Africa and Africans in the Making of the Atlantic World 1400-1800
by John Thornton, Second edition 1998
Part I Africans in Africa
1. The birth of an Atlantic World
2. The development of commerce between Europeans and Africans
3. Slavery and African social structure
4. The process of enslavement and the slave trade
Part II Africans in the New World
5. Africans in colonial Atlantic societies
6. Africans and Afro-Americans in the Atlantic world; life and labor
7. African culture groups in the Atlantic world
8. Transformations of African culture in the Atlantic world
9. African religions and Christianity in the Atlantic world
10. Resistance, runaways, and rebels
11. Africans in the eighteenth-century Atlantic world
completed reading 11/23/2017
also Reinventing Africa
Museums, material Culture and Popular Imagination
in Late Victorian and Edwardian England
by Anne E. Combes, 1994
completed reading 11/29/2017
Last 2 sentences in Conclusion:
The spectre of degeneration then, was never easily confined to Africa and the other colonies. It haunted the very centre of the imperial heartlands and threatened to undermine irrevocably the myth of racial purity which continues to cling tenaciously to notions of 'Englishness today.
New sciences to me: anthropology and ethnography
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Sunday, September 3, 2017
Changes in the Land
Changes in the Land
by William Cronon, copyright 1983
Europeans sought to give their New England landscape a new purposefulness, often by simplifying its seemingly chaotic tangle.
The relationships of the New England Indians to their environment revolved around the wheel of the seasons.
To take advantage of the land's diversity Indian villages had to be mobile.
By 1800 the Indians and colonists had decimated many of the animals whose abundance had most astonished early European visitors to New England.
Deforestation was one of the most sweeping transformations wrought by European settlement in New England.
Written by Historian and Ecologist William Cronon it is very interesting in describing New England from 1600 to 1800. Changes include Indians replaced by Europeans, plants, animals, farming, fences, and village living.
by William Cronon, copyright 1983
Europeans sought to give their New England landscape a new purposefulness, often by simplifying its seemingly chaotic tangle.
The relationships of the New England Indians to their environment revolved around the wheel of the seasons.
To take advantage of the land's diversity Indian villages had to be mobile.
By 1800 the Indians and colonists had decimated many of the animals whose abundance had most astonished early European visitors to New England.
Deforestation was one of the most sweeping transformations wrought by European settlement in New England.
Written by Historian and Ecologist William Cronon it is very interesting in describing New England from 1600 to 1800. Changes include Indians replaced by Europeans, plants, animals, farming, fences, and village living.
Friday, August 18, 2017
Sapiens A Brief History of Humankind
Today completed reading Sapiens A Brief History of Humankind
by Yuval Noah Harari, copyright 2015
Years before the present;
6 million Last common grandmother of humans and chimpanzees
2.5 million Evolution of the genus Homo in Africa.
500,000 Neanderthals evolve in Europe and the Middle East
200,000 Homo Sapiens evolve in East Africa
13,000 Homos Sapiens the only surviving human species
12,000 The Agricultural Revolution
500 The Scientific Revolution
200 The Industrial Revolution
The Present Humans transcend the boundaries of planet Earth
The Future Homo Sapiens replaced by super humans
A great History book.
by Yuval Noah Harari, copyright 2015
Years before the present;
6 million Last common grandmother of humans and chimpanzees
2.5 million Evolution of the genus Homo in Africa.
500,000 Neanderthals evolve in Europe and the Middle East
200,000 Homo Sapiens evolve in East Africa
13,000 Homos Sapiens the only surviving human species
12,000 The Agricultural Revolution
500 The Scientific Revolution
200 The Industrial Revolution
The Present Humans transcend the boundaries of planet Earth
The Future Homo Sapiens replaced by super humans
A great History book.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Catch-22
Catch-22
by Joseph Heller, 1955
A novel, it is set in the closing months of World War II, in an American bomber squadron on a small island off Italy. A cover review says it moves back and forth from hilarity to horror. In my opinion it is the most ridiculous story in a long time. It is filled with very untrue information all the way. Typical of that is the repeated story about a "syndicate" set up by the mess officer using American aircraft to transfer food and other equipment from and to many locations including Germany. One transfer list included cork from New York, shoes from Toulouse, ham from Siam, nails from Wales, and tangerines from New Orleans. Very amusing but ridiculous.
Completed reading 7/14/2017.
by Joseph Heller, 1955
A novel, it is set in the closing months of World War II, in an American bomber squadron on a small island off Italy. A cover review says it moves back and forth from hilarity to horror. In my opinion it is the most ridiculous story in a long time. It is filled with very untrue information all the way. Typical of that is the repeated story about a "syndicate" set up by the mess officer using American aircraft to transfer food and other equipment from and to many locations including Germany. One transfer list included cork from New York, shoes from Toulouse, ham from Siam, nails from Wales, and tangerines from New Orleans. Very amusing but ridiculous.
