1 comments about Theo Van Gogh 1857Ö1891: Art Dealer, Collector and Brother of Vincent.

1. Throughout much of his life the Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh suffered from emotional extremes, alternating from violent excitability to melancholic withdrawal, moods that are often observable in his self-portraits, landscape paintings and so on. As the quintessential expressionist, he has always overshadowed his younger brother, Theo, who supported him both emotionally and monetarily, but who, as this book documents, also pursued a successful career as a Paris-based art dealer. Vincent took his own life in 1890; while Theo died a year later (at age 33), apparently of dementia paralytica, the last stage of syphilis. This beautifully produced book, which consists of three scholarly essays, a chronology and nearly 200 reproductions of historic photographs and works of art, presents an account of the life of the two, while emphasizing the larger context of Theo's activities as a dealer, who was, like his brother, ahead of his time. It was published in conjunction with an exhibition at museums in Amsterdam and Paris in 1999 and 2000 of works bought, sold and/or collected by Theo Van Gogh. (Review copyright © by Roy R. Behrens from Ballast Quarterly Review 15, No. 4, Summer 2000.)

No comments about From Model T To P-38 Lighting: Celebrating The Life Of William Frank Schottelkorb.

No comments about Zen Ranching and the Farming Game.

No comments about Jubilee Jim: The Life Of Colonel James Fisk, Jr..

1 comments about The Making of Modern Economics.

1. This provides a really good historical treatment to the development of economics as we know it today. Skoussen clearly favors the Austrian school, and libertarian style capitalism, but even that's great because our economics schooling in this country is pathetic. This provides a great overall feel for economics and you can work your way into more detailed stuff from here.

1 comments about Henry Clay Frick: The Man.

1. As an honest biography of the industrialist, you can pretty much skip this one. This book was commissioned by the family, I believe, and published under their control, so you won't read much in it but veneration for Papa. Frick's daughter famously prevented any real biography from being written about him until well after her death some years ago, and I guess a lot of the real information was simply destroyed before that book could be written. But maybe the one that came out in 1998 has more of the real skinny on this sometimes awesome, sometimes just ugly major figure in the rise of the coal and steel industries in the late 19th century.

No comments about Henry's Lieutenants (Great Lakes Books).

2 comments about Fritz Pollard: PIONEER IN RACIAL ADVANCEMENT (Sport and Society).

1. Carroll pens a thorough and illuminating account of an early African-American icon that Americans of all colors gradually forgot, Fritz Pollard. Fritz Pollard was arguably the first modern age African American athletic star that used his athletic prowess to further his opportunities in other fields such as movies, booking, investments, and even tax consulting. He successfully, although not without difficulty, negotiated the hazards, pitfalls, challenges, and bias of a racially charged America to become as Carroll maintains, "a pioneer in interracial relations." (4) Carroll promotes and attributes this pioneer theme to Pollard throughout the biography. The author also accredits Pollard's successes and pioneering nature to Pollard's family background and childhood. Although not overly sympathetic, Carroll clearly contains high praise for Pollard and his accomplishments contending that Pollard "established more `firsts' for his race than perhaps any other African American in this century." (239) The author is careful to temper this praise with accounts of Pollard's bitterness towards perceived injustices and mistreatment due to racism and lack of attention Pollard thought he deserved. The result is a commendable biography of Fritz Pollard as an early race relations pioneer, athletic star, and sometimes-successful businessman deserving of far more attention and memories than Pollard currently garners.
   Efforts such as Carroll's help keep the memories of Pollard alive for those who have never heard of or fully grasped the achievements of Pollard. Carroll's assertion that Pollard was a pioneer in race relations, however, appears to fall flat in some respects. As Carroll points out, Pollard had to negotiate a subtle balance between asserting his race and accepting the tide of racism. Yet, it appears that Pollard endured more racism and contempt on the playing field rather than in business endeavors. Perhaps this was because most of Pollard's business activities were aimed at African Americans themselves, but it seems plausible that Pollard would face far more discrimination and racial injustices in the business arena than the sporting one. One must also question what Pollard really thought of his role in pioneering racial equality.
   Towards the end of the book, Carroll notes that Pollard displays bitterness in regards to the racial animosities delivered his way. Pollard's daughter, Leslie asserts that Pollard deeply cared about his race and the cause of civil rights. (239) Acknowledging that some of Pollard's efforts were behind closed doors and diminished because of a natural assumption that the black middle class emulated white society too much, Carroll's contention that Pollard was truly a pioneer in race relations seems weak. Perhaps it is only a case of the author failing to connect accurately his argument to his examples. Whether his deeds pioneered race relations or not, Pollard deserves remembering for all of the firsts and successes he indeed accomplished.



2. If you don't know Fritz Pollard you must read this book. It provides insight into him and the people closest to him. It raises your spirits and makes you want to accomplish great tasks. This is an A+++++++ book for any football fan.

1 comments about Beyond the Model T: The Other Ventures of Henry Ford (Great Lakes Books Series).

1. I have read quite a number of books on inspiration, motivation and those claiming to answer all the doubts of human mind. The thing lacking in most books is they assume a lot about the reader. The degree of doubt is high in such books. Questions like, Why I am not getting the passion? why that excercise is not working?, Is something wrong with me? keep arising all the time. And in the end you end up in a deeper mess than you were before. It does'nt work for most of us I feel. The good part about Micheal Thomas is that his story starts bang into the kind of mess most of us are, bored with life, living but with no excitement, always realizing the futility of everything. The satisfaction that I used to get in little things before is not there even for bigger things. That is exactly Michael Thomas is feeling when the book starts. And as he transforms as and when he gets his answers and as a result I too transform. Most of the time I wish I was Micheal Thomas so remarkable is the identification with him. The book is not a how-to guide to all your troubles, a panacea, but more of self analysis. If you are filled with questions nobody is able to answer grab this book and read it in peace and silence, you may be amazed with the end result.

No comments about Hearing Grasshoppers Jump: The Story of Raymond Ackerman.