5 stars (Of Man and the River) - If you thought Hurricane Katrina packed a devastating whallop to the Louisiana and Mississippi Coast, wait until you read this engrossing story of the 1927 Great Mississippi Flood which inundated the entire Misssissippi Delta. Barry does a great job of providing the background for the levee system which has repeatedly failed the Delta because beauracrats were unwilling to bend to any common sense when it came to handling the mighty Mississippi. They insisted on building their levees higher and wider, channeling the river into a raging torrent come high water. The Army Corps of Engineers chose to cling to outdated manuscripts rather than study the situation first hand, which was repeatedly asked for by civil engineers who saw a monumental crisis in the making. Barry makes a good case for Eads' proposal for jetties in deepening the mouth of the Mississippi and creating a greater flow of water into the Gulf of Mexico. While this was done primarily to increase navigation into and from the Port of New Orleans, jetties would have made a lot more sense than a system of levees that essentially served to choke the river. To make matters worse the Corps systematically closed off spillways and refused to cut canals even after the 1922 flood should have served as a warning call. But, Barry treats the rising Mississippi as a metaphorical tool as well, describing Jim Crow South in intimate detail, contrasting the bigoted paternalism of the Percy family with the malignant growth of the Ku Klux Klan, and its impact on Southern politics. It is a well written book that focuses mostly on the Mississippi Delta, the cultural and economic battle for this prized acreage and the river that would ultimately engulf the region. 5 stars (Prophetic and lively read) - John Barry's superb RISING TIDE can be viewed through many prisms, but obviously today, we will all see it through post-Hurricane Katrina eyes. Let it first be said that Barry is a superb ... Simon - Schuster :: History & United States & 20th Century :: United States - State & Local - General :: United States - 20th Century&20s :: Natural Disasters :: Mississippi Rive :: Rising Tide- The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America
4 stars (Important but not compelling) - I understand that the rigors of academia require exhaustive research and documentation, however, that is no excuse for writing which is too dense, difficult to read, or not engaging to the reader. If more "academics" would learn how to write like real people instead of researchers, perhaps their messages would be communicated more effectively... and maybe people would LEARN more. Isn't that the point? There is no excuse for bad writing -- even if you are a genius! 3 stars (It's really tough but you will need it!) - I tried for a long time to deny using this book, even though I bought it off a course list and had it on my shelf. After being told several times by professors that my documents needed to be in APA style, with no quick description offered, I have been forced to go in and learn the format. It's a bit like learning a foreign language but since I've learned to use it, it's come up again, and again, and again, so I'm glad I finally did it. Check out "The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book" as well. It's a fun read, based on sound research, that let me test my EQ online. Boy, did I need my EQ skills while learning APA style! 4 stars (More User-Friendly Than Widely Acknowledged) - It's difficult to understand why so many reviewers find the APA style so difficult. Perhaps this is due to having weaned my teeth on APA during my Ph.D. Rather than finding the style convoluted, confusing, or inconsistent, I find it as clear as the equally valuable "Chicago Manual of Style." In particular, the APA's method of in-text notes makes it easy for the writer and reader to document and locate source materials. Once you grasp the basic premise of footnoting and endnoting, the overall style is coherent. Besides, if you are going to write in the social science field, like it or not, APA style is here to stay--so you may as well learn it and use it. Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends... American Psychological Association (APA) :: Social sciences :: Reference :: Publishing :: Psychology :: Psychological literature :: History :: Handbooks :: manuals :: etc :: Composition & Creative Writing - Acade :: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association- Fifth Edition
Multi-application for travelers and outdoor enjoyment. View maps, sketch them, record your travel needs, calculate the calories of your best sport, get information of America n countries and much more. If you travel, America will be a great companion, if you enjoy good programs, this one will enhance your Palm Pilot.... Pdasi :: Travel :: mappping :: gps :: calories :: maps :: database :: viewer :: train :: car :: boat :: cruise :: America