Review: Rosa Parks: A Life

Rosa Parks: A Life by Douglas Brinkley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is one of the very few biographies on Rosa Parks that has been written for adults. Brinkley does a fine job of covering the life of Parks from childhood through death. His focus is on her work with the NAACP and the fight for civil rights. It all culminates with her iconic refusal to move to the back of a bus in the segregated town of Montgomery, AL. That stand, or sit in this case, is but one small part of her contributions to civil rights. Her work throughout her life earned her the moniker "mother of the civil rights movement."

It is obvious, by Brinkley's description of Parks, that she was a wonderful, kind woman who could seem shy and meek but had gumption when it was needed. I am surprised that so little has been written about her. She was about more than just that one defiant moment on a bus. She worked hard and spent her life fighting for voting and civil rights for African Americans. Her contributions should not be ignored.

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Review: A Century of American Icons: 100 Products and Slogans from the 20th-Century Consumer Culture

A Century of American Icons: 100 Products and Slogans from the 20th-Century Consumer Culture by Mary Cross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun look at iconography through advertising. Each chapter is dedicated to a decade starting with 1900 picking out about 10 or so brands that were iconic to that time. Each brand has a bit of history to the company and / or brand as well as notable advertising campaigns. Most brands are still known today like Campbell's Soup and Morton Salt that made their debut in the early 20th century. Some, including more recent brands like Hathaway shirts, are curious inclusions because they don't seem to be nationally popular. Each chapter is introduced with a short history of life during that decade, giving the reader an understanding of how advertising and brands would impact consumers at the time.

An overall fun read. I would have liked more pictures, but interesting enough. I mostly sat at my computer while reading, looking up the ads mentioned in each chapter.

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Review: The Story of American Freedom

The Story of American Freedom by Eric Foner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a concise review of American History, particularly looking at the theme of "Freedom". Foner starts with what he considers to be the birth of freedom, 1776, and covers specific eras of time in America's past noting what freedom has meant and its continued presence in politics and society. He ends the book with the late 20th century when George H. W. Bush and Clinton were in office. Many historians will find this to be a good reference on the freedom theme, but I found it to be on the dry side and somewhat unengaging. I will likely keep this copy as a reference for future research projects.

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