In the world of contemporary travel writing, Bill Bryson, the bestselling author of A Walk in the Woods, often emerges as a major contender for King of Crankiness. Granted, he complains well and humorously, but between every line of his travel books you can almost hear the tinny echo: "I wanna go home, I miss my wife."
Happily, I'm a Stranger Here Myself unleashes a new Bryson, more contemplative and less likely to toss daggers. After two decades in England, he's relocated to Hanover, New Hampshire. In this collection (drawn from dispatches for London's Night & Day magazine), he's writing from home, in close proximity to wife and family. We find a happy marriage between humor and reflection as he assesses life both in New England and in the contemporary United States. With the telescopic perspective of one who's stepped out of the American mainstream and come back after 20 years, Bryson aptly holds the mirror up to U.S. culture, capturing its absurdities--such as hotlines for dental floss, the cult of the lawsuit, and strange American injuries such as those sustained from pillows and beds. "In the time it takes you to read this," he writes, "four of my fellow citizens will somehow manage to be wounded by their bedding."
The book also reflects the sweet side of small-town USA, with columns about post-office parties, dining at diners, and Thanksgiving--when the only goal is to "get your stomach into the approximate shape of a beach ball" and be grateful. And grateful we are that the previously peripatetic Bryson has returned to the U.S., turning his eye to this land--while living at home and near his wife. Under her benevolent influence, he entertains through thoughtful insights, not sarcastic stabs.

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Janice Ross - Anna Halprin, Experience as Dance (2 007).jpg

Anna Halprin pioneered what became known as "postmodern dance," creating work that was key to unlocking the door to experimentation in theater, music, Happenings, and performance art. This first comprehensive biography examines Halprin's fascinating life in the context of American culture--in particular popular culture and the West Coast as a center of artistic experimentation from the Beats through the Hippies. Janice Ross chronicles Halprin's long, remarkable career, beginning with the dancer's grandparents--who escaped Eastern European pogroms and came to the United States at the turn of the last century--and ending with the present day, when Halprin continues to defy boundaries between artistic genres as well as between participants and observers. As she follows Halprin's development from youth into old age, Ross describes in engrossing detail the artist's roles as dancer, choreographer, performance theorist, community leader, cancer survivor, healer, wife, and mother.

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Janice Ross - Anna Halprin, Experience as Dance (2 007).pdf

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David C. King - World Wars and the Modern Age (200 4).jpg

Experience explosive changes in American history with the people who witnessed them! From 1870 to 1950, America experienced an unprecedented era of rapid change and growth. A host of remarkable inventions led the way in transforming this nation into a major world power, and yet the forces of change often caused tremendous upheaval in people's lives. Now, World Wars and the Modern Age provides a rare glimpse into the day-to-day experiences of Americans who lived through Prohibition, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and two world wars. You'll be there as the New York Times offices are filled with electric light for the first time. You'll watch as immigrants flock to America's colorful, fast-growing cities, hoping to start anew. You'll read a young soldier's account of going "over the top" during the grim trench warfare of World War I—and, barely twenty years later, an eyewitness account of the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that plunged America into World War II.

From the personal writings of Henry Ford on his Model T automobile to songs of the Depression, from FDR's Inaugural Address to a G.I.'s description of D-Day, World Wars and the Modern Age presents a wealth of period documents, including diaries, letters, articles, advertisements, speeches, and more, from both famous figures and ordinary citizens. Find out how all of these American voices together helped make this country what it is today.

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David C. King - World Wars and the Modern Age (200 4).pdf

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Todd Timmons - Science and Technology in Nineteent h-Century America (2005).jpg

The 19th Century was a period of tremendous change in the daily lives of the average Americans. Never before had such change occurred so rapidly or and had affected such a broad range of people. And these changes were primarily a result of tremendous advances in science and technology. Many of the technologies that play such an central role in our daily life today were first invented during this great period of innovation—everything from the railroad to the telephone. These inventions were instrumental in the social and cultural developments of the time. The Civil War, Westward Expansion, the expansion and fall of slave culture, the rise of the working and middle classes and changes in gender roles—none of these would have occurred as they did had it not been for the science and technology of the time.