Completed reading 7/14/2017.
Friday, June 30, 2017
Walden Two
Walden Two
By B.F. Skinner, 1948
Incudes Walden Two Revisited, 1976
Walden Two is a utopian novel, visited by 2 college professors and 2 young couples.
The original Walden, Life in the Woods was written by Henry David Thoreau in 1854.
Walden Two attempts to provide a greatly improved life for many people. Many questions and surprises in the story, with one couple and one professor deciding to join the group to enjoy the many advantages offered.
Completed reading yesterday, 6/29/2017.
By B.F. Skinner, 1948
Incudes Walden Two Revisited, 1976
Walden Two is a utopian novel, visited by 2 college professors and 2 young couples.
The original Walden, Life in the Woods was written by Henry David Thoreau in 1854.
Walden Two attempts to provide a greatly improved life for many people. Many questions and surprises in the story, with one couple and one professor deciding to join the group to enjoy the many advantages offered.
Completed reading yesterday, 6/29/2017.
Monday, June 19, 2017
The Heart
The Heart
by French writer Maylis de Kerangal
A novel translated by Sam Taylor
Very interested and detailed novel describing a heart transplant.
Family activities of the young man providing the original heart is describe in detail as is the final removal procedure. Then final chapters cover the family activities of the older lady who receives the original heat. The final chapters of course describe the transplant procedure including details of starting the heart to operate again successfully.
Completed reading on 6/17/2017.
by French writer Maylis de Kerangal
A novel translated by Sam Taylor
Very interested and detailed novel describing a heart transplant.
Family activities of the young man providing the original heart is describe in detail as is the final removal procedure. Then final chapters cover the family activities of the older lady who receives the original heat. The final chapters of course describe the transplant procedure including details of starting the heart to operate again successfully.
Completed reading on 6/17/2017.
Friday, May 26, 2017
Uncle Toms Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin
by Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1852
The very best book so far on my current to read list. Terrific all the way through 519 pages. Now I very much appreciate what the negro slaves put up with before the civil war in this country. Stow wrote it before the war but she had some contact with Abraham Lincoln near the beginning. A lot of Christian references throughout the story. Highly recommended to anyone not having read it.
Completed reading it today, 6/11/2017.
by Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1852
The very best book so far on my current to read list. Terrific all the way through 519 pages. Now I very much appreciate what the negro slaves put up with before the civil war in this country. Stow wrote it before the war but she had some contact with Abraham Lincoln near the beginning. A lot of Christian references throughout the story. Highly recommended to anyone not having read it.
Completed reading it today, 6/11/2017.
Frankenstein
Frankenstein
by Mary W. Shelley,
In the story Frankenstein created a monster, who pestered him most of his life but in the end outlived him. His creation was outrageous and an impossibility. So of what value is the story? The writing is easy to read and follow the characters. Not a waste of time but almost so.
Finished reading 5/25/2017
by Mary W. Shelley,
In the story Frankenstein created a monster, who pestered him most of his life but in the end outlived him. His creation was outrageous and an impossibility. So of what value is the story? The writing is easy to read and follow the characters. Not a waste of time but almost so.
Finished reading 5/25/2017
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Slaughterhouse-Five
Slaughterhouse-Five
by Kurt Vonnegut, 1969
This book contains essays written by 9 writers in review of the original Vonnegut book.
Harold Bloom - Introduction
Peter J. Reed - The End of the Road
Peter G. Jones - At War with Technology: Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
James Lundquist - The "New Reality"
Robert Merrill and Peter A. Scholl - The Requirements of Chaos
Lawrence R. Broer - Pilgrim's Progress
Leonard Mustazza - Adam and Eve in the Golden Depths: Edenic Madness
William Rodney Allen - Slaughterhouse-Five
Jerome Klinkowitz - Emerging from Anonymity
Science Fiction defined: fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances and major social or environmental changes, frequently portraying space or time travel and life on other planets.
Original Slaughterhouse-Five contains story about bombing of Dresden Germany near end of WW 2, extraterrestrials Tralfamadorians, and a backwards running war movie ending with Adam & Eve. Science Fiction at its best.
Completed reading this review book on 5/21/2017.
by Kurt Vonnegut, 1969
This book contains essays written by 9 writers in review of the original Vonnegut book.
