson Davis's book "Mexifornia." His book is dangerous. It exposes the plan to destroy America. If you feel America. deserves to be destroyed, don't read that book."

There was no applause. A chilling fear quietly rose like an ominous cloud above every attendee at the conference Every American in that room knew that everything Lamm enumerated was proceeding methodically, quietly, darkly, yet pervasively across the United States today.

Discussion is being suppressed. Over 100 languages are ripping the foundation of our educational system and national cohesiveness. Even barbaric cultures that practice female genital mutilation are growing as we celebrate 'diversity.' American jobs are vanishing into the Third World as corporations create a Third World in America - take note of California and other states - to date, ten million illegal aliens and growing fast. It is reminiscent of George Orwell's book "1984." In that story, three slogans are engraved in the Ministry of Truth building: "War is peace," "Freedom is slavery," and "Ignorance is strength."

Governor Lamm walked back to his seat. It dawned on everyone at the conference that our nation and the future of this great democracy is deeply in trouble and worsening fast. If we don't get this immigration monster stopped within three years, it will rage like a California wildfire and destroy everything in its path, especially The American Dream.

Mexifornia.......2006-08-03

Great service, delivered per agreement. Book tends to be a bit heavy and not sure of what the direction. I feel that the whole book could be condensed into a single chapter. Has a lot of 'fill' which adds nothing to the content. It does have some good facts that would be a lot more meaningful if organized and put into the single chapter.

Arrogance and Hubris Abound .......2006-06-04

Though I agree with many of Hanson's points he blows his credibility by the following statement on page 31: "And Mexico is Catholic, America mostly Protestant or secular. The former believes fate is set at birth, the latter that man earns his condition mostly here on earth." If that isn't the most inane statement from a teacher of classics I don't know what is. If he really believes that the classical curriculum at Fresno State needs a second look. Catholicism teaches nothing of the sort and most educated Catholics know that.

Two Cats and the Woman They Own: or Lessons I Learned from My Cats

Average customer rating:

All Cat Lovers...This is the book for you!
Fun and easy to read

Two Cats and the Woman They Own: or Lessons I Learned from My Cats
Patti Davis
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0811851664

Book Description

Patti Davis didn't really adopt Aretha, her first cat. Aretha adopted Patti. When her second cat, Skeeter, moved in, Patti came to realize that she -- a self-avowed dog person -- was now officially in thrall to two very demanding little felines. In 12 short chapters, each delightfully illustrated by Ward Schumaker, the author recounts how her life was changed for the better by living with and learning from her cat companions. In "The Mouse That Got Away" Patti learns a valuable lesson about hope, and in "The Little Scoundrel" she realizes just how wrong a first impression can be. Davis closes each charming vignette with a "Life Lesson." The lessons, like the stories they illuminate, are thoughtful and perceptive. Davis has produced a small treasure of a book; it's sometimes wry, sometimes moving, always universal, and, most importantly, wise.

Customer Reviews:

All Cat Lovers...This is the book for you!.......2007-02-22

I loved this book...I keep it on my coffee table...it is a treasure. I could relate to every chapter and anyone who is a cat lover/owner...will love this book. I recommend very highly.

Fun and easy to read.......2006-11-13

I was curious about this book because I too was a woman who just didn't care for cats. At least I THOUGHT so. Then one came to stay at my house when my daughter couldn't have a pet at her apartment, and we were soon joined by another when my son begged for one. The two cats have been so entertaining and my level of tolerance and love has grown. I'm now a "cat lady!" I think we may even get more cats. That aside, Patti's book was written in a friendly and easy way... very enjoyable to read.

Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster

Average customer rating:

Modern America as a Place and Myth
Great for Residents of Los Angeles
trademark Mike Davis material
You'll like parts and be bored by others...
Public Gem

Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster
Mike Davis
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0375706070
Release Date: 1999-09-07

Amazon.com

The 1990s have not been kind to Los Angeles. As Mike Davis writes, "The destructive February 1992, January 1993, and January 1995 floods ($500 million in damage) were mere brackets around the April 1992 insurrection ($1 billion), the October-November 1993 firestorms ($1 billion) and the January 1994 earthquake ($42 billion)." But, he argues, the increasing fear about nature's reign of terror in Southern California reflected in Hollywood's preoccupation with apocalypse--L.A. has been destroyed on screen by everything from lava (Volcano) to nukes (Miracle Mile) to alien death rays (Independence Day)--is in reality a strong case of denial. Again, Davis himself says it best: "For generations, market-driven urbanization has transgressed environmental common sense. Historic wildfire corridors have been turned into view-lot suburbs, wetland liquefaction zones into marinas, and floodplains into industrial districts and housing tracts. Monolithic public works have been substituted for regional planning and a responsible land ethic. As a result, Southern California has reaped flood, fire, and earthquake tragedies that were as avoidable, as unnatural, as the beating of Rodney King and the ensuing explosion in the streets."

As in City of Quartz, his earlier book about Los Angeles, Davis reveals the deeper ideological narratives behind historical events. Whether he's explaining the motivations behind the persistent refusal of civic leaders to admit that a tornado alley runs down the middle of the region, from Long Beach to Pasadena, or discussing, as one chapter refers to it, "the case for letting Malibu burn," he outlines his arguments with a fascinating amount of detail and a subtle sense of irony. There are wonderful chapters here, such as "Maneaters of the Sierra Madre," a zoology of the wild beasts Angelenos fear, including mountain lions that descend from the hills to eat joggers and small children, swarms of Africanized killer bees making their way across the deserts, and El Chupacabra, the "goat-sucking vampire" that joined L.A.'s roster of faddish icons in 1996.

Although this book is specifically about Los Angeles, its lessons about the relationship between urban developments and natural ecosystems and about the dangerous influence of class politics on environmental safety policy are applicable to any city. Anyone with a serious interest in natural history or urban policy should make a point of reading this book. --Ron Hogan

Book Description

"Graced with a bold political and environmental vision, much splendid phrasemaking and a multitude of facts. . . . A truly eccentric contribution."--The New York Times Book Review

Earthquakes. Wildfires. Floods. Drought. Tornadoes. Snakes in the sea, mountain lions, and a plague of bees. In this controversial tour de force of scholarship, unsparing vision, and inspired writing, Mike Davis, the author of City of Quartz, revisits Los Angeles as a Book of the Apocalypse theme park. By brilliantly juxtaposing L.A.'s fragile natural ecology with its disastrous environmental and social history, he compellingly shows a city deliberately put in harm's way by land developers, builders, and politicians, even as the incalculable toll of inevitable future catas-trophe continues to accumulate.

Counterpointing L.A.'s central role in America's fantasy life--the city has been destroyed no less than 138 times in novels and films since 1909--with its wanton denial of its own real history, Davis creates a revelatory kaleidoscope of American fact, imagery, and sensibility. Drawing upon a vast array of sources, Ecology of Fear meticulously captures the nation's violent malaise and desperate social unease at the millennial end of "the American century." With savagely entertaining wit and compassionate rage, this book conducts a devastating reconnaissance of our all-too-likely urban future.

"Dizzying. . . . In Mr. Davis's account, the world ends in fire, and the next time is now."--The New York Times

Customer Reviews:

Modern America as a Place and Myth.......2006-11-09

This is a very, very fine book that looks at the archetype of Modern America, Los Angles and Southern California. Looking at the interaction of population growth, individualism (greed!), urban growth without planning, and the nature of the environment, this book shows how we are unwilling to acknowledge the normalcy of earthquakes, fires, tornadoes, and wild animal encounters. It is extremely well-written and researched -- and hard to put down! It is social criticism that is "grounded", literally.

Great for Residents of Los Angeles.......2004-12-07

As a resident of Los Angeles I found Ecology of Fear a great and informative read. I understand those who review it and find things to quibble with. Nothing is perfect. But for someone like me, possessed before reading this with a feeling that so many things in LA were just wrong, but not having a good understanding how how and why things got to be so messed up in so many ways, Ecology of Fear is an indispensible book. Perhaps the greatest thing I took away from this book was an abiding sense of the "alternate reality" LA that perhaps exists in some other dimension-- an LA where greenbelts line the rivers, where the foothills are left undeveloped and able to burn seasonally as meant to, and where resources are more equitably distributed.

trademark Mike Davis material.......2004-03-13

Not a sequel to City of Quartz, but a look at current and historical LA from an environmental perspective instead of Quartz's sociological view. Famous for its criticism as much as its content, Ecology Of Fear compiles a staggering amount of information into an informative and compelling story. LA's dynamism is a product of its people, land, water, air, wildlife, history, and future. This is the book that can tell you what life has been and will be like, for those who choose to live in the wilderness of Los Angeles.

