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Lansing Unlimited (6)
Arthur Russell Lauder
1947 American Book - Statford Press, Inc. NY
I am on a history jag now. Local/auto history specifically.
This book was written in 1947 by a vet who returns how disillusioned at the free market system.. He begins to think that communist is the way for us. He talks with his communist friend who reinforces it. So to be fair he decides to visit local businesses and learn about what they do, how they operate and ask some questions. This book has a very cold-war feel to it.. what was interesting was not the rhetoric, but rather a look at local businesses, most of which are no longer around. Gives you a bit of history when the mention where things are.
Two interesting examples are... the Chamber of Commerce talks about the new Vets Civic Center they want to build. Since then it has been built, tore down, and replaced. They also talked about the Capitol complex and the buildings to the West of the Capitol. They go that very right.. specifically mentioning the museum and courts.. which were the last building put up in 1988 and 1999.
You are probably not going to find this book... It was written in 1947 and according to the note it was distributed by the school board and paid for by the companies profiled in it. The book would be of little interest unless you live in Lansing and are interested in the history. Or if you like cold war era propaganda.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
Ford, The Men And The Machine (4)
Ford, The Men And The Machine
by Robert Lacey
This was an amazing book... He looks at the Fords from Henry Ford's birth until late in the life of Henry Ford II (1985). Detailing the rise of Henry Ford.. and the problems later in his life, the disarray of the company, and the torment of his son. I have read books on Ford before, and thought this one was accurate, although did not go into much detail about Edsel, other than his father was largely disappointed in him, and he was frustrated by his inability to get his father to make changes for the good of the company.
Nearly half the book deals with Henry Ford II and the company from 1945 until the late 1970's. It is a look at great new people, and old problems. Over all the book was not kind of Lee Iaccoca, dismissing him as a good car man who got caught up in his own ego. The book also explores the various personal problems of the third and fourth generations of the Ford family.
As well as talking about the Ford family the book also looks into the history and mood of Detroit as well. I know a great deal of history of Detroit, but learned a few new things in this book.
This book was well written and very readable.. it was also very long.. 650+ pages of the story, plus more on notes, bib, etc. The book was heavily referenced.. so I believe it to be reasonably accurate. Some items are up to the individuals memory or interpretation of an event, and I think Lacy did a good job of showing differnt views of the same situation. Especially with Iaccoca where his accounts, Henry II account and the board accounts differ.
I recommend the book to anyone interested in Ford, the auto industry or Detroit.
by Robert Lacey
This was an amazing book... He looks at the Fords from Henry Ford's birth until late in the life of Henry Ford II (1985). Detailing the rise of Henry Ford.. and the problems later in his life, the disarray of the company, and the torment of his son. I have read books on Ford before, and thought this one was accurate, although did not go into much detail about Edsel, other than his father was largely disappointed in him, and he was frustrated by his inability to get his father to make changes for the good of the company.
Nearly half the book deals with Henry Ford II and the company from 1945 until the late 1970's. It is a look at great new people, and old problems. Over all the book was not kind of Lee Iaccoca, dismissing him as a good car man who got caught up in his own ego. The book also explores the various personal problems of the third and fourth generations of the Ford family.
As well as talking about the Ford family the book also looks into the history and mood of Detroit as well. I know a great deal of history of Detroit, but learned a few new things in this book.
This book was well written and very readable.. it was also very long.. 650+ pages of the story, plus more on notes, bib, etc. The book was heavily referenced.. so I believe it to be reasonably accurate. Some items are up to the individuals memory or interpretation of an event, and I think Lacy did a good job of showing differnt views of the same situation. Especially with Iaccoca where his accounts, Henry II account and the board accounts differ.
I recommend the book to anyone interested in Ford, the auto industry or Detroit.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
The Mammoth Hunters (3)
The Mammoth Hunters (3)
Jean M Auel
This is the 3rd book in the Earth's Children series. I read the first books, Clan of the Cave Bear, and Valley of the Horses back when I was in High School. The third book picks up where the others left off and continues the story of Ayla. In this book they meet and live with 'the others' and she learns what it is like to be part of a community and of a family. The book centers around the love affair of Ayla and Jondalar, or the lack there of... they have a falling out of sorts.. and each is in their own turmoil about the other.. In my opinion this gets dragged out a bit far. The basic problem is they wont speak to each other and express how they really feel.
