If your idea of Western wear is John Wayne in chaps and creased 10 gallon hat - forget it. Rolling Stone Press Editor Holly George-Warren and clothing designer Michelle Freedman have produced a luxe look at Western garb that is more Las Vegas than Laredo.

The iconic American cowboy typifies our country's spirit to many, from New York City sidewalk stompers who have no saddles but don boots to diamond encrusted Grammy award winners who twang with the best of them.

So, for those attracted by the lore and lure of ranching days, here is a photographed filled bow to all garb Western. It begins with the practical clothing needed by scours, traders, and ranch workers, then details how early movie stars such as Tom Mix, Gene Autry, Dale Evans and Roy Rogers spurred a popular trend in cowboy wear.

That vogue was to later influence British rock musicians and high end fashion designers such as Ralph Lauren.
"There's a little bit of cowboy in everybody," the foreword states and that would be seem to be true as the pages of How The West Was Worn reveal glimpses of tastefully displayed silver buckles, jauntily worn Stetsons, and rhinestone embellished rigs that never saw a range.

- Gail Cooke

A colorful and comprehensive examination of American style at it's most iconic - the authors have done a wonderful job telling the story of how cowboy duds came to symbolize America the world over. A must have for anyone interested in the West, design, decorative arts, fashion, pop culture or Americana/American History. The book is gorgeously presented, expertly written and endlessly entertaining, the photography is beautiful, and the interviews are rare and revealing. From the plains and frontiers, to Buffalo Bill to the Hollywood Cowboy, Country & Western, Rock & Roll, the current fashion craze, the authors leave no cowpie unturned as they reveal how the cowboy hat became our collective unconscious. The most complete record of the lives and work of N. Turk, Rodeo Ben, and Nudie to date. How did the famed North Hollywood rodeo tailor get men in the 20th century to wear fanciful embroidered and rhinestoned creations, that became more and more elaborate in a competitive fervor to outshine each other?(And how did Keith Richards cause him to draw the line?) Find out. From the fanatical to the casual observer, and especially anyone who has ever bedazzled denim or worn a pair of cowboy boots, all will treasure this book.

This is THE book for anyone who lives, works, visits or is even thinking of a trip to the Hudson Valley, this bucolic but agriculturally threatened area, just an hour north of New York City. Jan Greenberg not only tells where to buy and eat these outstanding (and tasty) products but in a non-preachy way makes the reader understand why it is important to support these local farmers and producers. Her profiles and stories of the farmers who grow the fruits and vegetables and raise the livestock are truly heartfelt and gave me, and will do the same I think for anyone else who reads them, a new understanding of what is like to be a grower where everything, from weather to the economy, is out of your control. This is the high risk profession!! It makes Wall Street look safe.

Above all, though, this is a book about enjoying food --buying it, serving it and tasting it. As Danny Meyer, owner of New York City's Union Square Cafe and other restaurants known for their support of local farms, writes - "This book deserves a place on the bookshelf (or in the glove compartment) of every itinerant aficionado of New York's bounty." He's right.

We bought this book before a weekend trip to the Hudson Valley and can't imagine traveling to the area without it. It has everything you would want to know about the farmers and what they are growing and producing. It tells you where and what to eat and how to use what you buy at a farmstand or local farmers market. It also made us really think about the people who grow the food. Their stories are uniformly interesting, even moving. The author has a pleasingly gentle touch when she writes about issues so much in the news today like organics, the humane treatment of animals and keeping small farms viable. Even if you aren't visiting the Hudson Valley, this is definitely a worthwhile book to have and read.

I've read numerous overview-type books on 20th century philosophy and this is the best history on the subject ever written. Passmore won Firsts in both English Literature and Philosophy when he was a student, an extraordinary feat, and an early indication of his talent in creating a scholarly history such as this.

The book focuses mainly on epistemology and metaphysics, with excellent sections on many modern movements such Wittgenstein and ordinary language philosophy, Logical Positivism and the philosophy of science, the contribution of modern logicians such as Quine and Tarski, Russel and Moore's influence, Whitehead and critical naturalism, and many other important topics.

This beauty is one of the best short-history of philosophies I've ever read. You end each chapter with a lot of hints and links for philosophical ideas and names, and a clear path through the discussions over the years. It will do for you what only a very good professor having a special talk with you would...It's a bit difficult to get, but is one of those books that are always very useful when you need a quick insight on a period you don't know that well: it will give you a picture inmediately, you'll feel lucky to have it in your shelf, in your hands, and in your memory...yes, I guess that you know now that this is a very much loved book for me. It concentrates on epistemology, touching some logic, and connects the 19th century developements with the beggining of phenomenology via Brentano, Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, and Merleau Ponty...Perfect for unraveling the difficult mesh of "metaphysics" in the past century. Buy it, buy it, buy it...if you do not like it, blame me, or greet me otherwise.

This is a book that, at first, shatters all your dogmas about Islam and the search for the Reality (God), and then rebuilds your faith in the most beautiful way. ibn Arabi was the first of the Sufis to write openly about a knowledge closly held by mystics of old. His book Bezels of Wisdom, therefore, broke new ground by revealing to the world the Real truths behind the Wisdom sent to each Prophet.

One of the greatest saints to bless this earth, the emminent Ibn' Al Arabi, peace be with him, delves into the innermost realm of the human soul. Divulging divine secrets through the lives of the Prophets (Peace be upon all of them), eternal wisdoms are sure to expand your heart.

thats to bad they have wound the series down. my Brothers really like this series. my personal favorite would have to be number four, but still, they are all great. My self and My brothers aren't the only ones in my family who like them though. My mother and my Grandmother do. I would suggest it for anyone wanting a good book to engross yourself in for a few nights. great reading.