Harold Bloom - Introduction
Peter J. Reed - The End of the Road
Peter G. Jones - At War with Technology: Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
James Lundquist - The "New Reality"
Robert Merrill and Peter A. Scholl - The Requirements of Chaos
Lawrence R. Broer - Pilgrim's Progress
Leonard Mustazza - Adam and Eve in the Golden Depths: Edenic Madness
William Rodney Allen - Slaughterhouse-Five
Jerome Klinkowitz - Emerging from Anonymity
Science Fiction defined: fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances and major social or environmental changes, frequently portraying space or time travel and life on other planets.
Original Slaughterhouse-Five contains story about bombing of Dresden Germany near end of WW 2, extraterrestrials Tralfamadorians, and a backwards running war movie ending with Adam & Eve. Science Fiction at its best.
Completed reading this review book on 5/21/2017.
Friday, May 12, 2017
Brave New World & Brave New World Revisited
Brave New World
by Aldous Huxley, copyright 1932 & 1946
Very ridiculous book about all babies produced in a factory, no marriages at all with everyone doing whatever and with anyone, and all people divided into 7 classes from A to G. Class A the most intelligent and class G the most dumb. The world Ford instead of Lord or Christ throughout the book. Ford = Henry Ford maker of Ford autos.
Brave New World Revisited
by Aldous Huxley, copyright 1958
Various chapters in the first book are analyzed showing little movement of the world toward those practices. In the final two chapters suggestions are written regarding action and practice in the future: Education for Freedom and What Can be Done"
Completed reading both books on 5/15/2017.
by Aldous Huxley, copyright 1932 & 1946
Very ridiculous book about all babies produced in a factory, no marriages at all with everyone doing whatever and with anyone, and all people divided into 7 classes from A to G. Class A the most intelligent and class G the most dumb. The world Ford instead of Lord or Christ throughout the book. Ford = Henry Ford maker of Ford autos.
Brave New World Revisited
by Aldous Huxley, copyright 1958
Various chapters in the first book are analyzed showing little movement of the world toward those practices. In the final two chapters suggestions are written regarding action and practice in the future: Education for Freedom and What Can be Done"
Completed reading both books on 5/15/2017.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Life in the Crystal Palace
Life in the Crystal Palace
by Alan Harrington, copyright 1958
This is a review of the book found on Google:
Harrington saw that corporate employee as a new species, one that “may be distinguished from other American working people at least in one way, by an absence of nervousness.” This was the era when people could join a company and talk about having “a job for life”.
From my personal experience I can easily relate to much in the book. I worked for only one large manufacturing company all my life as a mechanical engineer.
I retired from that company after 43 years.
The author wrote about his experience working for 3 years at a very large unnamed corporation. He worked in the public relations department. He called that company the Crystal Palace. Most of what he wrote about the company was positive. But a major part of the book describes negative experiences by others in other companies and work places.
Finished reading the book on May 6, 2017.
by Alan Harrington, copyright 1958
This is a review of the book found on Google:
Harrington saw that corporate employee as a new species, one that “may be distinguished from other American working people at least in one way, by an absence of nervousness.” This was the era when people could join a company and talk about having “a job for life”.
From my personal experience I can easily relate to much in the book. I worked for only one large manufacturing company all my life as a mechanical engineer.
I retired from that company after 43 years.
The author wrote about his experience working for 3 years at a very large unnamed corporation. He worked in the public relations department. He called that company the Crystal Palace. Most of what he wrote about the company was positive. But a major part of the book describes negative experiences by others in other companies and work places.
Finished reading the book on May 6, 2017.
Monday, April 17, 2017
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four
By George Orwell, First current printing April 1983
Copyright 1949
Story takes place 35 years before 1984.
In many ways it predicts the future, even when reading it today.
Today (4/20/2017) Completed reading "Nineteen Eighty-Four" by George Orwell. Amazing book written in 1949 and story is fiction about 1984. Recent comments by some writers are warning that some political events today in 2017 are going down this very bad road of control of the public in a similar way. A lot in the news recently about "alternate facts" etc. Is this "double thinking" as in the 1984 story???
How can a President in so many messages say one thing today and reverse it tomorrow? He freely calls so many other political folks liars when he does not agree with them. "Double Thinking" at its best.
By George Orwell, First current printing April 1983
Copyright 1949
Story takes place 35 years before 1984.
In many ways it predicts the future, even when reading it today.
Today (4/20/2017) Completed reading "Nineteen Eighty-Four" by George Orwell. Amazing book written in 1949 and story is fiction about 1984. Recent comments by some writers are warning that some political events today in 2017 are going down this very bad road of control of the public in a similar way. A lot in the news recently about "alternate facts" etc. Is this "double thinking" as in the 1984 story???
How can a President in so many messages say one thing today and reverse it tomorrow? He freely calls so many other political folks liars when he does not agree with them. "Double Thinking" at its best.
