Average customer rating:
- Detailed content, wonderful photos, my 4th graders loved it!
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Building America - Hoover Dam (Building America)
Craig A. & Katherine M. Doherty
Manufacturer: Blackbirch Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book
 Architecture
| Arts & Music
| Children's Books
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Other
| United States
| History & Historical Fiction
| Children's Books
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General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
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Engineering
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Children's Books
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ASIN: 1567111076 |
Book Description
The 14-vol. set of Building America chronicles the massive undertakings that mark some of the greatest triumphs of human engineering. These projects are a testament to the boldness of human ingenuity and a tribute to the brave spirit of the American people. It is that special spirit that is now captured in the pages of Building America. Included in these volumes are:
- 40-45 photos
- Chronology
- Glossary
- Further Reading Section
- Source Notes
- Index
Customer Reviews:
Detailed content, wonderful photos, my 4th graders loved it!.......1999-07-22
After a field trip to the Hoover Dam, my fourth-graders used this book to further satisfy their appetite for information on the construction of, and reasons for building the Dam. The text is clearly written, very detailed, and the photographs are outstanding. The authors added a glossary, a chronology, and further reading sources to enhance an already great resource. We read this book together, but I found my students taking the book back to their seats for more. It is a great source for reports as well. I recommend it highly to both parents and teachers. It can easily be used across the curriculum.
Book Description
Nearly 300 photographs of the work of leading custom home architects and builders in Denver, Aspen, Vail and Beaver Creek. Some of the featured professionals include architects Bill Poss and Jim Morter or the exquisite homes of Suzanne Allen-Guerra and Jon Gunson. You will also enjoy the masterful touch and detail that builders, including Jackie Wilkie Builder and Harrison Custom Builders, bring to each blueprint entrusted to their construction expertise.
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful Homes, Spectacular Settings.......2007-03-08
With a plethora of building sites offering truly spectacular settings, as well as a busy metropolitian area, relatively low building costs, and resort areas to attract the rich and famous, Colorado offers a collection of 'Dream Homes' unlikely to be found anywhere else in the world. In putting this book the authors could choose from the best of the best and they did. Both the houses and the background settings are spectacular. There's something about a huge mansion, sitting by a lake, with snow capped mountains in the background that creates a picture worth remembering.
Of course the houses are outstanding in their own right. Most of the houses, especially those remote from the city of Denver, carry a western motif, there's something about being in the west that calls for big wooden beams, log cabin construction, and wrought iron inside. Still, as you would expect, there is room for other architectural style, whatever the customer wants: tudor, French, modern - anything goes. The one common characteristic is that these homes all fill every aspect of being a dream home.
Dream Homes of Colorado - A "Must Have" Coffee Table Book!.......2007-03-07
Dream Homes of Colorado is a "Must Have" Coffee Table Book.
It is truly one of the finest compilations of magnificent photography of the finest examples of the achitectural, design, and building talents used to produce the most outstanding homes in the State of Colorado. It showcases where almost everyone would live, if only they could.
Book Description
This volume illustrates the architectural history of Colorado--the nation's highest state--from the eastern High Plains to the Rocky Mountain backbone that melts into the canyons of the West. Both a quick-reference guidebook and a historical resource, this volume reflects the remarkable topographical diversity of the state, a full one-third of which is designated as federal land. In over 450 photographs and maps, it explores the structures humankind has created to tame Colorado's dramatically variant climate and terrain--crossed by barbed wire, roads, power lines, and railroads. Tracing Colorado's architectural development from its Native American origins, the book covers the villages of Mexican settlers and mining camps set up during the Pikes Peak gold rush of 1858-59. It features the forts and farms of pioneers; homes, churches, and schools of early towns; and modern industrial centers and vacation spots. Prehistoric pueblos of the Anasazi Indians at Mesa Verde, the U.S. Air Force Academy north of Colorado Springs, and contemporary ski resorts such as Aspen and Telluride exemplify the dramatically disparate structures of Colorado's built environment. About the Buildings of the United States series A monumental, state-by-state survey of American architecture, the Buildings of the United States series, commissioned by the Society of Architectural Historians, celebrates the rich geographic, cultural, and economic diversity of the country. "An irreplaceable and authoritative resource for anyone with an interest in American architecture."--nterior Design Magazine "A classic series in the making."--Boston Globe
Customer Reviews:
Buildings of Colorado.......2002-10-24
The fifth in an ongoing series of field guides to the buildings of the United States, commissioned from experts by the Society of Architectural Historians. Companion volumes are available on Alaska, DC, Iowa, Michigan, and Nevada, with another dozen in preparation. It's an invaluable project, the most ambitious of its kind since the WPA State guides of the 1930s, and it maps the terra incognita between the few major cities that have been professionally surveyed.