Science and Technology in Nineteenth-Century America chronicles this relationship between science and technology and the revolutions in the lives of everyday Americans. The volume includes a discussion of:
* Transportation—from the railroad and steamship to the first automobiles appearing near the end of the century.
* Communication—including the telegraph, the telephone, and the photograph
* Industrialization— how the growing factory system impacted the lives of working men and women
* Agriculture—how mechanical devices such as the McCormick reaper and applications of science forever altered how farming was done in the United States
* Exploration and navigations—the science and technology of the age was crucial to the expansion of the country that took place in the century, and The book includes a timeline and a bibliography for those interested in pursuing further research, and over two dozen fascinating photos that illustrate the daily lives of Americans in the 19th Century Part of the Daily Life through History series, this title joins Science and Technology in Colonial America in a new branch of the series-titles specifically looking at how science innovations impacted daily life.

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Todd Timmons - Science and Technology in Nineteent h-Century America (2005).pdf

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Collectif - Southwest USA & Las Vegas Eyewitness T ravel Guides (2006).jpg

The Grand Canyon, Pueblo Dwellings, the desert art of Georgia O'Keefe - what could be a bigger contrast with the neon and glitter of Las Vegas? Amazingly, these are all found in one region of the USA - and the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide is all you need to get the most out of it. With its new full-colour maps of towns and regions, and detailed coverage of restaurants and hotels, as well as hundreds of photographs and maps - you won't find a better guide to Arizona, New Mexico, the Four Corners and Las Vegas. It provides scenic routes, thematic tours and even some gambling tips - so you won't come home empty-handed.

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Eleanor Berman - New York Eyewitness Travel Guides (2007).jpg

At first glance New York City might seem overwhelming, but the Eyewitness Travel to New York will make the city feel uncomplicated. Take a bite out of the Big Apple as you discover New York's shopping, museums, restaurants, hotels, parks, nightlife, and theaters. This lavishly illustrated guide will enlighten your experience and make it easy to manage. Everyday in New York offers its visitors something new to see and experience.

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Lorraine Johnson - Chicago Eyewitness Travel Guide s (2008).jpg

Encyclopedic in scope, it's meant to be used before, during, and after your stay. (Travel & Leisure) Both novice and experienced travelers will be captivated. (U.S. News & World Report) Each book is a visual as well as informational feast about a particular place. (The New York Times) The best travel guides ever. (Sky Magazine) For comprehensive advice that is attractively presented, publisher Dorling Kindersley's guides for serious travelers are tough to beat. (US News & World Report) Hats off to DK for the Eyewitness Travel Guides...[they] raise the bar for all others. (Dallas Morning News) The most graphically exciting and visually pleasing series on the market. (Chicago Tribune) Eyewitness Travel Guides are marvels of writing, color photography and illustration. What makes these so special is their thoroughness. (New York Times Syndicate) This is a guidebook series that always seems to inspire smiles...You feel, looking at them, as if you could close the book and step into the street. (Contra Costa Times ) Want to know where to get a great espresso on your way to the Uffizi? Or how much to tip a hotel maid in New York City? Try these travel guides, each an intricate trove of 3-D aerial views, landmark floor plans, color photos and essential eating, shopping and entertainment info. With titles covering Paris, Prague, and London, these pocket-sized guides are like a Michelangelo fresco: deliriously rich in detail. (People Magazine) Eyewitness Travel Guides, considered to be the world's best travel resource to over 30 destinations around the world, make it easier to plan a splendid vacation. (North American Press Syndication) Each new Eyewitness Guide adds more of the world to this wonderfully visual series.... What sets these guides apart from others is their striking, three-dimensional cutaways of key sites.

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Eleanor Berman - New England Eyewitness Travel Gui des (2007).jpg

In autumn, when almost all of New England turns from green to maple red, this corner of the U.S. seems to have it all: beautiful countryside, an inspiring history, a fabulous coastline, and a sense of tradition not always found in the rest of the country. With over 1,200 full-color photographs and beautiful 3-D aerial views, DK's Eyewitness Travel Guide: New England shows you why this is one of America's most popular destinations. The guide includes a major section on Boston, plus sightseeing chapters on Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Top tips on ski resorts and other outdoor activities--including whale watching, together with recommendations for the most charming bed-and-breakfast accommodations and restaurants, this guide stands alone.

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Louise Monroe - The Big Book of the United States.jpg

Carson-Dellosa's Big Book of the United States contains information and activities covering the 50 states,regions of the United States,and U.S. dependencies. Each of the 50 state sections contaings a state map and flag,symbols of the state,nicknames,interesting facts,history,classroom activities,and more! Rounding out this valuble resource are reference pages including ... more »states and capitals, rankings of the states, a map of the United States,a U.S. flag and plenty of ideas for you to customize United States activities for your classroom.