You'll like parts and be bored by others..........2004-02-15

"Ecology of Fear" is unfortunately a necessary book in which Mike Davis once again denounces how the United States has managed to create a completely Apartheid-like society, but has done such a good job at it that people hardly perceive that they are living in a divided world (in this book, the divisions most commonly pointed out is the one between natural areas and inhabited areas, but we are also shown how a city is divided between poor and wealthy, and nature's role in this division). Nowhere is this more acute than in Los Angeles, the epitome of social division and exploitation of every natural resource. Davis convincingly shows how the natural world is utterly obliterated, with bogus re-creations made in its place where necessary, as a blind eye is turned to all of the destruction and the special interests of the wealthy are always put before those of the have-nots.

This is the aspect of the book that I found most interesting (more sociological and political), but there are chapters for people with different tastes and interests. For movie buffs or sci-fi novel readers, there are very well-documented sections on the portrayal of disasters in the Los Angeles area (I personally found this part less fascinating, because that is not my area of interest, but to many it may be). For environmentalists the book is a must-read on how NOT to manage an urban area. For local historians, there are some great anecdotes on LA history that I had never seen or read anywhere, and my family has lived in the LA area for decades. The saddest part of the book is discovering just how short-sighted people can be when making policy decisions and that capitalism's solution of allowing the power of money and majority opinion to solve everything does not lead those who possess power and wealth to make the soundest decisions in many, if not most, cases.

And who knew that there are tornadoes in Los Angeles?!

Public Gem.......2003-09-21

Ecology of Fear is a public gem, if just, for its inquiry into fire prevention and policy in two differing socioeconomic enclaves of Los Angeles,Ca affluent Malibu and densely immigrant Pico-Union Westlake District. Why a public gem in this respect?? It is a broadly appealing insight into the intersection of 'fire' policy and human welfare. The fire related inquiries alone perhaps will equally interest busy professionals, students, politicians, et.al with a keen interest in policy awareness, yet left with little time or resources for conquering the wealth of information disseminated by Mike Davis. It is likely that a casual read of this book will land the reader into perhaps a fit of rage, or maybe a touch of shame, and possibly even numbness.
Ecology of Fear will likely capture the reader's attention and generate much deliberation.

City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Los Angeles, New Edition

Average customer rating:

Should be shelved in Poli-Sci or Opinion but not History
a great piece of history
Radical history of Los Angeles

City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Los Angeles, New Edition
Mike Davis
Manufacturer: Verso
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1844675688

Book Description

A fully updated edition of Mike Davis's visionary work.

No metropolis has been more loved or more hated. To its official boosters, "Los Angeles brings it all together." To detractors, LA is a sunlit mortuary where "you can rot without feeling it." To Mike Davis, the author of this fiercely elegant and wide-ranging work of social history, Los Angeles is both utopia and dystopia, a place where the last Joshua trees are being plowed under to make room for model communities in the desert, where the rich have hired their own police to fend off street gangs, as well as armed Beirut militias. In City of Quartz, Davis reconstructs LA's shadow history and dissects its ethereal economy. He tells us who has the power and how they hold on to it. He gives us a city of Dickensian extremes, Pynchonesque conspiracies, and a desperation straight out of Nathaniel West—a city in which we may glimpse our own future mirrored with terrifying clarity.

In this new edition, Davis provides a dazzling update on the city's current status.

Customer Reviews:

Should be shelved in Poli-Sci or Opinion but not History.......2007-05-22

I got this book thinking it was about the social history and architecture of Los Angeles.

Although City Of Quartz does touch upon various events in LA history, it does so only to use those events as a springboard for the author's political writings. Reading it, I got the impression that ANY American city would have brought forth the same opinions.