Colorado is more notable for natural wonders than architecture, and had little more to show than Mesa Verde 150 years ago. Noel provides an encyclopedic 600 pages of plans, photos, and commentary on boom towns-from those that have faded to those, like Denver, that have exploded. He is equally sympathetic to the best new work, but stumbles in his appraisal of an Ed Niles house-a controversial cluster of glass cubes in Vail-as he observes: "This eyecatcher revives the International Style in the Postmodern tradition of Richard Meier."
a competent anthology of Colorado's public buildings.......1998-11-26
There is much architecture to see in Colorado and Mr. Noel has eloquently documented the variety of buildings one might make a special trip to visit. I especially enjoyed the small town examples. For information on the bigger cities in Colorado, there are more complete guides to Architecture and history... read those too! Keep in mind, that the point of this book was to document those buildings which you could visit or experience; there aren't many examples of private residences or secure buildings. Buy this book and start to plan your road trips through Colorado!
Average customer rating:
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Denver In Slices
Louisa Ward Arps
Manufacturer: Swallow Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| 20th Century
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Colorado
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Guidebooks
| Reference & Tips
| Travel
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Denver
| Colorado
| States
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| Travel
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General
| Colorado
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General
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ASIN: 0804008418 |
Book Description
Building Hoover Dam is the most intriguing book ever written about one of the modern architectural wonders of the world. Andrew J. Dunar and Dennis McBride skillfully interweave first-hand accounts of a fascinating group of eyewitnesses. Their stories create the richest existing portrait of the building of Hoover Dam and its tremendous effect on the lives of those involved in its creation: the gritty, sometimes grisly realities of living in cardboard boxes and tents during several of the hottest Southern Nevada summers on record; the fearsome carbon monoxide deaths of tunnel builders who, it was claimed, had died of "pneumonia"; the uproarious life of nearby Las Vegas versus the tightly controlled existence of the workers in the built-overnight confines of Boulder City; and of course the astounding accomplishment of building the Dam itself and completing the task not only early but under budget!
Customer Reviews:
reprint.......2007-04-27
This book is a direct reprint from 1980. It was good then but much of it is out of date. Some of the sections the one on installation on are the same. Having been in the trade for 27 years I found it useless.
Average customer rating:
- What a great book...
- Great way to get to know Denver.
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Denver's Favorite Places (Colorado Littlebooks)
Jackie Shumaker , and
Wayne Sirmons
Manufacturer: Westcliffe Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| United States
| Travel
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
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West
| United States
| Travel
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
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General
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
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West
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
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Tourist Destinations & Museums
| Reference & Tips
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Mountain
| West
| Regions
| United States
| Travel
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Denver
| Colorado
| States
| United States
| Travel
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General
| Colorado
| States
| United States
| Travel
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General
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Similar Items:
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Denver Dines: A Restaurant Guide And More
ASIN: 1565792327 |
Customer Reviews:
What a great book..........2000-01-15
I was really pleased with this book. It covers everything you can think of and is easy to use. I recommend it.
Great way to get to know Denver........1997-07-13
Wonderful photography and witty editorial. I highly recommend this book for both newcomers and long time residents. It's a great way to get to get to know or become reacquainted with the city of Denver
Average customer rating:
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Gaslights and Gingerbread
Sandra Dallas
Manufacturer: Ohio Univ Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Colorado
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
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| Books
ASIN: 0804008396 |
Average customer rating:
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Colorado Homes
Sandra Dallas
Manufacturer: Univ of Oklahoma Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
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Residential
| Building Types & Styles
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
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General
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
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West
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0806120045 |
Book Description
There are two Americas. One boasts solid families, well-paying jobs, safe homes, and good education. The other has children raised by one parent, poor neighborhoods, crime, and low-paying jobs. What has caused the divide? In this penetrating study, James Q. Wilson argues that the answer lies in the importance of marriage and the devastating effects of divorce and cohabitation.
Wilson's meticulous research shows how the erosion of family life has damaged children's futures, leading to school dropouts, teenage pregnancy, and a greater likelihood of emotional problems, drug use, and criminal activity. With precision and persuasiveness, he reveals the sources of today's crisis -- from the glittering ideals of the Enlightenment to the shameful practice of American slavery -- while also offering bold solutions. Incisive, intelligent, and thought-provoking, The Marriage Problem is a clarion call to rebuild the family, and society, by returning a solid marital structure to its core.
Customer Reviews:
A very level-headed, fact intensive examination of an emotional issue.......2007-02-15
There are alot of books on this subject. Most of them are highly emotional, which is understandable given the subject. Wilson's book is unique in the intensity of its scholarship. He has read everything on this subject. He can and does cite social science and scientific evidence bearing on every aspect of this issue -- and he views the issue very broadly. Unlike pretty much all the other books on this issue, there is little or no polemic here. Instead, there is simply an extraordinary range of intelligently assessed facts. Anyone interested in the subject has to read this book.
