Review of From Buildings and Loans to Bail-Outs: A History of the American Savings and Loan Industry, 1831-1995 (Hardcover)

With thrifts like Washington Mutual now among the nation's biggest financial institutions, and the excesses of the 1980s still fresh, it's hard to believe that savings and loans once were nonprofit cooperatives. Yet, so-called buildings and loans were, in fact, altruistic associations that sought to give working-class people access to credit. Business historian David L. Mason lays out the little-known roots of the S&L industry in this intriguing study. He outlines the cultural, political and economic forces that shaped thrifts. While Mason doesn't shy away from the S&L debacle of the 1980s, he makes it clear that he sides with the institutions. Readers looking for dirt on the crisis should look elsewhere. Still, we recommend this thorough report to anyone who's curious about the history of the thrift industry.




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Review of The Mighty Niagara: One River-Two Frontiers (Hardcover)

The Mighty Niagara is an excellent book for anyone interested in the geography, history, economics, sociology and development of Canada's Niagara Region and New York's Niagara Frontier.
The two sides of the Niagara River share a common history from the fur trade through the War of 1812, the building of the Erie and Welland canals, the creation of hydro power and the boom in manufacturing in the 20th century. However Buffalo, the two Niagara Falls, St. Catharines and Welland handled these changes in radically different ways.
In his book, John N. Jackson along with his two contributors presents more than 200 years of layers of development. With a well-written text backed up by photos, charts and maps, he takes the reader on journey through time and geography.
The Mighty Niagara is a "must read" for anyone trying to understand one of the busiest border points between Canada and the United States. The communities are similar but every different.



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Review of Newark: A History of Race, Rights, and Riots in America (American History and Culture) (Hardcover)

The city of Newark's story is, in a few ways, not unlike that of many post-Reconstruction, pre-Civil Rights movement Northeastern United States cities. Though not rife with bigotry as the South, such municipalities were not especially hospitable to African-Americans. What makes this New Jersey metropolis unique is the fact Black residents chose to become an electoral powerhouse in the spirit of ethnic minorities which had done the same thing before them. Though the explosive rebellions are the backdrop for this book, African-American political activism, the knotty alliances it created, and the aftermath of those efforts in a post-Civil Rights era are at the core of this book.

Mumford helps you understand the city of Newark and its tradition of African-American civic involvement by detailing the role of those most would consider militants in leading insurrectionist as well as mainstream efforts. Inevitably, the Newark clashes of old take center stage. But, more importantly, Mumford is intent on telling readers what happened before the uprisings, and after.

The author pens a colorful read, whose personalities leap off the page. Whether it's the poet turned radical messiah Amiri Baraka, white establishment types or the tangles for leadership of a burgeoning voting bloc, Mumford's book is an astute, opinionated primer on a slice on Newark's political pedigree. From the city's early days, where African-Americans fought for recognition and dignity, to their ascension to elected office in the midst of the Black Power movement, and then through countless though crucial fragments as new power brokers emerged amid old differences in vision, tactics and goals, this tome is spellbinding, and worth your attention.




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Review of Eyewitness to Wall Street: 400 Years of Dreamers, Schemers, Busts and Booms (Hardcover)

Editor David Colbert collected a multitude of printed source material - diaries, private letters, memoirs and articles - that spans 400 years, and, as the title promises, provides plenty of accounts from eyewitnesses to Wall Street. Organized chronologically, the book also includes Colbert's timelines and his original introductions for each piece. Divided into sections that reflect every era, the book is an insightful and often hilarious romp through financial history. We [...] recommend this book to all readers - there's something here for everyone, even if you don't think you give a hoot about the stock market. Colbert's collection is a sweeping, unusual look at social, economic, political and cultural history.




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Review of Encyclopedia of New Jersey (Hardcover)

First, the good points:this work is huge, well illustrated, and priced at about one third of what a commercial publisher would have to charge for something comparable.Probably no resource has treated the Garden State so thoroughly since the WPA guide was published about 65 years ago.

The downside, unfortunately, is that the contents are disappointing.Since the book has no index, or even a classified list of "essay" entries, there's no way to locate a topic unless you're able to hit upon the precise title under which it's discussed (assuming it's in there somewhere).The scope of coverage is quirky: it seems that every hamlet in the state has its own entry, yet there is no general treatment of, for example, industry or commerce or dairying or corporations (all things that are or have been highly important to New Jersey).Several of the general entries I have read so far are not exactly packed with information; the entries on industrial architecture and law, for instance, are as much about trends that apply to the whole nation as about anything specific to New Jersey.

Still, this work is certainly worth having, and Rutgers should be praised for making it possible.At present, no other reference work comes close.



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Review of Big Daddy: Jesse Unruh and the Art of Power Politics (Hardcover)

At last! A political biography that's also a page-turner!Bill Boyarsky's "Big Daddy, Jesse Unruh and the Art of Power Politics" is a great political biography that has everything; sex, war and larger than life personalities.Follow Jess Unruh from his roots in Depression era Texas though the turbulent sixties and seventies to the prosperous 1980s.Unruh revolutionized civil rights legislation and was instrumental in making California the great & prosperous state it is today.

Bill Boyarsky has written an incredibly colorful book about the hard-drinking California politics of the 20th century, when politicians weren't expected to live like clergymen.Boyarsky brings this era to life with oral history from the principal players throughout Unruh's life.This book is great reading, and a fascinating inside look into the personalities that once ran California.

Fully referenced and indexed, with lots of photographs, this book will be a welcome addition to any library and shouldbecome required reading for any student of California history or political science.




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Review of Around Washington Square: An Illustrated History of Greenwich Village (Hardcover)

Created by the rich and merchant class as an escape from the recurring ravages of yellow fever and cholera, Greenwich Village was, essentially, never really mapped out; never really settled in accordance to any public plan. Perhaps this haphazard beginning is what gave the area its combined refined yet anarchic flavor that exists until this day.

Luther Harris' book, "Around Washington Square: An Illustrated History of Greenwich Village" is an excellent introduction to the history, myths, lies, and unknown truths about this magnet for the students, the homeless, the artists, and the real estate agents who each value Greenwich Village for their own reasons. The text is very informative, and the illustrations are lush and generous. Broken down into easy-to-handle sections, Harris nonetheless is comprehensive. (He apologies to his readers if any particular individual, group, or building was omitted but he needn't have: just about all the bases were covered.) This is an exhaustive and wonderful book.



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Review of The Encyclopedia of Louisville (Hardcover)

This wonderful volume covers people, places, events and things in the Louisville metropolitan area from a historical and cultural perspective in encyclopedia style entries written by Louivillians.As a native Louivillian I am finding it a delight to browse thru the entries learning delightful details about my birthplace and its history.It takes many more universal topics and relates how they have impacted the city and its people.A must for Louisvillians that want to learn more about our rich history and cultural legacy.



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