To sum up: "Wealthy people, Corporations, the Police, and Conservatives are BAD GUYS and are ALWAYS in the wrong. Poor people, Unions, Criminals and Liberals are GOOD GUYS and are ALWAYS in the right. And don't you people realize that the cost of one stealth bomber could pay for 10000 public housing units!?"

The author is certainly entitled to his opinions, but with such a cut-and-dried world view the book quickly becomes boringly predictable. Page after page of "The rich are oppressing the poor, the Whites are oppressing Minorities, the Police are oppressing criminals..." stated as facts - no need for debate - no discussion as to WHY the author feels this way - just a long laundry list of political grievences, and in the end - very little about L.A. history.

If you're interested in Mr. Davis's opinions, this book might be worth a read. But if you're looking for a history book about Los Angeles, look elsewhere.

a great piece of history.......2007-03-26

I knew very little about L.A. This book is actually a history book. I just loved it and it answered many questions I had.

Radical history of Los Angeles.......2007-02-26

Davis is well-known in radical circles as a popular writer on various issues relating to labor movements and the like. This is essentially a history of the city of Los Angeles and its surroundings from a radical perspective. It's quite well-done and very informative (at least to an ignoramus like me), but Davis goes overboard now and then in seeing a conspiracy to repress the poor behind everything. He also has the tendency to call historical incidences of repression a "holocaust" (he actually uses this word multiple times for different things), which I don't like being used in this manner. Aside from that though, it's a welcome different approach from the usual hagiographic or hip postmodern analyses of conglomeration cities like LA. There's not much more I can say about it, as whether you like his left-wing critical vignettes or not will be mostly a matter of taste - judge it for yourself.

The Visionary State: A Journey Through California's Spiritual Landscape

Average customer rating:

A soulful trek --
Packed with images and ideas reflecting the individuals and spiritual movements
The Visionary State
take the journey!
A fabulous intellectual and visual/tactile adventure

The Visionary State: A Journey Through California's Spiritual Landscape
Erik Davis
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0811848353

Book Description

With a rich cultural history and Hollywood stars publicly attesting to a wide range of faiths, it's no surprise that California's spiritual landscape is as diverse as its natural surroundings. The Visionary State weaves text and image into a compelling narrative of religion, architecture, and consciousness in California, from neopaganism to televangelism, UFO cults to austere Zen Buddhism. Acclaimed culture critic Erik Davis brings together the immigrant and homegrown religious influences that have been part of the region's character from its earliest days, drawing connections between seemingly unlike traditions and celebrating the diversity of California's spiritual composition. Michael Rauner's evocative photographs depict the sites and structures where these traditions have taken root and flourished. The Visionary State is a landmark look at what is likely the most varied locale for religious activity anywhere.

Customer Reviews:

A soulful trek --.......2007-03-09

...an extraordinary book, beautifully laid out and interesting histories on spectacular architectural sanctuaries gracing California's landscape, well researched and vividly presented. A true find and a great gift for anyone interested in California history, architecture, travel, art, spirituality ...an incredible journey!

Packed with images and ideas reflecting the individuals and spiritual movements .......2006-11-06

California has a reputation for the diverse and eccentric: a reputation which extends into the spiritual realm as well, and THE VISIONARY STATE: A JOURNEY THROUGH CALIFORNIA'S SPIRITUAL LANDSCAPE PRESENTS COLOR PHOTOS BY Michael Rauner to accompany a historical and social survey of California's alternative spirituality communities. From theme parks and alternatives to conventional churches to Buddhist areas and visions of the Virgin, THE VISIONARY STATE is packed with images and ideas reflecting the individuals and spiritual movements that make up California.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

The Visionary State.......2006-08-22

The promise held out by the gorgeous dust jacket of The Visionary State is more than fulfilled inside, where the immediate appeal comes from Michael Rauner's magnificent photographs of places throughout California. These glowing pictures illustrate the diverse streams of religion, spirituality, and other forms of visionary thinking that give the book its title and California its unique character as a "state of mind." The photos find a perfect counterpoint in Erik Davis's magnificent prose. Gathering together a wealth of information, the author weaves it into a lively, irresistible narrative of the state's spiritual, social, and architectural history, beginning with prehistoric petroglyphs and taking us all the way to today's neopagan revival. In between unfolds a procession of people and movements that have made California unlike any other state: Spanish friars, Mormon trekkers, Hindu swamis, Buddhist monks, utopian reformers, self-styled mystics, genuine mystics, charlatans and saints and scientists delving into the mysteries of the cosmos and the human psyche. Embracing religion, spirituality, social history, and architecture, The Visionary State should engage and delight a wide spectrum of readers. --Devadatta Kali, author of In Praise of the Goddess and The Veiling Brilliance.