I am sorry this is the last book of this series. I have really enjoyed all of the stories. It seems that as soon as the heroes reach some sort of settling down stage, the authors end the books. I would like to see some more stories about Zach Cobb and his brothers. I hope Mr. Walker will reconsider and write some more.

I took a graduate music history survey course under the instruction of the author, Douglass Seaton, at Florida State University in the Fall semester of 1997. Though I hold no degree in musicology (all my degrees are in trombone performance), I have found this text to be the perfect reference, both in the context of a survey course, and especially in preperation for diagnostic/preliminary exams.

The book is somewhat smaller than either the Grout/Palisca or the Stolba texts (as the book was authored with a one-semester survey course in mind), and perhaps doesn't contain all of the minutia for which the Grout/Palisca "A History of Western Music" is known. The benefit is an extremely readable source, tongue-in-cheek at times, that is still highly detailed, but compelling enough to gain a thorough perspective of the history of western music (historical contexts, performance practices, transitions between defined periods).

I have recommended this book to everyone who has asked for my advice for graduate-school entrance/preliminary exam preparation.

This was my music history textbook when I was an undergrad, and I found it so fascinating that I changed my major to musicology and reread the book from cover to cover on my own time.

One of those books that are hard to forget and a love story that is easy to believe. Elaine Coffman became one of my favorite authors with this beautiful novel. I am an avid fan of Judith Mcnaught, Jude Deveraux and Johanna Lindsey and I added Coffman to my list because of this book.

I thought this was a wonderful book, I have read 3 of Coffman's books, and this is by far the best. It was one of those feel good books!!!

This is one magnificent work. It covers the major themes of the Bible with detailed analysis and relevant sidebars so that anyone in a Bible study group or reading the Bible on their own can have a meaningful source of interpreatations. Each page is a new subject, which makes it simple to use. Pages can be read on their own or the entire book can be read. Bible verses are quoted on each topic so the reader is always aware of how the idea is being applied.

This work is less than 300 pages, but it is so rich in detail that one will not be able to skim through it in a couple of evenings. Once you start reading, it is hard to put down and is hard to not read every word on every page. This book helps one gain perspective and context. At the end is a summary of each book, including the apochrypha. In the main text, non-canonical books like the Gospel of Thomas are mentioned, so the reader can rest assured the author put as much scope and thought into this work as was practical.

Bible scholars, Bible study groups, general knowledge seekers, historians, philosphers, and many others will find this book extremely useful and user-friendly. Anyone disappointed in this wonderful volume is just not interested in learning.

This is a wonderful overview of the Bible illustrated with color art from down through the ages. Quotes are from the New Revised Standard Version, a translation which is favored by scholars for its accuracy. The comments are insightful, interesting and accurate. A great supplement to this book is THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE BOOK OF PROVERBS by Cody Jones. Numerous characters from throughout the Bible are pointed out who illustrate King Solomon's witty observations on human nature. Many of the riddles and mysteries of Proverbs are explored with surprising new answers. Proverbs are a treasury of God's wisdom and give practical applications of Biblical values in punchy memorable sayings.

Ralph Friedman hitchhiked his way to Oregon in 1933 as a 16-year-old. He spent the next six decades or so lovingly chronicling the unique people and places of his adopted state.

"In Search of Western Oregon" is really a culmination of his life's work. Yes, it's structured as a travel guide; but it's also much more. Friedman covers the well-known sites and history, but his clear emphasis is on the forgotten faces and places that are such an essential part of the Beaver State. Many of the photographs in this book are by Friedman's wife, Phoebe, his partner in both life and work.

Friedman's earlier "Oregon For The Curious," also still in print, offers a similar, but less comprehensive, treatment of both halves of the state. Separately, or together, they provide a unique overview of this diverse, beautiful, often still wild state, and the people who have attempted to find a life in harmony with it. It's wonderful for the armchair traveler and invaluable for anyone who has the desire and opportunity to travel off the beaten path.

People from other states should settle for something thin, like Scenic Driving Oregon, but for natives who are looking to explore deeper, who have wondered what's up that pigpath, this is the very best. Too bad he didn't do Eastern Oregon in the same manner.

This book is a must for geneoligist serching for ancestors in Texas. Not only does it give account of the once thriving city of matagorda bay. But the transportation availability to include the Trains and shipping lines. This book gives all references to the texas train lines of the times and can give you an idea of what route early ancestors may have traveled. The book itself is a accurate account of the early days of german imigration, Indianola itself and the people who made it all happen. I found the book to very interesting and attention grabbing.

Very few local histories interweave all events in a city's history...both the good and the bad. However, this book does it, and very well. The reader gets to see the city through the inhabitant's eyes, and experience the growth of one of Texas' most influential cities of the 19th century. From the very beginning, you see how this coastal city is a slave to the elements. Several storms are endured, before the town disappears from the landscape. You get to see how it interacted with its arch rival, Galveston, along with its coexistence with many of the smaller towns in its vicinity. And you get to see how this city lived and died by the railroad. If you thought Indianola was always a Texas state park, this book will open your eyes. If you're interested in hurricanes, this book shows how ravaging storms were before current, strict housing codes were inacted, and before seawalls protected all coastal cities. For the Texas historian, this book is a must. It is a complete history of the 43 years of Indianola, and its haunting legacy. For residents of San Antonio and Victoria, it gives them a chance to discover what the city of many of their forefathers was really like.