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Louise Monroe - The Big Book of the United States.pdf

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Bill Bryson - Made in America, An Informal History of the English Language in the United States (199 4).jpg

Readers from Toad Suck, Arkansas, to Idiotsville, Oregon--and everywhere in between--will love Made in America, Bill Bryson's Informal History of the English Language in the United States. It is, in a word, fascinating. After reading this tour de force, it's clear that a nation's language speaks volumes about its true character: you are what you speak. Bryson traces America's history through the language of the time, then goes on to discuss words culled from everyday activities: immigration, eating, shopping, advertising, going to the movies, and others.

Made in America will supply you with interesting facts and cocktail chatter for a year or more. Did you know, for example, that Teddy Roosevelt's "speak softly and carry a big stick" credo has its roots in a West African proverb? Or that actor Walter Matthau's given name is Walter Mattaschanskayasky? Or that the supposedly frigid Puritans--who called themselves "Saints," by the way--had something called a pre-contract, which was a license for premarital sex? Made in America is an excellent discussion of American English, but what makes the book such a treasure is that it offers much, much more.

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Cal Massey - Famous African American Women, colori ng book (2002).jpg

The contributions of African-American women to education, civil rights, literature, the performing arts, athletics, and other areas are documented in this carefully rendered coloring book.

Forty-five illustrations spotlight these notable figures: Coretta Scott King, Oprah Winfrey, Sojourner Truth, Frances E. W. Harper, Katherine Dunham, Barbara Jordan, Mary Eliza Mahoney, Nikki Giovanni, Mary Elizabeth Bowser, Toni Morrison, Daisy Bates, Susie King Taylor, Whitney Houston, Mahalia Jackson, Clara "Mother" Hale, Ellen Craft, Maggie Lena Walker, Althea Gibson, Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, Anna Julia Haywood Cooper, Mary Church Terrell, Ethel Waters, Shirley Chisholm, Marian Wright Edelman, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Wilma Rudolph, Mary McLeod Bethune, Madam C. J. Walker, Lorraine Hansberry, Gwendolyn Brooks, Maya Angelou, Ella Fitzgerald, Hattie McDaniel, Constance Baker Motley, Leontyne Price, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Bessie Coleman, Zora Neale Hurston, Harriet Tubman, Mae Jemison, Marian Anderson, Phillis Wheatley, Rosa Parks. Informative captions highlight the achievements of each woman.

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Cal Massey - Famous African American Women, colori ng book (2002).pdf

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Gary Althen - American Ways, A Guide for Foreigner s in the United States (2003).jpg

In clear language and with numerous examples, this book describes the basic characteristics of American culture: values, style of communication, patterns of thinking, customary behaviours, and underlines how they are different from the ways of other cultures. It then shows how these characteristics are reflected in the many aspects of American life which the foreigner encounters (including politics, social relations, personal hygiene, public behaviour, studying and business). The book also offers concrete suggestions on how to learn more about American culture and how to respond most effectively to the Americans one meets.

About the Author
Gary Althen served for thirty years as a foreign student adviser at the University of Iowa, many of them as director of the Office of International Students and Scholars. He has been president of NAFSA: Association of International Educators and received its Marita Houlihan Award for his contributions to the field of international educational exchange. He is the author of The Handbook of Foreign Student Advising and is author, editor, or coauthor of many publications concerning international education and intercultural affairs. He has lived and worked in Peru and Malaysia. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Gary Althen - American Ways, A Guide for Foreigner s in the United States (2003).pdf

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John Taylor Gatto - The Underground History Of Ame rican Education (2001).jpg

The Underground History of American Education: A Schoolteacher’s Intimate Investigation Into the Problem of Modern Schooling is a critique of the U.S. education system by John Taylor Gatto.

Gatto, a former teacher, left the classroom the same year in which he was named New York State Teacher of the Year. He announced his decision in a letter titled "I Quit, I Think".

Using anecdotes gathered from thirty years of teaching, Gatto presents his view of modern compulsion schooling, describing a "conflict between systems which offer physical safety and certainty at the cost of suppressing free will, and those which offer liberty at the price of constant risk". Gatto argues that educational strategies promoted by government and industry leaders for over a century included the creation of a system that keeps real power in the hands of very few people.