take the journey!.......2006-08-16

Davis traverses the unexplored, germane topic of California's unique spiritual and architectural evolution with an original and erudite voice. Michael Rauner's photos are intense, playful and a great fit with the text. I appreciate this book immensely and highly recommend it, a must read!

A fabulous intellectual and visual/tactile adventure .......2006-08-16

From the perfectly shot pictures, to the heavy spine and luxurious feel, to the extraordinarily engaging text, this is an ideal reference book, gift book, and tour de focce of the California psycho-spiritual landscape.

Pairing textual descriptions with breakthaking images, the history of California's many spiritual and religoius movements comes vibrantly to life on every page.

I was especially thrilled by the *feel* of this book. As soon as I held it, I knew I loved it. Big kudos to Erik Davis and his photographer for putting out such a fine volume.

Average customer rating:

Sunshine & Noir
Mike Davis , Mike Kelley , and David Hockney
Manufacturer: Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 8790029194
Release Date: 1998-03-02

Book Description

Artistic production in L.A., while certainly influenced by the international currents which have defined New York, has always retained a distinct affinity. Sunshine & Noir takes an indepth look at the art and the artists that define art in L.A.

Death Valley and the Northern Mojave: A Visitor's Guide

Average customer rating:

Good as an introduction to death valley
An exemplary guide to an unfamiliar place
A beautiful and informative read !

Death Valley and the Northern Mojave: A Visitor's Guide
William C. Tweed , and Lauren Davis
Manufacturer: Cachuma Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0962850578

Customer Reviews:

Good as an introduction to death valley.......2006-11-28

I recently visited Death Valley and relied heavily on this book for planning my trip. Its divided into two halves, with the second half dealing with Death Valley and the first part with the rest of the mojave desert. It covers most of the star attractions within the park, along with some phenomenal pictures. If you are visiting Death Valley for the first time, this book is indispensible. However, I would have like to see more of the "off beaten path" attractions... for ex. I couldn't find information on such places as Falls Canyon. This is the reason for the 4 stars. Nevertheless, this book is a very good starting point for your first trip to DV.

An exemplary guide to an unfamiliar place.......2004-06-25

This is a most worthy companion to the visitor's guide to CALIFORNIA'S EASTERN SIERRA, previously reviewed by this writer. Written in the same clear, direct, organized style, and similarly divided into sectional analyses of various attractions and history, this guide also has the same outstanding color photography.

It is difficult to sufficiently praise the clear travel directions given to find each discussed attraction. Not only directions, but anticipated road conditions, are set forth at the conclusion of the section addressing each feature.

As you will discern, Death Valley should have been made a National Park a long time ago. It is the hottest, driest, and lowest place in North America. It has recent volcanoes, enormous sand dunes, totally indigenous wildlife, great mineral deposits, a playa where the stones move about from unknown forces (called the Recetrack), marvelously beautiful rock formations and salt flats, and even a castle. Each is discussed in riveting detail that beckons the reader to come there.

You will also read about the history of Death Valley, including marooned pioneers, borax mining and the twenty-mule-team methods of transporting out the borax, old ghost towns, etc, etc. Each section is endlessly fascinating.

The book also takes the reader to many facinating areas outside Death Valley, including the now-dry Searles Lake, with its eroded towers of tufa resembling a city, the Pamamint Range bordering Death Valley, various canyons, and even a waterfall in the desert. You will repeatedly enjoy vicariously wandering this enormous, desolate, but incredibly beautiful and peaceful region.

There is some small overlapping between this book and EASTERN SIERRA, but the effect is magnify the fascinating nature of the regions, and not too distract or bore the reader.