The interesting part of these books is that they are look at the way people lived thousands of years ago... how they made everything they needed just from the animals they hunted, and the plants they picked.
The book was enjoyable and had many moments that made me smile. However at 647 pages it became a bit tedious at some points.. and didn't always seem to have a clear path forward.. the end came quickly.. and is an obvious lead up to her next book.
My goal this year was not to read as many books, but rather to get through some of my larger books, like this one, that I knew would take some time to get through. The book took me 2+ weeks to get through, although it seemed longer at times. I have her next 2 books as well, but will read something else before tackling the next one. I in week 5 and book 3... so I am behind, but that is ok ;)
Jean M Auel
This is the 3rd book in the Earth's Children series. I read the first books, Clan of the Cave Bear, and Valley of the Horses back when I was in High School. The third book picks up where the others left off and continues the story of Ayla. In this book they meet and live with 'the others' and she learns what it is like to be part of a community and of a family. The book centers around the love affair of Ayla and Jondalar, or the lack there of... they have a falling out of sorts.. and each is in their own turmoil about the other.. In my opinion this gets dragged out a bit far. The basic problem is they wont speak to each other and express how they really feel.
The interesting part of these books is that they are look at the way people lived thousands of years ago... how they made everything they needed just from the animals they hunted, and the plants they picked.
The book was enjoyable and had many moments that made me smile. However at 647 pages it became a bit tedious at some points.. and didn't always seem to have a clear path forward.. the end came quickly.. and is an obvious lead up to her next book.
My goal this year was not to read as many books, but rather to get through some of my larger books, like this one, that I knew would take some time to get through. The book took me 2+ weeks to get through, although it seemed longer at times. I have her next 2 books as well, but will read something else before tackling the next one. I in week 5 and book 3... so I am behind, but that is ok ;)
The Mammoth Hunters (3)
The Mammoth Hunters (3)
Jean M Auel
This is the 3rd book in the Earth's Children series. I read the first books, Clan of the Cave Bear, and Valley of the Horses back when I was in High School. The third book picks up where the others left off and continues the story of Ayla. In this book they meet and live with 'the others' and she learns what it is like to be part of a community and of a family. The book centers around the love affair of Ayla and Jondalar, or the lack there of... they have a falling out of sorts.. and each is in their own turmoil about the other.. In my opinion this gets dragged out a bit far. The basic problem is they wont speak to each other and express how they really feel.
The interesting part of these books is that they are look at the way people lived thousands of years ago... how they made everything they needed just from the animals they hunted, and the plants they picked.
The book was enjoyable and had many moments that made me smile. However at 647 pages it became a bit tedious at some points.. and didn't always seem to have a clear path forward.. the end came quickly.. and is an obvious lead up to her next book.
My goal this year was not to read as many books, but rather to get through some of my larger books, like this one, that I knew would take some time to get through. The book took me 2+ weeks to get through, although it seemed longer at times. I have her next 2 books as well, but will read something else before tackling the next one. I in week 5 and book 3... so I am behind, but that is ok ;)
Jean M Auel
This is the 3rd book in the Earth's Children series. I read the first books, Clan of the Cave Bear, and Valley of the Horses back when I was in High School. The third book picks up where the others left off and continues the story of Ayla. In this book they meet and live with 'the others' and she learns what it is like to be part of a community and of a family. The book centers around the love affair of Ayla and Jondalar, or the lack there of... they have a falling out of sorts.. and each is in their own turmoil about the other.. In my opinion this gets dragged out a bit far. The basic problem is they wont speak to each other and express how they really feel.
The interesting part of these books is that they are look at the way people lived thousands of years ago... how they made everything they needed just from the animals they hunted, and the plants they picked.
The book was enjoyable and had many moments that made me smile. However at 647 pages it became a bit tedious at some points.. and didn't always seem to have a clear path forward.. the end came quickly.. and is an obvious lead up to her next book.
My goal this year was not to read as many books, but rather to get through some of my larger books, like this one, that I knew would take some time to get through. The book took me 2+ weeks to get through, although it seemed longer at times. I have her next 2 books as well, but will read something else before tackling the next one. I in week 5 and book 3... so I am behind, but that is ok ;)
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