Of Mice and Men
Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck, original copyright 1937
Very short and interesting reading.
About George and his halfwit friend Lennie.
Lennie loves rabbits and little else.
Completed reading 4/10/2017
by John Steinbeck, original copyright 1937
Very short and interesting reading.
About George and his halfwit friend Lennie.
Lennie loves rabbits and little else.
Completed reading 4/10/2017
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Herbert Hoover A Biography
Herbert Hoover A Biography
by Eugene Lyons
Written in 1964
Defended all the way, very little bad about Hoover in this biography.
In Wikipedia about Hoover it says that he is now listed among the 5 worst US Presidents. This book writes about all of the bad things about FDR which Hoover continued to say during his lifetime.
Hoover was still alive at age 90 when this biography was published in 1964.
Hoover died later in 1964.
Complete reading it all on 4/8/2017.
by Eugene Lyons
Written in 1964
Defended all the way, very little bad about Hoover in this biography.
In Wikipedia about Hoover it says that he is now listed among the 5 worst US Presidents. This book writes about all of the bad things about FDR which Hoover continued to say during his lifetime.
Hoover was still alive at age 90 when this biography was published in 1964.
Hoover died later in 1964.
Complete reading it all on 4/8/2017.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Heart Of Darkness and The Secret Sharer
Heart Of Darkness and The Secret Sharer
by Joseph Conrad
Copyright date of this Pocket Books version: 2004
A very complicated fictional story about a boat trip up the Congo River into the dark heart of Africa. The story ends with the boat captain meeting in England with a lady to inform her about the death of her injured future husband on the sudden rescue trip back down the Congo. Very descriptive writing with an interesting note at end of some action sentences. Ending now and then was "you know".
Started reading on February 28, 2017.
Completed reading on March 26, 2017.
by Joseph Conrad
Copyright date of this Pocket Books version: 2004
A very complicated fictional story about a boat trip up the Congo River into the dark heart of Africa. The story ends with the boat captain meeting in England with a lady to inform her about the death of her injured future husband on the sudden rescue trip back down the Congo. Very descriptive writing with an interesting note at end of some action sentences. Ending now and then was "you know".
Started reading on February 28, 2017.
Completed reading on March 26, 2017.
Sunday, February 26, 2017
the Catcher in the Rye
the Catcher in the Rye
by J. D. Salinger, copyright 1945, 1946, 1951
Story is fiction written in the words of a 16 year old boy who is dropped out of a Pennsylvania prep school because of his failure in everything except English. Highly recommended and a very successful book. Catcher in the Rye is mentioned briefly only twice in the story, near the middle and near the end. That phrase refers to a song: "If a Body Meets a Body Coming Through the Rye" by Robert Burns.
I dislike the story very much and consider it a waste of my time to have read it.
My main dislike is the use of so many swear words by the boy, at least a half dozen or more on every page. A review in Wikipedia refers to it as: "1940's New York vernacular." To top if off almost all activities or other actions have the words "and all" attached to the end of the sentence. Did they talk like that in the 1940's in New York?
Completed reading on Sunday, February 26, 2017.
by J. D. Salinger, copyright 1945, 1946, 1951
Story is fiction written in the words of a 16 year old boy who is dropped out of a Pennsylvania prep school because of his failure in everything except English. Highly recommended and a very successful book. Catcher in the Rye is mentioned briefly only twice in the story, near the middle and near the end. That phrase refers to a song: "If a Body Meets a Body Coming Through the Rye" by Robert Burns.
I dislike the story very much and consider it a waste of my time to have read it.
My main dislike is the use of so many swear words by the boy, at least a half dozen or more on every page. A review in Wikipedia refers to it as: "1940's New York vernacular." To top if off almost all activities or other actions have the words "and all" attached to the end of the sentence. Did they talk like that in the 1940's in New York?
Completed reading on Sunday, February 26, 2017.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Lord of The Flies
Lord of The Flies
by William Golding
Copyright 1954
began reading January 24, 2017
finished reading February 8, 2017
This edition has Notes at the end by E. L. Epstein
and Selected Highlights of Critical Analysis by various writers
Enjoyed reading it without critical thinking about the intended meaning of various events in the story. One writer goes so far as to observe that the snake clasp on the belt of the main character Ralph reflects the "influence of the serpent."
by William Golding
Copyright 1954
began reading January 24, 2017
finished reading February 8, 2017
This edition has Notes at the end by E. L. Epstein
and Selected Highlights of Critical Analysis by various writers
Enjoyed reading it without critical thinking about the intended meaning of various events in the story. One writer goes so far as to observe that the snake clasp on the belt of the main character Ralph reflects the "influence of the serpent."
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