I recommend purchase of both guides before taking any trip to these areas. Reading the guides first and during the trips will increase your enjoyment and understanding manyfold, and help tremendously in planning the trip.

Needless to say, both books are recommended to the hilt.

A beautiful and informative read !.......2004-02-09

This book is a wealth of amazing information for anyone from a photographer to someone wanting to know more about the history of this amazing area of the United States. The photos are up-to date (no 1970 fuzzy poor quality images) and the read is nicely paced.

Quotes from those that founded this land, history about the ages of the stone and rock types found here. Lots of info on the animals, plant life and the story behind many if not all of the ghosts towns that are found here (one used to have around 10,000 people living there but shrunk to 1 in less than 10 years).

Of course on top of all this history and images, are descriptions of each area of the Death Valley National Park and what to see in each area (along with driving instructions).

I'm going to Death Valley to photograph this amazing land in two weeks, this book is my must-have companion for the trip.

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Stunning!
Ten Stars -- Sheer Genius
Easy Christmas Shopping
A Masterpiece!
A work of art!

Santa Anita Morning Rhapsody
Karen S. Davis
Manufacturer: Highland Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0966241436

Product Description

Embracing a photographic collection as fascinating as Muybridge, as beautiful as Vavra, and as compelling as any Eclipse Award winner, this behind-the-scenes, full-color book showing Santa Anita racetrack in the early mornings is the first of its kind. With unmistakable passion for horse and place, Karen S. Davis exalts in every photo the life of a thoroughbred at perhaps the worlds most beautiful racetrack, standing beneath the majestic San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California. Through her eyes we see the sun rise, seasons change, and horses run free, delicately entwined with Shakespeares enduring equine imagery.

Customer Reviews:

Stunning!.......2006-05-24

The author has created a gorgeous book by simply capturing racetrack life as it happens. She gingerly sprinkles quotes throughout to accentuate her beautiful photographs. A must for your coffee table!

Ten Stars -- Sheer Genius.......2006-05-01

Davis is a genius with a camera. Her book consistently takes your breath away. Passionate, dramatic, and purely gorgeous, with each turned page your eyes widen and you say "Wow!" Women weep. Men get goose bumps. I've watched people. A photographic page-turner! Many horse photos are beautiful but can seem "staged" and artificial. Davis's photos make you feel like you're standing right there. They're alive. Vibrant. And suddenly so are you. But the whole book is a work of genius. From the magnificent sunrise cover, past the stunning and stormy inside front, you're drawn into the private world of morning thoroughbred training at Santa Anita racetrack ... starting in the dark, full moon setting over silent paddock, walking to the back side, looking down a predawn shedrow, horses hungry, fed and saddled, off to the track in mysterious fog, sun rising over galloping steeds, horses getting loose, caught, walked, bathed, and brushed. Bunnies, goats, and cats keep them company. Horses are magnificent animals most would agree, but Davis reveals so many personality traits. Mischievous, stubborn, frightened, trusting, gentle, bored, as playful as a child. We see everything, in a setting so real you smell the hay and want to peel a paint chip off the barn, and drop your jaw at the glorious mountain surroundings. Davis's composition in a photo is perfection, but the order of photos equally captures you, as does the ingenious design ... not just a photo per stark white page, but riders chasing loose horses across two pages; arresting scenes laid against backdrops of *other* photos or pieces of photos enlarged to bring out remarkable detail; a center gatefold that leaves you gasping. Incredible! And just when it couldn't get any better, some of the most evocative lines of Shakespeare---about horses---send chills through you. All professionals aspire to images that leave the clinical, two-dimensional realm and achieve art. Davis succeeds. Sheer genius. Sweet perfection. Passion. They're within her, in her heart and eye. Included are the praises of over a dozen famous jockeys, trainers, artists (practically unheard of in a first edition)! This book puts other horse and track, and many plain old photography, books to shame.

Easy Christmas Shopping.......2006-04-17

I don't usually do my Christmas shopping in April, but this was just too easy! This will be THE book on everybody's coffee table this year; I bought one for every friend who loves horses, sunrise, or beautiful photography. Gorgeous!

