Journey on the James

Journey on the James
Author: Earl Swift
Publisher: University of Virginia Press
Total Pages: 355
Release: 2014-12-19
Genre: History
ISBN: 0813937213

From its beginnings as a trickle of icy water in Virginia's northwest corner to its miles-wide mouth at Hampton Roads, the James River has witnessed more recorded history than any other feature of the American landscape -- as home to the continent's first successful English settlement, highway for Native Americans and early colonists, battleground in the Revolution and the Civil War, and birthplace of America's twentieth-century navy. In 1998, restless in his job as a reporter for the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, Earl Swift landed an assignment traveling the entire length of the James. He hadn't been in a canoe since his days as a Boy Scout, and he knew that the river boasts whitewater, not to mention man-made obstacles, to challenge even experienced paddlers. But reinforced by Pilot photographer Ian Martin and a lot of freeze-dried food and beer, Swift set out to immerse himself -- he hoped not literally -- in the river and its history. What Swift survived to bring us is this engrossing chronicle of three weeks in a fourteen-foot plastic canoe and four hundred years in the life of Virginia. Fueled by humor and a dauntless curiosity about the land, buildings, and people on the banks, and anchored by his sidekick Martin -- whose photographs accompany the text -- Swift points his bow through the ghosts of a frontier past, past Confederate forts and POW camps, antebellum mills, ruined canals, vanished towns, and effluent-spewing industry. Along the banks, lonely meadowlands alternate with suburbs and power plants, marinas and the gleaming skyscrapers of Richmond's New South downtown. Enduring dunkings, wolf spiders, near-arrest, channel fever, and twenty-knot winds, Swift makes it to the Chesapeake Bay. Readers who accompany him through his Journey on the James will come away with the accumulated pleasure, if not the bruises and mud, of four hundred miles of adventure and history in the life of one of America's great watersheds.

Journey on the James

Journey on the James
Author: Earl Swift
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Total Pages: 260
Release: 2002-04
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780813921198

Swift, a staff writer for the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, presents a chronicle of three weeks in a 14-foot plastic canoe and 400 years in the life of Virginia. Fueled by humor and curiosity about the land, buildings, and people on the banks, he views Confederate forts and POW camps, ante-bellum mills, ruined canals, vanished towns, and the contrast between meadowlands, suburbs and skyscrapers of Richmond's New South downtown. Enduring dunkings, spiders, near arrest, channel fever, and high winds, he makes it to Chesapeake Bay. The book contains a few bandw photographs. c. Book News Inc.

The River Where America Began

The River Where America Began
Author: Bob Deans
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Total Pages: 336
Release: 2008-12-16
Genre: History
ISBN: 0742564894

From the establishment of the first permanent English colony at Jamestown in 1607 to the fall of Richmond in 1865, the James River has been instrumental in the formation of modern America. It was along the James that British and Native American cultures collided and, in a twisted paradox, the seeds of democracy and slavery were sown side by side. The culture crafted by Virginia's learned aristocrats, merchants, farmers, and frontiersmen gave voice to the cause of the American Revolution and provided a vision for the fledgling independent nation's future. Over the course of the United States' first century, the James River bore witness to the irreconcilable contradiction of a slave-holding nation dedicated to liberty and equality for all. When that intractable conflict ignited civil war, the James River served as a critical backdrop for the bloodiest conflict in U.S. history. As he guides readers through this exciting historical narrative, Deans gives life to a dynamic cast of characters including the familiar Powhatan, John Smith, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Benedict Arnold, and Robert E. Lee, as well as those who have largely escaped historical notoriety. The River Where America Began takes readers on a journey along the James River from the earliest days of civilization nearly 15,000 years ago through the troubled English settlement at Jamestown and finishes with Lincoln's tour of the defeated capital of Richmond in 1865. Deans traces the historical course of a river whose contributions to American life are both immeasurable and unique. This innovative history invites us all to look into these restless waters in a way that connects us to our past and reminds us of who we are as Americans.

Ride of Your Life

Ride of Your Life
Author: Lyn St. James
Publisher: Hyperion
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2002-05-01
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 9780786868667

Fasten your seat belts! Indy 500 driver Lyn St. James provides inspirational advice for everyone as she recounts her inspiring career as a world-renowned Indy driver. Lyn St. James was 45 years old when she joined the world of Indy racing. Now known as the American Woman Racing Icon of the Century, Lyn is a testament to the power of determination and positive thinking. In this inspiring, motivational book, St. James chronicles her last Indy 500 and looks back on a career filled with challenges. She recounts years of adversity and the struggle to obtain corporate sponsorships, despite being named the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year. She recalls record-breaking runs at Talladega and Daytona, terrifying crashes, and the joys of mentoring young women drivers. On every page of this story people will find the motivation and encouragement to follow their dreams and reach their goals.

