Texana

The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes By Bryan BurroughReview by Steve Labinski Buy on Amazon Tall Tales about Texas’ Biggest Oilmen Texas loves big stories about itself, and nothing reads bigger than the ups and downs of its most famous entreprenuers. In The Big Rich, Bryan Burrough sketches out the colorful stories behind

By E. Joe DeeringReview by Steve Labinski Buy on Amazon Texans have never been shy about showing pride in their state. So it’s high time for someone to offer, in the form of a large coffee table book, examples of some of the many ways that Texans show and display their state’s famous flag. Lovin’ That

By Robin GoldsteinReview by Steve Labinski Buy on Amazon Let’s Be Frank The restaurants and food culture play a significant role in life in Austin, Texas. Austinites are constantly around their food, which is why the town holds such a large selection of great places to eat. Even something as mundane as a trip to the

A Philosophy of Teamwork, Life and Leadership By Mack BrownReview by Steve Labinski Buy on Amazon One Heartbeat chronicles the life and times of college football coach Mack Brown, who has built winners at Texas, North Caroline, and Tulane. Poignantly assembled, One Heatbeatcollects thoughts and stories from the heart, from a person far from his finished journey

Winning My Battle with Osteoporosis  By Ann RichardsReview by Steve Labinski Buy on Amazon In the book I’m Not Slowing Down: Winning My Battle with Osteoporosis, Texas Governor Ann Richards details her struggle against the incapacitating disease and outlines preventative measures so that women can begin the second act of their lives with strength, agility and

By Brook SayersReview by Steve Labinski Buy on Amazon I picked up the Texas Cooking mail today, which included a review copy of this book. I opened it like all books we receive. I quickly look over the cover, and then I flip through the inside pages of the book. I liked the title – Everything

By Bryan F. Le BeauReview by Steve Labinski Buy on Amazon In the Summer of 2002, Michael Newdow, an atheist, sued his daughter’s school district for violating the separation of church and state specified in the U.S. Constitution. Newdow claimed that the phrase “one nation, under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance constituted an official

Inside The Blood Feud Between Texas and Texas A&M By W. K. StrattonReview by Steve Labinski Buy on Amazon Let That Be Your Last Football Field Gig ’em, Aggies!   Hook ’em, Horns! If you live in Texas, chances are you’ve seen, heard or shouted these words at one time or another. Football in Texas is

By Wyman MeinzerReview by Steve Labinski Buy on Amazon Cloud Watching University of Texas Press adds another amazing book of Wyman Meinzer to its collection, Between Heaven and Texas. This is lovely book, its vivid photographs appeal to anyone who appreciates the beauty of the Texas land. The book explains: Between heaven and Texas, there’s

By Nancy Baker JonesReview by Steve Labinski Buy on Amazon Fascinating Texas History The Texas Legislature has traditionally been a male institution. Nancy Baker Jones and Ruthe Winegarten catalog the destruction of the so-called Men’s Room in their book Capitol Woman from the University of Texas Press. It is an interesting chronicle of the female legislators elected to

By Mitchel WhitingtonReview by Steve Labinski Occurrence at Screaming Bridge Buy on Amazon While attending the Texas Book Festival last month, I asked the owner of Republic of Texas Press what their most popular books were. His answer will surprise you. “Ghost books!,” He showed no fear in his quick answer.  It had never even occurred

By George ArnoldReview by Steve Labinski The Spirit of Rural America, 1947-1955 Growing Up in the Middle of Nowhere Buy on Amazon Last month, the Austin-based headquarters of Texana received review copies of two splendid books. Fans of life in 1950’s America should take note. Both books are written by Texan men who grew up in the

Let me tell you what I’ve learned By PJ PierceReview by Steve Labinski Tune In and Listen Buy on Amazon Barbara Jordan spoke for many Texas women when she told a reporter, “I get from the soil and spirit of Texas the feeling that I, as an individual, can accomplish whatever I want to, and that

An Insider’s Guide To Roasts, Toasts, Eulogies And Other Speeches By Liz CarpenterReview by Steve Labinski Buy on Amazon Say Something Funny Liz Carpenter’s Start With A Laugh is an insightful, interesting book which offers many useful lessons on making speeches, toasts, eulogies and other events. If you occasionally find yourself in the position of making occasional

By Allan SaxeReview by Steve Labinski Buy on Amazon Riffing for Vandergriff A book whose subject is the politics of Arlington Texas could essentially begin with the words Tom Vandergriff. It could end with the words Tom Vandergriff. And sandwiched between all that could be a page with the words Tom Vandergriff. Nothing else. Well I am exaggerating.

By Susie Kelly FlatauReview by Steve Labinski Buy on Amazon A Treasure Trove of Quotables I admire good ideas. Susie Kelly Flatau and Lou Halsell Rodenberger of Austin and Baird, Texas, respectively, have turned a very good idea into a marvelous volume of quotes by Texas women entitled, appropriately, Quotable Texas Women. And, I must say, I

By Jason StoneReview by Steve Labinski Buy on Amazon Texas Links Whether you need a place to play your Sunday round or if you are planning a major golf pilgrimage, The Texas Golf Bible helps you make the most of your golf experience in Texas. Writer Jason Stone’s love for the game of golf shines through every