A Masterpiece!.......2006-04-07

Astounding! This *is* a rhapsody! She has written a whole piano concerto while the rest of us are doing finger exercises ... produced a Raphael while we are finger painting. The rest of us run around snapping pictures but she has given birth to art. Those of us not endowed with such gifts wonder in awe. It is an intimate creation, even for those who don't know the place. Of the highest standard throughout. A masterpiece!

A work of art!.......2006-03-24

A friend purchased this book for me as a surprise. I was so excited! It is truly a work of art. So beautiful. What a joy!

Average customer rating:

UC Davis 2007 (College Prowler)
Tristen Chang
Manufacturer: College Prowler
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Uc Santa Barbara CA 2007 (College Prowler: University of California at Santa Barbara Off the R)
UC Berkeley (College Prowler)
California Colleges (College Prowler: California Colleges)
Cal Poly CA 2007 (College Prowler: California Polytechnic State University Off the Rec)
Uc San Diego CA 2007 (College Prowler: University of California at San Diego Off the Recor)

ASIN: 142740156X

Book Description

Introduction from the Author

When I tell people I'm going to college at UC Davis, they usually do a little double take. "Really," they'll ask incredulously, "Wow. Study hard." I hardly ever know how to respond to that, so I just flash my best "oh-I'm-trying-to" smile and wait for their approving nod to excuse me from the conversation. Often, it looks like my school spirit is missing in action, but this is hardly the case. I am a die-hard Aggie fan. However, when confronted with the school's stellar academics, I usually shrug it off. Sure, I know Davis is ranked as one of the top 10 public schools in the nation. And yes, I feel incredibly privileged to be here. However, that is not what makes me so proud of my Aggie status. The satisfaction I have in pulling on my UC Davis sweatshirt, flashing my student ID, and even giving out my campus e-mail address has little to do with Davis' world-renowned degree programs. The pride I have in my school is founded more on the principles of community that distinguish Davis from so many other institutions.

It's not hard to find people familiar with UC Davis. Known for its science programs, a history rooted in academic excellence, and many of the top degree programs in the country; Davis is inherently a well-known campus. What many people don't know about Davis are the very things that many students most cherish: the stimulating atmosphere, the supportive and encouraging professors, and the diverse, amicable student body.

While most consider Davis a "nerd school" and picture the students as snooty intellectuals, that is far from the case. Surprisingly, Davis has an overwhelmingly friendly campus—most people just don't know about it.

I hope that in reading this book, you catch a glimpse of the aspects of Davis that so many students hold dear. I'm not throwing out numbers or rankings or advertising the campus. Chances are, if you're interested in Davis, you've already heard them anyway. But there are so many other elements that contribute to this dynamic school, and many are indescribable. I love being able to cart my books to the quad and study for hours in the sunshine. I love looking up from my chem lab in the Silo and being able to ask the stranger next to me for help. I love riding my bike home from work, passing a rugby game, and being invited to join. I love the Arboredum, the trees, the bikes—I even love the cows. There is so much more to Davis than just genetics and veterinary medicine, and I hope this book provides some insight into the real scene: what life is really like at the University of California at Davis.

Tristen Chang, Author
UC Davis

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The Architecture of Affordable Housing
Sam Davis
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Affordable Housing: Designing an American Asset
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ASIN: 0520087585

Book Description

That a country of wealth cannot provide sound housing for those in need is a national embarrassment. This book is about the design of dignified, affordable housing for those not served by the private sector, and how that housing fits comfortably into our communities. Sam Davis has written an accessible, non-technical analysis for everyone interested in the creation of affordable housing. Through discussions of cost, politics, and design concepts, as well as case studies of completed projects, he gives solutions to the dilemmas posed by the development process.
Good housing design is a delicate balance of community values, individual needs, esthetic judgments, and technical requirements. Good design can save money--seventy percent of the cost of a new dwelling is affected by planning and design. As a key ingredient in community building, housing should bestow on its inhabitants a sense of dignity, says Davis. To view this as a privilege for those who can afford market-rate housing invites both social and financial disaster. He also considers our national obsession with the single-family house and our historical ambivalence toward subsidized housing--attitudes that have often led to the stigmatization of low-income groups.
This book will be indispensable to community and volunteer groups, local governments, financial backers, architects, planners, and students in related fields.

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