Big Panda and Tiny Dragon

Big Panda and Tiny Dragon
Author: James Norbury
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 166
Release: 2021-09-21
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1647225264

“Food for the soul.” —CBS Mornings A thought-provoking journey of companionship, courage, tenderness, and tea. Big Panda and Tiny Dragon embark on a journey through the seasons of the year together. They get lost, as many of us do. But while lost, they discover many beautiful sights they'd never have found had they gone the right way. Told through a series of beautiful drawings and quiet, sometimes silly, conversations, the panda and the dragon explore the thoughts and emotions, hardships and happiness that connect us all. In nature, they learn how to live in the moment, how to be at peace with uncertainty, and how to find the strength to overcome life's obstacles together. Inspired by Buddhist philosophy and spirituality, British author and artist James Norbury created the adventures of Big Panda and Tiny Dragon to share ideas that have helped him through difficult times. The book’s series of vignettes can be read cover to cover or dipped into whenever inspiration is needed. James hopes the book’s words and images will inspire others to pause, enjoy the stillness, and look at life in a positive new way. WORDS OF WISDOM: The seemingly simple, and often silly, conversations between Big Panda and Tiny Dragon reveal meaningful insights on friendship, inner wisdom, and self-acceptance. INSPIRING IMAGES: Depicted in bold brush strokes reminiscent of calligraphy, big, fluffy Panda and tiny, wiry Dragon journey through rolling hills, wooded forests, and blooming meadows in more than 120 elegant black-and-white and full-color scenes. FOR READERS OF ALL AGES: From youngsters at story time to new graduates with the world ahead of them to adults in moments of challenge or transition, Big Panda and Tiny Dragon offer comfort, inspiration, and a wry smile for every reader. WORK OF ART: Featuring a beautiful cover and a collection of stunning illustrations, each one more beautiful than the next, every page in this book is worthy of framing. HEARTFELT GIFT: Full of wisdom and touching humor, Big Panda and Tiny Dragon makes a thoughtful gift to be treasured.

Giving Up Whiteness

Giving Up Whiteness
Author: Jeff James
Publisher: Broadleaf Books
Total Pages: 270
Release: 2020-10-06
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1506464033

Jeff James was one of the good white guys. At least that's what he thought. But when he asked a black friend how to become an antiracist, he had to think again. "Simple," she shot back, "get rid of whiteness." Thus began his journey to discover, name, and dismantle the racial category that had defined and advantaged him for a lifetime. In Giving Up Whiteness, James leads readers on an intimate, humble, and disorienting investigation of what it means to be white in twenty-first-century America. He begins to wonder what forces shape his own and other white people's choices: about where to live, who to marry, and what church to join. With a blend of honest storytelling and incisive critique, James guides readers through the questions he encountered: What privileges accrue to people categorized as white? How have some Christians bolstered white supremacy through misreading of Scripture? How does whiteness make itself invisible? And is it possible to give it up? The things we can't see yield the most power, so it's time to take a hard look at whiteness. Ultimately, James writes, white people like him have a lot of work to do, and it's past time to get started.

Tender Journey

Tender Journey
Author: James P. Gills
Publisher: Charisma Media
Total Pages: 567
Release: 2006-02
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1591858097

In the follow-up to his popular release, "Unseen Essentials", noted author and physician James P. Gills revisits the life of Michael Nastasis and illustrates how the power of faith can save a dying marriage. In this highly anticipated sequel, Michael and his wife Stephanie are at a crossroad as they find that their once tightly knit marriage has unraveled to one of gloom and loneliness as their family copes with a terminally ill child. Aided by an elderly German couple, the Nastasis' learn to push beyond life's setbacks and walk in the fullness of their salvation through the power of God's forgiveness. Packed with more than 100 dos and don'ts for building a better relationship, "Tender Journey" motivates readers to focus on what can be done about life's challenges not in the past, but in the present and future, by partnering with the Holy Spirit and His redeeming grace.

Freedom Rides

Freedom Rides
Author: James Haskins
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Total Pages: 120
Release: 1995
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN:

In this fascinating book, Haskins chronicles the struggle to overturn the laws of segregation that dealt with transportation: from Morgan vs. Commonwealth of Virginia to the Freedom Rides. These rides captured the attention of the nation and the world. By the end of the Freedom Rides, important federal laws were in place that ended legal segregation.