From the book's Introduction:

"... Underground History isn’t a history proper, but a collection of materials toward a history, embedded in a personal essay analyzing why mass compulsion schooling is unreformable. The history I have unearthed is important to our understanding; it’s a good start, I believe, but much remains undone."

"... what I’m trying to describe [is] that what has happened to our schools was inherent in the original design for a planned economy and a planned society laid down so proudly at the end of the nineteenth century."

Russ Kick offers this in summary:

"In other words, the captains of industry and government explicitly wanted an educational system that would maintain social order by teaching us just enough to get by but not enough so that we could think for ourselves, question the sociopolitical order, or communicate articulately."

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John Taylor Gatto - The Underground History Of Ame rican Education (2001).pdf

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Karl Samson - Frommer's Arizona 2004 (2004).jpg

Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer’s Arizona 2004 features gorgeous color photos of the state’s spectacular scenery. Extremely detailed and personally researched, this is the most reliable and in-depth guide you can buy for an Arizona adventure. From world-class golf resorts to authentic dude ranches, from stunning Southwestern-style B&Bs; to rustic lodges and secluded campgrounds, our authors have chosen the very best places to stay throughout the state, in all price ranges. They’ll show you the most scenic drives, and take you outdoors for desert hikes, superb golf, thrilling white-water rafting, horseback riding, and more. Serious shoppers will appreciate our insider advice on finding the best of local art galleries and the most intriguing regional crafts, rugs, and pottery. And of course, you’ll discover where to find the best Mexican and Southwestern dining, from elegant resort restaurants to roadside joints that offer great regional specialties and a mean margarita. With Frommer’s in hand, you’ll see all the highlights, from glorious vistas of the Grand Canyon to the fanciful red-rock formations of Sedona, from the eerie monoliths of Monument Valley to the silent splendors of the desert. You’ll even get a free color fold-out map and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap.

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Karl Samson - Frommer's Arizona 2004 (2004).pdf

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M. Keith Booker - Alternate Americas, Science Fict ion Film and American Culture (2006).jpg

"Booker studies 15 science fiction films made in the US in the second half of the 20th century, including The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Blade Runner (1982), and The Matrix (1999). The 25-page introduction reveals the author's extensive knowledge of his subject; here Booker looks at historical events that affected the production of certain types of films, e.g., the Cold War and the alien-invasion films. He then devotes a chapter to each film, providing for each a one-paragraph introduction; sections on the plot and the sources of the film; a longer discussion of how events in society contributed to certain concerns of the film and elements of the production; and a concluding section on how that film influenced other films…. Recommended. Lower-/upper-division undergraduates; general readers."

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M. Keith Booker - Alternate Americas, Science Fict ion Film and American Culture (2006).pdf

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Marie Morris - Frommer's Boston 2009 (2008).jpg

From the Back Cover

Frommer's. The best trips start here.

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer.

Insider tips from a longtime Boston resident to help you make the most of your visit.

Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not.

Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip whatever your budget.

Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.

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Marie Morris - Frommer's Boston 2009 (2008).pdf

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Neil E. Schlecht, Rich Beattie - Frommer's New Yor k State (2004).jpg

Meticulously researched by a team of expert residents who know this region intimately, Frommer's New York State (1st edition) is an extraordinary and highly personal guide to one of America’s most diverse regions.

Frommer’s New York State is packed with candid opinions on everything about New York City, but also on the beaches, antiques shops, wineries, skiing, hiking, biking, and other outdoor adventures that make up the rest of New York State. We’ve covered all the perennial favorites, from the Hamptons to Niagara Falls, but we’ll also take you off the beaten track to discover New York's best small towns and natural escapes. Whether you want a romantic getaway in an upstate B&B or family fun on Long Island's best beaches, Frommer’s will help you design the trip that’s right for you.

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Neil E. Schlecht, Rich Beattie - Frommer's New Yor k State (2004).pdf

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Wilfred M. McClay - A Student's Guide To U.S. Hi story (2000).jpg

No nation in modern history has had a more powerful sense of its own distinctiveness than the United States. Yet few Americans understand the immensely varied sources of that sense and the fascinating debates that have always swirled around our attempts to define America with greater precision. In this introduction to the study of American history, Wilfred M. McClay invites us to experience the perennial freshness and vitality of this great subject as he explores some of the enduring commitments and persistent tensions that have made America what it is. Author: Wifred M. McClayPages: 96, PaperbackPublisher

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