Children Suffer.......2006-12-04
James Q. Wilson's book is an enlightening look at the state of marriage in America (although he cites statistics from other countries as well.) The work is easy to read and is credible. The reader will gain a clearer understanding of what is happening to families in the U.S. The children, of course, are the victims in the breakdown of the family. As they grow up, the cycle of divorce and single parenting continues. Wilson gives adequate solutions to these grave social problems that we face.
Marriage in a sociological and historical context.......2006-08-24
"Two nations, between whom there is no intercourse and no sympathy." Benjamin Disraeli was speaking of the nations of the rich and the poor, but Wilson sees underlying causes. One nation is married, reasonably affluent, educated, and invests heavily in their children. The other nation is fatherless, poor, and does not invest in their children. On page 11 he quotes a study by William Galston, a former advisor to President Clinton. Galston shows that you only have to do three simple things to avoid being poor: finish high school, marry before having a child, and wait until age 20 to have a child. Only 8% of people who do these three things are poor, compared to 79% for those who do not.
The problems in the fatherless nation go beyond poverty. Children of single mothers are more likely to be delinquent; they are more likely drop out of school, become suspended and suffer from emotional problems. This is not from the lack of financial resources; the researchers Sara McLanahan and Gary Sandefur were able to show that the poverty that resulted from being a single mother only explained about half the difference in outcomes between children with single mothers and children with married parents. The results for cohabitation are not much better, particularly since cohabitating relationships typically end in less than two years, sometimes in marriage, but about as often in separation. Furthermore, the marriages that result from cohabitation are more likely to end in divorce.
Wilson develops the theory of sex ratios. When the ratio between men and women is high, men have to compete with each other for women, and women that bargaining power to secure monogamous relationships. But when the ratio is low, women have to compete for the limited supply. This results in women having to accept sex outside of marriage, polygamy (depending on the culture), and a general loosening of morals as women use their sexuality to increasingly "outbid" each other for the limited supply of men.
This explains a great deal of why single motherhood has devastated the black community in America; with many black men in jail the sex ratios are extremely low. But the research shows that sex ratios do not explain the full story. A whole host of research, from that of Guttantag and Secord, to Mark Fossett and Jill Keicolt, to James Wilson himself, show that the correlation between sex ratio and illegitimacy is stronger for blacks than it is for whites or Latinos. Wilson partly attributes this to slavery, and partly to the lingering effect of various African cultures, and makes a convincing case.
Wilson also takes on the "disappearing jobs" theory of the increase in black out of wedlock childbirths. It suffers from numerous flaws. Christopher Jencks looked at black men with steady jobs. 80% of them were married in 1960, but only 66% were in 1980. The difference is that men with jobs were less inclined to marry. Furthermore, Robert Lerman and others have shown that immigrants in the same urban neighborhoods have lower rates of illegitimacy despite living in the same neighborhoods. In some cases when there isn't work, they will take long bus rides to available work.
The conclusion is that the increase in out of wedlock childbirths is driven by two factors: welfare benefits and the loss of the social stigma for unwed mothers. Wilson defeats two main objections to the welfare theory. The first objection is that welfare benefits have been declining relative to inflation, but Robert Moffitt has shown that when you also account for other benefits besides welfare, such as Medicaid, food stamps and public housing, welfare benefits did keep up with inflation. Another objection to the welfare theory is that some states offer much higher welfare benefits despite having lower rates of out of wedlock childbirths. This objection fails because different states have different cultures. When you compare how people make decisions you find that welfare benefits do have an influence. On page 147 he cites many researchers making that point, ranging from Mark Rosenzweig, the economists Jeff Grogger and Stephen Bronars, and by the 1998 research of Robert Moffitt (not to be confused with his earlier 1992 research on the subject).
Finally, Wilson spends much of the book putting marriage in both a sociological and historical context. This review is already long so I'll just touch on it briefly. Wilson notes that critics of monogamous marriage are correct when they point out that our current "white dress, vows, big ceremony" notion of marriage is a fairly recent invention. But they miss the larger point; marriage is generally most strongly formalized in societies in which the ties between parents and their children are fragile. In more robust societies with strong senses of social obligation, cohabitation and common law marriage produce the same results as our formalized marriages: a tangible claim on the father for help with both raising the children and supporting the mother.
I would also recommend Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality by Thomas Sowell, who shows the importance of culture, for example, African Americans of West Indian descent made 94% as much as whites back in 1984, compared to 62% for African American's as a whole.
Why marriage matters.......2006-03-15
Marriage is a problem, argues Wilson. That is, it is in a problematic state. Marriage is good for societies, for individuals, and especially for children. But the Western world is quickly moving away from marriage. As a result a host of problems are arising.
Wilson begins with what are now well-known and depressing figures. Any other type of relationship but marriage is bad for the adults and especially bad for the kids. Take cohabitation, for example. People who cohabit before marriage short-change themselves and their children in numerous ways. First, the average duration of a cohabiting couple is 1.3 years. Cohabiting couples are far more likely to divorce when they do marry than couples who did not cohabit before marriage.
Moreover, children of cohabiting couples are likely to be as poor as children in single-parent families. And in England, children of cohabiting couples are twenty times more likely to suffer child abuse than kids from married couples.
Or consider step-families. The homicide rate for children in such families is seventy times higher than for those living with both biological parents. Child abuse is also much higher in these families. The evidence merely confirms what common sense has always told us: "people care for their own children more than for those of others".
Wilson then examines the social, cultural and biological/evolutionary evidence for why marriage and families exist. In addition, the historical development, and recent decline, of marriage and family are discussed. While a combination of nature and nurture, biology and culture, made marriage a civil necessity, the doctrines of the Enlightenment sowed the seeds of its demise.
Beginning with the Enlightenment, marriage began to be seen less as a sacrament and more as a contract. Today it is seen less as a contract and more as an arrangement. Individual rights and freedoms, the product of modernism, have undermined the rationale for and the basis of marriage. Thus it is surprising that people bother to get married at all in the modern, secular, individualistic West.
Wilson also examines how government policies, especially economic policies, impact on the family. He acknowledges that many policies have a negative impact on families, but questions to what extent government policies can in fact help families. While marriage is in the best interests of children, there are limits as to how much a government can do to encourage marriage. After examining a number of federal programs aimed at doing just that, Wilson concludes: "getting single mums to marry is harder than keeping married couples together".
Thus while financial incentives from the government can help to an extent, they are no panacea. Indeed, the cultural incentives, or disincentives, to marriage, may be more crucial. And these cultural trends may be harder to overcome. A concern for relationships has replaced a concern for marriage. This is the result of larger cultural shifts such as the Enlightenment, with its attendant rugged individualism, rampant secularism and often amoral utilitarianism. How these forces can be offset is no easy matter. Interestingly, Wilson sees a revival of religion as a major factor if we are to see cultural trends reversed.
While Wilson himself displays no deep religious convictions, he does acknowledge the role religion has played in the past both to curtail some of these forces, and to under-gird and affirm marriage and family. One way religion does this is by acknowledging the value of stigma and shame. Our society, says Wilson, "has managed to stigmatize stigma so much so that we are reluctant to blame people for any act". Thus our no-fault divorce laws, for example. No one wants to take responsibility for their actions anymore, and our laws are beginning to reflect that.
Wilson argues that we somehow need to recover the positive nature of stigma and shame. We need to recognize that not all behaviors are in society's best interests. Illegitimacy, for example, is one of them. Forty years ago a mother who brought a child into wedlock had a clear understanding that this was not something to boast about. Today no such moral compunction exists. But it should.
Perhaps part of the way to make for a better future is to recapture an accurate sense of the past. Marriage and family are not dead yet, but have taken a severe hammering. We need to redouble our efforts to affirm and protect these most vital of institutions. This book is an important component in such a defense.
Excellent background information on the topic.......2005-04-17
Wilson's book goes beyond the surface of a lot of the talk about the state of the family today. Unlike some other publications geared toward the religous community, this is purely a secular work, even if it does confirm many of the problems pointed out by pro-family Catholic and evangelical groups.
The thesis is this: in the wake of society's overall material wealth and the advancement of individual rights, both good things in general, the state of marriage as a societal good has declined considerably. In too many cases, the cohesive unit that functioned as a means of protection, support, and guidance for children has lost its glue, and the government has come to step in and perform some of these functions in certain situations, which isn't necessarily a good thing.
The chapter-by-chapter layout takes a look at the problem from different angles (single motherhood, divorce, African-American slavery, etc.) and compares the trends not with a romanticized ideal, but with what other cultures have done historically, to determine whether this trend is an anomaly or something to be expected, and where it might lead.
Among the more interesting tidbits is the fact that for whatever problem no-fault divorce has had today, it was not the result of a nefarious plan by feminists or others whose goal is to take down the family structure. Rather it was the unintended consequences of a plan to make technical corrections to the law to comply with what had become practice. The drafters of the no-fault laws were working under the naive assumption that these changes to remove the threat of a judical order finding fault would be complemented with government incentives to enter therapy and reconcile before the order be given. When this didn't happen, the no-fault divorce provisions made it easier to dissolve the marriage without any restrictions.
This detail was to highlight that you're not getting a political or cultural polemnic in this book, but rather a systematic discourse on the problem with angles not normally seen in this debate.
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